Cardinals

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man with a 7-3 wingspan who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging 7 minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level.
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked No. 22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Grant Aqui outlines Moussa Diabate's recent success with the Wolverines and his journey to this point.

2022 NBA Draft: Michigan's Moussa Diabate is on the rise

The 2021-22 college basketball season is officially underway!
Subsequently, our scouting staff will have its eyes glued on NBA prospects across the country. However, considering that the bulk of top draft selections are one-and-done freshmen each year, we will take an emphasized look at college newcomers.
I recently shared a list of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-draft-top-incoming-college-freshmen-with-pro-potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top freshmen we will be keeping close tabs on</a>. Below are last night&rsquo;s stat lines from a number of those NBA prospects that we currently have included on our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>:
Chet Holmgren - Gonzaga vs. Dixie State MIN: 28&nbsp; PTS: 14&nbsp; REB: 13&nbsp; AST: 6&nbsp; FG: 4-6&nbsp; 3FG: 0-2&nbsp; FT: 6-9&nbsp; TO: 2 BLK: 7
Paolo Banchero - Duke vs. Kentucky MIN: 31&nbsp; PTS: 22&nbsp; REB: 7&nbsp; AST: 0 FG: 7-11&nbsp; 3FG: 0-3&nbsp; FT: 8-9&nbsp; TO: 1&nbsp; STL: 2 &nbsp;
Jalen Duren - Memphis vs. Tennessee Tech MIN: 31 PTS: 15&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 2&nbsp; FG: 7-10&nbsp; 3FG: 0-0&nbsp; FT: 1-2 TO: 3 BLK: 5
Jabari Smith - Auburn vs. Morehead State MIN: 21&nbsp; PTS: 8&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 3&nbsp; FG: 3-6&nbsp; 3FG: 2-3&nbsp; FT: 0-0&nbsp; TO: 0&nbsp; STL: 3&nbsp; BLK: 1
Patrick Baldwin Jr. - UW Milwaukee vs. North Dakota MIN: 37&nbsp; PTS: 21&nbsp; REB: 10&nbsp; AST: 1&nbsp; FG: 6-14&nbsp; 3FG: 2-7&nbsp; FT: 7-8&nbsp; TO: 3&nbsp; BLK: 1&nbsp;
AJ Griffin - Duke vs. Kentucky MIN: 11&nbsp; PTS: 2&nbsp; REB: 2&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 1-3&nbsp; 3FG: 0-1&nbsp; FT: 0-0&nbsp; TO: 0 
Peyton Watson - UCLA vs. CSU Bakersfield MIN: 20&nbsp; PTS: 7&nbsp; REB: 5&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 2-11&nbsp; 3FG: 0-5&nbsp; FT: 3-4&nbsp; TO: 3&nbsp; BLK: 2&nbsp; STL: 1
TyTy Washington - Kentucky vs. Duke MIN: 28&nbsp; PTS: 9&nbsp; REB: 3&nbsp; AST: 3&nbsp; FG: 3-14&nbsp; 3FG: 0-2&nbsp; FT: 3-4&nbsp; TO: 0&nbsp; STL: 1&nbsp; 
Kennedy Chandler - Tennessee vs. UT Martin MIN: 22&nbsp; PTS: 20&nbsp; REB: 1&nbsp; AST: 4&nbsp; FG: 7-10&nbsp; 3FG: 4-4&nbsp; FT: 2-2&nbsp; TO: 3&nbsp; &nbsp;
JD Davison - Alabama vs. Louisiana Tech MIN: 26&nbsp; PTS: 12&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 6&nbsp; FG: 3-4&nbsp; 3FG: 1-2 &nbsp; FT: 5-7&nbsp; TO: 2&nbsp; STL: 1
Daimion Collins - Kentucky vs. Duke MIN: 2&nbsp; PTS: 0&nbsp; REB: 0&nbsp; AST: 0 FG: 0-0&nbsp; 3FG: 0-0&nbsp; FT: 0-0&nbsp; TO: 1&nbsp;&nbsp;
Max Christie - Michigan State vs. Kansas MIN: 31&nbsp; PTS: 9&nbsp; REB: 3&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 3-10&nbsp; 3FG: 2-4&nbsp; FT: 1-2&nbsp; TO: 2&nbsp; &nbsp;
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield vs. UT Martin MIN: 19&nbsp; PTS: 7&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 3-5&nbsp; 3FG: 1-1&nbsp; FT: 0-0&nbsp; TO: 1&nbsp; STL: 2&nbsp; BLK: 2
 Others:
Nate Bittle - Orgeon vs. Texas Southern MIN: 7&nbsp; PTS: 0 REB: 0&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 0-1&nbsp; 3FG: 0-0&nbsp; FT: 0-0 TO: 0&nbsp; BLK: 1&nbsp; 
Nolan Hickman - Gonzaga vs. Dixie State MIN: 17&nbsp; PTS: 11&nbsp; REB: 2&nbsp; AST: 2&nbsp; FG: 5-9&nbsp; 3FG: 1-4&nbsp; FT: 0-0&nbsp; TO: 1&nbsp; STL: 1
Harrison Ingram - Stanford vs. Tarleton MIN: 31&nbsp; PTS: 16&nbsp; REB: 7&nbsp; AST: 1&nbsp; FG: 7-11&nbsp; 3FG: 1-2&nbsp; FT: 1-1&nbsp; TO: 1
Trevor Keels - Duke vs. Kentucky MIN: 34&nbsp; PTS: 25&nbsp; REB: 1&nbsp; AST: 2 &nbsp; FG: 10-18&nbsp; 3FG: 1-4 &nbsp; FT:&nbsp; 4-6 TO: 2&nbsp; STL: 3
Bryce McGowens - Nebraska vs. Western Illinois MIN: 39&nbsp; PTS: 25&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 7-18&nbsp; 3FG: 1-6&nbsp; FT: 10-12&nbsp; TO: 2&nbsp; 
Efton Reid - LSU vs. UL Monroe MIN: 24&nbsp; PTS: 16&nbsp; REB: 6&nbsp; AST: 1&nbsp; FG: 7-10&nbsp; 3FG: 0-1&nbsp; FT: 2-3&nbsp; TO: 2&nbsp; BLK: 1
Hunter Sallis - Gonzaga vs. Dixie State MIN: 13&nbsp; PTS: 9&nbsp; REB: 2&nbsp; AST: 0&nbsp; FG: 4-7&nbsp; 3FG: 0-0&nbsp; FT: 1-1&nbsp; TO: 0&nbsp;

Derek Murray highlights the box scores of college basketball's top freshmen with one-and-done potential for the 2022 NBA Draft.

2022 NBA Draft: Opening night stat lines from potential one-and-dones

Matt Babcock breaks down the top 2022 NBA Draft prospects from the SEC.

2022 NBA Draft: Top prospects in the SEC

College basketball is just around the corner, and when the season tips off on Nov. 9, the scouting season will truly kick into high gear.
BasketballNews.com Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock and his team of scouts have already been watching prospects in U.S. professional programs (G League Ignite and Overtime Elite) as well as abroad, and have made stops at college pro days and exhibition games. So even though the collegiate season has yet to start, they have already been hard at work scouting some must-watch players.
I asked Babcock some questions about what he has observed in the collegiate preseason, what he expects from the early stretches of play, and more. Be sure to also check out the BasketballNews.com <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tzfp7VlBM1U" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
1. From a scouting perspective, how much do you take away from college basketball preseason?
Well, I evaluate hundreds of prospects every year. I&rsquo;m in the information-gathering business, and there is an extensive process to be able to gather enough information and come to a conclusive evaluation of a player prior to their draft. During the preseason &mdash; depending on who I&rsquo;ve seen before &mdash; I know some players better than others, how many times I&rsquo;ve seen them and in what setting. If I&rsquo;m seeing a player for the first time, it&rsquo;s the first step in my evaluation process.&nbsp;
In those cases, I&rsquo;m really just trying to get a feel for the player&rsquo;s skill set, body type, movements and personality &mdash; essentially creating a platform to work off in order to be able to do a deeper dive on the player. If I already know the player decently, I try to get a pulse of where they&rsquo;re at in their development. Both scenarios are important to me. I carefully put together my travel and my day-to-day efforts to make sure I gather enough information on all of the relevant prospects by draft night. To make a long story short, I value seeing prospects in all different types of settings, including practices and scrimmages during the preseason.
2. What were the most significant changes you made to your recently updated Big Board?
I&rsquo;d say the biggest change was including some additional freshmen who I&rsquo;m somewhat on the fence about. I recently included Max Christie from Michigan State, Moussa Diabate from Michigan, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield from Tennessee. Projecting how a true freshman will do right off the bat can be extremely challenging. I spend a lot of time evaluating high-school prospects in an effort to get a head start on the evaluation process.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m confident that all of the freshmen we currently have on our Big Board have the tools to be NBA prospects this year, but there are so many variables that can affect their imminent draft status: How will they adapt to their new setting? What role will they play for their team? Different things along those lines. I make it a point to track freshmen closely because oftentimes it can go either way.
3. What opening week games would you consider to be must-watch for scouts?
I&rsquo;m kicking the season off with a bang. I&rsquo;m heading to New York City for the State Farm Champions Classic to see Kansas versus Michigan State, and then Kentucky versus Duke at Madison Square Garden. Obviously it&rsquo;s great from a scouting standpoint because I&rsquo;ll see a bunch of top prospects. But even just as a basketball fan, I&rsquo;ll get to see some of the best coaches in the country go head-to-head: Bill Self versus Tom Izzo, and then John Calipari versus Coach K. It doesn&rsquo;t get any better than that.
4. After seeing Kentucky and TyTy Washington recently, what type of impact do you expect from him?
I&rsquo;ve spent a lot of time watching TyTy over the course of the last year. I feel like he&rsquo;s one of those players who I&rsquo;m constantly higher on than the consensus. My latest trip to Kentucky kept that idea intact. In fact, I walked away even higher on him than I was before. Kentucky had a brutal season last year, but I&rsquo;m expecting for them to bounce back this season &mdash; and I think TyTy is going to lead the charge for them. They&rsquo;ll go as TyTy goes. That said, I think he&rsquo;s going to be a star player for them and subsequently become a lottery pick come June.
5. Which prospects moved the needle the most this preseason?
There are a few guys in my book who have impressed me and helped themselves recently &mdash; Max Christie from Michigan State, Oscar Tshiebwe from Kentucky and MarJon Beauchamp from the G League Ignite.
6. What college freshman not currently on your Big Board could possibly be included sometime soon?
I&rsquo;ve got my eye on a few. Nolan Hickman and Hunter Sallis from Gonzaga, Harrison Ingram from Stanford, Trevor Keels from Duke and Bryce McGowens from Nebraska. There are some others too, but those are names that come to mind first.
7. How does this year&rsquo;s G League Ignite team compare to last year&rsquo;s?
Last year, the Ignite produced two lottery picks in Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga. This year, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/babcock-takeaways-from-the-g-league-ignites-season-opener" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I&rsquo;m expecting</a> Jaden Hardy to be a high lottery pick, but I don&rsquo;t expect any of the other guys to be taken quite that high. However, I think they have more depth and overall talent top-to-bottom. We are currently projecting that Dyson Daniels will be a first round pick, Michael Foster is not far off and MarJon Beauchamp is doing some really good things early for them too.
8. Which international prospects have risen for you in recent weeks?
One player to keep an eye on is Ismael Kamagate, who is playing for Paris. He&rsquo;s a big, athletic rim-protector and rim-runner. Our international scout, and a former NBA scout, Jason Filippi, recently watched Kamagate and had the chance to interview him. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-draft-qa-french-big-man-ismael-kamagate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">His Q&amp;A is up on BasketballNews.com</a>. Jason walked away impressed with Kamagate. He&rsquo;s not currently on our Big Board but I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if we ultimately included him.

Ethan Fuller checks in with Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock ahead of the 2021-22 college basketball season.

