During the summer of 2022, I started a new series here at No Ceilings, titled “No Stone Unturned.” There was a multi-pronged purpose to the series. The first was to examine off-the-radar players with interesting statistical profiles just to see if anything was there. Another part of it was to improve myself as a scout. By covering players no one else was talking about, I couldn’t use consensus as a crutch or “cheat off someone else’s homework.” It was all on me to figure out what was what, and then learn from my hits and misses free of outside influence. But ultimately, the greater purpose of the series has been to shine a light on players who could be disruptors in the draft space and get their names out there.
Since then, 14 players from the series have gone off to the professional ranks. Dalton Knecht, Ben Sheppard, and Dillon Jones all went from sleepers to first-round picks. Ricky Council IV earned himself a two-way contract from the 76ers, which he has since parlayed into a multi-year deal. David Jones also received a two-way contract from the 76ers but has since been waived. Others covered during the series earned Exhibit-10s and could be in the mix for a two-way this coming season. Only three of those 14 players didn’t at least earn a look in Summer League.
This past summer, I looked at yet another sleeper group. But what about those past names from the 2022 and 2023 series who haven’t finished up school yet? I’m glad I asked! Today, we’ll take a look at where they stand. We’ll break the prospects into groups to show how close or far they may be from an NBA opportunity.
Welcome…to the No Stone Unturned Sleeper Cell!
Firmly in the Mix
This first group consists of players who have received Top 60 rankings on mainstream 2024 mock drafts, previous ranked within the Top 100 of mainstream boards, or have generated significant buzz behind the scenes among front offices.
Tucker DeVries, 6’7”, Senior, West Virginia
23-24 Stats (at Drake): 21.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.5 TOV, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 44.4/36.3/81.3
The Buzz:
-30th on Ricky O’Donnell’s 2025 mock draft
-37th on Sam Vecenie’s 2025 mock draft
The Pitch:
Tucker DeVries is 6’7” and he’s really good at basketball. He’s a dribble-pass-shoot wing who can score it at all three levels and has a variety of ways to impact the game.
For now, we’ll start with his scoring profile. DeVries has shot a hair under 36% from long range over his college career, but it’s come on prolific volume—12.2 attempts per 100 possessions. He’s demonstrated deep range both off the dribble, off the catch, and while moving into his shot. Last year, DeVries drained 24 of his 49 threes as a pick-and-roll ball handler, and 21 of his 48 threes off handoffs. There is a serious level of dynamism here, and it generates a tremendous amount of respect from opponents.
As the “pure spot-up” player’s NBA value has diminished, what separates DeVries is that he’s got options when chased off the line. He’s a great mid-range scorer. He does a good job of using his 220-pound frame to fight to his spots and generate separation before using his soft touch to send home a pull-up jumper. Per Synergy, DeVries has converted 112 of his 252 off-the-dribble twos (good for 44.4%) during his three years as a top scoring option at Drake. His tight handle, screen craft, and ability to change speeds help him get all the way to the bucket, too. He also took a career-high 87 halfcourt rim attempts this season, often getting there unassisted, while sending home 64.4% of those shots.
What’s more, DeVries does a stellar job of distributing the ball. He led the Drake Bulldogs in both assists (3.7 APG to 2.5 TOV) and assist rate (21.2%) last season. He does a wonderful job of leveraging defensive attention before finding the open man. This was perhaps best on display in his NCAA tournament performance against Washington State. He was struggling to get clean looks, so he instead set up others, posting six assists to only one turnover. He can take what the defense gives him, but he’s also capable of going through a multi-read progression out of ball screens. In particular, he has great recognition for rollers and corner shooters. DeVries also mixes in pass fakes to further open up his actual target. His ability to see the floor on the go and operate in tight spaces adds a further layer of NBA functionality to his game.
He’s got something to offer on the defensive end, too. DeVries is a savvy off-ball player. When I watched him in person, he was one of the most communicative players on the floor, calling out the opposing team’s actions and making sure his teammates were on point. He’s sharp rotationally, knowing where to go and putting in the effort to get there. He closes out with a good degree of balance. DeVries reads passing lanes well (2.6 STL% last season) and has shown an ability to stifle opponents at the rim as the low man (particularly during his freshman campaign when Drake played smaller lineups). On the ball, he can do a good job of using his chest to contain opponents. While not the fastest, his footwork is ultimately clean, which prevents him from getting blown by. He also puts in the work on the defensive glass (20.6 DRB%). Given his prowess in early offense and transition, that’s a great skill for him to have.
The Swing Skill(s):
NBA scouts would likely be fully sold on DeVries if they felt more certain about how he’ll scale up athletically. He’s not the quickest lateral mover, and he’s had some rough on-ball defensive moments over the past few years. He doesn’t have a ton of burst with his first step, relying more on his power than his speed to get inside. While I fully buy him as a shooter, he’s had a harder time finding off-ball separation against better athletes, an issue that will only be intensified at the next level. He’s got great touch inside, but his five dunks this past season tied a career-high for him. He’s not the most explosive leaper. This year, front offices will get a full year sample of him against Division I opponents. Front offices will be curious to see how he looks from a physical standpoint during his first high-major season.
Final Assessment:
I’ve long been a passenger on The Tuck Train. He’s been exactly what I look for in a mid-major prospect—a high-volume shooter who makes great decisions, has size, knows how to defend, and has a skill set that can be seamlessly scaled down into a smaller role. DeVries was utterly dominant at Drake, and he did it with an astronomical 31.6 USG%. It’s easy to imagine that when he’s tasked with fewer responsibilities and getting cleaner looks, his outside shots will fall more often, and his defensive effort should become more consistent. The player he’s always reminded me of is recent Memphis Grizzlies success story Vince Williams Jr. VWJ wasn’t the most athletic dude at VCU, but he was always a step ahead mentally, efficient where it mattered, and left his fingerprints all over the game. I think a similar outcome for DeVries, where he carves out a long-term NBA career, is absolutely on the table. He’s in my first round heading into the season.
Jamir Watkins, 6’5”, Redshirt Senior, Florida State
23-24 Stats: 15.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.5 TOV, 1.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 45.7/34.4/79.5
The Buzz:
-41st on Sam Vecenie’s 2025 mock draft
-51st on Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo’s 2025 mock draft
The Pitch:
Jamir Watkins is a rapidly improving wing with NBA tools, ball skills, and an uncanny ability to wreak havoc defensively.
Watkins caught my eye during his time at VCU because of his defensive prowess. He put up good playmaking metrics and was also a multi-positional force at the point of attack. At 210 pounds with a near-6’11” wingspan, Watkins has the size, foot speed, and grit to stay in front of almost anybody. Here’s one of my favorite recent prospect stats for you: as a sophomore at VCU, Watkins guarded 20 isolation possessions, per Synergy. On those possessions, Watkins surrendered only five total points, and he forced six turnovers. He’s absolutely smothering when he gets after it on the ball.
It would have been fair to expect some regression while transferring up to a better conference, especially given that he also took on a greater usage burden. While Watkins may have been more passive on the ball at times, his playmaking actually took a step forward. He posted a 3.8 STL% and 3.2 BLK%, both outstanding marks for a wing prospect. Watkins has exceptionally fast hands, which allows him to pick pockets and get to balls in passing lanes that other players can’t. He doesn’t allow anything in transition and feasts in gray areas by outsmarting his opponents. He’s engaged, talking, and ready to make plays in gaps. Watkins also loves to pick on big men who don’t account for him inside, stripping the ball from them or swatting them from behind. His speed and bounce make him a potent rim helper from the weak side of the floor. When he does gamble and doesn’t win, he always makes and effort to get back in the play. All in all, Watkins is an exceptionally well-rounded defender with both the production and physical gifts to point to NBA translatability.
