Even with the NBA playoffs raging on into late May, eliminated teams have turned their attention to the upcoming NBA Draft. This draft class has a lot to live up to after stellar rookies seasons from the likes of Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes. While this class has big shoes to fill, some of the players at the top have the potential to have equally as impressive and impactful rookie years following the draft. Here are scouting reports on five of the top prospects in the upcoming 2022 NBA draft.
Ousmane Dieng, SF, New Zeland Breakers
2021 Stats (23 Games Played): 20.3 minutes per game, 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals
Shooting Splits: 39.8 FG% / 27.1 3PT% / 66.7 FT%
Dieng is my early favorite to outperform his draft position when it is all said and done. Currently, Dieng is projected in the mid-to-late first-round range. However, his offensive versatility and his fit in today’s NBA make him a high upside prospect.
The main selling points with Dieng are the combination of playmaking and scoring along with a smooth handle at 6’10. He moves with real fluidity on the perimeter and can really get to his spot off the dribble. According to Synergy, Dieng averaged 1.05 points per possession on all jump shots off the dribble. It’s one thing to say he has a strong handle, and it’s another thing to see him put it into action. If he ever got a big in space on the perimeter, he was more than capable of creating separation and hitting a shot.
Diengs’ playmaking and shot creation out of the pick and roll was remarkable at 6’10. He reads the floor well and demonstrates excellent patience and awareness when coming off ball screens. Dieng showed great touch when he got into the lane or to the rim. His floater and runner game was highly effective, shooting 42.4% on runners last season.
Dieng Defensive Outlook
To complement his offensive skill set, Dieng is one of the most versatile defenders in the class. His mobility on the perimeter, combined with his 7-foot wingspan, means that he has the potential to guard 1-4 at the next level if he fills out his frame. The effectiveness of his physical tools was on full display during this past NBL season, guarding both ball handlers and big men on switches and moving with ball handlers on the perimeter.
Dieng is currently projected in the mid-to-late first-round range, and he ranked 17th on the Athletics’ most recent big board. NBA evaluators’ main concerns are his lack of athleticism, and his shooting splits over the course of the whole season. While Dieng ended the season well, his shooting splits to begin the season was a major red flag to evaluators. Nonetheless, his ball-handling and high ceiling make him the perfect prospect for a team trying to construct a talented young core. Don’t be shocked if Dieng goes in the top-15 come draft night, and he will live up to the billing if he gets the proper development in the NBA.
Jabari Smith, PF, Auburn
2021 Stats (34 Games Played): 28.8 minutes per game, 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2 assists
Shooting Splits: 42.9 FG% / 42 3P% / 79.9 FT%
From Dieng, we turn our attention to Smith, whose current projections land him within the top-5 of most mock drafts. For most evaluators, usually, Smith, Paolo Banchero, or Chet Holmgren finds themselves as the top prospect on the board. Based on Smith’s performance in the SEC this season and his projectable NBA tools, he should be considered the top prospect in this year’s class.
What Smith put on tape this year was nothing short of stellar, given his measurables (6’10, 220 pounds). His jump shot is incredibly fluid with great mechanics. Smith ranked in the 94th percentile in spot-up scoring last season, averaging 1.211 points per possession. Not only is he a strong shot maker, but he can also create separation off the dribble with remarkable balance. Here are just a few examples of what Smith is capable of in terms of shot-making.
Smith does a great job of getting to his spot in the midrange and rising up over defenders. He has excellent timing and composure with his pull-up jumper. He loves to let defenders fly by on a contest before knocking down a shot inside the arc. Smith averaged 1.091 points per possession on all jump shots last season, ranking in the 85th percentile amongst all college players.
Smith’s Defensive Outlook
On the other side of the ball, Smith projects to be able to defend 1-4. He has extremely long arms that he uses to effect shots and pester ball handlers. He allowed just 0.616 points per possession this past season, which ranked 2nd in the country (minimum 200 possessions.) His athleticism allows him to move well on the perimeter, staying in front of guards and using his 7’1 wingspan to block shots.
If there’s one thing the NBA season has taught us, it’s that mobile bigs have great success in the league and are becoming increasingly more valuable. Evan Mobley had a strong rookie season for the Cavs last year, second to only Scottie Barnes in Rookie of the Year voting. Bam Adebayo and Deandre Ayton played key roles in their respective teams’ playoff runs.
An athletic big man with defensive versatility is becoming more popular by the day. In an effort to counter the talented guards in the league and not have their big men get run off the floor, teams are looking to the bigs who can defend on the perimeter when switched off a ball screen.