2022 NBA Draft: NCAA basketball season preview with Matt Babcock

Every year, there are NCAA freshmen who step into college basketball and dazzle right off of the bat, subsequently earning opportunities to be selected in the NBA Draft following their lone season at the college level. This year will be no different.
Here is a list of incoming freshmen that we currently have included in our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>:
1. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/chet-holmgren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chet Holmgren</a> | Gonzaga | Forward/Center
2. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/paolo-banchero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paolo Banchero</a> | Duke | Forward
4. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/jalen-duren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jalen Duren</a> | Memphis | Center
6. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/jabari-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jabari Smith</a> | Auburn | Forward
7. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/patrick-baldwin-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Baldwin Jr.</a> | UW-Milwaukee | Forward
8. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/caleb-houstan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caleb Houstan</a> | Michigan | Forward
9. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/aj-griffin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Griffin</a> | Duke | Guard/Forward
12. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/tyty-washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TyTy Washington</a> | Kentucky | Guard
13. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/kennedy-chandler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kennedy Chandler</a> | Tennessee | Guard
14. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/jd-davison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Davison</a> | Alabama | Guard 
16. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/peyton-watson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peyton Watson</a> | UCLA | Guard/Forward
23. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/daimion-collins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daimion Collins</a> | Kentucky | Forward
24. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/kendall-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kendall Brown</a> | Baylor | Forward
25. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-big-board/players/matthew-cleveland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matthew Cleveland</a> | Florida State | Guard/Forward
While the players listed above are currently included on our Big Board, here is a list of other freshmen prospects (in alphabetical order) who our scouting staff will be keeping close tabs on:
Nate Bittle
Forward/Center | Oregon
Height: 7-0 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 7-5 Weight: 215 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 19.1
Nate Bittle is a long and lanky stretch big who can really open up the floor as a shooter. On the offensive end, he&rsquo;s an adequate passer, and has shown great promise as a scorer on all three levels. He can get bumped off his line with contact and needs to fill out his frame, but his combination of length and touch is impressive at his age. On defense, Bittle utilizes his length really well as a rim-protector, but it&rsquo;s yet to be seen how his lateral mobility and movement skills translate to tougher competition. The Oregon native will suit up for his home-state Oregon Ducks this season as one of four centers listed at 6-foot-11 or taller. He will likely be utilized as a floor-stretcher, but I&rsquo;m curious to see how he fits in their lineup construction.&nbsp;
Max Christie 
Guard | Michigan State
Height: 6-6 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 6-9 Weight: 190 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 19.8
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/unnamed_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433" />
Max Christie is a sharpshooter who has the potential to be one of the best 3-and-D prospects in the 2022 draft class. He averaged 24.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.0 blocks per contest as a high-school senior, and was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. His combination of shot-making and finishing craft should allow him to provide value offensively quickly for the Michigan State Spartans, as they will likely rely on him to carry a heavy load. Christie is an active rebounder and defender who uses his hands well to contest shots and deflect passes when engaged. He&rsquo;s a skilled playmaking wing who has the tools to produce at a high level, which could potentially propel him into the 2022 draft.
Moussa Diabate 
Forward/Center | Michigan
Height: 6-11 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 7-3 Weight: 210 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Draft Day Age: 20.4
Born in Paris, France, Moussa Diabate comes to Michigan after two years at IMG Academy. He is a long, athletic, high-energy big with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Due to his aggressive nature, he excels on the offensive end by finishing through contact and being a high-level rebounder. He also has the ability to block shots and impact plays around the rim on the defensive end. With improvement as a ball-handler and shot-maker, Diabate can make a great case for himself as a one-and-done option next summer.&nbsp;
