NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Big Board 2.0
Our new ranking of the top 30 prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft
We’re now roughly three weeks into the college basketball season, and after a slew of Thanksgiving holiday tournaments that saw some of the best prospects in the draft match up against each other, it’s time for my second 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.
My Big Board is my ranking, based on intel from NBA scouts and executives, of the top prospects in this year’s draft.
This is not a mock draft. When my 2022 Mock Draft debuts, it will project which team will select each prospect. Rather, my Big Board is essentially a consensus ranking, gathered from all of my sources.
The top of the Big Board can be pretty stubborn. The last two years my No. 1 prospect stayed No. 1 for the entire draft year. And despite Paolo Banchero getting the win and outscoring Chet Holmgren head-to-head in their big November 24 matchup, Holmgren holds onto the top spot on the board ... barely.
Further down the board you’ll see several freshmen sliding while a few upperclassmen make it for the first time.
01 CHET HOLMGREN
Gonzaga
Freshman
PF/C
7’0” | 195 | Wingspan: 7’6”
Age on draft night: 20.1
2022 Draft Projection: 1-3
Holmgren was outscored by Banchero, and the Zags lost a big head-to-head matchup against Duke, but NBA scouts and executives remain high on Holmgren. While it’s close, the majority that I spoke to still have Holmgren slightly ahead of Banchero on their boards.
Yes, his 195-pound frame needs more muscle, but few players with his size and length have the skill set of a guard. While his floor may be lower than Banchero’s, his ceiling could be considerably higher, and when projecting the No. 1 pick in the draft, that matters.
Through eight games Holmgren is averaging 19.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals per 36 minutes and shooting an impressive 71% from the field and 37% from 3.
02 PAOLO BANCHERO
Duke
Freshman
PF/C
6’10” | 250 | Wingspan: 7’0”
Age on draft night: 19.6
2022 Draft Projection: 1-3
Banchero’s head-to-head victory over Chet Holmgren impressed scouts, and the decision not to move him into the top spot was a tough one. Among NBA scouts, Banchero has a large contingent of support to be the top pick in the draft — Holmgren just has slightly more support.
Banchero has proven to be a dominant scorer with a smooth midrange jumper, the strength to battle in the post and an elite feel for the game for a player his size. I expect he’ll continue to put up huge numbers for Duke.
But does he have the most upside of any prospect in the draft? Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. have higher ceilings in the eyes of many NBA scouts. Banchero vs. Holmgren vs. Smith will be a debate until draft night and beyond.
In his first eight games, Banchero is averaging 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 blocks and 1.7 steals per 36 minutes and shooting 50% from the field and 33% from 3.
03 JABARI SMITH JR.
Auburn
Freshman
PF
6’10” | 210 | Wingspan: 7’1”
Age on draft night: 19.1
2022 Draft Projection: 1-5
Smith has a real shot to become the No. 1 pick. He doesn’t have the body of Banchero or the elite length of Holmgren, but he combines or exceeds some of the attributes of both players. He’s the best shooter, the most versatile defender and the youngest of the three players.
He needs to continue to improve his shot selection and decision-making, but he has as high a ceiling as any prospect in the draft.
In his first seven games, Smith is averaging 21.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 2.2 steals per 36 minutes and shooting 47% from the field and 44% from 3.
04 ???
(Note to readers: This is an excerpt of my Big Board 2.0 column provided to free subscribers. To get my my take on all 30 of the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft … you need to be a paid subscriber.
Paid subscribers will also get access to full Mock Drafts, Big Boards, scouting reports on all of the top players in the draft as well as the ability to comment on articles and special discussion boards, Zoom calls and more interaction with me in the coming weeks.)