2021 NBA Mock Draft: Introducing high school, international prospects

With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.

Picks: 1 – 5 | Picks: 6 – 10 | Picks: 11 – 15 | Picks: 16 – 20 | Picks: 21 – 30 | Picks: 31 – 50 |

11. Jonathan Kuminga, Uncommitted 

Forward, 6-foot-7, 17 years old, The Patrick School (New Jersey)

It is unclear if Jonathan Kuminga will be in the 2021 NBA Draft or wait until 2022, which is one of the reasons he falls a bit lower on this list. However, he is currently the No. 1 rated high school junior in the country rated by ESPN as well as 247 Sports. Even though he was younger than his opponents, he averaged 20.8 points per game on the Nike EYBL Division B circuit last year. Kuminga also had the second-most points per game (27.4 PPG) among all players in the Peach Jam Tournament in 2019. He has been an electrifying presence at The Patrick School, which is where Kyrie Irving and several other notable NBA players attended.

12. Jaden Springer, Tennessee (Committed)

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 6-foot-5, 17 years old, IMG Academy (Florida)

Jaden Springer, who was born in September 2002, is one of the youngest players in his draft class. He is a natural shot creator on offense, averaging 21.1 points per game on the U17 AAU circuit in 2018-19. But he was also able to produce 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks during those games which helped showcase his value across the floor. He is currently playing at point guard for IMG Academy, which has come with its own ups and downs. However, it will add to his overall versatility and value as an incredibly well-rounded prospect.

13. Josh Christopher, Uncommitted

Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old, Mayfair High School (California)

When HoopsHype spoke to 2019 NBA Draft pick Bol Bol, he was asked what basketball prospect he liked most in the upcoming classes. Without hesitation, he said that it was Josh Christopher. He is a tailor-made bucket capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. In fact, his current scoring average (30.1 PPG) ranks Top 25 among all high school seniors in the nation. Christopher also has had experience on the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp. Christopher is one of those players who is already a lottery talent but can continue to rise as the process continues.

14. Usman Garuba, Real Madrid 

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Big, 6-foot-8, 17 years old   

After winning MVP at the U16 Euro Championship in 2016 behind 16.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, Usman Garuba once again helped lead Spain to the gold medal at the U18 tournament in 2019. Both his points (15.6 PPG) and rebounds (12.9 RPG) were fairly consistent with his previous stats. So, too, were his blocks per game (2.1 BPG) on the defensive end of the ball. He had the second-best defensive rating (70.0) and also scored the third-best Player Efficiency Rating (33.3) among all participants. He is currently on the senior team for his hometown Real Madrid.

15. DJ Steward, Duke (Committed)

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Guard, 6-foot-3, 18 years old, Whitney Young High School (Illinois)

DJ Steward is a combo guard connected on six three-pointers in one game while he was competing in the recent Hoophall Classic. He has a case as one of the best shooters in this draft class, connecting on 26-of-64 (40.6 percent) attempts for his AAU team. While he makes most sense off-ball but is not quite big enough to play full-time at the two, he has grown physically and filled out a bit over the past year. If he is simply a late bloomer, Steward will be an increasingly touted talent.

Picks: 1 – 5 | Picks: 6 – 10 | Picks: 11 – 15 | Picks: 21 – 30 | Picks: 31 – 50 |

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