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Draft Updates: Kamagate, Prkacin, Flagler, More

April 22nd, 2022 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

French center Ismael Kamagate has put his name in the 2022 NBA draft pool, agent Bouna Ndiaye tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 21-year-old big man has boosted his draft stock this season with his play for Paris Basketball — he has averaged 11.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.5 BPG in 30 games (27.4 MPG), shooting 64.8% from the field. According to Givony, Kamagate – the No. 35 prospect on ESPN’s big board – is a potential first-round pick.

Meanwhile, Croatian power forward Roko Prkacin, who shows up on ESPN’s top-100 list at No. 62, has decided not to enter the draft, agent Matej Mamic tells Givony (Twitter link).

Viewed as a borderline first-round pick in 2021, Prkacin opted to withdraw from the draft at last July’s deadline, but his stock took a hit this season when he missed a significant chunk of the year due to an ankle injury. With a bounce-back performance in 2022/23, he’s a potential first-rounder in the ’23 draft, says Givony.

Here are a few more updates on early entrants:

  • Baylor junior guard Adam Flagler will enter the NBA draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility, he tells Givony (Twitter link). After winning a title with the Bears in 2021, Flagler became a full-time starter in 2021/22 and averaged 13.8 PPG and 3.0 APG on .438/.387/.741 shooting, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.
  • Florida A&M senior guard MJ Randolph will test the draft waters this spring, he announced on Thursday (video link via HBCU Gameday). Randolph was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2021/22 after he put up 18.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 30 games (38.6 MPG).
  • Coastal Carolina senior swingman Vince Cole is entering the draft, he announced on Instagram. Cole, who averaged 15.2 PPG with a .390 3PT% in 33 games (30.7 MPG), will hire an agent and go pro, as Scott Eisberg of WCIV in Charleston relays (video link).
  • Texas-Rio Grande Valley wing Justin Johnson has announced (via Twitter) that he’s declaring for the draft while maintaining his final year of college eligibility. Johnson, who transferred from Southern Miss in 2021, averaged 17.7 PPG and 6.7 RPG on .501/.333/.679 shooting in 31 games (34.8 MPG) as a senior.
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Roko Prkacin Withdraws From 2021 NBA Draft

July 19th, 2021 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

In a somewhat surprising move, Croatian power forward Roko Prkacin has removed his name from the 2021 NBA draft pool, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter link).

Prkacin was viewed as a possible first-round pick in this year’s draft, ranking 36th on ESPN’s big board and 29th on The Ringer’s. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer praised Prkacin’s ball-handling ability and scoring potential, noting that he’s capable of hitting outside shots or scoring in the post. The young forward has also shown promise on the defensive side of the ball.

Prkacin averaged 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 24 contests (27.7 MPG) for KK Cibona in the Adriatic League this past season, knocking down 49.2% of his shots from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc.

Prkacin is still just 18 years old, so he has the potential to continue improving and could end up even higher on 2022 draft boards.

While Prkacin is pulling his name out of this year’s draft class, Lithuanian guard Rokas Jokubaitis will remain in the draft, tweets Givony. Jokubaitis is the No. 44 prospect on ESPN’s board and No. 50 on The Ringer’s. He remains under contract in Europe, but could be bought out of his deal in order to come stateside immediately if he’s drafted.

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Southeast Notes: Hornets’ Workouts, Westbrook, Beal, Mosley, McMillan

July 2nd, 2021 at 9:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hornets worked out seven draft prospects on Friday, headlined by UConn guard James Bouknight, P.J. Morales of the Charlotte Observer writes. Bouknight is rated as the No. 8 overall prospect on ESPN’s Best Available list. Auburn guard Sharife Cooper (No. 18 on ESPN’s list), Tennessee guard Jaden Springer (No. 27), and Auburn forward JT Thor (No. 28) were some of the other potential first-rounders who visited. The group also included Iowa center Luka Garza, Howard center Makur Maker, and Croatian forward Roko Prkacin (No. 37).

