Our other R1 pick.

[payitforward]

In the main draft thread there's been relatively little discussion of the #19 pick we have from Memphis. I think it'd be useful to have a thread dedicated to that pick.

NBAdraftroom has us picking Liam McNeeley -- with Hugo Gonzales, Rasheer Fleming, Joan Beringer, Nique Clifford, Ben Saraf, John Broome, Thomas Sorber, Noah Penda, Walter Clayton Jr., Danny Wolf, & Labaron Philon coming off the board from 20-30.

This is an important pick -- where do you stand? Who should we grab? Who do you think will be there to take?

[doclinkin]

18. We won the coin flip.

We’ve talked about it a mess but I’m happy to spotlight it more. Tankathon has us with Sorber. Which id be ecstatic about. I think he goes higher. I’ve seen him mocked as high as mid lottery.

To me the question then is if he’d be worth dumping a handful of seconds with the 18 to move up to take. I say yes. I’d also be okay chasing Queen in this way.

If not and if Sorber is gone, I’d like Rasheer Fleming or Yaxel Lendeborg. Both jumped out to me in early stat hunts for productive bigs. Both rebound and play defense. Fleming has outside shooting that should translate. Yaxel is an adept passer. Both are older but both are late developers. Fleming is actually only a half year older than Queen.

I like some of the French phenoms. But I think this team needs to start building a solid defensive front court that complements Sarrs more finesse oriented game at center.

Best case scenario to me is Sorber since he’s the youngest and largest of this productive bunch. AND since his turf toe operation will keep him out for most of the season if we slow play it. Helping with the tank if he’s as good as I hope.

[trast66]

The OKC draft philosophy per Presti is “There's high processing on offense, high skill level with regards to vision and passing, and that's combined with big players, people that can handle the ball, make decisions with the ball, are pretty big for their position, are interchangeable.” He thinks shooting can be developed so not prioritizing on draft night. Also likes wing span well in excess of height.

Nique Clifford, Joan Beringer, Egor Demin seem to fit the bill.

Personally I like Nique Clifford, but probably too old for their taste.

[DCZards]

T. Sorber
R. Fleming
C. Bryant

Those are my top picks at 18. I’m hoping one of them is available.

[tontoz]

Yeah I am in the same boat:

Sorber
Bryant
Fleming
Lendeborg

[SUPERBALLMAN]

The OKC draft philosophy per Presti is “There's high processing on offense, high skill level with regards to vision and passing, and that's combined with big players, people that can handle the ball, make decisions with the ball, are pretty big for their position, are interchangeable.” He thinks shooting can be developed so not prioritizing on draft night. Also likes wing span well in excess of height.

Nique Clifford, Joan Beringer, Egor Demin seem to fit the bill.

Personally I like Nique Clifford, but probably too old for their taste.

Players I like in general that could be available in the 18 range include Sorber, Fleming, Asa Newell, Bryant, Essengue, Beringer, Wolf, Thiero, Powell.

I especially like Carter Bryant and Thomas Sorber, but I expect both will be off the board before 18. Asa and Essengue will probably also be gone already.

Fleming could be the best realistic target, 7-4 wingspan & versatile defender, and early word is he's been killing it in workouts. Powell is another player that intrigues me that I would expect to be available at 18. Fleming and Powell are both top tier defensive prospects with high end offensive flashes, versatility, athleticism, high motor, and upside.

I think the 1st pick could somewhat determine what direction we go at 18 to some extent. If we get Flagg, a PF, I could see maybe going with Bryant or Powell at 18 for example, whereas if we get Harper, a guard, maybe Sorber or Fleming are more in play.

I'm also looking at our 2nd rounder at 40, and a player I really like there if we don't take Sorber at 18 would be Maxime Raynaud the Center from Stanford. Imagine if Tristan Vukcevic was given a brain transfusion that implanted a mindset for him to play inside, grab every rebound he can get to, block shots, and dunk the ball as often as possible, and that would be Raynaud. Added bonus is he's French and has played with Coulibaly.


So I could definitely see a realistic outcome of (Plan A) Flagg, Powell, Raynaud or (Plan B) Harper, Fleming, Raynaud, depending on how things shake out in the lottery.


Plan A Roster:
Centers - Sarr, Tristan, Raynaud
Forwards- Flagg, Bey, Middleton, Bilal, Kyshawn, Champagnie
Guards - Poole, Powell, Colby Jones, Bub, AJ, Smart

Plan B Roster:
Centers - Sarr, Tristan, Raynaud
Forwards - Fleming, Bey, Middleton, Bilal, Kyshawn, Champagnie
Guards - Poole, Harper, Colby Jones, Bub, AJ, Smart

2026 - (2) 1st Round Picks + (4) 2nd round picks

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

18. We won the coin flip.

We’ve talked about it a mess but I’m happy to spotlight it more. Tankathon has us with Sorber. Which id be ecstatic about. I think he goes higher. I’ve seen him mocked as high as mid lottery.

To me the question then is if he’d be worth dumping a handful of seconds with the 18 to move up to take. I say yes. I’d also be okay chasing Queen in this way.

If not and if Sorber is gone, I’d like Rasheer Fleming or Yaxel Lendeborg. Both jumped out to me in early stat hunts for productive bigs. Both rebound and play defense. Fleming has outside shooting that should translate. Yaxel is an adept passer. Both are older but both are late developers. Fleming is actually only a half year older than Queen.

I like some of the French phenoms. But I think this team needs to start building a solid defensive front court that complements Sarrs more finesse oriented game at center.

Best case scenario to me is Sorber since he’s the youngest and largest of this productive bunch. AND since his turf toe operation will keep him out for most of the season if we slow play it. Helping with the tank if he’s as good as I hope.

Sorber is still leaving the outside chance that he might return to Georgetown as a possibility. That's tying up $2.5M that the Hoyas can't use for the portal until Sorber decides.

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/cbb-insider-hints-georgetown-may-miss-out-top-targets-2-5m-tied-thomas-sorber/

[pcbothwel]

Yeah I am in the same boat:

Sorber
Bryant
Fleming
Lendeborg

Same. I have Essengue at the top of the list, but still in line with the 4 above.

[doclinkin]

Yeah I am in the same boat:

Sorber
Bryant
Fleming
Lendeborg

Same. I have Essengue at the top of the list, but still in line with the 4 above.

I suspect the front office agrees with you. Slotting Essengue between Sorber and Bryant.

[doclinkin]

18. We won the coin flip.

We’ve talked about it a mess but I’m happy to spotlight it more. Tankathon has us with Sorber. Which id be ecstatic about. I think he goes higher. I’ve seen him mocked as high as mid lottery.

To me the question then is if he’d be worth dumping a handful of seconds with the 18 to move up to take. I say yes. I’d also be okay chasing Queen in this way.
…
Best case scenario to me is Sorber since he’s the youngest and largest of this productive bunch. AND since his turf toe operation will keep him out for most of the season if we slow play it. Helping with the tank if he’s as good as I hope.

Sorber is still leaving the outside chance that he might return to Georgetown as a possibility. That's tying up $2.5M that the Hoyas can't use for the portal until Sorber decides.

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/cbb-insider-hints-georgetown-may-miss-out-top-targets-2-5m-tied-thomas-sorber/

He’ll get a promise from a team that encourages him to jump. Unless his medical are a mess. If so though I don’t know that he’d improve his position by staying and rehabbing.

Don’t we still have JT3 on staff? I think the kid would be getting very good advice through the Hoyas pipeline that his best move is starting his career early.

Respect though if he’s enjoying college life and makes a personal decision. History suggests players lose $ when they return to school since the mystery evaporates. But nothing can replace good memories.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Not the Wiz type because he’s already of legal drinking age and not French, but I love Nique Clifford. Very good two way player, lots of offensive diversity - can dribble, finish, pass.

I’d be out of my mind thrilled with Flagg or Harper/Nique/Reynaud

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Not the Wiz type because he’s already of legal drinking age and not French, but I love Nique Clifford. Very good two way player, lots of offensive diversity - can dribble, finish, pass.

