2024 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0; my top 30 ahead of the NBA Draft Combine

It is NBA Draft Combine week, which means it is a perfect time to debut my 2024 NBA Draft Big Board.

Sunday was a big day for teams that did not make the NBA Playoffs as they held the NBA Draft Lottery. The 14 teams who will be selecting first in the upcoming NBA Draft were selected for which order they would pick. The Atlanta Hawks won the night, earning the No. 1 overall pick. They were followed, in order, by the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and the Detroit Pistons to round out the top five.

In total, 78 players were invited to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine. The combine takes place from May 12-19 in Chicago. Throughout the week the players will take part in various drills, testing, medical exams, scrimmages, measurements, and team interviews. This is a big week for all players involved and it signifies that the June 26-27 NBA Draft is just over six weeks away.

2024 NBA Draft homepage on NBA.com

Let’s start with the debut of my 2024 NBA Draft big board.

1. C Alexandre Sarr, Perth (NBL)

7-1 | 215 pounds | April 2005

2023-24 Stats: 27 games. 17.3 minutes. 9.4 points. 4.3 rebounds. 0.9 assists. 1.5 blocks. 0.4 steals. 52% FG. 71% FT.

In an NBA Draft that lacks high-end talent, Alexandre Sarr’s upside puts him in a tier of his own. With a look at his fluid athleticism, positional size, and the offensive flashes, his two-way potential is intriguing. The defense you see plays out now, with his ability to move his feet and slide and the natural rim protection (1.5 blocks in 17.3 minutes). The offense is raw, but he shows flashes of touch with some undeveloped comfort dribbling the ball in space. The totality of his game is still unrefined, and there is a lot of room between Sarr’s current production and his high ceiling, but as things continue to develop for him, there are a lot of positives to work through.

2. F Stephon Castle, UConn

6-6 | 215 pounds | November 2004

2023-24 Stats: 34 games. 27.0 minutes. 11.1 points. 4.7 rebounds. 2.9 assists. 0.8 steals. 0.5 blocks. 47.2% FG. 26.7% 3P. 75.5% FT.

Stephon Castle is a gamer. The 6-foot-6 guard is at his best when the ball is tipped and the bright lights are on. After a prep career that saw Castle playing exclusively on-ball. He proved to be an excellent connector and secondary ball-handler for UConn this season. As a big-framed guard, Castle is able to touch the paint consistently off the bounce and he makes good reads in traffic. The jump shot is the swing skill. He has never been a knockdown shooter, but this season he was consistently below average from three. On the positive side, the form looks ok and he shot over 75 percent from the free throw line on the season. There are positive markers. Where Castle shined was on defense. He used his big frame, instincts, and toughness to guard up and down a lineup. A secondary ball-handler, who is a quick processor, and perhaps the best perimeter defender in this draft has a lot of upside…if the jump shot can come around.

3. F Ron Holland, G-League Ignite

6-7 | 200 pounds | July 2005

2023-24 Stats: 14 games. 33.6 minutes. 20.6 points. 6.6 rebounds. 3.2 assists, 0.7 blocks. 2.5 steals. 44.3% FG. 24.0% 3P. 75.7% FT.

Ron Holland holds the positional size, length, and fluidity that you look for in a wing at the highest levels. He entered the season as a two-way-type that intrigues on-lookers as they evaluate his position. Holland is capable of defending guards, wings, and forwards, fluidly switching up and down a lineup throughout the course of a possession. He has natural instincts off the ball and slides his feet well on the ball. The lengthy 6-foot-7 Holland saw some struggles as an 18-year-old playing in the G-League, namely his shooting and decision-making. Things tightened up as the season wore on for Holland, but it was still a smaller sample size. Holland puts relentless pressure on the rim as he applies pressure off the bounce. He has a history of winning, having both a high school state title and a gold medal with USA Basketball. He has no problem being an alpha and he competes. There may be some question marks with Holland, certainly some things he needs to iron out, but in a draft filled with question marks, the consistent production, at his age, stands out.