Team Fit
It will be interesting to see which of the Orlando Magic, OKC Thunder, and Houston Rockets take a gamble on Smith. The best fit would appear to be the Thunder. However, they may be looking to pick a player with more upside as they slowly rebuild their franchise with their arsenal of picks.
The Rockets at 3rd overall would be an intriguing match. At this point in their rebuild, the Rockets need the closest thing to a surefire prospect as they can get, and Smith is the closest thing to that in this draft. Smith would provide great floor spacing for Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. out of the pick and roll. The Rockets ranked 17th in spot-up scoring last season, according to Synergy. Smiths’ prolific shooting and off-the-dribble shot creation would definitely improve that mark for Houston. Defensively, adding Smith next to Green, Porter Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr., and other young guys like Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba would give the Rockets a lot of flexibility and versatility on that end of the floor.
Dyson Daniels, SG/SF, G-League Ignite
2021 Stats (14 Games Played): 31 minutes per game, 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.9 steals
Shooting Splits: 44.9 FG% / 25.5 3P% / 73.7 FT%
The highest projected prospect from the newly-created G-League Ignite, Daniels impressed scouts with his scoring touch around the rim at 19 years old. While his shooting still has a ways to go, his two-way game intrigues evaluators about his ceiling.
Offensively, Daniels is a fantastic playmaker and is creative with his finishes in the paint and at the rim. Even though he is one of the younger players in the draft, he has a great feel and understanding of the game. Daniels ranked in the 78th percentile in total offensive possessions plus assists this past season. He makes advanced reads, manipulates the defense with his eyes, and has great vision in transition.
Daniels scoring out of the pick and roll is truly advanced for his age. He’s very composed when getting downhill, processing everything at his own pace before making a decision with the ball. He has a very efficient floater and runner game that he frequently uses when he gets into the lane. According to Synergy, Daniels averaged 0.848 points per possession on his runners last season. His scoring ability within 15 feet of the basket is one of the best in this class.
Dyson Daniels Perimeter Potential
One of the knocks on Daniel’s game is his lack of shooting. Averaging less than one made three per game in the G-League last season, he was pretty much a non-factor from the outside. However, Daniels has the potential to develop into a competent shooter. He averaged 0.895 points per possession on jump shots last season. Daniels showed the ability to hit some threes in spurts last season. For the most part, his shot is mechanically sound, inspiring confidence that he could be a respectable shooter in the NBA.
Defensively, Daniels was stellar for the Ignite, finishing the season as one of the G-Leagues top defenders. Daniels allowed opponents to shoot just 39% on off the dribble jump shots last season. He is a fantastic point-of-attack defender in the pick and roll, using his 6’7 wingspan to rack up 43 steals with Ignite last season (1st on the team).
Team Fit
Daniels has all the tools to be a strong two-way player in the NBA, with his outside shot being the wildcard of his game. Daniels projects to be picked in the 8-12 range come draft night. His fit with the Thunder next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is intriguing. Gilgeous-Alexander would take a lot of the ball-handling pressure off of Daniels on offense, allowing Daniels to excel in more of a secondary playmaker role. Any combination of Daniels, Gilgeous-Alexander and 2021 first-round pick Josh Giddey would give the Thunder an abundance of playmaking potential going forward. Defensively, the backcourt of Daniels and Gilgeous-Alexander gives the Thunder a lot of length. The Thunder pick at 12th overall in the upcoming draft.
The Cavaliers have also reportedly shown interest in Daniels as the pre-draft process continues. However, the Cavaliers have spent a first-round pick on a guard in two of the last four years, landing them the backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. It’s hard to see where Daniels fits with the Cavs given that logjam at the guard position. Overall, Daniels will be a strong two-way guard with even more offensive upside if his shot becomes more consistent once he is in the league.
Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor
2021 Stats: (30 Games Played): 25.1 minutes per game, 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals
Shooting Splits: 47.4 FG% / 29.6 3PT% / 58.9 FT%
After glancing at his stats, Sochan could easily be mistaken for a mediocre college player with little NBA potential. He didn’t even start in college, coming off the bench in all but one game last season. However, given the nature of today’s game, Sochan is almost guaranteed to be a top-10 pick come draft night. His combination of ball-handling and defensive versatility makes him the ideal NBA wing.
Sochans’ ball-handling and passing ability at 6’9 and 230 pounds make him an intriguing prospect to NBA teams. He has demonstrated the ability to be the ball handler in a pick and roll situation and makes advanced reads off the dribble in both the half-court and in transition. According to Synergy, Sochan ranked in the 73rd percentile in pick and roll scoring, including passes.
Sochans’ biggest appeal to scouts is his defense, specifically his ability to guard every position. Sochan ranked in the 91st percentile in overall defense last season. He also ranked in the 96th percentile in defending opponents’ jump shots off the dribble, with opponents shooting 15.6% with him as the nearest defender. Sochan has demonstrated he can easily switch 1-4, and there is definitely potential for him as a small-ball 5 in the NBA. His defensive versatility and mobility on the perimeter at his size will be his signature trait at the next level.
Jump Shot is Wildcard for Sochan
If Sochan were anywhere close to being even just a 36% three-point shooter, he would be a top-5 pick without a doubt. However, the shooting has been a struggle for Sochan in his lone season with the Bears. He finished the season 24-81 from three, averaging 2.7 attempts per game. Sochan shot 30-94 on all jump shots this season and 22-66 on catch and shoot opportunities. He has shown flashes of shooting potential, with some nice film of him hitting turnaround mid-range jumpers as well as a semblance of a pull-up game. If he can develop that into a respectable three-point shot, it would significantly elevate him as a player in the NBA. The clips are few and far between, but the potential for a jump shot is there.
Team Fit
The combination of his unique offensive skill set and defensive versatility lands Sochan in the 7-14 range of most mock drafts. The Portland Trailblazers are an interesting fit at 7th overall. After their midseason firesale, the Blazers are presumably in the market for elite perimeter defenders to place around their backcourt of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. The Knicks at 11th overall are also definitely a potential landing spot for Sochan. Marc Berman of the NY Post notes that the Knicks have been absent an elite perimeter defender since Reggie Bullock signed with Dallas. Adding Sochan to the Knicks’ 2021 first-round pick Quentin Grimes would give New York two young defensive wings to build around for the future. Sochans’ swing skill remains his shooting, but his unique offensive skill set and defensive upside make him a lock for the lottery come draft night.
Mark Williams, C, Duke
2021 Stats (39 Games Played): 23.6 minutes per game, 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 0.9 assists
Shooting Splits: 72.1 FG% / 72.7 FT%
After looking at a few wings with ball-handling skills and a savvy pick and roll guard, the fifth and final prospect comes with a little more simplicity. While his game is a little more black and white than the other prospects, Williams is one of the most talented big men in the draft and one of the most impressive physical specimens in recent memory.
Williams’s game is very straightforward. To summarize, he generally doesn’t shoot anything outside of eight feet. He attempted just one three in two years with the Blue Devils and only attempted nine jump shots total last season. However, that has not deterred Williams from being one of the most efficient scorers in all of college basketball. Williams ranked in the 100th percentile last season in overall offense. That mark was the best in the country (minimum 30 games played). A nice hook shot and emphatically finishing lobs are the name of Williams’s game.
Williams is also an outstanding offensive rebounder. Sporting an NBA Combine-best 7’6 1/2 wingspan, he was a force in the paint all season long, grabbing missed shots and creating second-chance opportunities for Duke. Williams ranked 8th in the country in points per possession in offensive rebound put-backs. He finished with a team-high 101 this past season.
Defense is Williams’s Money Maker
However spectacularly efficient Williams is on offense, his defensive potential is actually what gets scouts most excited about the Virginia Beach native. With a freakish 9’9 standing reach, Williams was a shot-blocking maestro last season. He ranked 5th in the nation with 110 blocks last season. He also had five games with at least five blocks, including 8 in a shot-blocking clinic against NC State.
While that tally alone is impressive, the way with which Williams did it was specifically impressive. He has great awareness and nimble feet in his pick and roll drop coverage. On most occasions last season, Williams was able to contain the ball handler and was still able to make it back to the opposing big for the block.
Team Fit
Before the combine, most mock drafts projected Williams to go in the 15-20 range, just missing out on the lottery. However, after some highly favorable measurements, a selection in the 10-15 range seems very realistic. Conveniently enough, the perfect team fit in the Charlotte Hornets find themselves picking at 13th overall.
One would be hard-pressed to find a better pick and roll, lob threat duo than Williams and Hornets’ young star LaMelo Ball. Ball is one of the league’s most elite passers after just one season and would only improve if he were to be paired with a player of Williams’s size and ability. The Hornets ranked 9th in the league in pick-and-roll roll man scoring last season. This stat is even more impressive considering the Hornets’ primary big man was 6’7, Montrez Harrell, who is undersized for the position. All in all, pairing Ball with Williams would be great for the Hornets and league-wide entertainment, and the Hornets are perfectly positioned in the draft to make it happen.
