It’s already time to start thinking about the next NBA draft.
If it feels like the NBA draft was just a few months ago, that’s because it WAS just a few months ago in November of 2020. But in this pandemic-disrupted basketball timeline, nothing is happening when it normally does, and the 2021 draft doesn’t even have a finalized date yet.
But given the NBA playoffs will end late in the month of July, the draft will fall soon after, so it’s not too soon to start thinking about potential draft targets with the NCAA’s March Madness inching closer by the hour. To that end, we took a look at who our sister site For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky projects the Celtics to take in the 2021 draft.
Boston projects to have a selection in each round of the upcoming draft, so let’s see what For The Win sees in the Celtics’ future.
Texas Longhorns freshman Greg Brown showed why he is such an exciting NBA prospect by throwing an absolutely electrifying dunk on Tuesday.
Texas Longhorns freshman Greg Brown showed why he is such an exciting NBA prospect by throwing an absolutely electrifying dunk on Tuesday.
Brown was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and chose to stay in-state to play for head coach Shaka Smart and the Longhorns. The 19-year-old came in with a first-round grade on the most recent update of our big board for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Currently averaging 11.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for Texas (11-4), he is the centerpiece for a roster that has been described as one of the “most athletic” college basketball teams in recent memory.
But even superb athleticism may not be an appropriate enough description of what Brown somehow did against Baylor, a defensive-minded program that came into the night undefeated:
Brown, who was spotting up on the weak side corner, saw an opening on a back door cut to the basket. He caught the ball just outside the right block in stride and … BOOM … he flew high and gave defender Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua a memory that the Baylor sophomore will want to soon forget.
As he admired the work he had just done to the rim, Brown also stared down his fallen opponent. This celebration earned a technical foul, which didn’t do him any favors in the eyes of coach Smart, but the highlight may be a sweet enough chaser to wash down the whistle.
Coming into the game, per Bart Torvik, Brown was one of less than twenty freshmen in high-major conferences who had recorded at least nine dunks on the season. This one, however, is one that will be remembered for a bit longer than his others.
Combine that with the fact that Brown is also one of the leaders in 3-pointers attempted among high-major freshmen and it becomes fairly obvious why he will likely hear his name called in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft.
See the top projected picks in our first consensus NBA Mock Draft.
Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham is widely expected to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but there’s plenty of talent available in what is projected to be a deep draft class.
A total of 47 different players appeared as first round selections across the mock drafts we reviewed. If a player was left out of one of the mock drafts, he was assigned a value of 31 for each absence to determine his draft average. To give an approximate draft range, we’re also listing each player’s best and worst draft position across the five mock drafts.
The draft order was set using each team’s current record, via Tankathon.
Here is our consensus mock draft 1.0, with all 30 picks in the first round:
Shortly after the NCAA declared all college basketball transfers immediately eligible, Deandre Williams made his Memphis Tigers’ debut.
Shortly after the NCAA declared all college basketball transfers immediately eligible, Deandre Williams made his Memphis Tigers’ debut.
Williams declared early entry for the 2020 NBA draft before withdrawing and transferring from Evansville. It was unclear if he would have to sit out a year but due to the ongoing pandemic, the waiver was approved. This is good news for draftniks considering that he is one of the more intriguing prospects in the nation, even if he is not yet appearing on mock drafts or big boards.
During his first appearance, coming off the bench, Williams scored 10 points while shooting 4-for-5 (80.0%) from the floor. He also managed 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block during just 17 minutes of action. It was obvious that energy was much higher when Williams was on the floor.
Despite foul trouble, which makes sense because of the jitters, it was a fairly good performance for Williams. The transfer brings an immediate spark to the program, as Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has outlined (via Daily Memphian):
“DeAndre, he’s probably our best all-around player, honestly. He rebounds, he blocks shots, he makes plays, he can knock down threes. He’s our toughest defender. I mean, he does everything. He really does. He brings a lot to the table for us. And when he’s on the floor, then he’s the point guard, he’s the point forward and he makes plays happen for everybody else.”
As his new coach said, Williams showed do-it-all potential at Evansville, averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during his first college basketball season. This was highlighted by a 37-point, 10-rebound victory over Miami (Ohio), in which he shot an absurd 17-for-18 from the field.
