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2022 NBA Draft

Draft Notes: Braun, Wilson, Diop, Santos, Edey, Pack, Miller

April 24th, 2022 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning a national championship with the Jayhawks this season, Kansas junior shooting guard Christian Braun is entering his name in the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Ranked as the No. 30 overall prospect on ESPN’s big board, Braun took a major step forward in his third college season, averaging 14.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG on .495/.386/.733 shooting in 40 games (34.4 MPG). He also played a big role in this month’s title game, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to help Kansas secure the victory.

“It is hard to follow a season where you win every championship that’s in front of you, but I’m excited to explore the options in front of me and enjoy this process,” Braun told ESPN. “I’ve worked my whole life to show the NBA who I am and what I’m about, so I will continue to put my head down and work to achieve my dream of playing in the NBA.”

Meanwhile, Braun’s teammate Jalen Wilson will once again test the waters, according to Andrew Joseph of USA Today (Twitter link), who notes that the 6’8″ forward has signed with an NCAA-certified agency. A redshirt sophomore, Wilson first tested the draft waters in 2021.

Here are a few more draft-related updates as the early entrant deadline nears:

  • Senegalese center Khalifa Diop, who currently plays for Gran Canaria in Spain, is entering the draft, per Global Scouting (Twitter link). Diop is the No. 40 prospect on ESPN’s board.
  • Brazilian forward Gui Santos, the No. 84 prospect on ESPN’s top-100 list, has declared for the draft, according to a Super Esportes report. Santos has been playing for Minas in the Brazilian league.
  • Purdue big man Zach Edey, the No. 67 prospect on ESPN’s board, has announced (via Instagram) that he’ll remain with the Boilermakers for his junior year.
  • After entering the transfer portal while testing the draft waters, Kansas State’s Nijel Pack has committed to Miami, he announced on Saturday (Twitter link). Having secured a lucrative NIL deal, Pack appears committed to playing at least one more college season rather than keeping his name in the draft.
  • Canadian forward Leonard Miller, from the Fort Erie International Academy, is entering the draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). Givony notes that Miller made an impression at the Nike Hoop Summit earlier this month.
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Trevor Keels Announces Decision To Enter Draft

April 23rd, 2022 at 4:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

Duke freshman Trevor Keels announced on Twitter that he will enter the NBA draft. The 6’4″ guard doesn’t say he’s hiring an agent, but there’s nothing in his statement to indicate that he will consider returning to college.

“Playing at Duke was a dream and I feel that now is the time to chase another dream,” Keels wrote. “I am excited to enter my name in the 2022 NBA Draft. I found a second home at Duke and I’ll be riding with The Brotherhood for life.”

Keels projects as a late first-round pick, coming in at 25th overall on ESPN’s big board. Mike Schmitz of ESPN calls him a “skilled two-way combo guard with a strong foundational skill set” and praises his toughness on defense as well. However, Schmitz adds that there are questions about his motor and notes that he had a lot of ups and downs during his lone college season.

A five-star recruit, Keels averaged 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 36 games this season while shooting 41.9% from the field and 31.2% from three-point range. Schmitz states that he’ll have to show teams he can be consistent from long distance to be considered a top-20 pick.

Keels is the fourth early draft entrant from Duke, joining Paolo Banchero, Mark Williams and Wendell Moore.

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Draft Updates: Terry, Mayer, Roach, K. Davis

April 22nd, 2022 at 10:48pm CST by Rory Maher

Arizona’s Dalen Terry has decided to enter the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on Twitter. The sophomore guard is ranked No. 43 on ESPN’s big board.

In 37 games this season (27.8 minutes), Terry averaged 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals on .502/.364/.736 shooting. The 19-year-old also averaged just 1.4 turnovers per contest, good for a 2.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Arizona was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but ultimately fell to Houston in the Sweet Sixteen. Terry had an impressive performance despite the loss, putting up 17 points, six rebounds and three assists on 6-9 shooting against the Cougars’ suffocating defense, which was ranked fourth in the country.

