We are midway through March Madness and we have gotten to see several NBA prospects perform on the biggest stages of college basketball.
Some notable players (e.g. Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham) went home early from the Big Dance. But several other big names (e.g. UConn’s Donovan Clingan, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro) have had an opportunity to survive and advance.
We also got some more interesting games to study from notable freshmen including Colorado’s Cody Williams and Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter. While there are still several games left before we have a national champion,
Our draft order was based on the latest projections via Tankathon. Let’s get started!
The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
1
Detroit Pistons: Alex Sarr
Paul Kane/Getty Images
TEAM: Perth (Australia)
CLASS: International
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-foot-1
DRAFT AGE: 19.2
After a miserable first season under head coach Monty Williams, the Pistons can go a lot of directions with this pick but could ultimately decide to just go with the 7-foot-1 big man who has elite defensive upside and some shooting touch.
2
Washington Wizards: Nikola Topic
(ALTAN GOCHER/Middle East Images/AFP)
TEAM: KK Crvena zvezda (Serbia)
CLASS: International
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-7
DRAFT AGE: 18.9
While it is a bummer we didn’t get to see more from Nikola Topic before he got injured this season, the 6-foot-6 lead guard showed enough flashes as a floor general that the Wizards have to seriously consider him to bolster their offense.
3
San Antonio Spurs: Zaccharie Risacher
(KONSTANTINOS TSAKALIDIS/SOOC/AFP)
TEAM: JL Bourg (France)
CLASS: International
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-foot-8
DRAFT AGE: 19.2
Even though Zaccharie Risacher has slowed down a bit of late, he is a 6-foot-8 wing who can space the floor well for his age and that would make life a lot easier for Victor Wembanyama.
4
Charlotte Hornets: Matas Buzelis
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
TEAM: Ignite
CLASS: G League
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-foot-11
DRAFT AGE: 19.7
The Hornets have a few foundational pieces with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the mix but they aren’t done building quite yet, so Matas Buzelis could provide some versatility on the roster to complete the puzzle.
5
Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Colorado
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-8
DRAFT AGE: 19.6
He didn’t look like the best version of himself down the stretch this season as he dealt with multiple injuries but Colorado freshman Cody Williams has fans around the league and he would fit in well on Portland’s roster.
6
Toronto Raptors: Donovan Clingan
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Connecticut
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-foot-2
DRAFT AGE: 20.3
One of the most impactful players in the country is UConn sophomore big man Donovan Clingan, and so long as his conditioning remains solid, this could absolutely make for a very solid pick.
7
Memphis Grizzlies: Reed Sheppard
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Kentucky
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
DRAFT AGE: 20.1
Despite a disappointing campaign during March Madness, the Kentucky freshman was absolutely brilliant this season and checks a lot of the boxes that the Grizzlies tend to look for during their pre-draft evaluation process.
8
Houston Rockets (via BKN): Rob Dillingham
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Kentucky
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-2
DRAFT AGE: 19.5
The Rockets have a surplus of assets on their roster and could potentially use this pick as a trade chip, but if they don’t, expect Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham to emerge as a candidate simply as the best player available.
9
Utah Jazz: Stephon Castle
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Connecticut
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-foot-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.7
UConn’s Stephon Castle is flying a bit under the radar in a lot of mock drafts and big boards, though he has shown that he would provide a tremendous help to the defensive identity for a team like the Jazz.
10
Atlanta Hawks: Isaiah Collier
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
TEAM: USC
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
DRAFT AGE: 19.7
The Hawks have some big decisions to make about the future of their backcourt pairing with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, and while another guard may complicate the decision, this also gives them some added insurance at the position.
11
Chicago Bulls: Dalton Knecht
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Tennessee
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-foot-6
DRAFT AGE: 23.2
He is one of the older prospects in this draft class but as arguably the best 3-point shooter, several teams (including the Bulls) will have tremendous interest in selecting Tennessee senior Dalton Knecht.
12
Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU): Jared McCain
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Duke
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-2
DRAFT AGE: 20.3
Perhaps the player who has improved his draft stock the most during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament thus far is Duke’s Jared McCain, a strong freshman guard who can contribute playing either on or off the ball.
13
Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW): Tidjane Salaun
fiba.basketball
TEAM: Cholet (France)
CLASS: International
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-9
DRAFT AGE: 18.9
France’s Tidjane Salaun is a solid, young 3-point shooter who is going to get some looks as one of the more intriguing young international prospects in this class.
14
New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL): Kyle Filipowski
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Duke
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-foot-11
DRAFT AGE: 20.6
Duke’s Kyle Filipowski is a fairly well-rounded big man who could find a role on the Pelicans, especially if Jonas Valanciunas ends up leaving via free agency.
