Erik Reynolds scored in the wrong basket. Jaylen Clark tossed the ball off the backboard on what could have been a highlight reel but turned into an awkward layup. Danny Wolf boinked a pass off teammate Drew Timme’s head. A mic’d-up Liam McNeeley referred to one of the game officials as “Mr. Referee.” And Noa Essengue became an internet meme after being on the wrong end of a vicious dunk.

Welcome to NBA Summer League basketball. It’s a playground for entry-level basketball professionals to experiment and practice their craft. There were plenty of Shaqtin A Fool moments for sure. It was the kind of basketball game only hardcore hoopers would embrace.

It wasn’t all Shaqin A Fool moments in Vegas. There were some impressive moments, including walk-off, buzzer-beating 3-pointers by Jamaree Bouyea and Riley Minix.

The 26-year-old Bouyea was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, while the 24-year-old Minix was on a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. They embody what the summer league is all about. It’s about second chances and competing for a contract.

Here are some key takeaways from all the action at the Las Vegas Summer League.

The NBA has a new Flagg-bearer
Cooper Flagg, forward, Dallas Mavericks — Flagg called his summer league debut “one of the worst games of his life.” If that’s Flagg’s worst game, then the league is in a heap of trouble. The top pick in the draft was a bit harsh in critiquing his overall performance because it wasn’t that bad.

It took one game for Flagg to figure out the NBA game. Two days after his debut, he faced the Spurs and Dylan Harper in a marquee matchup. Flagg didn’t disappoint as he dropped 31 points on the same number of shots (21) he took in his first game and made it look easy. He played 31 minutes and looked like a superstar. He commanded the stage like a rock star, and he understood the assignment. He made the proper adjustments on his shot, especially the 3-ball, and put together one of the best performances in the Vegas Summer League in front of a big crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center. He commanded the stage, met the moment, and lived up to the hype.

Flagg also looked a lot more comfortable running point. He was matched up against Carter Bryant, and he won more battles than he lost. Bryant’s sole job was to shadow Cooper all over the floor when he’s in there, and it took away his legs on offense as the Spurs’ rookie went 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. The Mavs saw enough of Flagg and shut him down after two games.

About What We Expected
Dylan Harper, guard, San Antonio Spurs — The No. 2 overall pick in the draft didn’t make his summer league debut until Day 3 of the Vegas summer league. It was worth the wait, especially for Spurs fans, who saw what the scouts saw when Harper hit the floor in Vegas. He looked every bit of the 6-6 frame he was listed at, and he played with remarkable poise for a young player. He’s deliberate with his moves and doesn’t get rushed. It will be interesting to see how Spurs coach Mitch Johnson will utilize Harper, given that the Spurs have a full house in the backcourt with DeAaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

Tre Johnson, guard, Washington Wizards — Tre Johnson is a professional bucker-getter with efficiency. In his debut, Johnson scored 18 points on 7-for-13 from the field and made three 3-pointers. The sixth overall pick followed that up with another strong showing, going 7-for-11 from the field and finishing with a team-high 21 points. The Wizards need help in several places, and Johnson will certainly help in scoring.

Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, Toronto Raptors — The Raptors were one of the best teams in the summer league, and Murray-Boyles was a big part of their success. Murray-Boyles, the ninth pick in the draft, brought the same type of defensive intensity he displayed at South Carolina to the summer league, especially on the defensive end. CMB handled the speed and physicality of the NBA game like a seasoned pro. He looks like he can immediately play in a regular NBA game.

Derik Queen, forward, New Orleans Pelicans — Flagg’s former high school teammate at Montverde Academy (Fla.) appeared nervous in his first game. The 13th overall pick couldn’t get into any type of rhythm early against the Timberwolves. Turnovers were an issue as he committed seven turnovers, five of them coming in the first half. He lost the ball while bringing the ball up. He lost the ball while trying to make a spin move. Once he settled in, he played better, finishing his debut with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Queen put up a double-double in his first three games and flashed an ability to be a hub on offense. He’s a capable ball handler as a power forward, and Pels summer league head coach Corey Brewer didn’t hesitate to have Queen bring up the ball and initiate offense. Even though he shot just 43.8% from the field, he did average a double (14 and 11).

Exceeded Expectations
Joan Beringer, center, Minnesota Timberwolves — Beringer made his mark 10 minutes into his pro debut while going up against New Orleans Pelicans second-year pro Yves Missi. Beringer, the 17th pick in the draft, finished with a then-record seven blocks, had eight rebounds, and was 5-for-6 from the field (all in the paint). The 18-year-old, 6-11 Frenchman, who played professionally in Slovenia this past season and won the Slovenian Cup, showcased an ability to run the floor and rebound in traffic, but the most impressive part about his game was his ability to protect the rim. He had two blocks on the Pels’ first possession of the game, including one against Jeremiah Fears. “He’s very active, but he doesn’t waste any motion,” T-Wolves coach Chris Finch said about Beringer, who only started playing basketball in 2021. The sky is the limit for him, and the T-Wolves may have found a diamond in the rough.

Liam McNeeley, forward, Charlotte Hornets — When he’s not chopping it up with referees, McNeeley is chopping down defenders with an array of NBA-level shot creation and playmaking. The former UConn standout displayed an ability to splash 3-pointers (3-for-5 in his debut) as well as put the ball on the floor and score off the bounce. He knows how to use his 6-8 frame to create space and absorb contact, as he went to the line five times. McNeeley looked comfortable in an NBA setting, even with being mic’d up. Part of being an NBA player is dealing with distractions. The 29th pick in the draft appeared relaxed and wasn’t fazed at all by the extra attention. That bodes well for him going forward.