He’s far from a slouch offensively, too. Watkins scored a career-high 15.6 PPG while boosting his true shooting percentage from 52.7% to 57.7%. Again, it’s important to note that he did this against better competition (Atlantic-10 vs. ACC) while increasing his usage (23.8 USG% vs. 27.6 USG%). He made 40% of his catch-and-shoot threes in the halfcourt, which will be a key skill for him in a more tertiary role at the next level. He’s also a good passer from the perimeter. He plays ball screens in multiple ways and can make multiple reads. His 19.2 AST% is another strong mark on his resume.
The Swing Skill(s):
I have two concerns about Watkins. The first is the validity of his jump shooting. While he hit a career-high 34.4% of his threes on a pretty tough shot diet, he still only took 5.7 threes per 100 possessions. I’d prefer to see a step forward on either the volume or efficiency standpoint, but he’ll at least need to hold steady there. My second worry is how he plays downhill. Watkins is both a good athlete and passer, but that doesn’t always turn into productivity when he attacks the basket. Per Synergy, he posted a 33.9% eFG% on 81 total drives last season. To be fair, Florida State’s spacing didn’t help—they were 293rd in threes attempted and 301st in three-point percentage. His 50.8% on halfcourt rim attempts was a career high, but it’s still a poor mark for someone with his size and tools. He doesn’t read help particularly well, which often leads to him forcing difficult looks inside. If he could counter more frequently or punish helpers more consistently, he’d likely post a more efficient number inside and boost his assist stats.
Final Assessment:
Watkins finds himself in a precarious position. He had an outstanding junior campaign and took massive strides offensively. However, now the bar is higher. He’s older for his class, too, as he’ll turn 24 shortly after the draft. That likely puts a cap on how high teams are willing to select him. If he gets to the league and his shot doesn’t materialize, or if he’s struggling to finish, it could get ugly for him in a hurry.
With that said, I love Watkins as a second round value play coming into the season. He’s got NBA size and athleticism, and I feel extremely confident that he’s up to the task on defense. The question turns to where his offense is going to settle in. If he can prove that he’s a legitimate catch-and-shoot option and take another step forward as a finisher, he will have a real path into the first round, even at his advanced age. At worst, he should still earn himself two-way. At a certain point, he’s simply too good in a variety of areas to not kick the tires on improving his shot.
Rasheer Fleming, 6’9”, Junior, Saint Joseph’s
23-24 Stats: 10.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 TOV, 1.5 BPG, 0.8 SPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 52.8/32.4/61.2
The Buzz:
-Highlighted as a standout by Tyler Rucker in his “A Trip to Formula Zero” column.
-Won the “Pitbull Award” at Formula Zero Elite Camp and generated buzz among scouts after a strong performance at the event.
The Pitch:
Rasheer Fleming has the potential to be an effective, cutting-edge player on both sides of the ball.
Per Synergy, Fleming ranked in the 93rd percentile as a roll man last season. He can use his 235-pound frame to set bruising screens to free up his teammates. From there, he can charge the rim and grab lobs, thanks to his giant wingspan. He also has the option to step out and shoot a three, as he went 6-for-13 on pick-and-pop triples last season. Fleming launched 6.5 threes per 100 possessions last season, which is a great mark for a jumbo forward/hybrid big. Even better, the release time is quick for a player his size, adding a layer of functionality to his appeal. Fleming also adds value by getting high percentage looks as a transition rim runner and offensive rebounder (10.9 ORB%). His 66% mark on two-point field goals shows that Fleming can absolutely get the dirty work done inside, but it’s the budding jumper that makes him all the more appealing.
Fleming is a multifaceted threat on the defensive end. For starters, he’s comfortable when opponents try to test him on an island. He’s good enough laterally to keep quicker opponents at bay. Fleming covers ground like a smaller player and can bring some potent closeouts. Even in instances where he does get beat, he’ll make a second effort to get back into the play. He’ll often force opponents into settling for poor angles at the rim, leading to missed shots and rejections. Fleming’s chest holds up well against contact, and it’s not an uncommon site for him to swallow up an opponent before blocking them. He’s continued to improve his instincts as a helper at the rim. His BLK% climbed from 5.1 to 6.8 in part due to his increased attentiveness around the cup. This combination of size, perimeter comfortability, and rim protection make him a perfect fit for the modern association.
The Swing Skill(s):
My biggest question about Fleming is how much connective tissue there is to his game. He’s an excellent play finisher, but I’d like to see growth in the “gray areas” of his offensive game. His 5.9 AST% leaves a lot to be desired. While he draws hard closeouts, he can struggle to attack them. He’ll play sped up with the ball, leading to his handle coming loose or forced attempts inside. He doesn’t have much in the way of counters and can get stuck picking up his dribble in trouble areas of the floor. Fleming will also need to become more consistent as a shooter. His three-point percentage climbed from 29.7% to 32.4% last season, but he’ll need to continue that progression to sell teams on his shot. His motion can be “legs first, then arms,” leading to a shaky energy transfer.
Final Assessment:
There are some missing pieces here. I’d feel better about Fleming (and be more in on him as a 2025 prospect) if he had a better handle and saw the floor more consistently. With that being said, I do think that Rasheer Fleming is going to become an NBA roster guy at some point. Even if he’s more of a play finisher, I could see him filling a role similar to what players like Jalen Smith or Chris Boucher do, and he’s physically stronger than those two. The question then becomes whether or not Fleming can become a consistent rotation player, and that’s going to come down to how his ball skills and jumper progress.
Personally, I’m optimistic. He hit more threes last year, and while he’s far from Draymond Green, he slashed his turnover percentage, too (16.3 to 9.8). It’s also worth noting that he’s younger for his class, having just turned 20 in July. There’s a real chance Fleming shoots, we know he can finish, and he’s a versatile defender tailor-made for the five-out (or at least 4.5-out) direction of the league. He’s big, strong, and he competes. That’s a lot to like. I’ve snuck him into the second round of my 2025 board. I wouldn’t be stunned if he takes another year to break out, given the stacked nature of the St. Joe’s roster this season, but I like him as a future pro regardless of when his time comes. Start paying attention to him now if you haven’t already.
Cade Tyson, 6’7”, Junior, North Carolina
23-24 Stats (at Belmont): 16.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 TOV, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 49.3/46.5/85.5
The Buzz:
-22nd on Krysten Peek’s 2025 mock draft
-53rd on Sam Vecenie’s 2025 mock draft
The Pitch:
Cade Tyson has good size at 6’7”, and he’s one of the best shooters in college basketball.
Last season, Tyson drained 46.5% of his triples on 9.7 attempts per 100 possessions. That’s a rare combination of volume and efficiency. Even better, Tyson is a dynamic shooter who thrives off movement. He’s comfortable launching whether he went into his shot right or left. He does a stellar job of slamming on the brakes before seamlessly going into his shooting motion. Tyson hit 59.7% of his unguarded threes, so to say he’ll make teams pay if they miss an assignment is the understatement of the decade. But he also made 51.9% of his 21 threes off handoffs, 45.7% of his 35 transition threes, and 42.4% of his 33 threes coming off screens. It’s exceedingly difficult to find shooting resumes even close to what Tyson put together last season.
He’s got answers when teams chase him off the line, too. Tyson is a stellar mid-range scorer. He has a few counters, uses his body well to bump defenders off him, and does a good job of utilizing pivots to maximize space. From there, he has a high release and baby-soft touch. He went 46.3% on his pull-up twos in the halfcourt last season, per Synergy. He also plays stronger than his listed 200 pounds when attacking the rack, too. He’s a tough, physical driver who gets the job done through contact. Tyson converted 59.7% of his halfcourt rim attempts at Belmont. Whether he’s doing it on his own or getting set up by someone else, few are as efficient as Tyson. Per Synergy, he ranked in the 95th percentile on spot-ups, the 98th percentile on handoffs, and the 95th percentile as a pick-and-roll scorer. The bottom line is that Tyson is one of the deadliest three-level scorers you can find.
Elsewhere, Tyson does a good job of operating within the flow of the offense. He’s not a ball-stopper, and rarely does he commit mind-numbing turnovers. Defensively, he stays engaged off the ball. He uses his physicality well to prevent opponents from getting deep into the paint. Tyson also gets after it on the defensive glass (16.3 DRB%), which helps his team to get him out in transition.
