The 2021-22 college basketball season got underway Tuesday, with the Champions Classic from Madison Square Garden not only ending a months-long drought for college hoops fans but also offering significant evaluation opportunities for the scouts and NBA decision-makers in attendance.
Jonathan Givony’s NBA mock draft
Here’s how NBA mock draft sets up after the first action of the college season, followed by evaluations of the top players in the Champions Classic!
1. Houston Rockets
Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | PF | Age: 19.5
2. Detroit Pistons
Paolo Banchero | Duke | PF/C | Age: 18.9
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Duren | Memphis | C | Age: 17.9
4. Orlando Magic
Jabari Smith | Auburn | PF/C | Age: 18.4
5. New Orleans Pelicans
Jaden Hardy | G League Ignite | SG | Age: 19.3
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Caleb Houstan | Michigan | SF | Age: 18.8
7. San Antonio Spurs
Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | SF/PF | Age: 18.9
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Peyton Watson | UCLA | SF | Age: 19.1
9. Boston Celtics
Jaden Ivey | Purdue | PG/SG | Age: 19.7
10. Toronto Raptors
Jean Montero | Overtime Elite | PG/SG | Age: 18.3
11. Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)
TyTy Washington Jr. | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.9
12. Memphis Grizzlies
Ousmane Dieng | NZ Breakers | SF/PF | Age: 18.4
13. Indiana Pacers
Yannick Nzosa | Unicaja Malaga | C | Age: 17.9
14. Charlotte Hornets
Trevor Keels | Duke | SF | Age: 18.2
15. Washington Wizards
Dyson Daniels | G League Ignite | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
16. Sacramento Kings
JD Davison | Alabama | PG | Age: 19.1
17. New York Knicks
Ben Mathurin | Arizona | SF | Age: 19.3
18. Atlanta Hawks
Max Christie | Michigan State | SG | Age: 18.7
19. Chicago Bulls
Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | PG | Age: 19.1
20. Dallas Mavericks
Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | SG | Age: 19.0
21. Chicago Bulls (from Portland)
Roko Prkacin | Cibona Zagreb | PF | Age: 18.9
22. Denver Nuggets
Khalifa Diop | Gran Canaria | C | Age: 19.8
23. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)
Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | SF | Age: 21.5
24. Milwaukee Bucks
Mark Williams | Duke | C | Age: 19.9
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers)
A.J. Griffin | Duke | SF/PF | Age: 18.2
26. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)
MarJon Beauchamp | G League Ignite | SG/SF | Age: 20.0
27. Miami Heat
Keegan Murray | Iowa | PF | Age: 21.2
28. Philadelphia 76ers
Nolan Hickman | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 18.5
29. Golden State Warriors
Nikola Jovic | Mega Mozzart | SF | Age: 18.4
30. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah)
Daimion Collins | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.0
31. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston)
Allen Flanigan | Auburn | SF | Age: 20.5
32. San Antonio Spurs (from Detroit)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | UCLA | SG | Age: 20.7
33. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tristan Vukcevic | Real Madrid | PF | Age: 18.6
34. Orlando Magic
Hugo Besson | NZ Breakers | PG/SG | Age: 20.5
35. New Orleans Pelicans
Michael Foster | G League Ignite | PF | Age: 18.8
36. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cleveland)
Walker Kessler | Auburn | C | Age: 20.2
37. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio)
Marcus Bagley | Arizona State | SF/PF | Age: 20.0
38. Minnesota Timberwolves
Andre Curbelo | Illinois | PG | Age: 20.0
39. Boston Celtics
Matthew Mayer | Baylor | SF/PF | Age: 22.1
40. Golden State Warriors (from Toronto)
Johnny Juzang | UCLA | SF | Age: 20.6
41. San Antonio Spurs (from LA Lakers)
Ismael Kamagate | Paris | C | Age: 20.8
42. Memphis Grizzlies
Josiah-Jordan James | Tennessee | SG | Age: 21.1
43. Orlando Magic (from Indiana)
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 19.4
44. Charlotte Hornets
Earl Timberlake | Memphis | SF | Age: 21.0
45. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cleveland via Washington)
Justin Lewis | Marquette | SF/PF | Age: 19.5
46. Sacramento Kings
Julian Champagnie | St. John’s | SF/PF | Age: 20.3
47. New York Knicks
Drew Timme | Gonzaga | PF/C | Age: 21.1
48. Atlanta Hawks
Gabriele Procida | Fortitudo Bologna | SG | Age: 19.4
49. Sacramento Kings (from Chicago)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 19.5
50. Dallas Mavericks
Matteo Spagnolo | Cremona | PG | Age: 18.8
51. Portland Trail Blazers
Malcolm Cazalon | Mega Mozzart | SG | Age: 20.2
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver)
Gui Santos | Minas | SF | Age: 19.3
53. Phoenix Suns
Zsombor Maronka | Prat | SF | Age: 19.1
54. LA Clippers
Taevion Kinsey | Marshall | SG | Age: 21.6
55. Detroit Pistons (from Brooklyn)
Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 21.8
56. Indiana Pacers (from Miami)
Max Abmas | Oral Roberts | PG | Age: 20.6
57. Miami Heat (from Philadelphia)
Mike Miles | TCU | PG | Age: 19.2
58. Golden State Warriors
Ibou Badji | Lleida | C | Age: 19.0
59. New Orleans Pelicans (from Utah Jazz)
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Texas Tech | SG/SF | Age: 21.2
