NBA Draft: Top-50 2022 NBA Big Board

1. Jaden Hardy

Hardy loves to shoot the 3 (I’m not a fan of his release. I know most disagree on that.) He’s very capable of being the lead guard, loves to dribble, and has the ball in his hands. I have concerns over what kind of player he will be in the NBA or even the G-League Ignite. Does he want to be the 30 ppg scorer? Or the 22 ppg scorer that facilitates?

2. Nikola Jovic

The U19 FIBA’s solidified my choice. Jovic was the main attraction for the Serbian team. He led them with 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 blocks. At 6’10, Jovic might have the height of a PF. I don’t see that at all. In fact, Jovic plays more of a point forward. He can bring the ball up-court and find the open man on a fastbreak, a very crafty dribbler and finisher around the rim.

3. Paolo Banchero

I’m absolutely sold on Banchero being a top-3 pick. He’s only going to falter if others have amazing, breakout seasons. Banchero is arguably the most NBA-ready prospect in this draft. Standing 6’10 and 250 lbs, Banchero is going to bully fellow collegiate players on his way to the league. His offensive game is strong, highlighted by a very efficient stepback jump shot.

4. Caleb Houstan

Houstan finds the 3 point line like he’s JJ Reddick or Kyle Korver (not as efficient of a shooter). I’d like to see more slashing to the basket and mid-range game. Houstan is an excellent on-ball defender. He will need to add more versatility to his offensive game, but I’d argue he will be the second-best scorer of this class.

5. Chet Holmgren

Let me state for the record, I’m not sold on Chet Holmgren. It’s not that I don’t think he’s a talented prospect or NBA player. I think the guys ahead of him are much more of the players NBA teams look to find. My issue with Holmgren isn’t really a fault of his. When matched up against Victor Wembenyama in the U19, I forgot all about Chet. I don’t think he’s flashy with his playmaking. Holmgren loves to shoot the 3 and can be an effective pick and pop player. With that being said, there are a lot of college bigs that can do the same thing. Holmgren isn’t muscular and will be knocked around if he doesn’t put on weight.

6. Jabari Smith

Smith is one of the best pick-and-roll prospects in this draft class. He has long arms and plays a decent post-game with a lot of rook for growth. Not afraid to take shots off the dribble. His defense will be his calling card. Smith is a fundamentally sound big man.

7. TyTy Washington

TyTy is a Very crafty scorer. He Can pull up for a jumper or spot up for three. Washington is a sensational dribble and will escape getting a lot of traps and 2 on 1’s. He’s nearly impossible to guard 1 on 1. TyTy has Long arms and good height meaning a solid defender for a PG.

8. A.J. Griffin

Griffin plays above the rim. He’s a solid dribbler and slasher but doesn’t seem to be a consistent strong finisher. AJ Griffin has the ability to overmatch in the paint and seems to shy away from that. I am not sold on him as an offensive scorer away from the rim. His explosiveness will be what drives teams to him.

9. J.D. Davison

Davison is a freaky athlete that finishes with big dunks and electrifying spin moves. He’s a phenomenal dribbler that uses his elusiveness and ball handling to escape defenders. Davison is very outgoing and exuberant on the court. He shows a lot of promise with his step-back game. We need to see more advancement in scoring rather than high flying and electric plays.

10. Kennedy Chandler

The freshman PG class is highlighted by the names of Washington, Davison, and Chandler. I’ve explained why I have the other two as high as I do. I want to see some real game footage of Chandler before I go bullish on him. He’s a smart player and could be the most efficient PG of the bunch. I just see a lot more standout traits from Washington and Davison.

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11. Patrick Baldwin Jr.

PBJ finishes drives strong and feature a very nice dribble stepback move, especially at the 3 point line. He tends to be very off-balance on pull-up attempts. Baldwin will likely be an above-average defender down low as a wing. There is concern how much growth he will have in college playing in Horizon league

12. Dyson Daniels

Daniels is a great ball-handler for his size. He makes smooth drives to the basket. However, he is not as explosive as he should give his athleticism. He does need more of a mid-range game. Daniels hides pass well and doesn’t let defenders see what’s coming. Going to be a very crafty stretch wing.

