Tag: Cody Williams

ESPN’s latest mock draft has Cody Williams headed to Chauncey Billups’ Blazers

ESPN is projecting Cody Williams to join Chauncey Billups and Jabari Walker in Portland

Due to injuries, Cody Williams’ freshman season on the Colorado men’s basketball team has been up and down. The former five-star recruit has flashed greatness in multiple big games but health issues have prevented him from displaying his elite abilities consistently.

Regardless, Williams will likely enter his name into the 2024 NBA draft and could be selected early in the first round. ESPN released its latest mock draft on Tuesday (subscription required) and Williams went fifth overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.

If ESPN’s projection lands, Williams would likely play for CU Buffs great Chauncey Billups, who’s currently navigating his third season as the Blazers’ head coach. Fellow former Buff Jabari Walker is also in Portland and averaging 8.3 points in his second NBA season.

Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, is averaging 14.2 points on 52.9% shooting in what could be his only collegiate season.

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247Sports names Cody Williams as contender for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year

If he can stay healthy, Cody Williams is a contender for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year

If he can stay healthy down the stretch, Colorado men’s basketball forward Cody Williams is a contender to win Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

The former five-star recruit leads the Buffs in shooting at 57.9% and is averaging about 15 points per game. However, Williams has been set back by multiple injuries, allowing him to play in only 13 of CU’s 22 games so far. It remains likely that he’ll declare for the NBA draft after this season, although his health issues could make playing another year of college the more attractive option.

Still, according to 247Sports’ Eric Bossi, Williams is in the race for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Bossi tabbed Washington State’s Myles Rice as the front-runner for good reason, but Williams was listed as a contender.

Here’s what Bossi wrote on Williams:

Also limited by injuries, Colorado’s five-star freshman Cody Williams has only played in six Pac-12 games thus far. When he’s been on the floor, though, he’s been incredibly efficient scoring 15.5 points while grabbing 3.8 rebounds and handing out 1.8 assists per game. For the entire season he’s shooting just under 58% from the floor and 52% from three. If he can get more games under his belt, he’s a serious challenger.

Other candidates included USC’s Isaiah Collier, UCLA’s Sebastian Mack, Arizona’s KJ Lewis, Stanford’s Kanaan Carlyle and Oregon standouts Jackson Shelstad and Kwame Evans Jr.

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2024 NBA Mock Draft: Latest first-round projections at midway point of season

Rookie Wire took a look at the 2024 NBA draft class and where the top prospects stand as of Feb. 1.

The top NBA draft prospects worldwide have collectively reached the second halves of their respective seasons as they look to showcase themselves in front of scouts and executives.

The class this year has seen several players help their stock, while others have struggled and fallen down draft boards. Some players have also dealt with recent injuries and other factors that have prevented them from reaching their potential.

The draft is widely considered open at the top of the board, with several prospects in the conversation to be the first selection. Unlike last year, when Victor Wembanyama was the consensus No. 1 pick, there is no clear-cut choice this year.

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Prospects will continue to see their standing fluctuate over the remaining two-plus months of action on the court as scouts have more time to evaluate them. The sheer unknown atop the draft board should create plenty of storylines to follow over the remainder of the season.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that the draft will be expanded to a two-night format, with the first round set to take place on June 26 at the Barclays Center. The second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York the following night.

Rookie Wire looked at the class and where the top prospects stand at this point of the season. The order was determined by the reverse order of the NBA standings as of Feb. 1.

Note: Player fit wasn’t necessarily taken into account with each pick. Pick protections and other notes courtesy of Tankathon.

Cody Williams goes No. 1 overall in Yahoo Sports’ updated NBA mock draft

Cody Williams went No. 1 overall in this NBA mock draft

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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Cody Williams awarded Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

Cody Williams was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

Only four games after returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him for over a month, Colorado men’s basketball forward Cody Williams was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Monday.

Leading the Buffs to wins over Oregon and Oregon State, Williams continued to back up his case for being the top pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The former five-star prospect scored a career-high 23 points against Oregon and followed that up with 16 vs. the Beavers. In both games combined, Williams had eight rebounds, four assists and shot an insanely efficient 70% from the field (16-for-23). He also showcased his defensive ability with three steals and two blocks.

While Williams played to his usual tune — sky-high dunks, buckets at the rim and hounding defense — his 3-point shooting was the best it has been all year. On seven attempts from deep, the 6-foot-8 forward hit five of them.

As the Buffs begin a three-game road trip on Wednesday night against Washington, they’ll look toward Williams in hopes of creating some much-needed momentum away from Boulder.

