https://duckswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/22/bronny-james-and-oregon-commit-kwame-evans-projected-lottery-picks-in-2024-nba-mock-draft/. 24. 4. Is Bronny James eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft? It wouldnt be shocking to see him leave early and test the waters, hoping to use the predraft process to better sell his combination of 68 size and shot-making. James has not said if he will be a one-and-done player in college. Considering Pepperdines weaker strength of schedule, passing key tests against Gonzaga during conference play could help Lewis start to generate lottery buzz. You'll now receive the top LeBron Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. High school recruiting analysts widely disagree on who the top prospects in the class are, mostly because they don't view any of them as sure-fire, elite NBA prospects you'd expect to see atop their rankings. Gives me mike Conley vibes, Yeah, Bronny is a pro man. Fresh off winning MVP at the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Global camp, Matas Buzelis is our early projected No. (B/R) New developments in the 2023 NBA draft discussion include more breakout freshmen, injuries and a few struggling prospects who are losing scouts The mock draft order was created based on standings heading into December 20. He still has plenty of room to improve his ballhandling and pull-up jumper to become a more prolific and efficient shot creator, but he has already caught the eyes of NBA decision-makers with the way he contributes to winning and likely will continue to grow and fill out his game. Filling out his thin frame, finding ways to play lower to the ground as a playmaker and improving as a decision-maker and one-on-one defender will be major keys to his development. The playmaking IQ hes showcased just adds another layer of combo versatility and level of upside. 56. James has earned his spot in lottery conversations with the significant jump he has made at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, this season, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his high school class while making strides in his perimeter shooting and playmaking ability. Charlotte Hornets (via Boston Celtics), Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 21.7. Despite lacking serious burst or strength, he makes things happen off the dribble with enough shiftiness, footwork and live-dribble vision. All Rights Reserved. However, he checks a valued mix of boxes with his improved shooting, passing and switchable defense for a 610 forward. You may have to select a menu option or click a button. London Johnson | G League Ignite | PG/SG | Age: 18.7, 32. Though Strawther hasnt developed into a more threatening creator, his shooting mechanics/rhythm and touch shots are going to make teams see an off-ball scoring fit. The guard has still yet to decide where he will play basketball next season, but he is widely expected to choose between Ohio State, USC, and Oregon. Any signs of shooting potential could help scouts talk themselves into further improvement. At the moment, Evans is the highest-rated recruit in Oregons 2023 class, ranking as the No. Chicago Bulls recently ruled out Lonzo Ball for the remainder of the NBA season. Los Angeles Lakers:Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois, SF, Senior). (B/R) New developments in the 2023 NBA draft discussion include more breakout freshmen, injuries and a few struggling prospects who are losing scouts support. Bronny will be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft after spending a Flashes of open-floor ball-handling, touch, shot-making and passing from a 610, 19-year-old will keep scouts patient. 28. He won MVP at the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, leading his team to an undefeated record and showing off the many facets of his game playing both on and off the ball. The story of the 2022 NBA draft in many ways was the breakout campaigns we saw from collegiate sophomores, with Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin propelling themselves into being the Nos. James has earned his spot in lottery conversations with the significant jump he has made at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, this season, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his high school class while making strides in his perimeter shooting and playmaking ability. It's safe to say Buzelis has both a high floor and high ceiling as the type of Franz Wagner-esqe prospect any NBA team would love to have, even if that's not typically the profile you look for in a No. Phoenix Suns:Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers, SG/SF, 2004). Most importantly, James is still growing as a 39. All rights reserved. Arkansas Nick Smith Jr., Villanovas Cam Whitmore, Baylors Keyonte George and Alabamas Brandon Miller have entering the conversation with Overtime Elites Thompson brothers. 27. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue. WebNick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuss the latest news in the NBA. When it turns gray, click the refresh icon that has appeared next to it or click the button below to continue. 2023 NBA Draft Top 60 Big Board V3. But if it seems like Los Angeles is set to have a top-10 pick, New Orleans would be wise to take it while they can get it. 40. The report says the 6-foot-3 James, a senior at Sierra Canyon High School (Calif.), possesses the skillset to be a coveted 3 and D prospect, a player who plays elite defense and can knock down 3-pointers consistently. Could that be a pair of Ducks in the top 10 of the draft? But his NBA moneymaker will still be providing instant offense with shot-making and microwave scoring. Snapshot into life of likely No. Bronny James' stock continues to rise more than a year out from when he'll be eligible to make the jump to the NBA. He possesses a perfect storm of complementary scoring ingredients with 68 size, elite shot-making, athletic finishing, sound decision-making and confidence. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Wizards):Sidy Cissoko (G League Ignite, SG/SF, 2004). Though there wont be a huge demand for non-shooting, non-creator centers, a team interested in adding more easy baskets and rim protection could target Lively. Teams contending for Wembanyama 10 overall to the Orlando Magic. History says some of these players might return and possibly emerge as first-rounders the following year. Denver Nuggets (via Mavericks):Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan, SF, Sophomore). Currently, Bronny is uncommitted and is still looking for the right fit to begin his college basketball career. Howard figures to be a popular late-lottery target. Givony's mock order, based on ESPN's projections, predicts the Orlando Magic to select James. Sign up for the Ducks Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. A part of PlayStation commercials over the past 25 years. Orlando Magic (via Bulls):Keyonte George (Baylor, SG, Freshman). 32. Toronto Raptors:Brandon Miller (Alabama, SF, Freshman). Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. 11. Hes struggled with his three-ball as of late, but the bigger sample size dating back to high school says Smith is a versatile shot-maker off pull-ups, spot-ups and runners. Taking a look at the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's historic season for the Nuggets. Despite possessing significant long-term upside, Bufkin has room to grow with ballhandling, playmaking, decision-making, shooting consistency and his thin frame, things he could elect to address either in college or the NBA depending on his priorities. 34. It definitely helps that his father is NBA legend LeBron James. 12) and Ochai Agbaji (No. French wing Bilal Coulibaly is gaining steam in recent weeks as a 2023 draft prospect thanks to some impressive performances alongside Wembanyama on Metropolitans 92 and in the French U21 Espoirs league. 14. With a valued archetype, hes going to earn a lot of fans for the versatility tied to his 67 size, projectable shooting stroke, passing IQ, high-level defense and toughness. Proctors comfort level appears to be rising, as hes starting to have more success converting off self-creation and threes. Bronny, who is listed at 6 feet, 4 inches, is the No. ESPNs mock draft seems to think otherwise, placing Bronny at the No. Launching in a shiny Core Black colorway. 0. We'll have complete coverage leading up to the June 22 draft on ESPN. He might be in need of another year of development as well before jumping into the draft. 50. Hes been absolutely special this season. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Several collegiate freshmen are projected first-round picks in next year's mock draft as well, such as Michigan combo guard Kobe Bufkin, Tennessee wing Julian Phillips, Washington State big man Mouhamed Gueye, Duke guard Tyrese Proctor, Syracuse guard Judah Mintz, Houston wing Terrance Arceneaux, Arizona guard Kylan Boswell and Santa Clara wing Brandin Podziemski. 21), David Roddy (No. 17. But he also doesnt turn 19 until next summer, and at 67 and 220 pounds with downhill athleticism, strong shot-making skill off the dribble and the ability to separate into jumpers fairly easily, his enticing scoring and defensive potential remain intact. Instead, theyll picture what proper development will do for a 68, 240-pound forward who has the skill set to live-dribble pass and shoot along with the tools to smother multiple positions defensively. 1 pick in 2024. Bronny James hasnt graduated from high school, but his status hasnt stopped the speculation of his prospects for the NBA draft. Hes rated as the No. Freshmen have struggled to build draft cases at Tennessee recently, and Phillips is the latest. His combination of 69 size, three-point shooting, passing flashes and defensive tools will make teams ignore his struggles finishing around the basket. Jonathan Givony spent the past few months crisscrossing Europe, scouring the college basketball ranks and watching dozens of high school games live and on film to get an updated look at how the 2024 class is shaping up. Bronny James is now a projected top-10 pick thanks to the significant jump he's made at Sierra Canyon, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his class while making strides with his shooting and playmaking . New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers), Bronny James | Uncommitted | PG/SG | Age: 18.3, Kobe Bufkin | Michigan | PG/SG | Age: 19.4, 12. Detroit Pistons (via Washington Wizards), Xavier Booker | Michigan State | PF/C | Age: 18.4, 39. The 6-foot-7 18-year-old with a 7-3 wingspan has huge potential on the defensive end and is flashing improvement as a perimeter shooter, ball handler and passer in increasingly larger doses, but he still is at a very early stage of development physically and skill-wise, as well as with his aggressiveness and physicality. The top 2 This far out, it's difficult to know which projected second-round juniors -- Virginia's Reece Beekman, UConn's Andre Jackson Jr., Illinois' Coleman Hawkins, Arkansas' Ricky Council IV or Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner -- could elect to return for their senior season. Utah Jazz:Dariq Whitehead (Duke, SG/SF, Freshman). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Hes produced with a combination of self-creation into pull-ups, drives and post-ups and ultra-efficient spot-up shooting. 43. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Geoffrey C. Arnold | The Oregonian/OregonLive. Full ESPN 2024 mock draft: https://t.co/Cw5AcgxiKy pic.twitter.com/HgECP5Aed5, Bronny James is now a projected top-10 pick thanks to the significant jump he's made at Sierra Canyon, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his class while making strides with his shooting and playmaking . ESPN has some interesting NBA player comparisons for 2024 NBA Draft prospect Bronny James. The sophomore Bufkin is in the midst of an outstanding February, averaging 15.5 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists on scorching efficiency (67% true shooting percentage). Outstanding scoring, shooting and playmaking efficiency should help Flagler convince second-round teams to ignore his physical and athletic limitations. He still has plenty of room to improve his ballhandling and pull-up jumper to become a more prolific and efficient shot creator, but he has already caught the eyes of NBA decision-makers with the way he contributes to winning and likely will continue to grow and fill out his game.. WebSierra Canyon guard Bronny James is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. In comparison to his peers, Bronny appears to have grown, while many have merely flatlined in the past 12 to 18 months. 