Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

How impactful would Mark Sears return to Alabama basketball be?

If Mark Sears returns, it would carry massive implications for the 2024-2025 Alabama basketball season.

Arguably one of the best players in Alabama Crimson Tide basketball history is contemplating whether he should return to Tuscaloosa for one more year or remain in the 2024 NBA draft. That is fellow Alabama point guard [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag].

Sears’s return would mean a lot for the Crimson Tide next season. His impact is indescribable at times. The NCAA West Region’s Most Oustanding Player and Bob Cousy Award finalist had one of the best seasons in program history last season. Sears set the single-season scoring record by accumulating 797 points.

If Sears returns, the ceiling is as high as it has ever been for any Alabama basketball team. Alabama head coach Nate Oats has already assembled one of the most talented rosters in the country. Many expect the Crimson Tide to begin the season ranked inside the top-5. Sears’ decision to return would likely have Alabama as a top-3 team to begin the season.

That speaks volumes to the type of player that Sears is. He can score at a high level and is the type of leader that Alabama would need to make another Final Four run next season. His impact would be monumental for Alabama as they look to win their first national title in program history during the 2024-2025 season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama men’s basketball program.

Rob Dillingham: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 176 LBS Team: Kentucky Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton (Klutch) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 2 / Worst rank: 12 In 2023-24, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He shot 47.5 …

2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 176 LBS

Team: Kentucky

Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton (Klutch)

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 2 / Worst rank: 12

In 2023-24, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three, and 79.6 percent from the foul line.

All-Big East guard Trey Alexander declares for 2024 NBA draft

Alexander was selected to the All-Big East second team after averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals.

Creighton junior Trey Alexander declared for the 2024 NBA draft ahead of the early entry deadline on Saturday, reportedly forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Alexander was selected to the All-Big East second team after averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals on 44.6% shooting from the field in 35 games. He ranked sixth in the country in minutes per game (37.3) and ninth in field-goal attempts (520).

The 6-foot-4 guard registered 15 20-point games, including a season-high 31 points on Feb. 25 in a loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. His 15 20-point games were tied for the most in the Big East.

Alexander, who will turn 21 on May 2, told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility, ending a three-year run with the Bluejays. He will leave as one of 17 players in program history to score at least 1,000 career points (1,376).

He isn’t projected to be drafted. However, he will be able to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the predraft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Kansas State junior Arthur Kaluma declares for 2024 NBA draft

Kaluma was an All-Big 12 honorable mention after averaging 14.4 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 42.7% shooting from the field.

Kansas State Wildcats junior Arthur Kaluma declared for the 2024 NBA draft ahead of the early entry deadline on Saturday after one season with the program.

Kaluma was an All-Big 12 honorable mention after averaging 14.4 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 42.7% shooting from the field in 33 games. He ranked fifth in the conference in minutes, averaging 34.5 per game.

The 6-foot-7 forward registered six 20-point games, including a season-high 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on Feb. 24 in a win over BYU. He was seventh in the Big 12 in double-doubles (5) and ninth in free throws (118).

Kaluma played his first two years in college at Creighton before transferring to Kansas State in June 2023. He helped lead the Bluejays to 47 wins and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a run to the Elite Eight two years ago.

The 22-year-old tested the predraft process last year and ultimately decided to return to school. He capitalized on a larger role with the Wildcats this past season, reaching career highs in points (475), rebounds (231), assists and steals (27) and 3-pointers (51).

Kaluma isn’t projected to be drafted. However, he will be able to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the predraft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Alabama senior Grant Nelson to return to Tuscaloosa for 5th year of college

Nelson registered six 20-point games, including a season-high 24 points and seven rebounds on Nov. 6 in a win over Morehead State.

Alabama senior Grant Nelson announced Monday on Instagram that he will return to the program and utilize his fifth year of college for the 2024-25 season.

Nelson averaged 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 assists on 48.8% shooting from the field in 37 games. He registered six 20-point games, including a season-high 24 points and seven rebounds on Nov. 6 in a win over Morehead State.

He was named to the NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team after helping the Crimson Tide to the Final Four. He became the first player in the NCAA Tournament since Kevin Love in 2008 with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in the Sweet 16 or later on March 28.

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Nelson transferred to Alabama after spending three years at North Dakota State University. He was an All-Summit League first-team and All-Defensive Team selection last year as a junior and the Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman.

After starting every game, Nelson projects to return to that role next season. The Crimson Tide, who have the second-ranked recruiting class, will add three top-50 prospects to the roster and Aden Holloway, Chris Youngblood and Houston Mallette via the transfer portal.

Alabama has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons, including three appearances in the Sweet 16. The team lost to UConn this year in the Final Four.

