Marquette wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who withdrew from Thursday’s scrimmage after a strong performance Wednesday, may have been the biggest winner of the NBA draft combine, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic.
Not only did Prosper score a game-high 21 points (plus seven rebounds) in 22 minutes in Wednesday’s scrimmage, he was also measured at nearly 6’7″ without shoes along with a 7’1″ wingspan. The 20-year-old recorded the second-best standing vertical leap (35 inches) at the event.
As Hollinger writes, there are still question marks about his Prosper’s game (limited feel, low rate of steals plus blocks), but his effort at the combine may have turned him into a first-round pick. He’s currently No. 32 on ESPN’s big board.
Belmont guard Ben Sheppard (No. 36 on ESPN) and Serbian big man Tristan Vukcevic (No. 37) are among the other players who helped themselves at the combine, Hollinger adds. Keep an eye on the Hornets (Nos. 34, 39 and 41) and the Thunder (Nos. 37 and 50) as teams with multiple picks who might be interested in drafting-and-stashing Vukcevic, per Hollinger.
Here are a few more draft-related notes:
- Dereck Lively II was the nation’s top high school recruit entering his freshman year at Duke, but saw his draft stock fall after an underwhelming season. Currently No. 25 on ESPN’s board and considered a late first-round pick, Lively plans to surprise people at the NBA level, Adam Zagoria writes for The News & Observer. “I believe my game translates because I can guard one through five, I can run the floor, I can space the floor out,” Lively said at the combine. “I wasn’t shooting at Duke but … just because you don’t think I can shoot, I can shoot the ball. I think everybody is going to be surprised by that this coming season and I just gotta make a name for myself.”
- Joseph Girard, Nijel Pack, and Quinten Post all plan to withdraw from the draft and return to college for the 2023/24 season, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (All Twitter links). Girard is transferring from Syracuse to Clemson for his fifth and final year of eligibility, while Pack will be returning to Miami (FL) for his senior year and Post will return to Boston College for his fifth season. None of the three are listed on ESPN’s board, so they were considered unlikely to be drafted.
- In case you missed it, we passed along some more draft decisions Friday.
Prosper has improved, but he only barely moved into the first round.
He’ll go 27-30 probably. Out of the second round, but not much of a leap. Not like somebody is gonna gamble, and take him at 18-22.
I thought this was a picture of immanuel quickley
Dariq Whitehead
6-7, 220 lbs Small Forward …..
He was hurt to start the year. Only showed flashes. In 2022 he was the second rated player in his HS class. This young man is a steal at end of 1st rd. Yet most boards have him going in top of 2nd rd. I’d give anything to see my Knicks buy a 1st rd pick and take him. Probably will move up. When they start working out for teams. Keep an eye on him.
link to nbadraft.net
Dariq and Whitmore are not off anyone’s radar by any means, and I think a lot of teams in the mid 20’s to mid 30’s have their eye on those 2.
Neither will threaten rookie of the year, but 2 years down the road could be something to talk about.
This draft has a lot of players that fit that mold though.