With March Madness complete, let’s update the NBA draft big board with our third rankings. The upcoming NBA combine results will still continue to shift prospect rankings. However, scouts should feel confident they have a better grasp on who prospects are at this point.
This class doesn’t have the top-end talent similar to previous years, but there are still plenty of valuable prospects to glean from.
Let’s take a look at the third edition of our big board for the 2024 NBA Draft.
2024 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: Post March Madness
1) Alexandre Sarr: Perth Wildcats (NBL Australia)
Alex Sarr is a French big man who plays in the NBL out of Australia. Sarr is extremely mobile for his size standing at a lanky seven-foot-one with a seven-foot-five wingspan. He’s already NBA-ready on the defensive end blocking shots and using his length and mobility on the perimeter. This easily projected defensive skillset places him number one on this NBA draft board in a class with many uncertainties. He still has plenty upside though as he’s shown flashes of intriguing offensive skill in face-ups and three-point shooting.
2) Zaccharie Risacher: JL Bourg (France)
Zaccharie Risacher is a six-foot-nine French wing with a lot of upside. Risacher’s stock has been consistently high as of late due to his high percentage three-point shooting. He’s also shown great value as a secondary playmaker to go along with his ‘3-and-D’ wing archetype. This archetype makes his floor somewhat safe, and there’s still a lot of untapped potential in his athleticism and physical growth.
3) Ron Holland: G-League Ignite
Ron Holland is a six-foot-eight wing who played with the G-league ignite. Due to the Ignite’s awful season and inconsistent scoring numbers, many cooled on Holland as a top prospect. While he didn’t have the most consistent performance, Holland still can impact the game on both ends. His NBA-ready size and athleticism at six-foot-eight should translate well to filling different roles for any NBA team. If the ball handling and shooting can start to better trend upward, he’s one of the few in this class with the possibility of star potential. He’s shown enough flashes for scouts to buy into that potential, and playing on a bad G-league Ignite team may give him slack.
4) Rob Dillingham: Kentucky
Rob Dillingham is a twitchy scorer who plays with a lot of flash. The major concern for Dillingham coming into the season was exactly what role he could fill at the next level. Was he a ‘spark-off-the-bench’ microwave scorer? Can he play true point guard? Dillingham answered these questions by mostly proving he can succeed at whatever role is needed. Once firmly in the rotation at Kentucky, he thrived with just about any lineup on the floor. This consistency and versatility combined with big scoring outings have him in the top five on many NBA draft boards. He’s been able to dish out assists, handle point guard responsibility, or even become an explosive scorer if that’s needed.
5) Matas Buzelis: G-League Ignite
Scouts and fans alike were frustrated throughout the season with Matas Buzelis’ lack of consistent aggression or big-game performances. His flashes are very bright though, and it can be argued that he has the highest upside in class. Buzelis is a six-foot-ten wing with polished offensive skills. He can shoot it at all three levels and is a fluid athlete in space. He’s also shown some promise as a weakside shot blocker. If he puts it all together, he can become a special player.
6) Reed Sheppard: Kentucky
Reed Sheppard was another surprise to draft boards and wasn’t expected to be one of the top prospects above other teammates at Kentucky. He’s only six-foot-three and doesn’t possess elite athleticism, but he’s shown that he can be a lethal shooter and high-IQ passer. He also has shown he’s an extremely adept team defender averaging a ridiculous 2.5 steals per game. Sheppard established himself as a top player on a loaded Kentucky team when not many expected him to. There’s more than enough reason to believe he’ll accomplish the same thing for an NBA team when finding a role.
7) Stephon Castle: UConn
Stephon Castle is a tall lead guard at six-foot-six. His physical tools allow him to be either a point guard with good size or a wing with good ball-handling ability. Castle has also shown he can compete on the defensive end of the floor. He was consistently tasked with shutting down the opposition’s best guard or wing. Coming off a national championship and good NCAA tournament performances, Castle’s stock is headed in the right direction. If he can figure the jump shot out, he could become a steal or move higher on NBA draft boards.
8) Nikola Topic: Mega MIS (Serbia)
Nikola Topic is a Serbian six-foot-six point guard who can run the show and is currently playing internationally. Topic sustained a knee injury in early January and has yet to return to play, causing him to slide. He’s not an explosive athlete, but his craft and playmaking ability more than make up for it. Topic can be the jumbo-sized point guard that is becoming a trend in the NBA.
9) Cody Williams: Colorado
Cody Williams rose to number one pick conversations before a rough backend of the season leveled out his stock. He’s a six-foot-eight slender wing in his freshman season at Colorado this year. Williams is the younger brother of starting rising star Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s a smooth and fluid athlete who looks to have a very polished all-around game for his age. Scouts were disappointed by his affinity for mediocre performances however as he never exploded or took over a game. Young wings with production and upside like Williams are usually always at the top of the draft though.
10) Kyle Filipowski: Duke
Kyle Filipowski is a seven-foot big man with good perimeter skills. He showed much better percentages and overall play in his sophomore season at Duke. His shooting touch and fundamentals for his size certainly all pass the eye test. He hopes to make a team in the back end of the lottery very happy on draft night.
11) Donovan Clingan: UConn
Donovan Clingan is a seven-foot-two big man in his sophomore season with the Huskies. Clingan won his second national championship this season and was dominant throughout the tournament. Clingan has a clear projected role as a frontcourt anchor on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. He has great shot-blocking ability and is a good play-finisher on the interior. There are questions about his overall fit in the modern NBA, but there’s reason to believe he can be elite in set roles.
12) Dalton Knecht: Tennessee
Dalton Knecht put up big-game performances seemingly every night as he took the college world by storm. These outbursts placed him high on NBA draft boards, and have many believing him to be a surefire lottery talent. He is a six-foot-six wing who’s a great perimeter shooter and also goes for big dunks when given a runway. His movement shooting ability sprinkled in with highlight dunks is very similar to a later-career Terrence Ross. Knecht has also shown value as a cutter making him a good off-ball role player. Role players will be valued in this draft, and this slashing ability draws a pro comparison to Pat Connaughton. Currently, Knecht isn’t the best lateral mover on defense, but there’s reason to believe he will be serviceable. Knecht was one of the most exciting prospects to watch this season also winning SEC Player of the Year.
13) Isaiah Collier: USC
Another prospect some have soured on, it’s not quite the time to bail on Isaiah Collier as a top prospect. Collier is a big and physical point guard listed at six-foot-five and 210 pounds. He uses size as well as solid athleticism when finishing at the rim, and he can be a floor general on offense. Collier will need to show better perimeter shooting and become less turnover-prone to stabilize his stock on NBA draft boards.
14) Ja’Kobe Walter: Baylor
It’s an easy buy-in process when analyzing Ja’Kobe Walter’s skillset. He’s long, athletic, and can shoot the three-ball at a high clip. He can also use this length and athleticism to be effective on the defensive end. This 3-and-D archetype makes Walter one of the safer bets in this draft. Or does it? Walter shot at lower percentages in the back half of the season and had some underwhelming performances on defense. He isn’t the strongest in the self-creation department, so his stock is solely based on that 3-and-D role. He will need to re-confirm particular worries regarding his defense and consistent shooting in the draft process.
15) Tidjane Salaun: Cholet Basket (France)
At first glance, teams will be reminded a lot of Michael Porter’s athletic profile. Tidjane Salaun is a lanky six-foot-ten wing who has shown a clean shooting strike combined with solid athleticism. Shooting the three-ball at the high percentages made Salaun’s draft range very wide. He’s still a project pick in most eyes but he flashed enough to suggest he may be further along in his development than previously believed.
16) Kel’el Ware: Indiana
Kel’el Ware was a sophomore transfer playing at Indiana this season. Standing at seven-foot-one and containing elite athleticism for his size, Ware shines on the defensive end blocking shots as well as a lob-dunk finisher. He will hope to fill the Dereck Lively role in this NBA draft class. While there are questions about his motor, he does clearly possess NBA traits.
17) Yves Missi: Baylor
Yves Missi has quickly ascended many draft boards in his freshman season at Baylor. He’s a seven-foot big man who’s a fluid mover and provides an instant defensive impact. He will hope to fill the coveted big man role in today’s game that’s a shot blocker and pick-and-roll play finisher. His game is eerily similar to Clint Capela who’s made a living getting rebounds, catching lobs, and blocking shots.
18) Devin Carter: Providence
Devin Carter will hope to be a taller version of Pelican’s fiery defensive point guard Jose Alvarado. While Carter may not be the fastest or most athletic, he makes up for it with physicality and energy. Carter stands at six-foot-three and tries to keep constant pressure as an on-ball defender. He’s also adept as a team defender chasing through screens for steals. He was seen as streaky on offense, but he’s had big scoring outings that may give teams confidence. Carter won’t be asked to run the show as much as he does at Providence, and a defined role could lead to a very productive rotation player.
19) Zach Edey: Purdue
Zach Edey’s archetype as a big with no perimeter game and limited mobility usually doesn’t bode well for an illustrious NBA career. He’s a seven-foot-four giant though whose sheer production has placed him on NBA draft boards. He averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior. This included a 37-point performance in the national championship game against UConn. If he can prove his shot blocking and length are enough to make up for a lack of mobility, an NBA team will be very intrigued.
20) Jared McCain: Duke
Jared McCain has had an excellent freshman season for Duke. He’s had several big performances and has been a consistent performer throughout the year. What’s really contributed to McCain’s rise however is his three-point shooting combined with solid perimeter defense. He shot 41.4 percent from deep on just under six attempts per game. McCain’s ability as a ‘3-and-D’ connector guard draws comparisons to Donte DiVincenzo and De’Anthony Melton. Both are a little taller or have more length than McCain, but the roles and playstyles are very similar.
21) Bobi Klintman: Cairns Taipans (NBL Australia)
Bobi Klintman left Wake Forest after this past season in favor of the NBL in Australia. At six-foot-nine, Klintman has an intriguing skillset as a combo forward with a clean shooting stroke. He’s shown enough with his live ball handle to intrigue scouts as well. Klintman is a prospect who could rise up draft boards following good showings in private workouts or the combine.
22) Ryan Dunn: Virginia
Ryan Dunn is one of the more special defensive prospects we’ve seen in a long time. He clearly projects to have a specific role at the next level as a defensive ace for any team. Dunn’s a six-foot-eight forward with elite mobility and athleticism. The problem is his offensive game is virtually nonexistent in every area, which keeps him outside the lottery on NBA draft boards. If he proves he can become competent offensively, he may rise even higher on draft boards.
23) Tyler Smith: G-League Ignite
Tyler Smith is a smooth lefty forward at six-foot-ten with good mobility. He moves like an NBA wing and has a smooth release on his shooting stroke. Smith still needs to show that he possesses an elite trait or gain a defined role to rise up draft boards.
24) Kevin McCullar: Kansas
Kevin McCullar was a superb defender for the highly-ranked Kansas Jayhawks squad. At six-foot-six, he has the size and defensive instincts to match up with a lot of guards and wings in the NBA. He’s also flashed some ability to be a kind of point forward this season, having multiple triple-doubles under his belt. He’s a fifth-year college player, so he will be very old for a rookie. He still may be able to contribute immediately though if given a defined role.
25) Jaylon Tyson: California
Jaylon Tyson had a breakout year after transferring to California this year. He nearly averaged 20 points per game and shot the three-ball at 36 percent on 4.5 attempts. This explosion has placed him on NBA draft boards after struggling to find success in college. At six-foot-seven, he has NBA traits on the wing. While he may play in a ‘3-and-D’ type of role early in his career, he has the creation ability to provide playmaking.
26) Johnny Furphy: Kansas
Johnny Furphy is a freshman sharpshooting wing at Kansas, standing at six-foot-nine. Scouts do have questions about Furphy’s athleticism and ability to compete on the defensive end. There also doesn’t seem to be much upside in shot creation, but Furphy has shown decent playmaking as a connecting distributor. Furphy has earned his way into a starting key contributor as a freshman on a good Kansas team. Six-foot-nine wings who can really shoot the ball are always worth looking at in the back of the first round. Furphy will feel out the pre-draft process as he will have a decision to make on whether or not to return to school.