15
Philadelphia 76ers: Ron Holland
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
TEAM: Ignite
CLASS: G League
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-8
DRAFT AGE: 18.9
This is quite a bit lower than where Ron Holland was expected to hear his name called before the season began but this campaign didn’t go as according to plan for the G League Ignite, and that could make him a worthwhile pick this late in the draft.
16
Miami Heat: Devin Carter
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Providence
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
DRAFT AGE: 22.3
The Heat are typically excellent at identifying prospects who find ways to stick around the NBA for one reason or another and Providence’s Devin Carter is the perfect example of that type of player.
17
Toronto Raptors (via IND): Ja’Kobe Walter
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Baylor
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-foot-5
DRAFT AGE: 19.8
Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter isn’t the flashiest pick but there is enough to like about his game on both ends of the floor that he should still hear his name called either in or around the lottery on draft night.
18
Orlando Magic: Johnny Furphy
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Kansas
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-7
DRAFT AGE: 19.6
No team in the league has made fewer 3-pointers per game than the Magic have this season, so anything they can do to improve their spacing should become a top priority and developing a player like Johnny Furphy could provide exactly that.
19
Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Yves Missi
Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
TEAM: Baylor
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-foot-10
DRAFT AGE: 20.1
The Hawks only have Clint Capela under contract for one more year once this season is complete and they could find a long-term replacement for him on a rookie deal in Baylor freshman Yves Missi, who looked promising.
20
Phoenix Suns: Tristan da Silva
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Colorado
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-9
DRAFT AGE: 23.1
The Suns need to add guys who can make a difference sooner rather than later and during March Madness, it was incredibly obvious that Colorado senior Tristan da Silva is one of the more NBA-ready prospects available.
21
New York Knicks (via DAL): Kel’el Ware
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Indiana
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-foot-0
DRAFT AGE: 20.2
The Knicks could potentially lose Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency if he becomes prohibitively expensive and they will want to at least take a look at Indiana sophomore big man Kel’el Ware, who had a very nice season.
22
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyshawn George
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Miami (Florida)
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-8
DRAFT AGE: 20.5
Someone is going to fall in love with Miami’s Kyshawn George, a 6-foot-8 guard from Switzerland, during the pre-draft process and it only takes one team to convince themselves that his shooting and playmaking are real.
23
New Orleans Pelicans: Bobi Klintman
Chris Hyde/Getty Images
TEAM: Cairns (Australia)
CLASS: International
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-10
DRAFT AGE: 21.3
The Pelicans could have multiple bites at the apple in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft and one player they ought to consider is Bobi Klintman, a Swedish forward who has shown upside in the NCAA at Wake Forest and then in Australia’s NBL.
24
New York Knicks: Ryan Dunn
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Virginia
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-8
DRAFT AGE: 21.5
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is drawn to a certain archetype and even though Virginia’s Ryan Dunn has shortcomings on the offensive end of the floor, it is impossible to ignore what he can do on defense.
25
Washington Wizards (via LAC): Justin Edwards
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Kentucky
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-foot-7
DRAFT AGE: 20.5
He never quite reached the pre-season expectations that some evaluators had but Kentucky’s Justin Edwards was able to eventually get some momentum towards the end of his freshman year and coupled with his high school tape, that could be enough for a late first-round pick.
26
Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Kolek
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Marquette
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
DRAFT AGE: 23.1
As the Bucks continue to try to make a run at a championship, they’re going to especially value players like Marquette guard Tyler Kolek (who already plays his home games at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee).
27
Utah Jazz (via OKC): Zach Edey
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Purdue
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Senior
HEIGHT: 7-foot-4
DRAFT AGE: 22.3
It won’t take long for a team to take a shot on Purdue’s Zach Edey because the size and productivity are simply too massive to overlook, and that front office could decide it’s the right time toward the end of the first round.
28
Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyler Smith
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
TEAM: Ignite
CLASS: G League
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-foot-10
DRAFT AGE: 19.6
During the final season of the G League Ignite, one of the bright spots was Tyler Smith, a stretch four who ended up actually exceeding expectations as a 3-point shooter.
29
Denver Nuggets: Oso Ighodaro
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Marquette
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-foot-10
DRAFT AGE: 23.0
The Nuggets are looking for guys who can play sooner rather than later and they like having playmakers out of the post, so Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro is a natural fit.
30
Boston Celtics: Bub Carrington
Pamela Smith/Getty Images
TEAM: Pittsburgh
CLASS: Freshman
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-foot-5
DRAFT AGE: 18.9
He isn’t ready to play at the NBA level yet but the Celtics have a deep enough rotation that they should be a team that seriously scouts and develops Pittsburgh’s Bub Carrington if he chooses to turn pro.