We have more from the Southeast Division:

  • Not surprisingly, Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal are the players most likely to remain on the Wizards‘ roster heading into next season, Fred Katz of The Athletic anticipates. Katz takes a look at every player on the roster and projects the odds they’ll return with Washington for the 2021/22 campaign.
  • Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley was interviewed for the Magic’s head coaching job on Thursday, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. Orlando’s desire to interview Mosley was previously reported. Mosley is likely to leave Dallas after being passed over for the head coaching job that went to Jason Kidd.
  • Nate McMillan has far exceeded all expectations as the Hawks’ interim coach and Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution notes how the veteran coach has connected with his players in ways that previous coach Lloyd Pierce failed to do.
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Full List Of 2021 NBA Draft Combine Participants

June 15th, 2021 at 4:58pm CST by Eli Cohen

The NBA has revealed via press release its list of 69 players who have been invited to next week’s draft combine in Chicago and who are expected to attend. The combine will take place from June 21-27.

While several of the prominent names at the top of the draft will opt to skip the event – most notably, presumed number one pick Cade Cunningham and Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs – there are several high-profile prospects set to attend. Evan Mobley, widely considered a likely choice for the No. 2 pick as well as potential top-five picks Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green headline the class of participants this year, along with potential lottery picks Moses Moody, Corey Kispert and Scottie Barnes.

According to the press release, players will conduct interviews with NBA teams, participate in five-on-five games, and go through shooting, strength and agility drills throughout the week-long event. It’s likely that the more high-profile names will focus more on the interviews than the drills.

The press release also confirms that a select number of standout players from the G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in the Combine as well.

Here’s the full list of 69 names announced by the NBA today, in alphabetical order:

  1. Max Abmas, G, Oral Roberts (sophomore)
  2. Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas (junior)
  3. Marcus Bagley, F, Arizona State (freshman)
  4. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (freshman)
  5. Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky (junior)
  6. Brandon Boston Jr., G/F, Kentucky (freshman)
  7. James Bouknight, G, UConn (sophomore)
  8. Greg Brown, F, Texas (freshman)
  9. Jared Butler, G, Baylor (junior)
  10. Julian Champagnie, G/F, St. John’s (sophomore)
  11. Justin Champagnie, G/F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
  12. Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State (freshman)
  13. Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn (freshman)
  14. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (junior)
  15. David Duke, G, Providence (junior)
  16. Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine (junior)
  17. Luka Garza, C, Iowa (senior)
  18. RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State (junior)
  19. Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
  20. Quentin Grimes, G, Houston (junior)
  21. Sam Hauser, F, Virginia (senior)
  22. Aaron Henry, G/F, Michigan State (junior)
  23. Ariel Hukporti, C, Lithuania (born 2002)
  24. Matthew Hurt, F, Duke (sophomore)
  25. Nah’Shon Hyland, G, VCU (sophomore)
  26. Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky (freshman)
  27. David Johnson, G, Louisville (sophomore)
  28. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke (freshman)
  29. Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  30. Herb Jones, F, Alabama (senior)
  31. Kai Jones, F, Texas (sophomore)
  32. Johnny Juzang, G/F, UCLA (sophomore)
  33. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga (senior)
  34. Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
  35. Scottie Lewis, G, Florida (sophomore)
  36. Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan (senior)
  37. Makur Maker, C, Howard (freshman)
  38. Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Seton Hall (senior)
  39. Tre Mann, G, Florida (sophomore)
  40. Matthew Mayer, G/F, Baylor (junior)
  41. Miles McBride, G, West Virginia (sophomore)
  42. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor (junior)
  43. Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (freshman)
  44. Isaiah Mobley, F, USC (sophomore)
  45. Moses Moody, G, Arkansas (freshman)
  46. Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia (junior)
  47. Daishen Nix, G, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
  48. John Petty Jr., G, Alabama (senior)
  49. Yves Pons, G/F, Tennessee (senior)
  50. Jason Preston, G, Ohio (junior)
  51. Joshua Primo, G, Alabama (freshman)
  52. Roko Prkacin, F, Croatia (born 2002)
  53. Neemias Queta, C, Utah State (junior)
  54. Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma (senior)
  55. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova (sophomore)
  56. Terrence Shannon Jr., G/F, Texas Tech (sophomore)
  57. Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina (freshman)
  58. Jericho Sims, F/C, Texas (senior)
  59. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  60. DJ Steward, G, Duke (freshman)
  61. Cameron Thomas, G, LSU (freshman)
  62. JT Thor, F, Auburn (freshman)
  63. Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite (auto-eligible)
  64. Trendon Watford, F, LSU (sophomore)
  65. Joe Wieskamp, G/F, Iowa (junior)
  66. Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford (freshman)
  67. McKinley Wright IV, G, Colorado (senior)
  68. Moses Wright, F, Georgia Tech (senior)
  69. Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton (junior)
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Draft Notes: Prkacin, Mock Draft, Combine