The Swing Skill(s):
There are two things that Tyson can do to secure a spot in the 2025 draft. Offensively, I’d like to see him evolve into a more dynamic playmaker. When he puts the ball on the deck, he’s not really looking to pass. He’s wired to score and can settle for tough shots while missing open teammates. On defense, I’d like to see him take steps forward athletically now that he’ll have high-major resources at his disposal. He can be heavy-footed laterally and clunky getting around screens; his ground coverage also leaves something to be desired.
Final Assessment:
It’s easy to pick nits in Cade Tyson. He’s not that fast, he doesn’t see the floor well, and I’m unsure where he’ll slot positionally on defense at the next level. But it’s important to zoom out and keep sight of the bigger picture. Tyson is 6’7”, he’s tough, and he’s put together back-to-back seasons where he shot over 40% from three on healthy volume. He’ll need to round out his game to play a bigger role at the next level, but being one of the best three-level scorers in college hoops with his size is one heck of a foot in the door. Part of me thinks Tyson will need two years to acclimate to the ACC and take those steps forward, but another part of me wonders how NBA teams could resist him if he continues to cement his elite shooting credentials. He’ll be in my late second round to start the cycle.
Walter Clayton Jr., 6’2”, Senior, Florida
23-24 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 43.2/36.5/87.7
The Buzz:
-58th on Sam Vecenie’s mock draft
-Has accrued positive intel behind the scenes
The Pitch:
Walter Clayton Jr. checks a variety of important boxes for a small guard—he’s comfortable off the ball, he’s an outstanding shooter, he’s physically strong, and he makes things happen on defense.
Over the past two seasons, Clayton has launched 11.4 threes per 100 possessions and connected on 39.1% of his attempts. He’s also a career 88.1% free throw shooter, further demonstrating his touch. Clayton is a dynamic shooter, too. He’s good at spotting up (56.6% on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes), which isn’t surprising. He’s comfortable from deep behind the NBA line. When he draws a hard closeout, he’s comfortable going to a pump fake and sidestep jumper. When he runs a ball screen, he’ll pull the trigger every time the guard gets clipped and the big man isn’t ready at the level. Clayton is comfortable going from full speed to a clean gather before entering his shooting motion in transition or on handoffs. His willingness and efficiency running off ball actions hard before shooting deep threes bode well for his shooting’s scalability to the NBA level.
He’s not a one-trick pony, either. Clayton can score inside the arc, too. He’s a big-time elevator in the mid-range, enabling him to rise up above the trees and get off clean looks in what is typically a tricky area of the floor for 6’2” guards. He’s hit 45.5% of his off-the-dribble twos over the past two seasons, per Synergy. Clayton’s bounce and stocky, 195-pound frame do him favors at the rim, too. He absorbs contact well and has good touch inside. His 55.8% at the rim in the halfcourt is a good mark for a guard, and his shooting gravity allows him to get to the bucket consistently. Additionally, Clayton does a good job of taking what the defense gives him as a passer.
Clayton has long been a potent defensive playmaker. His career 2.6 STL% and 2.0 BLK% are great indicators for a guard; those are production levels more commonly seen from wing prospects. He’s long been able to use his tools to make plays in passing lanes. Clayton also boasts much sharper rim help instincts than other guards. Additionally, his quick, high pop off two feet enables him to nab perimeter blocks and deliver more potent contests than his fellow 6’2” peers. At the point of attack, his strength, tenacity, and quick hands can make life difficult for opposing point guards.
The Swing Skill(s):
I’d like to see Clayton grow in the “traditional point guard” sense. Throughout his college career, he’s always been best playing alongside another lead guard like Zyon Pullin or Daniss Jenkins. He doesn’t possess the most advanced ability to read the floor. His handle also needs work. Clayton isn’t the best at breaking opponents down off the dribble, he gets sped up at times, and he can wind up stranded in traffic without a means to get out of it. While a lot of guards end up bringing more of their value off the ball at the NBA level, they were also players who were able to effectively steer the entire ship at the college level. I want to see that from Clayton at the high-major level. Defensively, I’d like him to clean up some of his on-ball tendencies. He can be too heavy-footed laterally, he’s not always mindful of screens, and he’s too content to turn and chase.
Final Assessment:
The bar has never been higher for guards who are 6’3” and under. For that reason alone, Walter Clayton Jr. is going to have his work cut out for him. He’ll need to see the floor better and guard the ball more consistently. I’m about as skeptical of small guards as you can get, but I’ve always had a huge soft spot for Clayton. His strong frame, comfortability off the ball, outstanding shooting resume, and defensive production are tough to quibble with. Plus, Clayton is something of a late bloomer. He was rated higher as a football recruit than a basketball player and didn’t start focusing exclusively on the sport until later than most of his peers. He’s continued to take on bigger roles and tougher challenges without much in the way of setbacks. Additionally, I’ve heard numerous positive things about Clayton from a variety of people who’ve spent time around him, which should only help him. Coming into the year, I’m viewing Clayton as a two-way target in the back half of the second round or as an undrafted free agent pickup. But I’d love nothing more than for him to surprise me one more time and climb further up the board.
Sion James, 6’5”, Graduate, Duke
23-24 Stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 TOV, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 51.4/38.1/68.3
The Buzz:
-44th on Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo’s 2025 mock draft
-A prospect in the 2024 draft disclosed to me that James was the best player in a team workout shortly before he withdrew his name and returned to school
The Pitch:
Physically strong dribble-pass-shoot players who can guard multiple positions present tremendous value in the modern NBA. That’s what Sion James might be.
At 6’5” and 220 pounds, James has ball skills more common among guards. He’s comfortable putting the ball on the deck and he sees the floor well, always posting strong assist-to-turnover marks throughout the years. James is a steady, under-control operator who can read the floor and limits his mistakes. His passing is accentuated by his ability to get to the rack. He’s great at collapsing defenses, particularly as a spot-up attacker after catching the ball on the weak side of the floor. James has an awesome first step, and his exceptionally strong frame makes him nearly impossible to stop. He’s like a snowball rolling down a hill. James can explode off one foot to finish above the rim, but he’s got some craft, too. When he has to rely on his touch, he uses his body well to shield the rock from rim protectors, and he’s ambidextrous. He got to the cup a lot, but he still converted 64.0% of his halfcourt rim attempts. Both his knack for pressuring the rim and his efficiency when there are elite for a prospect his size.
James was always a good driver and passer, but his shot had lagged behind. This year, that changed. He hit 38.1% of his threes while taking 5.4 triples per 100 possessions, both of which were career highs. He also knocked down 43.8% of his catch-and-shoot threes. Not only has he been less reluctant to let the wide-open attempts fly, but he also hit more shots with a hand in his face and from deeper behind the line than in past years. If he can draw harder closeouts, it will be easier for him to access his potent attacking arsenal.
I’m in on James defensively. He’s strong and functionally athletic. On the ball, it’s tough for opponents to get anything going. He’s a seamless lateral mover and he’s difficult to go through. James plays with a real degree of discipline, too. Rarely does he reach himself out of position or get dusted by counters. His off-ball game might be even better. He has great anticipatory instincts that have always helped him nab steals at a high clip (career 2.7 STL%). He’s also an explosive vertical leaper who can turn opponents away above the rim. James is awesome with rotations and closeouts. He’s fast covering ground, and he displays excellent balance when opponents drive at him or when he’s forced to change directions. He plays like a video game character utilizing unlimited turbo—he doesn’t have to regather himself to process the actions of the offense; he simply just goes.
The Swing Skill(s):
I’m still not totally sold on Sion James as a scorer or shooter. He’s always been a lower usage guy, with last season’s 17.1 USG% being his career high. His 20.8 points per 100 possessions last season is an uncommonly low number for players who stick around the NBA long-term. When it comes to the shot, his volume is still low for a 6’5” player. While I commend James’ uptick in confidence, the mechanics haven’t changed much from past seasons. He’s still a little knock-kneed, and the ball comes off his hand a bit above and in front of his forehead. The pairing of a strong base and low release has me concerned. I’ll need another year of James hovering in that 38% range if his volume is going to be lower for his height.
