Paul’s 2024 Big Board 3.0 Top 100 (5/13)

Now that the college and G-League seasons are now in the rearview mirror, while the NBA playoffs are in strong force, we take a look at the top prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft. More than any other year, we are seeing the mayhem the transfer portal has created in the college world, with thousands of players entering the portal and many declaring for the draft at the same time. The implementation of NIL, ability to have agents, and no more waiver penalties for transferring are the leading causes to what has become a college free agency period. This year is also the final year of the COVID fifth year of eligibility that was implemented in the 2020-21 season, as college seniors have the option to return for a 5th year, while all other classes will not have the same luxury.

Some key dates to keep in mind for this year’s draft starts off with the NBA Draft declaration deadline which passed on April 27, and the deadline to enter the transfer portal which was on May 1. The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 12, with the Pistons and Wizards leading the way at a 14% chance at the 1st pick. Hornets follow with a 13.3% chance, followed by Trail Blazers at 13.2%, Spurs at 10.5%, and Raptors at 9%. The NBA Draft Combine follows from May 13-19 and the NCAA deadline to withdraw from the draft and remain eligible to play in ’24-’25 is May 29. The deadline for other players to withdraw will be June 16 and the NBA Draft will take place on June 26-27. For the first time ever, the draft will be held over two days, Round 1 being the 26th and Round 2 being the 27th.

Without further ado here is my 2024 NBA Draft Top 100 post-tournament, filled with my top prospects who have declared, write-ups on each player, and a list of the top guys who are returning to college next year. Also listed are players who are currently in the transfer portal and where they have committed to if they decide to withdraw from the draft. I hope you enjoy!

Top Players Returning to College

Robbie Avila
Indiana State (Sophomore) – Transferring to: St. Louis
C | 6’10 | 240 lbs
23-24 Stats: 17.4 pts, 6.6 reb, 4.1 ast, 39.4% 3P

The talented big man led Indiana State to a top 25 ranking this year and will now follow Head Coach Josh Schertz to St. Louis.

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Oumar Ballo
Arizona (Senior) – Transferring to: Indiana
C | 7’0 | 260 lbs
23-24 Stats: 12.9 pts, 10.1 reb, 1.3 blk, 65.8% FG

Ballo dominated the paint for Arizona and will now use his fifth year of eligibility to join Mike Woodson’s stacked ’24-’25 roster for the Hoosiers.

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Johni Broome
Auburn (Senior)
PF | 6’10 | 240 lbs
23-24 Stats: 16.5 pts, 8.5 reb, 2.2 blk, 35.4% 3P

There’s a sense of unfinished business with the Tigers, and Broome will use his fifth year to take one last shot at a title before going pro.

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Kylan Boswell
Arizona (Sophomore) – Transferring to: Illinois
PG | 6’2 | 200 lbs
23-24 Stats: 9.6 pts, 3.6 ast, 1.4 stl, 37.9% 3P

After two great years at Arizona, Boswell will bring his defensive tenacity to the Illini to replace Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr.

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Kanaan Carlyle
Stanford (Freshman) – Transferring to: Indiana
SG | 6’3 | 185 lbs
23-24 Stats: 11.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 2.7 ast, 32% 3P

Carlyle was a breakout freshman for the Cardinal this year and will head to Mike Woodson’s Hoosiers as one of their several big portal additions.

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L.J. Cryer
Houston (Senior)
PG | 6’1 | 200 lbs
23-24 Stats: 15.5 pts, 2.4 reb, 1.9 ast, 38.8% 3P

Cryer was a key cog for Houston this year as a transfer from Baylor, and he will use his fifth year to keep upper-classman presence in the backcourt.

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Hunter Dickinson
Kansas (Senior)
C | 7’2 | 260 lbs
23-24 Stats: 17.9 pts, 10.9 reb, 2.3 ast, 1.4 blk

Somehow, Dickinson still has one year of eligibility left and will return to Kansas who is slated to be the consensus preseason #1 team.

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Caleb Foster
Duke (Freshman)
PG | 6’5 | 197 lbs
23-24 Stats: 7.7 pts, 2.4 reb, 2.1 ast, 40.6% 3P

Foster will head back to Duke for his sophomore season where he should get first look at a starting role and be able to improve his stock for 2025.

