ESPN draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo (Insider link) continue to rotate prospects in and out of the No. 1 spot on their draft board for 2024, moving French big man Alexandre Sarr into that top spot in place of USC guard Isaiah Collier, who has struggled for the Trojans as of late.
The 2024 draft class doesn’t have a clear headliner, so the race for No. 1 remains wide open. Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland, two G League Ignite youngsters who were atop ESPN’s big board during the summer of 2023, are now in the back end of the lottery at No. 10 and 11, respectively, while Collier has slipped all the way to No. 8.
Conversely, the latest risers on ESPN’s board include Colorado wing Cody Williams, who is up to No. 3 from No. 10, and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic, who has risen four spots to No. 5. Two more notable prospects who jumped from outside of the lottery into the top seven are French forward Tidjane Salaun and Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, who moved up nine spots to Nos. 6 and 7, respectively.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report breaks down his top 10 prospects in high school basketball, with Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer, and A.J. Dybantsa topping his list.
- Michael Pina of The Ringer singles out eight players across the NBA who are taking their games to another level this season, from stars like Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to role players such as Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson.
- Former Nuggets forward James Ray, the No. 5 overall pick in the 1980 draft, died last week at age 66 due to complications from a surgery, as Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes. A college star for the Jacksonville Dolphins, Ray appeared in 103 NBA games across three seasons for Denver, then spent several years in Europe before retiring as a player.
If Matas or Ron somehow fall to the edge of the Lottery… and the Sixers still have their pick, would love for them to find a way to move up. If the Jazz are there at like 9 or 10… Paul Reed and the 24 1st and a 2nd.
Sarr doesn’t even look that great in the NBL. I’ve watched him play a few times and he doesn’t stand out.
Weak class to say the least.
Who are a couple players you like in the draft?
Collier looks like he’s in his 30’s with that picture
2020 NBA draft was considered a weak draft. Especially the top picks at the time. Turned out to be a solid 1st rd class ….
So don’t buy what they sell. Check it out for yourself. I know the lottery has good talent.
link to nba.com
link to google.com
This draft doesn’t have close to what 2020 had. This is a really, really bad draft. College is a horror show in terms of talent. Not just bad …. It’s horrible. The league is not currently being restocked with a proper level of talent. American basketball at the younger levels has taken a step backwards.
link to nba.com
Yeah real terrible …..