Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

2021 NBA Draft

Draft Notes: Sharpe, Carr, Sengun, Champagnie

March 26th, 2021 at 10:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Potential first-round pick Day’Ron Sharpe has declared for the draft, posting his decision on his Twitter page. He’s currently ranked No. 33 on ESPN’s Best Available list. The one-and-done center out of North Carolina averaged 9.5 PPG and 7.6 RPG for the Tar Heels in 29 appearances, including four starts. He’s ranked fourth among center prospects.

We have more draft decisions and news:

  • Minnesota’s Marcus Carr will test the draft waters and sign with an NCAA-certified agent, though he’s also entering the transfer portal as a backup plan, according to Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com. The junior guard led the Golden Gophers with 19.4 PPG, 4.9 APG and 4.0 RPG. He currently ranks 89th on ESPN’s board.
  • Euro prospect Alperen Sengun isn’t interested in being a draft-and-stash prospect, Sportando’s Dario Skerletic relays. Sengun indicated that via Anadolu Agency. “I want to go there and develop there as soon as possible,” he said of the NBA. The 18-year-old Turkish big man is a potential lottery pick, currently ranked No. 13 on ESPN’s board.
  • St. John’s sophomore wing Julian Champagnie will enter the draft process but maintain his eligibility, according to RedStormSports.com. Champagnie averaged a Big East-leading 19.8 PPG and 7.4 RPG.
Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Kai Jones Will Enter NBA Draft

March 24th, 2021 at 6:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

Texas power forward Kai Jones has announced on Twitter that he will enter the NBA draft. A sophomore from the Bahamas, Jones averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game this season.

“Since I can remember, having the chance to play in the National Basketball Association has been my dream,” Jones wrote. “Growing up in the Bahamas, not many of my peers have had the opportunity that I have in front of me now, the ability to achieve those dreams. And for that I want to thank my family, especially my mom and dad, for providing me the opportunity to be in the position I am today. 

“… With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft! I will be relinquishing my college eligibility and and intend to sign with an agent.”

Jones, 20, is ranked just outside the lottery in the latest look at the top 100 draft prospects by Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Jones is listed as 16th overall and third among power forwards.

Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Tre Mann, Others Declare For 2021 NBA Draft

March 24th, 2021 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

Florida sophomore guard Tre Mann is entering the 2021 NBA draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility, writes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Mann played well in the SEC and NCAA tournaments this month, boosting his stock substantially in the eyes of NBA evaluators, says Givony. The 6’5″ guard averaged 16.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.5 APG on .459/.402/.831 shooting in 24 games (32.4 MPG) this season.

Givony ranks Mann 15th on ESPN’s list of top 2021 prospects, calling him one of the most talented ball-handlers and shot-creators in this year’s draft class.

“I think that NBA teams were able to see my ability to play on and off the ball as well as my improved stats across the board,” Mann told ESPN. “I was able to showcase my leadership skills, efficiency shooting the ball, defensive versatility and ability to rebound.”

Here are some of the other prospects who have recently declared for the draft:

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Potential First-Rounder Brandon Boston Declares For Draft

March 20th, 2021 at 1:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kentucky freshman Brandon Boston Jr. is declaring for the draft and will sign with an agent, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report tweets. Boston made the announcement on his Instagram page.

Boston is regarded as a potential first-round selection. He’s currently ranked No. 34 on ESPN’s big board, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony projecting Boston as a shot-maker and secondary creator at the NBA level. The 6’7” Boston possesses a nearly 7-foot wingspan, which could make him a defensive asset if he bulks up.

In his lone college season, Boston averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 1.6 APG but shot just 35.5% overall and 30% on 100 3-point attempts. He started 23 of 25 games for the Wildcats, who finished the season with a 9-16 mark.

Boston scored a season-high 21 points against South Carolina in Kentucky’s last regular-season game but was held scoreless in 23 minutes by Mississippi State during the Southeast Conference tournament.

Retweet 6 Share 0 Send via email0

Draft Notes: K. Jones, Springer, Camper, S. Mitchell

March 18th, 2021 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic published his latest 2021 NBA mock draft this week, while Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer posted the initial version of his draft guide, complete with prospect rankings. Like just about every other draft expert, Vecenie and O’Connor have Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham atop their boards, with Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Jonathan Kuminga filling out the top five, in some order.