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Zvonimir Ivišić
Kentucky (Freshman) – Transferring to: Arkansas
C | 7’2 | 234 lbs
23-24 Stats: 5.5 pts, 3.3 reb, 1.3 blk, 37.5% 3P

The fascinating Croatian big man joined the Wildcats mid-season and will now follow Cal to Arkansas where a big year could make him a 2025 1st rounder.

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Kam Jones
Marquette (Junior)
SG | 6’5 | 200 lbs
23-24 Stats: 17.2 pts, 2.9 reb, 2.4 ast, 40.6% 3P

With several of Marquette’s key pieces leaving, Jones will enter as their #1 option in his final year of eligibility.

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Ryan Kalkbrenner
Creighton (Senior)
C | 7’1 | 270 lbs
23-24 Stats: 17.3 pts, 7.6 reb, 3.1 blk, 64.6% FG

The defensive phenom big man will use his extra year to return to Creighton for one last shot at a deep March run.

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Riley Kugel
Florida (Sophomore) – Transfer Portal
SG | 6’5 | 207 lbs
23-24 Stats: 9.2 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.1 stl

A former top recruit, Kugel remains in the transfer portal looking for a new home after a failed experience with the Gators.

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Mark Mitchell
Duke (Sophomore) – Transferring to: Missouri
PF | 6’9 | 232 lbs
23-24 Stats: 11.6 pts, 6 reb, 1.1 ast, 0.8 stl

With the incoming arrival of Cooper Flagg and their surplus of bigs, Mitchell will leave Duke and head to Mizzou for his junior year while trying to become the star player in an elevated role.

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Grant Nelson
Alabama (Senior)
PF | 6’11 | 230 lbs
23-24 Stats: 11.9 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.6 blk, 1.5 ast

Unfinished business will bring Nelson back to Bama for his fifth year on a team that should easily be a preseason top 5.

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Clifford Omoruyi
Rutgers (Senior) – Transferring to: Alabama
PF | 6’11 | 240 lbs
23-24 Stats: 10.4 pts, 8.3 reb, 2.9 blk, 0.7 stl

Omoruyi decided to use his fifth year to join a stacked Alabama squad that will be a true competitor for the 2025 title.

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Tyrese Proctor
Duke (Sophomore)
PG | 6’5 | 183 lbs
23-24 Stats: 10.5 pts, 3.7 ast, 3 reb, 35.2% 3P

Another solid decision by Proctor not to declare, as his development on the offensive side needs much more time before he’s even a 2nd round pick.

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D.J. Wagner
Kentucky (Freshman) – Transfer Portal
PG | 6’4 | 192 lbs
23-24 Stats: 9.9 pts, 3.3 ast, 1.9 reb, 0.8 stl

As one of the top freshmen in the nation, Wagner disappointed and will return while looking to play for a new team in ’24-’25.

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TOP 100

-LOTTERY-

With his athleticism and potential to be a stop-and-pop shooter, Sarr remains my top talent in the draft. It’s mainly going to depend on who lands the first overall pick and if they are in need of a big, an athletic wing, or a playmaker.

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Risacher’s potential as a shot maker and scorer as a stretch wing is one of the more intriguing attributes to scouts in this draft. If it wasn’t for a late season shooting slump, he’d probably be a lock for the 1st pick. Depending on who lands #1, he could still become the favorite for the top pick.

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In a 5-star freshman Kentucky class that was loaded, Dillingham became the unlikely star of the bunch. He has a legitimate chance to be the first college player taken off the board, with a shooting stroke that is expected to translate well in the NBA.

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Seen by many before the season to potentially flourish into the top C in the draft, Clingan’s National Championship dominance only further cemented his draft stock, while hurting Edey’s. He’s got dominant size at 7’2 with athleticism to be a pick-and-roll threat and dominant rim protector.

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Although he hasn’t seen any action since his January injury, Topic remains one of the more talented playmakers in the draft. He has great versatility on the drive and defensively, while his shooting will need improvements.

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Sheppard shocked many with his incredible performance as a defender and light up 3-point shooter. He emerges as the best 3-and-D wing option in the entire draft, and could be a focal point in and NBA starting lineup for years.

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Williams had an abysmal tournament season, with only one performance in double figures in the PAC-12 tourney and March Madness. His smooth athleticism, size, and shooting ability as a combo forward all have strong NBA potential. He may be a late lottery project that will need a year or two of G-League play.

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Knecht’s breakout transfer season for the Vols has propelled him into a sure lottery talent as a relentless scorer with size. His defense will definitely need to be worked on, but without many sure things in this draft, scouts will love an experienced shooter with proven potential.

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Holland’s attack at the rim and defensive skills were exactly what scouts wanted them to be in his limited G-League season. He has the skills to move up to the 5-7 range with a really good combine.

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Buzelis’ size, playmaking skills, and defensive development came to life in a great second half for the Ignite season. He has the build to be a great combo forward in the league and a Franz Wagner type of wing.

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Walter’s up and down freshman year was capped off by two solid performances in March Madness. He can score at a solid clip and is a good defender, making him a solid two-way wing option and rotational piece.

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Carter’s quick rise to a lottery pick was headlined by his amazing sophomore to junior year transition in shooting splits. After shooting 42.7/29.9/72 on 13 ppg a year ago, he finished this season on a rise to 47.3/37.7/74.9 while averaging nearly 20 ppg. His defensive skills have always been there, and now his improved scoring makes him a lottery lock as a two-way talent.

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Castle’s run to a National Title with UConn became more and more impressive due to the amount of growing trust Dan Hurley had in him as the year went on. His shooting is a bit streaky, but he should be a good playmaker, driver, and defensive guard in the NBA.

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Shannon made a huge leap in his fifth year, becoming the go-to scorer for Illinois with an all-around developed offensive game. His current off the court legal issues could worry some NBA scouts, but if his word rings true, he should be an easy lock for the late lottery.

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-Mid-To-Late 1st Round-

Filipowski probably could have been a 1st round pick a year ago, but opted to return to the Blue Devils where he had a nearly identical season to his freshman one. He’s a talented scoring 7-footer with an improved low post presence defensively.

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A knee bruise kept fans from watching McCullar this March, but his solid resume speaks for itself. After three years at Texas Tech and two at Kansas, McCullar has turned into an NBA caliber 3-and-D option with a much improved shooting stroke. He should be a lock as a mid-1st rounder.

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Salaun is a solid off the ball offensive threat and has the size and explosiveness to develop into a solid big in the league. He may be a bit of a developmental piece, but a young team with time to develop him will snag him in the mid-1st round.

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McCain’s shooting and offensive instincts spoke for themselves all season long and can immediately translate to the NBA. In my mind he has a ceiling of a 15+ ppg starting combo guard, and a floor of a 10ish ppg role player, two outcomes that NBA scouts wouldn’t hate in the 15-20 range of this draft.

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Collier entered the season as the #1 ranked freshman in the nation, but his nationwide exposure became a casualty of USC’s huge underperformance. Despite early shooting struggles, he turned it on in the second half and should be a late lottery/mid-1st round combo guard.

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Chomche was a highly sought after incoming freshman that seems to be going the pro route instead. He won’t be 19 until midseason, and will be looked at as a huge project with upside that a team in the late 1st round can stash in the G-League for a while.

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Da Silva led one of the more stacked Buffaloes’ rosters we’ve seen in scoring this year and has emerged as one of the best scoring big men in the draft. He can do a little of everything, including scoring from beyond the arc and can be a good rotational piece in the NBA.

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Ware followed up his disappointing freshman year at Oregon with a much improved season for the Hoosiers. The former 5-star recruit showed improved rim protection and a more consistent jumper that can lead him to being a solid backup big in the league.

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Klintman withdrew from last year’s draft and decided to go pro after a year at Wake Forest. He’s had a solid year coming off of the bench for Cairns in the NBL, becoming a late 1st round talent as a combo forward slasher with an improved 3-point shot.

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Missi surprised many with his dominance as a Freshman for the Bears, despite many looking at him as more of a 2 or 3 year player. He should be a lock for a late 1st round pick with good defensive skills and pick-and-roll potential.

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Kolek’s solid skillset makes up for his lack of athleticism, with a high IQ on defense and playmaking skills. His mix of shot making and grit reminds me of T.J. McConnell; I think many late 1st round teams would love a player like that on their bench.

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After winning a second straight NPOY and leading Purdue to their first national title appearance since the 80’s, Edey has carved out one of the best college careers in history. Many scouts differ on whether he will be an impactful player in the NBA, with some thinking he’s a lottery pick, some thinking he’s a 2nd rounder, and some drawing pro comparisons to Yao Ming. In a weaker draft, I think he has implemented himself as a late 1st round pick and will draw interest from contenders as a backup big with upside.

