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Beginning in 2024, all invited players will be required to attend and participate in the NBA draft combine or be ineligible to be drafted until the "first subsequent draft for which the player attends and fully participates."
Love this. Too much diva perks given to those who has not done anything yet in NBA just because they were projected 1 and 2.
Tristan Vukčević, Partizan Belgrade
Vukčević came into this event known as a highly skilled frontcourt player, and showed off what he can do in a first-quarter 12-point flurry in his first scrimmage action. He looked comfortable stretching the floor, drilling a pair of catch-and-shoot threes, and also made a difficult midrange shot off the bounce that showed off his rare skill level. He then had a similar burst in the fourth, including a difficult post finish and another three. In total, Vukčević tallied a game-high 21 points in just 16 minutes and clearly has offensive upside few other prospects playing in the five-on-five portion possess. We’ll see if he plays again Thursday or gets shut down after showing all he needed to in the first scrimmage.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette
After testing well Monday, Prosper continued his positive week in Chicago on Wednesday with an impressive scrimmage performance. He led his team with 21 points and also kicked in seven rebounds, showing off his versatile skill set to NBA teams in the process. HIs 40-plus inch vertical registered Monday was notable, and Prosper showed off that plus athleticism early in the scrimmage with a thunderous dunk in traffic. He later flashed his ability to stretch the floor, guard multiple positions and handle the ball, all things that make him a valued commodity at the next level. Prosper’s shooting drill numbers also exceeded expectations, and while his shot mechanics are still somewhat slow, the Montreal native looks more and more like a guy who could rise to the top part of the second round.
Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara
Podziemski’s measurements were somewhat underwhelming, but his stat-sheet-stuffing performance Wednesday is another example of why he deserves first-round consideration. He played his role as a secondary creator admirably, dishing out seven assists and battling well on the glass in addition to his 10 points. He’s a smart player, a strong outside shooter and has more pop athletically than he has been given credit for, as evidenced by his 39-inch vertical jump. Santa Clara produced one of the NBA’s best rookies in Jalen Williams a year ago, and a second first-rounder in as many years isn’t out of the question thanks to Podziemski’s positive showing.
Isaiah Wong, Miami
Wong has an uncertain future given he’s undersized as a scoring guard, but helped himself Wednesday by showing his ability to put the ball in the basket translates to the highest level. The former Miami star scored 16 points on just eight shots and tallied four assists with just one turnover, showcasing his ability to get downhill and finish around bigger defenders. Wong will never be a traditional point guard, but he’s a gifted enough bucket-getter to have a chance of carving out a role in the NBA. Plus, teams will value how Wong helped elevate the Miami program back to prominence, bringing the Hurricanes to an Elite Eight in 2022 and the Final Four this spring.
Seth Lundy, Penn State
Lundy is among the best shooters in this class, capable of making shots off the catch, off movement and even off the bounce. He measured short at 6'4" without shoes, but his 6'10" wingspan and sturdy frame gives him enough defensive versatility to have a chance to get on the floor in the pro game. He made 4-of-5 three-point attempts in Wednesday’s scrimmage, including a very difficult stepback three that showcased his tough-shot abilities.
Hunter Tyson, Clemson
After getting bumped up to the NBA combine after a successful weekend at the G League Elite Camp, Tyson added to his positive momentum with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists on 4–7 from beyond the arc. He’s a bigger wing at 6'7.5” with a pure outside stroke who nearly averaged a double-double this season at Clemson. Tyson should clearly be in line for a two-way contract and could potentially work his way into the second round mix.
Jordan Miller, Miami
The slashing wing from Miami built on his strong March Madness with a productive 18 points and 10 rebounds, showing off his versatility and improved jump shot. Miller, who played almost exclusively at power forward for the undersized Hurricanes, looked comfortable playing as more of a traditional wing, the position he said he grew up playing. He also made three of his four shots from beyond the arc, a necessity if he wants to carve out an NBA role. He’s a guy worth investing a second-round draft choice in.
Johni Broome, Auburn
Broome continued his strong week in Chicago after being one of the most productive players at the G League Elite Camp, adding a double-double today with 20 points and 11 rebounds after two big days over the weekend. Broome hasn’t exactly transformed his game from what made him successful at Auburn, but clearly benefits from NBA spacing and has been at least as productive as more highly regarded college big men like Oscar Tshiebwe, Adama Sanogo and Drew Timme. Broome said he’ll return to Auburn for his senior year if he’s not projected to get drafted, but if nothing else has made an impression this week.
Ben Sheppard, Belmont
Sheppard’s 25 points were a game high in the first scrimmage Thursday, and his all-around performance was one of the best of the week. He’s a lanky wing with nearly a 6'8" wingspan who positively impacts winning in a number of ways. His best trait for now is as a shooter, and he knocked down three triples in Thursday’s game. Sheppard’s overall approach to the game also stood out, diving on the floor for loose balls, making good reads as a passer and cutter and bringing energy to his team in the scrimmage and drill settings this week. This was a lot of NBA evaluators’ first time seeing Sheppard in-person given he played for a mid-major in Belmont, but there’s little doubt he made a strong impression.
Seth Lundy, Penn State
Lundy called himself “the best shooter in this draft” and backed it up with another sparkling display from behind the arc. In total, Lundy went 8-for-11 from deep in two combine games, including a 4-for-6 performance Thursday en route to 18 points. That’s after shooting 40% from deep on nearly 6.5 attempts per game as a senior at Penn State. Lundy’s a big-time catch-and-shoot option who has more game off the bounce than other specialists in this draft, and he’s built well to compete on the glass and guard up a spot. He certainly helped himself this week and would be a guy I’d target for a guaranteed contract in the second round.
Toumani Camara, Dayton
Camara is the lesser-heralded of two Dayton prospects (center DaRon Holmes) at this event, but his rise up boards that began at the Portsmouth Invitational likely continued after a solid day Thursday. He’s one of the more versatile defenders in this class thanks to his physicality and seven-foot wingspan, and he made a clear impact on the game Thursday despite making just one of his four three-point attempts. He’s worth targeting as a potential two-way contract addition who could develop into a quality NBA player if he becomes a consistent catch-and-shoot threat.
Terquavion Smith, NC State
Smith’s scoring ability is unquestioned: NBA teams saw it first-hand at last year’s combine before Smith eventually returned for his sophomore year at NC State. He had 20 points Thursday, showcasing his deep range and lightning-quick release in the process. Also impressive was Smith’s four assists compared to zero turnovers; while he’ll never be a high-level creator for others, taking care of the ball and making good decisions raises his floor. Smith’s archetype as a player is limited, but he compares fairly well to current Clippers guard Bones Hyland as a sparkplug shot-maker off the bench.
Coleman Hawkins, Illinois
Hawkins is a unique player, a rail-thin frontcourt player who’s better as a distributor than scorer. How that skill set translates to a setting like this is always an open question, but Hawkins had a productive day Thursday that showcased how he could add value to an NBA organization. He dished out seven assists without a turnover, had nine rebounds and flashed his shot-blocking instincts with three rejections on the day. His fit may end up being heavily team-dependent, but if he lands in the right situation he could end up being a valuable commodity.
Reece Beekman, Virginia
Beekman was a standout in an otherwise-ugly second game that saw both teams shoot a poor percentage from the field. His shooting stroke is funky and he hasn’t looked overly comfortable from deep throughout the week, but had a productive day Thursday with 15 points while showcasing the defensive instincts that helped put him on the NBA radar at Virginia. He’s one of the smallest players at the event at under 6'2", but scrapped for loose balls and rebounds well. Beekman’s stay-or-go decision will be one of the more impactful in college basketball. He seems assured of getting a two-way contract with the NBA’s expansion to three such slots per team should he stay in.
I watched the highlights of this game and wasn't overly impressed with Wemba. He did his thing. He should. He's 7'4". Didn't see any elite passing like I heard about him. The competition there is substandard at best. He'll be #1 overall because of the hype but it's going to take him awhile to get to NBA excellence. IMO, Chet is ahead of him skill wise. Can't wait to see him being challenged when he gets in the states. Everyone from Ja to KD is going to dunk on him. We'll see.
Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey has been named the Associated Press' National Player of the Year. Edey averaged 22.3 points per game and 12.9 rebounds per game this season, both career highs. The 7'4" center also had 2.1 blocks per game.
Guess not. He's going back to Purdue. NBA Combine feedback must have been abysmal.
Purdue big man and reigning Player of the Year Zach Edey is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and headed back to the Boilermakers for one last run. Edey announced his decision on Twitter, just hours before the deadline Wednesday night.
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