Post by Rog on May 18, 2024 19:02:08 GMT
Here we go, draft time! Every tankers favorite time of the year as teams look to find the next shiny thing. Lets take a look at this year's class. To start, here is a reminder on how these articles work; I am telling you the most likely best case scenario, not a prediction on where a player ends up but the if they hit the best case scenario, this is the most likely spot they end up. However, they can reach above or below their tiers in the end, so don't take this as a prediction and look at the text for a true look at a player.
Potential All-Time Greats
AJ Dybanstsa SF 6'9'' 217 19 B- B- B- B- C A
Jared McCain PG 6'3'' 197 23 B B- C B- C B
- AJ Dybansta has been talked about a ton of the last couple of years. There was the possibility he came out as an 18 year old last year but it was determined his game was a little less developed than desired for some scouts and he was slipping in projections so he came back and had a big time year last year. He does everything pretty well and has no discernable flaw. He also lacks a true upper end strength where his biggest strength is his lack of weaknesses. He does possess upper end strength for a wing and good athleticism, both run and jump. This kid is oozing with potential and I'd be shocked if he didn't go #1.
- The only other potential All-Time Great I see is Jared McCain. I think this is a long shot though, but its hard for me to not put him here after we saw what Xaivian Lee and Labaron Philon was able to do early on in their career. McCain comes into the league with more athleticism, a better body control to score at the rim, and a better mid range jump shot than both. His biggest flaws are his age and lack of passing ability, but like Lee and Philon before him, his strength tends to lend to the thought process that he'll thrive at PG but not be able to really hang with some of the upper end SGs due to the strength disadvantage.
Jared McCain PG 6'3'' 197 23 B B- C B- C B
- AJ Dybansta has been talked about a ton of the last couple of years. There was the possibility he came out as an 18 year old last year but it was determined his game was a little less developed than desired for some scouts and he was slipping in projections so he came back and had a big time year last year. He does everything pretty well and has no discernable flaw. He also lacks a true upper end strength where his biggest strength is his lack of weaknesses. He does possess upper end strength for a wing and good athleticism, both run and jump. This kid is oozing with potential and I'd be shocked if he didn't go #1.
- The only other potential All-Time Great I see is Jared McCain. I think this is a long shot though, but its hard for me to not put him here after we saw what Xaivian Lee and Labaron Philon was able to do early on in their career. McCain comes into the league with more athleticism, a better body control to score at the rim, and a better mid range jump shot than both. His biggest flaws are his age and lack of passing ability, but like Lee and Philon before him, his strength tends to lend to the thought process that he'll thrive at PG but not be able to really hang with some of the upper end SGs due to the strength disadvantage.
Potential SuperstarsTajh Ariza SF 6'9'' 208 19 B- C+ B- B- C A
Alex Toohey. SF 6'8'' 220 25 C+ B B- B+ C+ C
Dylan Harper SG 6'7'' 220 22 B C+ C B C+ B
Alijah Arenas. SG 6'4'' 185 19 B- B- D+ C C- A
Jaxon Richardson SG 6'5'' 180 20 B- C+ C C C A
Dwayne Aristode*** SF 6'8'' 213 19 B- C C C+ C A
Cayden Boozer PG 6'4'' 190 20 B- C+ B- C C- A
Hugo Gonzalez* SG 6'6'' 200 21 B- C+ C+ C+ C- A
Elijah Williams SF 6'7'' 202 19 C+ C+ C B- C A
Keiner Asprillla C 7'1'' 242 19 B- C C+ C+ B- A
- One of my favorite players in this class is Tajh Ariza, a an inside oriented wing who is 19 years old and plays a nice, well rounded game. I had an internal debate about whether or not to put him here or the ATG tier and settled here. I'll repeat what I say every season about prospects that I like with this same flaw: C+ outside for a wing really makes me nervous. Some have overcome it(and worse!) but it puts the odds that much further back for me. And with Ariza he struggles more from three than mid range and that worries me even more. But the positives do make up for it. He has a terrific handle, is lightning quick for a forward and will get steals in droves. There isn't many flaws to worry about outside of his three point shot but that is enough for me to knock him down a tier while still propping him up.