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Jones performed in last year’s combine but stood firm on his commitment to Weber State, a rarity in an era of transfer mayhem. He filled up every stat category throughout his four years, and will be a bit of a mixed bag on what he can bring to the table for an NBA team.

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Smith’s big second half for Ignite propelled him into most 1st round mocks, with his smooth skillset as a 3-and-D big man. He’s a legitimate 6’11 but plays as both a 3 and 4, with rim protecting skills and a deadly 3 ball when he gets hot.

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Simpson is an all-around talented scorer that saw his stock rise a ton through the end of the season. His shooting efficiency should translate well into the NBA, giving the Buffaloes three legitimate first round talents.

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Hall struggled a bit down the stretch with his 3-point shooting and was a bit underwhelming in the Tigers’ surprise run to the Elite 8. He still brings legitimate NBA size, athleticism, and rim protecting skills that is borderline 1st round worthy.

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-2nd Round-

Outside of Kolek, Ighodaro’s play over the past two seasons has been a leading force to the dominance Marquette has seen. Oso is an extremely athletic big with great ball handling skills. He can become a great complimentary big to a team with a sharp shooting center.

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Holmes did just about everything for the Flyers in his breakout junior season that saw him lead Dayton to a consistent top 25 ranking. He can shoot and guard both on the perimeter and in the paint. My eyes are on his combine performance; a good one can move him very close to the top 20.

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Carrington wasn’t the most highly anticipated incoming freshman, but his red hot start to the season quickly put him on big boards. He went cold in the second half, but his ability to score and run the offense still will intrigue teams in the 2nd round as a bit of a project.

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Alexander’s development has been something scouts have liked to see, and with his great all-around performances in the tournament, he should be all ready to go pro. He can definitely impact a team right off of the bat with athleticism and grit,

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Three schools in three years doesn’t make it easy to find a rhythm, but Tyson broke out in his junior year under Mark Madsen’s Cal Golden Bears. He has plenty of NBA caliber traits on the offensive end and should be an early 2nd round selection

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There isn’t much Newton didn’t accomplish in his incredible 5th year season: a 2nd NCAA title, Bob Cousy Award, 1st Team All-American, and more. He’s a big PG with NBA size and strength that should be a layup for competitors to take somewhere in the 2nd round, even if he’s just a 2-way contract player.

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Dadiet possesses some intriguing NBA attributes including size, explosiveness, and shooting capability. He’s a fringe 1st round pick and is looking more at an early 2nd round selection that can take him a year or two to officially come over.

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After a lack of playing time in his first two years at Gonzaga, Sallis showed the ACC why he was a 5-star prospect in the class of 2021. A good combine should concretely put him in the 25-35 range and make it not worth returning to school for his final year.

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Dunn may very well be the best all-around defensive prospect in this draft, and can be a steal as an early 2nd round pick. He’s ranged anywhere from 15-40 in recent mocks, mainly due to his lack of consistency on offense.

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Furphy surprised a lot of scouts by midseason of his freshman year, showing signs of becoming a good slasher and combo forward with true NBA size. He probably needs some more time in college to become a 1st round talent, and returning to the stacked lineup the Jayhawks have for next year could be a blessing.

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Karaban’s skillset as a 3-and-D NBA talent is definitely there and is hard to make a case for him not getting drafted after such a good last two seasons. This year, a good combine can make or break his stock. I anticipate him returning to the Huskies as their number one offensive option next year.

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Edwards was seen by some as the top incoming freshman this past year, but was lost in the shuffle of a stacked freshman class at Kentucky. He showed glimpses of his athleticism and shot making skills late in the season, and if there’s one guy that can improve big time from a good combine it’s Edwards.

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After two innocuous seasons at Stanford, Ingram found his way on the big stage for UNC. The former 5-star recruit is a skilled rebounder and 3-and-D player who will likely stay in the draft, hoping to hear his name called in the early 2nd round.

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Beekman finished up his four years at Virginia encapsulating Tony Bennett’s coaching style: 40 minutes of suffocating defense. He won 2 straight ACC DPOY’s and will be one of the best defensive depth pieces available in the 2nd round.

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Storr broke out in his sophomore season as the leading scorer for the Badgers, and he’ll be headed for a new challenge on a stacked Kansas roster this upcoming season. Him testing the draft is more of a formality, with all signs pointing on his heading to Kansas for his junior year.