13. Jalen Duren

I’m going to keep this short. I think Jalen Duren is nothing more than a post presence. I’ll take the hate mail. For what it’s worth, I think he will be a dominant post presence. I just have a hard time believing he is as good as advertised.

14. Yannick Nzosa

Nzosa Will lead the NBA in chase-down blocks. He has a very Giannis feel and look when driving to the basket. Nzosa is very smooth for his size and oozes potential. The major red flag is a real lack of a shot. He’s going to rely on a fastbreak and drives to the basket as the main offense if the shot doesn’t come around.

15. Peyton Watson

Here’s why I like Watson. I really don’t know much about him. I’ve never really dived into his game. At the FIBA U-19 games, he came off the bench in the gold medal game and recorded 2 blocks in 5 minutes. That tells me he’s a competitor no matter where or when he’s playing. From what I’ve seen he’s a point forward. I love the versatility in his game.

16. Daimion Collins

Best shot-blocking Kentucky big since AD. Primarily a post player but does need to work on post moves. Collins cuts well to the rim and finishes off with strong dunks. Some adjustments are needed on release (saw a few instances of that). His long term potential banks on him developing as a scorer down low rather than staying as just a strong  finisher

 17. Jaden Ivey

I didn’t have Ivey anywhere near the top-15 before the FIBA U-19. He showed how much of a scorer he could be at Purdue as a freshman, which included a 26 point game against North Texas in the team’s NCAA Tournament loss. The FIBA U-19’s where were I had to check myself and really ask if he’s indeed a lottery guy. Yes, Ivey is truly a scorer. I don’t think he will ever be a passing guard, nor does he really need to be. Ivey knows how to get buckets.

18. Caleb Love

Passing is not his first option. Love can hit the pull-up jumper and excels as a spot-up three-ball shooter. He can get inside the paint (not as crafty as others). He feels very much like Colin Sexton in terms of the game, however, does he have the high motor?

19. Roko Prkacin

As far as raw talent goes, Roko has a lot. He’s an 18-years-old with a very solid understanding of the game. Scouts have him pegged as a point forward, and he could very well be a playmaker in the NBA. His main downfall, Roko is a very poor jump shooter. Prkacin did opt to withdraw from the 2021 draft and he can hopefully address some of his issues.

20. Allen Flanigan

Flanigan would be a lot higher had he not suffered an Achilles injury. His growth from freshman to Sophomore year was remarkable. He increased his scoring output by 11.1 points. I liken Flanigan to a recent Auburn draftee, Issac Okoro.

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 21. Michael Foster

Foster is a player I’m torn on. I love his upside. Had he chosen to go the collegiate route, perhaps I’d have him higher. I’m afraid he’s going to get lost in the Ignite shuffle, derailing a lot of his hype.

 22. Marcus Bagley

Bagley is a scorer that has tools that can make him an NBA rotation player. I don’t see a 25 point per-game player, nor do I see a dominant defensive prospect. Where I have him situated is perfect seeing as he doesn’t really strike me as an All-Star, rather a guaranteed rotation piece.

 23. Ariel Hukporti

Hukporti isn’t a top NBA prospect at this time. In 2 or 3 years this is a different story. He’s going to find his offensive game. Already a very effective shot-blocker and defender, Hukporti is a freak of nature. The raw talent is there. If he puts it all together, there’s something here. The decision to withdraw from the 2021 draft was in his best interest.

24. Ben Mathurin

I don’t think Mahturin is the player everyone says he is. I watched his FIBA U-19 games, and while he’s impressive, I don’t envision a player who’s going to find his shot in the NBA. At best, I see Mathurn as a Derrick Jones Jr, a player who will give you minutes but is more known for big highlights. He’s high on the list because the Pac-12 is a strong conference this season. If he’s going to take a step up, I’d feel dumb not having him on my board.

 25. Johnny Juzang

For all UCLA has done lately, Juzang has been at the heart of it all. He’s a fierce competitor and scorer. Why do I not have him higher? I’m convinced we’ve seen the ceiling of Juzang. I don’t think he’s going to grow his game. As it stands now, he’s an NBA guy and a good one at that. I just don’t know how much more to expect from him.

26. Ibou Dianko Badji

Dianko Badji is one of many international wild cards. He’s going to be a very effective shot-blocker in the NBA. He’s still got a lot to learn around the basket on offense. We could be looking at one of the best offensive rebounders in the draft class. He just needs a bit more polish.