Cerebro Sports note: Per their 2021 Geico Nationals data, he was one of only six players to post a Defensive Statistical Impact rating of &gt; 90 and &gt; 60 in the Big Man Strengths metric.
Nolan Hickman
Guard | Gonzaga
Height: 6-2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 6-6 Weight: 185 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 19.1
Nolan Hickman comes to Spokane, Washington as Gonzaga&rsquo;s fifth-highest rated recruit of all-time. The 6-foot-2 point guard is an impressive athlete who can get to his spots and create scoring opportunities at will. His tight handles and skills as a facilitator only make him that much more lethal when paired with his shooting. He is routinely found at the top of Cerebro Sports&rsquo; Floor General Skills and Pure-Scoring Prowess metrics, regardless of the event and competition. Hickman is a fiery competitor in all facets of the game, and could be poised for a strong year for the Bulldogs.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield 
Forward/Center | Tennessee
Height: 6-10 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 7-1 Weight: 246 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 18.9
After graduating from Scotland Campus Prep in Pennsylvania, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield returns to his home state of Tennessee to play for the Volunteers. Standing 6-foot-10 and 246 pounds, he has the tools to be an ideal power forward in today&rsquo;s game. He&rsquo;s a powerful athlete with strength, length and an ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He is already a tremendous rebounder who has also shown promise as a ball-handler and defender. He will still be only 18 years old on draft night, and has plenty of room to develop into an elite prospect.&nbsp;
Harrison Ingram 
Forward | Stanford
Height: 6-8 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 7-0 Weight: 230 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Draft Day Age: 19.6
Harrison Ingram is one of the most intelligent and competitive prospects in this year&rsquo;s freshman class. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, he is savvy on both ends of the floor, and is capable of playing both on and off the ball. Even though he&rsquo;s not an elite athlete, he has shown flashes as a shooter and projects well as a high-level defender. Another aspect of his game that stands out is his poise, as he rarely gets sped up and plays under control. As a skilled point-forward who can make plays, score and also be effective on the glass, Ingram has a great opportunity to shine for the Cardinal.
Cerebro Sports note: Per their database, Ingram was one of only four players in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup with a Defensive Statistical Impact rating &gt; 92 and a Three-Point Efficiency rating &gt; 58.
Trevor Keels 
Guard | Duke
Height: 6-4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 6-7 Weight: 221 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 18.8
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/unnameddd_lg.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="504" />
The Clinton, Maryland native comes to Duke after finishing high school as a consensus top-25 prospect. At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Trevor Keels has phenomenal physical strength for his age and position. He excels in attack mode on the offensive end, using his combination of strength and skill to score on all three levels. He possesses a unique ability to finish through contact in the lane, and also knock down shots by spotting up or as his own creator. At the Iverson Roundball Classic in May, Keels&rsquo; footwork and smooth shooting stroke impressed me, a swing skill he&rsquo;ll look to maintain as a freshman. With continued improvement as a passer, shooter and on-ball defender, Keels has a chance to be a solid one-and-done option.&nbsp;
Bryce McGowens
Guard | Nebraska
Height: 6-7 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 6-9 Weight: 179 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 19.6
Possessing positional size and length, Bryce McGowens has a chance to be one of the best shot makers in college basketball. He&rsquo;s flashed space creation as a shooter with pull-up craft, ball-handling and the ability to elevate over defenders. Although he can be a bit streaky, the mechanics and fluidity with his shooting are special. He is also a solid defender due to his length, athleticism and instinctual play. With his combination of great athleticism, shot-making and finishing craft at the rim, McGowens should be a go-to scorer for the Huskers, and will look to make a strong case as a potential draft pick in 2022.
Hunter Sallis
Guard | Gonzaga
Height: 6-5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wingspan: 6-8 Weight: 175 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Draft Day Age: 19.2
Hunter Sallis stands 6-foot-5, giving him solid positional size as a scoring guard who also excels as a facilitator. The McDonald&rsquo;s All-American averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game as a high-school senior. Gonzaga will have a handful of capable ball-handlers on the roster this season, but Sallis&rsquo; ability to control the game and be a scoring floor general should create a solid role for him. He will need to add physical strength, but the size, skill set and scoring prowess give promise to him as a likely high-level prospect. Sallis is currently included on the 2022 Jerry West Award preseason watchlist, and has the potential to be one of the leaders of the Zags&rsquo; offense.&nbsp;