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Scheierman became one of NCAA’s best transfer stories over the past few seasons with a stellar fifth year at Creighton. He can shoot, defend, and rebound with NBA size and athleticism. He’s a lock to be taken in the 2nd round and could even climb into the 30’s based on his combine.

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Mitchell was one of the country’s best scorers playing for a lackluster Santa Barbara squad. He wrapped up his career with a 36 point, 9 rebound performance in a 1st round Big South loss and will be one of the better 2nd round scoring guards in the draft. I’m very interested to see how he stacks up and measures in the combine.

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Bona made the smart move to return to UCLA for a second year as he developed into a more dominant big man and a better NBA talent. He’s still overshadowed by many of the other big men in this draft, but he should be a definite 2nd round target, potentially on a two-way deal.

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Sandfort came on late as a legitimate prospect with an intriguing skillset for an Iowa team that struggled in the Big 10 this year. He’ll test the draft process and perform at the combine but I think he’ll return for his final year and try to become a 1st round talent in 2025.

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Mintz followed up a solid freshman season with another year of scoring, playmaking, and solid defensive metrics. His jumpshot did not develop very much, which will hurt his draft stock, and it can be a toss up whether he stays in the draft or returns to Cuse. J.J. Starling is already headed back for his junior year, which may convince Judah to return.

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Nunez is a talented Spanish playmaker that a lot of scouts are looking at to be a potential 2nd round steal. Some mocks have him as a late 1st rounder, so this ranking is rather low, but the combine should give more clarity on what kind of a prospect he is.

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George didn’t wow many people with his numbers in his freshman year, but his ability to be a knockdown shooter and athletic slasher is intriguing. He’ll need development for a bit, but someone should take a 2nd round risk on him to develop into a solid bench piece.

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Hawkins is a very talented big man who can shoot, handle the ball, and protect the rim at legitimate NBA size. His intentions are to stay in the draft after graduating from Illinois, but he’s keeping his options open in the transfer portal in case he doesn’t like his draft stock and if the Illini decide not to offer him a spot back.

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Shead took over for Marcus Sasser as Houston’s engine in the backcourt, and he shined all senior year. He’s all set to turn pro, and despite his small stature, he brings grit, defense, and a high basketball IQ as an immediate plug-in player off the bench as a 2nd round pick.

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Robinson broke out in his 2nd year at BYU, finding more of a flow as a bench player rather than a starter, winning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. Odds are he will return for his fifth year, likely transferring for a third time to a big-time school to build on his stock for 2025.

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Christie’s sudden rise in stock occurred well after his season was over, playing for a Minnesota squad that struggled in Big 10 play this year. He has length and good skills to be a 3-and-D wing, but has also entered the transfer portal if the draft is a no-go. He will practically make or break his stock in the combine.

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Flowers was a top prospect/Louisville commit out of HS who decided to go the pro route for a year overseas. He is an intriguing prospect due to his athleticism, but his lack of defensive skills and minutes will worry teams into watching him fall to the end of the 2nd round.

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Larsson’s 3 years at Arizona saw nothing but improvement year-by-year until he became a two-way anchor for the Wildcats during a great ’23-’24 season. He’s a knockdown shooter who can create his own shot, giving him a chance to be taken very late or being an undrafted 2-way signee.

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-UNDRAFTED: TWO-WAY CONTRACT CANDIDATES-

Spencer found success everywhere he went in his 5 years, with career 46.8/41.7/87.8 shooting splits in 3 years at Loyola, a year at Rutgers, and a National Championship 40-start season for the Huskies. He’s clearly a knockdown shooter with a winning pedigree and he’ll be a lock to either be taken late, or be an immediate 2-way undrafted signee.

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As a transfer from VCU, Watkins joined the Seminoles and immediately became the star for a team at the bottom of the ACC. He’s an intriguing prospect with athleticism, NBA level defensive skills, and explosiveness. A good combine can raise him well up to the 35-45 range.

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Poplar had another dominant season on the defensive side, and with his improved shooting consistency, he now is becoming a 3-and-D talent. He should go back for another year, and it seems like he will return for a new team for his senior year. He could be a real riser for the 2025 draft.

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Hukporti has been an interesting talent that has hovered around mock drafts since 2022. I’ve scouted him for a few years now, and the strength and development in his game that he has added is much more NBA ready. A good combine with solid measurements could lock him into a 2nd round selection.

