Here, we guess what June's NBA draft might look like, accounting for players who've seen their stock rise and fall following the NCAA men's Division I basketball tournament.
Alexandre Sarr, F/C, Perth (Australia)
Sarr could be the second straight French player to go first overall. The 7-footer fits the mold of the modern big man with his outstanding ability to protect the rim, switch out on the perimeter, and potentially act as a stretch-big. Sarr's defensive skill set gives teams a solid floor to work with, but the flashes of playmaking, ball-handling, and rim-running could elevate his game to another level.
Stephon Castle, G, UConn
Given that this draft isn't loaded with top-end talent, Castle is the safest bet to be a contributor on a winning team while maintaining All-Star upside if his shot continues to improve. The 6-foot-6 freshman is already the best perimeter defender in this class. Offensively, he's one of the draft's best cutters and can get to the rim and finish in numerous ways despite not boasting elite athleticism.
Nikola Topic, G, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Topic is a big lead guard who can get to the rim at will, is already adept at running a pick-and-roll offense, and has shown flashes of elite playmaking. A knee injury has kept him out of commission while on loan at EuroLeague club Red Star Belgrade. He'll need to iron out his inconsistent shooting mechanics before we know just how good of a player he can become.
Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg (France)
Risacher is a fluid but unspectacular athlete with great length and a projectable jump shot - the type of player who's worth betting on with so few surefire options. The biggest issue for the 6-foot-10 Frenchman is his lack of big-time impact and usage during his professional and international stints.
Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite
The 6-foot-9 Buzelis hasn't quite turned out to be the shot-creator and playmaker that scouts hoped he'd become while playing for the soon-to-be-defunct G League Ignite. That said, he still has some shot-making upside and is fluid enough as a straight-line driver.
Dalton Knecht, G, Tennessee
Knecht exploded in his one season at Tennessee, proving he could hang defensively while showing off his beautiful shooting stroke and overall offensive ability with solid size at the wing. The late bloomer will be 23 in June, but his underrated athleticism and off-the-dribble game provide a fair amount of upside.
Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
It's unlikely Sheppard will become a superstar with his lack of on-ball burst combined with his unimpressive 6-foot-3 height and limited wingspan. But the surprise one-and-done player is perhaps the draft's best complementary piece with his solid playmaking, fantastic defensive instincts, and outstanding outside shooting, leading the country with a 52.1% mark from deep.
Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
Dillingham is by far the best self-creator in a draft that sorely lacks players who can get a bucket on their own. He has shown flashes of being able to play off the ball and improved as a passer throughout the season. However, Dillingham is probably the worst defender in this class due to his small frame and inability to navigate screens.
Ja'Kobe Walter, G, Baylor
Much like fellow Baylor freshman Keyonte George last year, Walter got off to a scorching start but fell off significantly in the ultra-physical Big 12. In a spaced-out NBA, expect much more efficient offense for the lanky off-ball guard who hangs his hat on his shooting ability but is also solid off the bounce.
Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite
Holland was arguably the G League Ignite's top player, averaging 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals across 29 appearances before suffering a season-ending thumb injury. The 18-year-old struggled with decision-making at times but offers shot-creation, defensive versatility, and a high motor.
Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Clingan was a disruptive force on both ends during UConn's latest NCAA Tournament triumph, running the floor in transition, containing ball-handlers in drop coverage, and providing elite rim protection. The 7-foot-2 center's conditioning is a bit of a concern, as he played only 22.3 minutes per contest as a sophomore.
Jared McCain, G, Duke
McCain will stick in the league due to his ability to make shots off the bounce anywhere on the floor. Listed at 6-foot-3, McCain lacks the elite first step to blow by defenders without a screen.
Cody Williams, F, Colorado
Cody, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams, is likely to be a lottery selection. Despite shot-creating limitations, the 6-foot-9 forward has plenty to offer. Williams can orchestrate the pick-and-roll, boasts the size and length to potentially defend multiple positions, and is effective as a driver.
Tidjane Salaun, F, Cholet Basket (France)
Salaun is one of the youngest prospects in this year's class. That was evident at times this season as the 6-foot-9 forward went through peaks and valleys. However, the Frenchman's two-way potential could be worth a lottery pick. Salaun has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, long-distance range, and athleticism at the rim, and he frequently makes cuts off the ball.
Isaiah Collier, G, USC
Collier didn't have the season most expected as he battled through injuries and inconsistent play. His quickness and large frame make him a tantalizing prospect at both ends, but his carelessness with the basketball could limit his ability to get much playing time early in his career.
Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
In his sophomore season at Duke, Filipowski showed off the shooting touch that made him such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. He's a much better defender and playmaker than he gets credit for, but his rebounding and toughness will determine how valuable he can be at the next level.
Yves Missi, C, Baylor
Missi threw down some highlight-reel dunks and had some show-stopping swats as part of an impressive freshman campaign that put him firmly on the one-and-done trajectory. The 7-foot Cameroonian is just a rim-runner without playmaking or shooting ability at this point, but plenty of physically gifted big men have been very successful in that limited role.
Devin Carter, G, Providence
Carter came out of nowhere to win the Big East Player of the Year thanks to tenacious on-ball defense, solid playmaking skills, and a 3-point jumper that spiked from 29.9% last year to 37.7% in 2023-24 on nearly seven attempts per game. The 6-foot-3 guard is undersized and older than many prospects, but it's worth a gamble on his pure production and physicality.
Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado
Da Silva is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of this draft class. The 6-foot-9 forward can knock down long-range shots at a high clip and put the ball on the deck to either get to the rim or create shots for his teammates. His thin frame and lack of blow-by speed could limit his upside.
Kyshawn George, G, Miami
George was ranked as just a 3-star prospect entering his freshman season after coming over from Switzerland, but he wowed scouts with his extremely long 6-foot-8 frame and 40.8% clip from beyond the arc. George isn't an outstanding athlete, but his shooting and size make him extremely projectable at the next level at the 3 or 4.
Bobi Klintman, F, Cairns (Australia)
Klintman spent the 2022-23 campaign with Wake Forest before joining Australia's NBL last season via the "Next Stars" program. The 6-foot-10 forward had his share of ups and downs with Cairns but remains an intriguing prospect because of his ball-handling skills in transition, multi-positional defending, and court vision.
Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Easily the most polarizing prospect in the draft, the two-time National Player of the Year has simply been too productive to fall out of the first round entirely. There really is no player like the 7-foot-4 behemoth in the NBA. Edey's inside touch, underrated passing, and the potential of adding a jump shot will force a team to build a bench role from Day 1.
Johnny Furphy, G, Kansas
Furphy turned a corner once he was inserted into Kansas' starting lineup on Jan. 13, averaging 11.6 points and making nearly 35% of his threes. The 6-foot-9 freshman's athleticism in the open floor, knack for crashing the glass, and size on the wing make him an intriguing option late in the first round.
Kevin McCullar Jr., G, Kansas
McCullar always had a reputation as being a strong defender, but he's taken his offensive game to another level since transferring to Kansas two years ago. The 6-foot-6 guard has added an improved 3-point stroke and playmaking skills to his cutting ability, making him a well-rounded threat.
Carlton "Bub" Carrington, G, Pittsburgh
The 6-foot-5 Carrington was half pure point guard and half microwave scorer as a freshman for Pittsburgh, but he'll likely grow into an off-ball role with his size. If so, he'll need to shoot a lot better than 32.2% from deep to stick in the league long term, but his 78.5% mark from the free-throw line suggests he'll be up to the task.
Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
A change of scenery paid off for Ware, as he showed why he was among the top high school players in his class during his lone year in Indiana. The Oregon transfer gave the Hoosiers vertical spacing as a lob threat, rim protection, some range from downtown, and a great touch around the basket.
Jaylon Tyson, G, California
It took three different collegiate stops before Tyson put it all together. The 6-foot-7 guard was a versatile piece for Mark Madsen's squad, providing shooting off the dribble, post scoring, playmaking, and an active presence on the glass.
Ryan Dunn, G, Virginia
It's probably not a hot take to say Dunn is the draft's worst offensive prospect, with the 6-foot-8 forward hitting just seven 3-pointers at a 20% clip while making 53.2% of free throws and posting a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. He also may be the class' best defender as the only player in college basketball this season to rack up at least 40 steals and 75 blocks.
Harrison Ingram, F, North Carolina
Despite being a top recruit, Ingram struggled to make an impact during his two seasons on a bad Stanford team. After transferring to North Carolina, the 6-foot-8 junior became one of the nation's best role players - shooting, defending, and rebounding at a high level despite often being the fourth or fifth option on the floor.
Mark Sears, G Alabama
After a scintillating scoring season at Alabama and going an incredible 10-of-20 from deep in his last two NCAA Tournament games, Sears has forced NBA teams to look past his 6-foot-1 height and lack of burst. The easy comparison here is fellow undersized lefty Jalen Brunson, and Brunson's All-Star season certainly won't hurt Sears' draft case.
Draft order reflects NBA standings as of April 13 and takes into account all pick protections and conditions.
