Volume II of The Draftables was released earlier this week, providing not just a comprehensive list of prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft, but a categorization listing potential lottery, first-round, and second-round/two-way prospects.
In the nearly three months since the college season arrived, this collective list of prospects has evolved quite a bit, with some players showing they will need more time and thus being removed for the time being, and others emerging.
Of the 22 new names from the college basketball ranks, all but two of them currently project as potential second-round picks or two-way candidates. Given that there are 65 prospects garnering some level of division I interest at the moment, and only 58 picks on draft night, that means the prospectus for most of these players still isn’t especially good, and so going back to school should be given serious consideration, if a guaranteed contract is the ultimate professional goal.
First-Round Candidates (R1)
Kyshawn George, 6-8, Forward/Wing, Freshman, Miami – In a draft that is as wide open as any in recent memory, scouts are out in full force looking for new names and high-upside propositions. George checks both of those boxes. He’s more of an idea then a proven player at this point (he’s averaging 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists through 23 games), but there are a lot of intriguing markers for future success for this 20-year-old from Switzerland. He has good wing size at 6-foot-8 and an undeveloped, yet solid, frame that should really blossom in the coming years. He’s a very fluid, almost graceful, mover with the defensive versatility and upside that comes with the combination of that plus his size and frame. George also has a very soft natural touch, good shooting mechanics, and already impressive numbers (42% from three and 83% from the free-throw line). While George has a chance to go in the first-round this year, it’s far from a guarantee at this point. There’s also a case to be made that he could play his way into the lottery by returning for his sophomore season. NBA teams know that too, but that’s not necessarily in all of their best interests, if they’re looking to grab a high-upside young asset without taking on any risk (which is exactly what would happen if he slipped into the second round).
Jaxson Robinson, 6-7, Wing, Senior, BYU – Robinson was a trendy name in the month of December, and for good reason as the big wing was shooting the ball at a very high-level from behind the three-point line. He hasn’t been able to sustain quite that same level of marksmanship since mid-December though and so his perceived stock has cooled off some. Still though, there’s always a potential market for that archetype. In addition to his shooting, Robinson has good positional size and long arms, with a reported 7-foot-1 wingspan. While he’s in his fourth year of college basketball, after attending Texas A&M and Arkansas as a freshman and sophomore respectively, he’s still just 21-years-old and so there’s time to keep filling out his frame. Defensively, he can be up and down, but measures out better than expectedly analytically. Offensively, while his niche is clearly behind the arc, BYU utilizes him in versatile ways – cutting, coming off screens, and even initiating offense and coming off ball-screens at times. Of course, he too also has the option to return to college basketball next year.
Second-Round/Two-Way Candidates (R2)
Jonas Aidoo, 6-11, Center, Junior, Tennessee – He’s not the versatile big that the NBA is looking for these days, but he’s got legit NBA size, plays within his role, is a constant double-double threat, and a real rim protector. Aido has made a notable jump in his junior season, has double-doubles in five of Tennessee’s last 9 games, and really impressive per-40 numbers across the board.
Michael Ajayi, 6-7, Wing, Junior, Pepperdine – Pepperdine is not a good basketball team, but that doesn’t mean they may not have some quality prospects. In his first year out of junior college, Ajayi’s numbers really pop – 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 46% from the floor, and 45% from three. He’s a late-bloomer who was 5-foot-7 as a high school freshman and was cut from his high school team multiple times.
Adama Bal, 6-7, Wing, Junior, Santa Clara – After playing a small role in each of the last two years at Arizona, Bal transferred to Santa Clara and now looks to be on a similar path to Brandin Podziemski, who thrived for the Broncos after transferring from Illinois. He’s being utilized as a legit big guard who attacks in the open floor, comes off drags and other ball screens, and gets paint touches. His jumper is also holding up on pretty high volume.
Kanaan Carlyle, 6-3, Guard, Freshman, Stanford – We talked about Carlyle’s rise earlier in the week, when we explored the four-star prospects who had put themselves in the one-and-done discussion. At this point, we haven’t seen quite enough to say he has a chance to be a first-round pick, but he’s a name that NBA scouts are now tracking.
Cam Christie, 6-6, Wing, Freshman, Minnesota – The younger brother of Max Christie, Cam had a very different high school journey. He was not nearly as celebrated, and more of a late-bloomer. In fact, when he committed to Minnesota it looked like he could end up being a real sleeper, and he’s lived up to that so far. Right now, he looks like a player who should definitely go back to college and keep taking his game to new levels, but he too is on the NBA radar at this point.
Walter Clayton, 6-2, Guard, Junior – The Iona transfer did not follow Rick Pitino to St. John’s but instead returned to his home state of Florida. The shot-making is the basis for his NBA potential. His 46/43/95 splits at Iona were absurd and while he’s at 43/37/80 this year at Florida, some of the tough shot-making makes you wonder if he could fit in a prototype like Sam Merrill, Max Strus, or Isaiah Joe.
Tyon Grant-Foster, 6-7, Wing, Senior, Grand Canyon – He was the feel-good story of college basketball to start the season after returning to the court two years after a major medical scare. While the early returns were off the charts, some inefficiencies have crept into the scouting report as the year has gone on. Still though, there are clear pro level tools to work with.