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Reeves had a fantastic extra year of eligibility as a full-time starter in his second year with the Wildcats. He has NBA capabilities scoring-wise, but his defense and lack of a true position could leave him for the end of Round 2 or undrafted. He should be an immediate two-way signee if he goes undrafted.

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Hinson had a great two years at Pitt, transferring over from Ole Miss and winning back-to-back All-ACC honors. He’s an efficient scorer with great size who can help and NBA team right off the bat. He, at the very least, is a two-way contract undrafted signee.

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Durisic was a legitimate second round NBA prospect a year ago, but decided to withdraw from the draft late to return to Mega Bemax. His combine will make or break his second round stock, but I anticipate him rising from 65 due to scouts’ love for him during last year’s process.

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Johnson wasn’t much of an NBA prospect until his grad year at Arizona, which showed scouts improved 3-point shooting, defensive skills, and size as a wing. He’s a borderline draft pick, and will likely stay that way, but an undrafted 2-way contract could be highly likely for him.

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Nelly Davis was the anchor that held down FAU’s best run in program history over the past two years. Now with Dusty May headed to Michigan, Davis will test the draft process while being committed to join Coach Cal at Arkansas for his fifth year if he decides to withdraw. Playing a grad year as the star of a Power 5 program is much more of a likely outcome.

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Tyon has had some journey through his college career, jumping from community college to a Kansas bench role and over to DePaul where he collapsed due to a heart condition. After missing a year and a half, he was cleared to play and led GCU to a tournament win. He’s a dominant paint scorer with great skills as a slashing defender and will be at a huge test to prove his worth in the combine.

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Stevenson is regarded by many as a future lottery pick in 2025 or 2026, with great size and ability to develop into an elite slasher. He didn’t see too much time in his freshman year, but a return to a stacked Bama team should be the decision for a better NBA future.

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Brazile saw a bit of a disappointing season coming off of injury, where his numbers dipped in every category. He’s going to be all in on the draft and will look to develop as a late 2nd rounder or undrafter 2-way in the G-League.

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Townsend was a 4-year starter at Oakland and helped lead the school to their first every tournament win against Kentucky. He’s going through the draft process, but is committed to play his fifth year at Arizona where he will try to prove his worth on draft boards in a Power 5 school.

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Love decided to take the transfer route this year and jumped from UNC to Arizona, where he immediately became the leading scorer for a perennial top 5 team. But once again, his shooting consistency left much to be desired, with splits of 41.3/33.2/83.9. He could stay or go, as his draft stock may not be helped by a fifth year.

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Ajinca is hoped by many scouts to be a solid 3-and-D role player in the NBA, but will probably be a developmental piece for a while. If he stays in and gets drafted 2nd round, he’ll be a 2-way player.

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As the son of former NBA vet Eddie House, Jaelen put together solid years for the Lobos. He’s a great defensive guard but is a bit undersized. He doesn’t have much of a chance to get drafted but should be an immediate signee to a 2-way or Exhibit 10.

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Almansa’s athleticism is the driving force to him being a projected 2nd rounder. This ranking is very low, but I haven’t seen much from him to think he’s a definite draft pick. At the very least he’ll get a shot as an undrafted 2-way.

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Girard went from High School star to Syracuse great, and wrapped up his career on an Elite 8 run with Clemson. He’s definitely undersized and more of a 2, but he’ll get looks in the G-League as an undrafted training camp body.

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Clifford has great athleticism and is a talented rebounder at only 6’6 and under 200 lbs. He’ll be an interesting combine look, but I don’t anticipate him being a draft pick this year and should return for a grad year with the Rams.

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Bridges has legitimate NBA size and skills to be a very realistic 3-and-D bench role player. He’s ranked very low right now, but a good combine with good measurements could rocket him into my 2nd round mock.

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Lee’s path to his breakout sophomore Princeton season was extremely out of the blue. He’s an efficient scorer with solid size and playmaking skills. His true path will probably be spending his final two years in college and continue developing and putting on more weight.

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Omier’s dominant senior season for the underachieving Hurricanes garnered plenty of buzz, leading to a commitment to Baylor for his grad season. He’s a bit undersized, but his development of a 3-point shot and playing for a consistent top 25 team could get him into 2nd round talks in 2025.