Final Assessment:
I understand maintaining some reservations about Sion James. He wasn’t a prolific scorer in the AAC, he had a one-year shooting uptick without overhauling his mechanics, and he was below 70% at the charity stripe. Still, if he can hover in that same area percentage-wise from deep, it’ll be hard not to bite. So much of what James does is valuable in the playoffs—the physicality, the ball skills, the second side attacking, and the defensive versatility. He’ll be in my Top 75 to start the year because if the shot is real, he could be one of the better value plays out there.
Darrion Williams, 6’6”, Junior, Texas Tech
23-24 Stats: 11.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 TOV, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 49.4/45.8/84.7
The Buzz:
-44th on Sam Vecenie’s 2025 mock draft
The Pitch:
Darrion Williams has physical strength, a versatile skill set, and he moves the ball like a 10-year NBA veteran in a playoff series.
As a freshman at Nevada, Williams registered a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The only other 6’6”+ freshman to hit that mark in the BartTorvik era (2008-onward) is Lonzo Ball. Those traits scaled up beautifully to the high-major level at Texas Tech last season. Williams is very quick to recognize missed defensive assignments. He’s able to whip accurate, creative passes within a “.5” context. Even when he’s putting the ball on the deck and attacking, he’s still able to make more advanced reads. He’ll use his length to create advantages passing angles to evade defenders, and he can fit balls through tight windows. Williams’s savvy, execution, and ability to operate with fluidity enable him to make passes at the last possible second to generate team looks for teammates.
Williams has also proven himself to be one heck of an outside shooter. While the lack of a starring role may be a factor in his lower volume (5.6 threes per 100 possessions), it’s tough to quibble with his efficiency. Through two college seasons, he’s made 40.7% of his threes. He’s able to get his shot up quickly off the catch with minimal dip. There may also be untapped pull-up upside as well. Though he only took eight pull-up triples last year, he hit five of them, and he made 11 of his 22 pull-up twos, per Synergy. Add in his 87.5% mark at the free throw line last season, and I’m confident in his ability to knock down shots.
His feel is evident on the defensive end, too. He’s engaged, attentive, and knows where to be. He’ll often outsmart unsuspecting ball handlers with well-timed strips and properly anticipate passes. He’s a handful at the point of attack, too. Williams does a great job using his body and hands while staying in his stance to force opponents into tough spots. He’s physical and makes opponents wear his body. Williams takes the challenge of on-ball defense seriously and finds a way to make life difficult for whoever is in front of him. That gives him a real versatility that outpunches his athletic traits. He also competes hard on the glass, having posted a 19.2 DRB% this past season.
The Swing Skill(s):
I’d like to pin down where exactly Williams will land on the NBA positional spectrum. He plays with the toughness of a four and rebounds like a four, but he’s short for that position and he’s pretty ground-bound. While he knows how to guard, I’m unsure that he’ll be quick enough to stick with smaller players at the NBA level. Williams will also want to prove that he can get the job done from deep on higher volume given his lack of height. Still, when opponents chase him off the line, he’s not particularly quick and he doesn’t get up well at the rim. As a result, he made only 53.2% of his halfcourt rim attempts last season.
Final Assessment:
Darrion Williams’s game poses an interesting philosophical question—how far can a player’s production, skill, and feel carry them in the face of athletic limitations? We won’t know the answer for some time. However, there are things Williams can do to help himself in the meantime. If he can move better (north-south burst, lateral agility, vertical explosiveness) and shoot more threes, it will be easier to imagine him sliding into an NBA role. Given the amount of talent at Texas Tech this coming season, I’m not sure how much bigger of a role he’ll get this season. For that reason, I’m viewing him as more of a 2026 predicament, but I’ve got him in my Top 80 currently. At a certain point, a 6’6” guy who has hit threes at a high percentage and plays the right way is a bet that becomes difficult to pass on. When his time comes, I see him as a Portsmouth/E-10 level player at absolute worst. Whether or not he can carve out a rotation spot will come down to his physical development and how well his shooting scales up.
Max Shulga, 6’4”, Graduate, VCU
23-24 Stats: 14.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.0 TOV, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 44.6/41.5/87.6
The Buzz:
-Appeared on Sam Vecenie’s Top 100 board during the last cycle.
The Pitch:
Max Shulga is an ultra-efficient guard with good positional size at 6’4” and 210 pounds.
Offensively, Shulga has a classic “modern guard” on/off-ball game. On the ball, he’s a polished pick-and-roll scorer, ranking in the 95th percentile on those play types last season per Synergy. A big part of that success is his three-point shooting. Shulga drained 41.5% of his threes while taking 10.3 per 100 possessions last season. He has a smooth “rhythm and rock” footwork game to generate separation while maintaining balance throughout his feet and core. Once he has space, he gets his pull-up jumper off at warp speed. Shulga made 39.3% of his pull-up triples last season, enabling him to reliably make defenses pay if they don’t respect his range. Still, he’s often played alongside another ball handler. As a result, he’s comfortable without the ball. Shulga knows how to move himself open and gets his shot off quickly. His 42.1% on catch-and-shoot threes demonstrates his dynamism as a shooter and shows how he can add value in a more tertiary role.
There’s more to him than just shooting, too. Shulga is a physical downhill driver, which leads to him getting to the free-throw line on a consistent basis. He has a career FTr of .476. Throw in his 87.6% mark at the charity stripe last season, and that makes drawing fouls one hell of a skill for him. He’s also got real juice as a passer. He posted a 23.6 AST% this past year. Shulga can run a ball screen like a traditional point guard and make advanced reads on a consistent basis. Still, when he needs to keep it moving on the perimeter, he can do that, too. This allows him to scale up and down from a usage standpoint based on the personnel on the floor, further demonstrating the flexibility of his skill set.
While most of Shulga’s value will be derived from his offense, I thought he made good strides defensively this past season. He’s always been a rugged point-of-attack defender. He plays with a real degree of discipline and uses his strength to his advantage. Shulga has also long been a great rebounder for a guard, having racked up a 14.8 DRB% throughout his college career. Last season, though, I thought Shulga moved better than he had in the past. Simply put, he moved more like a pro. He was lighter on his feet and did a better job of staying connected around screens on and off the ball.
The Swing Skill(s):
Shulga will need to continue to progress defensively and reduce his turnovers. As I said in that previous paragraph, Shulga is going in the right direction with regard to how he moves. Still, he can be pretty stiff through his hips, and he doesn’t respond well to sudden shifts in direction. He doesn’t have the burst to get back into plays once he’s beat, either. His subpar athletic tools are why his defensive playmaking metrics (1.7 STL%, 1.0 BLK%) have lagged behind that of guards who typically stick in the NBA. Offensively, his first step leaves something to be desired, and his lack of functional bounce limits him as a finisher. Additionally, he’ll need to tighten up his handle. He did reduce his turnover rate this past season (18.3 TOV% to 15.7 TOV%), so again, he’s trending upward. But still, Shulga can get too sped up in traffic and struggle against heavy pressure.
Final Assessment:
Shulga’s shortcomings as an athlete and defender could hold him back. With that being said, I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off. He’s been on a great trajectory over the past few seasons, continuously improving across the board while taking on an increasingly large usage burden. There wasn’t a single “problem area” from the 22-23 season that didn’t look at least a little better during his 23-24 campaign. He’s a big and strong guard with a lights-out shooting profile who can play without the ball and has a willingness to engage in physicality. There’s a path for Shulga to carve out a Sam Merrill-type role if he keeps getting better. He’ll be around the 100 mark on my board to start the year but has a chance to rise as attrition sets in, especially if he takes another leap.
Norchad Omier, 6’7”, Graduate, Baylor
23-24 Stats (at Miami): 17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 2.3 TOV, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 55.2/35.3/75.0
The Buzz:
-2023 G League Elite Camp invitee
The Pitch:
Norchad Omier is a hyper-physical, hyper-competitive prospect who feels like he would be a nightmare to play against.
