NBA Mock Draft 2022: Duke’s Paolo Banchero leads seven first-round prospects on display at Champions Classic

We will not and should not react to exhibition video games — they’re largely meaningless — however Banchero’s line in a win over Winston-Salem State is an efficient indicator of how rounded his sport is: Group-high 21 factors, team-high 9 rebounds, two assists, no turnovers and a made 3-pointer for good measure. He does slightly of every thing from scoring to creating as a four-man that has him positioned at No. 1.

Simply probably the most attention-grabbing prospect within the class. Holmgren is 7-foot-1 and does not tip the scales previous 200 kilos. Nonetheless, he is a middle who can block pictures however has the talents of a guard. Mix that with one of the vital aggressive spirits amongst gamers on this class and it is easy to see why and the way he might wind up going No. 1.

Hardy, who’s the star prospect of the G League Ignite staff this yr, is a high-level scorer and creator with top-two upside on this class. Can rating from wherever on the court docket and has glorious contact in addition.

Duren was the No. 1 prospect within the 2022 class earlier than reclassifying to 2021. Nonetheless simply 17 years previous, Duren has relied upon his bodily instruments to dominate at the highschool stage and may do the identical at Memphis, the place for the Tigers he’ll flash his potential as a high-energy huge can dominate on protection in stretches and finishes across the rim with ease.

No. 5 is greater than everybody within the trade has Ivey however I am banking on a real star flip. He was sensational down the stretch as a freshman for Purdue final season and was a real difference-maker for the USA U19 World Cup staff this summer time, the place he earned all-tournament honors averaging 12.3 factors per sport. Sort of participant who appears to do the appropriate issues and is at all times in the appropriate spot. The Purdue model of Marcus Good.

Gamers Houstan’s dimension who play the wing place and have good capturing capacity are by default going to land someplace within the first-round vary for me as a result of what he brings to the desk as an NBA participant is so helpful. He’ll must shoot it constantly however bodily he checks out and from a expertise perspective he has proven previously that he is greater than only a floor-spacer with actual ball expertise as a creator and driver.

With Auburn star Allen Flanigan sidelined indefinitely coming off an damage, Smith, a five-star recruit, is in line to star from day one at Auburn and showcase his top-10 expertise. Massive-bodied energy ahead who has finesse to his sport to shoot it from vary and the mobility to carry up effectively towards NBA competitors. Onerous to search out combo of expertise that’ll land him someplace within the lottery.

Uncooked expertise who could possibly be a wild card within the draft. Bodily checks out as an extended, athletic wing, simply must develop his body and be capable to shoot it constantly. Sort of long-term prospect who might actually pop beneath the appropriate circumstances.

Griffin missed a few of his junior season in highschool with a knee damage and missed a while within the preseason at Duke with a knee damage earlier than returning earlier this month for exhibition play. So these questions are, and sure will proceed to, observe him throughout the draft course of. However he is an extended and artful wing who can create, and a few staff, most likely within the lottery, will wind up betting on his potential. If he stays wholesome at Duke his inventory ought to soar.

A 17-year-old Congo product, Nzosa is a tall, athletic huge who has nice mobility and a robust defensive motor however nonetheless wants so as to add polish to his sport to warrant a variety this excessive. He picked up the sport as a teen so his ability and really feel are nonetheless a piece in progress however athletically he appears to be like the a part of a rim-running huge who can defend the rim and has room to develop.

An damage derailed Baldwin’s senior season and he is off the nationwide radar a tad enjoying for Milwaukee this season, however he is an automated shooter with nice fundamentals and the pedigree of a former No. 1 recruit. Three-and-D kind ability set with an elite ability as a shooter.

Chandler recorded 24 assists in seven video games on the FIBA U-19 staff this summer time and averaged multiple steal per sport as USA marched to win the gold medal. He is a real level guard who likes to get teammates concerned and his selfless model of play will endear him to Tennessee followers as a possible day-one starter in Knoxville. Massive query right here is whether or not his sport can overcome his 6-1 body. Having him within the lottery is my reply, however scouts will wish to see what it appears to be like like this season with the Vols earlier than leaping absolutely on board.

Washington was barely ranked contained in the top-100 as a recruit two years in the past however has performed his method into the lottery dialog after a robust yr on the AAU circuit that pushed him simply inside the highest 20. And experiences out of Lexington for him have been glowing, with the mix of his handles and scoring giving him an actual likelihood to star even alongside an skilled UK roster. A participant I am betting might be within the dialog as a top-10 prospect quickly.

I had Prkacin as a borderline first-rounder within the 2021 draft earlier than he withdrew within the remaining hour. The choice might finally repay as he enters this cycle as a lottery man on my board. Good sized ahead who can shoot it and rebound at a excessive stage. He hit almost 40% of his 3-pointers final season with Cibona within the Adriatic League as a 17-year-old.

It is each an incredible and difficult state of affairs for Davison at Alabama, the place he steps right into a system that has featured guards however might play behind Jahvon Quinerly at level guard. Minutes will not matter, although. If he exhibits he can run Bama’s high-octane offense and shoots it effectively he’ll be among the many first level guards taken within the 2022 draft.

As a freshman, Mathurin quietly averaged 10.8 factors and 4.8 boards whereas hitting 41.8% from 3-point vary. He’ll enter his sophomore season as one of many huge beneficiaries of Tommy Lloyd’s system with an opportunity to star as a sophomore. Massive wings who can shoot and defend the best way Mathurin can do not final lengthy within the draft so if he shoots it above 40% from past the arc in a much bigger position then the lottery could possibly be within the playing cards.

No. 17 might wind up being method too excessive or method too low for Collins, one of many true boom-or-bust skills on this class. The Kentucky freshman is an A+ athlete who can run the rim and defend it however there’s nonetheless quite a lot of improvement wanted from him on offense to be ok with his probabilities to go one-and-done. Groups will wish to see what he appears to be like like when he isn’t in a position to win solely along with his athleticism and his expertise as a shooter and passer might be beneath the microscope.

Montero might be the very best prospect concerned with the Time beyond regulation Elite league this season. The 6-foot-2 lead guard performs with pizazz and his playmaking pops as each a creator and shooter. Loves attacking downhill and has the know-how to tug up on a dime. Assume his season with OTE will actually assist him as he grows right into a two-way prospect.

Massive wing enjoying for G League Ignite who scored 22 factors and went 3-of-5 from 3 in his debut with the staff earlier this month towards the South Bay Lakers. Daniels has some actual chops as a playmaker and creator off the bounce and has a easy stroke. Like his probabilities of being a 3-and-D kind prospect if his shot continues to drop.

An damage in September to Flanigan’s proper Achilles is predicted to sideline him 12-14 weeks, dealing a big blow to his early-season draft inventory. However it is a look-ahead projection and never a snapshot in time. And Flanigan’s long-term potential must be on this vary after a sophomore season during which he averaged 14.3 factors and 5.5 boards whereas making 34% from 3-point vary.

I am admittedly a tad greater on Keels than a lot of the trade. He has an NBA body and bonafide explosive energy that ought to equip him to create off the dribble. We’ll see what his alternatives seem like at Duke, particularly subsequent to Banchero and Griffin, however I am keen to purchase into his potential as a two-way guard who can create and assume ultimately he’ll play his method into first spherical vary.

Jovic is among the extra attention-grabbing prospects on this draft. He was the Junior ABA League MVP as a 17-year-old and has made an actual distinction enjoying for powerhouse Mega Basket. Good shooter for his dimension who may create.

Of us in Waco are already buzzing in regards to the potential of first-year addition Brown. Robust athlete with an enormous body who can actually get after it defensively. Wants so as to add to his sport on offense and show he can shoot it constantly.

Toolsy guard who has the scale and scoring acumen to be a difference-making 2-guard on the NBA stage. Cleveland barely made the lower as a five-star in his class and there is nonetheless a necessity for him to develop his total sport, notably on offense, however the upside stays huge and he has the bodily instruments to be a Spherical 1 decide.

Over his remaining six video games final season at Duke, Williams averaged 16.7 factors and seven.8 rebounds, ending off his mini-breakout with a 23-point, 19-rebound outing vs. Louisville. If he continues on that trajectory this season the 7-foot sophomore could have loads of curiosity given his dimension, rebounding and inside presence.

Accidents plagued a promising freshman marketing campaign for Bagley within the desert however averaging 10.8 factors and 6.2 boards whereas hitting 34.7% from 3-point vary on 72 makes an attempt is sufficient promise to pique the curiosity of groups. He’ll want to indicate he can constantly produce in a much bigger position and may have ample alternative this season with the Solar Devils.

As a freshman at Colorado, Walker did not wow within the stat sheet — he averaged 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 boards per sport — however expertise evaluators view him as a possible breakout star for 2021-22. He shot above 50% from 3-point vary final season on 44 makes an attempt and has the size to be a role-playing wing able to impacting the sport on each ends.

Dieng is predicted to be one of many first worldwide prospects drafted in 2022. He has an enormous body for a wing, can deal with it and create like a guard and has the flexibility to play a number of positions within the backcourt — exactly the kind of toolsy participant that groups like to gamble on within the mid-to-late first spherical.

NBA groups covet gamers who match the archetype of Christie — a 6-foot-7 wing who can rating it and deal with it — so I am anticipating he’ll get first-round buzz as a freshman regardless of narrowly making the lower as a top-20 prospect in his class. He ought to have each alternative to flash his various weaponry at Michigan State as effectively.

Tubelis completed his freshman season at Arizona robust and has the measurables to be a first-rounder beneath a brand new teaching employees led by Tommy Lloyd. He is a easy scorer, a tenacious rebounder and a possible floor-spacing huge man on the subsequent stage if his outdoors shot begins falling with regularity.