Pre-March Madness 2024 NBA Draft First-Round Big Board

So, I messed up. I released a mock draft before I released a big board. I'm sorry, but I was just itching to put together a mock draft. To ease concerns that I'm a tankathon extremist, today's article will be a simple big board write up. I'm sticking to my top-30 guys, and maybe as we get closer to draft day, I'll extend the board to my top-60. That being said, let's stop wasting time apologizing for something nobody was worried about, and hop straight into my first official big board of the 2024 draft-cycle.

1.Alex Sarr - Center - 7'1" 217lbs - Perth Wildcats

Despite some concerns with his fit on certain teams, Alex Sarr remains my top-ranked prospect at this point in the draft cycle. The big out of the NBL is a versatile option in the frontcourt who affects the game on both sides of the court. He's agile and fluid for his size, allowing him to be a dynamic scorer and elite interior defender. He has room to grow on the offensive end as he continues developing his shot and overall scoring acumen, but his defense is already elite. His ability to protect the rim stands out among other bigs in this draft, and he projects to be one of the best rim protecting bigs in the league down the road.

Sarr is still working on his outside shot, which you do like to see. However, as of today he doesn't make these shots a great clip. His mechanics could use some work but seeing that he's willing to put these shots up in the first place bodes well for his long-term outlook. In this draft I would still pick based on fit, as the top several prospects are in the same talent tier as Sarr in my opinion. This means that if a team needs a wing more than they need a center, I doubt they decide to go with Sarr. However, I do believe he belongs at the top of the individual rankings as of today.

2. Zaccharie Risacher - Wing - 6'8" 202lbs - JL Bourg

The consensus top wing in a draft full of wings, Zaccharie Risacher does just about everything teams are looking for out of their versatile threats on the wing. He's an elite three-point shooter, finding his shot from deep in a multitude of ways and knocking them down at a high clip. He has a promising handle and is a smart decision maker. He projects to be a solid playmaker on the wing down the road. He's a versatile defender due to his height and length. He can move with guards on the perimeter while being long enough to affect shots inside.

He still has a ways to go before he's a capable shot creator or threat attacking the rim, but he possesses the necessary tools to develop these parts of his game. I'm not sure if he has number-one option upside, which isn't something you normally want to hear with the number-two pick in the draft, but in this year's draft that's not really expected of anybody. I think he does have all-star upside and the ability to be one of the better three-and-D wings in the league at some point in his career.

3. Ron Holland - Wing - 6'8" 206lbs - G-League Ignite

I'm higher on Ron Holland than most evaluators, and that's fine. What I see in Holland is a very athletic prospect who gives his all on defense and has immense offensive upside. He probably has the best rim pressure in this draft, and he's great at finishing through contact. He likes to create his own shot, and while that strategy hasn't had the best results so far, I do prefer that to a guy struggling on catch-and-shoot opportunities. I think he has one of, if not the, highest offensive ceilings in this draft. If you then look at how good he is on defense, you'll begin to see the picture I'm trying to paint. He's an elite on-ball defender on the perimeter who plays bigger than he is in the interior. Players who try exceptionally hard on defense will always be my type of prospect, because this shows me that they're willing to work to become better offensive players.

I don't think Holland will end up getting drafted this high, as he's still not viewed by most as a top-five prospect in this class. However, I believe that you have to take a chance on a guy with as much upside as Holland when you're looking at a draft board as weak as this year's. Teams are going to be punching themselves if he falls too far in this draft and ends up being the best player of them all in the long run.

4. Nikola Topic - Point Guard - 6'6" 201lbs - Crvena Zvezda

This isn't a draft overflowing with talent at the point guard position, and because of that I think it's fair to say that Nikola Topic is by far the best point guard prospect this year. He's a big guard playing professional ball in Serbia, and he has impressed me every time I've watched him play. He is ELITE around the rim, both scoring with ease and passing out to open teammates. His bag of tricks when it comes to finishing around the rim is probably the deepest in this draft. On top of that he never fails to make the right pass on kickouts either. Speaking of passing, I think that's what his long-term best trait will be as an NBA player. He is a fantastic playmaker who doesn't try to get too flashy but who always makes the right read.

His shooting does scare me, but he has had stretches where he looked like a solid shooter. His mechanics are just a little off. His defense is probably his biggest liability. This stems mostly from him not always giving his best effort on this end of the floor, but even if he did, he probably wouldn't be a great defender. If he can develop into an average defender, he will be a serious impact player in the NBA.

5. Cody Williams - Wing - 6'8" 190lbs - Colorado Buffaloes

If teams are looking for a different kind of wing than Risacher, they will likely select Colorado's Cody Williams. He's an incredibly versatile two-way athlete who has one of the higher ceilings in this draft. I wouldn't say I've been blown away by him at Colorado, but I am willing to admit that he possesses traits that you can't teach. He's a floaty athlete with good finishing composure. Combine this with solid ball handling abilities for his size and you have a guy who's really good at finding his way to the rim and finishing the shot when he gets there. His size, length, and athleticism make him a very versatile defender as well. He's a little too skinny at the moment, but he can definitely get bigger in the future. He does a lot of things well, but not great. These traits include playmaking, passing, and shooting. He's shown flashes of being able to do all of these things, but he hasn't been able to find consistency in these departments.

I do think Williams has to become a capable three-point shooter to fully maximize his potential as an elite three-and-D wing. He's had stretches where he's looked like a decent shooter, but that's still the area of his game I'm most worried about. That said, a team probably has to take a chance on Williams in the top-five, his ceiling is just too high to ignore.

6. Stephon Castle - Combo Guard - 6'6" 215lbs - Connecticut Huskies

I called Stephon Castle a wing in my last mock draft, but upon further consideration I've determined that I prefer his outlook as a big guard. Like Ron Holland, I'm slightly higher on Castle than most evaluators, and that's mostly because I see what he could become. A big guard who can attack the rim, playmake for his teammates, handle the ball, play elite tone-setting defense, and hopefully learn how to shoot the three consistently. What really sells me on Castle is his ability to suddenly emerge as the best player on the floor at any given moment. I believe he has the unteachable clutch gene that you have to have to be great in this league. He is playing on a stacked UConn team this season, and I think that if he were the focal point of a slightly worse team, he could be a top-three player in this class.

His shooting is definitely his biggest flaw. Like I said, he has the ability to suddenly look like the best shooter on the floor. However, for the most part he struggles to knock down shots from mid-range and from beyond the arc. I'm not entirely sure what the issue is, but my leading theory is that it's a confidence thing. His mechanics don't scare me, and he has great touch on shots closer to the basket. If that's the case, I think Castle can fix this issue once he makes it to the league.

7. Reed Sheppard - Combo Guard - 6'3" 187lbs - Kentucky Wildcats

I've been unsure about how high I want to rank Reed Sheppard for a while now, and I think seventh is a pretty conservative ranking for him. The only thing about him that throws me off is his size as a shooting guard, and how he will likely have to fully transition to the point once he's in the league. Other than that, Sheppard has the most well-rounded game in this draft. He's elite on both ends of the floor, and apart from his physical traits he really has no weaknesses. On offense he's a top tier shot creator, shot maker, playmaker, decision maker, and passer. On defense he's a fantastic point-of-attack and help defender, who's quick hands lead to a ton of steals. His ball handling isn't perfect, but he's more than capable in this department, especially at the collegiate level. He's simply the type of player that could fit into any system.

Again, his size still scares me, but there are too many positives to ignore. I also think that he's a smart enough player and a hard enough worker to transition to a full-time point guard. If he can do that, his size won't be nearly as big of an issue.

8. Matas Buzelis - Wing - 6'10" 209lbs - G-League Ignite

Like Reed Sheppard, Buzelis is a player who has moved around my draft board a ton throughout the draft cycle. He started very high, then he dropped significantly, and now he's somewhere in the middle. He's one of those players who I think has way too much potential to fall outside the top-ten in this draft class. He's a part of a G-League Ignite crop who haven't seen much success this season due to a failing system. I believe this has harmed these player's outputs, and that guys like Buzelis would look way better in a different situation. Very rarely do teams have a chance to draft a guy as big and versatile as Buzelis. He's definitely an upside bet, as he's not elite at anything apart from maybe passing. However, he's good enough at everything with a ton of room to grow.

Like a ton of guys in this draft class, the biggest questions lie with his potential as a shooter. He's shown flashes of being a solid shooter from everywhere on the court, but then he'll go on long stretches where he looks pretty bad in this department. I do think he's a good shot creator, but he'll have to get better at actually knocking them down. His ball-handling could also get better, but not every guy pushing 7-feet tall is going to be a great ball-handler. No matter what, his ceiling is simply too high to rank him any lower than this spot.

9. Rob Dillingham - Combo Guard - 6'3" 176lbs - Kentucky Wildcats

Rob Dillingham may be the most interesting prospect in this draft, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand you have an explosive scorer who's able to do basically everything on that end of the floor. On the other hand, you have the worst defender in this draft class. I actually didn't want to rank him this high, but there's no other players that I think deserve to be above him as of today. Like I said, he's a guy who can do everything on offense. I'm not going to list all of his strengths on that end of the floor, because he doesn't really have any weaknesses on that end of the floor. His biggest weakness as an offensive threat is his playmaking, which he isn't bad at. If teams are looking for a guy who can come in a simply get buckets, Dillingham is their guy.

It's the other end of the court where Dillingham is seriously approaching unplayable levels. With every point he scores on offense he gives up just as many on defense. All of the size issues that I talked about with Reed Sheppard apply to Dillingham, but Sheppard makes up for those issues with great defensive play. Dillingham does not. If a team wants to draft Dillingham, they're going to have to have a plan in place to hide him on that end of the floor. I just don't see a world where he can even become an average defender. He's either going to be a Jordan Clarkson type or a Bones Hyland type, which is a significant risk in my opinion.

10. Kyle Filipowski - Center/Forward - 7'0" 248lbs - Duke Blue Devils

Kyle Filipowski is a player who I believe is a can't miss in this draft. Will he ever have all-star upside? Probably not. Will he be a versatile rotation big for his entire career? Yes. He could've been a first-round pick last year, but instead he decided to return to school to polish his game. This strategy worked, and now he's one of the most well-rounded players in this draft. He's a floor spacing big who can run the offense as a capable playmaker. He has the finesse of a guard on the drive, which separates him from his peers. On defense he puts in the work. He's not a super powerful interior defender, but he does the little things that turn average defenders into good defenders. He takes charges, he's tough boxing out, and he has high defensive IQ which allows him to be in the right place at the right time.

The biggest question I have about Filipowski is if he's capable of developing an NBA-level physique. Right now, he struggles when he matches up against size on both sides of the floor. If he can build some more muscle, I think he will be a significantly better NBA player.

11. Dalton Knecht - Wing/Shooting Guard - 6'6" 204lbs - Tennessee Volunteers

Here's another prospect in a similar situation to Dillingham. Dalton Knecht is probably the pound-for-pound best scorer in the nation this year. However, like Dillingham, he has no interest in playing defense. He's also an older player going into this draft, which raises questions about his ceiling. I will say that I am confident that Knecht will be able to score at a high-level in the NBA. His scoring arsenal is as well-rounded as it gets, and he controls the offensive game like a seasoned veteran. The issues arise when you realize he doesn't have much interest in doing anything besides scoring.

Like I said, Knecht just doesn't play defense. Do I think he could play defense? Probably. He simply has no interest in that aspect of the game. He spends entire defensive possessions saving his energy for offense. For Tennessee that strategy seems to work, but I'm not sure if he will get away with that at the next level. He also has no interest in passing the ball. He has the ball in his hands on almost every possession and averages less than two assists per game. He also struggles to make his free-throws from time-to-time, which is odd considering how good of a shooter he is. There are definitely questions about Knecht's game, but I think he is a safe bet if a team is looking for an extra scoring option.

12. DaRon Holmes II - Center/Forward - 6'10" 235lbs - Dayton Flyers

Finally, we get a little shake up on this big board. I am way higher on DaRon Holmes than the consensus and I am more than fine with that. When I see a guy who can do almost everything on a basketball court, I get excited. When you look at Holmes you see one of the best interior defenders in this draft who can also score on all three levels on the other end. He's great in the interior on both ends, as he's a fantastic shot blocker and interior scorer. Then he can space the floor on offense by knocking down the three. When Dayton uses him as an offensive hub, he becomes a solid playmaker using his elite decision-making skills. He's also a good rebounder and doesn't get into foul trouble. He's just a very good basketball player who deserves to be higher on draft boards.

There really aren't many questions regarding his game. He is an older prospect, as he is currently a junior at Dayton. He may fit better as a four than a five, but I don't think he's quite agile enough to keep up with quicker forwards. He has struggled at the free-throw line, which leads to questions about his long-term potential as a shooter, but he's been very good from three. All in all, there aren't enough weaknesses for me to have him outside of the lottery.

13. Isaiah Collier - Point Guard - 6'5" 210lbs - USC Trojans

This is a player who spent a significant amount of time as the number one prospect on most draft boards just a few months ago. After a somewhat disappointing season at USC, he has fallen significantly. The issue is that I think a ton of evaluators have gotten too carried away with dropping him on their boards, as I still believe he's a lottery talent. He's an elite tempo setter on both sides of the court. On offense he's one of the best rim attackers in the country. He's a great ball-handler and a shifty finisher who's very difficult to stop when he picks up steam. On defense he's super pesky and gives a ton of effort. He has a great build for his position that helps him succeed on both ends. When he slows down, he turns into a very good playmaker, something that I believe he will further develop at the NBA level. He's had flashes of being a solid shooter, but I'd say for the most part he's below average in this department.

Like I said, he's a great playmaker when he slows down, but when he's moving at his usual pace he makes a good number of bad turnovers. He's also not a great above the rim finisher despite being such a dynamic driver with good size. Finally, as I mentioned, his shooting leaves the most to be desired. He has to find consistency with his shot at the next level if he wants to fully maximize his potential.

14. Donovan Clingan - Center - 7'2" 280lbs - Connecticut Huskies

I say this all the time, but there are very few things as valuable in a basketball game as rim protection. Donovan Clingan is absolutely fantastic in that department. He's also one of the better big offensive hubs in this draft, as he's an elite passer at the five. He's a great rebounder and an intimidating interior scorer. His ability to be a defensive anchor in drop coverage will help his game translate to the NBA level immediately. All in all, if I were evaluating him solely based on his strengths, he would be much higher on my big board.

That being said, there are some aspects to Clingan's game that worry me going forward. I'm seriously worried about his injury concerns. He's dealt with injuries throughout his two years in college, and because of that he still plays limited minutes for UConn. He's a very big guy, and I think his size hinders his ability to move up and down the court comfortably. Losing some weight would go a long way towards extending his career. I don't think Clingan needs to be asked to add much to his game, but he should be asked to get in better condition if he wants a team to take a chance on him around the lottery.

15. Ja'Kobe Walter - Shooting Guard - 6'5" 195lbs - Baylor Bears

Some people are absolutely infatuated with Ja'Kobe Walter, and I just can't really figure out why. A prospect whose biggest asset is supposed to be his shooting who's shooting 33% from three on a big sample size doesn't wow me. He's a good enough driver to pick up points that way, but his shooting has not been the strength it was talked up to be. His mechanics and movement on shots look great, which could mean that he'll be a good shooter in the league, but the shots just aren't falling right now. He's an okay defender. Sometimes he looks really good on this end, but he's had a ton of space out moments as well. Something about his college game just seems off to me, but I can still see where his supporters are coming from.

I think this is an upside selection. If he can ever find that shot, he will quickly turn into a very productive player. He shoots well from the free-throw line, which is usually an indicator that a player is a good shooter overall. If he ever learns how to play consistent defense he could also become an impact player on that end. That being said, he won't be moving up my board unless he has a big-time tournament run.

16. Ryan Dunn - Wing - 6'8" 216lbs - Virginia Cavaliers

As a guy who probably overvalues defense, there comes a point when you can't overvalue guys who ONLY play defense. Ryan Dunn, for the most part, is a guy who ONLY plays defense. That being said, Dunn is probably the best overall defender in this class. He's a versatile defender who can guard every position on the floor. He's a nightmare on the perimeter, and he blocks shots better than any wing I've evaluated. He's fantastic as a primary defender and he's fantastic as a help defender. He has all the physical traits he needs to excel at this end of the floor, but it's his defensive IQ that really sets him apart. He could average 0 points per game, and he would still have a spot in the league because of his elite defensive play.

He simply cannot shoot the ball, and he simply cannot create his own shot in any way. He's athletic enough to be a decent driver, but he's nothing to write home about in this department either. At this point he does his best to not turn the ball over, keep the ball moving, and get out of the way. Because of how limited his offensive game is, I'm not sure if Dunn is a lottery pick. However, if he can develop even a semblance of a shot that defenders have to at least somewhat respect then he will become a very dangerous player at the next level.

17. Tidjane Salaun - Forward - 6'9" 219lbs - Cholet Basket

It's about time to take another versatile international prospect with a high ceiling. Tidjane Salaun is one of the more intriguing prospects in this class, and I think he could be one of the bigger risers as we get closer to draft day. He projects to be a solid two-way threat with legit shot creation skills and lockdown defense on the wing. He's an athletic finisher who defenders have to respect beyond the arc, making him a very difficult scorer to defend. As of right now he's an off-ball defense specialist, but with his physical traits he could easily become a guy who can guard multiple positions. He's also very young with room to grow within an organization.

He's a pretty abysmal playmaker, something that I'm not sure he'll be able to fix. He just doesn't seem to have great passing IQ, and he makes a ton of bad turnovers. This does worry me regarding his overall feel for the game. However, that really is the only weakness of his that truly popped off the screen. He doesn't have a great handle yet, but the flashes are there. Finally, this year has been the first year where he's really been able to shoot the three, so a bigger sample size would help quell some doubts in that department. Overall, I think Salaun is worth a mid-first round pick as of today.

18. Dillon Jones - Small Forward - 6'6" 235lbs - Weber State Wildcats

Dillon Jones is a difficult player to evaluate only because I'm not certain what his role in the NBA will be. He's just so good at so many things, but I'm not convinced that he's great at any one thing. He's a legitimate three-level scorer who can create his own shot or move off-ball to find it. He's a big body who's very hard to stop on the drive. He uses an array of dribble moves to get to his spots. He's a very good playmaker and passer. Finally, he's just a very smart basketball player. He's not a spectacular defender, but he's not bad either. He finds his way into passing lanes, and once again his stature makes him difficult to push around.

Like I said, I struggle to see exactly how he will be used in an NBA system. He has such a high usage rate right now, and this won't be the case at the next level. He will have to get better as a shooter if he is going to maintain his three-level scoring abilities on limited usage. I'm also not sure if he's capable of guarding opposing forwards. I'm not worried about him banging bodies in the interior, but I am concerned with his ability to stick around on the perimeter. All in all, he's just too good to not have some sort of NBA role, we're just going to have to see what that role will be down the road.

19. Yves Missi - Center - 7'0" 235lbs - Baylor Bears

Yves Missi is one of my favorite bigs in this draft because I think his game will translate well to the NBA level. He has such great feel for interior defense, and I think there's a good chance he becomes the best rim protector out of this draft. He reminds me of a stronger, better rebounding version, of Walker Kessler. He's not as lanky as someone like Kessler, but I think he makes up for that with his feel and IQ. On offense he uses his athleticism and size to be a serious lob threat in the pick-and-roll. He's also an elite offensive rebounder, a trait that is rarer than you may think. Players with these strengths don't usually have all-star upside, but if Missi can operate as a true defensive anchor, he's more than worth the pick here.

As most defensive oriented centers do, Missi has several weaknesses that I would like to see him polish. On defense he is a little jumpy. He bites at pump fakes and sometimes struggles to contest vertically, picking up fouls in the process. On offense he's not dynamic at all, with all of his offense coming at the rim. He's a bad free-throw shooter, which probably means he'll never develop an outside shot. He's not a good passer out of the post, something that would be incredibly valuable to pair with his offensive rebounding. He's a raw talent in certain aspects of the game, but if he can work on these things at the next level, he's only going to get better and better.

20. Johnny Furphy - Wing/Guard - 6'9" 202lbs - Kansas Jayhawks

Here is a guy who has risen more than anybody throughout the college basketball season, and for good reason. Johnny Furphy isn't as high on my board as he is on others, but only because the production isn't quite there to make him a legitimate lottery pick for me. That being said, I see the flashes and they're very intriguing. Furphy is a versatile player with great positional size who possesses guard skills and who can seriously shoot the ball. His ability to shoot the three is his biggest strength, as he has fantastic mechanics and makes these shots at a high clip because of it. He can create his own shot, but he really thrives as an off-ball threat where he can get catch-and-shoot opportunities. He's a good transition scorer with decent athleticism, but he's not a great driver in the half-court. Offensively, I'm pretty certain the NBA has plenty of room for 6'9" wings who can shoot the three at a high level.

As I said, right now he needs to get better at creating his own shot. He's shown flashes of this, but it needs to get more consistent if this is a trait that will translate. I would also like to see him try his hand at playmaking. For the most part, when the ball gets to Furphy it's going up. Since he's such a good shooter that's not a bad thing, but I'm curious to see if he has any passing skills. Finally, he hasn't impressed me on the defensive end. I wouldn't call him a bad defender, but he could use a little more muscle if he wants to hang with offensive talent in the league. Furphy is definitely a high-upside guy, but I wouldn't mind him spending another year at Kansas where he's the number one or two scoring option.

21. Tyler Smith - Forward - 6'11" 224lbs - G-League Ignite

Tyler Smith is one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft because his positional size is just too good to ignore. You're looking at a guy who is the size of a center, but at times plays around the perimeter like a guard. Now, for the most part he plays like a wing, but he has his moments. He can stretch the floor off of catch-and-shoot or pick-and-pop looks, and he's a great roller off of screens. He has a nice back to the basket game with a bag of moves to score in the interior. When he turns around and faces up, he can use his height and length to take pull-up shots over defenders. He's not great off the dribble yet, but this is an aspect of the game that I think he could develop. Defensively, he projects to be a very versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He's athletic and agile enough to hang around the perimeter, and he's big enough to hold his own against centers.

Right now, Smith is on a G-League Ignite team that has seriously struggled this year. Because of that his production isn't quite what you'd want it to be. His splits aren't bad, which you like to see, but the volume isn't quite there yet. However, he is sharing the floor with several guys who are higher up on this board, so it's not that big of a concern. I think development in an actual NBA organization will go a long way for Smith, as I think he has one of the higher ceilings in this draft.

22. Devin Carter - Point Guard - 6'3" 195lbs - Providence Friars

Devin Carter has been one of my biggest risers as of late, as he's been on an absolute tear this season for Providence. He's taken a major leap this season and has become one of the best two-way guards in the country. This is a guy that has been known as one of the most tenacious defensive guards in the nation for a while. However, he's gotten so much better on offense this season that he just can't be ignored as a first-round talent. He's now shooting the three at a very efficient clip, something that he didn't have in his game prior to this year. He generates a ton of points in transition, as he's a relentless rim attacker. He's a very athletic 6'3", which helps make up for his size. This is also why he's one of the best rebounding guards in the nation. He just plays very big for his size, which helps him immensely on both ends of the floor. I'm not going to say too much about his defense other than that he's probably the second-best point-of-attack defender in this draft after Ryan Dunn.

Carter really doesn't have too many weaknesses in his game. He is an older prospect, which of course drops him on boards, but his actual game is as solid as they come. He doesn't have great size at the one, but with the skills he possesses he makes up for that. He does lack a pull-up game in the mid-range. I doubt this will come either, as his mechanics are pretty slow. He kind of shoots like Tyrese Haliburton, which does work from three but not so much in the mid-range. That being said, I'm confident his skillset will be useful in the league.

23. Jared McCain - Combo Guard - 6'3" 197lbs - Duke Blue Devils

Another big riser this season, Jared McCain's stellar freshman season at Duke has vaulted him into the first-round. I am actually lower on him than most, but that's not to say he's not a great talent. He's one of the better three-point shooters in this draft, finding his shot in a multitude of ways and knocking them down at over 40%. He's a composed ball-handler and a great off-ball mover. He's a smooth driver, who can get to the rim when he decides to. He's not going to wow you with his athleticism, but he's still a capable finisher. He has a good pull-up game as well, which defenders have to respect. He's a solid perimeter defender. Again, not overly athletic, but uses his great feel for the game to stick with opposing offensive threats.

McCain's size is what really worries me. He plays more like a shooting guard than a point, but I think he will be asked to play the one at the next level. This raises questions because he hasn't proven himself as a great playmaker. He's not asked to run the offense much, and because of this he hasn't had the chance to showcase much of a passing game. He's been a solid pick-and-roll ball-handler, but he'll have to do more than that in the league. If he can use his feel and high IQ to translate to a true point guard, he will be a much more intriguing prospect in my eyes.

24. Kevin McCullar - Wing/Guard - 6'7" 212lbs - Kansas Jayhawks

Kevin McCullar is an odd evaluation for me for a multitude of reasons. He's lower on my board than most, and that's only because the guy has been in college for five years. At this point he's more than likely done developing, and I'm not sure I would use a super high pick on a guy with little room for growth. He does have a high floor, and I think he will be a good role player in the league, but that's his ceiling for me, a good role player. He's a great college player, and he's been better this year. He's a great defender on the wing and around the perimeter, and this is what his game has been prided on for years. This year he has turned into an offensive hub for Kansas, but I don't think he'll be asked to do this at the next level. Finally, he's turned into a real three-level scorer. He shoots the three well, he can score on the drive, and he can pull-up in the mid-range.

I think McCullar projects to have a long career as a three-and-D wing in the league. I think that projection is an obvious one. I don't think he has primary scorer upside, mostly because he doesn't impress me as a ball-handler or as an electric scorer. His biggest strength is his versatile defense in my opinion, which a team could always use. I think he has cemented himself as a first-round pick, but I wouldn't get carried away with taking him too high.

25. Kel'el Ware - Center - 7'0 242lbs - Indiana Hoosiers

Whatever you do, don't sleep on Kel'el Ware. Going into his freshman season last year he was projected to be a lottery pick but proceeded to struggle at Oregon. He then transferred to Indiana, where he has been very good as of late. He's higher on my board than most, because I really like what I've seen from him this year. He's an elite rim protector with great length and athleticism. He also isn't too shabby on the perimeter when he gets switched onto guards. On offense he's a very good roller, operating as a lob threat and a drop off option. He has great feel scoring in the interior, using an array of post moves to find his shot. He doesn't shoot a ton of threes, but he is capable of making shots from beyond the arc. He also has a decent mid-range pull-up game. He's not great attacking the rim off the dribble, but he's way better at this than most 7-foot centers.

Ware's biggest flaw is his inconsistency. Sometimes he looks fantastic and sometimes you forget he's on the floor. This is a result of him still being a very raw player. However, he's been much better as of late on both ends of the floor. If he lands in the right development system in the league, you're looking at a guy who could possibly do everything on a basketball court. That's incredible value late in the first-round. That being said, I think Ware will rise up draft boards as we get closer and closer to draft day.

26. Collin Murray-Boyles - Forward - 6'7" 231lbs - South Carolina Gamecocks

At this point in the draft teams should be doing one of two things: Drafting older players who fit well into their current system or long-term projects with big upside. I think Collin Murray-Boyles falls firmly into the second category. Murray-Boyles is a super young freshman who has burst onto the scene in the second half of the season for a very good South Carolina team. He has an incredible knack for getting to the basket and finishing inside. He loves to use his ball-handling skills to power to the basket. He loves to cut to the basket. He's great when he's fed the ball in the post. For a freshman, he is an elite finisher around the rim. He's a good team passer who stays disciplined and composed. He's also a solid defender who doesn't try to do too much while still being effective. He has a great feel for the game that you usually don't see with freshman who play a similar style of basketball.

His weakness may be the biggest weakness of any prospect in the first-round, he's a 6'7" wing with absolutely no semblance of an outside shot. He can't shoot the three and he has no interest in shooting the three. He's also not a good free-throw shooter, which further shows that that shot from deep may never come. He has shown flashes in the mid-range, but not enough to quell concerns. He is very young, so this shot could be developed down the road, but it will take a lot of work from Murray-Boyles. In most years I would say he needs to return for his sophomore season, but in a weaker draft such as this one he is probably a first-round selection.

27. PJ Hall - Power Forward/Center - 6'10" 238lbs - Clemson Tigers

Like I said, teams should be looking to take seasoned prospects who can fit into their rotations right away at this point in the draft, and PJ Hall fits those criteria. I listed him as a forward because I think that's where he'll play in the league, but he's primarily the five for Clemson. He's been dominant this year, and I think he could be a solid backup four or five right out of the gate. He's elite with his back to the basket in the interior, as he has a very deep bag of post moves that he uses to get buckets. He's also a capable three-point shooter. His splits aren't great from deep, but his mechanics are. He has a good face up game in the mid-range, either pulling up or powering his way to the basket. He can also turn into a solid offensive hub at times, as he's a disciplined passer who puts his teammates in good positions. He's a solid defender mostly because he's just a very strong guy, but I'm not sure how well this will translate against bigger opponents at the next level.

Hall is a little positionally awkward, as in he's built like a four, but he plays more like a stretch-five. I would compare him to a more athletic Kelly Olynyk. Similar post moves, ability to shoot and pass, and probably doesn't project as a great interior defender. Obviously, you don't want to be spending a super high pick on that type of a guy, but those guys have long and impactful careers. I would like to see him get better as a playmaker, because I could see him being asked to run some second-unit offense at the next level. If he can really turn into a true offensive hub as a big, he will be a very valuable player for a long time.

28. Jaylon Tyson - Guard/Forward - 6'7" 215lbs - California Golden Bears

A late riser at the end of the collegiate regular season, Jaylon Tyson has been very good in his junior season at Cal. A versatile offensive option, he can play a multitude of different roles on the court. As a guard he's able to set the tempo, show off his handle, hit teammates for good looks, and run the offense. When he wants to score, he can back-down smaller guards and use his deep bag of post moves to find his shot. As a forward he can play as an off-ball shooter who's capable of knocking down the three or attacking the basket off of the dribble. He's a good rebounder for his size, and he's a smart defender whose versatility also translates to this end of the floor.

For being a smart player with a good feel for the game, Tyson commits a decent number of bad turnovers when he's trying to make tough passes. I don't think this will be a huge issue at the NBA level, as he likely won't be asked to shoulder a big playmaking load, but it's worth noting. He needs to tighten up his shooting mechanics and become more consistent on his shot, and he needs to work on his first step. He's not bad at either of those things, but they could use work. I think Tyson will translate well as a versatile option for whoever takes him in the draft.

29. Izan Almansa - Power Forward - 6'10" 230lbs - G-League Ignite

The final G-League Ignite prospect on my first-round big board, Izan Almansa is another young and intriguing international prospect. He's a big man with a finesse game that I think could translate really well to the NBA level. His main calling card is his passing. He has shown flashes of being an elite passer out of the post and on the pick-and-roll. He is also a very good post-scorer who has great touch with both hands. He's a crafty pick-and-roll scorer who's capable of finishing with athletic dunks or with his soft touch and pump fakes. He's not a shooter as of today, but he has the playstyle of a guy who can go on to be a good shooter. He's a fantastic rebounder on both ends of the court. He's the type of rebounder who clearly thinks about where the ball is going to go, which shows off his high basketball IQ. He's a high-effort defender, but there are some questions about his defensive game.

I already mentioned his lack of shooting, so for this relatively short weaknesses paragraph I'll focus on his defense. He's not quite long or athletic enough to be a great rim protector, so he's forced to stick with a man for the most part. In these situations, he's a little positionally awkward. He's not quick or agile enough to stick with faster players on the perimeter, and he's not strong or big enough to bang with bigs downlow. Again, he shows a lot of effort to make up for these defensive lapses, but they are still apparent. He's going to have to seriously work on this aspect of his game to become a playable defender at the NBA level.

30. Kyshawn George - Wing - 6'8" 205lbs - Miami Hurricanes

Filling the final spot in this first-round big board is Miami freshman wing Kyshawn George. George came out of nowhere this season to land as a projected first-round pick, and he's actually lower on my board than most. I just haven't seen the production I needed to see out of him on a pretty bad Miami team. The flashes he has shown throughout the year are what have him on my board, but those flashes are carrying serious weight. He is a player with positional versatility, as he's really a guard in a wing's body. He's a really good shooter on both catch-and-shoot and pull-up looks. He's also a solid playmaker, making smart decisions and hitting open teammates without much hesitation. He gives great effort on defense and is willing to put his body on the line, but as of today I wouldn't call him a plus defender.

Obviously, George projects to be a three-and-D wing with great size. He's got the three part of the role down, now he needs to work on the defense. He's not quick enough laterally to move with smaller guards and quicker wings, and he's not strong enough to do much in the interior. I don't really like his rim pressure at the moment, as he's not a phenomenal athlete or a great finisher. He refuses to finish through contact, leading to weak attempts at the rim and getting blocked quite a bit. I like his long-term outlook, but I wish he would go back to school for his sophomore season.

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That's everything for my first big board of the 2024 NBA draft cycle. I know it's coming late, but I don't do the draft full-time and I wasn't confident in a big board until now. I would like to put together a full 60-man board by draft day, but that will obviously take some serious time. Until then, this board is obviously subject to change, and I hope you come back eager to read the next installment, whenever that may be.