CO-HOST OF THE HERD AND FOX SPORTS BETTING ANALYST
The end of the men’s college basketball season is the start of the NBA Draft hype machine.
On June 27, 60 players will have their names called at Barclays Center. Perth Wildcats center Alex Sarr seems to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick in what’s widely considered a weak draft class, but what does the rest of the draft look like?
Let’s take a look at FOX Sports’ first mock draft of the year:
1. Detroit Pistons — Alex Sarr, C, Perth Wildcats (NBL)
Sarr is another athletic big man from France with perimeter skills. No, he’s not Wemby. Sarr only played 17 minutes per game in the NBL as an 18-year-old, but he projects as a Jaren Jackson-type talent at both ends.
2. Washington Wizards — Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg (LNB)
How far has the NBA come when the top two picks are towering wing players with elite athleticism? Risacher is 6-foot-9 with a 3-point shot, who will remind some of Michael Porter Jr. He just turned 19 this month.
3. Portland Trail Blazers — Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
The most explosive guard in the draft, Dillingham may go down as a Devin Booker-type scorer in a few years. Based on that alone, he may get looks at No. 1 overall. The list of big-time recruits who went to Kentucky, put up modest numbers, and then popped in the NBA is very impressive.
4. Charlotte Hornets — Stephon Castle, Wing, UConn
The 29th-ranked defense goes with the best defensive wing in the draft. Castle was totally dominant in the NCAA Tournament, especially defensively. You have to wonder if his offense is underrated because he was on such a stacked team.
5. San Antonio Spurs — Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
More than two months away from the draft, will the Spurs tinker with the idea of pairing Clingan at center with Victor Wembanyama at power forward? It wouldn’t quite be Duncan/Robinson, but the defense would certainly improve from 22nd.
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6. Toronto Raptors — Jared McCain, G, Duke
The only thing that might hold McCain out of the top 10 is if he doesn’t measure 6-foot-3. He might be the best shooter in the draft (41% on 3s). Was he not a playmaker at Duke because they had two older point guards in that role, or because he doesn’t have that in his bag?
7. Memphis Grizzlies — Matas Buzelis, SF, G League Ignite
The 6-foot-10 wing is only 19 years old and spurned top colleges for G-League Ignite, where he put up modest stats (14.3 PPG on 44% shooting) but struggled from deep (27%).
8. Utah Jazz — Cody Williams, F, Colorado
Wouldn’t surprise me if the 6-foot-8 wing goes in the top 10, as he looks to be cut from the same cloth as Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota’s defensive stopper. He is the younger brother of OKC’s Jalen Williams, so you have to think OKC will strongly consider him at 12 if he is still there.
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn) — Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite
Holland only turns 19 this summer, making him one of the youngest players in the draft. He plays with a Russell Westbrook level of intensity but must improve on his 24% 3-point shooting when he’s healthy after thumb surgery.
10. Atlanta Hawks — Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
If we’re to assume that the Hawks part with Trae Young or Dejounte Murray, Sheppard would nicely slide in as a strong defensive role player (Alex Caruso?) early in his career.
