One of my favorite returning players in this class is off to a good start.

Through two games he's averaging

22ppg 7.5rpg 1.5 apg 3bpg 1 apg on 78% shooting from the floor In just 24 minutes.

Obviously very small sample size and the competition hasn't been great, but very promising start from a player who already looked NBA ready on the defensive end last year, but who had a lot of questions on if he could be productive enough on offense for teams to be willing to give guaranteed money to.

My question is just how far he could end up rising. I don't see him really turning into much of a floor spacer or shooter this year, but his defense just seems like the real deal and his finishing is fantastic.

Is there any scenario where he ends up a top 20 pick or is that probably being a bit too bullish and optimistic? I'm extremely high on him after watching every one of his games last year for New Mexico. It's extremely rare to see freshmen impact a game defensively the way he did.

Brzovic has been on fire through Charleston’s first two games. Shotmaking, rebounding, defense, passing. He has really done it all. Fouled out today but another fantastic performance. Fun sleeper to keep an eye on. Charleston is always a good watch.

Currently, Drake Powell is a consensus top 10 pick, with most mock drafts having him anywhere from 5-9.

However, it's quite clear to me that out of all the top prospects, he's by far the most likely to fall. He could not only fall out of this top 10 range but potentially out of the first round.

It's still early but his total minutes and what he does in those minutes do not look good. He's pretty much the 7th man on UNC with low usage when he does play.

There have been instances of a bench player drafted in the lottery (Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Devin Booker, Marvin Williams), but they always fit a specific profile.

They were bench players but were clearly better than starters (DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, Harrison twins) but just didn't start due to some odd coaching or some agreement with the starters beforehand. This is why all those players had great impact metrics in their minutes. In the case of Marvin Williams, another UNC player, he was super impactful in his limited mins and had great physical tools.

Drake Powell has an issue because he's not better than the starters, so he isn't coming off the bench just because of Hubert Davis wanting to reward upperclassmen. In addition, even in his minutes, he doesn't really do anything but play a 3D role, which doesn't capture any upside you need if you aren't getting a lot of mins. In tonight's Kansas game, he stood in the corner of wing for a lot of offensive possessions spotting up from 3 and barely touched the ball to make an impact. Unlike Marvin Williams, he also doesn't have clear cut elite physical tools to make an NBA projection.

While things are obviously still early, it's just hard to imagine Powell being a consensus top 10 pick by the end of the year if he's playing 15-25 mins a game as the 5th option. I don't think that's ever happened in draft history, and there are too many other good players.

He's one of my favorite players in the draft because of his combo of shooting, ball skills athleticism, crisp decision-making, creativity and he has some 'dawg' in him on defense. The more that I watch him, the more comfortable I am moving him up my board. At this point, I actually prefer him to Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecomb; I would probably take him in the top half of the lottery.

Just taking stock, where do yall have him on your boards and what do you see his pro future looking like?

Last time I posted a blog here, you guys ran up my engagement in such a significant way, so thank you! Enjoy these if you like, and let me know thoughts you have in the thread.

Unranked Top 15 Returning Prospects:

https://thehunterjsmith1.wixsite.com/hjssportsreport/post/the-top-15-unranked-upperclassmen-prospects-in-the-2025-nba-draft

All-NBA “Under 23” Team:

https://thehunterjsmith1.wixsite.com/hjssportsreport/post/the-2024-2025-nba-under-23-team

Stephon Castle had a strong 2nd game filling in as a starter for the injured Sochan. He flashed great finishing and passing alongside his skill on defense, playing efficient ball (55% fg) while struggles from 3 continued.

Scoot flashed his ability to get to the rim and pass as well as showed improved focus on his 3’s (1/2), but was unimpactful on defense and ultimately lost in the rotation behind Simons.

