5. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston)
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 19.5
7. San Antonio Spurs
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.1
23. Miami Heat
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | C | Age: 18.7
32. New York Knicks (via Detroit)
Aaron Bradshaw | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.1
36. Utah Jazz
Robert Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 18.4
It's going to take some time for challengers to emerge. NBA front offices are somewhat down on this class for that reason, as the quality of the class, comparatively speaking, doesn't hold up as well as what we've seen over the past few drafts. Edwards has an interesting case as a tall, shot-making wing, having held down a lofty ranking for much of his high school career, but he's not reputed as much of a playmaker, and he'll turn 20 in December, making him a year older than most of the players in the freshman class. His Kentucky teammate, Wagner, brings excellent scoring chops in the backcourt, but is still undersized for a combo and wired to score more than distribute, the type of profile that historically tends to slip a bit as teams parse through the prospects. And Williams -- the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunderguard Jalen Williams -- will attend Colorado, where he should have a strong opportunity to make a case.
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 19.5
7. San Antonio Spurs
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.1
23. Miami Heat
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | C | Age: 18.7
32. New York Knicks (via Detroit)
Aaron Bradshaw | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.1
36. Utah Jazz
Robert Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 18.4
Who'll be the top college prospect in 2023-24?
Much like the 2023 NBA draft, in which the preseason consensus meant little and Brandon Miller emerged as the top NCAA prospect, we enter the 2024 draft cycle with the door wide open for college players to set themselves apart. Our early projected top three prospects -- Holland, Buzelis and Zaccharie Risacher -- won't play college basketball next season. The next four players on the list are Isaiah Collier (USC), Justin Edwards (Kentucky), Cody Williams (Colorado) and D.J. Wagner (Kentucky), players whom NBA teams are already tracking closely, but someone further down the board could certainly emerge, much in the way Miller did.It's going to take some time for challengers to emerge. NBA front offices are somewhat down on this class for that reason, as the quality of the class, comparatively speaking, doesn't hold up as well as what we've seen over the past few drafts. Edwards has an interesting case as a tall, shot-making wing, having held down a lofty ranking for much of his high school career, but he's not reputed as much of a playmaker, and he'll turn 20 in December, making him a year older than most of the players in the freshman class. His Kentucky teammate, Wagner, brings excellent scoring chops in the backcourt, but is still undersized for a combo and wired to score more than distribute, the type of profile that historically tends to slip a bit as teams parse through the prospects. And Williams -- the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunderguard Jalen Williams -- will attend Colorado, where he should have a strong opportunity to make a case.
2024 NBA mock draft: The uncertainty with next year's class
Expect significant movement over the next year with the 2024 NBA draft class, as unknown players emerge and other, more highly regarded prospects inevitably stagnate or drop.
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