NBA Draft Rankings: The 12 Best College Freshmen
Here are the 12 college freshmen who could make the most noise in the 2022 NBA Draft
Expect freshmen to dominate the NBA Draft once again.
In 2021, seven freshmen went in the lottery. In fact, freshmen were four of the first five picks in the draft. After the lottery, another seven freshmen went in the first round.
In 2022, we are projecting nine college freshmen as likely lottery picks.
As I wrote in my 2022 NBA Draft Preview column, NBA scouts don’t have a firm grasp on this year’s draft yet. Especially with so many COVID-19 restrictions in place and high school tournaments canceled last season, virtually all the scouts I spoke to told me they feel significantly behind on evaluating this year’s incoming college freshman class as well as some of the younger international prospects.
Among my NBA sources, there was a strong reluctance to rank the 2022 prospects, especially freshmen, without getting out to see them once college practices begin.
A lot remains to be seen, but right now the top of the 2022 class appears to rate slightly below the upper echelon of the incredible 2021 draft class. That said, overall this is a relatively strong freshman class.
Here’s our first look at the top-12 freshmen in the 2022 draft class:
1. Chet Holmgren
Gonzaga
Freshman
PF/C
7’0” | 190
Age on draft night: 20.1
Draft Projection: 1-5
Holmgren is the odds-on favorite to become the No. 1 pick in this draft.
Holmgren is a super-skinny 7-footer who is a monster rim protector and a budding offensive force — he can handle the ball and shoot the 3. He lacks strength, but he’s not soft.
If he were packing another 20-30 pounds of muscle, we would be talking about a generational prospect. But that wiry frame leaves scouts wondering exactly what he will be in the NBA.
It will be fascinating to watch him on yet another loaded Gonzaga team, paired in the frontcourt with Drew Timme alongside two other elite freshmen in the backcourt.
2. ???
(Note to readers: This is an excerpt of my NBA Draft Rankings: The 12 Best Freshmen provided to free subscribers. To get my take on all 12 of the best college freshmen draft prospects … you need to be a paid subscriber.
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