Cameron Hildreth, 6-4, Guard/Wing, Junior, Wake Forest – He doesn’t necessarily pass the look test, by NBA standards, but Hildreth is very talented with the ball in his hands. He’s skilled, creative with his handle, able to make shots from three, and has enough size to have on/off ball versatility. There’s also a clear confidence and swag about him that could help him exceed expectations in the long-run.
Sion James, 6-6, Wing, Senior, Tulane – With a powerful, almost football like build, good perimeter size, the versatility to impact the game in various ways, and much improved shooting numbers, James is an interesting prospect to monitor. He’s spent all four years at Tulane, and made notable strides with each passing season, and could theoretically return for a 5th year of college basketball.
Chaz Lanier, 6-4, Senior, Guard – He’s been one of the best shooters in college basketball this year, knocking down three-and-a-half threes per game at a 47% clip. His full shooting splits are 52/47/87 and he has decent enough backcourt size at 6-foot-4. Also refreshing is the fact that he’s spent all four years at North Florida, growing into a bigger role with each passing year in order to get to this point.
Tamin Lipsey, 6-1, Sophomore, Guard, Iowa State – He may not have the physical profile of a prototypical NBA guard, but his impact on winning at the highest levels of college biggest are too notable to ignore. His +/- numbers are off the charts for an underclassman, he’s made notable strides with his shooting, and provides a combination of toughness and intelligence that typically leads to overachievers.
Langston Love, 6-5, Wing, Sophomore, Baylor – After missing his entire freshman season with a torn ACL, Love made his return last year but didn’t appear to be fully back to the prospect we saw in high school. This year, he’s not only fully healthy, but he’s drilling open shots at a 49% clip from behind the arc. He’s picking his spots efficiently, and not yet a full-fledged movement driller, but playing an impactful two-way style that could translate.
Gabe Madsen, 6-6, Wing/Forward, Senior, Utah – He’s 6-foot-6, shooting 43% from three with a quick and compact release, and is also known for his toughness. His numbers are also sustainable over a bigger sample size as he’s at 39.5% for his entire college career, including just two games played at Cincinnati as a freshman and then the last three in Utah. Madsen is a sleeper name that is getting more traction with NBA scouts than he is on draft twitter.
Rienk Mast, 6-10, Center, Senior, Nebraska – Stretch-fives don’t grow on trees. The Netherlands native has the size and strength to match-up inside at 6-foot-10 and 250-pounds, but is also pulling opposing rim protectors away from the paint with regularity. The fact that his numbers at Nebraska are nearly identical to what they were last year at Bradley suggests that his niche is translatable to higher levels of competition, even if he may not have ideal versatility.
Jonathan Mogbo, 6-8, Forward/Center, Junior, San Francisco – A late-blooming explosive athlete, Mogbo is putting up massive numbers across the board – 15 points, 11 boards, 3+ assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 69% from the floor, and 70% from the stripe. He’s not a floor-spacer yet, but he shows potential in just about every other area and has the physical tools that could ultimately translate to the next level.
Collin Murray-Boyles, 6-7, Forward, Freshman, South Carolina – This may have been premature. Murray-Boyles is not NBA ready, nor should he be thinking along those lines just yet. Recently though, now that he is fully healthy after an early season illness, there have been some real signs from the southpaw forward with his hands, strength, physically, touch, and two-way impact. He gets his hands on a ton of balls and is efficient with his chances offensively.
Otega Oweh, 6-5, Wing, Sophomore, Oklahoma – A powerful and athletic wing in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, Oweh is a defensive standout and downhill driver. He came up the ranks in high school though as a non-shooter. In fact, he made just one three-pointer in 28 games played last year. This year, he’s shooting 47% from three, albeit with very selective attempts, but still respectable volume.
Payton Sandfort, 6-7, Wing, Junior, Iowa – He’s become a trendy specialist pick in recent weeks, with his wing size and shooting splits (46/39/89) complemented by a high basketball IQ, willingness to mix it up on the glass, and be a reliable decision-maker and ball-mover around the perimeter. Given the gains he’s made in each of the last three years though, it would be no surprise to see the Iowa native return next year as a senior and be the team’s offensive focal point.
Saint Thomas, 6-7, Junior, Wing, Northern Colorado – Another feel-good story in college basketball, Thomas is averaging just about 20/10 this year at Northern Colorado, after battling some mental health issues in his first two years with Loyola Chicago. Not only that, but he’s averaging 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and shooting 89% from the free-throw line. In short, the statistical profile is glaring to say the least and warranting plenty of eye tests from NBA scouts.
Shahada Wells, 6-0, Guard, Senior, McNeese State – He spent the last two years as Mike Miles’ part-time running-mate and part-time back-up at TCU. Now, he’s running the show for Will Wade’s McNeese team that is 20-3. Wells stuffs all columns of the stat sheet like few other players in college basketball – 18 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals, 50% from the floor, and 42% from three. Like Thomas, that’s enough to get some eyeballs, especially when it’s driving winning.