A significant improvement compared to games where he was given an average total of about 6 minutes of playing time.

https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/1glwt22/matas_buzelis_first_game_with_9_minutes_13_points/

My personal going like this updated

• 1- Cooper Flagg (SF/PF)- Utah Jazz; Utah Jazz win the Draft Lottery which means they get the chance at the #1 overall pick and here they draft Cooper Flagg without hesitation as they win the sweepstakes to get him; Cooper Flagg with a core of Keyonte George, Cody Williams, himself, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler means you can move off of certain players like John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton and build around youth following the OKC model

• 2- Ace Bailey (SG/SF)- Toronto Raptors; Raptors here at #2 get the 2nd overall pick and take Ace Bailey who is not only a wing who can do it all but also has size and can shoot; superstar potential and add him to a core of Quickley, Dick, Barrett, Barnes, Poeltl and company then Toronto doesn't look so bad

• 3- Dylan Harper (PG/SG)- New Orleans Pelicans via Milwaukee Bucks; assuming things stay this way through the season and Milwaukee decides to go rebuild mode their pick is here but it reverts to the Pelicans; Pelicans here would take Dylan Harper 3rd overall; combo guard who can play the 1 or the 2; comes from an NBA bloodline with his dad Ron Harper Sr playing with Jordan and Kobe and his brother Ron Jr who played with the Raptors; Dylan goes to a perfect landing spot in New Orleans

• 4- Tre Johnson (SG)- Philadelphia 76ers; assuming again things stay like this and the Sixers end up being a bad team here at #4 they draft Tre Johnson who would basically be their 2 guard for the future

• 5- Nolan Traore (PG)- Orlando Magic; assuming things stay the same and the Magic regress; here in my mock they go #5 and take Traore 5th overall with him going to Orlando to pair up with Banchero, Wagner, Suggs and company

• 6- Kon Knueppel (SG/SF)- Washington Wizards

• 7- Hugo Gonzalez (SG/SF)- New Orleans Pelicans

• 8- Liam McNeeley (SF)- Detroit Pistons

• 9- VJ Edgecombe (SG/SF)- San Antonio Spurs

• 10- Drake Powell (SG)- Portland Trail Blazers

• 11- Khaman Malauch (C)- Charlotte Hornets

• 12- Egor Demin (PG/SG)- Atlanta Hawks via Los Angeles Lakers

• 13- Collin Murray-Boyles (PF)- OKC Thunder via Los Angeles Clippers

• 14- Asa Newell (PF/C)- Memphis Grizzlies

• 15- Jalil Bethea (SG)- San Antonio Spurs via Chicago Bulls

• 16- Ian Jackson (SG)- OKC Thunder via Miami Heat

• 17- Rocco Zikarsky (C)- Brooklyn Nets via New York Knicks

• 18- Michael Ruzic (PF/C)- San Antonio Spurs via Atlanta Hawks

• 19- Noa Essengue (SF/PF)- Brooklyn Nets

• 20- KJ Lewis (SG)- Indiana Pacers

• 21- Karter Knox (SF)- Utah Jazz via Minnesota Timberwolves

• 22- Derrion Reed (SF)- Dallas Mavericks

• 23- Kwame Evans (SF/PF)- Houston Rockets

• 24- Alex Karaban (SF/PF)- Atlanta Hawks via Sacramento Kings

• 25- Donnie Freeman (PF)- Orlando Magic via Denver Nuggets

• 26- Kasparas Jakucionis (PG/SG)- Boston Celtics

• 27- Boogie Fland (PG)- Los Angeles Clippers via OKC Thunder

• 28- Dink Pate (SG/SF)- Golden State Warriors

• 29- JT Toppin (SF/PF)- Brooklyn Nets via Phoenix Suns

• 30- Isaiah Evans (SF)- Utah Jazz via Cleveland Cavaliers

Melo's son Kiyan apparently is playing at his dad Carmelo's alma mater of Syracuse and Kiyan his draft eligibility is either 2026 or 2027. So that being said if Carmelo Anthony's son does come into the league, will he be a top 5 pick like his dad was in 2003? 2026 you have the Boozer twins and AJ Dybantsa in that class so if he joins that class...does he get into that top 5 or top 10 conversation?

2024 Draft Shooter H2H Battle

Knecht: 3/4/2 on 1-7 FG, 1-7 3P -14

Wells 20/3/1 on 7/10 FG, 5-7 3P, +8

Grizzlies got a steal.

Is it just me, or this draft class is completely devoid of people equipped to run an NBA offence any time soon, outside of maybe Egor Demin?

For one, I'm not sold on Dylan Harper's playmaking, he reads as a 2 more than a 1 for me. How's Traore in this respect? I haven't kept up with him