Nique Clifford, forward, Sacramento Kings — Clifford, the 24th pick in the draft, was the among all the 3-&-D wings in the summer league. He averaged 18-6-5 in 27 minutes of action, shot 58.3% from the field, and 52.9% from 3-point range. He is 23 and looks every bit of an older rookie, but he is a good fit for the Kings. He stays in his lane and understands what is required of him. He was easily one of the standouts of the summer league.

Yang Hansen, center, Portland Trail Blazers — From the moment he set foot on the floor, the 20-year-old center from China was an instant summer league favorite. He showcased nifty ball handling and passing, drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd. He moves so well that sometimes you forget that he’s a 7-footer. Yang wasn’t perfect and admitted his conditioning needed to be better, but his court awareness and soft hands are elite. The fans love him, and his teammates love him. He’s got a likable personality.

Yang and fellow rookie Caleb Love built up a nice chemistry, playing off each other and doing a lot of non-verbal communicating. Yang is far from a finished product, but he displayed Jokic-like dexterity at the high post. Yang was easily the best passing big in the summer league. He was directing traffic, which is impressive for a rookie still learning NBA terminology. Give credit to general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups for taking a big swing in drafting Yang. The bold move could have a big payoff. It’s too early to tell if Yang will be the next Bill Walton, but the Blazers are certainly going to be a popular team in China. Blazers will add 680 million more followers this season.

Work In Progress
Jeremiah Fears, guard, New Orleans Pelicans — The seventh pick in the draft flashed some of the skills that made him an electrifying prospect coming out of Oklahoma. But he also flashed some concerning habits. There were times when Fears played too much Me-Ball, which resulted in a ton of turnovers and bad shots. He hunted for his shots and lacked court awareness.

In a game against the Lakers, he forced the issue a lot. The me-ball approach led to 5-for-21 shooting (23%) and zero assists. For a point guard not to have an assist in a game is wild. On several occasions, Fears drove the paint without a clear plan and got stuffed at the rim. His worst outing came against the Blazers, where he instigated a dustup with Sidy Cissoko that resulted in ejections. Fear is only 18, and it showed. He has some work to do in terms of being more mature and acting more professional.

Khaman Maluach, center, Phoenix Suns — If there’s a definition of a “work in progress” player in summer league, it’s Maluach. The size is undeniable. He’s every bit of the 7-1, 250-pound frame he came in at. But the basketball skills are lacking. Jordan Ott and the Phoenix Suns coaching staff have some work ahead of them in developing Maluach into a starting NBA center. Maluach has to clean up a lot of things, especially shot selection. He has to understand what his strengths are and amplify them. He doesn’t have the necessary feel for the game yet, and all his warts showed up in his matchup against second-year pro Alex Sarr. Maluach couldn’t get into rhythm and, for some odd reason, fell in love with the 3-point shot. He took and missed two early 3-pointers in his debut, and one of them was heavily contested. Maluach played a decent game against Joan Beringer, playing him to a stalemate.

Kasparas Jakucionis, guard, Miami Heat — Jakucionis must love the rims in Las Vegas better than the rims in San Francisco. The 20th overall pick, who couldn’t make a 3-pointer at the California Classic, turned it around when he arrived in Vegas, earning praise from Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for the way he responded following a rough start. Jakucionis said the NBA game style is “different,” and he’ll need to adjust to regain his footing. The Heat summer league coaching staff moved him off the ball on several occasions, so playing off-ball might be a better fit for him instead of point guard.

Dalton Knecht, guard, Los Angeles Lakers — The Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024 was having an up-and-down summer heading into Vegas, and the rims in Vegas weren’t kind to the former Tennessee shooting guard. In his first two games, he averaged 11.5 points and shot an atrocious 29% from the field and 26.7% from 3-point range. The 3-point shot is supposed to be his specialty, and he couldn’t check that box. Bronny James had a better summer league than Knecht, which tells you everything about Dalton’s summer. If Knecht is going to be part of the Lakers’ rotation, he’ll need to be more consistent.

Carter Bryant, forward, San Antonio Spurs — Despite playing a limited role at the University of Arizona, where he averaged just 6.5 points per game and started five games as a freshman, Bryant was selected 14th overall in the draft. So far, Bryant looks like a JAG. Just a guy. Bryant was underwhelming in the California Classic, and his struggles continued in Las Vegas, where he couldn’t find the rim (3-for-24 from 3-point) in three games. He finally got going in the fourth game, making 4-for-6 3-pointers and finishing with 16 points. He disappears for long stretches, which is what frustrated many Wildcat fans, and he has a hard ceiling. Bryant can still be an effective role player alongside Victor Wembanyama, but don’t expect anything more.

Biggest Loser
Noa Essengue, forward, Chicago Bulls — Noa Essengue became part of NBA Summer League lore but not in a good way. Pacers second-year pro Johnny Furphy authored the dunk of the Vegas Summer League when he threw down a soul-snatching slam on Essengue’s head. What made it worse for Essengue was his facial expression after getting dunked on, and it got widely shared on social media. This was not the way you wanted to start your NBA career.

Essengue finished with 21 points in that same game, but no one will remember his stat line because it was overshadowed by the “orgasm face” meme (props to Ryan Clark for the term). You know it’s bad when two “SportsCenter” anchors, Nicole Briscoe and Ryan Smith, could barely do the highlights without laughing. Essengue, 18, was the No. 12 overall pick. He’s French but played last season in the Bundesliga with Ben Saraf for Ratiopharm Ulm. He skipped one of the Bundesliga finals games to fly to New York City to attend the NBA draft. Ulm went on to lose to Bayern Munich. It’s going to take an unbelievable rookie campaign for the Bulls for Essengue to escape THE viral moment in Vegas.

Mixed Reviews For Nets’ First-Rounders
Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf, four of the five first-round picks by the Nets, all took part in the Vegas summer league. And not surprisingly, the group needed more time to develop.

Demin, the eighth overall pick, looked the most NBA-ready. Demin has great positional size (6-8) for a guard and plays with a good amount of confidence. The biggest question mark for Demin was his 3-point shooting, but he quickly answered it by knocking down four threes in his second summer league game, and then swished three clutch 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the game against Orlando for the Nets’ only win in summer league.

Wolf (27th pick) couldn’t find his shot, but he contributed in other ways, such as rebounding and playmaking. He is comfortable handling the ball at 6-11, which makes him a candidate for multiple actions at the high post or wing. Wolf played his best game against Orlando (18 points), taking advantage of the absence of Drew Timme.

Traore (19th pick) showed an ability to blow by defenders, but couldn’t consistently finish at the rim. The same can be said about Saraf (26th pick), who played well in the German Bundesliga, helping Ratiopharm Ulm reach the finals, but the NBA is several notches higher than the Bundesliga.

The Nets would be foolish to play all their rookies this upcoming season, so we could see Traore and Saraf playing in the G League.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow and subscribe to his YouTube channel at @onemanfastbreak1.

The NBA Summer League is the best teaser on what to expect from the incoming rookie class. As expected, the top lottery picks didn’t disappoint, while others have obvious weaknesses that need to be corrected.

The California Classic in San Francisco and Sacramento kicked off the summer league season, with games at Chase Center and Golden 1 Center. As usual, the crown jewel of the summer hoops season was the Las Vegas Summer League. All 30 teams, armed with their first-round picks from the 2024 NBA draft, showed up to The Strip to showcase the potential stars of tomorrow.

Here are the studs — and duds — from the full NBA summer league slate.

STUDS: Donovan Clingan, Kel’el Ware, Dalton Knecht, Bub Carrington, Zach Edey, Stephon Castle, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis

Donovan Clingan, center, Portland Trail Blazers — Clingan’s high-profile matchup against No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr turned out to be a one-sided affair. Clingan thoroughly outplayed Sarr, helping hold him down to an embarrassing 0-for-15 shooting from the field. The national champ from UConn came in with a reputation as a defensive stalwart and he has certainly lived up to the billing, leading all players at the Vegas summer league in rebounds (12.3) and blocked shots (4.3). Clingan’s mere presence (7-2, 285 pounds) on the court should greatly improve a Blazers squad that ranked in the bottom 10 in terms of defensive rating last season. He is far from a finished product offensively, but with the help of dynamic young point guard Scoot Henderson, Clingan could be on the receiving end of lobs and put-backs. The Blazers didn’t select Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick in the draft for his offense. They drafted him to be their defensive anchor, and he should fill that role immediately.

Kel’el Ware, center, Miami Heat — Last year, the Heat found a gem in 18th overall first-round pick Jaime Jaquez. The Heat may have struck gold again this year in 15th overall first-round pick Kel’el Ware. After a shaky debut, the former Indiana product rebounded with a 26-point, 11-rebound performance in his second game at the California Classic. Ware flashed all the skills that made him an exciting prospect: rim running, lob threat, soft touch around the basket, rim protector. Ware did miss all his shots from behind the 3-point line, so he’ll need to improve that aspect of his game to be a more well-rounded big man. But his ceiling is high and he could play an immediate role on the Heat, much like how Dereck Lively did his rookie season with the Mavericks. Ware and Lively not only have similar body types but they also mirror each other on the court in terms of skill set. Ware capped off an outstanding summer by leading the Heat to the championship game of the Vegas summer league. In the final against the Memphis Grizzlies, Ware had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds in helping Miami take home the trophy with a 120-118 victory in overtime.

Dalton Knecht, guard, L.A. Lakers — Knecht was one of the few bright spots for an otherwise challenging summer season for the Lakers. The former Tennessee Volunteer’s shot-making ability in college has translated well into the pro game. He averaged 21.3 points per game in three games, shooting 41.8% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. He showed an ability to put the ball on the deck and create offense not only for himself but for his teammates. Defensively, Knecht is still a work in progress. He tends to straighten up too much when he gets in his defensive stance, allowing quicker players to get by him. His weakness on the defensive end might have been the reason why he dropped to the 17th spot in the first round of the draft. But the Lakers won’t be asking Knecht to be a defensive stopper. As long as he can get buckets on the other end, head coach JJ Redick will have a spot for him in the rotation.

Carlton “Bub” Carrington, guard, Washington Wizards — Not many experts had Bub Carrington on their tarot cards to make the all-summer league team in Las Vegas. Carrington was one of the biggest surprises of the summer season with an impressive showing in Vegas. The 14th overall pick averaged 15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists in 32.6 minutes. While at Pitt he was known for a lethal midrange shot, but he showed he can extend his range by knocking down 35.9% of his 3-point shots in summer league. He had an outstanding debut in a win over Zaccharie Risacher’s Atlanta Hawks, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds. The Wizards are planning to put Bub at point. It’s not his natural position, but he seems to be a quick learner. He should get plenty of run on a Wizards squad that isn’t expected to make the playoffs any time soon.

