A new 2024 NBA Draft poll of scouts revealed an intriguing prospect is the favorite to go No. 1

Who do you have at No. 1 overall?

While there is still plenty of time for this all to shake out, it is never too early to speculate about who will become the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Last year, long before the pick was made at Barclays Center, we knew who would hear his name called with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft with nearly 100 percent certainty. There was never even a doubt that a team would select Victor Wembanyama at that position.

RELATED: Projecting the first round with Ja’Kobe Walter leading the way

This year, no obvious candidate is waiting in the wings as a “can’t miss” prospect. But there is one player who has potentially separated himself from the pack, at least according to several NBA executives who spoke with draft insider Jeremy Woo (via ESPN):

“The 7-foot-1 French big man is currently sidelined with a hip injury but is presently expected to return before the end of the season. It’s worth noting that several of the Sarr voters expressed their lack of confidence in that outcome, but viewed him as the tentative best bet. […]

Sarr’s youth, versatility as a mobile defender and perimeter-friendly forward — coupled with the league-wide demand for tall, skilled frontcourt players — could give him the broadest degree of appeal amongst the top candidates. Sarr’s NBL role has been modest, but he’s grown into it nicely and demonstrated he can impact winning, which puts him in a good developmental place for a 7-footer who has yet to turn 19 and is still getting his first real taste of high-level basketball.”

The big man currently ranks No. 1 overall on ESPN’s Big Board. He is also projected to hear his name with the first pick in Yahoo’s latest mock draft.

Sarr, who plays for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s NBL, received 12 votes from Woo’s survey of 20 scouts and executives. G League Ignite forward Ronald Holland received two votes and no other prospect received more than one.

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LOOK: First look at Brady Manek in Perth Wildcats jersey

Former UNC basketball forward Brady Manek has officially joined the Perth Wildcats and was introduced with his new jersey on Monday.

Former UNC basketball forward [autotag]Brady Manek[/autotag] has officially joined his new team down under.

Last month it was announced that Manek would be signing with the Perth Wildcats in Australia, one of the top professional teams outside of the United States.

The Wildcats are the most successful team in the NBL — the highest professional league in Australia. They have 10 championships, winning six since 2010.

On Monday, Manek was officially introduced to the roster and it’s the first time to see Manek in his new uniform.

In his lone season with UNC, Manek averaged averaged 15.1 points per game this season while shooting 40.3 percent from three — both career highs. He also chipped in 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game — also a career-high.

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Former Notre Dame players in the 2021 NBA Summer League

The Summer League has a slight Irish flavor to it.

After a one-year absence, the NBA Summer League has returned. Players entering their first and second years in the league along with G League players have a chance to prove themselves in front of coaches and other folks who watch NBA talent year round. That also goes for undrafted players who either are just coming out of college or have continued their careers overseas. For fans, it’s both a chance to watch future NBA stars and a chance to watch more basketball.

This year, three players who have gone through Notre Dame in recent years are in the league. While there obviously are no guarantees, one of them could play well enough to at least merit a spot on a training camp roster. If you’re up for watching some former Irish players this month, here they are:

NBL Grand Final abruptly canceled as Sydney Kings choose to withdraw

In an unprecedented move, the Sydney Kings withdrew from the NBL Grand Finals on Wednesday, abruptly ending the season.

Arguably the greatest National Basketball League (NBL) season in history came to an abrupt and sudden end on Wednesday morning. While the coronavirus had led to the suspension or canceling of nearly every professional and amateur sports league around the world, the NBL was looking to finish the final games of its season in its Grand Final.

With the Perth Wildcats leading the five-game series 2-1 over the Sydney Kings, the final two games were slotted to be played in empty arenas. However, on Wednesday morning at an impromptu press conference, the Kings chose to withdraw from the Grand Final in an unprecedented move.

The NBL quickly canceled the final games of the series in response and released the following statement from NBL owner Larry Kestelman:

“We respect the decision in what are extraordinary times for everyone. We are understanding of not just the players’ health and well being but also their desire to be with their families, especially given so many of them have family overseas.

“Having consulted with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association we have decided the remaining games shall not be played. With Perth leading the best of five game series 2-1, we will now consider a decision on the outcome of the championship over the next 48 hours.

“We acknowledge both teams for what has been a fantastic series and season. Sydney was the only team to have gone through an entire NBL season on top of the ladder and Perth was leading the Grand Final series.

“This has been an incredible season for the NBL and one of the best in our 41-year history with record attendances and world class basketball. We thank all of our teams, officials, staff, partners and fans for their outstanding support and we look forward to returning even bigger and better in 2020-21.

“We wish everyone around Australia and around the world all the very best and to stay safe during these challenging times.”

As of Wednesday afternoon in America, the NBL had yet to give a verdict on the official result of the Grand Final. And as has much of the last week has been, the move is entirely unprecedented not just in the NBL’s history but in professional sports history.

The move ends an incredible season for the league with LaMelo Ball playing a big role in that. The youngest Ball sibling drew in huge audiences and broke records on the court and off to help the league gain worldwide exposure.

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