Here are a few more draft updates:

  • Baylor’s Matthew Mayer (No. 73 on ESPN’s board) is also testing the draft waters, making the announcement via Instagram. The senior forward started all 33 of his games this season for the first time in his collegiate career, averaging 9.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.2 steals on .409/.324/.700 shooting. Mayer won a championship with the Bears in 2021. Per Mike Schmitz of ESPN, Mayer is a tall (6’9″), energetic and fluid shot-maker, but loses focus defensively and needs work as a decision-maker.
  • Duke guard Jeremy Roach will return to school for his junior season, he announced on Instagram. The former five-star recruit averaged 8.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists on .410/.322/.763 shooting for the Blue Devils this season. He played a key role in the team’s run to the Final Four, averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 boards, 4 assists and 1.4 steals in five NCAA tournament games.
  • SMU senior Kendric Davis, who’s testing the waters and is on our list of early entrants, has decided to transfer to Memphis if he doesn’t stay in the draft, he announced via Twitter. The point guard averaged an impressive 19.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals on .439/.372/.868 shooting in 32 games for the Mustangs in 2021/22.
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Draft Updates: Kamagate, Prkacin, Flagler, More

April 22nd, 2022 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

French center Ismael Kamagate has put his name in the 2022 NBA draft pool, agent Bouna Ndiaye tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 21-year-old big man has boosted his draft stock this season with his play for Paris Basketball — he has averaged 11.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.5 BPG in 30 games (27.4 MPG), shooting 64.8% from the field. According to Givony, Kamagate – the No. 35 prospect on ESPN’s big board – is a potential first-round pick.

Meanwhile, Croatian power forward Roko Prkacin, who shows up on ESPN’s top-100 list at No. 62, has decided not to enter the draft, agent Matej Mamic tells Givony (Twitter link).

Viewed as a borderline first-round pick in 2021, Prkacin opted to withdraw from the draft at last July’s deadline, but his stock took a hit this season when he missed a significant chunk of the year due to an ankle injury. With a bounce-back performance in 2022/23, he’s a potential first-rounder in the ’23 draft, says Givony.

Here are a few more updates on early entrants:

  • Baylor junior guard Adam Flagler will enter the NBA draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility, he tells Givony (Twitter link). After winning a title with the Bears in 2021, Flagler became a full-time starter in 2021/22 and averaged 13.8 PPG and 3.0 APG on .438/.387/.741 shooting, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.
  • Florida A&M senior guard MJ Randolph will test the draft waters this spring, he announced on Thursday (video link via HBCU Gameday). Randolph was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2021/22 after he put up 18.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 30 games (38.6 MPG).
  • Coastal Carolina senior swingman Vince Cole is entering the draft, he announced on Instagram. Cole, who averaged 15.2 PPG with a .390 3PT% in 33 games (30.7 MPG), will hire an agent and go pro, as Scott Eisberg of WCIV in Charleston relays (video link).
  • Texas-Rio Grande Valley wing Justin Johnson has announced (via Twitter) that he’s declaring for the draft while maintaining his final year of college eligibility. Johnson, who transferred from Southern Miss in 2021, averaged 17.7 PPG and 6.7 RPG on .501/.333/.679 shooting in 31 games (34.8 MPG) as a senior.
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Milwaukee’s Patrick Baldwin Jr. Enters NBA Draft

April 22nd, 2022 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

Milwaukee freshman Patrick Baldwin Jr. has opted to enter the 2022 NBA draft, he announced today on Twitter. Baldwin doesn’t specify whether he intends to test the waters or go pro, but the wording of his statement suggests he’ll likely forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Calf and ankle injuries limited Baldwin to just 11 games in his first and only college season. While he averaged 12.1 PPG and 5.8 RPG in 28.5 minutes per contest, he struggled to score efficiently, shooting just 34.4% from the field, including 26.6% on threes.

Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Baldwin has slipped to No. 31 overall on ESPN’s big board of 2022 prospects. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote in February that NBA teams had concerns about Baldwin’s left ankle, which sidelined him for much of his high school senior year and bothered him again as a freshman at Milwaukee. Teams evaluating him during the pre-draft process will likely want to get a close look at his medicals.

Givony refers to the 6’9″ forward as a “dynamic shot-maker” with a strong frame, but notes that he displayed a lack of toughness when he was healthy in 2021/22 and didn’t play well on defense. Baldwin is no longer considered a surefire first-round pick, let alone a top-10 candidate, Givony adds.

Early entrants declaring for the 2022 draft have until the end of the day on Sunday to officially submit their names.

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And-Ones: Wright, Martin, Rhoden, Maxey, Poole, Draft

April 21st, 2022 at 9:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jay Wright isn’t interested in coaching in the NBA after retiring from his post at Villanova.

Wright, who won two national championships, enjoyed assisting Gregg Popovich on the Team USA staff but never came close to leaving Villanova for NBA jobs, says ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Sources who have talked to Wright don’t believe the NBA holds appeal to him now or in future, Wojnarowski adds.

According to a school press release, Wright will take the post of  Special Assistant to the President at the university. Fordham head coach Kyle Neptune, a former Wildcats assistant, will replace Wright, Jeff Goodman of Stadium tweets.

We have more from around the basketball world:

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Duke’s Wendell Moore Enters Draft

April 21st, 2022 at 7:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Duke wing Wendell Moore is entering the draft and intends on hiring an agent, according to a school press release.

Moore, a junior, started 39 games and averaged 13.4 PPG on 50% field goal shooting and 41.3% from 3-point range with 5.3 RPG and a team-leading 4.4 APG.

“I could not be more proud of the player and person that Wendell has become,” said now former head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “He is everything that is good about our game of college basketball. … He was our co-captain, one of the best all-around players in the nation and a huge part of our success. He was there for us every minute. … He will be an immediate asset to an NBA team.”

Moore, who was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team from a team loaded with NBA prospects, is considered a potential first-round pick. He’s currently ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s Best Available list and No. 10 among small forwards.

In his mid-March evaluation, Mike Schmitz wrote, “Moore is the exact type of versatile wing the NBA covets. However, he toggles between brilliant moments and head-scratching ones, not always quite as consistently aggressive as you’d hope in big moments given his experience.”

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Potential No. 1 Pick Chet Holmgren Enters Draft

April 21st, 2022 at 2:09pm CST by Rory Maher

Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren has declared for the 2022 NBA draft, he told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Holmgren is the No. 1 overall prospect on ESPN’s best available players list.

“After a season where we accomplished a lot of great things as both a team and an individual, I feel like I’m in a position to be able to chase my lifelong dream to play in the NBA,” Holmgren told ESPN.

The seven-foot, 195-pound freshman averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.7 blocks on .607/.390/.717 shooting in 32 games (26.9 minutes) this season. Holmgren won numerous accolades for his standout season, including second-team All-America, West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and first-team All-WCC, among others.

Holmgren said he hopes he lands with a team that will be a good fit for him, even if it isn’t atop the draft board.

“I understand basketball is a business and going No. 1 doesn’t mean nearly as much as finding a good fit and the right situation,” Holmgren told Wojnarowski. “At the end of the day, I’m hoping for whatever is best for me and my future, and if that’s at No. 1, then that’s great.”

One of the more polarizing and unique top prospects, Holmgren has great length and defensive instincts along with guard-like skills. Holmgren, who turns 20 next month, is a good ball-handler who moves with fluidity and has developed an outside shot, but struggles against stronger, more physically dominant players, according to ESPN’s Mike Schmitz.

Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News reports (via Twitter) that Holmgren has picked Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management to be his agent. Duffy represents several players, including Mavs star Luka Doncic (per RealGM).