Derek Murray analyzes the upcoming college freshman class and under-the-radar names to watch out for in the 2022 NBA Draft.

2022 NBA Draft: Top incoming college freshmen with pro potential

With the majority of High School All-America events cancelled in 2021, the Iverson Classic stood alone as the opportunity for scouts to get eyes on many 2022 NBA Draft prospects. After a weekend of catching up with NBA personnel, friends and getting my eyes on 28 of the best high school players in the country, I left with many takeaways. Here are a few I&rsquo;d like to share.
Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero: The Battle for No. 1
These two are special.&nbsp;
Holmgren&rsquo;s size and length make him incredibly unique. Standing at 7-foot-1 with a 7-5 wingspan provides him with such an advantage over his peers on both ends of the floor. He&rsquo;s a smooth ball-handler, has flashes of tremendous playmaking on offense, and on defense, he is one of the best young shot-blockers we&rsquo;ve seen in years. He stands head and shoulders above his current competition, but as he progresses to the NCAA and NBA level, he will need to improve his physicality, at least in part. In 1-on-1 competition, he was a bear to go up against due to his length, but Trey Alexander (undecided) was able to get into his chest and displace him at times, opening up just enough room to get a shot off. As he continues to develop, I hope to see Holmgren get stronger, but I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s a complete make-or-break issue due to his skill set and competitive instincts.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
ICYMI, Chet Holmgren finished w/ 20pts, 11reb, and co-MVP honors in last night&rsquo;s <a href="https://twitter.com/iversonclassic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IversonClassic</a> Full <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUVtv?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUVtv</a> replay: <a href="https://t.co/4eYcSZjfph">https://t.co/4eYcSZjfph</a> 🎙<a href="https://twitter.com/macdaddy706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@macdaddy706</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinWBrantley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinWBrantley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChetHolmgren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChetHolmgren</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/grassrootshoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grassrootshoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MathurineAgency?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MathurineAgency</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZagMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZagMBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBMethod?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheBMethod</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NaismithTrophy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NaismithTrophy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IversonClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IversonClassic</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mj6E8k2TS5">pic.twitter.com/Mj6E8k2TS5</a>
&mdash; SUVtv (@SUVtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SUVtv/status/1391499928535543809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