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Bleacher Report projects three Buffs to go first-round in latest 2024 NBA mock draft

KJ Simpson’s NBA draft stock has surged over the past two months

In Bleacher Report’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft, Colorado men’s basketball standouts Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson were all projected to go in the first round.

Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, was the highest projected draft pick out of those three, going seventh overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. Da Silva landed No. 19 (New Orleans Pelicans) and Simpson went No. 20 to the New York Knicks.

While Williams and da Silva have been featured in plenty of other NBA mock drafts, Simpson’s draft stock is surging amid his junior season. CU’s point guard is averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 47.2% from deep.

Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote on Simpson:

Athletic limitations and 6’2″ size may prevent KJ Simpson from passing the eye test. But the functionality of his handle has led to effective creation. His shotmaking has been consistent off the catch and dribble, and he’s used touch to compensate for no explosion. And he reads the game well at both ends, whether he’s processing quickly as a passer or anticipating defensively to average 1.9 steals per game.

I’ve never thought of Simpson as athletically limited, but Wasserman still thinks highly of his overall game.

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Two CU Buffs featured in ESPN’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft

Two CU Buffs were selected in ESPN’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft

It’s looking likely that two Colorado men’s basketball stars will be selected in the 2024 NBA draft.

In ESPN’s latest mock (subscription required), freshman Cody Williams went No. 12 overall to the Indiana Pacers while senior Tristan da Silva was picked No. 36 by the Boston Celtics. Colorado hasn’t had more than one player selected in a single NBA draft since 1981.

Williams, a five-star recruit from Arizona, has done nothing but raise his draft stock through six games played with the Buffs. The 6-foot-8 forward is currently shooting 60.4% from the field with averages of 12.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Da Silva, meanwhile, is still looking to find some consistency this year. He owns three games of at least 15 points but struggled in losses to Florida State and Colorado State.

If he can continue his strong start to the season, I’d also expect KJ Simpson to start showing up on mock drafts soon.

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Social media reacts to Cody Williams’ early breakout game vs. Milwaukee

Highlighted by a huge one-handed dunk, Cody Williams balled out against Milwaukee

Cody Williams has arrived, folks.

In only his second collegiate game, the highly touted Colorado men’s basketball freshman proved why many consider him to be a first-round NBA draft pick.

Williams’ first half on Tuesday evening against Milwaukee featured an early one-handed breakaway dunk, 13 total points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He made it all look easy, too.

After missing Friday’s game against Grambling State with an injury, the young forward finished Tuesday’s 106-79 win with 17 points, five boards and four assists.

Colorado, which earned a No. 25 ranking in Monday’s AP poll, is now 3-0 on the season.

Here’s how social media reacted to the first big performance of Williams’ CU career:

Cody Williams to return for Colorado’s Tuesday home game against Milwaukee

Cody Williams is expected to return for tonight’s game against Milwaukee

After wins over Towson and Grambling State to start the season, the Colorado men’s basketball team is 2-0 and ranked No. 25 in the latest Associated Press poll.

The Buffs got just four points from star freshman Cody Williams in the opener against Towson before he missed Friday’s Grambling State game due to a lower leg injury.

But, all signs point to Williams being good to go for Tuesday’s game against Milwaukee, as Pat Rooney of BuffZone reported that Williams will play.

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports also confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, so this is a huge step in the right direction for the Buffs.

Williams is expected to be a massive part of head coach Tad Boyle’s rotation for a loaded Buffs team with NCAA Tournament aspirations, and he even has the makings of a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Tipoff between the Buffs and Panthers is set for 7 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Network. The game is part of the Sunshine Slam Tournament.

Pair of Colorado basketball stars named to list of top Pac-12 NBA draft prospects

Two of Colorado’s top players were named to a list of the Pac-12’s top 2024 NBA draft prospects

The 2023-24 college basketball season is just around the corner and that means preseason watch lists and future NBA draft projections are beginning to be produced and shared.

According to one analyst, the Colorado Buffaloes have a pair of top 2024 NBA draft prospects on their roster. In a recent article released by Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports, Cody Williams and Tristan da Silva are two of the Pac-12’s best 2024 draft prospects.

Williams, a five-star true freshman from Arizona, has one of the biggest upsides out of anyone in the 2023 recruiting class. The 6-foot-8 forward will likely be one of the top rookie college players in the country this season.

Da Silva is a veteran forward who, even with the talented Williams on the roster, will likely be the Buffs’ most consistent and best player this season. Here’s some of what Finkelstein wrote on da Silva:

Scouts will be watching the progression of his athleticism and impact on the defensive end of the floor in order to project how those two areas could potentially translate to the NBA level.

The duo of Williams and da Silva, along with star point guard KJ Simpson and other, will make Colorado a legitimate threat to win the Pac-12 this season.

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