Lajae Jones | 6'7 / 220 lbs | Wing 12.7 PPG | 5.7 RPG | Florida State
Jones is one of the most physically ready guys in this class. At 6'7 and 220 pounds, he plays with a physicality above his listed size, and uses his strength to power up his athleticism. Jones is smooth with the ball and great at using his body at the rim. He's a balanced wing who could take you off the dribble and finish above the rim, as well as hit the outside shot. His career 32% from three undersells what he can actually do as a shooter. He shot 38% his junior year and has put together some genuinely impressive shooting nights, showing the ability to fill it up in bunches. His outside shooting will be the direct translator if he’s successful in the league or not.
Jones is a good defender averaging a steal as well as a block per game. On the defensive end, he defends multiple positions with good lateral quickness at his size and good at navigating the pick and roll. His last college game against Duke ( 28 points, 4 of 8 from deep) is the version of Jones that NBA teams should be projecting. If his shot translates, he has the potential to be one of the better wing shooting defenders in the draft class.
Jaden Henley | 6'7 / 210 lbs | Wing 17.7 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 1.6 SPG (2-year avg)
Henley is an athletic and skilled wing with a well rounded game. At 6'7 he's comfortable with the ball in his hands, he plays with a tight handle, and is explosive and creative around the rim. His shooting splits are not great, but his mechanics are balanced and he has a quick release. He shot more threes this past season than any prior year, primarily off catch and shoot looks. What really stood out was his performance at the Portsmouth Invitational, where he went beyond the raw catch and shoot role and knocked down tough step back shots off the dribble at a high clip.
Defensively, he's active and instinctive, he averaged 1.6 steals over his last two seasons. He gambles a bit, but he’s a good on ball defender, and one of the best at getting steals off the ball when ball handlers turn their back. Henley has the frame, skill set, and athletic profile that NBA teams covet in a wing. If he can lock in his three point shooting he could be a steal.
Donavan Atwell | 6'5 | Guard 13.5 PPG | 45.8 3P% | Texas Tech
Atwell is one of the most efficient high volume shooters in college basketball. He ranks top 3 nationally in KenPom offensive rating, top 15 in effective field goal percentage, top 10 in true shooting percentage, and is top 5 in turnover rate. This year Atwell shot 45.8% from three on the most volume of his career. That is not a fluke number. He shot 42% from deep at UNCG, then transferred to Texas Tech and shot it even better against a higher level of competition. Atwell was the primary creator and shot maker at UNCG. When he transferred to Texas Tech and joined a more talented roster, he stepped seamlessly into an elite off ball shooter role; which is exactly the role he would play in the NBA.
The lefty marksman has an extremely quick release and is dangerous in every shooting context: spot ups, movement shooting, and off the dribble step backs. He reads defensive momentum well and consistently makes the right decision under pressure. At 6'5 with lateral quickness, Atwell has shown he has no problem defending. His defining NBA skill is obvious: he can shoot, and he can do it at volume, on the move, and against good defense. That skillset will get him on a roster. What keeps him there is elite efficiency and defensive consistency. Late round he’s worth the shot.
Baba Miller | 6'11 / 225 lbs | Big 13.0 PPG | 10.3 RPG | Cincinnati
Miller is a dominant, athletic, and long big who impacts the game on both ends. A relentless double double machine, he ranked top 15 nationally in rebounding and top 10 in defensive rebounding percentage. His 7'2 wingspan makes him a disruptive shot blocking presence, and his athleticism changes how opponents attack the paint. He is very mobile for his size, many times this season he rebounded and took the ball coast to coast to finish at the rim. His size and mobility gave Cincinnati a lot of free points this year.
He is a posterizer threat above the rim and a lob target whose athleticism creates easy buckets in transition and off cuts. The area that remains undeveloped is his outside shooting. He has not yet shown effectiveness from the perimeter. That limits his offensive role for now, but his physical tools and defensive upside are exactly the combination teams should gamble on in the second round.
