NBA: Top-10 prospects at each position in upcoming draft
Cunningham, Suggs top a talented group of point guards
There are three point guards projected to go in the top-10 with Detroit drafting Cade Cunningham with the #1 pick, followed by Suggs to Toronto and Davion Mitchell likely ranging from 7-12. The next two point guards are probably going to be Chris Duarte (14th ranked prospect) and Josh Giddey but the five after that are difficult to separate. Ayo Dosunmu, Sharife Cooper, Jared Butler, Jaden Springer, and Miles McBride could all go in the first round but have glaring weaknesses right now. Cooper led that group with 20.2 points per game at Auburn in 2021.
1. Cade Cunningham (OK State)
2. Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga)
3. Davion Mitchell (Baylor)
4. Chris Duarte (Oregon)
5. Josh Giddey (Adelaide)
6. Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois)
7. Sharife Cooper (Auburn)
8. Jared Butler (Baylor)
9. Jaden Springer (Tennessee)
10. Miles McBride (West Virginia)
Green, Bouknight headline several eye-opening shooting guards
Unless the Pistons surprise us, Jalen Green will be heading to either Houston or Cleveland in the top-3 after averaging 17.9 points per game in the G-League. Meanwhile James Bouknight has continued to rise throughout the draft process and is now projected to go #7 to Golden State. The next two-guard off the board will likely be Keon Johnson (11th ranked prospect) but Ziaire Williams and Cameron Thomas are possibilities as well. A few sleepers to keep an eye on include Tre Mann and Joe Wieskamp (46.2% from 3-point range).
1. Jalen Green (Ignite)
2. James Bouknight (UConn)
3. Keon Johnson (Tennessee)
4. Ziaire Williams (Stanford)
5. Josh Christopher (AZ State)
6. Cameron Thomas (LSU)
7. Tre Mann (Florida)
8. Nah’Shon Hyland (VCU)
9. Joe Wieskamp (Iowa)
10. Joel Ayayi (Gonzaga)
Kuminga, Barnes, and Moody lead lottery-bound wings
Both small forwards projected to go in the top half of the lottery are underwhelming shooters that have high potential in Jonathan Kuminga (5th ranked prospect) and Scottie Barnes, who is projected to get drafted #5 by Orlando. They're followed by Franz Wagner, Moses Moody, and Corey Kispert. Wagner is projected to get drafted by Sacramento. We're also going to hear BJ Boston, Trey Murphy (50.3% from the field), JT Thor, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl get drafted on Thursday night but they all range from late first to mid second round.
1. Jonathan Kuminga (Ignite)
2. Scottie Barnes (Florida State)
3. Franz Wagner (Michigan)
4. Moses Moody (Arkansas)
5. Corey Kispert (Gonzaga)
6. Trey Murphy III (Virginia)
7. BJ Boston (Kentucky)
8. JT Thor (Auburn)
9. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Villanova)
10. Justin Champagnie (Pittsburgh)
International power forwards Şengün and Garuba are high-ceiling prospects
Even though it's more common to take guards and wings at the top of the draft now, there are several impactful power forwards available. Alperen Şengün and Vrenz Bleijenbergh can create shots from themselves and others, while Usman Garuba (13th ranked prospect), Kai Jones, and Isaiah Jackson are high energy rim-runners. Jalen Johnson, Isaiah Todd, and Kessler Edwards are modern bigs that can stretch the floor. Johnson knocked down an impressive 44.4% of 3-point attempts with Duke a year ago.
1. Alperen Şengün (Beşiktaş)
2. Usman Garuba (Real Madrid)
3. Kai Jones (Texas)
4. Isaiah Jackson (Kentucky)
5. Jalen Johnson (Duke)
6. Isaiah Todd (Ignite)
7. Roko Prkacin (Cibona)
8. Luka Garza (Iowa)
9. Vrenz Bleijenbergh (Antwerp)
10. Kessler Edwards (Pepperdine)
Mobley is miles ahead of other centers in this class
After Evan Mobley gets selected by the Rockets or Cavaliers, we may not see another center drafted for awhile. Jericho Sims (33rd ranked prospect), Charles Bassey, and Day'ron Sharpe should all hear their names called on Thursday but most likely in the second round. Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Sandro Mamukelashvili are the only other centers ranked in our top-60, with Ariel Hukporti, Makur Maker, Matthew Hurt, and Neemias Queta (7'4 wingspan) expected to go late in the second round or become undrafted free agents.
1. Evan Mobley (USC)
2. Jericho Sims (Texas)
3. Charles Bassey (W. Kentucky)
4. Day’ron Sharpe (North Carolina)
5. Giorgi Bezhanishvili (Illinois)
6. Sandro Mamukelashvili (Seton Hall)
7. Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United)
8. Neemias Queta (Utah State)
9. Makur Maker (Howard)
10. Matthew Hurt (Duke)
Photo Credit: Bleacher Report.