I’d be out of my mind thrilled with Flagg or Harper/Nique/Reynaud

I do like Nique, he is highly skilled, and obviously has a good work ethic as shown by the way his game has improved and evolved throughout his college career. And the way he's consistantly improved leads no reason to think he doesn't have the upside to continue his upward trajectory, but there's also not all the projection and hoping he'll possibly reach potential because he's already good and well rounded. He has great vision and passing, can shoot from deep and has touch inside, he's athletic and a good defender. And he's physically ready for the NBA, we don't have to wait years for him to develop.

He's a year younger than Champagnie, and 6 months older than Vukcevic, and the same age as Colby Jones. His age is fine, he'll fit right in. I'd be totally happy if they took him at 18.

Watch on YouTube

[payitforward]

Nique is a 5th-year Senior. I'd be shocked to see Dawkins pick him.

[payitforward]

nate talks Sorber up in the main draft thread -- might be better to discuss here...?

And Sorber is in.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2025-early-entrant-tracker/

I just did a deep dive on Sorber. I like him!

I really like his technique on defense. He's great at stepping up into guys as they shoot to take away their space, but in a manner that doesn't draw a whistle. He also does a real good job of staying in front of guys in space even though he doesn't look like he has very quick feet - kinda of like Kyshawn George in that respect. He also gets a ton of steals for a big man.

Offensively, he sets big wide screens with his legs far apart. And he's always looking to "accidentally" obstruct a defender when he rolls to the basket. He's also a pretty good shooter (73% FT) and has shown some flashes of a mid-range jumper; and he has an A/TO ratio greater than 1.0.

The guy he reminds a lot of is Al Horford.

A mild concern is that he isn't particularly tall or long. He won't have rim deterrence by virtue of being massive like Clingan or Lively. He doesn't have the freakishly quick feet and crazy wingpan to be hyper-switchable like Bam, Okongwu or Draymond. And he doesn't have the explosion to be a prolific roll man like Gafford. It's possible that he just won't be able to match up physically with starting centers in the NBA and will be more of a backup. Like Horford, I think he is going to have to develop a reliable jumper or he might be a liability on offense.

nate -- are you suggesting that (at this point) he'd be your first choice at 18? Or...?

[nate33]

nate talks Sorber up in the main draft thread -- might be better to discuss here...?

And Sorber is in.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2025-early-entrant-tracker/

I just did a deep dive on Sorber. I like him!

I really like his technique on defense. He's great at stepping up into guys as they shoot to take away their space, but in a manner that doesn't draw a whistle. He also does a real good job of staying in front of guys in space even though he doesn't look like he has very quick feet - kinda of like Kyshawn George in that respect. He also gets a ton of steals for a big man.

Offensively, he sets big wide screens with his legs far apart. And he's always looking to "accidentally" obstruct a defender when he rolls to the basket. He's also a pretty good shooter (73% FT) and has shown some flashes of a mid-range jumper; and he has an A/TO ratio greater than 1.0.

The guy he reminds a lot of is Al Horford.

A mild concern is that he isn't particularly tall or long. He won't have rim deterrence by virtue of being massive like Clingan or Lively. He doesn't have the freakishly quick feet and crazy wingpan to be hyper-switchable like Bam, Okongwu or Draymond. And he doesn't have the explosion to be a prolific roll man like Gafford. It's possible that he just won't be able to match up physically with starting centers in the NBA and will be more of a backup. Like Horford, I think he is going to have to develop a reliable jumper or he might be a liability on offense.

nate -- are you suggesting that (at this point) he'd be your first choice at 18? Or...?

I haven't (and probably won't) do a thorough enough analysis to put together a specific ranking of who I like at #18. For now, I'll just say that Sorber looks like a real NBA player, though I'm not 100% sure he'll pan out as a starter. Given our needs on this team, he looks like he'd be a fine pick at #18.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

nate talks Sorber up in the main draft thread -- might be better to discuss here...?

And Sorber is in.

https://www.rookiescale.com/2025-early-entrant-tracker/

I just did a deep dive on Sorber. I like him!

I really like his technique on defense. He's great at stepping up into guys as they shoot to take away their space, but in a manner that doesn't draw a whistle. He also does a real good job of staying in front of guys in space even though he doesn't look like he has very quick feet - kinda of like Kyshawn George in that respect. He also gets a ton of steals for a big man.

Offensively, he sets big wide screens with his legs far apart. And he's always looking to "accidentally" obstruct a defender when he rolls to the basket. He's also a pretty good shooter (73% FT) and has shown some flashes of a mid-range jumper; and he has an A/TO ratio greater than 1.0.

The guy he reminds a lot of is Al Horford.

A mild concern is that he isn't particularly tall or long. He won't have rim deterrence by virtue of being massive like Clingan or Lively. He doesn't have the freakishly quick feet and crazy wingpan to be hyper-switchable like Bam, Okongwu or Draymond. And he doesn't have the explosion to be a prolific roll man like Gafford. It's possible that he just won't be able to match up physically with starting centers in the NBA and will be more of a backup. Like Horford, I think he is going to have to develop a reliable jumper or he might be a liability on offense.

nate -- are you suggesting that (at this point) he'd be your first choice at 18? Or...?

I actually think a comp for Sorber is Jonas Valanciunas. The size and strength, the rebounding and boxing out, the screen setting, the passing out of the high post like JV are all top level. You can run the offense through them with the high post passing, the pick and roll, pick and pop, shooting the midrange, DHOs…. Although I think Sorber is much better defensively, they both play a below the rim game that’s reliant on strength.

[payitforward]

Here are 8 guys usually mocked just above 18:

Carter Bryant
Collin Murray-Boyles
Noa Essengue
Kasparis Jakucionis
Jase Richardson
Asa Newell
Egor Demin
Nolan Traore

If one of them fell (which one?) would we be smart to take him over, e.g., Thomas Sorber? (Or...?)

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Here are 8 guys usually mocked just above 18:

Carter Bryant
Collin Murray-Boyles
Noa Essengue
Kasparis Jakucionis
Jase Richardson
Asa Newell
Egor Demin
Nolan Traore

If one of them fell (which one?) would we be smart to take him over, e.g., Thomas Sorber? (Or...?)

Out of that list definitely Bryant, but I expect him to go top 10. He’s rising right now. Essengue would probably be my 2nd choice but I also don’t think he’ll drop that far.

The one I could realistically see dropping to 18 on that list that I’d love is Asa Newell.

[nate33]

nate talks Sorber up in the main draft thread -- might be better to discuss here...?

I just did a deep dive on Sorber. I like him!

I really like his technique on defense. He's great at stepping up into guys as they shoot to take away their space, but in a manner that doesn't draw a whistle. He also does a real good job of staying in front of guys in space even though he doesn't look like he has very quick feet - kinda of like Kyshawn George in that respect. He also gets a ton of steals for a big man.

Offensively, he sets big wide screens with his legs far apart. And he's always looking to "accidentally" obstruct a defender when he rolls to the basket. He's also a pretty good shooter (73% FT) and has shown some flashes of a mid-range jumper; and he has an A/TO ratio greater than 1.0.

The guy he reminds a lot of is Al Horford.

A mild concern is that he isn't particularly tall or long. He won't have rim deterrence by virtue of being massive like Clingan or Lively. He doesn't have the freakishly quick feet and crazy wingpan to be hyper-switchable like Bam, Okongwu or Draymond. And he doesn't have the explosion to be a prolific roll man like Gafford. It's possible that he just won't be able to match up physically with starting centers in the NBA and will be more of a backup. Like Horford, I think he is going to have to develop a reliable jumper or he might be a liability on offense.

nate -- are you suggesting that (at this point) he'd be your first choice at 18? Or...?

I actually think a comp for Sorber is Jonas Valanciunas. The size and strength, the rebounding and boxing out, the screen setting, the passing out of the high post like JV are all top level. You can run the offense through them with the high post passing, the pick and roll, pick and pop, shooting the midrange, DHOs…. Although I think Sorber is much better defensively, they both play a below the rim game that’s reliant on strength.

JV is a huge, mountain of a man though. Dude was 6'-11" barefoot with a 7'-5" wingspan as a 19-year-old, and may have grown a bit.

Sorber is probably 6'-9" without shoes and I'm guessing a 7'-1 wingspan.

[dckingsfan]

My take, our first pick will influence our second pick.