Aggregate NBA mock draft 2.0: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith battle for No. 1

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from ESPN, NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, Basketball News and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.

Since our last update, the players who have improved the most spots are Ismael Kamagate (Paris), Moussa Diabate (Michigan), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona), Hugo Besson (New Zealand), Efe Abogidi (Washington State),  Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State), Justin Lewis (Marquette), Max Christie (Michigan State), EJ Liddell (Ohio State), and Ochai Agbaji (Kansas).

The most notable prospects making their debut on our rankings are Trevor Keels (Duke), Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite), Keon Ellis (Alabama), Christian Koloko (Arizona), Wendell Moore (Duke), Blake Wesley (Notre Dame),  Josh Minott (Memphis), Zach Edey (Purdue), and Johnny Davis (Wisconsin).

Some of the top prospects who did not make the cut this time included Hunter Sallis (Gonzaga), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennesse), Kobe Bufkin (Michigan), Mouhamed Gueye (Washington State), Jahvon Quinerly (Albama), Adam Flagler (Baylor), Jaylin Williams (Auburn), Matthieu Gauzin (Le Mans), Isaiah Wong (Miami), Marcus Williams (Texas A&M), and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

2022 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Predicting all 59 picks, starting with Paolo Banchero

After a few games, we have a much better idea of how prospects like Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren will be used until the 2022 NBA draft.

After a few games, we have a much better idea of how prospects like Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren will be used until the 2022 NBA draft.

Preseason mock drafts, like the one we published back on Aug. 11, are especially challenging. Predictions are mostly guesswork based on uninformed priors until we’ve seen the usage of how each coach will implement the prospects we are evaluating.

Additionally, several players used the offseason to work on certain skill sets (e.g. Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji is now a much better shooter) in ways we couldn’t have projected.

As such, even though it’s only been a few games, it’s a lot easier to discuss the 2022 NBA draft now than it was even just last month. The season is underway for college basketball — and the G League Ignite, Overtime Elite, and several international leagues —  which means draft boards are shaping up.

After a ton of movement, as of right now, here is how we see the 2022 NBA draft unfolding.

Draft order is pulled from Tankathon. All stats are accurate as of 11/22/21.

Colorado Buffaloes Player of the Game in hoops victory over New Mexico

The Colorado Buffaloes got the victory against New Mexico on Saturday and Jabari Walker gets Player of the Game honors.

The Colorado Buffaloes program got one victory on Saturday as the hoops team defeated New Mexico in Boulder. After a too-close-for-comfort victory on opening night against Montana State, the Buffs handled the Lobos with ease in an 87-76 victory.

It was a true team effort as four Buffs players finished in double figures and three players on the bench scored six or more points.

But, the player of the game award goes to Jabari Walker. The Buffs’ power forward did it all on Saturday. He finished with 17 points on 4-10 from the field and added in 10 rebounds, a block, and a steal.

The highlight of the night for him was this massive slam dunk that sent the arena into a frenzy.

Walker asserted his presence down low time and time again and frustrated Nex Mexico. The Buffs outrebounded New Mexico by a massive margin, 47-27, and the Buffs added 15 offensive boards as well.

Those things are recipes for success and it was refreshing to see the Buffs respond after a close overtime victory against Montana State in a game they should have had no issues with.

Walker put up 14 points and eight rebounds in the opener and played well once again. If the sophomore power forward can continue to dominate inside, the Buffs will be a dangerous team to stop.

For what it’s worth, Joe Lunardi had them as a bubble team, although that was before a disappointing opening night performance.

Next up for Colorado is Maine on Monday evening.

Jabari Walker continues to rack up preseason honors

Jabari Walker was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year award preseason watch list.

Colorado Buffaloes sophomore Jabari Walker continues to rack up the preseason honors.

On Wednesday, Walker was recognized as one of 20 athletes on the 2022 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award preseason watchlist.

The award is in its eighth year and is awarded to the top small forward in Division I college basketball. The list will be cut down to 10 in January, then five in late February before a winner is announced at the end of the season.

This comes after Walker was named as an honorable mention on the preseason All-Pac-12 teams and could be on more preseason watch lists as they get announced in the coming weeks.

The 6-foot-8 forward is going into 2021-22 with high expectations on his shoulders.

“The expectations we have is that he becomes an everyday guy,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “And last year he didn’t have to do that because we had so many seniors with Jeriah Horne, D’Shawn Schwartz, McKinley Wright and Dallas Walton. He was able to be that freshman that came in and gave us a spark off the bench and he was really good at that.”

As a true freshman, Walker averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds coming off the bench last season earning him Pac-12 All-Freshman First Team honors. His freshman year was highlighted by a 24 point performance in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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“You look at Jabari’s numbers last year relative to the minutes he played and he was very efficient,” Boyle said. “He had impacted the game when he was in there but he got in foul troublesome. He was a catch-and-shoot guy. Now we’re challenging him to be more of a well-rounded player and impact the game in different ways other than just shooting the ball from the perimeter.”