While it may not be the sexiest skill, you’ve got to start off with the rebounding when it comes to Norchad Omier. Through four college seasons (two at Arkansas State, two at Miami), Omier has averaged 11.0 RPG. He’s always competing on the glass. He uses his 240-pound frame to knock opponents around, he’s constantly securing position, and he pops high off the floor with the greatest of ease. His 14.1 ORB% during his two seasons at Miami is a truly elite mark. If opponents aren’t making sure that Omier isn’t accounted for, he will make them pay time and time again. Per Synergy, 15.4% of Omier’s shots were putbacks, and he converted a super-efficient 67.9% of them.
He does lots of other good dirty work on offense, too. Omier is a physical screener. Even better, he’s fast to the rim when he rolls or slips. Add in his effortless bounce, and he’s one heck of a lob target. His hands are good, and he can pull in alley-oop passes with just one of them. Omier also deserves credit for improving as a shooter over the years. After going 1-for-6 from deep during his first two seasons, he got up to 35.3% on 2.2 attempts per game last season. His volume (4.1 attempts per 100 possessions) is low, but it’s commendable to go from “non-shooter” to “he can hit the open ones” after moving up to the high-major level.
He’s a handful on defense. Omier’s power allows him to hold his own inside. When he bodies up perimeter players, they can’t gain an inch of ground. He should be comfortable guarding a variety of opponents at the next level. His timing stands out, particularly when it comes to generating on-ball strips and getting his hands on entry passes. His lift inside helps him to turn away attackers at the rim. The 2.5 STL% and 3.7 BLK% stats that he posted in his two years at Miami are both great marks.
The Swing Skill(s):
Norchad Omier needs to continue to add ball skills to his game. Right now, he projects as something of a small-ball five. Those exist, but rarely with Omier’s dimensions. At G League Elite Camp in 2023, he was 6’5.5” barefoot with a 6’11.25” wingspan and an 8’8.5” standing each. That’s only an extra half inch on Jamir Watkins’ numbers from earlier in the article. While his strength goes a long way, Omier has struggled to truly anchor a defense as a five-man at the high-major level. When I initially covered him for the series, I lumped him into the wing group—even though that wasn’t the position he played because of these issues. Omier has grown tremendously as an outside shooter, but he needs to keep developing as a passer and ball handler. He can get too sped up and out of control with the ball at times. Players his height with a 26.3 USG% who have such a low AST% (8.3) haven’t found much success in the NBA. If he gets more comfortable putting the ball on the deck and reading defenses, he could really be onto something.
Final Assessment:
I go back and forth on Omier. “Energy bigs” are becoming a bygone archetype, and he’s small even by the standards of that player type. If he’s going to become a perimeter player, he’ll need to make better decisions on the perimeter more consistently and develop a more polished handle. His 1.2 APG to 2.3 TOV is a scary number for a sub-6’6” barefoot upperclassman.
With that being said, I can’t bring myself to be all the way out. He’s the classic “bet on the guy you wouldn’t want to play against” player. He’s always fighting on the glass, he’s excellent on the interior, he can guard a variety of positions, and he’s become a competent jump shooter. We just watched Enrique Freeman, who is cut from a similar cloth and took similar strides, hear his name called on draft night. Who’s to say Omier can’t do the same? I have him floating in that 100-ish range to start the year. I’m interested to see what he’ll look like in a new context at Baylor.
Knocking on the Door
This group contains players who haven’t appeared on any mainstream rankings but are close to getting there. Most players in this group are in my current Top 100 or are darn close.
Amari Williams, 6’10”, Graduate, Kentucky
23-24 Stats (at Drexel): 12.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.4 TOV, 1.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 51.7/33.3/65.5
The Pitch:
Amari Williams is one heck of a defensive anchor. Standing 6’10” and 262 pounds with a 7’5” wingspan, Williams has outstanding dimensions for an NBA center. This isn’t a guy who is going to come up from the mid-major level only to get bossed around. He’s an excellent paint deterrent who often forces opponents to settle for tough looks instead of getting to the rim. His awareness allows him to get into the correct positions consistently, and his bounce allows him to turn away opponents at the rim (career 8.7 BLK%). He also owns the glass and limits second chances (career 27.9 DRB%). Pulling him out to the perimeter isn’t much of a solution, though. He has fantastic north-south burst that allows him to be the rare big who can jump passing lanes. His 2.7 STL% over the past two seasons is an uncommon mark for someone with legitimate five-man size. He’s shockingly light on his feet laterally. Williams’s signature skill is going to be locking down the rim in drop coverage, but he’s more than adept at handling his business on the perimeter. This blend of feel, power, and quickness makes the three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year one of the most intriguing sleeper prospects out there.
The Swing Skill(s):
As good as Williams has been on defense, his offense does raise some questions. He’s been one of Drexel’s top two scorers each of the past two seasons, but his efficiency has left something to be desired. His 55.5 TS% and 52.5 eFG% over the past two seasons would be poor for any big man prospect but are particularly concerning given that it occurred at the mid-major level. He doesn’t space the floor, and he doesn’t have much in the way of touch. That said, Williams was forced to post up a lot at Drexel, and the hope is that he can score more efficiently in a modernized roller/rim runner system. Also, while Williams has some outstanding flashes as a passer and orchestrator, he’s still turnover-prone (17.9 TOV%), biting off more than he can chew or forcing passes a half second too late.
Final Assessment:
Over the past few seasons, Amari Williams has been truly special on the defensive end. As he moves up to Kentucky, I’m optimistic about his translation. He’s always been good against high-major competition. Last year, he had 12 points and five blocks in an upset win over Villanova, along with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double at West Virginia. Even when looking at an NBA future, his impressive combination of size, athleticism, and feel gives reason to believe. The question boils down to what Williams can show offensively this season. If he can put the ball in the basket consistently, cut out the bad passes, and keep the dazzling DHO flashes, then he has a path to hear his name called on draft night. At worst, he should find himself in the Portsmouth mix, given his past track record as one of college basketball’s premier defenders.
Matt Cross, 6’7”, Graduate, SMU
23-24 Stats (at UMass): 15.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.4 TOV, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 54.0/32.9/79.8
The Pitch:
Matt Cross plays every possession like it’s life or death. He has one of the best motors in the sport. When a dude is 6’7”, 230 pounds, a good athlete, and has actual basketball talent, that goes a long way. He’s always engaged defensively. His rotations are on point, his long strides get him where he needs to go quickly, and he has the tools to make plays on the ball (career 2.5 STL%, 2.1 BLK%). At the point of attack, he uses his physicality exceptionally well, rarely giving up advantage and forcing mistakes on a consistent basis. He’s not a sloth laterally, either, and has shown an ability to contain quick, shifty guards. Cross is a tenacious rebounder on both ends of the floor (21.6 DRB%, 9.0 ORB% last season) who can end possessions and generate putbacks for himself. His grit serves him inside well offensively, as he made 61.4% of his halfcourt rim attempts per Synergy and drew heaps of fouls with a .467 free-throw rate. He’s also a good connective passer who can see on the go.
The Swing Skill(s):
Cross’ stock will likely be heavily tied to his shot, as is often the case for upperclassmen wings on the periphery. His career volume (7.0 attempts per 100 possessions) is rock solid, but the results have been inconsistent. He’s a career 33.3% from deep, but it’s been a roller coaster from year to year (40.0%, 28.4%, 35.1%, 32.0%). At his best, Cross can hit long-range bombs from the NBA line, but the unpredictable nature of the results has been frustrating. Given that his likely NBA role will see him act as more of a play-finisher than a playmaker, he’ll have to prove that he can be counted on to hit threes off the catch this year.
