• Fr
• 6’10”
/ 250 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
17.2
RPG
7.8
APG
3.2
3P%
33.8%
Having the Duke star at No. 1 should not be a contrarian opinion. Banchero was the best freshman in college hoops last season, he led his team to the Final Four, he has an NBA-ready body, he has a litany of skills and is one of the best passing bigs in this year’s draft. There has never been a moment over the past three-plus years where his skills didn’t translate/project to being a wonderful combination of old-school mobile big and modern play-thru power forward. He is the most NBA-ready player in this draft. Be it in dribble pull-ups, using the post, rim-running, coming off screens, catch-and-shoots or on cuts, Banchero is capable of scoring in myriad ways. He’s also got some touch around the rim that, combined with his physicality, makes him a tough matchup. The fullest package.
Auburn
• Fr
• 6’10”
/ 220 lbs
PPG
16.9
RPG
7.4
APG
2
3P%
42%
Barring injury (these things are always barring injury, of course) the floor for Jabari Smith is a 10-year starter in the NBA. His size, frame, shooting stroke, shooting range and defensive potential make him highly likely to hit and hit big. He checks essentially every box. The only reason I have him below Banchero is I feel Banchero has more it-factor than Smith, which isn’t to say Smith can’t get there. He’s just got more room to grow. I’d like to see more of a killer mentality late in games, too. Still, Smith would appear to be the most bust-proof player in this year’s pool. If you could build an NBA Draft pick in a lab, Smith would in many ways be the model.
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