2024 NBA Draft: CBS Sports shakes up 1st round pick predictions in new mock draft
With one month left in the regular season in college basketball, the madness that comes with the postseason is coming closer. That means that it’s almost time for the best of the best to step up their game and, as such, can make an impression on the pros ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
With that in mind, Gary Parrish recently released the latest edition of CBS Sports’ NBA Mock Draft.
His projection for the first round includes 30 players from 13 different collegiate programs. It also includes several prospects that are either international or chose to take a different route to the association than college.
1. Detroit Pistons: C Alex Sarr – France
Sarr is currently in the lead at CBS to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 7’1 French center is presently playing in the National Basketball League in Australia after also spending time with Overtime Elite.
With the Perth Wildcats, Sarr is averaging 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 52% in 17 minutes per game. While Parrish admitted that he isn’t your usual “cant-miss prospect” at the top spot, he’s still very much a player that has the tools and makings to develop into a piece for the Pistons.
2. San Antonio Spurs: G Reed Sheppard – Kentucky
Reed Sheppard has become a home-state superstar as a freshman at Kentucky this year. The London, KY native has arrived in Lexington and been as impactful as any Wildcat with averages of 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.5 steals while shooting 52.9% from the field and 51.9% from three.
Being a lottery pick, let alone the No. 2 selection, wasn’t in Sheppard’s future coming into the season. However, in a less stacked class, Parrish doesn’t see why a franchise, like San Antonio in this case, wouldn’t take a swing on “just a basketball player, plain and simple, and a super-impressive one”.
3. Washington Wizards: SF Zaccharie Risacher – France
Risacher would be the second Frenchman off the board but could also make a case to go No. 1 according to Parrish. That would simply come down to how scouts continue to evaluate him moving forward.
Still, as he noted in his mock, Risacher, at 6’9, is doing what he needs to do overseas to have his name in the conversation. That includes success from three-point range at 42.9% over his career as an intriguing option as a forward.
4. Charlotte Hornets: PG Rob Dillingham – Kentucky
If Sheppard is arguably the most impactful player for UK, there’s no question that Rob Dillingham is their most electric. The freshman guard comes off the bench and averaged 14.8 points, second-most for Kentucky, while four assists, three rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 48.6% from the field and 44.7% from three.
Dillingham has scored in double figures in 19 of his 23 appearances. While his size and defense could hold back his overall stock, there’s no denying that he’s a player who, on style alone, could thrive in the NBA, especially for his home-state franchise in the Hornets.
5. Portland Trailblazers: SG Cody Williams – Colorado
Cody Williams, one of the best freshmen in the nation coming into the season, is contributing well at Colorado this season. He is currently averaging 14 points and 3.5 rebounds on 56.2% from the field and 46.7% from three in 15 games
Williams’ brother, Jalen Williams, was a lottery pick and has since become a key member with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, two drafts later, the younger brother might exceed his older sibling in 2024 by going higher than he did out of Santa Clara in 2022.
6. Toronto Raptors: SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor
Walter is yet another freshman standout that is leading his team in Waco. He is scoring a team-best 14.1 points for the Bears to go with 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and another team-high in three-pointers with 46, even at a lower percentage at 33.3%
Still, with his youth and frame, Parrish sees plenty of quality development and potential with Walter, especially if he continues to prove himself on the defensive end.
7. Memphis Grizzlies: SG Dalton Knecht – Tennessee
Knecht transferred to Knoxville this season and has taken the sport by storm with his ability to score. The fifth-year for the Volunteers is currently 25th in the nation in scoring at 20.4 ppg. while shooting 47.8% from the field and 40.3% from three.
At his age, Knecht is one of the older players in the draft, especially amongst the early picks and projected lottery selections. Still, in Memphis’ case, they’re a team that wants to win now and would rather have an instant-impact player like Knecht rather than a project of a prospect that would take longer to become who they are.
8. Atlanta Hawks: PG Nikola Topić – Serbia
The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokić, the Miami Heat have Nikola Jović, and, now, some team will end up with Nikola Topić out of Serbia.
At 6’6, the international guard could be the next large wing to come from overseas and succeed in the association. That’ll especially be the case if he can continue to generate offense, both for others as well as himself, once he comes over to America.
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets): PG Isaiah Collier – USC
Collier came into the year as the top freshman in the nation per On3’s 2023 Industry Ranking. He has since played 18 games for the Trojans and posted 15.8 points, a team-high of four assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.2% from the field.
Still, Collier has seen his stock take a hit due to the poor play of USC in general on top of poor stats in terms of turnovers (3.4 per game) and three-point shooting (0.9 per game at 32.7%). In order to improve his latest trend in the draft, he’ll need to continue to work his way back into the lineup and show some improvement, specifically in those areas.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets): PG Stephon Castle – UConn
UConn hasn’t skipped a beat, especially in the backcourt, due to the play of guards like Castle. The freshman and former five-star is averaging 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 49.7% from the field.
Castle is doing that as a significant part of the No. 1 team in the nation that is looking to defend their title this March. That’s enough for Parrish to buy in on him as the prospect that rounds out his latest Top-10.
No. 11 – No. 30
11. Chicago Bulls: C Kyle Filipowski – Duke
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Utah Jazz): SF Tidjane Salaun – France
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers): C Zach Edey – Purdue
14. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks): SG Kevin McCullar Jr. – Kansas
15. Miami Heat: PF Matas Buzelis – G-League Ignite
16. Portland Trailblazers (via Golden State Warriors): PF Ron Holland – G-League Ignite
17. Orlando Magic: SG Johnny Furphy – Kansas
18. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers): SF Ryan Dunn – Virginia
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento Kings): SF Oso Ighodaro – Marquette
20. Phoenix Suns: C Donovan Clingan – UConn
21. New Orleans Pelicans: PF Tyler Smith – G-League Ignite
22. Philadelphia 76ers: C Yves Missi – Baylor
23. Milwaukee Bucks: PG D.J. Wagner – Kentucky
24. New York Knicks: C Ulrich Chomche – Africa
25. Denver Nuggets: PF Bobi Klintman – Sweden
26. Cleveland Cavaliers: G Justin Edwards – Kentucky
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Jared McCain – Duke
28. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City Thunder): SG Hunter Sallis – Wake Forest
29. Utah Jazz (via Toronto Raptors): PF DaRon Holmes II – Dayton
30. Boston Celtics: PG Tyler Kolek – Marquette
March is where college legends are made. The postseason provides a perfect stage for them to prove their worth on this level and to the next.
That leaves several of these players around one month to get right in order to make their case under the brightest lights next month ahead of the draft in June.