By Hocine LOUKKAF on 11/29/2020
For the first time, despite all the talks about allowing the high schoolers back to the draft, some of the best freshmen will go pro in the G-League select team instead of having to leave the country. Among them, Kuminga emerges as my pick as the first name called in the 2021 NBA Draft.
#1 Jonathan Kuminga 6-8 SF G-League Ignite
NBA comparison : Jaylen Brown
Powerful SF who can drive and shoot. Not as hyped as some of his classmates but all the tools to become a great NBA player in the future and no major weakness.
#2 Jalen Green 6-5 SG G-League Ignite
NBA comparison : Poor man’s Kobe
One of the best HS dunkers of the last decade, must work on his consistency from outside and tightening his handles. A traiblazer as the first HS prospect to join G-League Ignite team.
#3 Cade Cunningham 6-8 PG Fr Oklahoma State
NBA comparison : Rich man’s Shaun Livingston
An oversized PG who can score and create for his teammates. If he can shoot consistently, he could be the first pick.
#4 Evan Mobley 7-0 PF/C Fr USC
NBA comparison : Poor man’s Anthony Davis
A fluid big man who can score both back to and facing the basket. Needs to work on gaining weight but his combination of length and athleticism could make up for it.
#5 Jalen Johnson 6-9 SF Fr Duke
NBA comparison : Jayson Tatum
Smooth player who can play both forward spots, looks like a clone of Boston star and former Duke alumni Tatum.
#6 Jalen Suggs 6-4 PG/SG Fr Gonzaga
NBA comparison : Eric Bledsoe
An athletic PG who can also shoot from outside and create for his teammates. A potential riser over the year.
#7 Ziaire Williams 6-7 SF/SG Fr Stanford
NBA comparison : Cam Reddish
An athletic swingman who has a lot of smoothness in his game. Can play both SG and SF spots.
#8 Terrence Clarke 6-6 SG Fr Kentucky
NBA comparison : Poor man’s Tracy McGrady
Smooth and athletic swingman, needs to refine his shooting. Will compete with teammate BJ Boston for playing time.
#9 Ibou Badji 7-1 C 2002 born Barcelona
NBA comparison : Rawer Rudy Gobert
A physical freak at 7-1 with extreme athleticism. Potential elite rim protector but very raw offensively.
#10 Daishen Nix 6-4 PG G-League Ignite
NBA comparison : Poor man’s Baron Davis
A physical PG, Nix possesses an array of tricks in his bag to score driving the ball. Will be able to compete against pros as the only PG in the G-League Ignite team.
#11 Brandon Boston 6-6 SG Fr Kentucky
NBA comparison : Brandon Ingram (SG version)
A bit overhyped at the HS level, Boston is a lanky SG who needs to gain strength and prove he can be a consistent shooter at the college level.
#12 Usman Garuba 6-8 PF 2002 born Real Madrid
NBA comparison : Tristan Thompson
Gained playing time very early with European powerhouse Real Madrid. A Swiss knife on defense but, despite his athleticism and strength, may lack some length and offensive skills to develop as more than an elite role player.
#13 Roko Prkacin 6-9 PF 2002 born Cibona Zagreb CRO
NBA comparison : More athletic Saric
Not the best shooter but smooth operator at both forward spots. A more fluid Dario Saric.
#14 Greg Brown 6-8 SF Texas
NBA comparison : Gerald Wallace
Athletic freak with size at the SF spot, needs to be consistent from outside to potentially enter the top 10.
#15 Josh Christopher 6-5 SG Fr Arizona State
NBA comparison : Nick Young
Pure scorer at the SG spot. A bit of a tunnel vision but efficient scorer shooting and driving to the basket.
#16 Scottie Barnes 6-8 PF/SF Fr Florida State
NBA comparison : Better athlete Kyle Anderson
Do-it-all forward who can play at both SF and PF spots, could develop as a lottery pick under the tutelage of Leonard Hamilton.
#17 Keon Johnson 6-5 SG Fr Tennessee
NBA comparison : lighter Norman Powell
Ferocious competitor on both ends of the floor. If his skills can match up his athleticism, could end up a top 10 pick.
#18 Isaiah Todd 6-9 PF G-League Ignite
NBA comparison : Jeff Green
Very agile forward who can shoot from outside. His length and athleticism at the PF spots make him a potential lottery pick.
#19 James Bouknight, 6-5 SG So Connecticut
NBA comparison : Alec Burks
Dynamic SG with nice athleticism. Can create his own shot or use his handles to score at the rim. Good rebounder at his position.
#20 Oscar Tshiebwe 6-9 C So West Virginia
NBA comparison : Bismack Biyombo
A combination of athleticism and strength, Tshiebwe is still raw on offense but by refining his offense and developing his IQ on defense, could emerge as a surefire first pick.
#21 Caleb Love 6-3 PG Fr UNC
NBA comparison : Terry Rozier
Score first PG, Love has better physical tools than recent top 10 pick Coby White at 6-4 with his 6-9 wingspan. A good year at UNC could make him a lottery pick.
#22 Juhann Begarin 6-5 SG 2002 born Paris Basket FRA
NBA comparison : Jeremy Lamb
The French SG has been playing against pros since last year. Needs to refine his handles and shooting to match up with his outstanding physical tools (6-5 with a 7ft wingspan).
#23 Scottie Lewis 6-5 SG So Florida
NBA comparaison : tougher Terrence Ferguson
An incredible athlete, Scottie Lewis is mainly a finisher whose defense and improved shooting could make him get guarantees to be a first rounder.
#24 Jaden Springer 6-4 SG Fr Tennessee
NBA comparison : Jerryd Bayless
A potential lottery pick, Springer may suffer from the depth of this class at the SG position. A bit undersized but one of the best offensive players of the group.
#25 Jared Butler 6-2 PG Jr Baylor
NBA comparaison : lighter Patty Mills
Score first PG, could have been a late first round this year. One of the best 3pt shooters in college basketball (38% on 7 attempts last year).
#26 Trayce Jackson-Davis 6-10 PF So Indiana
NBA comparison : Ed Davis
Old school type of big man who loves to bang inside and could be used as a small ball five. Needs to add an outside shot to hope more than being a late first pick.
#27 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 6-8 PF So Villanova
NBA comparison : Eric Paschall
Athletic PF with a nice array of skills and an efficient jumper inside 20 feet. Could make up for his lack of length with an improving 3pt shot.
#28 Corey Kispert 6-7 Sr Gonzaga
NBA comparison : Doug McDermott
Someone you can bring from the bench to bring points behind the 3pt line, Kispert has emerged as a starter in one of the most solid college programs despite his underwhelming athleticism.
#29 Romeo Weems 6-7 SF/PF So DePaul
NBA comparison : Mo Harkless
Athletic forward who could already be a nice Swiss knife on defense. Needs to refine his offensive skills.
#30 Aaron Henry 6-6 SF/SG Jr Michigan State
NBA comparison : less athletic Justice Winslow
All-around swingman who can defend positions 1 to 4. One more year under coach Izzo could help him blossom as a leader for MSU and a potential glue guy in the NBA.