The NBA regular season is well underway, and teams are gearing up for the post-season. The basketball playoffs are arguably one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar, with money and fame on the line. Therefore, most franchises devise plans for success way in advance.
The NBA Draft is pivotal. Without the correct players in their best positions, it’s hard to mount a challenge for glory. As a result, analyzing and evaluating the players who seem like they make a difference is essential. Here, then, are three NCAA ballers to look out for in the NBA Draft in the summer.
Chet Holmgren
Even at this early stage, it’s impossible to mention the 2022 NBA Draft without talking about Chet Holmgren. He’s currently the number one NCAA ranked player, which is why there’s a lot of hype surrounding his future. And his performances at Gonzaga haven’t done anything to suggest he won’t be monitored by the big boys when the time arrives. For starters, the power forward is a capable three-point shooter for a big man.
Plus, he’s fluid with the ball in his hands, making him a threat at all times. Defensively, the American is an effective rim defender as he stands at seven feet tall. The only flaw people can see is his physicality, because he’s more rangey than he is athletic. Still, there’s plenty of time for him to get in the gym and bulk up as the NBA will inevitably look to put him through his paces when he does land somewhere.
Paolo Banchero
What’s fantastic about the 2022 NBA Draft is that it lacks an outright favorite. Although this sounds counterproductive, it’s a healthy thing since several candidates are vying for the top spot, and Paolo Banchero certainly falls into this category. Compared to Holmgren, he’s a much more modern player in the archetypal sense. For example, he’s incredible at dribbling the ball and attacking the basket, much like you’d expect from LeBron James when he’s in full flow.
He’s a matchup threat for any team, too, because he’s as comfortable at power forward as he is at center. Banchero has proven this time and again, with the Duke Blue Devils deploying him in either position depending on the opponent. Thanks to an average of 17.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game, his name means a lot in NBA circles, especially after he outshone Holmgren when the two met in Las Vegas at the end of November last year.
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr. has all the attributes NBA scouts are searching for when they begin looking at the NCAA picture. Quite frankly, the Auburn Tigers forward has very few flaws to speak of, and the ones he does have, he’s making strides to improve on all the time. For instance, his footwork is getting better and better with every match he plays, resulting in performances that are heavier in the scoring department.
Plus, his lanky frame is ideal for putting on muscle. Something that sets him apart from the rest of the field is his mental approach to the sport. At 18, he’s younger than the other two players on this list, but you wouldn’t think it by the way he milks everything he can out of his talent reserves. By the 2022 NBA Draft, he could well be the number one pick.
The draft event is now on the horizon, and yet we’re still no closer to knowing who will be the first on stage with Adam Silver. Nonetheless, one of the these three young men is likely to be there before long.
