In July, I wrote about 4 early contenders to exit Incorrect. 1 within the 2024 NBA Draft and two darkhorses who may emerge — highlighted through the always-relevant caveat that the checklist may alternate a modest or a batch over the upcoming 12 months. Now, as we sit down right here in late-September, it seems the solution was once that a batch will alternate and in a cut span of hour.
Matas Buzelis was once Incorrect. 1 in our way-too-early scores for 2024 headlining a loaded G League Ignite shorten of skill. That not holds upcoming an up and unwell few months during which he deny hesitancy showcased his attainable but additionally confirmed he has room to develop if he’s to exit Incorrect. 1 upcoming summer season.
Buzelis bumps all the way down to Incorrect. 6 in our up to date anticipation scores for 2024 aided partly through his personal play games however in large part because of the arise of alternative contenders close the zenith of the category.
Kentucky’s Edwards is Incorrect. 1 in Weighty Board debut
Our pristine Incorrect. 1, once more with the caveat that this would completely alternate within the coming months, is Kentucky freshman ahead Justin Edwards.
Edwards showcased scoring, playmaking and launch for Kentucky in a cut stint with the Wildcats in Canada, serving to UK deliver house {hardware} in spite of being restricted with accidents to their frontcourt. The previous five-star has the bodily stature and adulthood to be an affect participant off and on the ball with an extraordinary mix of dimension, athleticism and ball talents that makes his projection to the NBA stage a herbal one.
Holland now not some distance at the back of at Incorrect. 2
On Edwards’ tail is any other fast-rising former five-star who additionally had a just right summer season in G League Ignite first-year participant Ron Holland. Holland, a former Texas signee, regarded each bit the phase throughout the workforce’s contemporary exhibition video games in Vegas vs. the NBL’s Perth Wildcats, as he went off for 56 issues in two video games and capped his moment off with a 33-point explosion to exit with 5 steals and 6 forums.
Edwards for now could be Incorrect. 1 in our scores, however it is a 1A, 1B condition presently with he and Holland each primed because the cloudless early favorites.
G League places 4 in zenith 10
Holland’s fellow G League Ignite teammates can have some say in how that race shakes out, although. Buzelis fell to Incorrect. 6 in our scores however residue roguish as a big-bodied wing who can put the ball at the flooring.
There’s additionally the meteoric-rising gigantic guy in Alexandre Sarr, who was once arguably the greatest celebrity of the form towards Perth for either side. Sarr spent the latter few seasons with Extra time Elite as a fascinating attainable first-round pick out, and already he seems primed to form the soar from particular first-round pick out to conceivable top-10 pick out and darkhorse Incorrect. 1 contender. He’s been that remarkable.
So how else did the remainder of the early scores shake out in our first reliable anticipation scores of the 2024 cycle? The primary 2024 NBA Draft Weighty Board Lead 10 is under.
2024 NBA Draft Weighty Board
RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | POS | HT | WT |
1 | Justin Edwards | Kentucky | Fr | SF | 6-8 | 190 |
2 | Ron Holland | G League Ignite | N/A | SF | 6-6 | 204 |
3 | Isaiah Collier | USC | Fr. | PG | 6-5 | 210 |
4 | Stephon Citadel | UConn | Fr. | PG | 6-6 | 215 |
5 | Donovan Clingan | UConn | Soph. | C | 7-2 | 280 |
6 | Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | N/A | SF | 6-8 | 209 |
7 | Alexandre Sarr | G League Ignite | N/A | C | 7-1 | 205 |
8 | Tyrese Proctor | Duke | Soph. | PG | 6-5 | 183 |
9 | Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | N/A | PF | 6-10 | 216 |
10 | Kyle Filipowski | Duke | Soph. | PF | 7-0 | 248 |