 27. Earl Timberlake

This Timberlake is going to bring sexy back to Memphis (I had to). For all the talk of Duren and Emoni Bates (my number 2 in 2023), Timberlake is the guy I like most. He wasn’t given time in Miami to showcase his skillset. That did have a bit to do with injuries. In five of his seven games, he scored in double figures. I see the growth and breakout coming on a loaded Memphis roster.

28. Malcolm Calazon

I don’t know if Calazon projects as more of a point guard or shooting guard. He’s great in transition (some of his highlights are extremely impressive). Does he have a good enough shot to make it in the league? One area of real concern is injury history. Cazalon has had numerous injuries to his leg. Based on potential, he’s athletic enough for a team to stash. I just don’t think he’s anything more than a poor man’s Dante Exum.

29. Trayce Jackson-Davis

Jackson-Davis has a pretty solid NBA game. He averaged 19.1 points and 9 rebounds (3.2 offensive). He lacks a true jumper and doesn’t have a 3-point attempt to his name, thus making it a bit harder for him to likely carve out a role in today’s NBA had he came out in the most recent draft. It was definitely in his best interest to come back.

30 (A).Max Abams

We know Abams can score. Is he going to be more than that in the NBA? Scorers are premium in the league. If he shows that same ability and grows his game even more in his final season of collegiate ball, he will be cemented as a borderline 1st round pick.

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30 (B). Ousmane Dieng

I couldn’t decide on whether Dieng or Abams would take the last 1st rnd spot. I decided to give both the title. Dieng is what I view as a mutant basketball player. He’s a playmaker that has excellent vision and shooting ability. I get Killian Hayes vibes, just a better shooter from 3 and obviously a larger frame. Dieng profiles as a 2 or 3. I’m a bit unsure of how he develops which is why I’m hesitant to pull the trigger.

31. Isaiah Wong

There might not be an under-the-radar player I like more than Wong. He wasn’t a household name at Miami.  This is primed to be his breakout season.  As a sophomore, Wong was Third-Team All-ACC. In a way, it felt like his own conference snubbed him. Wong played in all 27 games for Miami (starting 26). He averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest. Wong was the third Hurricane ever with back-to-back 20 point games in the ACC Tournament.

32. Scotty Pippen Jr

Pippen Jr. is not his father. As it stands now, Jr. profiles as a much better offensive prospect than his father did years ago. Pippen was a top-20 scorer in the NCCAA (20.8 PPG). My main concern and I feel this way about most 2nd generation players, a lot will be made of his namesake and unfair comparisons will generate. SPJ is an effective shooter from the field and free-throw line. His 6’1 frame is troublesome, as I don’t think he profiles as a PG, however, he’s not the typical size for a wing. If SPJ can show more of the PG skill set, he will gain traction on boards.

33. Mouhamed Gueye

Plays high above the rim. Not really a post-up guy, more of a finisher on a fastbreak. He can drive to the basket but doesn’t have many moves if he can’t leap for the dunk. Gueye has a smooth release on 3 but needs to develop a mid-range and pull-up game. He’s an effective dribbler.

34. Iverson Molinar

Molinar is not a swiss army knife when it comes to on-court versatility. That is going to change this season. He’s a scoring guard that has shown flashes of elite point guard play. Molinar is fantastic at creating his shot off the dribble. He’ll pass at a fairly effective rate, however, he’s a shoot-first guard. Last season, Molinar scored in double figures in 11 straight games, increasing his scoring average from 5.9 points per game as a freshman to 16.7 per game as a sophomore. What’s most surprising, he tripled his 3-pt attempts per game (1.1 to 3.4) shooting .436 from beyond the arc.

 35. Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Little needs to be said about Louisiana Tech big men and the NBA. Lofton is someone who can continue that trend because of his tenacious motor and strength. He’s a banger and will fight for every possession. Lofton has the inside presence of a Zion Williamson (less athletic), but the drive of a Kenneth Faried. Lofton posted five 20+ point efforts during his freshman season. If he can round out his frame, we are looking at a player who can be a physical force in the NBA.

36. Ryan Nembhard

Nembhard is not explosive or as athletic. He has an awkward leg kick and lean-on shots (especially off the dribble). He does pass well over defenders. My reason for him on this list, he’s a leader. The leadership was evident by his FIBA U-19 run with Team Canada.

37. Prentiss Hubb

Hubb is a Notre Dame point guard who averaged 14.6 points and 5.8 assists. He stands out as a primary passing guard that flashes some scoring ability. His ability to be the primary guy will determine his draft stock.

38. Isaiah Stevens

Stevens is the Rams’ most productive player. He’s a dual-threat point guard. Stevens averaged 15.3 points in 2020-21. He did so on very effective percentages (.486 from 2-pt range, .427 from 3-pt range). What’s most intriguing is his ability to pass the ball (5.4 assists). Stevens scored the game-winning layup for Colorado State against Buffalo in the 1st round of the NIT. There have been numerous instances of him knocking down clutch buckets.  Dare I say that Stevens is very Dame-Time-like?

39. Darius McGhee

McGhee is a real wildcard. His stats seem rather pedestrian, especially given he’s playing for Liberty(who did make the NCAA Tournament). I like the scoring upside he brings to the table. McGhee is a 3-point specialist. In 2020-21, he shot 8 three’s a contest. By comparison, McGhee only took 3.9 two-point shots. Given a full year of practice and less Covid restrictions, this might be a player who develops into a premier scorer. McGhee has always been a primary shooter from deep, however, I’m convinced he can become a much more explosive player, too. McGhee has an amazing 48-inch vertical leap. The guy can jump out of the gym. Add all of these factors together; I’m banking on a breakout.

40. Marcus Carr

Carr is a scoring guard that doesn’t offer much in the way of upside or development. I worry his defense will keep him off the court at the next level.

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41. Walker Kessler

Kessler has the potential to be a dominant NBA defender. He does need to add muscle to his frame. Despite being underutilized at UNC, Auburn will provide him with all the opportunities he needs to grow his game. The lack of offensive flair will hurt his chances at a prime draft selection.

42. Buddy Boeheim

Buddy Buckets. That’s all you need to know.

43. Branden Carlson

Utah center led the team in blocks in 2021 (and the top returning scorer). He’s going to surpass Isaiah Mobley as the top big man in the PAC-12. I think Carlson takes a huge leap this season as the main guy. Teams are going to salivate over his defensive potential, although, the offensive game is growing.

44. Makur Maker

Nobody has a grasp on Maker. He was hurt during his lone season at Howard, ending his season. Maker withdrew from the NBA Draft and is now playing in the Australian NBL. I wanted to see more from him at Howard. If we are talking upside, there is a lot. If we are talking NBA superstar, there’s no chance.

45. MarJon Beauchamp

Like Foster, Beauchamp will get lost in the Ignite shuffle. Unlike Foster, he’s not good enough to get himself into the 1st round conversation. Beauchamp shoots relatively well. He’s not very strong or athletic. There’s a team who will take him on potential alone.

46. Hyunjung Lee

Lee is a 3-point shooter from Davidson, where have we heard that before? Hey, Lee is a flamethrower. He can shoot it from anywhere on the court. If you ask me which NBA prospect will average over 250 three-point attempts given consistent NBA playing time (outside of Buddy B.), it’s Lee.

47. Andre Curbelo

Curbelo has big shoes to fill replacing a POTY candidate at Illinois. I’m not sure he can. He’s a pass-first guard, which means something. He isn’t a player that will be more than a floor general.  Still, the potential is there.

48.  Matthew Mayer

I don’t have a strong opinion on Mayer. I know a lot do. I’m putting him here because he’s the best option on the defending National Champions. Even if he lights the NCAA on fire, I’ll still have a very faint opinion.

49. Khalifa Diop

I don’t know much about Diop. I know enough to be intrigued. I value him as much as Maker, however, I know a bit more about the player Maker is.

50. Nolan Hickman

This will probably be my biggest miss. I think Hickman is a fantastic player. With all the talent Gonzaga has (Andrew Nembhard and Hunter Sallis aren’t even listed), Hickman is going to be lost in the shuffle. Let me emphasize, HICKMAN IS A TOP-20 PROSPECT IN TERMS OF SKILL! But, I don’t’ think he will be considered that without a real look at what he can do. I just can’t leave him off this list.

Image Source: AP Photo/Julie Bennet