The California native has gotten plenty of attention in the offseason. He was left off the United States U19 World Cup team after joining them for camp, making the cut from 27 to 17 but ultimately was left off of the final 12-man roster.

He has also found his way on many 2022 NBA Draft prospects boards.

Walker showed plenty of flashes of brilliance. The question is, can he become that player day-in and day-out for the Buffs?

“We need Jabari to be an everyday guy and consistency is going to be his biggest challenge going from a freshman to a sophomore and going from a role player to a guy that we’re counting on night in and night out to produce and perform,” Boyle said. “He’s fully capable of it, without a doubt.”

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Big things expected for Jabari Walker in sophomore season

As just a sophomore, Jabari Walker has been thrust into a leadership role.

The expectations are deservedly through the roof for Jabari Walker, who could probably jump through the CU Events Center roof if he wanted to.

Mostly due to the depth Colorado enjoyed last season, Walker wasn’t needed as much as he will be in 2021-22. He made the most of his rookie season minutes, however, and was named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.

The Buffaloes experienced a mass exodus of senior talent but have been recovering nicely with the likes of Walker now thrust into a leadership position.

“Last year I barely even played and now there’s not that much time for that,” Walker said. “Evan (Battey) will pull me to the side and he’s like ‘We need you to play a different role than what most sophomores do.”

Fortunately, Walker isn’t like most sophomores.

According to my unofficial count, he recorded 27 points in a 40-minute intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 16. Yes, defense may not be as strong in an intrasquad scrimmage, but Walker was doing whatever he wanted in the paint while draining a pair of three-pointers.

“Jabari’s an aggressive player and he’s a guy who can score the ball and I think naturally he’s a scorer,” Tad Boyle said after the scrimmage. “I thought he made a great pass there at the end to Tristin (da Silva) in zone offense. When Jabari’s aggressive, under control (and) not turning the ball over, he’s going to be an effective scorer.”

Jan 11, 2021; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes forward Jabari Walker (12) blocks a shot by Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (21) in the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Tthe son of former Los Angeles Laker Samaki Walker has remained focused on improving his already strong game this preseason. Pulling in more rebounds has been a major goal for this 6-foot-9 forward.

“I’m kind of disappointed in myself right now because I haven’t been rebounding like I really want to,” Walker said. “The focus going forward for me is going back to the offensive rebounding that I’ve been doing and the defensive rebounding. That’s the main emphasis right now. Forget the scoring, forget everything else, let me work my way from the basics up and then the scoring comes.”

Walker and the Buffs will welcome the Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 27 for a season-opening exhibition game.

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CU Buffs men’s basketball picked to finish sixth in Pac-12 preseason poll

Tad Boyle’s Buffaloes are looking to exceed expectations once again.

Tad Boyle and company are back to their traditional spot for expectations for the 2021-22 season, right in the middle of the pack.

The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll released on Wednesday.

The UCLA Bruins, coming off a Final Four appearance, received 32-of-34 first-place votes to sit atop the preseason poll.

The Bruins return all five starters from their team that finished fourth in the Pac-12 this season and have bolstered their roster with five-star recruit Peyton Watson and Rutgers big-man transfer Myles Johnson. They are not only picked to win the Pac-12 but one of the favorites for the national championship.

The Oregon Ducks, who only return two starters from a year ago, come in at second in the preseason poll followed by the USC Trojans, Arizona Wildcats and Oregon State Beavers to round out the teams ahead of Colorado in the polls.

With 10 freshmen and sophomores on the roster and only two upperclassmen, the Buffs will be one of the youngest teams in college basketball next season. But it isn’t without star power.

Senior Evan Battey was selected to the preseason All-Pac-12 first team while sophomore Jabari Walker was an honorable mention. Boyle brings in the best recruiting class in program history, a class that finished 13th in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 on the 247Sports rankings.

A team that has a lot to prove, but if there is anything we know about Tad Boyle it’s that he likes to exceed expectations.

2021-22 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

1. UCLA

2. Oregon

3. USC

t4. Arizona

t4. Oregon State

6. Colorado

7. Arizona State

8. Washington State

9. Stanford

10. Utah

11. Washington

12. California

CU Buffs Evan Battey and Jabari Walker receive Pac-12 preseason honors

Two Colorado Buffaloes received Pac-12 preseason recognition.

Colorado Buffaloes forwards Evan Battey and Jabari Walker are receiving some preseason attention.

The senior, Battey, was selected to the Pac-12 preseason All-Pac-12 first team while Walker was an honorable mention as selected by the Pac-12 media.

Battey, a 6-foot-8 forward, has had a steady career so far for the Buffs as a defender, rebounder and someone that can score in the paint. He has averaged 9.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his CU career.

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Battey has started all 64 of the 64 games he has played in over the last two seasons.

Being one of just two upperclassmen on this season’s roster, he will have to take his game to the next level if the Buffs want to have any success this season.

Tad Boyle’s program was picked to finish sixth this season in the preseason media poll.

