#6 – Brandon Clarke (6’8″, 215-pound big):“If Zion is tier-one athleticism, then Brandon Clarke is tier two and the drop off after these two is huge. Brandon’s calling card is that he is the complete package on defense. He is an excellent help defender. Clarke takes it a personal affront to his character when you beat his teammates on defense. His explosive leaping ability enables him to be an excellent shot blocker. And he also projects as a switch defender from 1-4. And Clarke is a very smart defender overall. Clarke’s explosive athleticism also lead him to be in the 97th percentile in PPP on post-ups, 89th percentile in transition, 97th percentile on put-backs, while being 98th percentile on spot-ups (on 37 possessions), and 93rd percentile in isolation (on 26 possessions).
Clarke is a textbook player to be more valuable in the postseason than the regular season. His value in the regular season could be limited to him being more of a 4 on defense (6’8, not likely to bang with the 5s of the NBA) and a 5 on offense (though he shot well, it was a small sample size and his shooting largely remains theoretical, leaving him to project as a rim runner). However, in the playoffs where the offense needs to be more efficient and the defense needs to be more versatile and mobile, Brandon Clarke will shine.” (Cole Casstevens)
#10 – Jaxson Hayes (6’11”, 220-pound center):“Hayes might have some of the most translatable skills out of anyone in this draft class. He can finish on the interior, protect the rim, and fight for boards down low. With a 220 pound frame, Hayes also sports a strangely fluid build, something that’s promising should he (likely) bulk up at the professional level.
Many of Hayes’s weaknesses are a result of his massive growth spurt in high school. Shooting up over a foot in four years, the prospect saw much of his role shift during crucial developmental years. Learning to play the game as a big man is difficult to do at any time, let alone trying to master it in your late teens. Common criticisms of Hayes’ game are his poor basketball IQ, limited versatility, and effectiveness on the glass.” (Noah Elmore)
#11 – Sekou Doumbouya (6’9″, 230-pound forward):Our first international player listed on the big board, Sekou Doumbouya represents the country of France as a late-lottery selection. Doumbouya is a Swiss-army knife player that projects to do it all on both ends of the floor. Where he specializes is within a fast-paced offense that utilizes his transition-oriented game. He’s been compared to Pascal Siakam for his defensive versatility and ability to play in the open floor, something that bodes well for his stock heading into June.
Where Sekou Doumbouya is going to make his money in his career is on the offensive end. I have little doubt Doumbouya will be able to find a role in the switch everything mindset in today’s NBA. However, if Sekou can become a player who can initiate offense and create for others, you’re looking at a prospect who very well could be the steal of the draft.
