Bleacher Report: Ranking top 50 prospects as college basketball tips off – NBA. com

40. Kris Murray (Iowa, PF, Junior)

With Keegan gone, Kris is in a good spot to break out and build on the perimeter shot-making, drives past closeouts plus defensive playmaking.

39. Jordan Walsh (Arkansas, SF/PF, Freshman)

Though it would be easier to buy Walsh’s pro potential if he was more threatening from three, scouts still figure to value his defense and versatility to face up plus drive, connect in the mid-range and remain active around the rim.

38. Amari Bailey (UCLA, SG/SG, Freshman)

Though no one skill or strength jumps out with Bailey, he does offer intriguing versatility as an interchangeable guard or wing who can handle and pass plus make shots from 3 levels.

37. Sidy Cissoko (G League Ignite, SG/SF, 2004)

Cissoko will build a case around versatility and a Swiss Army knife outlook, given their scoring limitations, 6’7″ size, secondary playmaking and defensive tools.

36. Coleman Hawkins (Illinois, PF/C, Junior)

One more leap as a shooter should put Hawkins in the draft discussion, given the chances that his defensive mobility, play-finishing and energy plays can carry over. He made 19 threes last season, an intriguing development for a 6’10”, switchable big.

35. Kyle Filipowski (Duke, PF, Freshman)

With Dereck Lively manning the middle at Duke, Filipowski has a chance to show off more perimeter offense with his handle, passing and three-ball. It’s also a role that could expose his limited athletic abilities for creating, finishing and defending.

34. Leonard Miller (G League Ignite, SF/PF, 2003)

Miller’s final handful of appearances for scouts have been mixed, but the 6’10” 18-year-old’s mistakes seem worth living with. The handle plus wiggle in order to attack in his dimension remain appealing, while flashes of shot-making and defense suggest Callier can become a versatile scoring mismatch and two-way presence.

33. Marcus Sasser (Houston, SG, Senior)

Sasser is an outstanding shooter off the catch and dribble with a handle for creating separation and getting to spots. Showcasing more playmaking ability, so he’s labeled a combo and not a good undersized scorer, will be key to securing first-round interest.

32. JJ Starling (Notre Dame, SG, Freshman)

Starling will plug right in for Blake Wesley and similarly attract attention for his athletic drives, three-level shot-making and playmaking flashes.

31. Jalen Wilson (Kansas, SF, Junior)

Although Wilson’s three-point shooting fell off last season, the particular 6’8″ wing shot 56. 9 percent inside the arc and proved to be an effective transition scorer plus driver because of his finishing. He shot the three better in Chicago at G League Elite camp, and bouncing back to hit a lot more triples could make Wilson look like a more complete off-ball rating prospect.

30. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA, SF, Senior)

At some point in the draft, scouts should live with Jaquez’s athletic limitations, assuming he shows his sophomore shooting numbers were more indicative than last year’s. At 6’7″, 225 pounds, he’s physically tough from both ends with a versatile skill set in order to attack, score from the post, hit tough shots plus improvise.

29. Arthur Kaluma (Creighton, SF, Sophomore)

A 24-point game against Kansas in final year’s NCAA tournament, plus a pair of standout showings for Uganda at the African World Cup qualifiers, have Kaluma on breakout watch. With improved shooting, the combination of 6’7″ size, athleticism and shot-making could create three-and-D potential.

28. Adem Bona (UCLA, C, Freshman)

Bona is going to produce off their physical tools, athleticism plus motor that should continue translating to easy baskets, putbacks and protective playmaking in the NBA level.

27. Julian Strawther (Gonzaga, SF, Junior)

Strawther had scouts looking at him last year as a 6’7″ shooter and play-finisher. But now he’ll play a more featured role in Gonzaga’s criminal offense, and signs of creation or more off-the-dribble credit scoring could lead to a major draft-stock spike.

26. Nikola Đurišić (Mega MIS, SG/SF, 2004)

Đurišić had a couple of strong performances in October before an illness and knee injury knocked him out. The 6’8″ 18-year-old possesses an appealing mix of positional dimension, shooting, passing IQ plus feel for the game. Mega MIS right now is struggling, and Đurišić should have the green light upon his return. He did make 4-of-4 threes in an exhibition against Overtime Elite’s top players earlier this summer.

25. Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers, SG/SF, 2004)

Rupert has cooled away after a strong start, though there is nevertheless optimism over his pull-up and spot-up shooting advancement. At 6’6″ with a 7’3″ wingspan, he’s an obvious three-and-D prospect with regard to teams who miss on the perceived higher-upside lottery names.

24. Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana, PG/SG, Freshman)

A 6’6″ ball-handler, Hood-Schifino should generate buzz with his craftiness, IQ and skill level with passes and touch shots. Scouts should see a guard who are able to make teammates better. He’ll start moving up boards quickly if he can hide some athletic restrictions with tough finishes and mid-range photos and show a lot more range compared to he do at Montverde.

23. Julian Phillips (Tennessee, SF, Freshman)

Phillips may not have a high-usage role with Tennessee, but his 6’8″ size, capturing and off-ball scoring ought to still pop to scouts. Given his two-way skills, fit plus age, scouts won’t be concerned with his production.

22. Tyrese Proctor (Duke, PG/SG, Freshman)

Smooth together with his handle and shooting, Proctor should earn fans regarding his flexibility, efficiency plus decision-making. Even with Jeremy Roach expected to run the show, the 6’5″ 18-year-old Aussie should have enough on-ball reps to show away from his improved self-creation and playmaking IQ.

21. Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine, SG, Sophomore)

Before an injury cut Lewis’ freshman season short, he’d put together a handful of big scoring efforts that will highlighted impressive athletic ability and shot-making for a 6’7″ freshman side. With his equipment, self-creation plus shooting, he’ll look like a surefire pro by consistently rating.

20. Dillon Mitchell (Texas, PF, Freshman)

Even though Mitchell doesn’t offer creation or shooting, he still impacts games just by tapping into his quickness, leaping and coordination intended for finishing, putbacks and defensive playmaking. How much touch he shows round the paint, plus whether some high school passing flashes carry over, need to determine whether he is more of a lottery prospect or a mid-to-late first-rounder.

19. Chris Livingston (Kentucky, SF, Freshman)

At 6’6″, 220 pounds, Livingston has the frame and shooting range of the first-round, three-and-D prospect. Though not projected to create often , he does have a translatable, spot-up credit scoring skill set to catch and shoot, attack closeouts plus finish through contact on drives.

18. Jett Howard (Michigan, SG/SF, Freshman)

Howard’s shooting and overall shot-making versatility for a 6’8″ wing should rapidly jump away. With a solid burst, this individual should also be able to mix in an adequate amount of slashing plus driving to add to his off-ball scoring repertoire.

17. Anthony Black (Arkansas, PG/SG, Freshman)

Able to make a team better without scoring, Black will build a case around moving, defensive IQ and the versatility to play-make, finish off the ball and guard multiple positions on 6’6″. He’ll fill the particular Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, Dyson Daniels archetype that teams seem high on.

16. Kel’el Ware (Oregon, C, Freshman)

Ware’s translatable completing and shot-blocking tools create a high floor, but it’s his capturing development that could push him toward the top 10. In 7’0″, 210 pounds, scouts should have a higher comfort level with Ware in case they’re optimistic about their potential to use touch outside the paint.

15. Gradey Dick (Kansas, SG/SF, Freshman)

Dick looks ready to build a situation as the freshman class’s top shooter. This individual isn’t the most advanced self-creator, yet at 6’8″ with outstanding shot-making ability and IQ, he’s built for off-ball scoring on the NBA degree.

14. Terquavion Smith (North Carolina State, SG, Sophomore)

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After burying 96 threes like a freshman plus averaging nineteen. 8 points over his last 11 games, Cruz feels poised for a big scoring season. NBA teams will picture an instant-offense shot-maker, although improving their finishing and playmaking should raise scouts’ confidence to another level.

13. Jarace Walker (Houston, PF, Freshman)

Walker looks like a pro physically at 6’8″, 235 pounds. And his strength plus athleticism are selling points in order to his contact finishing and defense. Still, it’s the versatility to handle, pass plus hit rough two-point jumpers that will draw widespread NBA interest. We’ll be in wait-and-see mode when it comes to his three-point shooting, which wasn’t a core power at IMG Academy.

12. Dereck Lively (Duke, C, Freshman)

From 7’1″, 230 pounds, Lively should resemble a plug-and-play finisher and rim protector to get NBA coaches. The draft order figures to play a large role within where he goes, as lottery teams along with quality centers won’t need a second. Even now, he should be the first true 5 off the board, especially if he gives Duke article scoring while occasionally flashing his three-point range.

11. Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite, SF, 2003)

Thompson should have a case as the draft’s best athlete, and at this point, speed, bounce and coordination are behind most of his effectiveness and manufacturing. He does not project being a 2023-24 Rookie of the Year contender, but even in 19 years old, it seems like he could still contribute by earning easy baskets, shadowing opposing wings plus covering ground defensively.

His shooting needs to improve, yet he’s a capable shot-maker once his confidence starts pumping, while self-creation flashes into drives and pull-ups point to a two-way scoring side archetype.