Auburn basketball among the leaders nationally in 'pro talent' according to ESPN
AUBURN – The sentence you’re about to read probably seemed unfathomable for Auburn basketball 10 years ago, but here we are.
According to ESPN, this year’s Auburn basketball team ranks No. 3 nationally in “pro talent.” Who is No. 1 and No. 2? Duke and Gonzaga respectively, with UCLA ranking No. 4. If that doesn’t open your eyes to the job Bruce Pearl and company are doing on the Plains, nothing will.
“Bruce Pearl’s attractive style and track record of player development has helped him lure two McDonald’s All Americans in Smith and the UNC transfer Kessler. Smith has shown early fireworks that might warrant consideration for the No. 1 pick if he continues to evolve in SEC play, while the 7-foot-1 Kessler’s combination of size, shooting and shot-blocking instincts will always be attractive to NBA teams. The question marks surrounding the return of potential first-rounder Flanigan from an Achilles tendon injury will help determine how high this team’s ceiling is in March as well as the evolution of bowling ball-like scoring machine Johnson as a decision-making combo guard.”
That’s from ESPN’s college basketball and draft expert Jonathan Givony.
Here’s how ESPN’s college basketball experts see it.
Jabari Smith Jr. ranks as the No. 5 best available player for next year’s NBA draft. Early mock drafts have Smith being selected inside the top five. Smith is coming off the first double-double of his career in Auburn’s second game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Allen Flanigan ranks as the No. 31 best available player, projecting to be a late first-round pick or early second-round pick. Flanigan is recovering from an Achilles injury and is projected to return to the court in mid-December. Before the injury, Flanigan was being touted as one of the best returning players in the SEC, and some pundits were considering making Flanigan preseason player of the year in the conference.
Walker Kessler ranks as the No. 37 best available player. Kessler has 11 blocks in two games, and is alongside Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren as one of the elite versatile big men in college basketball.
But that’s not where the talent ends for Auburn. These rankings take into account all potential professional talent on the team, and Auburn has plenty of that.
Georgia transfer K.D. Johnson is considered another NBA scouting target. Johnson has scored 12 and 18 points off the bench for Auburn in the first two games.
Additionally, ESPN considers Wendell Green Jr., Jaylin Williams and Devan Cambridge as prospects for overseas or other pro leagues. Green Jr. scored 19 points in his Auburn basketball debut, following that up with 15 points in his second game. Williams and Cambridge are widely valued by Pearl and his staff for their versatility and athleticism.
Where do other teams rank? Here’s the top ten:
- No. 1 Duke
- No. 2 Gonzaga
- No. 4 UCLA
- No. 5 Tennessee
- No. 6 Memphis
- No. 7 Kentucky
- No. 8 Alabama
- No. 9 Baylor
- No. 10 Michigan
It’s a remarkable recognition for the Auburn basketball program. Chuma Okeke and Isaac Okoro were back-to-back first-round selections, with J.T. Thor and Sharife Cooper going in the second round of last year’s draft. Toss in Jared Harper, who has played minutes for the New York Knicks and continues to push for a NBA roster spot, and consider the talent Pearl is bringing in like Tre Donaldson and Chance Westry again this season, and Auburn all of a sudden is a steady producer of NBA talent.
