Meet the First-Time Eligible Future Top Picks of the Draft
Mar 10, 2024 5:04:07 GMT
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Post by Rog on Mar 10, 2024 5:04:07 GMT
We're only about to get our season started and looking forward to a fun year, but in an effort in trying to get ahead of the draft and get some information out on it early and get focused and started on it, here is some pre-declaration information on five of the top guys this year and a bonus player with an enticing last name. Enjoy! This is written by NBN high level scouts, prior to the beginning of their college/professional seasons. Please keep that in mind if ratings change between now and the draft. These are preliminary ratings, subject to change.
Cameron Boozer - Son of an Former All-Star, Projected #1 Pick of the 2026 NBN Draft if He Declares
Position: PF Age: 19 at time of draft
Height: 6'10" Weight: 220 pounds
Projected Ratings: B C+ C C B- A
"Coming into last season, Cameron Boozer was by far the best player of his class. He was set to be an unchallenged top pick before our next player reclassified and decided to throw a major wrench into the draft plans. Of course, time will tell if Boozer really is a one and day as his talent suggest. Cameron comes into the college as an advanced level scorer and rebounding. Offensively he was a bit bigger and stronger than players in high school and it will be interesting to see if he can showcase more finesse and any new post moves in his first and potentially only year in college. His game last year expanded to the three point line and I think that played into some of his struggles, he seemed to focused on his outside game than developing inside. Defensively is where he really struggles. He has good insticts and is quick enogh to switch but you can't rely on him as your primary rim protector and I have my doubts on the type of big plays he can generate on that end. He won't kill you though. Overall, Boozer represents a step down of bigs from the last two seasons but a big season at Duke."
AJ Drybantsa - Reclassifying Do It All Youngster Who Needs To Pick a Lane To Top Boozer
Position: SF Age: 18 at time of draft
Height: 6'9 Weight: 205
Projected Ratings: B- C+ C+ B- C+ A
"As of right now, any talk of him being a top pick is based on the potential of what he can become rather than what he is now. What he is now is a tremendously athethletic and naturally talented basketball player who hasn't quite realized his newfound size. His senior(Would have been Junior) year was full of moments where you could tell he wasn't sure of the things he could do with his body. As the season got to February, Drybantsa came into his own. He took over game after game after game on his way to a state title. He expanded his range to the three point line. He was always the best defender on the floor and gave the effort to match. He became Prolific's primary ball handler and was able to score and distribute at will, with some turnover problems creeping in. As things stand, AJ needs a big season to convince people he is all that his potential says he is."
Darryn Peterson - Unselfish Guard With SG Size Needing to Prove Where He Should Play
Position: SG(Potential to end up a PG) Age: 19 at time of draft
Height: 6'5 Weight: 195
Projected Ratings: C+ C+ B B C A
"Darryn Peterson is an interesting case that I think will change the most of the players on this list. At the end of his sophomore year, Peterson was a 5'9 point guard who had developed devastating ball skills that made him look enticing as a future pass first PG who had the chance to be special defensively. By the beginning of his Junior year he had grown 8 inches, lost a step as he added the appropriate muscle, and developed his offensive game to match while maintaining his ball skills and only enhancing his defensive potential. Right now most around the league seem to agree he is a shooting guard that has the chance to prove it as a point guard at Kentucky. Right now he seems a bit raw offensively. Time will tell where he ends up but one thing is for sure, Peterson is extremely talented, athletic, and seems like a truly special basketball mind that will succeed wherever he ends up settling on the court."
Sidi Gueye - Top International Prospect Looking to Add to the Growing Collection of International Bigs
Position: C Age: 19 at time of draft
Height: 7'0 Weight: 240
Projected Ratings: C+ C C+ B B- A
"Gueye a couple years ago was a middling big who struggled on the court and has some concerns about his work ethic. All this kid has done since is dominate defensively, work on his game, and develop a reputation of always being in the right place to make highlight plays. Offensively this is a raw, raw big who needs to refine every part of his game. He shows promise as a stretch big and that probably is his pathway to being truly good on that end. He has a season and a FIBA World Cup to prove to scouts and GMs that he is worth a top 5 pick because the offense isn't going to be completely terrible. He has athleticism and defensive sensibility to burn and that alone will make him a future lottery pick. His athletic package and the ability to listen and grow as a player the last couple years coupled with his already elite defense makes him a prime candidate to shoot up the draft boards and end up in top pick discussion."
Ja'Kobe Walter - Third Year College Prospect Whose Stalled Development Delayed But Didn't Deny His Ascent
Position: SG Age: 22 at time of draft
Height: 6'5 Weight: 210
Projected Ratings: B- B C+ B- C B
"A couple years ago as Baylor was ending its season there was real talk about Walter coming out then and having a case as a late lottery pick. He decided to come back and improve his stock but it plummeted in an injury-plagued year where his shot really struggled to find a rhythm. His junior year began with questions about who he actually was and whether he could stay healthy. Walker came into the season determined to show off and he did, winning Big 12 Player of the Year and being a year long candidate for National Player of the Year. He made clutch basket after clutch basket on Baylor's final four run and in the pre-draft run proved himself as an athlete. He is the first truy great, well rounded shooting guard prospect we've had but some scouts question his long term potential. Those questions will inevitably keep him from top pick conversation but he might just end up being the best player anyway."
Kiyan Anthony - Legend's Son Who Is Another Player Surviving Off Their Name Not Their Game
Position: SF Age: 20 at time of draft
Height: 6'6" Weight: 190
Projected Ratings: C+ B- C- C C- A
"It seems to be a trend lately, but like Bronny last year our team looks at the hype from the fans and some of the recruiting sites gushing over Kiyan and don't understand it. Bronny last year was completely undraftable for our team and right now, unless something major changes Kiyan will be that way too. Too many distractions from your franchise for a player your team doesn't deem worth of it. Don't get me wrong, Kiyan seems like a great kid. I've only attended one camp where I've been able to actually inteiract with him but by all indications hes a hard working, high IQ player who just hasn't put their game together. Without being Carmelo's kid I think some of that wouldn't be expected but part of the typical development prospect. Kiyan right now is not skilled enough at the rim to score a bunch, will turn it over a ton, and is a complete waste on the defensive end. Hes a lights out shooter with elite potential in that regard and has tremendous athleticism. Two or three years at Florida State would do him wonders. You absolutely have to mention him with the hype surrounding him and the love for his father, but he isn't a lottery pick at this point. There is a ton of time for that to change, and he certainly has a base game that it isn't inconceivable."
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