Deeper dives into the numbers, however, show how special of a player he was at Evansville. In fact, his profile on Synergy Sports Tech illustrates that he was one of the most efficient players in college basketball. Overall, Williams averaged 1.18 points per possession for Evansville. That ranked 98th percentile among all D-I players, per Synergy.
Williams was 56-for-68 (82.4%) on attempts within five feet of the rim for Evansville, per Bart Torvik. That ranked sixth-best among those with as many attempts, trailing 2020 draftees Obi Toppin, Nick Richards and Udoka Azubuike.
He was often able to beat his man when guarded one-on-one and when driving left on isolation plays, per Synergy, Williams was 9-for-13 (69.2%) from the field.
Meanwhile, he showed unselfishness and plus-playmaking skills considering that his assist percentage (30.0%) ranked second-best in the nation among all players 6-foot-9 or taller.
“I love facilitating,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire when he touched base with us in May 2020. “That’s the difference. I don’t always have to score. I can drive [against] two, three defenders and make sure they all suck into me and then just kick it out. That’s just my game.”
(via Synergy)
He can best be described as an inside-out scorer on offense because of his ability inside the paint and beyond the arc, as he also shot 45.5% on his 3-pointers. Even more impressive, via Synergy, he was a remarkable 12-for-20 (60.0%) on his catch-and-shoot attempts from beyond the arc. That level of productivity as a floor spacer should warrant immediate attention.
Teams can run plays for him as well as one element of his game that may translate best in the NBA is his ability to succeed during pick-and-pop opportunities. Last season, via Synergy, he was 13-for-15 (86.7%) and averaged an NCAA-best 2.1 points per possession on these looks.
“I’m starting to evolve my game into shooting and I want to show everybody that I can shoot as well because I can,” Williams told Rookie Wire. “My game is not just dribbling and attacking people. I can also shoot as well. I want to be able to show that I’m versatile and I’m able to do anything on the court. That’s what people need at the next level.”
Another aspect that stands out for Williams, who averaged 6.9 rebounds per game, is his ability to grab and go. After pulling down the board and taking the ball up the court in the open court, he was 10-for-15 (66.7%) as the ball handler in transition this past season.
“I can get it off the glass. If I have a big in front of me, I’ll just push it,” said Williams. “That’s what the big guys are doing nowadays. They’re getting it off the glass, they’re pushing, they’re facilitating.”
This is an aspect of his game that will be even further accentuated when playing under Penny Hardaway at Memphis. During the 2020-21 season thus far, per KenPom, the Tigers’ pace ranks in the top-10 fastest adjusted tempos among all 357 D-I teams.
Williams also brings a defensive intensity and will often serve as the small-ball five for the Tigers. If he is able to thrive in that role, too, he should be able to separate himself as a draftable player in the 2021 NBA draft.
With a chaotic season ahead for the NBA and NCAA alike, it’s never too soon to study up on the next cohort of players joining the league.
While the ink on the contracts signed by prospects from the 2020 NBA draft may not yet be dry, for some at least it is never too early to start thinking about the next draft.
Among that set can be counted For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, who put together a comprehensive mock for the 2021 draft with two selections in mind for the Boston Celtics included. While you might not like where the Celtics are slotted to draft (20th overall in the first round and 50th overall in the second), don’t blame Kalbrosky; that estimation was gleaned by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton based off of estimated wins.
For this 2021 NBA mock draft, I wrote about all 60 players. Also included: AAU stats and analysis from NBA scouts.
Learn about the best prospects in college basketball, in the G League and those who are playing internationally! See who your team landed:https://t.co/7DRTyHPzQ5
With a chaotic season ahead for the NBA and NCAA alike, it’s never too soon to study up on the next cohort of players joining the league.
While the ink on the contracts signed by prospects from the 2020 NBA draft may not yet be dry, for some at least it is never too early to start thinking about the next draft.
Among that set can be counted For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, who put together a comprehensive mock for the 2021 draft with two selections in mind for the Boston Celtics included. While you might not like where the Celtics are slotted to draft (20th overall in the first round and 50th overall in the second), don’t blame Kalbrosky; that estimation was gleaned by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton based off of estimated wins.
For this 2021 NBA mock draft, I wrote about all 60 players. Also included: AAU stats and analysis from NBA scouts.