Final Assessment:
I get the reservations about Cross. Some teams might be put off by the fact that he’s on his fourth team in five years, or that he considered walking away from the sport at one point. He’s also going to have to develop into a reliable catch-and-shoot target. With all of that being said, I love Cross. The dude is an absolute dog. He’s strong, physical, and hyper-competitive. He’s a versatile defender, an impactful rebounder, and he’s got a herky-jerky offensive game that is accentuated by his power and feel. If you squint, you can see some Jaime Jaquez Jr. in him. He’s always finding a way to impact the game. Cross is a Top 100 guy to start the year for me and will likely be one of my favorite margin targets come June (unless everyone else catches onto him, which is a real possibility if he hits threes in the ACC).
Wesley Cardet Jr., 6’6”, Senior, Providence
23-24 Stats (at Chicago State): 18.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.9 TOV, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 44.4/34.4/71.9
The Pitch:
Wesley Cardet Jr. is a well-rounded wing who can affect the game in a variety of ways. Standing 6’6” with a reported 6’11” wingspan and a listed weight of 210 pounds, Cardet has the physical dimensions of an NBA wing. Offensively, he likes to get downhill and attack the basket. 41.6% of his halfcourt shots came at the rim, and he posted a .451 free throw rate. Cardet carried a heavy usage burden last year (29.4 USG%), and much of that was because he was his team’s best and most polished creator. He has a deep bag of counters to get to his spots. He also keeps a lookout for teammates on the go, posting a 17.9 AST% while cutting his TOV% to a career-low of 14.4. He’s also improved as a shooter. As a freshman, he shot 28.3% from deep on 4.6 attempts per 100 possessions. Last year, that number climbed up to 34.4% on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions. Because of his large offensive role, he had a tougher long-range shot diet than many of his peers, too. Defensively, Cardet can show a real intensity at the point of attack. His length, toughness, and agility do him wonders on that end of the floor.
The Swing Skill(s):
Cardet will find himself in an entirely different context at Providence. At Chicago State, he had to be the center of the universe for his team to hang. In some respects, Providence should make things easier—he’ll get better looks, bear a smaller creation burden, and get to play with more consistent intensity as a defender. But in other ways, Cardet may need to shake some bad habits. He’ll have to show more “.5” decisiveness, and he won’t have the same freedom to stop the ball offensively. Cardet also struggled at the rim (45.8% in the halfcourt, per Synergy) in part due to his tendency to force looks and settle for subpar angles inside. He’ll have to clean that up at the high-major level. Additionally, I’d like to see Cardet become a more impactful off-ball defender now that he’ll have more energy on that end of the floor. His feel and tools are good enough for him to make more plays on the ball than he has in the past.
Final Assessment:
Cardet might be the most fascinating player in this tier. He was a wildly overqualified leading man playing in an exceptionally difficult context. For those unfamiliar, Chicago State was long considered one of Division-I’s worst programs, and they weren’t a part of a conference. As a result, their rag-tag group would play a very hefty majority of their games on the road. Given the circumstances, it’s tough to ask for more than we got from Cardet. He refined his playmaking and took tremendous strides as a shooter while dramatically improving his physique. Now, we’ll get to see him at Providence, a program that just produced one of the biggest single off-season leaps in recent memory with Devin Carter. Cardet’s game will likely look a lot different in this context, and I’m intrigued to see how things shake out. His physical gifts, willingness to put in the work, and modern skill set have him as a Top 100 guy on my board to start the year.
BJ Freeman, 6’6”, Senior, Milwaukee
23-24 Stats: 21.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 3.6 TOV, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 42.2/35.1/82.4
The Pitch:
BJ Freeman was one of the most gifted offensive players at the mid-major level this past season. For starters, he’s a much better shooter than his 35.1% from deep indicates. Freeman launched 12.2 triples per 100 possessions. He has deep range, and because of his hefty role (33.9 USG%), his shot diet was difficult. Per Synergy, only 30 of Freeman’s 188 three-point attempts per uncontested looks off the catch. Chasing him off the line isn’t necessarily the answer. Freeman is an effective attacker who loves contact (5.7 free throw attempts per game last year) and sees the floor well. He’s great at finding the corners or catching rim protectors off-guard with well-timed interior dump-off passes, leading to his gaudy 27.2 AST%. Despite taking on a bigger role, Freeman was better defensively this year, too. He boosted his steal and block numbers thanks to his feel for the game, and he’s always done a good job of getting into position to take charges. Additionally, he’s a good defensive rebounder (18.4 DRB%) with the ball skills to push the ball back in the other direction.
The Swing Skill(s):
While BJ Freeman is undoubtedly a talented scorer, he will need to reel in his shot selection as he scales up to the high-major level. He has a tendency to force some tough ones from deep and inside rather than working for a better look or moving the ball. Front offices will also want to see him operate within the flow of the offense more consistently. His defensive effort will need to improve, too. Freeman can become disengaged off the ball and too content to let his man get by him at the point of attack.
Final Assessment:
At times, Freeman’s game feels rough around the edges. He can take some questionable shots, make questionable passes, or give questionable effort on defense. But at his best, he feels like a cold-blooded, unstoppable force. He’s done it against good teams, too—he dropped 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the season opener against Providence last year. The talent is unquestionably there, at least on the offensive end. A 6’6” wing with ball skills and takeover scoring ability is always going to have appeal. If Freeman can round out those edges at Arizona State (defending more consistently, taking fewer bad shots, and being more intentional with his pass placement), there’s an honest-to-goodness path to draftability for him. I’ll always prefer to bet on the player who has the feel and skill but needs to buckle down over a dude who simply doesn’t have it. Freeman is the former, and I’ll be intrigued to monitor him at the high-major level.
Aziz Bandaogo, 7’0”, Graduate, Cincinnati
23-24 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.0 TOV, 1.7 BPG, 0.6 SPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 64.2/0/54.5
The Pitch:
Aziz Bandaogo is a high-energy, high-efficiency rim runner with NBA physical traits. He’s been toward the top of the dunk leaderboards each of the past two seasons. Bandaogo can explode off one foot and grab lobs high above the rim before finishing with fury. On the defensive end, he knows how to anchor a defense and protect the basket. He’s held down the fort for a Top 50 team in defensive rating each of the past two seasons. While at his best when deterring foes and swatting shots (career 9.0 BLK%) in the paint, he’s nimble enough to hold his own in space. Lastly, Bandaogo is a good rebounder on both ends of the floor (25.0 DRB%, 10.5 ORB%).
The Swing Skill(s):
I loved Bandaogo as a junior at Utah Valley. After a classic NCAA waiver issue, Bandaogo wasn’t allowed to play to start the season. His crime? Transferring for a second time after his previous coach left for a different job. Heinous, I know. Anyway, the NCAA eventually reversed this decision. Bandaogo seemed sluggish out of the gate, not looking as good as he did from a movement or body perspective as he did before. Front offices will want to see him get back to his previous fitness levels with less uncertainty going into this season. He still needs to refine his ball skills and passing, as his career 6.1 AST% is a statistical red flag. He also lacks touch on non-dunks and has to get better at the free-throw line. At 235 pounds, adding strength wouldn’t hurt, either.
Final Assessment:
The Aziz Bandaogo we saw last season wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but it was understandable given the circumstances. I’m really rooting for him to get back on the horse this year. Plus, even in what I considered a “down year,” he still produced! He had a good block rate (7.5%), he finished efficiently (73.2% at the rim in the halfcourt), and he rebounded the ball. By and large, that’s what NBA teams want from their big men. If Bandaogo can get back to running the floor how he did previously, it’s hard to imagine that NBA teams won’t at least kick the tires on him with an E-10 come June. Should he knock this season out of the park, he could sneak into the second round as a “dunks and blocks” big like Ariel Hukporti just did.
RJ Luis, 6’7”, Junior, St. John’s
23-24 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 TOV, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
23-24 Shooting Splits: 42.2/20.0/75.0
The Pitch:
RJ Luis brings a tantalizing mix of ball skills, defensive production, and length to the table. He exercises great command over the ball, stringing together dribble moves and footwork combinations to generate looks for himself. As a result, he’s able to get to the rim and free-throw line on a consistent basis. Defensively, Luis has the tools to guard multiple positions. He’s got high-end lateral footspeed and a polished stance to help him stay in front of the ball. He’s great with his hands, whether that means poking the ball loose at the point of attack or displaying the coordination to intercept a pass. Luis also rebounded even better at St. John’s than he did during his freshman season at UMass, adding another dimension to his game.