4. C Donovan Clingan, UConn

7-2 | 280 pounds | February 2004

2023-24 Stats: 35 games. 22.5 minutes. 13.0 points. 7.4 rebounds. 1.5 assists. 0.5 steals. 2.5 blocks. 63.9% FG. 25.0% 3P. 58.3% FT.

You do not get a true feel for how big Donovan Clingan is until you stand in his vicinity. It is at that point you get the full understanding of what 7-foot-2, 280 pounds with a 7-foot-7 wing span truly looks like. Why he has jumped so high in this draft largely because of what he showed he is capable of during UConn’s NCAA Tournament run. Clingan protects the rim with his size, but he also showed that he could move his feet in an effective way, namely in drop coverage making it difficult for guards to attack him with any type of clear path to the basket. Clingan will need to improve the shooting and he lacks base strength which allows him to get knocked off his spots on the block. However, Clingan showed intriguing flashes with his feel as a passer. He passed away from the help as UConn gave him the freedom to make reads in post-up and elbow situations. Clingan is not a finished product, but there has been a recent success with rim-protecting bigs who can process with the ball in their hands.

5. G Zach Risacher, JL Bourg (France)

6-8 | 210 pounds | April 2005

2023-24 Stats: 32 games. 22.0 minutes. 10.1 points. 3.8 rebounds. 0.9 assists. 0.8 steals. 0.5 blocks. 43.9% FG. 35.2% 3P. 74.0% FT.

Zach Risacher has a smooth shooting stroke, defensive upside, and some processing ability as a 6-foot-8 wing. He carries very valuable traits in today’s NBA. The questions arise when it comes to his average athleticism and self-creation from the wing. While he has ball skills in the open floor, he does not put much pressure on the rim off the bounce and shows an uncertain handle at times in the half-court. Risacher had an up-and-down season, even as an 18-year-old playing EuroLeague basketball, his season was good enough to earn EuroCup Rising Star honors. With necessary growth, the defensive upside and shot-making open eyes with the positional size.

6. F Matas Buzelis, G-League Ignite

6-10 | 195 pounds | October 2004

2023-24 Stats: 26 gmes. 32.0 minutes. 14.3 points. 6.9 rebounds. 1.9 assists. 0.9 steals. 2.1 blocks. 44.5% FG. 27.3% 3P. 67.9% FT.

Matas Buzelis is a prospect I go back and forth on, and have since high school. On one hand, there is no denying his unique blend of size, fluidity, skill, and touch. On the other hand, his personal production has never translated to winning, on any level. In high school, he went through a ‘big guard’ phase, and in watching him play, his handle was not tight enough, his foot speed quick enough, or his shot efficient enough to be an effective perimeter player. One year in the G-Leauge has caused me to adjust the lens of my evaluation a little. Buzelis is 6-foot-10, why not look at him as a potential post-player, a spot where he can use his unique blend of touch, fluidity, skill, and size to gain an advantage over his defender? He will need to add weight and continue developing on defense, but as I continued to jump into film study, there is a clear pathway for Buzelis to find success as he continues to develop. Maybe this is a shot in the dark here, but in a draft with so many questions and capped player ceilings, this one has me intrigued.

7. F Dalton Knecht, Tennessee

6-6 | 215 pounds | April 2001

2023-24: 36 games. 30.6 minutes. 21.7 points. 4.9 rebounds. 1.8 assists. 0.7 steals. 0.6 blocks. 45.8% FG. 39.7% 3P. 77.2% FT.

Players like Max Strus and Jaime Jacquez walked so that Dalton Knecht could run. The 6-foot-6 wing was one of college basketball’s most consistently big scorers this season. He averaged 24.9 points during SEC play while shooting 41.1 percent from three on 7.4 attempts per game. Questions arise on the defensive end and with his passing. While he gives effort guarding the ball and is a lengthy and explosive athlete, he would lose interest at times leading to easy buckets for opponents. While he scored at such an easy clip, he did average 1.8 assists to 1.7 turnovers per game. Even with that, there should be very few questions concerning Knecht’s offensive game translating to the NBA. He has the look of a plug-and-play guy ready to contribute early.

8. G Nikola Topic, KK Crvena zvezda (Serbia)

6-7 | 200 pounds | August 2005

2023-24 Stats: 16 games. 31.2 minutes. 16.1 points. 3.4 rebounds. 6.4 assists. 0.8 steals. 0.2 blocks. 50.0% FG. 25.7% 3P. 86.2% FT.

There is a lot to like with Nikola Topic’s game. He is crafty in the pick and roll, using good pace and excellent feel to process and distribute properly weighted passes from various angles and levels of the court. His passing is eye-opening. At 6-foot-7 he has excellent positional size and he has traditionally lived in the paint. There are some questions with his burst. Can he get by NBA players without a screen? Also, his shooting has been inconsistent. How do those two aspects play out for an on-ball player? A team will need to buy on the development of one, or both, of those pieces. However, there is no denying the processing and his feel and ability to manipulate a defense with his eyes and pace.

9. G Robert Dillingham, Kentucky

6-2 | 170 pounds | January 2005

2023-24 Stats: 32 games. 23.3 minutes. 15.2 points. 2.9 rebounds. 3.9 assists. 1.0 steals. 0.1 blocks. 47.5% FG. 44.4% 3P. 79.6% FT.

There might not have been a player who brought more electricity to the floor than Robert Dillingham. He was assured to go on an exclusive scoring stint at some point throughout the course of every game. He is a dynamic shooter with a confident release and excellent balance once he steps within 35 feet of the rim. Dillingham also has a crafty handle and footwork and his bag possesses counters upon counters off the bounce. He would also have a tendency to get tunnel vision toward the rim and, while making good reads, the accuracy of his passing – at times – was too late or off-target. Then there is the defense. While John Calipari was able to put up with some offensive miscues, there were games when Dillingham was unplayable because of his defense. He has a very thin frame which could lead to concerns as well. But Dillingham thrived in Kentucky with limited minutes, and there is a lot of league value in a player who can consistently bring juice off the bench. While he may be a polarizing player in the eyes of some, there is no denying his offensive capabilities among his peers in this draft class.

10. F Cody Williams, Colorado

6-7 | 190 pounds | November 2004

2023-24 Stats: 24 games. 28.4 minutes. 11.9 points. 3.0 rebounds. 1.6 assists. 0.6 steals. 0.7 blocks. 55.2% FG. 41.5% 3P. 71.4% FT.

Cody Williams is a tricky one to evaluate. He has impressive measurables with positional size and length. He has passing and processing chops which date back to high school when he played almost exclusively on the ball as a primary initiator. The thing with Williams as a primary initiator is that he did not get north/south. He lacks explosive burst as an athlete and carries a thin frame. While he can be a creative finisher at the basket, he did not do much of that in the half-court. There is also the question of shooting. He did shoot 41.7 percent from three, but it was on a small sample size and most of it was off the catch with a teammate creating the look. Williams has never been much of a threat to shoot, so that will be a big swing for him. He had a couple of smaller injuries this season. The shooting was a positive and the processing is clear on film that dates back to high school. Can he take a step in self-creation and become a true connector as the length and natural feel lead to defensive upside as well?

11. G Isaiah Collier, USC

6-3 | 210 pounds | October 2004

2023-24 Stats: 27 games. 30.0 minutes. 16.3 points. 2.9 rebounds. 4.3 assists. 1.5 steals. 0.2 blocks. 49.0% FG. 33.8% 3P. 67.3% FT.

No domestic player in this draft class puts pressure on the rim like Isaiah Collier. The 6-foot-3 bowling ball of a point guard gets north/south regularly and does so with a purpose. Collier went through some growing pains, to start the season, mostly with his turnovers and decision-making. Collier is capable of threading a needle, especially playing in the pick and roll, and at times, he would have the confidence to throw a pass into a window that simply was not there. While his vision is a plus, and that dates back to high school and travel ball, he is going to have to continue working on the execution. Collier missed a month with a January wrist injury and was able to come back for the final 11 games of the season. With that, Collier is a streaky shooter, at best, right now. However, he did shoot almost 38 percent from three after his return from injury. Collier also gets to the free-throw line at a high rate. The shooting needs work, but I am buying the processing (with time). He will need to continue working on his defense, but it is difficult to find a player who puts this much pressure on the rim with this type of competitive fire.