Kowacie Reeves Jr. | 6'7 | Wing | Georgia Tech 38.7% from three (season) | 23.0 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 42.8 3P% at Portsmouth Invitational.
Reeves has the physical tools and an athletic profile that make him hard to ignore. At 6'7 with elite explosiveness, he's a disruptive defender, and a fearless downhill attacker. His season long 38.7% from three proved that he could knock it down from deep. He put on a show at Portsmouth posting a tournament high 34 points, going 13 of 18 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep, adding 10 rebounds in a game. He still has work to do and has some rawness in his game but the tools are all there.
What makes Reeves particularly compelling is his improvement arc. Each year he has been a meaningfully better player than the year before. Reeves has the kind of upside that a team takes late and develops. The shot is already getting there. The athleticism and defensive instincts are already there. The rest is getting him under an NBA roof.
Sebastian Rancik | 6'11 / 220 lbs | *Forward 12.0 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 86% FT% | Colorado
Rancik is listed as a forward but he’s not. At 6'11, he is comfortable controlling the ball, he attacks closeouts from the wing, and makes crafty moves through traffic. His 86% free throw percentage is a tell of touch and shooting mechanics. His shooting stroke is smooth with a quick release, he has the potential to be a reliable shooter at the next level even if his 33% this season doesn't fully reflect it.
The questions surrounding him center on defense and strength. He needs to get more physical, and there are concerns about his ability to hold up against NBA level bigs. But the shot blocking potential is there, and his skill set as a ball handling, shooting forward at 6'11" is rare enough to warrant a late pick or summer league invite.
Dillon Mitchell | 6'8 / 210 lbs | Wing 8.3 PPG | 7.0 RPG | 55.9 FG%| St Johns
Mitchell is a game changing athlete not just in terms of what he produces but in how he changes the feel of a game. Mitchell is a high motor explosive, and relentless player. Mitchell can chase down blocks, convert O boards into points, and finish lobs high above the rim. An underrated part of his game is his cutting and throughout the season he consistently caught opponents sleeping for points.
He's a fastbreak threat, a rim running lob target, and a disruptive defensive presence with the ability to guard multiple positions. The biggest concern is his near complete inability to shoot. Right now, he simply cannot make shots from the perimeter. The question for NBA teams isn't whether Mitchell is physically gifted enough to play in the NBA. The question is whether the shot ever develops, or whether a team is willing to build around the elite plug and play defensive stopper version of him that already exists.
Lamar Wilkerson | 6'6 / 205 lbs | Wing 20.9 PPG | 38.7 3P% (275 Attempts) | Indiana
Wilkerson might be the most complete shooting wing available late in this draft. He scored 21 points per game while shooting 38% from three on some of the highest volume in the country. His shooting is far from one dimensional, he scores off spot ups, movement shots, contested pull ups, and attacking closeouts. He scored efficiently from everywhere on the floor this year.
What separates him from a lot of high volume shooters is his body and mobility. With a wide, strong frame, he can hold up physically against NBA wings, His age (25) will push him down boards, and there are fair questions about his motor on the defensive end. But if you're a team that needs a wing who can knock down shots reliably at high volume and has decent size for a wing, Wilkerson arguably will be the best value available late in the draft.
Keyshawn Hall | 6'7 / 225 lbs | Wing 19.3 PPG | 7.1 RPG | Auburn
I think Hall is an overlooked player in this entire draft. A pro ready wing at 6'7 and 225 pounds, he is physically built for the NBA right now, wide, strong, and plays with consistent contact seeking aggression. Hall’s scoring was elite, nearly 20 points per game while shooting 37.9% from three and grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game, which is impressive considering he’s a guard.
He scores on and off the ball, off the catch, and can break down defenders off the dribble and finish through contact. He is not reliant on one action. Defensively, there are questions about foot speed and lateral quickness; but his strength and physicality compensate. He holds his ground. Hall's combination of size, shooting and guard skills, make him a legit 2 or 3 for an NBA squad. For a team drafting late and needing a wing who can produce, he stands out as one of the clearest values on the board.