The Swing Skill(s):
The non-negotiable here is the jump shot. As a freshman, Luis hit 34.8% of his threes, but he only took 4.2 per 100 possessions. This year, he got his volume up to 4.8 per 100, which is still low, but his efficiency plummeted. Part of that could be tied to injury, as Luis missed the start of the year and then another stretch of time after his first game of the season. Regardless, he has to boost both his volume and percentages to respectable levels in order to register himself as a legitimate prospect. I’d also like to see his passing come along. While he was less turnover-prone as a sophomore, he’s still more wired to score than create when he puts the ball on the deck.
Final Assessment:
RJ Luis is entering a pivotal year for his NBA stock. On one hand, he’s a silky operator who moves like a pro, has a nice handle, and can make an impact on defense. Conversely, he was an inefficient scorer who didn’t look to pass as much as he should have last season. However, the injuries he dealt with are the elephant in the room that need to be addressed. According to this tweet from Rick Pitino, not only is Luis healthy this year, but he’s also reworked his jump shot. I really hope that’s the case. If Luis can get his three-ball going while balancing out his playmaking, he’d be the epitome of a modern NBA wing. I’ll be rooting for Luis to get himself into the mix this year.
Don’t Them Count Out!
These players may not have as much buzz as the prospects in the tier above them. Still, there’s a lot to like about their game. I anticipate that at worst, they’ll get NBA looks when their college career comes to a close. But that doesn’t mean they can’t hit a much better outcome than simply being on the radar.
Brandon Johnson, 6’8”, Redshirt Senior, Miami
Brandon Johnson is a rugged power forward who has continued to round out his skill set over the years. He’s a 223-pound physical force. He cleans up on the glass (8.6 RPG) and uses his powerful frame to stifle opponents on defense. Offensively, Johnson has taken tremendous strides as an outside shooter. As a freshman, he shot 21.4% from deep on 1.5 attempts per 100 possessions. Last year, he got those numbers up to 36.5% on 10.1 attempts per 100 possessions. Johnson has shown flashes as a passer, too. Johnson’s combination of size, toughness, and shooting gives him a serious foot in the door. How he improves his ball skills on the perimeter and off-ball defensive playmaking in the ACC will determine whether or not he can make his way into the Top 60 mix.
Johnny O’Neil, 6’9”, Graduate, Santa Clara
Johnny O’Neil checks a lot of boxes. He’s 6’9”, he’s a career 36.6% shooter from deep on 10 attempts per 100 possessions, and he’s a potent defensive playmaker (career 1.7 STL%, 4.6 BLK%). Unfortunately, his first year at Santa Clara left something to be desired. He was cold from three, his skinny frame met some physicality challenges, and Adama-Alpha Bal established himself as the team’s go-to guy. This year, Santa Clara returns a whole heap of depth, so it’s not like O’Neil is going to step into 20 shots per game or anything. With that being said, I’m still holding some stock here. O’Neil has garnered positive character reviews behind the scenes, he improved as the season progressed last year, and his skill set is super valuable. I’m hoping we see a stronger, more efficient O’Neil this season. If we do, that’s a guy NBA front offices will be interested in.
Jayden Nunn, 6’4”, Senior, Baylor
Jayden Nunn generated some sleeper buzz after a hot close to his freshman season at VCU. While he hasn’t been talked up much as a draft prospect in the time since, I quite like his game and think he’s underdiscussed. Nunn is a dogged defender who loves to stalk his man the entire length of the court. He’s a persistent pest who has consistently posted high steal and block rates. He’ll reliably space the floor as a career 40.4% shooter from deep. He’s also filled out his frame these past few years, which has enabled him to become much better at pressuring the rim and finishing (56.8% at the rim in the halfcourt last season, per Synergy). Nunn had an uncharacteristically poor pull-up shooting campaign last year, and I’d bet that bounces back as a senior. He’ll still need to prove that he can be more of a lead guard, and that will always be tricky for players in Baylor’s guard-heavy system. That being said, Nunn’s consistent improvement, multi-level scoring profile, and defensive impact make him more interesting to me than a lot of other guard prospects. Barring a breakout, he’d be the type of guard I would love to sneak into my G League system.
Zach Austin, 6’7”, Redshirt Senior, Pittsburgh
While Zack Austin didn’t have the noisiest first year at Pitt, I remain intrigued by him. For starters, he’s long been one of the best defensive playmaking wings in college hoops. That scaled up well to the ACC, where he had a 6.9 BLK% and 2.6 STL%. Austin has violent bounce and is one of the most talented rim-helping wings out there. From an athleticism and defensive standpoint, he’s there. The question is just whether or not Austin has the juice on offense. He’s never been particularly efficient (career 50.9 eFG%). While Austin is a willing shooter who can hit from deep behind the NBA line, his career 32.1% from three leaves something to be desired. He’s also more of a play-finisher than a dribble-pass-shoot wing, boasting a career AST% of only 8.6. Still, Austin is an NBA-level athlete and an exceptionally potent defender. Simply hitting shots and showing some connective tissue will be enough to get him looks. The departures of Bub Carrington and Blake Hinson give him a real chance to break out.
Viktor Lakhin, 6’11”, Redshirt Senior, Clemson
The 6’11” Viktor Lakhin is a defensive Swiss Army knife. He’s fluid for his size and has faster hands than one might expect at first glance. He uses his body to force opponents into problem areas of the floor and swarms them with his length. Off the ball, he keeps a good read of the floor. Add in his long ground coverage strides, and he’s an effective helper. Offensively, Lakhin had been somewhat of a black hole prior to this past season. Not anymore! His anemic 4.4 AST% jumped all the way to 15.1%. Lakhin constantly kept a lookout for teammates and made some sharp dishes from the top of the key. While Lakhin started to take more threes this past year and found some early success, he ended up only hitting 25.9% of his triples. If he can get that up and convince teams that there’s five-out optionality to his game, that would go a long way.
Jadon Jones, 6’5”, Graduate, Oklahoma
Jadon Jones built himself one heck of a 3-and-D resume during his time at Long Beach State. Last season, he hit 37.7% of his threes on high volume while averaging 1.8 SPG and 1.0 BPG. He’s got deep range on his jumper, and he incites havoc on the defensive end. Jones has also polished up his playmaking over the years, becoming a better ball handler and seeing the floor more consistently. His graduate campaign at Oklahoma will be interesting to monitor. While he’s undoubtedly a high-major athlete from a run-jump perspective, he’s only listed at 190 pounds, and he can struggle with physicality at times. He’ll also have to time his steals and blocks carefully within the confines of a more conventional defense. If Jones can handle SEC contact, hit his threes, and continue to make plays at an elite level defensively, he’ll be tough to ignore.
Zeke Mayo, 6’3”, Senior, Kansas
After three great years at South Dakota State, Zeke Mayo will return to his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas to play his final season with the Jayhawks. Mayo is a deadly scorer, particularly from long range. He has hit 38.8% of his career triples on high volume. He’s comfortable off the catch, which should scale well to the professional ranks, but he’s also great at getting his own shot. Mayo has impressive footwork and manipulates ball screens well to maximize openings for himself at all three levels. Though he’s not the bounciest, Mayo is both strong and tough, enabling him to finish (61.4% at the rim in the halfcourt) and rebound (15.7 DRB%) better than one might expect. Questions arise on the defensive end, as he’s not particularly long or quick. He’s also more of a scoring guard than a traditional point guard, too. The Kansas roster construction could complicate things for his stock. While it should enable him to give more effort defensively, it will be tough for him to continue to put up gaudy point totals and show strides he’s made as a playmaker for others. The optimistic view is that it’s hard to keep players as impactful as Mayo off the floor. He’s also received positive character reviews for his work ethic and leadership. If Mayo can emerge as one of the top dogs on a loaded Kansas team, he’ll get serious attention. I’ll be rooting for the hometown kid to do just that.
