Included: Oregon’s Chris Duarte, Baylor’s Davion Mitchell and more.
As college basketball is set to turn the page from a strange regular season to the start of the March Madness tournament, we wanted to take a look at the players who have improved their draft stock of late.
Last time we did this exercise back in January, we highlighted a wide range of candidates, extending from raw sophomore big man Kai Jones to polished sharpshooting senior wing Corey Kispert.
This time, we have taken a similar approach, including upperclassmen and underclassmen alike. These are the players who may not have been on the minds of executives before the season but who have played their way into serious consideration.
We have also added some honorable mentions who are likely top targets in the 2022 NBA Draft but would qualify for this group if they opted to turn pro after this season.
Note that all statistics are accurate as of games before March 2, 2021.
J.T. Thor had his best game as an Auburn Tiger on Saturday but wasn’t able to pull off the win against Kentucky.
On difference between last few games and this one…
“I think just trying to let the game come to me and to not put pressure on myself to make plays. Just let the game come to me and if you’re open, shoot it, and don’t care about the makes or misses.”
On the game as a whole…
“I felt like in the beginning of the game we played tight defense, but at the start of the second half we got sloppy. I feel like it’s been something we need to get tight on in the last couple of games and start the second half stronger.”
On if he lost any confidence over the last few games…
“I didn’t lose any confidence. I was just coming in like it’s whatever. If you put pressure on yourself, you’re probably not going to play good. I was just like let me relax and let the game come to me.”
On the defense in the second half…
“I just know that they were making shots. They just found the rim and kept making it. I felt like we could have been more tight, but it is what it is.”
Auburn lost a close one to Kentucky 82-80 on Saturday in Rupp Arena.
Auburn basketball experienced yet another second half meltdown in its loss to Kentucky on Saturday. The Tigers consistently led the Wildcats in the first half but got out-finessed in every aspect of play after halftime. The Wildcats’ lead jumped as high as 14 in the second half, but contributions by Allen Flanigan and JT Thor helped the Tigers eventually tie the game late.
A clutch three point shot by Kentucky immediately severed the tie and Auburn was unable to muster a winning play. In addition to questionable play calls and missed buckets in the second half, the Tigers put Kentucky in the double bonus with eight minutes of play remaining. In the end the Tigers attempted only 10 free throws while the Wildcats shot 25.
I just want the madness to stop, and so would everyone else on Twitter.
Auburn holds a four-point lead going into the second half against Missouri.
Auburn leads Missouri 39-35 at halftime. The Tigers had a 14-point lead but a late run by the visiting Tigers cut the lead to four heading into the second half. Here are some thoughts at halftime.
The Tigers look completely lost without Cooper on the floor and his foul status in the second half will be huge. Look for Missouri to get a cheap one on him early.
Speaking of, the last four minutes without Cooper on the floor were huge as Missouri made a comeback much like Arkansas did last week.
I mentioned this on Twitter but I want to put a trampoline underneath one of the baskets in Auburn Arena and receive a lob from Cooper. Just once. It looks like so much fun.
We haven’t seen the best of either Allen Flanigan or Jaylin Williams yet and that is a good sign for Auburn.
These announcers actually focused on the game. Vast improvement over Saturday.
Flanigan looked unsure with the ball playing the point position and that is another sign that Justin Powell’s return will be huge for the Tigers.
Dylan Cardwell wasn’t much of a presence in the first half beside one basket.
JT Thor is heating up from beyond the three-point line but still needs to be stronger when taking the ball to the rim.
Chris Moore made two three-pointers and tipped in a missed basket and … well, then he disappeared. Hopefully he finds the same stroke in the final 20 minutes.
Let’s hope Auburn can come out with a big run to start the second half.
Auburn hasn’t had any problem building a big lead against Troy on Saturday.
This game got out of hand from the very beginning.
Auburn wasn’t going to let Troy stay around and try to pull off an upset as the Tigers shut down the Trojans almost entirely during the first 20 minutes and currently holds a 43-10 advantage at halftime.
As always, Twitter was right on top of it:
Perhaps the most technically sound half of college basketball I've ever seen. Auburn up 33 at the half. pic.twitter.com/Wifzn4Av18
All they need is a bucket and a stop and a bucket and a stop and a bucket and a stop and a bucket and a stop and a bucket and a stop and a … https://t.co/Q3PV2kf4qy
Auburn freshman JT Thor will be a force for the Tigers.
Auburn freshman forward JT Thor has the kind of growth mindset that fits perfectly in Bruce Pearl’s program. It’s a mentality that harks back to the 2017 and 2018 teams who found great success when they were dramatically underestimated.
The rising star discussed a few of his favorite things as well as his playing career, both past and present, with AuburnTigers.com’s Greg Ostendorf earlier this week.
Thor models his game after Kevin Durant and says the 31-year old Nets forward was an inspiration to him growing up
Yes, his favorite Marvel character is Thor not just because they share the same name, but because they, “can both drop the hammer. That thunderous dunk.”
