NBA Draft Big Board: Early February update
Chris Stone and I are back with another update to our list of the top 60 prospects available in the 2017 NBA Draft. While the top tier is close to solidifying itself, there has been plenty of movement throughout the latter half of the draft, as several players have staked their claims to first-round value. Players like Donovan Mitchell and Anzejs Pasecniks have risen up the board, and players like Zach Collins and Jonathan Motley stand to make big leaps with solid closes to the regular season. The back half of the top-10 has also received a shakeup. Here’s the newest board, from Fultz to Sumner.
check out his full scouting report."
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1
Markelle Fultz
PG, Washington
Fultz continues to solidify himself as the sure-fire number one pick. It’s hard to find a hole in his offensive game, and any NBA team can likely find a role for him. For more on Fultz, check out his full scouting report.
check out his full scouting report."
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2
Josh Jackson
SF, Kansas
The 6-foot-8 freshman hasn’t been tasked with being the go-to guy at Kansas, but his playmaking and excellent defense make him a unique talent at the wing. For more on Jackson, check out his full scouting report.
check out his full scouting report."
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3
Lonzo Ball
PG, UCLA
There’s no better passer in the draft and although he’s shown better athleticism in college, there are still some concerns about how he’ll translate against NBA competition. For more on Ball, check out his full scouting report.
check out his full scouting report"
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4
Dennis Smith Jr.
PG, North Carolina St.
Smith looks fully healed from his ACL surgery and is an excellent athlete. His shooting has rounded into form, and if he can show some (any) consistent effort on defense, he’s a threat to overtake Ball and Jackson. For more on Smith, check out his full scouting report
check out his full scouting report."
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5
Jonathan Isaac
SF/PF, Florida St.
Florida State’s strong season has hinged on Isaac’s all-around ability. He looks like a future super-role player at the three and four at the NBA level. For more on Isaac, check out his full scouting report.
check out his full scouting report."
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6
Frank Ntilikina
PG, Strasbourg
A well-rounded French point guard who is developing as a shooter and defender, and can run a high-tempo offense. For more on Ntilikina, check out his full scouting report.
7
Malik Monk
SG, Kentucky
Kentucky’s success has been keyed by Monk exceeding expectations. He’s small for a two-guard, but makes up for that with outlier shot-making ability and outstanding athleticism.
check out his full scouting report."
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8
Lauri Markkanen
PF, Arizona
The 7-foot Finn has been lethal offensively for Arizona, shooting 50/48/84 and showing potential to score off the dribble. For more on Markkanen, check out his full scouting report.
9
Jayson Tatum
SF, Duke
A 6-foot-8 silky scoring wing, Tatum has great defensive potential and an old-school offensive game. Can he fit in to the modern NBA?
10
De'Aaron Fox
PG, Kentucky
Fox looks like a lockdown defender at the one who can run a halfcourt offense well. Shooting (18.2 percent on 3s) is a major concern.
11
Miles Bridges
SF/PF, Michigan St.
Bridges is a 6-foot-6 combo forward who can knock down outside jumpers and plays with a great motor. For more on Bridges, check out his full scouting report.
12
Robert Williams
PF, Texas A&M
There’s always an under the radar freshman who breaks out and onto NBA draft boards. This year, it seems to be Williams, a rim protecting menace and excellent rebounder.
check out his full scouting report."
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13
Justin Patton
C, Creighton
Patton has emerged as a quality big man for the Blue Jays. The redshirt freshman’s offensive efficiency has quickly made him a lottery-level prospect. For more on Patton, check out his full scouting report.
14
OG Anunoby
SF, Indiana
Anunoby’s knee injury makes him a total mystery for the upcoming draft. He may not declare this year due to it. If he does, he still will go high due to his potential as a perimeter defender. For more on Anunoby’s injury, check out his full scouting report.
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15
Harry Giles
PF, Duke
Giles has not looked 100% since returning to the floor for the Blue Devils. He has may have the talent to be a top-5 pick, but shouldn’t he have shown something by now? For more on Giles, click here.
16
Mikal Bridges
SG/SF, Villanova
The Villanova sophomore is one of the draft’s best slashers, hitting 71.3 percent on two-point shots and even reaching 42 percent on threes. He also looks like a very capable perimeter defender.