Learn about the best prospects in college basketball, in the G League and those who are playing internationally! See who your team landed:https://t.co/7DRTyHPzQ5
It appears Aaron Henry made the right decision to come back to Michigan State for another season.
[jwplayer ToMWO6Jz]
Forward Aaron Henry considered leaving MSU after his sophomore season, but ultimately elected to come back for his junior year. So far that has turned out to be a great decision for him, and one mock draft has already taken notice of his improved game.
Here’s a portion of what Kalbrosky had to say about Henry:
“He looks to have gained significant size and confidence, clearly emerging as a team leader under coach Tom Izzo. Thus far, he has stepped it up as a defender, recording 4 blocks during a victory over Notre Dame.”
Click here to see all of what Kalbrosky had to say about Henry and the rest of his mock draft.
Henry is doing it all for the Spartans through the first five games this season. He’s averaging 11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 2 blocks per game.
Henry was the only Spartan listed in this mock draft, but don’t be surprised if we see some other guys get some NBA love should MSU continue to play well this year.
Cunningham finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the 75-68 victory over UT Arlington.
[jwplayer XNEzSMCb]
Five-star recruit Cade Cunningham on Wednesday recorded a double-double during his collegiate debut with the Oklahoma State Cowboys during a 75-68 win over UT Arlington.
Cunningham, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the victory. He shot 7-of-16 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, in 36 minutes of work.
The 19-year-old went to work early and had his entire repertoire on display, recording 12 of the Cowboys’ first 24 points. He flashed his craftiness and quickness while he also excelled in driving and finishing near the basket throughout the game.
The Cowboys were pushed until the final seconds by the Mavericks and pulled out the win late. Cunningham was featured heavily in the closing minutes and went 5-of-7 from the free-throw line to help seal the road victory.
The college basketball season may have kicked off on Wednesday for both men and women but most eyes in the sport were locked in on Cunningham. Given his overall talent, and ability to take over games, he will certainly have an audience each time he steps onto the court.
Oklahoma State plays next on Saturday vs. Texas Southern.
DraftWire updated their NBA Draft board, with Brown being in the top 25. He would be Texas’ fifth drafted player in the last six years.
Going into this 2020 NBA Draft, Texas has no players in the mix. All of their production form the 2019 season will be returning and five-star forward Greg Brown will be a major edition for Shaka Smart.
Flash forward to a year from now, a Brown will be pushing to become a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. A 6-6 forward, Brown is was the No. 9 player coming out of high school and the top player in the state of Texas.
Here is what RookieWire said about the incoming freshman:
Greg Brown averaged 18.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists with 1.5 steals per game on the AAU circuit in 2019 for the Texas Titans. Brown also had the second-best player efficiency rating (36.0) among all participants in the 17U adidas Gold Gauntlet in 2018-19. He is a highlight-reel dunker, too, which can help his fame among more casual fans when he throws down on bigger stages.
Once Brown gets his one season in Austin, he will ascend up the big board. His athleticism alone will be too good to pass up. Smart will get time to work on his offensive and defensive game, potentially making him a top player in the draft.
Atop the board is Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham. Despite the Cowboys not being able to participate in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Cunningham decided to stick true to his commitment. Mike Boynton’s team will be a problem in the Big 12, even if they cannot participate past the regular season.
Three conference players are also ahead of Brown, including Jared Butler of Baylor, Miles McBride of West Virginia, and Oscar Tshiebwe of West Virginia.
Sharife Cooper has yet to play collegiate basketball but is already expected to be a top pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
Sharife Cooper has yet to play collegiate basketball but is already expected to be a top pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
The 6-foot point guard is Auburn’s highest-rated signee in program history and has the capability to become the program’s second ever one-and-done and Bryan Kalbrosky has him just outside the top 10 on his latest big board for the 2021 draft.
“Sharife Cooper was named the USA TODAY High School Sports All-USA Player of the Year as a junior in April 2019. He became the first non-senior to ever win MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, leading McEachern High to an undefeated season and a Georgia state title in 2018-19. He also made First Team All-EYBL on the D1 Circuit while playing for the AOT Running Rebels, averaging 23.9 points with 4.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.”
Cooper is expected to be in charge of an Auburn team that will be replacing its six highest scoring players from a season ago.