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Possible First-Round Pick Hugo Besson Enters Draft

April 21st, 2022 at 12:14pm CST by Rory Maher

France’s Hugo Besson has entered the 2022 NBA draft, his agent Bouna Ndiaye told Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). The combo guard could become a first-round pick, as he’s currently ranked No. 32 on ESPN’s top 100 prospects list.

Besson spent the 2021/22 season with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists on .385/.306/.795 shooting in 25 games (27.6 minutes per contest). The NBL has seen a number of its former players transition to the NBA in recent years, including LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, R.J. Hampton, Didi Louzada, Jae’Sean Tate and Jock Landale.

With the Breakers, Besson teamed up with Ousmane Dieng, a fellow Frenchman who has also declared for the draft and is considered a potential lottery pick. Besson showcased an impressive array of dribble moves and shooting range, even if his shooting splits weren’t ideal (video link via Givony).

In his draft profile for ESPN, Mike Schmitz states that Besson is an improving and confident three-level scorer, displaying an ability to play on or off the ball. He needs to improve his defense, but his scoring and play-making should draw plenty of attention from NBA teams, per Schmitz.

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Draft Decisions: Nembhard, Tshiebwe, Juzang, Etienne, Procida

April 21st, 2022 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

Gonzaga senior point guard Andrew Nembhard is entering the 2022 NBA draft and forgoing his final year of college eligibility, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Nembhard is ranked No. 50 overall on ESPN’s top-100 prospect list and is considered a probable second-round pick.

As Givony details, Nembhard has good size (6’5″) for a point guard and improved his outside shot over the course of his four years with the Zags. The 22-year-old told ESPN that he’d love to be a first-round pick, but his top priority would be to land in a spot where he can have a role and make an impact.

“Initially I can bring backup point guard minutes to a team. A player like Tyus Jones — I can emulate his role, bring a high assist-to-turnover ratio, get guys open shots, hit open threes and understand the game,” Nembhard said. “I can see myself in a similar role. I can give a team a different look off the bench, pushing the pace in transition, getting guys open shots. With the way the NBA spacing is, that’s only going to help me.”

Here are more of the latest updates on this year’s draft pool:

  • Kentucky junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, who has been the No. 44 prospect on ESPN’s top-100 list, has opted to stick with the Wildcats rather than entering the draft, he announced on Sportscenter on Wednesday (Twitter link via Givony). Tshiebwe, the consensus National Player of the Year and the NCAA’s leading rebounder (15.2 RPG), has been a major beneficiary of players’ NIL rights — a source tells Jeff Goodman of Stadium (Twitter link) that the 22-year-old will likely earn about $2MM this season through NIL.
  • UCLA junior guard Johnny Juzang, the No. 80 prospect on ESPN’s big board, has entered the draft and sounds prepared to go pro, announcing his decision on Instagram. After beginning his college career with Kentucky, Juzang transferred to UCLA in 2020 and averaged 15.8 PPG on .436/.356/.854 shooting in 57 games (32.1 MPG) across two seasons for the Bruins.
  • Wichita State junior guard Tyson Etienne is entering the draft and forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility, he tells Givony (Twitter link). After being named the AAC Player of the Year in 2021, Etienne saw his production dip a little in 2021/22, as he averaged 14.9 PPG on .359/.326/.768 shooting in 27 games (34.3 MPG).
  • Italian wing Gabriele Procida has entered the 2022 draft, his agency Sigma Sports announced (via Twitter). The No. 53 prospect on ESPN’s board, Procida has averaged 7.1 PPG and 3.1 RPG on .533/.411/.800 shooting for Fortitudo Bologna in Italian League play this season at age 19.
  • Two more international prospects – French guard Matthew Strazel and Italian center Leonardo Okeke – have declared for the draft. Strazel’s decision was announced by agent Olivier Mazet (Twitter link), while Orazio Cauchi of BasketNews.com (Twitter link) relayed the news on Okeke.
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