Colorado men’s basketball forward Cody Williams has picked up right where he left off after a wrist injury sidelined him for over a month, playing himself into the top spot of Yahoo Sports’ most recent 2024 NBA mock draft.
Williams, a former five-star prospect, notched back-to-back 20-point games before the injury, and since returning, he has averaged 17 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks in four games. He was also named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Monday.
After projecting Williams to go No. 10 to the San Antonio Spurs in November, Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek now believes the forward will go No. 1 overall to the Detroit Pistons.
In her justification, Peek wrote:
It’s clear the Pistons need help offensively, particularly at the wing, and Williams could add length and outside shooting (he’s 5-of-7 from 3 in the last two games). He’s also one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball. He can guard positions 1-4 and is an elite shot blocker at the wing. Williams was a late bloomer in high school and still has a ton of room for growth. In a draft that is wide open, Williams will definitely get looks at No. 1.
While Williams still needs to prove himself as a consistent 3-point shooter, Peek was right on the mark when she claimed him as “one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball.” At 6-foot-8 with long arms and outrageous athleticism, Williams has the potential to be not only the best prospect in the draft but the best two-way player as well.
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