On Tuesday, I dropped prospects 1-20 on my first Big Board of the year.

Today we get deeper in the draft with prospects 21-40.

I’ll finish my Big Board on Thursday with prospects 41-60.  Chad will finish the week with his last column and podcast before handing the keys to me for NBA Big Board.

More coming attractions:

Next week, after the NBA regular season ends on Sunday, I’ll have a new NBA Mock Draft.

And, day by day, we’ll continue updating our all-important list of Who’s In and Who’s Out of the 2022 NBA Draft … which is free for all our readers.

21 ISMAËL KAMAGATE

Paris (via Serbia)
PF
6’11”| 220 | Wingspan: 7’4”
Age on draft night: 21.8
2022 Draft Projection: 15-25

Kamagate has made a name for himself with his play this season in France’s top division. He’s a terrific athlete with an active motor and an efficient finisher around the rim. 

I’ve had the opportunity to scout him live twice this season. In one game, he outplayed Victor Wembanyama, the projected top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, forcing him into early foul trouble with physicality.

Kamagate projects as a rim-running lob threat and has shown flashes of playmaking and extended shooting range. He’s a late bloomer trending in the right direction, and his time with the French national team last summer has done wonders for his confidence.

In 26 games, Kamagate is averaging 16.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 0.8 steals per 36 minutes and shooting 66.9% from the field.

22 JADEN HARDY

G League IGNITE
SG
6’4” | 190 | Wingspan: 6’8.5”
Age on draft night: 19.9
2022 Draft Projection: 15-25

Although Hardy has really struggled with his efficiency and shot selection in the G League, he is an advanced shotmaker with deep range who can potentially play both guard positions. 

Hardy generated enough buzz before the season to be considered a top-5 pick after finishing his high school career as the No. 2 prospect on ESPN’s Top 100. He was ranked ahead of projected top-10 picks Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith and Jalen Duren and thought to have a legit shot at being the first overall pick.

But Hardy’s up-and-down season has given him one of the widest draft ranges in this class: He could be a lottery pick or fall out of the first round. The optimistic case is his potential to become a 20-ppg scorer will overcome his poor shooting splits.

In 21 games, Hardy averaged 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.4 blocks and 1.1 steals and shooting 37.3% from the field and 28.5% from 3.