Throughout the year, NBA scouts ask questions of the college coaches who face the prospects they’re evaluating to get a handle on the upcoming draft class. You can get a good assessment of a player from his own coaches, but the most honest assessments come from those who face him.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve done the same, calling multiple coaches from each conference to get their scouting reports on the top players in this draft class. We granted the coaches anonymity in exchange for their candor, took the best of what each coach had to say and combined the report into one voice.
Below are scouting reports on every second-round college prospect in Sam Vecenie’s latest mock draft and the best of the rest. Players are listed in order of Vecenie’s rankings and numbered by where they went off the board in the mock draft. We also asked every coach for any sleepers they like and included those players at the end. The coaches’ assessments of projected first-round prospects can be found here.
32. Marquette wing Kam Jones
He’s transitioning into being a true point guard. His passing really improved this past year. His shotmaking really did not. I think he’s an elite-level finisher. He has a great touch, and obviously a lot of it is left-hand-dominant, but I believe in his finishing. His two-point scoring improved a lot as his career went on. Obviously he won’t be able to get as deep as he was able to in college in the NBA because of the size, but he also can pass.
I’m concerned about his overall shooting. I think he’ll be an off-the-bench guy, and his ceiling, if his shooting can come around, could be better than that. He’s not very big. He has to get stronger just to compete against the size that exists in that league. So he’s going to have to guard points and he’s gonna have to continue to develop his playmaking and his shooting has to improve.
33. Arkansas wing Adou Thiero
Not a great offensive player. Straight-line driver, athletic, tough. When he led them in shot attempts and scoring, they were worse off as a team. So I don’t know what his upside is in the league. Maybe a Lu Dort-type guy. Somebody you can just have be on the other team’s best player and try to shut them down. He’s one of those guys that’s a really impactful college player, does a lot of things that impact winning. And for him to make it I think you would have to be on a very specific roster because offensively in the NBA, he’s not going to be able to do a lot of the things that he did in college because physically he was able to overwhelm you and he was an elite athlete, but in the NBA you’re going to see that every single night.
He would have benefited from another year. But even if he had stayed another year, he was probably going to be the same guy. I don’t know how much he’s going to improve shooting the ball. So maybe it was the right move to capitalize on the season he had. Just don’t think he’s an NBA player. He’s more of a G-League guy.
35. Penn State big Yanic Konan Niederhauser
His size and his motor are really good. He had two impressive dunks over top of guys in our game. He’s a backup big. Can he develop into a guy that can play out of the short roll and make decisions, or is he just going to be a guy that rim runs and puts pressure on the rim? Can he be a professional and get better? What he is right now, is this his floor or is this his ceiling?
36. Duke guard Tyrese Proctor
He might be a Duke player that’s undervalued. When’s the last time you heard that, right? Can really shoot, can manage a game. Impressed me with his IQ, knowing which shots were good ones. He’s a strong right-hand driver and we tried to push him to his left, but he is capable of going both directions. When he gets into the paint, he’s a very capable passer as well. Likes to pull up in the midrange. Makes big shots. You can’t go under screens with him at all. Active defender and someone that’s capable of getting deflections. Good positional size.
I think there’s certainly an NBA role for him as a backup guard at a minimum. The shooting translates. He’s competitive enough to be able to want to guard. Could he get into an Andrew Nembhard role and be a guy like that? I don’t know. That’s probably a little bit aggressive. As a bigger guard that can shoot, I think he’s got that competitiveness and toughness about him that could allow him to exceed his draft rating.
37. Wisconsin wing John Tonje
Super impressive on film and equally as impressive in person. How Wisconsin played, there were times where you could kind of take him out of the game, but when it wasn’t structured and the game got kind of ratted up, he was best. He excels in transition and on broken plays, which could be a good thing for the NBA with the pace and the timing. Now, is he a good enough athlete for the NBA? We’ll see.
40. Duke guard Sion James
Oh man, tough dude. Physical. You go out to warmups and you see him out there, he’s just such a specimen. Looks like a Lu Dort. He’s got that type of body. Can he have an impact, not to the same level, but can he be like a Dort? Somebody that’s just really not going to be screened, fights over everything and is really good on that end. He’s not great in pick-and-roll, but he’s a good cutter, and he shot it at a really good clip. He’s gonna really have to be a specialist type to have a role in the NBA.
Sion James’ physicality paid off down the stretch during the Blue Devils’ Final Four run. (Scott Wachter / Imagn Images)
41. Auburn big Johni Broome
His athleticism is probably the thing that’s gonna hurt him more than anything, and his age, but you can’t tell me that he’s not going to produce, even at the NBA level. Is he a starting center? Probably not. But is he a guy that can be in the second-unit rotation and wear people down with his size and his smarts and his ability? I think so. I don’t think he’s got a huge upside in the league. But I do think there is a place for veteran guys that can have an imprint on a franchise.
43. Florida guard Alijah Martin
He’s going to be a G-League guy. He’s a 6-2 small forward, and I just don’t think that really translates in the NBA. The one thing that could be said about him is that he’s a winner. He’s been to two Final Fours, won a national championship, and so he impacts winning on both ends of the floor.
45. Georgetown wing Micah Peavy
I love Peavy. From a defensive standpoint, his versatility is real. He has a competitive spirit. He could impact the game just by being an elite defender. He was probably the best defender in our league on the perimeter. He could impact the games without scoring
His offense really improved this year. He’s really worked at it through all the stops (Texas Tech, then TCU, then Georgetown). He seems to have an understanding of who he is as a player, which allows him to play to his strengths really well. Shooting is still going to be a question. Decision making is always gonna be a question, but his size and tenacity on defense can impact the game. He’s old, so his ceiling is a little bit limited, but physically he’s so ready.
46. VCU guard Max Shulga
He was so ball-dominant at VCU, and I think there’s teams that probably look at that and will be very intrigued. You can tell he’s a high-IQ player. He makes good decisions in the pick-and-roll, whether it’s for himself or the proper reads first level, second level and beyond. He’s the guy I hated to guard or play against because he knew the game and had those European tricks — the push-offs and a lot of different things that help you win games. I hated it, but I respect it. I just don’t know if that s— helps in the NBA.
The questions are: How does he play in a system where in the NBA his usage rate will be much lower? Then, how does he hold up defensively against quicker, more athletic guards? He is a good, not great 3-point shooter. He’s an awesome college player because of the way (former VCU coach Ryan Odom) used him, but if you can crawl into him and be physical and do certain things to him that you can’t really do in the A-10, I just don’t know if he’s an NBA player. He’ll be a high-level guy in Europe.
47. Tennessee wing Chaz Lanier
His inconsistency on a night-to-night basis could hurt him. He doesn’t handle the ball very well. But without question, NBA range, size, can make a pull-up in the lane. The way they were running off screens was very reminiscent of how UConn and Detroit used Rip Hamilton all those years. But Rip could really put the thing on the ground. That was the difference. Lanier’s not a great ballhandler. He’s a specialist. Somebody you have to identify and know where he is at all times.
Defensively, I thought he made some strides this past year under (Tennessee coach Rick Barnes). But I think he’d be more of like a 3-and-D guy in the NBA, more of a role player. Not that you’re gonna put the ball in his hands and ask him to make plays. But physically, definitely checks off some boxes. And then obviously has a unique ability to make shots at a really high clip.
48. Michigan center Vladislav Goldin
He’s strong. Could be a rotation big. Probably could be a starter on some teams as he matures and gets better. I think he’ll be a legit NBA player because of his size, his ability to score around the basket and his ability to defend at the rim.
At Michigan, I didn’t love some of the histrionics, but he could almost be like a goon in the NBA, the big man version of Jose Alvarado. He comes in and picks up 94 feet. Vlad Goldin is the big who comes in and beats the mess out of people, gets a couple fouls and a double technical, changes the mentality of the team and sets the temperature a little bit hotter.
49. Kentucky wing Koby Brea
I always thought he was an NBA player, and I didn’t realize until we played them that he was 6-7 and he’s legit 6-7. That’s a guy I can see in the NBA for a long time. I don’t know how you can replace what he can do with it. He gets it off so quickly. Can’t really play-make for anyone else but himself, but if you need a guy to go out there and just make shots, at one point he was shooting 50 something percent from 3 during the year.
Now, he’s a horrible defender. I get that. And so you’re gonna have to protect him on the other end. He’s got to learn how to defend by taking deep angles. His feet aren’t great as a defender, but man, as a shooter, not a lot of guys that could do what he does and shooting at that high of a clip in this league and throughout his college career. There’s got to be a place for that.
50. Florida State wing Jamir Watkins
Love him. I talked to a lot of scouts about him during the year, and I was surprised that people were not as high on him. He is big. He can handle the ball. You could say he’s a jump shot away from being an impact NBA player, but I believe in his shooting. His body type’s different. He can be an elite defender. Plays hard. He’s tough. He can guard multiple positions. He’s switchable. That is a guy that I would absolutely take and think that he will make it and has a high ceiling.
51. Nevada wing Kobe Sanders
Super talented. Long and rangy. Can handle the ball, shoot the ball, pass the ball. But in my opinion, no toughness. His numbers are really good and he’s able to do a whole bunch of stuff and he looks the part, but something’s just kind of missing. I think part of his deficiency is he doesn’t defend. He’ll give you 17, but he’ll give up the same, and when it’s time to win the game he’s just not going to do it. He doesn’t shoot it well enough, doesn’t handle and burst well enough for that level.
Potentially he could be a Kyle Anderson-type guard, but is he worth building stuff around? He was the main guy at Nevada — him and Nick Davidson — and they were just OK and they were supposed to be really good. He’s going to have to really find a way to impact the game with his length and athleticism in more ways on the defensive end and on the glass to make it.
52. Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn
He has the stuff within him to be able to figure it out to be a backup point guard in the league. Always comes up with a big shot. Good defensively. We called him Chucky the Gambler. He was so disruptive on defense and active. Got steals. Played with such a high motor. He has a good feel for how to play. Doesn’t force anything. Makes pull-up jumpers, 3s, good in transition. Every time we made a mini run, he was the one that would stem the tide because he would make a big play. He’s undersized, and he’ll need to be a guy who picks up 94 feet. He’s going to figure out a way to make it. I’ll never bet against that kid.
54. Northwestern wing Brooks Barnhizer
Skilled, tough, nasty. He’s one of those dudes that’ll carve out a role. If he makes it to the NBA, it’ll be because it’s straight toughness and his relentlessness. It won’t be because he’s overly athletic. It won’t be because he can shoot better than this person. It’ll be just because he’s just nasty and he’ll get s— done.
55. Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis
Tough one because he’s a high-usage guard that won’t be in that role anymore, and so how does he scale down and really impact the team? He does have good size as a lead guard/combo guard. A legit three-level scorer. Strong finisher at the rim. I just don’t know if he has that NBA skill — any one particular — that’s really going to allow him to hang. Could he be somebody’s backup point guard? Maybe. He’s not necessarily a driller that you’re going to play off the ball. He’s not going to be good enough to run second-unit offense through. He’s not an outstanding defender. What is that guy gonna bring?
56. St. John’s wing RJ Luis
A boom-or-bust type guy. Great rebounder and excellent defender. He improved as a shooter, but I don’t know if I fully trust his shot yet. I do trust his motor, his competitive spirit, his energy. I think that’ll translate really, really well. Probably wouldn’t say I’d predict he was going to be Big East Player of the Year, but he has a toughness to him. He has all the tools to do everything that’s needed at that level. It seems like he’s a guy that really, really wants to score the ball and kind of bases how his game is going on that, and he’ll probably be a role guy at that next level. How does that go? Who knows?
57. Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard
I don’t think there’s many players in the league that can make other people around them better like he does. He’s an incredible pick-and-roll player. He sees every pass. Guys don’t even know they’re open, and he throws to a spot where he gets them open. You play him as a passer, and he still gets every pass. In the last 10-15 years, I can’t remember a point guard that enjoyed passing the ball the way that he does. People always say, well, he didn’t score enough. I think he can score. I just think he has an incredible ability to see a pass ahead and takes great pleasure in making other people better. I don’t think there are that many guys at the next level that can pick defenses apart the way that he can.
He’s really, really small up close. Can he consistently keep defenses honest by just being able to make an adequate amount of 3s? He’s streaky as a shooter, and I think that’s gonna be something that he’ll need to improve on if he wants to really stick. But he’s as elite as they come from a passing standpoint. Can he be a guy like TJ McConnell? He’s a pest on the ball. He can get steals. He just kind of knows how to play and has a knack for it.
59. Kentucky big Amari Williams
Love his physicality, love his motor, love his ability to pass the ball. Kentucky would use him in the middle of the floor and have him initiate different actions, and he was great at that. His decision making was questionable at times. Obviously one of the best rebounders in the country this past season. He doesn’t shoot the ball, but physically he was one of the more imposing players in our league.
He was one of those guys that I thought really stood out in the SEC, somebody that has really continued to improve and somebody that I think could have some success at the next level because he does a couple things at a really high level.
The Rest
Alabama guard Mark Sears
Too small. Offensively, does a lot of good things, but I think he really took a step back from last season. He dropped 9 percent from 3 in a year and dropped 10 percent from 2. He doesn’t have the point guard’s mentality he’s gonna need in the NBA. Not fast enough and doesn’t have enough wiggle to be able to really get by you at that level. And he’s not very good defensively. He was a great, great college player. I just don’t think it translates to the next level because athletically, physically, he’s just not really gonna be able to do much with his stature.
Kentucky wing Jaxson Robinson
He was very soft coming out of high school, but he had the talent to really shoot the ball, instincts were pretty decent. Just not tough, not gritty. And then I see him over the last couple years what he did at BYU and Kentucky. He’s gotten better, but he’s always had those dimensions as an NBA player.
He’s going to have to play more off the ball. And defensively, he was solid, not great. So I think he’s the guy that could potentially develop in the G-League and find his way onto a roster.
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond
RJ Luis was an absolute load to deal with, and Zuby Ejiofor was good too, but I think Richmond was such a domino in them winning. He has real size as a point guard and great feel defensively. At times it looks like he’s somewhat lost out there, but then he makes these plays that are incredible.
It’s hard to play guys who can’t shoot. That’s going to be something that is going to get scrutinized to the highest level because it’s so important up there. But playing against him, he feels like a guy that over time as you’ve coached and watched guys who have made it, you watch him and think, that guy makes it. If you were to look at his stats over his career, when he actually played versus when he didn’t play and the impact it had on his team, even going back to Seton Hall, he impacts winning. It seemed like his decision making really improved this past year. He was just more sound, not as loose with the ball. His deal might be a guy that has to bounce around some, but wouldn’t be shocked if he gets up there and finds a role somewhere.
Villanova big Eric Dixon
The numbers he put up this year were crazy. He showed that he can do more than just post up and shoot 3s. I think he’s a high-floor guy, limited ceiling. Shotmaking was real. He does take some bad ones and struggles to create his own one against better athletes. Positionally, what will he be at that level? He seems to be OK with a lot of different roles, which I think would benefit him for the next step. On a winning team, I could see him making it, at least for a cup of coffee where he can make shots as a small-ball four. He’s got to prove he can guard perimeter at that level. For a guy his size, he can really move his feet. He could switch and move in college.
Clemson guard Chase Hunter
Another one I like and mentioned to NBA guys during the year and didn’t quite understand why people didn’t like him. So smooth. Gets to the rim. He can play in pick-and-roll. He rejected us a couple times and got to his pull-up and made it look effortless. Good size for a guard. Can really defend. I did see a couple of times when physicality hurt him. But he was one of the best guards in the ACC. I would bet on him for the mix of toughness, athleticism, offensive skill that he is going to stick at least as a backup point guard.
Iowa wing Payton Sandfort
Unbelievable shooter. He’s got a rifle. When he gets that thing going, it’s automatic. Probably can’t guard me or you, and I think he’ll have trouble guarding in the NBA, but he can really shoot the ball. Kind of like a Duncan Robinson.
Will Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard (left) or Houston’s L.J. Cryer catch on at the next level? (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
Deep sleepers
Houston guard LJ Cryer
Because he can flat out score and shoot. There’s a niche for a guy like that to have a bench role and come in and make baskets.
St. John’s wing Aaron Scott
Aaron Scott will surprise some people in workouts. Not to get drafted, but I could see him playing Summer League and getting an Exhibit 10 or a two-way and making it from there, because he’s a better shooter than his percentage.
Butler wing Jahmyl Telfort
He didn’t impact winning at the level you thought he was capable of. Who knows all the reasons, but his versatility and his size were always something hard to deal with. He really improved his shooting. Defensively, I do think there’s some limitations.
Missouri guard Caleb Grill
He might have a place in the league as a specialist. I know he’s old, but man can he shoot that rock. And he’s an asshole… in a good way. He came in and just lit our ass up. Some of the shots he was making, they were ridiculous shots. With his quick release and ability to sprint off screens and still get his feet set, he’s got to have a role somewhere with that skill set.
San Francisco guard Marcus Williams
He’s got NBA size at the position. He’s really athletic. He’s tough. He can defend. And he makes big, big shots. Like big shots. I don’t know what happened with him at the end of the year, but I thought he would be a guy that would have a chance to play at that level because he’s got the whole package.
(Top illustration photos: Emilee Chinn, Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