Zach Edey, center, Memphis Grizzlies — The 7-foot-4 big man out of Purdue was the most polarizing prospect in the 2024 draft. Nearly all of the mock drafts — except for OMFB — had Edey going mid- to late-first round and some mocks (we know who they are) even had him slotted in the early second round. OMFB ranked Edey as the top prospect in the draft and graded him very high going in. Edey fired his first shot at his doubters with a strong performance in his debut for the Grizzlies in Salt Lake City. The ninth overall pick in the draft put up 14 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked four shots in 33 minutes against a stacked Utah summer squad led by second-year pros Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Walker Kessler. Edey won his spicy matchup with Kessler, and delivered two eye-popping moments against the Jazz center. Edey sent shockwaves online when he dunked on Kessler and made a watch-your-head gesture as he ran back down the court. Then, he made up for missing an easy tip dunk when he muscled past Kessler and Kyle Filipowski and tipped in a shot following an intentionally missed free throw to send the game into overtime. Edey suffered an ankle injury at SLC, which caused him to miss nearly all the games in Vegas. He played for about a half in his only Vegas appearance before leaving with another ankle injury. The Grizzlies had seen enough at that point and decided to shut down their prized rookie for the remainder of the summer.

It’s too early to make a proper evaluation on Edey as we’re only given a small sample size. But based on what transpired in Salt Lake City, it’s safe to say Edey will prove his critics wrong and the Grizzlies may have found their starting center for years to come.

Stephon Castle, guard, San Antonio Spurs — Castle told people at the NBA draft combine that he preferred to play point guard instead of off-ball shooting guard, the position he mostly played in his lone season for national champion UConn. The fourth overall pick in the NBA draft has shown the maturity and the control to handle point duties and even Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is impressed. “I love his seriousness for such a young kid,” Popovich told ESPN. “I love his pace. You’ll see his expression never changes. He doesn’t go too fast, he doesn’t go too slow, he reads the situation. The more minutes he gets, the better he will be.” Castle got better each time he took the court in summer league, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the California Classic and dropped 22 points in his Vegas summer league debut. If there was a hole in his game it’s 3-point shooting as he made just 20%. A wrist injury forced Castle to miss the remaining of summer league, disappointing some fans. But the Spurs were protecting their investment and there was no need for him to make the injury worse.

Reed Sheppard, guard, Houston Rockets — After a solid 23-point debut at the Vegas summer league against Bronny James and the L.A. Lakers, the No. 3 overall selection in the draft put together an outstanding all-around game against the Washington Wizards, teaming up with second-year pro and 2023 Vegas Summer League MVP Cam Whitmore on a couple of dazzling plays. Sheppard struggled from 3-point range (1 for 5) but still finished with 22 points, using an array of shots around the paint. He also filled up the stat sheet with six rebounds, seven assists and impressive five steals. Sheppard could be more than just a high-level role player for Houston. He’ll play behind veteran Fred VanVleet, but could eventually become the team’s point guard of the future.

Matas Buzelis, forward, Chicago Bulls — Buzelis said he was disappointed in his first game at the Vegas summer league despite a solid stat line (15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks). “Honestly, I was very sloppy,” the 11th overall pick told NBC Sports Chicago. “I can play a lot better.” And he did play better. In his second game, the Lithuanian-American teenager dropped 28 points on the Golden State Warriors, including a social-media-busting dunk on a fastbreak. The dunk itself was spectacular, but what made it a meme was Buzelis staring down his opponent as he completed the dunk.

When Buzelis wasn’t dunking on people’s heads, he was draining shots from long range as he rattled home four of his eight 3-point attempts, the last one coming on a step-back corner 3-ball with a heavy contest. He took on the difficult defensive assignment of guarding Warriors second-year pro and All-Rookie team selection Brandon Podziemski. There is a lot to like about Buzelis’ game, and once his body fills out he could turn out to be one of the best players in the 2024 draft class.

DUDS: Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Rob Dillingham, Tidjane Salaun, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier

Alex Sarr, forward/center, Washington Wizards — The No. 2 overall pick in the draft had a historically bad night in his third game in Las Vegas. He went an abysmal 0-for-15 from the field and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts against his highly anticipated matchup with No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan. Sarr did have nine rebounds and three blocks, but few will remember that. The Wizards big man have a ton of work to do between now and the start of training camp. His shot mechanics is not terrible, but his shot selection has to improve. He has been consistently bad with this shot attempts throughout his time in Vegas, and he seems to settle instead of working to get a better look. In a game against the Houston Rockets, Sarr put up eight points, four rebounds and two blocks. Not awful numbers, but those are the kind of numbers you’d expect from a second-round pick.

Zaccharie Risacher, guard-forward, Atlanta Hawks — The 6-9 swingman had a solid outing in Vegas. He had a smooth stroke from 3-point range. He showed that he can create his own shot off the bounce, and even threw down a left-handed dunk on a break that got fans and NBA personnel all excited. He showed a willingness to defend multiple positions, and he also didn’t appear overwhelmed by the NBA experience. In three games, he averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds. If he was a mid-round draft pick those numbers would be sufficient. But Risacher was the No. 1 overall selection in the draft. There’s a level of expectation that come with being the top pick, and Risacher didn’t meet those expectations. He shot just 39.3% from the field and was even worse from 3-point range at 25.0%. Luckily for the Hawks, he’s only 19 and has plenty of time to grow and mature into his leading role.

Rob Dillingham, guard, Minnesota Timberwolves — While at Kentucky, Dillingham served as a primary scorer off the bench, a role in which he thrived in. But in summer league, he’s been tasked with running the show for the Timberwolves at point. The No. 8 overall pick seems capable of playing point guard, but it’s quite obvious it’s not his natural position. Against the 76ers in Vegas, Dillingham posted a decent stat line (10 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), but he had seven turnovers and shot just 3-for-10 from the field. It also doesn’t help his cause that his former Kentucky teammate Reed Sheppard has been lights out in Vegas. Dillingham finally found his footing in his final summer league game in Vegas with 25 points and 12 assists against the Orlando Magic, flashing all the skills that the T-Wolves loved about him. He could eventually be the stud most projected him to be, but it’ll take some time.

Tidjane Salaun, forward, Charlotte Hornets — Salaun was part of the impressive French talent surge in the 2024 draft, rocketing all the up to No. 6 overall. His 6-9 frame and 7-2 wingspan to go along with his age (he won’t turn 19 until Aug. 10) made him an extremely enticing prospect. So far, he looks like he’ll need time to develop and would benefit greatly from more reps. There were times on the court in Vegas where he looked impressive while there were other times where he looked lost. He had a double-double in his Vegas summer debut, but he took a step with a 3-for-7 shooting performance in just 14 minutes in his second game. It didn’t help that he missed the Hornets minicamp due to a minor laceration near his knee. The Hornets will need to be patient with Salaun as he’s far from a finished product.

Kyle Filipowski, forward, Utah Jazz — Many basketball experts were quite surprised that Filipowski dropped to the second round in the draft. The former Duke product didn’t do much to completely prove his naysayers wrong that he was worthy of a first-round pick, but he did show enough promise. He scored a grand total of four points (went scoreless in his debut) in two games at the Salt Lake City summer league. He finally broke loose in his fourth game with a 20-point game on 9-of-16 shooting from the field against the Toronto Raptors. The Jazz are hoping Filipowski can play the stretch-4 role next to Walker Kessler. That plan might eventually play out, but it’ll require a bit more lab work for Flip because he seems to be struggling with the speed and physicality of the pro game.

Isaiah Collier, guard, Utah Jazz — Collier was rated as one of the top high school prospects when he came to USC and appeared to be a lock to a surefire NBA standout. But finding success at the pro level is not easy, and Collier is struggling to find his footing. The concerns scouts had about him came to fruition in Vegas. He turned the ball over too many times (4.3) and he was one of the worst shooters from 3-point range, making just a shockingly bad 9% of his 3-pointers. When defenders are not respecting Collier’s 3-ball, they tend to go under the screens making it difficult for Collier to get downhill. Collier’s story is a common narrative in the world of basketball. Let’s just hope he’ll be able to bust through his early struggles and be a rotational player for the Jazz.

To say Purdue’s Zach Edey is the most polarizing prospect in the 2024 NBA draft would be a gigantic understatement.

Edey is a throwback center who plays in a phone booth. He’s an old-school, back-to-the-basket big man who uses his imposing size (7-4) and strength (300 pounds) to physically beat up and wear down his opponents. The 21-year-old Toronto native wasn’t just good in college. He was historically good. You’d have to dig deep into the basketball archives to find comparable performances. Edey put himself in the company of Walton, Alcindor, Ewing, Sampson, and Robinson.

Edey put up eye-popping statistics during his senior season at Purdue while leading the Boilermakers to the national championship game, where they lost to a stacked Connecticut squad. Edey dominated the competition throughout the NCAA tournament, including a highly anticipated matchup against UConn’s 7-2 center Donovan Clingan.

Edey scored 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds while mostly being guarded by Clingan. Clingan’s Huskies won the game, but Edey clearly won his individual matchup against his fellow NBA prospect. Edey consistently moved Clingan during their battles in the low block. He was also able to finish over Clingan, who had been the tournament’s most impactful defensive player. Clingan, who had been averaging 3.1 blocks in the tournament, only had one blocked shot and picked up four fouls trying to slow down Edey.

“If Zach Edey is not like a lottery pick and a tremendous NBA player, then there’s something wrong with the NBA,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd. “They’re maybe not playing the right game at that level. This guy has been dominant, brings you back to Ralph Sampson, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson type of performances at that spot.”

Hurley continued: “The kid’s a special player and special players when they go to that next level, they add new skills quickly. So, I think he’s going to get to the NBA, increase his range, shooting, his passing, his dribbling and he’ll adapt. That’s what special players do.”

Despite the gaudy numbers and the undeniable measurable, the vast majority of NBA scouts and basketball experts remain skeptical about Edey’s game and how it could translate to the next level. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, and longtime draft expert and current ESPN insider Jonathan Givony all have Edey outside the top 10 in their latest mock drafts.

The concerns are consistent across the board. Not mobile enough. Can’t guard in space. Will struggle in ball-screen situations. Doesn’t shoot enough 3s to space the floor. Overall game won’t translate to the modern NBA game.

The vast majority of the concerns are valid. But many experts may be missing the obvious. They are so fixated on what Edey can’t do, they’re overlooking the amazing things that he can do. He is a skilled big man with soft hands. His baseball background shows as he catches almost everything thrown at him. He also rebounds well in traffic because of his strong hands. These traits are transferable to the next level.

One of the most underrated parts of Edey’s game is his competitive spirit. He meets the moment. He plays his best when his best is needed. He took on the challenge of guarding North Carolina State’s DJ Burns and shut him down. He took on the Clingan challenge and dropped 37 on the best team in college basketball. Each time a challenge is put in front of him, he has embraced it.

There’s also no doubts about his work ethic. He has greatly improved from year to year, especially his mobility and conditioning. He played the most minutes of any player in the NCAA tournament. He played 119 out of a possible 120 minutes in the Elite Elite, Final Four, and national championship game.

Being doubted is nothing new to Edey. He has been overlooked his entire athletic career. He is unfazed by the countless question marks about his game and the overly critical scouting reports. He delivered a thoughtful answer when reporters asked about his college legacy.

“You can say anything you want about my game, you can say anything you want about how I play,” he said. “But I don’t think you could ever say I never stepped on the court and didn’t give it my 100%. I never took a night off, I never took a practice off for four years. I left everything on the court every time I stepped on. That’s the only thing I want to be remembered for.”

Basketball execs and the media gravitate to narratives. The narrative these days is about pace and space. It’s about positionless basketball and an emphasis on analytics.

But why keep following trends? It should be acceptable to be different. It’s OK to turn left when everyone else is turning right. Drafting Edey in the top half of the lottery would be a move straight from left field. But it’s the right move. It’s the smart basketball move.

Basketball is still a big man’s game. In case you haven’t noticed, three of the five best players in the NBA are centers. Outside of the Golden State Warriors, championship teams are built around centers. Edey is a strong foundational piece to build around.

OneManFastBreak.net ranks the 12 best prospects in the 2024 NBA draft (list is updated through April 10 with the expectation that these players are declaring for the draft).

1-Zach Edey, center, Purdue
NBA comparison: Yao Ming
Scouting report: A common comparison to Edey is former Iowa center Luka Garza — a ridiculous comparison when you think about it. Garza is nearly five inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than Edey. Edey is also far more skilled than Garza, who is extremely limited and doesn’t possess Edey’s soft hands. Edey took an unusual path en route to becoming the best big man in college basketball. He played baseball and hockey as a youngster and didn’t play basketball until he attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. After playing under the shadow of Jaden Ivey as a sophomore, Edey raised his profile with an outstanding junior season at Purdue. He bumped up his scoring average (from 14.4 to 22.3), rebounding average (from 7.7 to 12.2), while maintaining an extremely high field goal percentage (62.8%). He raised it up a notch from his junior year to his senior year, leading the Big Ten in scoring (25.2), rebounding (12.9) and field goal percentage (62.3%). He shot a respectable 71.1% from the free throw line while attempting 11.2 foul shots per game. He was even better during March Madness. He scored 177 points (29.5) in six NCAA tournament games, tying Princeton’s Bill Bradley for second-most points scored in a single tournament. “When you look at his numbers against the greats, there’s no question he’s in the conversation,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said of his All-American. In a three-game stretch during the season, Edey became the first Big Ten player since Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson to score 30-plus points, grab 10-plus rebounds in three consecutive games. There are only three players in NCAA history to score over 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, block 200 shots, and shoot at least 60% from the field. That list includes Edey, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing. Pretty good company.

2-Alex Sarr, forward-center, Perth Wildcats (Australia NBL)
NBA comparison: Evan Mobley
Scouting report: French teenager Alex Sarr, 19, is an Eiffel Tower-like big who opened some eyes in Henderson, Nev., after his Perth Wildcats took on the G League Ignite in an exhibition game that was supposed to showcase Ignite’s top guys Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis. Instead, the 7-footer with a 7-5 wingspan stole the show and became the talk of the showcase event, averaging 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, six blocks, and two assists in two games. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said Sarr’s “continued improvement this season, overall consistency and outstanding NBA fit playing a similar role to the likes of Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren makes him a safe choice currently as the potential No. 1.” Mobley is the most common comparison to Sarr, but there’s a lot of Chris Bosh in his game. Like Bosh, Sarr is comfortable operating in the high post — now commonly referred to as the “nail.” Sarr began his basketball odyssey with Real Madrid. He possesses a rare blend of length, size, instincts, and reactivity. He displayed all of those traits when he was matched up gainst Ignite’s Ron Holland. Holland, who is considered by many scouts to be a top-10 pick, couldn’t shake Sarr despite throwing him everything but the kitchen sink. Sarr’s father, Massar, is a former professional basketball player from Senegal, while his older brother, Olivier, currently plays in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Alex Sarr is far from a finished product. He still needs to gain upper body strength and has to build up leg strength to be able to explode off the floor. But in a relatively weak draft class, Sarr might be at the top of the class.

3-Stephon Castle, guard, Connecticut
NBA comparison: Jimmy Butler
Scouting report: Castle, 19, wasn’t your ordinary freshman. He had a certain maturity about him. UConn head coach Dan Hurley called Castle “the anti-entitled five-star freshman.” He does nothing but help his team win, whether it’d be setting up teammates or scoring on his own or stopping the other team’s best perimeter player. UConn center Donovan Clingan calls Castle one of the best on-ball defenders. He utilizes his 6-6 frame to his advantage. He plays with an edge and embraces competition, qualities often found in players with championship rings. Castle bottled up Northwestern’s all-conference guard Boo Buie in the second round of the NCAA tournament, as Buie shot just 2-for-15 from the field and finished with nine points. Because the Huskies are a balanced team with a boatload of talent on the roster, Hurley said Castle didn’t get to show everything in his bag. He waited until March Madness to unleash the full arsenal. Castle, who averaged 10.7 points during the regular season, saved his best when the Huskies needed it most during the Final Four. He scored a season-high 21 points in UConn’s hard-fought win over Alabama, while also hounding ‘Bama guard Mark Sears all night. Castle plays with controlled aggression on both ends. You can’t speed him up on offense, and he’ll make you rush on defense. About the only weakness in his game is his 3-point shooting. He shot just 26% from behind the arc. But everything else about his game is pro level.

4-Donovan Clingan, center, Connecticut
NBA comparison: DeAndre Jordan
Scouting report: The big man from Bristol, Conn., put his stamp on Connecticut’s dominant Big East season with a 22-point, 16-rebound performance in leading the Huskies to a convincing win in the Big East tournament championship game over Marquette. It was UConn’s third win over Marquette in the season and it was the third straight game in which Clingan outplayed fellow NBA prospect Oso Ighodaro. “There’s a bunch of other centers that have gaudier numbers. He’s one of the most impactful players in the country. Top two, top three most valuable players in the country, that kid,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said about his 7-foot-2, 280-pound center. Clingan, 20, finished his sophomore season at UConn strong after returning from a midseason foot injury that forced him to miss a month. His presence in the middle was one of the many reasons the Huskies earned a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament and captured the school’s sixth national championship. Clingan is a superb finisher off pick-and-rolls (he shot 64% from the field) and he’s also a big-time lob threat. Clingan, who has a 7-7 wingspan, is far from polished on the offensive end but he can immediately make an impact on the defensive end. Teams who are willing to be patient could reap the reward of having a center set solid screens, runs the floor, and protects the rim.

5-Dalton Knecht, guard, Tennessee
NBA comparison: Bogdan Bogdanovic
Scouting report: Dalton Knecht helped his draft stock with a good showing in the NCAA tournament for the Tennessee Volunteers. Knecht began his D1 career at Northern Colorado where he averaged 20.2 points per game. He used the extra COVID year to play one year in Knoxville, where he opened more eyes and greatly improved his draft stock. He has good positional size (6-6, 204) but he is 23 years old and may have already hit his ceiling. Teams looking for a superstar player might be greatly disappointed. However, those teams looking for a sniper who can occasionally put the ball on the deck then Knecht might be a fit. He chose Tennessee because Rick Barnes has a reputation of being a defensive coach. Defense isn’t Knecht’s forte, but it has improved under Barnes. Shooting the ball is Knecht’s favorite jam. In his final college game, Knecht scored 37 points in 37 minutes and buried six 3-pointers in a loss to Zach Edey and Purdue in the Elite Eight. During his super senior season at Tennessee, Knecht shot 46% from the field and 39% from 3-point range. The SEC player of the year is sneaky good athletically. He’s able to create his own shot and can score in traffic. Knecht may not have the highest of ceilings compared to younger draft prospects, but he’s a plug-and-play player whose game translates well in today’s 3-point happy NBA.

6-Matas Buzelis, forward, G League Ignite
NBA comparison: Franz Wagner
Scouting report: An ankle injury cost Buzelis, 19, the first three months of the G League season, but when he came back he flashed the impressive ball-handling and shot-making abilities that made him one of the top prospects coming out of Sunrise Christian Academy. In his one season with G League Ignite, Buzelis averaged 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds. He shot 44% from the field, but made just 27.3% of his 3-point shots, which is somewhat concerning. Buzelis is more of a slasher than a pure shooter. He can create his own shot off the bounce, preferably going to his left, and has a point-guard mentality as a 6-9 forward. He can play the catch-and-shoot role, but that part of his game is still evolving. He was a better shooter in high school than in the G League, so there’s enough evidence that he can become a solid shooter at the pro level. He has a little bit of Franz Wagner — Orlando Magic’s talented young star — in his game. Buzelis grew up in Chicago, but his bloodline runs deep in Lithuanian basketball. His grandfather Petras played for Zalgiris Kaunas for more than a decade and his dad Aidas played professionally for a number of teams in the Lithuanian league. This is a major plus for Matas Buzelis, given the impressive list of Lithuanians who’ve played in the NBA such as Domantas Sabonis, Arvydas Sabonis (Domantas’ father), Sarunas Marciulonis, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Jonas Valanciunas. The Ignite hasn’t had a good track record of late when it comes to NBA prospects, but there’s an Ignite player from this class who is worth a lottery pick, it’s Buzelis.

7-Zaccharie Risacher, forward, JL Bourg-en-Bresse (France LNB)
NBA comparison: Trey Murphy
Scouting report: Zaccharie Risacher is the son of former French League star Stéphane Risacher, who won a silver medal for France at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Zaccharie Risacher turns 19 two months before the draft and he is fast-rising name in many mock drafts. Some draft experts have Risacher near the top of the draft. But before teams get too excited about Risacher, there are some glaring weaknesses that needed to be addressed. He is not an explosive athlete and has average length for his size (6-9). He has shown some ability to create his own shot, but his chart doesn’t project 25-point scorer at the next level because his handle isn’t elite. He’s more of a 3-and-D wing who could be a solid NBA starter. His NBA comparison is Pelicans forward Trey Murphy. Because he is the son of a former pro player, Risacher has a good feel for the game and has good instincts. He could still make another leap, but it’s a big roll of a dice if you take him in the upper half of the lottery.

8-Tidjane Salaun, forward, Cholet Basket (France LNB)
NBA comparison: Nic Batum
Scouting report: Salaun is a fascinating prospect, especially for teams needing a space-the-floor big forward. He’s got superior positional size at 6-10 with a 7-1 wingspan. Those spicy measurables would make NBA execs drool on their notepads. He also plays with a ton of energy on both ends. Offensively, 60% of his baskets are either 3s or dunks. He doesn’t have much of an in-between game offensively yet, but he has shown the necessary traits to be a superb defensive player. He understands how to use his immense wingspan to deflect balls and contest shots. In a game against Saint-Quentin in the French LNB, Salaun started the game by intercepting a pass and finishing with a dunk. He ended the game in the same fashion as he picked off a pass near halfcourt and finished the play with a crowd-pleasing dunk to seal a 73-69 win for Cholet. ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony posted this on Twitter about Salaun: “It’s easy to see why Tidjane Salaun is a riser on NBA draft boards, standing 6-11 with an athletic frame, long arms, fluid movements and dynamic shooting ability. It’s rare to see an 18-year-old shoot the ball with the confidence, range and versatility Salaun has all season.” Most mock drafts have Salaun somewhere in the middle first round or late first round. Given the lack of star power in this year’s class, it might be worth rolling the dice on Salaun. He could grow into an outstanding two-way player.

9-Rob Dillingham, guard, Kentucky
NBA comparison: Darius Garland
Scouting report: Dillingham, 19, is well traveled. He is a native of Hickory, N.C., and gained attention as high school sophomore. He transferred to Donda Academy for his junior year. Donda is the much-maligned private school in Simi Valley, Calif., founded by Kanye West. Dillingham spent his senior year in Overtime Elite, a pro league for late high school and early college-level players. He decommitted from North Carolina State and enrolled at Kentucky in 2022. Dillingham has earned his way playing for John Calipari. Kentucky’s 2023-24 squad was armed with high-profile prospects like Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner. Dillingham performed better than Edwards and Wagner despite coming off the bench. Dillingham is a 6-2 combo guard with a boatload of confidence. He is a three-level scorer who isn’t afraid to take and make tough shots. He’s got some Jamal Murray — who also played for Calipari at Kentucky — in his game, but a better athlete. A closer comparison is another former Kentucky product Tyrese Maxey. Dillingham possesses the same type of quick, shifty moves that Maxey is known for, and Dillingham might have a tighter handle. Kentucky assistant coach Chuck Martin, who worked as Calipari’s assistant at Memphis, had high praise for Dillingham. “He’s as dynamic of a player I’ve been around in 25 years,” Martin said, “and I’ve been around Derrick Rose, been around some really good players.”

10-Isaiah Collier, guard, USC
NBA comparison: Collin Sexton
Scouting report: Collier’s freshman season at USC didn’t go as planned. Expectations were super high for Collier and the Trojans entering the season. But injuries and some bad losses have led to a disappointing year. Collier missed four weeks after suffering a hand injury and that’s when the Trojans’ season fell apart. But since coming back from injury, Collier has flashed all the skills that made him the No. 1 high school recruit. The 6-5 combo guard is a tough cover when he goes downhill. He plays with a lot of physicality. He’s a bigger version of Collin Sexton both offensively and defensively. And so far, nothing suggests that Collier is not willing to do the work. USC coaches raved about his work ethic and his appetite for improvement. He’s open to be coached hard, and Andy Enfield and his staff have done a good job in developing Collier in his one season with the Trojans. In a double overtime loss against Colorado, Collier finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three steals. He cleaned up some of the turnover problems that plagued him earlier in the season and also improved his outside shooting. Collier’s freshman season with the Trojans didn’t go as planned but he did finish strong, including a statement performance in USC’s upset win over Pac-12 champion Arizona at Galen Center in which he took over the game in crunch time.

11-Cody Williams, forward, Colorado
NBA comparison: Jerame Grant
Scouting report: Cody Williams is a late bloomer. There were few preseason publications that had him slotted in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft. After one impressive season at Colorado, Williams opened some eyes and could be the hidden gem teams are coveting in an unpredictable draft. Williams is a 6-8, 180-pound forward with tantalizing 7-foot wingspan. He is the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder standout Jalen Williams. An ESPN draft expert calls Cody a “high-level, two-way wing” who makes “decisive, fluid and efficient” movements. He’s versatile and has untapped potential. A host of injuries prevented Williams from fully displaying his full potential. He suffered wrist and ankle injures and fractured an orbital bone that required him wearing a mask. Despite the physical setbacks, Williams flashed what he could be at the next level and he is confident his arrow will keep pointing up. He made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team, averaging 11 points per game and shooting 41% from the 3-point line. “I don’t really feel like I have anything to prove, just because I’ve already put in the work. I’ve already done what I need to do, my due diligence in terms of working off the court,” Williams told ESPN.

12-Ron Holland, forward, G League Ignite
NBA comparison: Terrance Mann
Scouting report: Holland might be the most underrated five-star prospect we have in this year’s draft. He came out of high school (Duncansville, Texas) as a top-three recruit, made the McDonald’s High School All-American squad, and earned a spot on Team USA for the Nike Hoop Summit. He opted to play for the G League Ignite where he averaged a team-best 19.5 points per game and 2.4 steals. Holland absorbed some of the blame for Ignite’s historically awful season (2-32), and rightfully so since he and Matas Buzelis were the biggest names on the squad. Skeptics focused on Holland’s porous 3-point shooting (23.9%) and turnovers (3.5), but they have missed some of the positive things he can bring to the table such as good positional size and athleticism. Holland also has a high motor and plays hard on defense, which translates to the NBA. If he can improve his shooting, the 6-8 forward could be a good rotational player who can compete right away for playing time.