17
Terrance Ferguson
SG/SF, Adelaide
Ferguson is currently playing overseas in Australia. He’s got good potential as a 3-and-D wing who can get hot from the outside, but has struggled to make an impact in a weak professional league.
18
Tyler Lydon
SF/PF, Syracuse
A quality floor spacer (42.7 percent from 3) who looks like a bench marksman that can play the three or four at the next level.
19
Ivan Rabb
PF/C, California
Rabb’s taken to life without Jaylen Brown, averaging 15.2 points and 10.9 boards per game. A strong rebounder, but will his thin frame limit his ability at the NBA level?
20
Josh Hart
SG, Villanova
Hart has the potential to be an excellent role player in the NBA thanks to his defensive acumen and abilities as a pick-and-roll scorer.
21
Rodions Kurucs
SF, Barcelona B
A high-flying slasher who is battling back from a meniscus injury on Barcelona’s lower team. He has owned youth tournaments over the last two years, but hasn’t yet broken through as a consistent player on the club level.
22
T.J. Leaf
PF, UCLA
One of college basketball’s most productive players, Leaf is the ultimate intangibles guy. The hope for NBA teams is that his work ethic helps overcome questions regarding his defensive ability and shooting mechanics.
check out his full scouting report."
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23
Anzejs Pasecniks
C, Gran Canaria
A Latvian center with NBA size (7-foot-2, 220) playing in Spain. A mobile pick-and-roll finisher and smart defender worth a draft-and-stash pick. For more on Pasecniks, check out his full scouting report.
24
Donovan Mitchell
SG, Louisville
A high-energy guard with a strong motor, Mitchell has been a high riser in recent weeks. 6-foot-3, but plays much bigger than his size.
25
Bam Adebayo
PF/C, Kentucky
Adebayo is a potetial energy big. The Kentucky product has all the physical tools you want from a power forward, but few polished skills.
check out his full scouting report."
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26
Isaiah Hartenstein
PF, Zalgiris
A 6-foot-11 German who projects as a decent rim protector and stretch big. But conditioning and awareness have hindered his ability to see the floor for Zalgiris. For more on Hartenstein, check out his full scouting report.
27
Luke Kennard
SG, Duke
He’s surprised as the most effective player on a Duke team loaded with NBA prospects. He’s not a great athlete, but his scoring efficiency is promising.
28
Johnathan Motley
PF, Baylor
The 6-foot-10 big man is a versatile scorer who can rebound well. How he’ll translate defensively is the big question after spending much of his time on the court in a zone at Baylor.
29
Thomas Bryant
C, Indiana
An intruiging offensive big man who can handle the ball and step out to the three-point line. Disappointing, because he hasn’t stepped up in Anunoby’s absence.
30
Jawun Evans
PG, Oklahoma St.
A solid pick-and-roll scorer who’s been lighting it up on a high volume, averaging 18.2 points per game. At 5-foot-11, there are concerns defensively that he will struggle in the NBA.
check out his full scouting report.."
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31
John Collins
PF, Wake Forest
Collins’s production has taken a big leap this year, as he averages 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. But he has struggled with consistency and is a bit of a black hole. For more on Collins, check out his full scouting report..
32
Jarrett Allen
C, Texas
Allen has potential as a defender and pick-and-roll big man. He’s shown major limitations on both sides of the ball, but recent play suggests he could still deliver on his lofty recruiting ranking.
check out his full scouting report."
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33
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
SG, Kansas
Mykhailiuk has been in college for three years, but he’s still just 19-years old. He’s got potential as a creator from the wing and finally looks to have developed a consistent outside jumper. For more on Mykhailiuk, check out his full scouting report.
check out his full scouting report."
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34
Alec Peters
SF/PF, Valparaiso
Peters is one of the best shooters in college basketball. That’s valuable for someone who projects as a combo forward, but will his defense keep him off the floor? For more on Peters, check out his full scouting report.
35
Alpha Kaba
C, Mega Leks
A center prospect from France with promising physical tools and a developing jump shot. He could be a project worth taking a risk on. For more on Kaba, click here.
36
Tony Bradley
C, North Carolina
Bradley could be this year’s version of Deyonta Davis. He’s not earning starter’s minutes, but averaging 20.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per 40 minutes is enough to get excited about.
37
Zach Collins
PF, Gonzaga
Collins is the best draft prospect on undefeated Gonzaga. He has great size and potential as an offensive rebounder and rim protector. Like Bradley, is posting great per-40 numbers.