27) Kyshawn George: Miami
Kyshawn George has been a late riser to NBA draft boards mostly due to upside and a coveted archetype. George is a six-foot-eight jumbo guard who’s shown playmaking upside combined with great shooting ability. He shot the ball at 40.8 percent from three on just over four attempts per game. Someone with playmaking and shooting ability at six-foot-eight always makes scouts excited. George came onto draft boards late however as he had to find his place on a talented Miami team. His role and playing time fluctuated throughout the season, but he began to find his rhythm in conference play. Similar to Furphy, George could return to school to secure higher draft positioning next year.
28) Oso Ighodaro: Marquette
Oso Ighodaro is yet another player who will hope to fill a clear role at the next level. He’s a six-foot-ten big who has good athleticism and can defend multiple positions. He’s not going to try and take jump shots but has flashed a really good floater around the rim. He’ll be a good pick-and-roll partner for any guard on a team that drafts him. In a draft that has so many question marks, players like Ighodaro have an advantage.
29) Tristan Da Silva: Colorado
Tristan Da Silva is a combo forward who plays the game the right way and does a lot of things well. At six-foot-nine, he shot 39.5 percent from the perimeter and is a solid team defender. Scouts’ main concern with Silva will be his athletic limitations. He might be a tweener with no true position, but he’s proved he can affect the game in a variety of ways.
30) DaRon Holmes: Dayton
DaRon Holmes was projected as a second-round center in last year’s NBA draft but decided to return to Dayton. It’s served him well up to this point as he’s beginning to receive late first-round consideration. Holmes’ build and physique will remind many of Nic Claxton’s profile as a player. He’s a very long and slender center who moves well at his size. His length and mobility have allowed him to be successful in a variety of pick-and-roll coverages. While not a perimeter player, Holmes was the leading scorer for the Flyers operating out of the low post. He averaged 20.4 points per game while also leading his team in rebounds at 8.5.
31) Carlton Carrington: Pittsburgh
Carlton Carrington skyrocketed onto draft boards after a triple-double to begin the season at Pittsburgh. He’s certainly cooled down since that point, but scouts still see his potential. He’s a six-foot-five guard with good creation, playmaking, and shot-making ability. He needs to provide much more effective rim pressure though to be considered a solidified one and done.
32) Adem Bona: UCLA
Adem Bona is another vertical spacing big man out of UCLA. Standing at six-foot-ten and 245 pounds, Bona will be a shot blocker and lob dunk finisher at the next level. Scouts will also value Bona’s high motor and effort levels. Bona needs to clean up his foul numbers and continue to work on his overall skill to improve his draft stock.
33) Pelle Larsson: Arizona
Pelle Larsson fits what you like to see in complimentary role players at the next level. He can shoot the three ball, is a willing defender, and has good athleticism at six-foot-six. He also played this ‘3-and-D’ role at Arizona willingly. This means there won’t be much upside or creation for scouts to evaluate, however. On the right team though, he could be the Christian Braun of this draft class.
34) Tyler Kolek: Marquette
Tyler Kolek is a traditional point guard who led Marquette to a great season. He’s not the tallest or most athletic, but he’s a physical floor general who can dissect defenses. He loves the pick-and-roll and can make all the advanced reads and passes scouts like to see. Without having a high projected scoring ability or defensive impact though, teams will wait until at least the late first to take a chance on him.
35) Terrence Shannon Jr.: Illinois
Terrence Shannon Jr. had the season and numbers to be much higher on this list. He stays at the last spot on the board however due to impending judgment on sexual assault allegations from December. The school has officially dropped the investigation recently. From a basketball perspective, Shannon is a six-foot-six combo guard with scoring ability. He averaged 23 points for the Fighting Illini this year and flashed a variety of offensive skills. There are questions defensively though and about how effective he can be if not allowed to take volume shots.
