The NBA draft is right around the corner. 60 Players from all over the world will get their shot to play for an NBA organization. The Draft is an opportunity for teams to either rework their whole system or to find a player who may contribute to a championship season. This year’s draft is like any other, with high-caliber players and lottery drama; there are endless possibilities for players. Here is a preview of the first three selections in the draft, plus some potential sleeper players.
Mock Draft
- Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg | PF/SF | Duke
Flagg is a no-brainer for the first overall pick in this year’s draft. His lengthy frame, pure athleticism, and scoring abilities put him at the top of every single team’s draft board. Flag initially started his basketball career in Maine, before transferring to the famous NBA player machine, Montverde Academy. Flagg also played on this past summer’s USA Olympic men’s basketball team, and then rounded off his resume by dominating college basketball playing for Duke for just one year.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper | PG/SG | Rutgers
Spurs fans may have been disappointed at missing out on Flagg in the draft lottery; however, Dylan Harper is a close second. He was a standout freshman for Rutgers last year, averaging almost 20 points per game last year! Harper’s size is also very enticing, he is a 6 ‘6 point guard with impressive strength and quickness. Harper will enter a tough guard room in San Antonio with Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox; however, he is simply too good a prospect to pass up. When asked about the pick, Senior, and Spurs fan Matthew Croteau said, “Harper is a no-brainer. Unless Flagg somehow falls, then you’ve got to pick Harper, he is too big.”
3. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey | SG/SF | Rutgers
Dylan Harper’s teammate at Rutgers, Ace Bailey, is very close in talent to Harper and may even show more potential. Bailey also dominated at Rutgers as a freshman, averaging close to 18 points per game! Bailey has the classic 6’9 205 lbs build, which has dominated the NBA wing spot for years with players such as Kevin Durant and Franz Wagner sharing a similar stature. Bailey’s lengthy body and accurate jump shot make him a major scoring threat with scary athleticism. Bailey also fits in well with the Hornets’ system, as he will be able to play alongside young stars LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. This new big three poses as a matchup nightmare for most NBA teams.
Sleeper Players
- Hansen Yang | C | China | Projected: Early-Mid 2nd Round
Hansen Yang is a 7-2 Center from China who dominated the international game. Averaging 16 points a night and 11 rebounds in China at just 19 years old! Yang also played extensively for China’s national team in FIBA (International Basketball Federation) play. Yang’s skills are a little raw, but China has a name for producing talented big men. Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, are just a couple of names on China’s long list of tall talents.
2. Hugo Gonzalez | SG | Spain | Projected: Late 1st Round
Gonzalez has mysteriously fallen off draft boards in the past few years for no reason. While his Euro League minutes leave analysts with questions, the truth is that Gonzalez was just a young kid on one of the best European teams, Real Madrid. Gonzalez shows a high defensive potential with strong slashing abilities and an average three-point shot. Gonzalez lacks the ability to create his own shot, but he really does not need to. He perfectly fits the athletic two-way guard role that most championship rosters crave. Gonzalez should certainly be a late lottery pick. Spanish basketball fan and Junior Nico Cicerone, who has watched Gonzalez in person, says, “He is definitely underrated. When I watched him, he was like 17 and he fit in on a team of ex-NBA players.”