12. G Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

6-2 | 180 pounds | June 2004

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 28.9 minutes. 12.5 points. 4.1 rebounds. 4.5 assists. 2.5 steals. 0.7 blocks. 53.6% FG. 52.1% 3P. 83.1% FT.

There is no denying two things that Reed Sheppard does as well as anyone in this draft class. At 6-foot-2 he has incredible basketball instincts, and he can shoot the lights out of the basketball. Past that there are some questions. He does not put much pressure on the rim in the half-court and had a lot of turnovers when asked to be a primary ball handler or make a play for others going north/south. His defensive instincts as a ball-hawk in space created a lot of wow plays, but he struggled at times to guard the ball against the more athletic guards in the SEC, and his off-ball defense and positioning, in the half-court, led to some easy looks for the opposing team. Sheppard is a high-level connector, taking what he is given and not forcing plays. The shooting pulls gravity from day one, and NBA spacing could help as he tightens his game. Will he be able to get to carve out his spots and develop the handle to get to them? His height, weight, and length measurements will be interesting as well. Sheppard was one of the very best shooters in college basketball this season. By all accounts, he is also a competitor.

13. G Jared McCain, Duke

Profile | 6-2 | 200 pounds | February 2004

2023-24 Stats: 36 games. 31.6 minutes. 14.3 points. 5.0 rebounds. 1.9 assists. 1.1 steals. 0.1 blocks. 46.2% FG. 41.4% 3P. 88.5% FT.

Jared McCain has won at every level, from high school to travel and international ball, and even in his time at Duke. McCain has won gold medals, Peach Jam titles, and state championships. He grew into Duke’s biggest perimeter threat during the latter half of the season, averaging 14.9 points and shooting 37.7 percent from three in ACC play. McCain is an average athlete with average length and that leads to some defensive questions and versatility scoring the basketball. He gives good effort and strength at the point of attack on defense. He plays fast and has a killer instinct. McCain is an off-ball guard, and with that, his height, weight, and length measurements will be interesting for him. The margins are narrow for McCain’s potential outcomes, however, the shotmaking is intriguing which leads to a useful pathway.

14. C Kyle Filipowski, Duke

Profile | 7-0 | 245 pounds | November 2003

2023-24 Stats: 36 games. 30.4 minutes. 16.4 points. 8.3 rebounds. 2.8 assists. 1.1 steals. 1.5 blocks. 50.5% FG. 34.8% 3P. 67.1% FT.

Kyle Filipowski carried a heavy load for Duke this season leading the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. The 7-foot-0 center showed improvement finishing on the block, through contact, with both hands. His field goal percentage rose above the 50 percent marker. He also showed processing and passing chops. Duke ran a good bit of offense through him from multiple levels of the floor. Filipowski’s athleticism remains a question, he is not a quick leaper and relies more on his anticipation and feel than twitchiness. However, he is a better defender than his reputation might suggest, but a player with Filipowski’s size who can handle, shoot, and pass has a lot of intrigue.

NBA Draft Big Board Players 15-30

15. F Tidjane Salaun, Cholet Basket (France)

6-9 | 205 pounds | August 2005

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 22.7 minutes. 9.0 points. 4.0 rebounds. 1.0 assists. 1.2 steals. 0.2 blocks. 37.3% FG. 32.9% 3P. 76.7% FT.

16. G Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor

Profile | 6-5 | 195 pounds | September 2004

2023-24 Stats: 35 games. 32.3 minutes. 14.5 points. 4.4 rebounds. 1.4 assists. 1.1 steals. 0.2 blocks. 37.6% FG. 34.1% 3P. 79.2% FT.

17. C Kel’el Ware, Indiana

Profile | 7-0 | 235 pounds | April 2004

2023-24 Stats: 30 games. 32.2 minutes. 15.9 points. 9.9 rebounds. 1.5 assists. 0.6 steals. 1.9 blocks. 58.6% FG. 42.5% 3P. 63.4% FT.

18. G Devin Carter, Providence

Profile | 6-3 | 195 pounds | March 2002

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 35.3 minutes. 19.7 points. 8.7 rebounds. 3.6 assists. 1.8 steals. 1.0 blocks. 47.3% FG. 37.7% 3P. 74.9% FT.

19. G Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh

Profile | 6-5 | 185 pounds | July 2005

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 33.2 minutes. 13.8 points. 5.2 rebounds. 4.1 assists. 0.6 steals. 0.2 blocks. 41.2% FG. 32.2% 3P. 78.5% FT.

20. F Kyshawn George, Miami

Profile | 6-7 | 205 pounds | December 2003 

2023-24 Stats: 31 games. 23.0 minutes. 7.6 points. 3.0 rebounds. 2.2 assists. 0.9 steals. 0.4 blocks. 42.6% FG. 40.8% 3P. 77.8% FT.

21. F Tyer Smith, G-League Ignite

Profile | 6-10 | 225 pounds | November 2004

2023-24 Stats: 27 games. 22 minutes. 13.4 points. 5.0 rebounds. 1.2 assist. 0.7 steals. 1.0 blocks. 47.6% FG. 36.4% 3P. 72.5% FT.

22. C Zach Edey, Purdue

Profile | 7-4 | 300 pounds | May 2002

2023-24 Stats: 39 games. 32.0 minutes. 25.2 points. 12.2 rebounds. 2.0 assists. 0.3 steals. 2.2 blocks. 62.3% FG. 50.0% 3P. 71.1% FT.

23. C DaRon Holmes, Dayton

Profile | 6-10 | 230 pounds | August 2002

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 32.4 minutes. 20.4 points. 8.5 rebounds. 2.6 assists. 0.9 steals. 2.1 blocks. 54.4% FG. 38.6% 3P. 71.3% FT.

24. F Bobi Klintman, Cairns (NBL)

Profile | 6-10 | 225 pounds | March 2003

2023-24 Stats: 23 games. 21.3 minutes. 9.7 points. 4.8 rebounds. 0.7 assists. 0.8 steals. 0.5 blocks. 44% FG. 35.7% 3P. 79.3% FT.

25. F Jaylon Tyson, Cal

Profile | 6-7 | 215 pounds | December 2002

2023-24 Stats: 31 games. 34.3 minutes. 19.6 points. 6.8 rebounds. 3.5 assists. 1.2 steals. 0.5 blocks. 46.5% FG. 36.0% 3P. 79.6% FT.

26. C Yves Missi, Baylor

Profile | 6-10 | 235 pounds | May 2004

2023-24 Stats: 34 games. 23.0 minutes. 10.7 points. 5.6 rebounds. 0.4 assists. 0.6 steals. 1.5 blocks. 61.4% FG. 0.0% 3P. 61.6% FT.

27. G Tyler Kolek, Marquette

Profile | 6-3 | 195 pounds | March 2001

2023-24 Stats: 31 games. 33.0 minutes. 15.3 points. 4.9 rebounds. 7.7 assists. 1.6 steals. 0.2 blocks. 49.6% FG. 38.8% 3P/ 85.1% FT.

28. F Tristan da Silva, Colorado

Profile | 6-9 | 220 pounds | May 2001

2023-24 Stats: 34 games. 34.0 minutes. 16.0 points. 5.1 rebounds. 2.4 assists. 1.1 steals. 0.6 blocks. 49.3% FG. 39.5% 3P. 83.5% FT.

29. G Cam Christie, Minnesota

Profile | 6-6 | 190 pounds | July 2005

2023-24 Stats: 33 games. 30.2 minutes. 11.3 points. 3.6 rebounds. 2.2 assists. 0.6 steals. 0.3 blocks.40.3% FG. 39.1% 3P. 79.1% FT.

30. F Dillon Jones, Weber State

Profile | 6-6 | 235 pounds | October 2001

2023-24 Stats: 31 games. 37.0 minutes. 20.8 points. 9.8 rebounds. 5.2 assists. 2.0 steals. 0.1 blocks. 48.9% FG. 32.4% 3P. 85.7% FT.