10 pick in the 2024 NBA mock draft. Michigan appearing increasingly unlikely to make the NCAA tournament and the potential return of running mate Jett Howard could be reasons for Bufkin to return if he's not projected as a first-round lock by the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee this spring. Orlando and others will buy his tools, athleticism and aggression for transition offense, driving through contact, finishing and defensive playmaking. 23. Cody Williams is another fast-rising prospect who wasn't considered a top-50 player in his class until recently but now finds himself at No. Considering his high basketball IQ, hearing his name in the lottery would not be shocking. 7. Another offseason to fill out his frame, smooth out his jumper and develop his ballhandling and passing would benefit him, as he has made strides this season in limiting mistakes and holding his own defensively but just hasn't been all that productive relative to his peers. Hunter possesses the type of finishing bounce to help compensate for his 60 height. Click on the large blue power icon at the top. It will be interesting to see how much attention agents and prospects already enrolled in college will pay to how poorly next year's draft is shaping up. Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, has been on scouts radars for a while, although many have been unsure if he is legitimate NBA material. 33 player in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 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Beekman is currently the oldest player projected to be selected in our 2024 first round at age 21.3, but he could very well test the NBA draft waters this spring to see what type of feedback he gets from teams. The Magic would draft Whitmore to impact games with his explosiveness and power while his half-court skills develop. James is rated as a 4-star prospect and the No. Hes also dropped off this list and is now projected as a 2024 prospect. LA Clippers: Ricky Council IV (Arkansas, SF, Junior). ESPN has Bronny James going No. Bronny James races out ahead of the pack and throws down a ferocious dunk. You can follow him onTwitter. While a top-10 selection would be good news for Bronny, this presents a massive problem for the Lakers: They owe their first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Pelicans as part of the trade for Anthony Davis. . Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets), J.J. Starling | Notre Dame | SG | Age: 18.9, 33. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. With Trevon Brazile out for the season, Walsh has started to capitalize on extra on-ball reps and touches. Clark is starting to build an NBA role-player case around versatility, defense and palpable impact (leads NCAA inbox plus-minus). How to watch Victor Wembanyama. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers), Bronny James | Uncommitted | PG/SG | Age: 18.3, Bronny James is now a projected top-10 pick thanks to the significant jump he's made at Sierra Canyon, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his class while making strides with his shooting and playmaking . 16. Denver Nuggets (via Thunder):Leonard Miller (G League Ignite, SF, 2004). Charlotte Hornets:Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite, PG, 2004). James has earned his spot in lottery conversations with the significant jump he has made at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, this season, developing into arguably the best perimeter defender in his high school class while making strides in his perimeter shooting and playmaking ability. I don't know if ya can see it but he moves and plays like a futuristic version of Isaiah Thomas (2 Time Champ) which is dope as hell. All I have to do is pick up the phone.. Still, occasional flashes of off-the-dribble scoring hint at another level of upside for Howard to reach. Before thinking about the draft, James has to figure out his plan for next season. Although the 2024 NBA draft is still 16 months away, teams are closely monitoring the evolution of next year's class to see how future first-rounders are progressing and how to value the picks they own. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Minnesota Timberwolves), Matthew Cleveland | Florida State | SG/SF | Age: 20.4, 48. Though it may be difficult for some to get past Mintzs 172-pound frame, he compensates with shiftiness to create, tough shot-making and energy for transition offensive and defensive playmaking. Jonathan Wasserman provides his latest projections through 2 rounds after an early look at the potential 2023 class. Fudge is starting to make threes on a regular basis, a significant development for a 69 forward with serious quickness and bounce for finishing and defensive playmaking. While his game is predicated on mismatch positional tools and instincts for passing and blowing up plays on defense, hes also surprised with how well hes shot the three early. Emoni Bates was touted as the next LeBron James in high school, but his college career has left NBA scouts with a wide range of opinions. The high school prospect will be heavily scrutinized throughout his career because of his name recognition, but he showed in Thursday's playoff game that he has plenty of talent in his own right. BRONNY EASTBAY IN GAME @SCanyonSports pic.twitter.com/EcySsVrAXz. 2023 NBA mock draft: Are Duke's top prospects living up to expectations. Sacramento Kings (via Pacers):Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA, SF, Senior). Matas Buzelis, a 6-foot-10 Lithuanian guard, looks like as good a choice as any to be selected in the top three, as he has been on an incredible trajectory since we first watched him in spring 2021 and is in many ways exactly what the NBA is looking for right now. It will be interesting to see the changes on this board between now and the end of March Madness. With the leagues second-worst record, the Hornets should be focused on talent over fit in the draft. Boston Celtics: Tyrese Hunter (Texas, PG, Sophomore). An NBA mock draft from ESPN's Jonathan Givony has LeBron James ' oldest son as a top-10 pick in 2024, going No. Last year, it was Williams (No. The fact that the high school junior class, which will make up a big part of the 2025 NBA draft, also isn't shaping up as a banner group thus far is another concern teams have and could be part of the reason so many future picks have already changed hands. 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