Bleacher Report’s NBA draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman released a ranking of his top 50 prospects ahead of this week’s NBA Draft Combine, and former Duke stars Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski seem like prized options.
Filipowski, the sophomore 7-footer who earned Second Team All-American honors in 2023-24, came in as the 21st overall player on the board. The tall forward averaged more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game, but his ball-handling skills offer him an extra dimension than other titanic forwards. He averaged 2.8 assists per game last season.
McCain, the 6-foot-3 freshman who shot 41% from 3-point range, came in even higher. Wasserman thinks he’s the seventh-best prospect in the draft. His sharp shooting moved him up on the board, but the Bleacher Report writer credited another aspect of his game for his spot in the single digits.
“McCain checks in at top 10 due to the adjustments he made as a pick-and-roll creator and finisher,” Wasserman wrote. “I didn’t expect him to be as effective as he was manipulating in ball-screens, getting to spots and converting around the basket.”
Top 50 NBA Prospect Big Board heading into the Combine https://t.co/ukxbo7Tsm9
Note: I don't think this is how the draft will go. These are personal rankings, and plenty can be interchangeable, depending what team I'd be picking for.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 9, 2024
The NBA Draft Combine takes place from May 12-19 in Chicago.