2024 NBA Mock Draft: Top 30 NBA Draft prospects for next season

2024 NBA Mock Draft: Top 30 prospects for next year’s draft, Nos. 16-30

JJ Starling’s shooting really pops. He can hit movement 3s and make quick work of defenders ducking under screens or DHOs. His bursty first step and capacity for finishing in traffic suggests upside as a secondary creator and slasher and he competes hard defensively at 6-foot-4. He will be younger than most sophomores.

Omaha Biliew is built strong at 6-foot-7 with explosive athleticism and great length on the wing. He just physically overwhelms high school defenders and he could find a similar path to success in college. While he’s still developing as a perimeter scorer, Biliew can feast on finishes around the rim with his power and workable touch, and he’s a tremendous defender with plus-plus intensity. Iowa State will be a team to watch.

A.J. Johnson is a 6-foot-6 late bloomer who flashes significant upside in the playmaking department. He’s crafty off the dribble and quick to dart downhill and collapse the defense before locating the open teammate. His jumper is promising and he operates with extreme self-assurance. He will have a long runway to make an impact with Texas.

Adem Bona is one of several returnees hoping to benefit from the perceived weakness of the 2024 draft. Originally pegged as a second-round pick in 2023, Bona has a strong opportunity to leap into the first round — and potentially into the lottery conversation, if all goes to plan. He’s a tremendous interior defender with light feet and bounce that has earned him comparisons to Clint Capela.

Kel’el Ware was considered by many to be a lottery talent in the 2023 class but he struggled to impact winning as a freshman. Even so, 7-footers with Ware’s blend of mobility, explosiveness, and outside shooting touch don’t come around very often. He has the chance to rise up boards in a big way with a resurgent sophomore campaign.

Tyrese Proctor is on breakout watch after a mixed-bag freshman year at Duke. He’s a brilliant playmaker with his head constantly on a swivel, always making the right read and consistently passing teammates open. Proctor doesn’t have great explosiveness with his first step, but he boasts positional size at 6-foot-5 and soft touch around the rim. His scoring efficiency was not great last year but his numbers perked up late in the season. Another year of experience and development could lock him into the first round.

Kwame Evans Jr. will have plenty of eyeballs on him at Oregon next season alongside Kel’el Ware in the frontcourt. At 6-foot-10, he brings a lot of desirable, modern traits to the table. He’s fluid with ball skills and a projectable jumper. He can finish a number of different ways in the paint and there’s built-in defensive versatility considering his athletic profile. He has big-riser potential as a freshman.

Robert Dillngham will absolutely win over fans on the national stage at Kentucky. He’s a bundle of fun, frequently uncorking bizarre half-turned pull-up jumpers that somehow find the bottom of the net. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There’s a chance Dillingham gets dinged in certain scouting circles for the unconventional nature of his game, but the dude will put the ball in the bucket — and Kentucky will empower him to do so.

Terrance Arceneaux was a significant riser early last season before tapering off of draft boards and moving his stock to 2024. The Cougars will be down multiple key playmakers, potentially opening up a bigger role for Arceaneux to expand on his appeal as a long, athletic 3-and-D wing.

Terrence Shannon Jr. needs to iron out the 3-point shot, but he’s a dynamic 6-foot-6 athlete whose defense really pops. He will have one final chance to showcase enough offensive improvement to lock up a first-round draft slot as a 22-year-old, fifth-year senior at Illinois.

Donovan Clingan came along slowly as a freshman for UConn but in the end, he was an essential part of the team’s championship run. The roster will look very different next season, but expect Clingan to wow NBA scouts with his broad shoulders, 7-foot-7 wingspan, and paint protection skills.

Babacar Sane absolutely wants to destroy opponents and he takes great pleasure in celebrating their demise. He’s a raw, unmolded athlete who generates opportunities with his defensive activity and loves to play in the open court. His chiseled frame at 19 years old is sure to catch scouts’ attention and any meaningful skill development could launch him into the lottery conversation.

Coleman Hawkins was a projected second-round pick in 2023 but he, like many others, saw the perceived weakness of the 2024 class and smelled opportunity. He will look to raise his stock enough to garner first-round consideration next summer on the strength of his excellent defensive acumen in the frontcourt. If he can get more consistent from 3-point range, teams will have no choice but to latch on.

DaRon Holmes has been Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year for two years running to start his college career. A bouncy shot-blocker who can catch lobs and run the floor on offense, Holmes should be able to transition smoothly to a backup role in the NBA.

Nikola Durisic started last season as a projected lottery pick here at FanSided. Injuries and uneven play sent him rocketing down draft boards and now he’s looking to bounce back in 2024. It’s the perfect opportunity for him to do just that with so little established top-tier talent. He’s a mobile 6-foot-8 wing who’s comfortable creating his own shot off the bounce. If the jumper starts falling more consistently, he’s a teenager with a track record of success in the pros. NBA teams will catch on.