Jaeden Zackery, 6’2”, Graduate, Clemson
Jaeden Zackery meets a good number of “small guard requirements.” For starters, he’s strong and burly, listed at 218 pounds. He’s a stout point-of-attack defender who uses his hands to rack up steals (3.1 AST% last season). His physicality enabled him to convert 63.4% of his halfcourt rim attempts. Zackery is a polished pull-up scorer, too. He hit 47.5% of his pull-up twos and eight of his 20 pull-up threes last season. Additionally, he’s comfortable off the ball, having drained 41.3% of his catch-and-shoot triples this past year, per Synergy. Heading into his final college year, teams will need to see Zackery assert a greater level of dominance, given his size. If he can take on a bigger scoring load (19.8 points per 100 possessions), reduce his turnovers (16.6 TOV%), and show more on the glass (9.0 DRBB%), teams will feel better about taking a chance on him. Zackery’s blend of power, toughness, and selflessness still has me intrigued.
Micah Handlogten, 7’1”, Florida, Junior
Micah Handlogten had an exceptional freshman season at Marshall. His sophomore year at Florida had its ups and downs. On one hand, Handlogten struggled with physicality and the speed of the game. That led to a decrease in his block and rebounding rates. He also struggled mightily at the charity stripe (38.2%). Conversely, he still carved out a starting role, showed soft touch inside, and displayed an impressive combination of height and coordination. Unfortunately, a leg fracture against Auburn in the NCAA tournament ended his season. He is likely to redshirt this year, which is the main reason he’s in this tier. Whenever he comes back, I’ll be excited to see him. Few guys his size move as well as he does, and he’s built up a positive reputation behind the scenes. It may be a while before we get to see him, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about him.
Aly Khalifa, 6’10”, Louisville, Redshirt Senior
We’ve got another big taking a redshirt here in Aly Khalifa. Let’s start with the positive—Khalifa is unbelievable as a passer. He’s creative, his placement is on-point, and he’s one of the best top-of-the-key orchestrators you’ll ever see. That might sound like hyperbole, but a 32.6 AST% for a center is out of this world. That’s a higher assist rate than Payton Pritchard had as a senior at Oregon. Khalifa is THAT good at running an offense and hitting the open man. The downside is that Khalifa is very much on the wrong side of the athletic curve. Defenses dice him up due to his slow feet and lack of bounce. A player like Luka Garza was knocked for his movement profile coming out of college, and he’s managed to stick in the NBA. But Garza was stronger, faster, more agile, and jumped more easily. It’s not particularly close, either. Even a non-NBA “skilled big” like Trevion Williams was comfortably more athletic than Khalifa. I’m hoping that Khalifa can use his redshirt year to maximize his physical traits. If he can find a way to get close to hanging on defense, his outlier passing skills could give him a path.
Longer Shots and Deeper Cuts
These are players who are on the outside looking in. They’ll need to make significant headway to get into the draft mix. I am proud to report that a hefty majority of these came from the 2022 group rather than the 2023 group. Hey, I’m learning and getting better at this! Pattern recognition is cool!
Michael Belle, 6’7”, Sophomore, VCU: Belle may end up being my biggest “miss” from the 2023 group. I was totally enamored with him at the time. After a great season in France’s Espoirs league, Belle struggled offensively at VCU. His shot betrayed him (25% on 0.9 attempts per game), which wasn’t entirely surprising given his lower volume overseas, and the eye test wasn’t kind to him. However, Belle struggled inside the arc, too, hitting only 39% of his twos. That caught me off guard. He was also turnover-prone. Still, Belle stayed in the rotation. He’s a great athlete by A-10 standards, and he was a force on defense (3.2 BLK%, 2.0 STL%). I’m hoping he can put the ball in the basket more consistently and cut down on his mistakes as a sophomore. He’s still got plenty of time to figure it out.
Steve Settle III, 6’10, Redshirt Senior, Temple: Settle is a wing with great length who can guard the positional spectrum. His 3.2 STL% and 3.8 BLK% rate last season were a testament to his defensive playmaking. While he’s long been a willing shooter, he’s never been consistent from deep, and physicality has been a limiting factor for him.
Francis Nwaokorie, 6’7”, Senior, Loyola Chicago: After a great freshman season at UC San Diego, Nwaokorie never got a bigger role. He’ll head to Loyola Chicago, and I’m hoping he can break out in a new environment. He’s strong, moves pretty well, and is a career 37.2% from deep. Nwaokorie is also a really smart guy and one of my favorite players I’ve ever interviewed. The character stuff is off the charts. We just need that step forward from a production standpoint here.
Chaunce Jenkins, 6’4”, Graduate, Seton Hall: A super bouncy guard and hyperactive defender, Jenkins was a bright spot for Old Dominion last season. He’ll need to evolve into more of a true lead guard and show consistency beyond the arc to grab NBA attention. That said, he’s a perfect fit at Seton Hall.
Andrew Rohde, 6’6”, Junior, Virginia: Rohde had a great freshman year at St. Thomas. He scored 17.1 PPG, racked up assists, and used his feel to rack up steals at a high clip. While he only hit 32% of his threes, he showcased serious range and dynamism, and he took a high volume of attempts. At Virginia, his jumper just wouldn’t go in (25.7%). His lack of positive athletic traits also seriously inhibited his ability to impact the game in other ways. Rohde still has good length on him and he’s a smart passer. The hope is that he can add physical strength and get his jumper to fall over the course of the next two years.
D’Maurian Williams, 6’5”, Graduate, High Point: Following his sophomore year at Gardner-Webb, Williams was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal. A 6’5” sniper with playmaking feel, he appeared to be one of the most plug-and-play guys out there. For whatever reason, things didn’t click for him at Texas Tech. He played only 10.1 MPG as a junior, and then only 19 total minutes last season. Now, he’ll return to the Big South, this time at High Point. There’s a ton of talent at High Point, and Williams previously made an All-Big South team. I’m intrigued to see if he can regain his form in this context. Still, it’s tough to get too excited from a pro projection standpoint after he struggled to lock down a high-major role.
Steele Venters, 6’7”, Redshirt Senior, Gonzaga: Venters drained 40.3% of his threes on high volume at Eastern Washington. He also displayed the ability to play within the flow of the offense. Sadly, he’s here through no fault of his own. He’ll have to miss his second consecutive season due to injury. I’m hoping Venters can get healthy and work his way back into the mix during the 25-26 season.
Zach Hicks, 6’7”, Senior, Penn State: Hicks had an interesting freshman year at Temple. He hit threes, rebounded the ball, made solid decisions, and had an impact defensively. Unfortunately, physicality has remained a big issue for Hicks. He doesn’t play through contact well, get to the free throw line often, or score inside the arc at a level approaching efficiency. Hopefully, he’ll have made strength gains heading into his second high-major season.
Josh Uduje, 6’5”, Senior, San Jose State: The Mountain West’s Sixth Man of the Year will get a chance to run the show at San Jose State. Uduje does a great job of getting his own shot inside the arc, and he has solid physical tools. He’ll need to round out his game, particularly as a playmaker for others and as a shooter off the catch, in order to get on the radar.
Sam Vinson, 6’5”, Senior, Northern Kentucky: Sam Vinson might be better at generating off-ball strips than anybody else in college hoops, boasting a career 4.3 STL%. He’s also a steady playmaker who can hit the occasional logo-range three. Vinson has never been consistent enough from deep (career 33.5%), and he’s a sub-70% free throw shooter. Given his athletic limitations, that inefficiency from deep in a smaller conference is a tough barrier in his NBA path.
Jace Carter, 6’5”, Senior, Texas A&M: Jace Carter is a tough, gritty wing with NBA strength. Unfortunately, his three-point percentage peaked at 38.2% during his freshman year and fell all the way to 24.6% last year. His in-between game never really came into fruition, either. Still, Carter is a handful at the college level, and he should have a chance to grow this year.
Holy sicko article. I love it