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With the Rising Sophomores and Mid-Major Watch threads, I thought this could also be an interesting thread topic. I tried to get some talk started in the main thread but since it didn't pick up, perhaps a separate thread helps.

Who do you view as the upperclassmen most likely to rise come draft time and leave a mark in the NBA?

To start out with a couple players:

– Jalen Wilson. Already talked about him a bit. Shooting consistency is the swing skill but he just has an NBA profile and an offensive skillset that should translate to the NBA. Strong, creative and patient in the paint, good ball-handling and playmaking ability from the wing and his shooting form is fine even if the results are still up and down. Not only a safe FRP but a potential lottery pick for me.

– Ricky Council IV. Council with more space to drive could be a weapon in the NBA. He's quick, athletic, long and somewhat crafty. If I trusted his shooting ability, he'd be a lottery pick for me. As is, I'm still wait-and-see on him but he surely is a FRP and I could even see him pushing into the lottery.

– Kris Murray. Comes off a couple less stellar games but he has shown what he can be. He fits the modern NBA archetype of a combo-forward that spaces the floor and has sufficient athleticism to work in the NBA. His ceiling is not that great due to his limited on-ball and creation skills but it's hard to not see him as a really good role player at the next level. Certainly a FRP for me as well.

A short list of Upperclassmen who I'll pay closer attention to – feel free to add (the list of by no means exhaustive)!



I'd be looking most closely at Baylor Scheierman, Julian Strawther, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark who I can see being intriguing to a playoff team looking for bench depth at the end of the first round. But a couple others could fit that mold, too.

solid list, you pretty much have everyone noteworthy covered. i'd add Hunter Dickinson, also was hoping Allen Flanigan would return to his soph form but he hasn't yet, he probably made a mistake not coming out at that point, now he's two years older and not much to show for it in terms of production.

Justin Powell is worth keeping an eye on I guess, keeps switching schools but now looks like he's back to being one of the better half court PGs in the country, and is shooting 48/50/83 right now, if that holds up he might be worth a two way possibly

Cam Spencer, Isaiah Wong, Mike Miles, are other names, not draftable but maybe camp guys.

clyde21 wrote:solid list, you pretty much have everyone noteworthy covered. i'd add Hunter Dickinson, also was hoping Allen Flanigan would return to his soph form but he hasn't yet, he probably made a mistake not coming out at that point, now he's two years older and not much to show for it in terms of production.

Justin Powell is worth keeping an eye on I guess, keeps switching schools but now looks like he's back to being one of the better half court PGs in the country, and is shooting 48/50/83 right now, if that holds up he might be worth a two way possibly

Cam Spencer, Isaiah Wong, Mike Miles, are other names, not draftable but maybe camp guys.

You think Hunter Dickinson is an NBA prospect? I never thought of him as one, honestly, considering his poor mobility. I agree with Flanigan. I had an eye on him but I think that ship has sailed barring something crazy happening.

The Justin Powell mention is a great one! I liked him when he first played in Auburn as a Freshman and then just completely forgot about him. I'll definitely add him to my watch list.

And thanks for pointing the last three out. I only had an eye on Mike Miles but also haven't paid particular attention to him – I'll make sure to check them out.

Will continue to beat the drum for Jalen Pickett…averaging 15.1/6.6/7.6 with a 13.6 BPM so far in leading Penn State to a surprisingly good start

In no order:

Edey: he's more mobile than expected for a 7-4 300 pound guy.
Peterson: 6-9 guard, tough shot taker and maker.
Bacot: nothing special, better Looney on both ends. Small shades of Zbo.

Maxwell Lewis
Terquavian Smith
Emoni Bates

BostonCouchGM wrote:Maxwell Lewis
Terquavian Smith
Emoni Bates

Emoni Bates. Damm i haven't heard that name in a while. What happened to him?

BostonCouchGM wrote:Maxwell Lewis
Terquavian Smith
Emoni Bates

Those are Sophomores.

It's a very weak Junior/Senior class. TBH the Sophomores aren't great either.

We will probably see a record number of Freshman declare as a result.

EvanZ wrote:It's a very weak Junior/Senior class. TBH the Sophomores aren't great either.

We will probably see a record number of Freshman declare as a result.

that's gonna be the trend with more players declaring early. there was a bunch of dudes last year that had no business coming out from a bball standpoint, like Watson and Houstan.

Lamont Butler
N'Faly Dante
Ryan Kalkbrenner
Donta Scott

The-Power wrote:

BostonCouchGM wrote:Maxwell Lewis
Terquavian Smith
Emoni Bates

Those are Sophomores.

That’s my bad. I’ve incorrectly put every non-freshmen into the upperclassmen category as it pertains to the NBA draft for all these years

BostonCouchGM wrote:

The-Power wrote:

BostonCouchGM wrote:Maxwell Lewis
Terquavian Smith
Emoni Bates

Those are Sophomores.

That’s my bad. I’ve incorrectly put every non-freshmen into the upperclassmen category as it pertains to the NBA draft for all these years

Honestly in this day and age if you’re not a OAD you might as well be considered an upperclassman.


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Kris Murray with a casual 31/20/4/2 game (7-10 on 2s, 4-8 on 3s, 5-8 on FTs) against Georgia Tech. What a bounce back game after two subpar performances by his standards.

If he drops to the mid-late first round in the draft, I'd love for the Warriors to get their hands on him somehow. I won't hold my breath but if the Warriors aren't a HCA team by the end of the season (and Keegan continues to struggle a bit), it's at least not a ridiculous idea.

If Adama Sanogo's 3pt shooting is for real, that changes things

He probably still comes back for his senior year, and he really doesn't have the athleticism or defensive ability to make it in the NBA, but I'm rooting for him.

Colby Jones of Xavier looks like a guy who could carve out a 3&d role in the NBA Gonna.keep watching him, he's a smart player.

draftable non-FS right now (including sophs as well in this thread just for consolidation)

not an exact ranking but rough outline

Ricky Council
Jordan Hawkins
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Jalen Wilson
Kris Murray
Trey Alexander
Harrison Ingram
Jaylen Clark
Colby Jones
Tyrese Hunter
Terq Smith
Taran Armstrong
DaRon Holmes
Oscar Tshiebwe
Trevon Brazile
Tucker DeVries
Caleb Love
Adama Sanogo
Marcus Sasser
Julian Strawther
Baylor Scheierman
Maxwell Lewis
Lamont Butler
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
N'Faly Dante
Wesley Cardet

not all will be necessarily drafted but just guys that might get looks to be drafted, obviously the lower you are on the list the less likely.

Keyontae Johnson is back from the ashes, poor choice of wording. Playing well after two years of inactivity. Clear NBA talent, could be a steal in the 2nd rd if things check out.

CP War Hawks wrote:Keyontae Johnson is back from the ashes, poor choice of wording. Playing well after two years of inactivity. Clear NBA talent, could be a steal in the 2nd rd if things check out.

Just finished up watching Nevada-KSU. If Lu Dort can make it, there's definitely a place for Keyontae, health issues notwithstanding.

Keyontae was always an NBA talent, assuming he's healthy and ready to go, sucks that he's a few yrs older now and he could've gotten his career started a few years ago.

i know my guy babyjax is a big fan.