Tyler Nickel | 6'7 / 220 lbs | Wing 13.5 PPG | 40.0 3P% | Vanderbilt
If you are looking for a pure shooter late, Nickel might be your guy. At 6'7 and 220 pounds, he has legitimate wing size and strength to go along with his shooting. He ranks top 20 nationally in effective field goal percentage, offensive rating, and true shooting percentage. Nickel spaces the floor at a high level while playing with toughness and effort. Defensive questions around lateral quickness and positional versatility will push him down boards. But the ceiling here is a Sam Hauser type shooter who can come off the bench and consistently knock down shots is a real and valuable NBA role.
Tucker DeVries | 6'7 / 225 | Wing 13.7 PPG | Career 35.9 3P% (998 attempts) | Indiana
DeVries is a scorer who has averaged well over double figures his entire college career. His defining skill is an elite ability to make shots on the move, off ball screens, and in deep territory. His high release point and strong lift at 6'7 allow him to shoot over defenders. Whether he is contested, off balance, or pulling up from well beyond the arc, the shot looks the same. There are not many shots on the floor he cannot hit.
There was a bit of a drop off in shooting consistency this past season, and there are real concerns about his ability to compete defensively. Similar to Nickel, his role at the next level would be a specialist, a guy you bring in specifically to knock down shots and space the floor.
Jaylin Sellers | 6'5 | Guard 18.3 PPG| 42.9 3P% | Providence
Sellers led the Big East in scoring and did it efficiently, in a conference known for physical, defensive minded play. At 6'5 strong and athletic, he's a physical scoring guard who creates off the dribble, absorbs contact, and finishes at the rim. His shooting statistically stacks up with the elite, 40% from three this season, nearly 40% for his career, all on high volume. He competes defensively and plays with confidence and physicality. His game is more NBA than college to me. Even if he goes undrafted, he is a two way contract or summer league candidate who has the potential to blossom as he develops.
Riley Kugel | 6'5 | Combo Guard 14.4 PPG| 38.7 3P% | UCF
Kugel is a polished, three level scorer who can knock down shots. He averages 14.4 points per game while shooting 38.7% from three. He’s comfortable creating off the dribble and efficient enough from deep to keep defenses honest. He is strong with the ball, and can break down defenders off the bounce. He is more scorer than pure shooter, he’s a well rounded offensive talent and he uses his length well on defense. The question with Kugel is his mentality and motor. Seen him in person. The talent is clearly there. Whether he competes at the level required every night will determine his ceiling.
Malachi Moreno | 7'0" / 250 lbs | Big | Freshman | Kentucky
A true 7 footer at 250 pounds who moves with coordination and fluidity. Moreno checks a surprising number of boxes for a freshman big. He runs the floor well, moves smoothly around the rim, and has a reliable post hook shot. He has a good feel for the game, and understands positioning. Moreno also doesn't fear dribbling and looks comfortable with the ball in his hands.
He does the simple things at a high level: catch and finish, protect the rim, and run in transition. His production numbers were not elite by any means which will give some teams pause, but the skill set at his size and age tells a different story. He's only 19 years old. He looks like someone with some time can be a legit big man, just needs more experience. With the right organization he can be dangerous.
Tyler Bilodeau | 6'9" / 235 lbs | Forward 17.6 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 46 3P% | 51.5 FG% UCLA
Bilodeau was UCLA's anchor all season, and his shooting this year was the best of his career. He shot 46% from three, a career high by a significant margin while averaging 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds on 51.5% from the field. His offensive production has flowed consistently across all four college seasons, and he has always found ways to get it done. The shooting becoming an elite part of his game late in his career is the new element that makes him worth a serious look.
He got it done in the Big Ten all year, which is meaningful competition especially this year. The questions lie in his athleticism relative to NBA forwards and his ability to hold up defensively. But a 6'9 forward who can shoot 46% from three and score nearly 18 a night in a power conference is worth a late pick or a summer league invitation to find out.