38
Grayson Allen
SG, Duke
He has the physical tools to contribute at the next level. But his consistent issues with maturity on the floor could make him slide in the draft.
check out his full scouting report."
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39
Monte Morris
PG, Iowa St.
The Iowa State senior is an excellent game manager who can run an NBA-style offense. But his physical tools are lacking. For more on Morris, check out his full scouting report.
40
De’Anthony Melton
PG, USC
Melton has come on in recent weeks for USC, earning some draft buzz behind his streaky three-point shooting and solid defensive potential as a combo guard.
41
Jonathan Jeanne
C, Le Mans
Another prospect who’s played at the junior level, Jeanne hasn’t yet broke through onto Le Mans’s senior team consistently. A physical freak reminiscent of Rudy Gobert with his 7-foot-7 wingspan.
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42
Kostja Mushidi
SG, Mega Leks
A German international who is a positionally diverse defender with an evolving and developing offensive game. For more on Mushidi, click here.
43
Devonte' Graham
PG, Kansas
Graham shares point guard duties with Frank Mason at Kansas, but he’s plenty capable of commanding an offense and making big shots.
44
V.J. Beachem
SF, Notre Dame
Beachem has cooled off after a hot start, but he’s a decent off-ball scorer. He projects as a 3-and-D small forward in the NBA.
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45
Dwayne Bacon
SG/SF, Florida St.
Bacon is an older prospect who was overshadowed a bit last season by Malik Beasley, and this year by Jonathan Isaac. His versatile scoring from the wing could find a fit at the next level. For more on Bacon, click here.
46
Dedric Lawson
SF, Memphis
A 6-foot-8 small forward with excellent athleticism and scoring ability, Lawson is averaging 20/10 per game. Will likely need some D-League seasoning before he’s ready for the NBA.
47
Ike Anigbogu
C, UCLA
A physically imposing 6-foot-10 freshman with the potential to be an excellent rim protector at the next level.
48
Jaron Blossomgame
SF, Clemson
Blossomgame is a creative playmaker from the forward spot who has defensive potential. But he’s already 23, and his shooting limits his upside.
49
Dillon Brooks
SF, Oregon
A versatile wing who plays good defense and can facilitate offense. He doesn’t have much of an outside shot, but playmaking often comes at a premium.
check out his full scouting report."
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50
Chris Boucher
PF/C, Oregon
Boucher is a 6-foot-10 3-and-D center. That alone should be enough to get his name called next June. For more on Boucher, check out his full scouting report.
51
Omer Yurtseven
C, North Carolina St.
Yurtseven needs to show some improvement soon. Otherwise, he may be looking at returning to Turkey as a draft-and-stash option.
52
Mathias Lessort
C, Nanterre
A high energy offensive rebounder who could provide rim protection at power forward. Has been on NBA radars since he was discovered as Clint Capela’s teammate in 2014.
53
Justin Jackson
SF, North Carolina
Jackson is a tall, lanky wing who can score in plenty of ways inside the arc. His three-pointer shooting needs to improve to make him more viable player, though.
54
P.J. Dozier
SG, South Carolina
39.4 percent from three and a 4.0 percent steal rate are enough to have him on draft radars.
55
Cam Oliver
PF, Nevada
A 6-foot-8 forward who has been an above average 3-point shooter, rebounder and shot blocker over two seasons at Nevada.
56
Marko Guduric
SF, Red Star
Best described as Europe’s answer to J.R. Smith. The Serbian is older at 21, but has an NBA body and unlimited range and a heat check mentality to boot.
57
Aleksandar Vezenkov
SF/PF, Barcelona
The 6-foot-9 Bulgarian is finally seeing major minutes at the Euroleague level. He’s an assassin from deep who’s developing the strength and defensive awareness to play small-ball four.
58
Caleb Swanigan
PF, Purdue
One of college basketball’s most improved players, Swanigan is an undersized power forward who may have a role as a small-ball center in the NBA.
59
Edmond Sumner
PG, Xavier
Sumner tore his ACL, and may return to school. An NBA team may still take a chance on him thanks to his ball-handling and physical profile.
60
Andrew Jones
PG, Texas
An imposingly athletic guard putting up solid per-40 numbers. If he can improve as a playmaker, it’ll be hard to ignore him as a potential primary creator.