9th pick: Rui Hachimura
Hachimura, the talented forward out of Gonzaga, already had some headline-grabbing attention before the season even started: He was the first Japanese-born lottery pick. And, of course, there was the news that Michael Jordan was eager to sign him to the Jordan brand. On the court so far, Hachimura has not disappointed. The quick-footed scorer is averaging over 13 points per game, and his defense—on a team that lacks it—has been improving, teetering on impressive.
Early Grade: A
Sekou Doumbouya :: Romeo Langford :: Tyler Herro :: P.J. Washington :: Cam Johnson :: Cam Reddish :: Rui Hachimura :: Jaxson Hayes :: Coby White :: Jarrett Culver :: Darius Garland :: De’Andre Hunter :: R.J. Barrett :: Ja Morant :: Zion Williamson