The competition to be the No. 4 pick remains unsettled after this week’s draft combine, according to Scott Gleeson of USA Today. Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver, Duke’s Cam Reddish and North Carolina’s Coby White all improved their standing through measurements and drills, Gleeson states, but Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland and Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter may have helped themselves just as much by skipping the combine.
Duke’s Zion Williamson, Murray State’s Ja Morant and Duke’s R.J. Barrett are believed to have the top three spots locked up, leaving a difficult decision at the fourth pick for the Lakers or whomever they deal the selection to.
Gleeson identifies several players who stock either rose or fell at the combine. Among the winners are UCF’s Tacko Fall, Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke, Tennessee’s Jordan Bone, North Carolina’s Nassir Little, Croatian Luka Samanic and Virginia’s Kyle Guy. Gleeson’s list of players who failed to help themselves includes Oregon’s Bol Bol, Kentucky’s Tyler Herro, former Syracuse signee Darius Bazley and St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds.
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated also chimes in with a list of draft risers and fallers based on their performance at the combine. He believes Georgia’s Nicolas Claxton improved his chances of being selected in the first round with an impressive defensive performance, while LSU guard Tremont Waters helped ease worries about his size and Miami’s Dewan Hernandez showed off his athleticism after sitting out the season because of connections to the FBI investigation.
- Indiana’s Romeo Langford says he has fully recovered from the back problems that bothered him in college, tweets Scott Agness of The Athletic. Langford met with 13 teams at the combine, including the Pacers, Celtics (Twitter link) and Pistons (Twitter link).
- Iowa State’s Talen Horton-Tucker is committed to staying in the draft as he hopes to become the Cyclones’ first player taken in the first round since 2012, relays Travis Hines of The Ames Tribune. A top 50 recruit coming out of high school, Horton-Tucker has already interviewed with 14 teams.
- Milan Acquaah of Cal Baptist has taken his name out of the draft, tweets Jeff Goodman of Stadium.
I wonder if Tyler Herro’s stock took enough of a hit for him to consider returning for his sophomore year? I think he could really improve with another year of seasoning.
Hunter is a slow starter so was wise to sit it out. But Garland?– still injured?
Tyler Herro is overrated. He needs to simmer in the GL with the lid on until ready to serve.
I actually posted this comment before @hiflew’s… IDK why this order is shown (moderated?)… But it matches metaphors! Something about ol’ “Hero” is not to taste!
Langford and Bol are guys that I would think could easily rise into the top 10, if not top 5, of this draft.
If anything, I think Bol is primed for a Michael Porter Jr. type of free fall. There are guys with injury concerns, but they’re in their own separate category.
No priming is needed. Bol’s been in the teens in most mock drafts since midseason. Doubt he can fall much further.
It’s up to the medicos. Everyone will be in lockstep with the diagnosis. There are other guys with ridiculous wingspans. Bol hits 3s but good enough for a green light?
It’s just so boring to visualize… Defense backs off, so the big guy standing on the 3-line ponders… Well okay here goes…
Langford could be something though
I agree on Langford. He’s the most talented SG in this draft. After #3, I’d take Culver over him, nobody else. But, yeah, the doctors would have to OK it.
I think Bol Bol should be in the top 5, if he is recovering well, he might be KP6 2.0
Tyler Herro would indeed improve with another year at Kentucky. But Cal already has a top five incoming class for this year.
Langford is over rated. He can’t shoot. Didn’t hear about back problems until now. If he goes in top 5, I will be shocked. Pacers stay away!