2024 NBA Draft: ESPN shakes up Top-25 player rankings in big way ahead of March Madness
With March now here, the 2024 NBA Draft is just under four months out. This month will be key for several evaluations in the process with collegiate players about to take part in the postseason, even with a handful of this class’ top prospects being international.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo updated their Top-25 prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft. In those rankings, there were many shifts from their last update, especially for some college prospects. However, four players from overseas maintained their positions in the Top-10 while the ratings have nine players that don’t play college basketball at all in the Top-25.
Here’s the full list from Givony and Woo at ESPN with the draft right at 16 weeks out.
1. SF Zaccharie Risacher – JL Bourg (Euroleague)
Risacher has picked up steam as the No. 1 pick in this draft as of late. As a 6’10 forward out of France, he has flashed versatility and a skillset that has put him over the top of some of these other players in the pack at the top.
According to Givony, Risacher has been fairly inactive recently due to schedule and a placement in the concussion protocol. Still, with months left in his season in the Euroleague, Givony says that he “will have NBA eyes on him every time he steps on the floor” moving forward.
2. C Alex Sarr – Perth Wildcats (NBL)
Sarr has had himself at the top of the mix of this draft for some time now. He has been showing his potential with Real Madrid, Overtime Elite, and, most recently, the Perth Wildcats in the NBL and is now amongst the best players in 2024.
Woo agrees considering Sarr’s “significant” upside with “his physical gifts and potential to be an excellent defender with room to grow on offense” at his disposal. The only question is fit based on team and who’d be in need of a player like him down low moving forward.
3. PG Rob Dillingham – Kentucky Wildcats
Dillingham has positioned himself to be an early selection in this class because of his play as a freshman at Kentucky. As Givony noted, just having “sheer star power” in a draft that doesn’t have as much as usual plays in his favor.
While he has “All-Star caliber” talents on offense, franchises are still all over on him considering his size and limitations could hold him back. Still, in the end, Givony expects the former to outweigh the latter on draft night with some team taking a swing on his top-notch, dynamic skillset.
4. PG Nikola Topic – Red Star (Euroleague)
Topic appears to have become a bit of a mystery based on how the recent months have gone for him. As Woo explained, an injury and a lack of urgency to get back on the floor due to his circumstances have kept him away after playing well at the end of last year.
“Size and playmaking ability” at point are still setting him up for “high-level interest in the lottery,” according to Woo. He did just note that the next few weeks and the pre-draft process could mean a lot to him based on his absence as of late.
5. G Reed Sheppard – Kentucky Wildcats
Sheppard is the second Wildcat to make the top-five with both him and Dillingham being bench players for Kentucky this season. Still, even in that role, Sheppard, similar to Dillingham, has proven to be invaluable to their team.
Givony noted play-making and shooting as two aspects of his game that are just becoming “increasingly hard to ignore”. Pair those with his general impact when he’s out on the floor and Sheppard has a high floor when it comes to his future in basketball.
6. SF Mataz Buzelis – G-League Ignite
Buzelis chose to forego college and spend his year before going pro with the G-League Ignite. That decision has come with its own pros and cons as far as his evaluation for this upcoming draft.
On the downside, Woo noted how some of Buzelis’ statistics may be a bit padded, especially considering the Ignite’s league-worst record of 2-25. Still, considering he still “has enough size, skill and shot-making ability” at this point, he expects him to find some role at the next level on a team next year.
7. F Cody Williams – Colorado Buffaloes
Williams’ season as Colorado has not been what many hoped considering injuries have plagued him throughout. With only 18 appearances and none since February 24th due to various issues to his eye, ankle, and, most recently, wrist, it has become difficult to project where he is as far as a talent for the NBA.
The potential is clearly there for Williams considering where most mocks continue to position him at this point. However, as Givony said, “finishing on a strong note would be beneficial” if he hopes to maintain his spot over this next period of time.
8. SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor Bears
Walter’s case as a top player in this draft seems to solely be coming down to his ability to shoot the basketball. The Bears’ leading scorer doesn’t have great percentages at this point of the season but has still made 2.1 threes per game this year as a freshman in Waco.
Woo doesn’t think any other aspect of his game is necessarily pro-ready yet, which puts it on his shoulders to “expand his game and become more multidimensional”. However, in the association where long-distance proficiency is everything these days, he may never need to become elite at anything else so long as he keeps his clip from range.
9. C Donovan Clingan – Connecticut Huskies
Clingan jumped into the Top 10 for Givony based on how he has resurfaced of late at UConn. The 7’2 sophomore is averaging 12.6 points on 64.2% shooting while also posting 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
After injuries slowed his second season in Storrs, Clingan is making up ground in a hurry at this point of the year. Now, with March Madness right around the corner where he’ll very likely be playing for a No. 1 seed and the defending champs, Givony thinks this stage could be “a huge platform” for him to leap onto as far as draft projections.
10. PF Tidjane Salaun – Cholet (FIBA)
Salaun remained in the Top-10 at ESPN even though he was the lone international prospect to drop in these rankings. Appearing in only two games over the past month after losing some steam before that likely has a lot to do with that drop.
Even so, with his team’s upcoming competition, Woo is still high on what Saluan can show to teams. That’s especially so since he’s continuing to develop and, as Woo said, “is clearly nowhere near reaching his full potential” to this point at just over 18 years old.
Nos. 11 – 30
11. PF Kyle Filipowski – Duke Blue Devils
12. SF Ron Holland – G-League Ignite
13. SF Dalton Knecht – Tennessee Volunteers
14. PG Isaiah Collier – USC Trojans
15. C Zach Edey – Purdue Boilermakers
16. G Stephon Castle – Connecticut Huskies
17. G Devin Carter – Providence Friars
18. F Tyler Smith – G-League Ignite
19. F Kevin McCullar Jr. – Kansas Jayhawks
20. PG Jared McCain – Duke Blue Devils
21. C Yves Missi – Baylor Bears
22. F Bobi Klintman – Cairns (NBL)
23. F Johnny Furphy – Kansas Jayhawks
24. F Ryan Dunn – Virginia Cavaliers
25. PG Juan Nunez – Ratiopharm Ulm (German BBL)
There’s no doubt that these rankings have plenty of movement left in them, specifically with the NCAA Tournament on the horizon. After that proving ground is when experts can then truly get into the weeds of where names, including these 25, project for this summer’s draft.