16 Texas-Southern/Texas A&M-CC| Thursday | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, What to watch for: Braun plays up to four positions for Kansas, switching seamlessly on the perimeter, putting a body on big men in the post and doing quite a bit of facilitation in the half-court. His upright stance on the perimeter and struggles covering ground fluidly are question marks projecting to the NBA level, as is the fact that the game simply moves too fast for him at times on both ends of the floor. "With Kai's progression throughout the season, it was within expectation Kai would declare for the 2022 Draft. LSU was delivered a major blow when Eason's coach, Will Wade, was dismissed Saturday due to recruiting violation allegations, and the Tigers will need their best player to emerge as a leader on and off the court. 7 Michigan State vs. No. Jabari Smith | Freshman | Auburn | 6'10" | SF/PF | Age: 18.8, When: No. We'll learn more about Christie's ability to take and make big shots in clutch moments during Michigan State's NCAA tournament run, which will either put scouts at ease about the 19-year-old's underwhelming freshman campaign or suggest that he clearly needs more seasoning at the collegiate ranks before making the pro leap. Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. 10 Loyola Chicago | Friday | 12:15 p.m. | CBS. Smith is also a highly versatile defender who plays with outstanding intensity, switching all over the floor with quick feet and impressive energy. His father, Ervin Sotto, and his godfather, Ranidel de Ocampo, played pro basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. When Christie's jumper is falling, it's easy to see him getting looks in the late first-round, projecting somewhere between Landry Shamet and Primo on his best days. People will realize how special Kai is," Chan said when asked about Sotto's draft stock. Rediscovering his defensive toughness, finding a rhythm from 3 and determining the right blend between scoring and playmaking will go a long way in solidifying his status as a top-20 prospect. In the NBL, Sotto provided glimpses of what could come and averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in over 15 minutes. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. Sotto also made junior national team and senior national team appearances for the Philippines. Duke extends its lead over Syracuse thanks to Paolo Banchero's cut inside and big finish. The 20-year-old, 7'3 center played in 23 games for the 36ers this past season. Duren has emerged as a major force inside the paint on both ends of the floor -- be it crashing the glass, protecting the rim or finishing ferociously and with incredible ease around the basket -- giving him a ready-made role to step into early in his NBA career. For Kai who played his first pro season in the NBL, with some training with G League Ignite last season, I think he competed pretty well in a physical league," Chan observed. "There's no doubt that Sotto is a skilled big man -- his touch, particularly on short floaters, stood out as a skill he can use to get points around the rim, and he had some fun moments as a lob threat as well. He can be a playmaker defensively when engaged, thanks to his huge wingspan and impressive lateral quickness, but he loses his focus frequently and has too many bad moments falling asleep off the ball. I can recall Sam Froling absolutely dominating him when they played against Australia (in 2019 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup)," Purnell recalled. Holmgren averaged 12.6 points per game on 66.4% true shooting in 18 games against teams over .500 as opposed to 16.9 points on 78.1% true shooting in fewer minutes across 11 bouts versus teams with a losing record. "I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft," wrote Sotto. Mock Draft Roundup Familiar Names And The Prospect Of Trades. 14 Colgate | Friday | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, The most improved player in college, Davis went from role player to superstar in the span of an offseason after winning a gold medal with USA Basketball. What to watch for: The SEC player of the year and a leading candidate for various NCAA player of the year honors, Tshiebwe is in the midst of a historic season statistically for Kentucky, grabbing more rebounds than any player in the modern era, spanning back at least 30 years. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers), Walker Kessler | Sophomore | Auburn | 7'1" | C | Age: 20.6, What to watch for: At 7-foot-1 and 245 pounds, with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Kessler's appeal is readily evident on first glance. There are only four sub-6-foot-1 guards who play at least 15 minutes per game in the NBA this season, meaning Chandler will have to be viewed as a special talent to warrant a high draft pick. Does Liddell project as more of an energy guy or is he the next collegiate winner who scouts will overlook because of his less-than-stellar measurables, underrating his incredible intangibles, productivity and toughness? Chet Holmgren | Freshman | Gonzaga | 7-foot-1 | PF | Age: 19.8, 14.2 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, 3.6 blocks per game, 1.8 assists per game, When: No. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Kai Sotto will be hoping to make it in the big time after declaring for the NBA draft on Thursday.. He's coachable and receptive to feedback from coaches and teammates," Chan said. "There's no reason Sotto would not have the potential to be a productive contributor on the offensive end of the floor," Houben said. -- Schmitz, Jalen Duren | Freshman | Memphis | 6'10" | C | Age: 18.3, When: No. But there is belief Sotto can build around those figures in order to raise his ceiling and find a place on offense in the modern NBA. (2:08). NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? He is at his best when keeping things simple, and he can be prone to huge swings of intensity and productivity on both ends of the floor, depending on the night and how well things are going early in games. In Adelaide, Sotto mostly subsisted on cuts and as a roll man in the pick and roll -- two of four play types where he derived most of his offense. Ochai Agbaji | Senior | Kansas | 6'6" | SF | Age: 21.8, When: No. Today we look at Sotto's decision to declare for the draft and what he brings on offense. Even so, a possible callup in the second round remains within the realm of possibility. But speaking on The Huddle, the leading draft analyst has another NBL talent on his radar, with Illawarra Hawks Next Star Justinian Jessup making waves in the competition. He fits an obvious mold as a strong-framed, 6-foot-6 wing who can space the floor from well beyond the NBA line, shoot running off screens or pulling up off the dribble, and finish explosively in the open floor. People will realize . 12 Wyoming | Tuesday | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, Julian Strawther | Sophomore | Gonzaga | 6'7" | SF | Age: 19.9, Moussa Diabate | Freshman | Michigan | 6'10" | PF/C | Age: 20.1, Ron Harper Jr. | Senior | Rutgers | 6'6" | SF/PF | Age: 21.9. Still, there's a near consensus that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a no-brainer pick for a spot on an NBA roster. ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz predict what the 2022 NBA draft could look like if all 58 players came from college basketball's marquee event. 2019 NBA champion Jeremy Lin believes all is not lost for Kai Sotto after the Philippine prospect missed out on being picked up in the 2022 NBA draft. "Having this opportunity to develop in the NBL is a great situation for Kai and I'd imagine he spends the next year or two in Australia as he continues to find his footing in the world of professional basketball," Smith explained. Kai Sotto - NBA Draft Room Kai Sotto NBA DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT Draft Notes Sotto is an intriguing prospect who comes from good basketball bloodlines (father Ervin Sotto) and who has shown marked improvement in his frame over the past couple of seasons. He has trimmed down, evolved as a perimeter shooter (38% from 3), expanded his playmaking off the dribble, become an asset in switch situations and developed into a true defensive anchor for the Buckeyes thanks to his stellar timing and nonstop motor. If nothing materializes there, an NBL return is always on the table, as he still has two more years (with the second a team option) on the original three-year deal he signed with Adelaide. These recent developments reinforce the optimism previously expressed by a few voices -- including former Philippines men's national team head coach Rajko Toroman and Sotto's agent Joel Bell -- who believe the 20-year-old's combination of youth, physical tools, and intangibles outweigh some of the weaknesses he showed during his first pro season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's National Basketball League. -- Schmitz, Trevor Keels | Freshman | Duke| 6'5" | PG/SG | Age: 18.5, When: No. 2 - Nikola Jovi - Serbia - (2003) - Nikola is a 6-10 point-forward who has been steadily moving up draft boards and is looking like an elite talent with a very bright NBA future. Standing 6-foot-10 in shoes and weighing 230 pounds, Sochan has the size to slide up to the center spot for coach Scott Drew, showing the ability to battle more traditional bigs in the post and on the glass, which gives Sochan more room to tap into his handle and vision offensively when at the 5. 6 Colorado State vs. No. "[But] it is generally only justifiable to play a seven-footer on an NBA floor if they're being heavily utilized on the offensive end, and whilst Sotto has shown utility as a finisher and lob threat at the NBL level, a clear cut offensive skill will go a long way into making him a useful NBA player.". Just how high Tshiebwe gets drafted is what scouts are trying to determine, but a deep NCAA tournament run that includes strong showings against physical frontcourts could go a long way in solidifying his standing and potentially emerge as a first-round prospect. -- Givony, 49. According to his agent Joel Bell, NBA scouts were "very enthusiastic" about the 7'3" big man and had even secured a guarantee with one team that they will pick Sotto once the draft rolls on. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? Few will question Davis' toughness or willingness to play a winning style of basketball, but the extent of his upside is still a topic of conversation, something he can push back against with a strong finish to his season. Fresh off the back of being named the NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player on Wednesday evening, Sotto declared his intentions on an Instagram post which initially began with him expressing gratitude after his season with the 36ers. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. Their confidence is not unfounded. Eason has improved his ballhandling and perimeter shooting considerably while putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses with his quick first step, physicality and insatiable intensity, allowing him to live at the free throw line. Offense has been a major struggle at times for Davison, who isn't a polished ball-handler or a consistent shooter. He is a natural with the ball in his hands, changing speeds and directions at will to either generate offense for himself or his teammates. He said that some of the Sotto's deficiencies on defense, however, are fixable. Playing with little help around him offensively, Harper has been forced to carry a heavy load for Rutgers this season, which has led to some inconsistent and especially inefficient performances. Koloko's thin frame, lack of physicality and developing feel for the game, which manifests itself in foul trouble, point-blank misses and struggles keeping up with the speed of the game are things NBA scouts will want to learn more about in high-stakes matchups with pro-sized frontcourts as the competition stiffens. "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. ESPN's mock draft (ESPN) ESPN's Jonathan Givony delivered his latest mock draft on Nov. 17. Paolo Banchero throws down two-handed and-1 slam, Memphis' Duren comes out of nowhere for massive block, Walker Kessler gets up for the beautiful slam dunk, Ron Harper Jr. provides heroics for Rutgers in wild ending vs. Indiana, The highlights that make Chet Holmgren a top NBA prospect (2:02), 2022 NBA mock draft: Top 58 prospects in the NCAA tournament, Warrants out for arrest of draft prospect Carter, Scheyer makes history as Duke sweeps at home, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Eagles defend QB-push tactic as NFL set to revisit, Bengals not trading Higgins: 'Find your own' WR, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Seahawks consider QB at No. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? The defensive end is where scouts will want to see Mathurin show better focus, especially off the ball, where he can at times be Arizona's weakest link. At the end of the day, the NBL is a highly-regarded league that is able to help ease prospects into the professionalism of next-level basketball. "Continuing to find ways to maximize the value he gets out of his physical tools while he continues to work on improving the processing and shooting seems to be the current path for Kai," Smith offered. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. A head-to-head matchup with Ivey in the Sweet 16 would be a great chance for Washington to prove that his more methodical game can hold up against a high-level athlete. NBA Draft News Best Available Teams Get the App What to watch for: Eason wasn't particularly well-known upon transferring from Cincinnati to LSU, but he made the transition to the most talented conference in college basketball look easy in emerging as a first-team All-SEC player, scoring in bunches and filling up the box score despite coming off the bench. Michael Houben, a scouting expert for the Australian independent basketball publication "The Pick and Roll," said Sotto's decision to head to the draft felt buoyed mostly by a strong finish in the last five games of the NBL season. MANILA, Philippines - Kai Sotto has a huge uphill climb ahead of him after he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, April 28. 3 Purdue vs. No. His passing and floor vision has garnered some attention over the years, but the potential has yet to fully materialize, as Sotto tallied more turnovers (32) than assists (14) in his first year with Adelaide. Stay on current site or go to US version. -- Givony. Six-time PBA champ 'Plastic Man' Saldaa remembered fondly following death at 64, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award. -- Givony, Kris Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'8" | PF | Age: 21.5, Mike Miles | Sophomore | TCU | 6'1" | PG | Age: 19.5, When: No. I think it's a valid concern in the NBA if he got a chance. Although he is as proven a talent as you'll find in the lottery, Agbaji has no shortage of elite prospects in the Midwest region -- Davis, Murray, Tari Eason, Smith -- whom he could go toe-to-toe with to further improve his draft stock. In the first of our two-part series on 2022 NBA Draft hopeful Kai Sotto, ESPN talked to scouts and experts who cover Australia's . Grading Kai Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft Skip to main content Skip to navigation Search You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Sotto averaged 11.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting along with 4.2 boards and 1.2 swats while breaching double-digit scoring in three of those contests. On the other hand, Michael Houben -- a scouting expert for the Australian independent basketball publication "The Pick and Roll" -- was not as optimistic and called his defense "a very clear limitation at this point in time for Sotto.". With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? 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