2022 NBA Mock Draft: Chet Holmgren’s skills and size too good to pass up at No. 1

Gonzaga

• Fr

• 7’0″

/ 195 lbs

Holmgren is an elite defensive prospect who may very well be an anchor on that end and a mismatch nightmare on the opposite. Even acknowledging his slim frame and potential concerns about how he’ll fit physically within the NBA, it’s hard to argue there’s any player with as high a ceiling as him on this class.

Duke

• Fr

• 6’10”

/ 250 lbs

A powerful NCAA Tournament run with Duke where Banchero showcased his scoring polish and proved his passing and playmaking is an actual asset has him squarely in the combo to go No. 1 on this draft. After growing up as a guard and sprouting to 6-10, his appeal lies in his offensive versatility as a scoring forward who could make good passing reads and matches neatly into the trendy NBA as a do-it-all power forward.

Purdue

• Soph

• 6’4″

/ 195 lbs

Detractors may point to Ivey’s propensity to show the ball over as reason for pessimism long-term within the NBA, but in Detroit he’d find quite the fit next to a different playmaker and initiator in Cade Cunningham. Ivey can slice his method to the bucket at will and would give the Pistons among the best all-around athletes within the draft to pair next to last 12 months’s No. 1 overall pick.

Auburn

• Fr

• 6’10”

/ 220 lbs

OKC’s backcourt appears to be set — or near set — after adding Josh Giddey and Tre Mann last draft to pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. So Smith is a two-fer here: he fills a necessity for the Thunder’s frontcourt and is clearly the best-available player still on the board. Elite shooting prospect from the facility forward spot who brings offensive versatility and major defensive potential.

Kentucky

• Fr

• 6’6″

/ 200 lbs

This may increasingly be the ceiling for Sharpe, who didn’t play a minute at Kentucky last season and who has publicly left the door open for a possible return to varsity. But his range must be somewhere between No. 4 and No. 10 on this draft given his upside. He’s an explosive athlete with elite shot-making potential who ranked because the No. 1 recruit in his class coming out of highschool.

Iowa

• Soph

• 6’8″

/ 225 lbs

Murray set a Big Ten Tournament record with 103 points in leading the Hawkeyes to 4 wins in 4 days and capturing the league’s crown. He’s a scoring threat from anywhere on the court. And matched along with his defensive smarts, he projects as considered one of the prospects most available to be a difference-maker for an NBA team.

Kentucky

• Fr

• 6’3″

/ 197 lbs

Playing more off the ball at Kentucky combined with a nagging injury that hurt his production down the stretch run of the season has forged a small shadow over Washington’s prospects. But I’m buying his talent as a future starting combo guard. He’s a shot-maker who can rating in an array of how and has really good play-making vision as a passer as well.

Duke

• Fr

• 6’6″

/ 222 lbs

After starting the season injured, Duke slowly worked Griffin into the combo where he eventually was in a position to showcase his clear top-10 ability. A giant wing who was nearly a 50% 3-point shooter, Griffin is already an NBA-ready scorer who just must advantageous tune his defense and be more consistent to potentially be the steal of the draft.

Baylor

• Fr

• 6’9″

/ 230 lbs

The raw stats don’t do justice to the impact Sochan made at Baylor and may potentially make within the NBA. He’s a combo forward who can defend multiple positions, plays wing, power forward and center, and has playmaking ability besides. Baylor at times even ran its offense through him! His versatility has him as a probable lottery pick months after not even being considered a definite one-and-doner.

Kansas

• Sr

• 6’5″

/ 215 lbs

A 12 months ago, Agbaji tested the draft waters and ultimately got here back to highschool in a quest to enhance his stock. And, well, mission achieved. As a senior with KU this season he shot above 40% from 3-point range, embraced his role because the team’s alpha scorer and — oh, by the way in which — led the Jayhawks to a national title. His NBA-ready body, defensive intensity and out of doors shooting scream NBA role player.

Arizona

• Soph

• 6’6″

/ 210 lbs

Latest York was tenth in its conference in 3-point shooting percentage this season, so Mathurin’s an obvious gap-filler here in an ideal range. He shot 37% from the 3-point line as a sophomore with Arizona this season and has a fast, easily-projectable outside shot that can make him a beneficial role-player for years to return.

Ousmane Dieng

SF

France

• 6’9″

/ 185 lbs

Dieng is quickly rising up draft boards after a robust near the NBL season with the Latest Zealand Breakers, the team that after produced LaMelo Ball. He’s a combo forward with guard skills. If his outside shot starts falling with regularity he could grow to be a borderline star on the wing.

Memphis

• Fr

• 6’11”

/ 250 lbs

Charlotte has waited patiently in addressing the middle spot in recent drafts, but here, they grab a high-flying star in Duren who can defend the rim, run the ground and rating it efficiently contained in the arc. His lob-finishing ability makes him an ideal fit next to LaMelo Ball.

Wisconsin

• Soph

• 6’5″

/ 194 lbs

This might be an even bigger slip than expected for Davis, considered one of college basketball’s true breakout stars this past season. He’s arguably essentially the most polished prospect from the guard spot whose three-level scoring and defensive versatility could easily thrust him into a giant role upon arrival within the NBA.

LSU

• Soph

• 6’8″

/ 216 lbs

Eason, a giant combo forward who can space the ground as a shooter, open up the offense as a straight-line driver and really impact the sport on defense as a do-it-all weapon is a tough one to pin down here. He’s raw and his offense is not quite NBA-ready however the physical tools and defense alone could get him into the kids of this draft on potential.

Duke

• Soph

• 7’0″

/ 242 lbs

Potential insurance for Clint Capela down the road for Atlanta. Williams matches an identical mold as a more modern big who doesn’t space the ground, and while his leaping ability is nowhere near that of Capela’s, he brings big value as a rebounder and rim-protector.

Dyson Daniels

SG

G League Ignite

• 6’6″

/ 175 lbs

Daniels has a likelihood to be the primary G League Ignite talent taken on this 12 months’s NBA Draft after a robust one-and-done season with this system where he showcased himself as a do-it-all guard. Teams should find his ability to place the ball on the ground and create most impressive, and his defensive intensity and rebounding stick out to me on tape. Still some rough edges but has the skill, feel and frame to be a protected pick, especially on this range.

Jean Montero

SG

Time beyond regulation Elite

• 6’2″

/ 180 lbs

After recently watching more film of Montero from the Time beyond regulation Elite league this season, it’s clear Montero has realistic lottery talent. He’s a fast athlete who plays lead guard with pizazz and has playmaking skills as each a creator and shooter. I actually like how he can attack the rim, and think his offense can translate to the NBA.

Jaden Hardy

SG

G League Ignite

• 6’4″

/ 185 lbs

Hardy’s stock slipped a bit this season with the G League Ignite — he was inefficient and his decision-making left something to be desired on the court — but you’ve gotten to like his overall production. He’s a gifted scorer who is barely 19 years old and has loads of room to grow and develop. Still like his talent as a definite first-rounder.

MarJon Beauchamp

SF

G League Ignite

• 6’6″

/ 199 lbs

The oldest of the G League Ignite blue-chip talents, Beauchamp this season at 20 years old rode a robust season into first-round territory. Great size, very athletic, just needs to enhance the shot to be an actual producer. San Antonio’s developmental track record would make this a robust marriage.

Baylor

• Fr

• 6’8″

/ 205 lbs

We never got the full-blown freshman breakout from Brown in the identical way we did from teammate Jeremy Sochan, but Brown’s absolutely going to be in the combo as a possible lottery pick this summer. Has a giant frame, defends the wing like crazy and may stretch the ground as a shooter as well.

Ohio State

• Fr

• 6’5″

/ 180 lbs

Ohio State turned to Branham as considered one of its go-to options down the stretch run of the season, and he responded by averaging 17.3 points and three.8 rebounds within the second half of the 12 months. He’s a giant wing who can torch the online and scores it at a very high level, and now that he’s committed to staying within the draft, must be in the combo as a possible lottery pick.

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’7″

/ 240 lbs

Liddell doesn’t quite fit into a standard bucket as a prospect — he’s a tad undersized for a giant — however it’s hard to disregard his production. He’s a gifted scorer who finds ways to supply and he ranked among the many top five of all Big Ten players in blocks and scoring. His improved outside shot and rebounding tenacity should help him stick within the league.

Tennessee

• Fr

• 6’0″

/ 171 lbs

Chandler is the smallest of any prospect within the Top 60 of our rankings, in order that stands out as a possible concern projecting him into the NBA. But when anyone can overcome that, it’s him. Chandler’s a lightning-quick talent who can blow by defenders and knows methods to masterfully manipulate defenses with the rock in his hands.

Stanford

• Fr

• 6’8″

/ 230 lbs

A protracted wing with raw potential, Ingram can have played his way into going one-and-done despite a lackluster finish to his freshman season at Stanford. He flashed some real potential as a giant wing who could space the ground, defend and even create at times, a developmental project perhaps value considering for the Spurs.

Milw.

• Fr

• 6’9″

/ 220 lbs

Two consecutive seasons ending with Baldwin Jr. injured — first in highschool then as a freshman in college — have sprung up potential durability concerns for him. But as a former top recruit in his class, Baldwin Jr. likely still goes in Round 1 due to his 6-9 frame and shooting upside.

Notre Dame

• Fr

• 6’5″

/ 181 lbs

Wesley’s primary appeal out of Notre Dame is his scoring ability from the guard spot and his mature frame. He’s adept at attending to his spots, creating with the ball in his hands and attending to the road by pressuring the rim. His efficiency took a success down the stretch, and he’s still plenty raw as a prospect, but there’s loads to love here for somebody who just turned 19.

Nikola Jovic

SF

Serbia

• 6’10”

/ 210 lbs

Jovic stays considered one of this draft’s most original prospects due to mix of his size, shooting and creating. He’s a very good passer and Mega has used him at times as its primary initiator, something you rarely see from a player that tall, which speaks to his vision on the entire. The purpose forward potential might be not realistic on the NBA level but, like Josh Giddey in last 12 months’s draft, vision and creation ability no matter level generally tend to translate up. He’s a connector, and a very good one at that.

Auburn

• Soph

• 7’1″

/ 245 lbs

Memphis’ front office loves winners who’ve produced at a high level in college, even when their projectability to the NBA is not obvious, making Kessler a possible fit. He finished first amongst all college players in blocked shots per game and first in block rate and was hyper efficient as a scorer, though how he’ll fit athletically and on defense into the NBA is somewhat cloudy.

Duke

• Fr

• 6’4″

/ 221 lbs

Tough wings who embrace their roles as defensive stoppers and have the flexibility to space the ground as shooters should at all times have a task within the NBA, which makes Keels an obvious first-round candidate even when his freshman season was a bit inconsistent. He has an NBA-ready frame and projects as a possible 3-and-D prospect at the following level.