Beyond the top five though, there are some interesting choices filling out the lottery in Vecenie’s mock draft and in O’Connor’s rankings. Both analysts are high on the raw potential of Texas big man Kai Jones, with O’Connor placing him eighth and Vecenie putting him at No. 10 — Jones falls outside the lottery on ESPN’s big board.

Meanwhile, Tennessee guard Jaden Springer is the No. 27 player on ESPN’s board, but is considered a potential lottery pick by both Vecenie (No. 12) and O’Connor (No. 14). Vecenie acknowledges that there’s a wide range of opinions on Springer, who has some “real inefficiencies in his game,” but believes the 19-year-old is boosting his stock with a strong finish to the season.

Here’s more on the 2021 NBA draft:

  • After testing the draft waters a year ago, Siena swingman Manny Camper has declared for the draft in 2021, confirming his decision on Twitter. Camper was a senior this year, but because NCAA players were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic, he isn’t automatically draft-eligible.
  • Boston College senior forward Steffon Mitchell is entering the draft, he announced on Instagram. Mitchell averaged 9.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 16 games (32.6 MPG) in 2020/21.
  • In case you missed it, potential lottery pick Isaiah Jackson is testing the draft waters, as we detailed earlier today.
Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0

Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson Enters 2021 NBA Draft

March 18th, 2021 at 9:18am CST by Luke Adams

Potential lottery pick Isaiah Jackson has announced that he’ll enter his name into the 2021 NBA draft pool, according to a press release from Kentucky. The freshman power forward is testing the waters and won’t sign with an agent for the time being.

“Playing in the NBA has always been a dream of mine growing up,” Jackson said in a statement. “It has always been something that, with the right opportunity, I would pursue. … No matter what I ultimately decide, this place will always hold a special place in my heart.”

In his first – and possibly only – season with the Wildcats, Jackson averaged 8.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and an impressive 2.6 BPG in 25 games (20.7 MPG). In his scouting report, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony refers to Jackson as one of the best athletes in the college game who is a defensive difference-maker and has some offensive upside.

Givony and fellow ESPN draft guru Mike Schmitz currently have Jackson ranked 12th on their big board of 2021 prospects.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the revamped NBA schedule, there’s still no set of deadlines in place for when early entrants must declare for the draft and when they’ll have to make final decisions on their draft eligibility. An update on those dates and deadlines should come sometime soon.

Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

And-Ones: Trade Market, Olympics, Draft

March 11th, 2021 at 4:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Executives and scouts around the NBA view Rockets forward P.J. Tucker as a logical trade target for the Bucks, whose typically stout defense has fallen off a little this season, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report. Tucker’s versatility and defensive ability make him a good fit in just about any system, which would make him an ideal option for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.

The execs and scouts who spoke to Blakely also think that the Nuggets will target a versatile frontcourt player and could see the Suns making a run at Andre Drummond if he reaches the buyout market.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Draft Notes: Cunningham, Top Shooters, Todd, Nix

March 9th, 2021 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

With the NBA G League season nearly over and the NCAA tournament around the corner, Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham remains atop experts’ big boards for the 2021 NBA draft. The freshman capped off an impressive regular season by being named the Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, as the conference announced in a press release.

Cunningham averaged 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game with a .455/.425/.854 shooting line in 22 contests (35.1 MPG) in his first – and almost certainly only – college season. He’ll get a chance to further cement his claim as 2021’s top prospect in this week’s Big 12 tournament and during March Madness. Oklahoma State was banned from the postseason for a year, but their appeal to overturn that penalty is still pending, making the program eligible for the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s more on the 2021 NBA draft:

  • Sam Vecenie of The Athletic takes a look at the top shooters in the 2021 draft class, identifying WCC Player of the Year Corey Kispert (Gonzaga) as the No. 1 option. Joe Wieskamp (Iowa), Sam Hauser (Virginia), Isaiah Livers (Michigan), and Trey Murphy (Virginia) round out Vecenie’s top five.
  • The G League Ignite’s season is over, as the NBAGL’s select team – which features projected top-five picks Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga – was knocked out of the single-elimination postseason by the Raptors 905 on Monday. Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Insider link) examines what we learned about the Ignite’s prospects in the G League bubble, writing that Isaiah Todd boosted his stock with his play down the stretch, while Daishen Nix struggled a little. Todd is considered a first-round prospect by many NBA teams, but Nix is looking more like a second-rounder than a potential lottery pick, Givony adds.
  • The most recent big boards from Givony and Mike Schmitz at ESPN and from Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report have plenty of similarities in the lottery, but there are a few notable differences. Connecticut’s James Bouknight is No. 6 on Wasserman’s board and just 11th on ESPN’s, while Tennessee’s Jaden Springer is ranked 12th by Wasserman and all the way down at No. 39 by ESPN. Meanwhile, ESPN ranks Auburn’s Sharife Cooper and Kispert as top-10 prospects, while Wasserman has them 17th and 18th, respectively.
Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Community Shootaround: Top Draft Pick

March 2nd, 2021 at 8:37pm CST by Dana Gauruder

There’s help on the way for teams such as the Pistons and Timberwolves, who have the worst record in their respective conferences.

The 2021 NBA draft class is projected to be stronger than usual, particularly at the top where five players have emerged as potential All-Stars.

Most of the draft buzz has centered on Oklahoma State freshman guard Cade Cunningham. His college coach calls him a cross between Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway. He has also drawn comparisons to Luka Doncic.

Cunningham’s 40-point explosion against Oklahoma on Saturday further solidified his reputation as the draft’s top prospect (he only took eight shots and scored 15 points in a rematch on Monday). The 6’8’’ Cunningham is averaging 19.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 3.5 APG and could turn into a triple-double machine in the pros.

There are several other prospects who could legitimately argue they deserve to top the list. USC seven-footer Evan Mobley is averaging 16.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG in his freshman season. Mobley is the prototype of a modern big man with elite rim protecting skills. Though the NBA has become an increasingly small-ball league, there’s always room for an athletic big man (Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis).

Gonzaga freshman guard Jalen Suggs hasn’t piled up the stats like Cunningham and Mobley but he’s got a good excuse – he’s surrounded by better players. The top prospect on the nation’s top-ranked team is averaging 13.9, PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG. He could excel at either guard spot at the next level.

Then there’s the G League Ignite duo of Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga. Green is averaging 17.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.7 APG and shooting 37.9% beyond the arc while facing experienced professionals. Green has the ability to be an explosive scorer in the Zach LaVine mold and can terrorize defenders in the open court.

Kuminga, a 6’8’’ forward, has been better than advertised while averaging 16.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 2.8 APG. He has the physical tools to step right into a starting lineup and create mismatches at either forward spot. He has shown superior shot-creating ability in the Orlando bubble.

That leads us to our topic of the day: Should Cade Cunningham be the No. 1 pick of the draft or do you feel Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green or Jonathan Kuminga will be an even better pro?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

College Seniors Must Petition NBA To Be Draft Eligible This Year

February 26th, 2021 at 11:09am CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA will require college seniors to petition the league for inclusion on the early-entry list in order to become draft-eligible this year, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reports.

The NCAA granted all winter athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, giving every college basketball senior the option of returning for an additional season in 2021/22. The NBA’s decision for seniors to petition for draft eligibility will result in a record-breaking number of players on the early-entry list. In last year’s draft, 163 college underclassmen were on the early entry list.

The NCAA’s ruling regarding this year’s college seniors created a loophole in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Givony notes. Normally, graduating college seniors who have exhausted their four years of NCAA eligibility are automatically eligible for the draft. However, college seniors this season still have remaining eligibility.

The timetable for players declaring for this year’s draft and determining whether to remain draft eligible remains murky.

The early-entry deadline is typically 60 days prior to the June draft. A date has not been set for this year’s draft. The Finals are scheduled to be held in July and the draft is usually held approximately a week after the season is completed.

The deadline for college players to decide whether to remain on the early-entry list is different from the NBA’s withdrawal deadline, which also complicates the process. Under NCAA rules, the early entry withdrawal deadline is 10 days after the conclusion of the NBA combine. No date has been established for this year’s combine.

It’s unlikely that draft prospects will begin the pre-draft process or have contact with NBA teams until late May or June, Givony adds.

Retweet 1 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts