It’s time for my first attempt at writing about basketball!
The NFL season is in a bit of a break right now, so I thought it would be a good time to turn my efforts to another one of my favorite sports: basketball. I divided my top thirty prospects into tiers and ranked them.
If anybody wants to yell at me, reach out to my Instagram at @fanmusings!
Tier 1: Can’t-miss talents
1. Cade Cunningham – PG, Oklahoma State
2. Jalen Suggs – SG, Gonzaga
3. Jalen Green – SG, G-League Ignite
4. Evan Mobley – C, USC
These are the top-tier prospects in the draft, and they could all serve as the faces of the franchises that draft them. I’m much higher on Suggs than most, but this top four is pretty consistent throughout the Internet.
Tier 2: Could be stars, but still have questions
5. Scottie Barnes – SF, Florida State
6. Davion Mitchell – PG, Baylor
7. Jonathon Kuminga – PF, G-League Ignite
The biggest surprise in this tier is probably Kuminga, but I’m just not as high on him as the general media are. His ceiling is high, but there are still a large number of questions about him, and I can’t put him into the first tier because of that.
Tier 3: Either solid NBA players or high-ceiling low-floor guys
8. Josh Giddey – SG, Australia
9. Keon Johnson – SG, Tennessee
10. Alperen Sengun – C, Turkey
11. Moses Moody – SG, Arkansas
12. Jalen Johnson – SF, Duke
13. James Bouknight – SG, UConn
This tier is probably the tier that is most volatile, and you could see prospects rise or drop multiple tiers. Keep an eye on Josh Giddey. He’s one of my favorite players in this draft; think of a prototype of LaMelo Ball.
Tier 4: Phenomenal shooters with questions about the rest of their game
14. Johnny Juzang – SG, UCLA
15. Corey Kispert – SF, Gonzaga
16. Franz Wagner – SF, Michigan
17. Tre Mann – PG, Florida
This tier has prospects that everybody would want. Shooting is insanely important in the NBA today, so these prospects will probably go in the lottery. If Juzang comes out, I think he has a chance to go incredibly high in the draft.
Tier 5: High-upside projects with more work to be done
18. Ziaire Williams – SG, Stanford
19. Kai Jones – C, Texas
20. Usman Garuba – PF, Spain
21. Greg Brown – PF, Texas
These are the classic boom-or-bust prospects. Fit will be incredibly important for these prospects. Watch out for Ziaire Williams, though. If things go right, he could be one of the best players in this draft class; his upside is that high.
Tier 6: Guards who could stick in the league through playmaking or shooting
22. Ayo Dosunmo – SG, Illinois
23. Sharife Cooper – PG, Auburn
24. Jared Butler – PG, Baylor
25. Cameron Thomas – SG, LSU
26. Chris Duarte – SG, Oregon
These prospects can all step in and be instant contributors. A great example of a guy from the 2020 class who would fit in this tier is Immanuel Quickley. I think Ayo Dosunmo has the best chance to be an All-Star level talent, but these are all impact guys.
Tier 7: Likely late first-round picks
27. Isaiah Jackson – PF, Kentucky
28. Day’Ron Sharpe – C, North Carolina
29. Jaden Springer – PG, Tennessee
30. Max Abmas – PG, Oral Roberts
Unless something drastic changes in the pre-draft process, these players will go in the late first or early second round. I’m incredibly high on Max Abmas; I think his March Madness run is indicative of who he could be in the NBA.