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-UNDRAFTED: TRAINING CAMP OPTIONS-

Now enters the region of college veterans/fringe NBA talents, and leading it off is Buie. His incredible five year career at Northwestern saw him lead the program all-time in scoring by year’s end. He’s a bit undersized, but should be able to latch on in the G-League and get undrafted looks for Exhibit 10 contracts.

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Sears is becoming a quick riser on some draft boards after an incredible senior season and being named Second Team All-American. He’s small at 6’1, but his passing, driving, on-ball defense, and lethal shooting can make him a sneaky NBA prospect. He could cement himself as a 2nd round pick with a good combine.

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After spending time at DePaul and St. John’s, Jones had a stellar year leading the Tigers and looks to make an NBA push. He’s a bit of an undersized combo forward and despite his gaudy numbers, scouts will wonder if his game will translate well. He could return to Memphis for his fifth year and try again in 2025.

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Stevens wrapped an incredible 5-year run for the Rams, starting in every game, surpassing 2,000 career points, and being named First Team All-Mountain West 3-times. He can score and run the point with the best of them, the question will be about his size and defensive capabilities. I think he could be a sneaky undrafted player who gets a few cups of coffee in the league.

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After two years off the bench at LSU, Gaines became the leader of a UAB team that made it to the tournament in 2024. He never developed an offensive game, with career splits of 38/27.9/77.3. His defensive skills are some of the best in the draft though, and it will get him undrafted looks in the G-League.

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After seeing practically no playing time in two years at Arizona, Bal found a home in Santa Clara and made a late season push as a solid prospect. Heading back for his senior year is the obvious choice that can get him to be a legitimate late 1st/early 2nd round pick in 2025.

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LeDee is one of the few prospects that owes his future to the NCAA for allowing him to play a fifth year. He jumped from a 7.9/5.3 player in ’22-’23 (which was a career year up until that point) to a 21/8/1/1 guy in ’23-’24 after becoming a full-time starter for the Aztecs. He still most likely won’t get drafted, but could rise to a 2-way option with a good combine.

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It seems like forever ago that Quinerly was a highly touted prospect heading to Villanova. After stops at Alabama and Memphis, he’s now heading to the draft as the only 1998 baby on this list. He never developed as a shooter or any type of NBA talent and is looking at more of an overseas career.

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Walker had another dominant year wrapping up his career for the Spartans. He’s a great scorer and defensive guard but similar to others, he lacks in size. He most likely won’t get drafted but will be a training camp option immediately.

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Dante finally became the dominant interior presence that many thought he could be in his fifth year. He’ll perform in the combine and could climb the charts into the 2nd round with a good showing.

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Cook was a mid-major star at Tulane before re-joining LSU in a year where they were not very competitive. He’s a bit of an undersized 2 and will need to work his way through the G-League to get a shot at an NBA contract.

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Kaluma has shown glimpses of being a consistent slasher at both Creighton and K-State but hasn’t been able to wow scouts enough to become a legitimate draft pick. His best option is to return for his senior year and potentially transfer, although he seems dead set on turning pro.

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Toppin was a huge breakout Freshman for Richard Pitino’s Lobos and will be an interesting guy to watch in the combine. If he returns, he’ll immediately become the top late transfer target among programs this summer.

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Clearly the most well known player on this list, Bronny seems set to turn pro despite an underwhelming freshman year. He’ll almost definitely get taken in the 2nd round by someone due to his name, but he has a lot of development to do before he’s a real NBA player, especially on offense.

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Murrell has stayed loyal to Ole Miss and has seen a consistent rise in numbers since his freshman year. I think he will probably return for his fifth year, as he can build on being a definite pick in 2025 while competing for a highly anticipated Rebels team.

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Flanigan’s defensive skills are top notch, and they have been since his younger days at Auburn, but he saw his shooting hit a decline this year. He won’t get drafted but he will be a top undrafted free agent to get a shot in training camp.

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Despite the low ranking, Ellis can light it up from three and has quickly moved up draft boards with a great showing in the G-League camp. He’ll be much higher than 98 on my final draft board, and may become a pick in the 40’s or 50’s.

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Wells broke out for the Cougars in his first D1 season and has even gotten an invite to the G-League camp. Returning for his final year and transferring somewhere bigger can be a dealbreaker for him to be worth a pick in 2025.

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Bacot was never going to be much of an NBA prospect, but after five great years at UNC I was shocked he didn’t get invited to either combine. He will definitely get looks as an undrafted free agent, but will probably be headed for an overseas career.