Another interesting fact is that he grew up in Alaska before eventually moving to Norcross, Georgia. He wants everyone to know that in Alaska it does not snow there every single day and that while the winters are brutal the summers are actually very sunny and warm.
So, how does a kid who was born in Nebraska and raised in Alaska end up at Auburn?
According to him it all started on February 8, 2020 when the four star recruit attended the LSU vs Auburn basketball game on his first unofficial visit.
“They (Auburn) were down by 20, and they came back and won the game. The whole time I was on the visit, it just opened my eyes. It wasn’t even an official visit yet. But as soon as I came here, it was like “I think I want to be here.” It made me want to come on another visit, so I came to the game vs. Texas A&M. They lost, but after that, I was ready to plan my official and commit. This is where I wanted to be. It’s a good environment, a family-type environment that I want to be in.”
Thor says he’s ready to grow as a player under Bruce Pearl’s leadership. He cites Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, and Tobias Harris (Tennessee) as models for his own playing potential under Coach Pearl. The freshman is ready to make an impact on both sides of the court and believes the 2020 class is one of the best in the country.
After losing six starters this spring (5 seniors and 1 lottery pick) preseason talking heads aren’t giving Auburn much love going in to the 2020-2021 basketball season. It’s nothing new for Coach Pearl and Auburn. JT Thor just arrived on campus and he already knows,
“I feel like we’re all underdogs. Everybody is an underdog, and we’re coming in with a chip on our shoulder. People are sleeping on us.”
This team is young, but they’re worth watching out for.
Auburn assistant coach Wes Flanigan talks recruiting, winning and coaching his son.
Auburn assistant coach Wes Flanigan recently caught up with Jake Crain of The Jboy Show. The two talk about everything from recruiting to the future stars of Auburn hoops.
Recruiting:
Recruiting has skyrocketed after Auburn’s historic run to the Final Four in 2019. Auburn’s 2020 class is currently ranked ninth nationally on 247Sports. They bring in 5-star PG Sharife Cooper, 4-star PF JT Thor, 3-star PF Chris Moore, 3-star SG Justin Powell, and 3-star C Dylan Cardwell.
What’s Auburn’s biggest secret to success? According to Coach Flanigan:
“A lot of it is based on winning. When you start winning you create this fanbase, and our fanbase is unbelievable. I feel like we’ve got the best home court advantage in the SEC and one of the best in the country.”
Family is also important when it comes to Auburn’s style of recruiting. “We keep the families close. Our families are a part of our team, we don’t push those families back we urge them to continue to support their kids.” Flanigan continues to describe how Coach Pearl built Auburn basketball on the foundation of family. Bruce Pearl’s son Steven has coached alongside his father for six years now and was promoted to assistant coach in 2017. Flanigan’s son Allen had a successful freshman season appearing in all 31 games and finished as the Tigers’ third-best rebounding guard.
On coaching his son:
Flanigan never imagined that he and his son would be at Auburn at the same time, but it feels like a dream come true for the assistant coach.
Allen Flanigan | Little Rock, Ark.
✅ 6-5, 200, F ✅ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and No. 1️⃣ player in Arkansas ✅ Son of Auburn legend and current assistant coach Wes Flanigan ✅ 13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.9 spg as a junior at Parkview Magnet HS#WarEaglepic.twitter.com/MQgt1HgXpm
Coaching your son’s basketball team isn’t always easy. Flanigan describes the experience to be, “like a roller coaster,” citing the he and his son’s different emotions as well as the ups and downs that come with coaching. Now that he coaches his son he feels an additional level of anxiety that didn’t exist before. “I want him to do so well a lot of times so that adds a little anxiety and pressure to me.”
On the 2018-2019 season:
Against Georgia: Flanigan realized a major turning point in the season as Auburn faced Georgia on the road after a brutal loss to Ole Miss. Georgia didn’t have a great RPI and the Tigers knew that another humiliating loss would damage their tournament hopes. The game came down to a three from Chuma Okeke. Flanigan said that was Chuma’s, “I’m ready, now I’ve arrived” moment.
Skip to 2:30 for that Okeke three:
Against Kansas: “When I watched us play the way we played against Kansas, that was the first time I felt really, really good about us getting to the Final Four.”
Against North Carolina: “When we played North Carolina I felt like there was no way we was losing to them.”
Which Auburn players we should start buying stock in:
“As a dad, Allen Flanigan,” Wes laughs. (he’s not joking, buy stock now).
Our @AuburnMBB Rockstar of the Month is Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola! He is always up for a challenge and takes great pride in doing his best. His perseverance is unmatched and we can’t wait to see what he can do on the court! #WarEaglepic.twitter.com/S9TlrrG5fH
Tyrell Jones, Babatunde (Flanigan cites his impressive work ethic), Jaylin Williams-all highly recruited (buy stock now).
“The thing we’ll miss that we’ve had the last few years is the level of experience, but the talent is there.” Flanigan says there are a lot of (Auburn basketball 2020-2021, these boys are going to be fun to watch just buy stock now).
Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Our mock draft for 2021 featured blurbs on several high school juniors who have already reclassified to forego their senior seasons, including Terrence Clarke (Kentucky), Devin Askew (Kentucky) and JT Thor (uncommitted). Another high school junior who narrowly missed the cut was Cam Hayes, who committed to North Carolina State.
However, we believe that the topic of reclassification will become even more pressing in the coming few weeks and months. Perhaps one reason why high school juniors may want to join a class that is already loaded is the following year could become even more crowded.
It is fairly well known that the NBA may allow high school seniors to enter the draft in 2022 for the first time since Amir Johnson was selected in 2005. That means that the draft class will feature all of the usual college prospects as well as an influx of high school talent as well.
There would be an incentive, then, for top high school juniors to find a way to separate themselves by potentially showcasing what they are capable of when playing against NCAA talent. Scouts and executives are more familiar with evaluating college basketball players than high schoolers.
As such, here is what you need to know about the high school stars that are most rumored to join the ranks of the Class of 2020 and then potentially be eligible to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
JONATHAN KUMINGA
Forward, 6-foot-8, The Patrick School (New Jersey)
Background: Jonathan Kuminga is considered, nearly unanimously, the best high school junior in the country. He averaged 20.8 points per game on the Nike EYBL Division B circuit in 2019, showing his prolific scoring ability. Kuminga also had the second-most points per game (27.4) among all players in the Peach Jam Tournament last year. As recently noted by SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, the forward could be a top-five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft if he chooses to reclassify. He will participate at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
NCAA: Back in October, the top prospect announced that he was not going to reclassify. However, that has not quieted any of the speculations that he will forego his senior season and play college basketball next season. He narrowed his collegiate decision to ten schools in November 2019. Kuminga also had an official visit from Kentucky head coach John Calipari in January. Corey Evans of Rivals believes Duke could add Kuminga via reclassification to their Class of 2020. Evans has called his recruitment “fluid” so though the talk of him reclassifying was once silenced, it could easily change.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
Now that the rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game have been announced and the Hoophall Classic is complete, top prospects are emerging as future stars in the league.
This list does not include any of the top international prospects who will likely be selected in 2020 like Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon. It also does not mention any of the top returning players in the nation as it will be unclear who will opt to play in the NBA and it is still tough to predict at this point.
Instead, it offers an introduction to the current high school seniors and the international
All statistics are updated through February 3, 2020 and are pulled from D1Circuit.com, MaxPreps and RealGM unless stated otherwise.
1. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (Committed)
Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Cade Cunningham is currently the anchor for Montverde Academy, which is being called the best high school team of all-time. They are currently ranked as the top school in the nation. The point forward is so good that an NBA scout recently told Yahoo’s Krysten Peek he would likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft if he were eligible. That indicates he might already be the best player who is not currently in the league. For proof: Cunningham averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament. With his size and his playmaking ability, he is already showing flashes of becoming a future franchise cornerstone.
2. Jalen Green, Uncommitted
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-5, 17 years old, Prolific Prep (California)
Jalen Green is an incredibly explosive athlete who has improved as a shooter over the past few years as well. The scorer has become a more consistent and reliable option on the floor, offering an attacking mentality that will continue to develop as his competition continues. One of his crowning achievements thus far: He took home tournament MVP during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He averaged 7.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes during this competition, showing he is a fearless shooter. His natural stroke from the free-throw line shows that his three-point percentage will likely increase within time, too.
3. Evan Mobley, USC (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Big, 7-foot-0, 18 years old, Rancho Christian (California)
Evan Mobley was 2019’s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles all of the rankings on recruiting sites like 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big brags a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination. He has recently been listed as a small forward, however, which Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo says “points to the dissonance” between his current identity and the best eventual fit in the NBA for someone his size. Still, there is arguably more to like about Mobley’s potential than that of 2020 projected lottery big man James Wiseman.
4. Scottie Barnes, Florida State (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Forward, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Scottie Barnes currently plays alongside Cunningham at Montverde Academy and has a lot to offer as he continues to develop. He is a stat-sheet stuffer capable of putting up impressive lines for points and rebounds as well as assists. Like Cunningham, he has a point-forward mentality which is elevated by the fact that he is also measured with an incredible 9-foot-1 standing reach. Barnes can be a plug-and-play option for almost any team on both offense and defense in the NCAA and eventually in the NBA. That was an especially attractive trait for him for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. He assisted on 16.8 percent of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense’s primary playmaker.
5. Ziaire Williams, Uncommitted
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Wing, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Sierra Canyon (California)
Ziaire Williams is currently playing high school basketball at the high-profile Sierra Canyon. While he had to sit out the first few months of his senior year because of transfer rules, he has been a force to be reckoned with already. But that was no surprise for those who have followed the prospect. Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included the aforementioned 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points as well as rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The prospect has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important as he continues his growth. The Stepien’s Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class. It will be fascinating to monitor his collegiate decision as he is the highest-rated recruit without an NCAA commitment yet.
