TyTy Washington, Oscar Tshiebwe listed in The Athletic's latest mock draft

TyTy Washington and Oscar Tshiebwe are seen as 2022 NBA Draft selections in the latest update over at The Athletic. In the 58-player mock draft published by Sam Vecenie, Washington is projected to come off the board at No. 10 overall to the New York Knicks, followed by Tshiebwe at No. 46 to the Detroit Pistons.

Washington has widely been seen as a projected lottery pick in the upcoming draft, but Tshiebwe’s stock is the highest it’s been since he arrived in Lexington. The guard and center standouts are the only two Kentucky players listed in the mock, leaving the likes of Sahvir Wheeler, Keion Brooks Jr., Daimion Collins, Bryce Hopkins, Lance Ware, Dontaie Allen and CJ Fredrick all projected to go undrafted with the option of returning to school.

Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz have exhausted the entirety of their NCAA eligibility, with their professional basketball clocks starting at the conclusion of the season regardless.

Shaedon Sharpe’s status was also addressed in the update, with Vecenie writing that he will not be including the five-star guard signee until his draft status is clear. Had he been included, though, Sharpe would be a top-five selection.

“For now, I’m continuing to keep Sharpe off this mock, mostly out of respect for what continues to be his and Kentucky’s public comments,” Vecenie wrote. “Sharpe’s mother told us at The Athletic the current plan is for him to go to Kentucky next year. … I’m cognizant of the fact that most guys projected as top-10 picks ultimately enter the draft, and that is what Sharpe assuredly would be. If he were to enter, I would have him at No. 5 on my board.”

As for Kentucky’s current draft-eligible prospects, Vecenie says Washington is in a “fascinating position,” praising his three-level scoring and playmaking abilities.

TyTy Washington is in such a fascinating position. In the two-month period from Nov. 16 to Jan. 15, there might not have been a better shot-creating freshman guard in the country. During that time, he displayed everything that had scouts excited, averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field, 43.4 percent from 3 and 83.4 percent from the line. He scored from all three levels at an exceptionally efficient level and even showcased a ton of passing ability in moments where he had to take over the lead responsibilities when Sahvir Wheeler was hurt.
But he’s gotten hurt a couple of times (in both the Auburn and Florida games), and it seems like he’s struggling to get back to his best level. The key with Washington is that he processes basketball at such a high level, can shoot and can really pass. Some teams are worried about his athleticism, and in the biggest moments against the best teams, he’s been hit or miss. But there is a lot to like here about Washington’s game and his ability to translate to a lot of different situations as a scoring guard who can also facilitate next to a terrific bigger initiator.
The Athletic

Check out the outlet’s current projected lottery: