Rising
Reed Sheppard6–3 | 190 | Level Guard | Kentucky | Freshman
The sharpshooting Kentucky native has performed his method into changing into the best rated level guard for this yr’s draft, and a projected prime 5 decide. Not unhealthy for a man that got here in with no starter assure and has performed the season as a non-starter. Sheppard doesn’t go the preliminary eye check, nevertheless the extra you watch him the extra it turns into obvious that he has “elite qualities” that give him an actual likelihood to shine on the subsequent degree. He’s this yr’s “analytics darling”, together with his means to shoot, rebound, defend, in addition to restrict turnovers and discover teammates with nice imaginative and prescient and unselfish play.
Sheppard now has a signature efficiency, having put up 32 factors on 11-14 taking pictures and seven assists towards Mississippi State, Whereas his scoring has been a bit sporadic, it’s to be anticipated contemplating his restricted alternative, coming off the bench. He’s averaging 12.4 ppg in 28.8 mpg and is contending with teammate Rob Dillingham as the highest two level guard prospects for the 2024 draft, heading into March Insanity.
Rob Dillingham6–3 | 175 | Level Guard | Kentucky | Freshman
This extremely fast and artistic freshman is usually in showtime mode. He goes supernova - like earlier in February when he dropped 35 on 20 pictures towards #5 Tennessee. However he’ll additionally play a quieter recreation with out a lot clarification, like when he solely took three pictures in a loss towards Gonzaga, additionally in February. However the total expertise is oozing from the purpose guard. In eight video games in February, Dillingham knocked down a blistering 60% (21-35) of his threes. NBA groups would like to see some extra consistency. He shot simply 30% from three by 13 video games in December and January.
A giant query for Dillingham is whether or not he tasks extra as a Colin Sexton kind, or whether or not he is usually a lesser model of Kyrie Irving. He’s a bit on the small aspect in comparison with all the earlier standout Kentucky guards. However thus far his freshman yr at Kentucky has been sensational, personally, and he continues to climb the draft board. At this level Dillingham is predicted to be a mid lottery decide in 2024!
Jaland Lowe6–3 | 170 | Level Guard | Pittsburgh | Freshman
Freshman combo guard Jaland Lowe makes our Inventory Look ahead to the primary time - exhibiting extra consistency of late than backcourt mate and certain lottery 2024 draft decide Carlton Carrington. Lowe is impressing scouts and making a reputation for himself for 2025. Because the new yr, Lowe has loved a big improve in enjoying time, going from enjoying lower than 20 mpg within the early a part of the season (2023} to 30+ minutes in practically each recreation thus far n 2024. Lowe has just a few signature video games, like his 17 factors and 6 assists in a win over #7 Duke, and 12 factors and 4 rebounds, together with hitting 2 of three from deep, in a win over Virginia. And the freshman has scored in double figures in eight straight heading into March.
Stylistically, Lowe is lightning fast, has a pleasant floater within the lane, and absorbs contact nicely. The lefty has an improved taking pictures stroke - because the season has progressed he’s gotten way more correct from deep. On the yr, Lowe is averaging 9.1 ppg, on a extremely environment friendly 37.9 fg / 35.4 3p / 84.2 ft taking pictures cut up.. Lowe has stable measurement on the level guard place at 6’3″, and and can look to proceed proving that his prime notch velocity and quickness, in addition to accuracy from deep, and power can all proceed to develop subsequent season.
Isaiah Collier6–5 | 210 | Level Guard | USC | Freshman
This can be a 6’5″ “working again” who in all probability might have thrived on the gridiron primarily based on his power and explosiveness, however selected to play basketball. You gained’t discover a extra highly effective and explosive athlete within the nation than USC’s Isaiah Collier. His crew positive it struggling - USC has solely gained six of its final sixteen video games, - however Collier has been profitable in conserving his title on the highest of scouts’ minds. Questions on Collier have been (or are) associated to his means to handle the ball and his scoring effectivity - particularly exterior taking pictures. He has proven outstanding enchancment within the former. Collier began the season turning the ball over between three and 5 instances per recreation! That’s unacceptable for a prime prospect. However within the new yr, in ten video games he’s turning it over at 2.1 instances per recreation, a significant enchancment.
The skin shot continues to be an space of concern (32.9% from three). His free throw taking pictures has improved. However at 66% stays a stat that hurts his analytics. It’s additionally noteworthy that he’s wonderful at drawing the contact and the whistle. Collier’s play stays pretty erratic, however total changing into more practical and its onerous to miss his mixture of power and explosiveness. Persevering with to enhance in his consistency and effectivity is the aim for Collier. And in a weak draft, he at present is projected as a possible lottery decide in 2024.
Jaylon Tyson6–6 | 215 | Taking pictures Guard/Small Ahead | California | Junior
Cal’s prime perimeter participant was additional sizzling in January. And whereas he cooled down a contact in February, he’s nonetheless competing at a degree the place scouts have taken discover. His “signature video games” embrace a Feb 7 extra time win towards USC, the place he tallied 27 factors and 11 rebounds. He additionally scored 30 factors towards Colorado in January. USC has prime draft prospect Isaiah Collier, and Colorado has our favourite to be the highest total decide within the 2024 draft Cody Williams. Tyson has been seeking to play as much as his competitors and make some noise for the upcoming draft.
On the season, Tyson is averaging 20 ppg / 7 rpg / 3 apg on 47% FG / 35% 3P / 79% FT. He has gotten higher because the season has progressed, and he’s additionally proven wonderful enchancment in comparison with his freshman and sophomore years. All of those inputs inform a superb story for Tyson’s place as a prospect who can finally hear his named referred to as within the subsequent NBA draft. Stylistically, Tyson can do a little bit of every part, and is a sneaky athlete who can throw it down within the half court docket off a pleasant dribble drive.
Dillon Jones6–6 | 235 | Small Ahead | Weber St. | Junior
This senior is an enormous and robust wing who has improved steadily by his faculty profession, bettering his scoring common by about 4 factors per recreation every season from freshman (8 ppg) by senior yr (20 ppg). He isn’t one of the best three level shooter (beneath 35% this season), however he’s an total environment friendly scorer (50% from the sector and 85% FT shooter). He makes use of his power to bully his opponents and get to the free throw line at a excessive rat
After a tough patch across the new yr, Weber State has now gained eight of ten, led by Jones. By February Jones has been doing all of it, posting averages of 25 factors / 8 rebounds / 6 assists / 2 steals per recreation. He at present tasks as a second rounder however simply might proceed to creep up with constant exterior taking pictures.
AJ Storr6–7 | 205 | Taking pictures Guard | Wisconsin | Sophomore
Storr performed final season at St. John’s. When Rick Pitino got here in, AJ Storr noticed himself out. Storr transferred to Wisconsin, the place he made a big and quick impression. Storr doubled his averages from final season to 16 factors and 4 rebounds per recreation this season.
Storr is an especially fluid athlete and really quick within the open ground. He’s slippery attending to his spot with a mixture of deception and ball fakes. And he’s a creating finisher across the hoop. He simply passes the attention check as a doubtlessly productive professional. One space the place Storr beforehand confirmed promise was in his exterior taking pictures. This yr he’s solely changing on 30% of his three level makes an attempt, although he shot 40% on restricted makes an attempt a yr in the past. Storr at present tasks as extra of a possible 2025 draft decide. However he’s come a good distance over this previous yr and there’s a lot to love about this wing, significantly as his taking pictures improves.
Harrison Ingram6–7 | 235 | Small Ahead | North Carolina | Junior
This huge, robust and lengthy ahead performed his first two seasons of school ball at Stanford. After failing to indicate clear enchancment from his freshman to sophomore season, he transferred to UNC for his Junior marketing campaign. He has proven enchancment because of the work he put in and a modified function - significantly in his rebounding and outdoors taking pictures.
UNC has been up and down recently. However Ingram has been a shiny spot. He has been a monster on the boards, and has additionally improved his scoring output and effectivity. Ingram is averaging 11 rebounds per recreation in January and February! The burly ahead is just not at present on the 2024 draft board however scouts are starting to think about him as a steady presence who is hard and might perform a little little bit of every part.
DaRon Holmes6–10 | 235 | Energy Ahead | Dayton | Junior
This lengthy and lanky junior has been an impactful defender for the reason that day he stepped foot on campus. And he’s proven gradual enhancements to all sides of his recreation every year. However there’s one particularly noteworthy addition to his arsenal this season- his exterior taking pictures. Holmes solely tried a 3 pointer about as soon as each three video games by his freshman and sophomore seasons. Now, he takes about three triples per recreation, and converts on a decent 37%.
Holmes is a risk to catch a lob and runs the ground very nicely for an enormous. Within the halfcourt, he’s comfy together with his again to the basket, creating his personal shot close to the ring. He will get to the road usually (8.5 FT makes an attempt per recreation). And he’s additionally a really succesful playmaker. As he continues to develop his total package deal, together with his exterior taking pictures, this NBA degree athlete is changing into more and more more likely to hear his title referred to as on draft evening.
Falling
Ronald Holland6–8 | 205 | Small Ahead | G-League | Age 18
Holland was the highest ranked highschool participant of the 2023 class. And he performed this previous season within the G League. Statistically, his yr went fairly nicely - he put up averages of 21 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a pair of.5 steals per recreation. One space the place Holland didn’t show himself was in his exterior taking pictures. He finishes this season taking pictures simply 24% from exterior. His season is already over, as a result of an injured proper thumb. He reportedly might nonetheless play if he wanted to, and this transfer is precautionary. For now, the unhealthy information will impression Holland’s standing on the mock draft board. Holland was beforehand shaping as much as be a mid-first spherical decide in 2024. We will probably be monitoring simply how a lot the damage might impression his draft inventory for 2024, however the early consensus is that he’s not a lock for the lottery and will slide some relying on how nicely he shoots the ball in exercises.