May 25th, 2021 at 8:35am CST by Luke Adams

Croatian power forward Roko Prkacin has officially declared for the 2021 NBA draft, according to a report from Uroš Vezonik of Sportando.

Prkacin, who will turn 19 in November, is ranked No. 39 on ESPN’s big board of 2021 prospects. The 6’9″ forward spent the 2020/21 season with KK Cibona in the Adriatic League and played well, averaging 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 24 contests (27.7 MPG), with a shooting line of .492/.394/.654.

Prkacin will have until July 19 to decide whether to keep his name in the draft pool or withdraw, but given that he has a strong chance of being selected this summer, I’d be a little surprised if he pulls out.

Here are a few more draft-related items:

  • ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Insider link) has updated his mock draft to reflect the newest tentative draft order and specific team needs. The Pacers and Warriors, who were eliminated in the final games of the play-in tournament, now project to draft 13th and 14th overall, and Givony has them selecting the top two international prospects in this year’s draft — Josh Giddey to Indiana and Alperen Sengun to Golden State.
  • The NBA has let teams know that team and league personnel must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend the June combine in Chicago, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The league will consider exceptions for those who have medical or religious reasons for not being vaccinated, Charania adds. Previous reports stated that negative coronavirus tests would be required for those attending the combine.
  • The tiebreakers to determine the lottery standings and the draft order outside of the top 14 will reportedly be conducted early on Tuesday afternoon, so we should have more information for you later today on those results, along with the full pre-lottery draft order. Key tiebreakers include the Thunder vs. the Cavaliers for the No. 4 spot, and the Kings vs. the Pelicans vs. the Bulls for the No. 8 spot, as we outlined last week.
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And-Ones: G League, 2019 Cap Room, Prkacin

August 27th, 2018 at 3:23pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA G League announced its schedule for the 2018/19 season today, beginning with opening night on November 2. Like the NBA, the NBAGL has reduced its back-to-backs to an all-time low and eliminated stretches of four games in five nights entirely.

The G League also slightly tweaked its divisions for the coming season, with the Delaware Blue Coats – the Sixers‘ affiliate – shifting to the Atlantic. Delaware had previously been in the Southeast Division, but with Capital City Go-Go – the Wizards‘ new affiliate – joining the Southeast, it made sense to move the Blue Coats to the Atlantic to better reflect the actual NBA divisions.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

  • Keith Smith of RealGM.com offers an early look at the 2019 cap projections for each NBA team, with clubs like the Nets, Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers, Clippers, and Kings expected to have the most spending power.
  • In a piece for Basketball Insiders, Lang Greene highlights five veteran NBA players who will be adjusting to new roles on new teams this season. There’s a pattern here, with vets like Carmelo Anthony, Dennis Schroder, and DeMarcus Cousins all being asked to play more modest roles for their new clubs than they did for their old teams.
  • After spending several years with a Suns squad that didn’t make the playoffs, P.J. Tucker saw his career path altered over the last two seasons when he joined the Raptors and then the Rockets, a pair of teams with title aspirations. Matt John of Basketball Insiders looks into which NBA player might be the “next” P.J. Tucker, making the move from a lottery club to a key role on a contender.
  • Croatian forward Roko Prkacin stood out as the top prospect at this year’s under-16 European Championships, according to Mike Schmitz of ESPN.com (Insider link). In Schmitz’s view, Prkacin – who led Croatia to the tournament title – has an “extremely high floor” and was “looking like a future lottery pick” during the competition.
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