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Projected first-round pick Tristan da Silva declared for 2024 NBA draft

Da Silva was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after averaging a career-high 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals.

Colorado senior Tristan da Silva told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he declared for the 2024 NBA draft ahead of the early entry deadline, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Da Silva was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after averaging a career-high 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals on 39.5% shooting from 3-point range. He registered nine 20-point games, including a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds on March 3.

The 6-foot-9 forward helped the Buffaloes advance to the round of 32 as a play-in team. He averaged 18 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals on 56.3% shooting from beyond the arc (9-of-16) in three games in the NCAA Tournament.

Da Silva, who was born in Germany, is projected to be a first-round pick, given his shotmaking, ability to drive and finish and move the ball. He is a good cutter and constantly moves on offense to find open space and has shown some promise as a defender.

Prospects with remaining college eligibility had until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. EDT to declare for the NBA draft. He joins teammates KJ Simpson and Cody Williams in declaring for the draft after consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Da Silva will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the predraft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Johnny Furphy: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6-9 | N/A | 202 LBS Team: Kansas Agent: Priority Best aggregate mock draft rank: 13 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Furphy averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. He shot 46.6 percent …

2004 | 6-9 | N/A | 202 LBS

Team: Kansas

Agent: Priority

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 13 / Worst rank: NR

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Furphy averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. He shot 46.6 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from three, and 76.5 percent from the foul line.

Trained with the S.E. Melbourne Phoenix during the 2024 preseason, in between his freshman year at Kansas and the NBA Draft Combine.

San Antonio Spurs projected to take Euroleague point guard in new mock draft

This prospect might be the best solution at the point in the draft for the Spurs.

It is about as unclear as it has ever been on which potential top 2024 NBA draft prospect that the San Antonio Spurs will use their top selection in that year’s draft on. Currently slated to come in at a projected No. 2 overall by Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, the league analyst also has a player in mind for the Spurs to use it on.

That would be Serbian floor general Nikola Topic, a 6-foot-6, 198-lb. point guard who last played for the Euroleague’s KK Crvena zvezda and is often compared to Goran Dragic at just 18 years old.

“More than anything else, the San Antonio Spurs will value his ability to create shots for teammates with his dribble manipulation, vision and advantageous … size for passing,” writes Wasserman.

“The Spurs also don’t have a ball-handler who puts pressure on defenses and the rim like Topic,” he adds. “And it was promising to see him hit both of his 3-point attempts in his first game back.”

Should San Antonio go with Topic in the draft this early, it would make taking Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham later less likely, and for good reason. We’d be very happy should Topic be on the board still, as he might be the best solution at the point in the draft for the Spurs.

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Another mock draft has San Antonio Spurs taking Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham

Do they know something that we do not?

A new 2024 NBA mock draft by Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has the San Antonio Spurs taking Kentucky floor general Rob Dillingham with the No. 7 overall pick of the draft. The Wildcat point guard is a popular pick for the Spurs at this position, and given he is a 19-year-old standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 176 lbs. with some serious scoring and playmaking ability, it is not hard to see why.

Often compared to Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, Dillingham is not without faults in his game, but at his young age, there’s plenty of time to work on those concerns.

“Shot selection and defensive concerns could allow San Antonio to grab Dillingham with the Toronto Raptors’ pick,” writes Wasserman.

“He would give the Spurs lineup an additional ball-handler who also shot 47.8% off the catch, a good sign for his potential to play alongside a more natural point guard,” he adds. “There isn’t a prospect in the draft with a more potent package of creativity and shot making.”

And while San Antonio might make a pick in this draft with an earlier selection that could take Dillingham off the board in terms of need, we think the fit is a good one.

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San Antonio Spurs go for combo guard with size early in second in new ’24 mock draft

Given he’d be looked to as a potential depth option, this feels like a solid pick at this point in the draft for the Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs are looking for the right sort of players to put around star French forward Victor Wembanyama next season. Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman has a prospect in mind to that end for the Spurs to use their early second round pick in the 2024 draft on who might fit the bill.

That player, the University of Pittsburgh’s Carlton Carrington, is an intriguing player who could be an ideal support player for San Antonio in the future, but has some serious kinks in his game to work out. A 6-foot-5, 190-lb. wing who, at age 18, he is compared to Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

“Carrington could generate first-round consideration, but he’s not a lock, which will lead to an interesting decision over whether to scrimmage at the NBA combine,” writes Wasserman.

“It’s easy to see the appeal (… of a) guard who averaged 4.1 assists and 2.0 3s (per game) and hit 102 pull-up jumpers,” adds the B/R analyst.

“There are just questions about his lack of quickness and burst, which limited his rim pressure and led to a red-flag low steal rate.”

Given he’d be looked to as a potential depth option, this feels like a solid pick at this point in the draft for the Spurs.

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