Walker is expected to be a breakout star for the Buffaloes this season. Also a 6-foot-8 forward, Walker showed flashes of his potential throughout the 2020-21 season—highlighted by a 24 point performance in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Walker was selected to the 2020-21 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while playing just 14.2 minutes per game.

They may be undersized but Colorado’s frontcourt is as lethal as anyone’s in the conference.

2021-22 Pac-12 men’s basketball preseason media all-conference teams

First team

Warith Alatishe – F – Oregon State

Marcus Bagley – F – Arizona State

Evan Battey – F – Colorado

Tyger Campbell – G – UCLA

Jaime Jaquez Jr. – G/F – UCLA

Johnny Juzang – G – UCLA

Bennedict Mathurin – G – Arizona

Isaiah Mobley – F – USC

Will Richardson – G – Oregon

Noah Williams – G – Washington State

Second Team

Boogie Ellis – G – USC

Quincy Guerrier – F – Oregon

De’Vion Harmon – G – Oregon

Jarod Lucas – G – Oregon State

Azuolas Tubelis – F – Arizona

Honorable Mention

Efe Abogidi – F – Washington State

Daejon Davis – G – Washington

Jaiden Delaire – F – Stanford

Harrison Ingram – F – Stanford

Jabari Walker – F – Colorado

Peyton Watson – G – UCLA

2022 aggregate NBA mock draft: Debut ranking of all notable prospects

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Bleacher Report, Yahoo, The Athletic, Yahoo, SB Nation, NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.

Collegiate teams who had more than two players appear on a mock were Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and UCLA. Three players will be on the G League’s Ignite roster and one is on Overtime’s Elite squad.

Additionally, seven players are rostered in Spain and four are playing in Australia’s NBL. There are also three players on Serbia’s KK Mega Basket included.

Freshmen one-and-done candidates who didn’t make the list but could climb on to join during the season: Harrison Ingram (Stanford), Trevor Keels (Duke), Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), Josh Minott (Memphis), Kowacie Reeves (Florida), Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky), Nathan Bittle (Oregon) and Jeremy Sochan (Baylor).

Some of the most notable collegiate returners who were snubbed from these rankings: Marcus Williams (Texas A&M), Jonathan Davis (Wisconsin), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Zach Edey (Purdue), Adam Miller (LSU), Colin Castleton (Florida) and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).

Relevant international prospects to know who were not included below: Fedor Zugic, Lefteris Mantzoukas, Jayson Tchicamboud, Nikita Mikhailovskii, Yoan MakoundouTom Digbeu and Makur Maker.

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Main Image: Coley Cleary / USA TODAY Sports Media Group

2021 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting all 59 picks, starting with Chet Holmgren

Let’s look ahead to next year’s draft.

We are only a couple of weeks removed from the 2021 NBA draft and it’s silly to publish a mock draft for next year. But let’s do it anyway.

Because frankly, far away as though it may seem, ten months can go by fast. Although a lot is going to change, some things stay the same. For example, I published my first mock draft of the 2020 cycle in May 2019 and all three of the first projected picks heard their names called within the first three picks nearly fifteen months later. Much of the rest, of course, is utterly wrong and embarrassing. But it is still helpful to track progression and regression.

Before we discuss the next crop of future NBA talent, however, let’s address the elephant in the room. You have probably noticed that the headline said this mock draft highlights 59 picks. No, that isn’t a typo.

Allow me to explain. The Milwaukee Bucks have forfeited the rights to their second-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft due to violating league rules regarding an attempted transaction made back in Nov. 2020. While it sucks for the additional person who is going to go undrafted, undrafted free agency isn’t the worst thing.

Otherwise, the order of this draft was determined by reversing the NBA futures odds courtesy of Tipico SportsBook. The teams whose odds fell outside the eight best in each conference composed the projected lottery. Meanwhile, all picks involved with previous trades were included in the order as well.

Another quick housekeeping note: My mock drafts tend to be fairly data-driven. But that can sometimes lead to some blind spots for evaluating prospects playing outside the NCAA (e.g. high school, AAU, FIBA, etc.), which made pre-season mock drafts particularly difficult.

That’s no longer the case thanks to the help from our fantastic new partners over at Cerebro Sports, a stats and analytics resource that scrapes box scores to determine how top basketball prospects have stacked up against all their previous competition.

With all that in mind, far away as we may be from draft night on June 22, here is how I see everything shaking out just based on what we know so far:

30 of the best college prospects who won’t be declaring for 2021 NBA draft

A look at the big names you won’t see in this year’s draft.

As we approach the early entry deadline for the 2021 NBA draft, we have a sense of which players are set to return for another year of college basketball.

While scouts are more focused on the draft on July 29, evaluators around the league already have tabs on the best prospects that will continue their time in the NCAA next season.

Note that this list does not include notable names who have declared for the 2020 NBA draft but are just “testing the waters” like Isaiah Jackson, Miles McBride, Marcus Bagley, JT Thor, Matthew Mayer and Jason Preston.

Instead, the following players have either announced that they are returning or are expected to return to their team for the upcoming 2021-22 campaign: