NBA Draft 2022 Projections: Who Will Go Number One?

Although the 2021 NBA draft class is loaded with top talent, the 2022 NBA Draft class is already shaping up to be even better. In this blog post, we take a look at the early projections for the 2022 NBA Draft and who is expected to go number one overall.

Introduction

The NBA draft is an annual event in which the thirty franchises of the National Basketball Association (NBA) select amateur players who wish to join the league. These players are usually selected from college basketball but International Players are also allowed to enter. The draft order is determined by a combination of the previous season’s record and which teams did not make the playoffs. The 2022 NBA draft will be held on June 29, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City New York.

The most common projection for the number one pick in the 2022 draft is University of Kentucky point guard Jalen Green Green is an elite talent with superb athleticism and a smooth shooting stroke. He is also considered to be a strong defender with good instincts. Some have compared him to current NBA superstar Russell Westbrook Other potential Top Picks include Duke small forward Zion Williamson and Croatian center Izabela Coco.

The Top Prospects

In a loaded 2022 NBA Draft class, these are the top 10 prospects

1. Cade Cunningham Oklahoma State
2. Jalen Suggs Gonzaga
3. Evan Mobley USC
4. Jonathan Kuminga, Duke
5. Jaden Hardy, G League Ignite
6. Kijani Wrightsman, UCLA
7. Daishen Nix G League Ignite
8. Paolo Banchero O`Dea HS (Washington)
9. Kyle Filipowski Stanfordcommit
10. Chol Marial, Crystal Balltransfer (UNC)

The Mock Drafts

Mock drafts are always fun to talk about, but they’re especially interesting this year because there is no clear-cut favorite to be the number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

There are a few players who could potentially go number one, but there is no consensus on who that will be.

Some of the names being mentioned as potential number one picks include:
-Dajuan Wagner, a 6’3″ shooting guard from the University of Memphis. He’s considered one of the best pure shooters in the country and has the potential to be a great scorer at the next level.
--Jalen Suggs a 6’4″ point guard from Gonzaga University. He’s an explosive athlete with the ability to score and distribute the ball. He’s also a very good defender.
--Cade Cunningham a 6’8″ point forward from Oklahoma State University He’s a versatile player who can score, rebound, and assist. He’s also considered a very good defender.

The Biggest risers

As the 2020-21 college Basketball season comes to a close, we begin to look ahead to the next NBA Draft Here are the biggest risers in our latest 2022 Mock Draft

1. Cade Cunningham PG, Oklahoma State
2. Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga
3. Jonathan Kuminga, SF, G League Ignite
4. Evan Mobley PF/C, USC
5. Scottie Barnes, SF/PF, Florida State

The Biggest Fallers

Several players have seen their stock fall in recent months, and it’s unclear who will go number one in the 2022 NBA draft

This year’s Draft Class is loaded with talent, but there are a few players who have seen their stock fall in recent months. It’s unclear who will go number one overall at this point, but here are some of the biggest fallers in the class.

Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Okafor was once considered a lock to be the number one overall pick, but his production has fallen off significantly this season. He’s still averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game but he’s shooting just 49 percent from the field and 62 percent from the Free Throw Line His defensive numbers have also been down, and there are concerns about his ability to adjust to the NBA game He could still be a top-five pick, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be the number one overall selection.

Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas
Alexander was considered a potential top-five pick earlier in the season, but his production has dipped significantly in conference play He’s averaging just nine points and six rebounds per game in Big 12 play, and his field goal percentage has dropped to 42 percent. He’s still considered a talented prospect, but he isn’t likely to be drafted in the top ten anymore.

Kristaps Porzingis, C/PF Latvia
Porzingis is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class but he remains a bit of an unknown quantity. He hasn’t played against top competition yet and there are concerns about his ability to transition to the NBA game He has great size and shooting touch, but he needs to add strength and improve his defense before he can be considered a truly elite prospect.

The Dark Horses

There are a few dark horse candidates for the number one pick in the NBA draft next year. Some names that have been getting buzz are:

-Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
-Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
--Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC

These are all players who have the potential to be great NBA players but who may not be the obvious choice for the number one pick. Keep an eye on these players as the draft approaches!

The Sleepers

There are always a few players who fly under the radar and end up being picked much higher than anyone expected. Here are a few players who could end up being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft

PG Tyrese Haliburton Iowa State
Haliburton has been one of the most efficient players in college basketball over the last two seasons, averaging over 16 points and 7 assists per game while shooting over 41% from three-point range His ability to shoot and create for others will make him a valuable asset at the next level.

SF Josh Green Arizona
Green is an elite athlete with good size for his position. He’s a good shooter and has shown the ability to be a very good defender. His all-around game will make him a Valuable Player at the next level.

C James Wiseman Memphis
Wiseman is one of the most talented players in this class. He’s an elite athlete with great size and length. He’s still raw offensively, but his potential is sky-high. If he can develop his offensive game, he has the potential to be a franchise player.

The Busts

There is always risk associated with taking any player in the NBA Draft but some prospects are more likely to bust than others. Here are some of the top prospects in the 2022 draft class who could end up being major busts.

1. Marvin Bagley III

Marvin Bagley III was once considered a can’t-miss prospect, but his stock has fallen considerably over the past year. His biggest issue is that he hasn’t shown much improvement from his freshman to sophomore season, and there are concerns about his motor and work ethic. If he doesn’t start making significant strides soon, he could end up being a major bust.

2. Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is a high-risk, high-reward prospect who comes with a lot of baggage. He missed most of his freshman season due to injury and then sat out his entire sophomore season after deciding to transfer schools. He also has a history of back problems, which is a major red flag for any NBA team considering drafting him.

3. Robert Williams III

Robert Williams III is another talented prospect with some serious questions surrounding his game. He was highly touted coming out of High School but has failed to live up to expectations so far in college. He’s also had issues with maturity and has been known to take plays off on defense. If he doesn’t start putting it all together soon, he could be in danger of becoming a bust.

The Wildcards

In a loaded 2022 NBA Draft class, there are a handful of players who have the potential to be selected with the first overall pick.

The leading contender is undoubtedly Zion Williamson the 6-foot-7 Power Forward from Duke who is fresh off of an outstanding freshman season. Williamson averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 68 percent from the field and constituting one of the most dominant forces in College Basketball There is speculation that Williamson could declare for the 2020 NBA Draft but he is widely expected to return to Duke for his sophomore season and further hone his skills before making the jump to the pros.

Another player to watch is Lamelo Ball the 6-foot-7 point guard from Australia who is currently playing professionally in Lithuania. Ball has already drawn comparisons to Lakers superstar Lebron James and his size, shooting ability and playmaking skills make him a tantalizing prospect for NBA teams Ball is expected to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft and he could very well be selected with the first overall pick if he continues to impress scouts with his play overseas.

Rounding out the top three is R.J. Hampton, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Dallas who is currently playing professionally in New Zealand. Hampton is an explosive athlete with great scoring ability, and he has been compared to fellow Dallas native Jason Kidd Hampton is also expected to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft and he could find himself in contention for the first overall pick if he continues to develop his skills overseas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is difficult to say who will go number one in the NBA draft in 2022. All of the prospects have a chance to be Great players but it is impossible to know who will be the best player in the draft until they have actually played in the NBA. The best bet is to wait and see how the players perform in their first few years in the league before making a decision on who will go number one.