- The most interesting prospect in this entire draft to me though is Alex Toohey. Its not often a small forward walks into the league with B outside, B+ defense, or C+ rebounding let alone all three. He could walk into the league and score 17 points, grab 8 rebounds, dish out 4.5 assists, and get 3 stocks a game and I wouldn't be shocked. So why is he here? Why do I have him 7th on my ranking below? Hes 25, lacks potential, and you have to wonder how much better he'll actually get without camps. I'd be concerned about the C+ inside not improving and that outside never getting high enough to justify a top 5 pick. But man, if you ended up in the top of this class and are a glue guy SF away from being a contender? I got the guy for you.
- Very similarly to Toohey, you don't see shooting guards with B inside and B defense very often, especially not ones who have a chance to lead the league in steals one day if all things break right. Dylan Harper comes into this draft with tremendous size, skill, and athletic ability and if he was two years younger I'd have him as my top pick. But hes not, he is a 22 year old shooting guard with C+ outside, limited potential compared to some of his younger piers, and has a three point shot you need to rebuild. Overall hes a terrific mid lottery pick but someone is gonna get so infatuated with what he does right I hope they can fix what he doesn't do right.
- Who needs passing? Alijah Arenas is here to remind us how his father played, all gas no breaks. Arenas has about as much potential offensively as any player that we've seen come into the league. He can score at all three levels and is athletic enough to play with anyone. The only thing getting in his own way is when he tries to pass. The man has zero instinct in that regard and will rack up the turnovers if you try to make him anything more than a hired gun to score and score and score and score. Defense is optional except the occasional gamble that works out. Arenas is going to be a solid player in this league, you just have to know what you are getting.
- Another legacy kid, Jaxon Richardson saw Alijah modeling his game after his father and was like "Hey! I can do that better" and well he did. Carbon copy here. Jax is the most athletic player in this draft and will compete for that title in the whole league as well. Offensively he lets his athleticism allow him to coast but he has a pretty good mid range shot and a respectable three point shot that needs improvement. He, like Alijah, will need to improve his decision making to reduce his turnovers. Overall I like Jaxon a good bit. He absolutely needs to work on his handle and his defense but nothing here is completely and totally unfixable.
- It is another rough point guard class this year but the best of the bunch in my opinion is Carlos's other kid, Cameron's twin brother Cayden Boozer. Offensively he compares nicely to most of the players in this class only getting outclassed by 2 or 3. He scores equally as well across all three levels and is quick enough to get his own shot. Defensively he needs work, like a good bit of this lottery class, but overall Boozer is a solid lottery pick especially if you need a point guard. One of these year's we'll get a top end point guard prospect but its not this year.
Potential All-Stars
Joson Sanon SF 6'6'' 197 21 B- C+ C C C A
JJ Andrews. SG 6'6'' 220 20 C+ C C C D+ A
Abraham Joum Maker Bol C 7'2'' 230 19 C+ C- C+ C+ C+ A
DaRon Holmes II PF 6'10'' 238 23 B- C+ C B- B- B
Keiner Asprillla C 7'1'' 242 19 B- C C+ C+ B- A
Flory Bidunga C 6'9'' 225 23 C D C+ B- C+ A
Marcus Johnson PG 6'2'' 182 20 C+ C+ B- B- D B
Aaron Rowe Jr. PG 6'0'' 167 21 B- C+ B- C+ D+ B
Caleb Gaskins. PF 6'9'' 220 19 C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
Zach Kinziger SG 6'4'' 188 21 C+ C+ C+ C+ D+ A
Jason Crowe Jr PG 6'3'' 180 20 B- C+ C C C- A
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An actual ranking:
Tier 1: Whose number 1?
1. AJ Dybantsa
2. Jared McCain
Tier 2: Can't convince me at #1 but after that? Maybe
3. Tajh Ariza
4. Dylan Harper
5. Cayden Boozer
6. Alex Toohey
Tier 3: Boom or bust
7. Alijah Arenas
8. Jaxon Richardson
9. Dwayne Aristode
Tier 4: Rounding out the lotto
10. DaRon Holmes II
11. Keiner Aspirilla
12. Abraham Joum Maker Bol
13. Lachlan Dolbric
14. JJ Andrews
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