2022 NBA Draft: Who Are the Top Undrafted Prospects?
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The NBA draft is just around the corner and we’ve got you covered with a list of the top undrafted prospects. These are the guys that could be flying under the radar but have the potential to make an impact in the league.
Introduction
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the 30 franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA) select players who have never played in the NBA before. The draft order is determined by the reverse order of the previous season’s standings, with the team that had the Worst Record receiving the first pick.
In addition to the draft itself, there is also a pre-draft process that includes an invitation-only combine and individual team workouts. The process gives teams an opportunity to get to know prospects better and evaluate their talent level.
Players who are not selected in the draft are automatically eligible to sign a contract with any NBA team as an undrafted free agent Many players go on to have successful careers even though they were not drafted.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the top prospects who are expected to go undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft
Kyree Walker
Kyree Walker a 6-foot-5 guard from the University of Arizona is one of the top undrafted prospects in the 2022 NBA draft Walker is a gifted scorer who can create his own shot and get to the basket with ease. He has unlimited range on his jumper and is a dangerous threat from behind the arc. Walker is also an excellent rebounder for his position and has the potential to be a very good Defensive Player at the next level.
Jalen Suggs
Jalen Suggs is a 6’4” 175-pound point guard who played his college basketball at Gonzaga. He is a very good shooter and has a High Basketball IQ. He is a very good passer and has the ability to read the defense and make the right play. He is a very good defender and has the ability to guard multiple positions. He is a very good rebounder for his position. He is an excellent athlete and has great speed and quickness.
Cade Cunningham
Cade Cunningham is an American college basketball player for the Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12 Conference. He is a 6’8″ point forward who plays both guard and forward positions. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the Top Players in his class. Cunningham was named a McDonald’s All-American, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2020.
With his size, skill set, and versatility, Cunningham projects to be a high lottery pick in the 2022 NBA draft However, he has yet to declare for the draft. If he does declare, he will likely be one of the top prospects in the draft.
Evan Mobley
There is no definitive answer as to who the best undrafted prospects are for the 2022 NBA Draft However, certain players have received more attention than others. One player who has been consistently mentioned is Evan Mobley a center from USC.
Mobley is widely considered to be one of the best players in the country and a potential top pick in next year’s draft. He has excellent size at 7-0, 200 pounds with a 7-5 wingspan. He is an exceptional athlete who runs the floor well and can finish above the rim with ease.
Mobley is also a very skilled player. He has great touch around the basket and is an excellent passer for his position. He averaged 2.9 assists per game as a freshman, which was good for second on the team. On the defensive end, he has the potential to be an elite shot-blocker and rebounder at the next level.
The biggest knock on Mobley is that he is still quite raw and needs to continue to develop his offensive game. But there is no doubt that he has all the tools to be a star in the NBA one day.
Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga is a 6’8″ small forward from the Congo. He played High School basketball in the United States at ESPN’s No. 1-ranked Joseph Academy in Huntington, West Virginia He then moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his senior year. Kuminga was widely considered one of the top recruits in the 2020 class and was ranked No. 2 by ESPN, No. 3 by 247Sports, and No. 4 by Rivals.com. He committed to play college basketball for Texas Tech but opted to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft instead.
Kuminga is an elite athlete with a strong frame and a wingspan that measuring 7’2″. He is an explosive leaper who finish dunks with authority, and he has the agility and quickness to guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the court. Kuminga is also an excellent shooter with range beyond the three-point line and he has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble.
There are some concerns about Kuminga’s ability to play within a team concept on offense and his decision-making when he has the ball in his hands, but his talent level is undeniable. There is a very real possibility that he could be one of the top prospects in next year’s Draft Class if he declares, and it would not be surprising if he ultimately ended up being drafted in the lottery.
Scottie Barnes
Entering his sophomore season, Scottie Barnes is one of the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft A 6’9″, 225-pound forward from Florida, Barnes has the size, strength and athleticism to be a dominant player at the next level. He’s a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions, and he has the potential to be a great offensive player as well.
Barnes is currently projected as a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA draft but there is a chance he could slip out of the first round if he doesn’t have a strong sophomore season. If that happens, he would be one of the top undrafted prospects in the draft.
Jalen Green
Jalen Green is one of the top underrated prospects in the 2022 NBA draft He’s an explosive athlete with a 6’9″ frame and a 7’3″ wingspan. He’s a great jump shooter with a quick release, and he has the potential to be a very good perimeter defender.
Ziaire Williams
As the saying goes, “There’s always next year.” That will be especially true for Ziaire Williams, as the 6-foot-8 small forward from Southern California is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the class of 2022.
Williams was rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 4 overall player in the 247Sports Composite for the class of 2021, but he opted to reclassify and will now be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft He’s expected to be a lottery pick next year.
A versatile wing with a high ceiling, Williams is an excellent shooter and has a knack for making plays on both ends of the court. He’s also an outstanding rebounder for his size.
While there’s no guarantee that Williams will end up being a star at the next level, he has all the makings of a solid NBA player and should be an impactful player right away.
Other Notable Undrafted Prospects
In addition to the players that were drafted, there are a number of other notable undrafted prospects that will be worth keeping an eye on. Here are some of the top names:
--Ayo Dosunmu G, Illinois: Averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior, and was a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award
--Jared Butler G, Baylor: Averaged 15.5 points, 6.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a junior, and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
-Tre Jones, G, Duke: Averaged 9.4 points and 5.3 assists per game as a sophomore, and was named the ACC defensive player of the Year.
-Nate Hinton, G/F, Houston: Averaged 11.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore, and led the American Athletic Conference in rebounding.