If anyone contends with Holmgren for the top pick next year, Banchero appears to be the one. At 6-foot-10 and listed at 250 pounds, he already possesses the NBA frame and strength to handle the next level. What impressed me the most in Memphis was his mobility on defense, and how comfortable he appeared creating for himself. In both 1-on-1 and in-game competition, he put the ball on the deck with purpose and displayed an array of moves as a pull-up shooter. He&rsquo;ll need to improve some decision making with the ball, but the versatility makes him a special talent and I won&rsquo;t be surprised if he has a monster year for the Blue Devils.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Paolo Banchero wins the 1-on-1 competition here <a href="https://twitter.com/iversonclassic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iversonclassic</a>. At 18 years old, he&rsquo;s 6&rsquo;10, 230 pounds and has shown unique playmaking and special touch for his size. He&rsquo;ll certainly contend for the #1 pick in 2022. <a href="https://t.co/U1WxsmlSFY">pic.twitter.com/U1WxsmlSFY</a>
&mdash; Derek Murray (@dmurrayNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmurrayNBA/status/1390836885992443905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IversonClassic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IversonClassic</a> Different stage - same Paolo Banchero versatility on display<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUVtv?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUVtv</a> replay: <a href="https://t.co/4eYcSZjfph">https://t.co/4eYcSZjfph</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Pp_doesit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pp_doesit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioBanchero?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarioBanchero</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MrYeahIKnow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrYeahIKnow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinWBrantley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinWBrantley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/macdaddy706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@macdaddy706</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rotaryhoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rotaryhoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamRoweTDD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamRoweTDD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDevilsDen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheDevilsDen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MathurineAgency?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MathurineAgency</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABACE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ABACE</a> <a href="https://t.co/FQZQ16BT6h">pic.twitter.com/FQZQ16BT6h</a>
&mdash; SUVtv (@SUVtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SUVtv/status/1391895860691226628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
TyTy Washington | 6-foot-3 | Guard | Kentucky
After seeing him in Dayton, Ohio at Flyin&rsquo; To The Hoop, I have been enamored with TyTy as a prospect. After announcing his committment to Kentucky last night, Big Blue Nation is getting a natural floor general who processes the floor quickly, and <a href="https://twitter.com/dmurrayNBA/status/1391188656451461121?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often seems one step ahead of his opponents</a>. He&rsquo;s a skilled passer on the move and is unselfish, providing his teammates with scoring opportunities. Along with this, he has great mechanics and a repeatable, effortless shot from three, which he uses both off the catch and dribble. He won the Three-Point Contest in Memphis, and I believe he can carry that scoring to the next level.&nbsp;
AJ Griffin | 6-foot-7 | Forward | Duke
As I arrived at the gym, Griffin stood out immediately based on his frame and physical profile. At 6-foot-7, he has a reported 7-2 wingspan and a powerful lower body, giving him great versatility, as he is able to score on all levels. I&rsquo;m concerned initially with his lack of versatility as an initiator, but he&rsquo;s a solid shooter and projects to be a strong defender at Duke next season. While there were times his legs looked a bit heavy due to returning from injury, he jumped well in the Dunk Contest and came away with the crown. Griffin is a special talent that's still only 17 years old, and I would expect him to be a one-and-done and a player to enter the 2022 draft.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
AJ Griffin (Duke) showing off the hops in the <a href="https://twitter.com/iversonclassic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iversonclassic</a> Dunk Contest. Potential top-10 pick in 2022. <a href="https://t.co/VlFfBeAxEQ">pic.twitter.com/VlFfBeAxEQ</a>
&mdash; Derek Murray (@dmurrayNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmurrayNBA/status/1390847674841194500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

JD Davison | 6-foot-3 | Guard | Alabama
It&rsquo;s no secret that Davison is one of the most <a href="https://youtu.be/0_vnSHl0ook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">athletic, explosive players in the country</a>. With his leaping ability and craftiness, he&rsquo;s able to finish plays at the rim in a variety of ways, but he has been improving as a passer as well. In transition, he has the vision and ability to lead his teammates to the basket, but remains aggressive for his own buckets when pushing the pace. Whether or not he&rsquo;s a one-and-done player is yet to be seen, but he has the physical tools to be a tremendous playmaker, rebounder and defender at high levels.&nbsp;
Michael Foster | 6-foot-9 | Forward | G League Ignite
Foster is a big-time physical presence. He stood out as the player who dominated the glass during the event, doing so with a great combination of strength and motor. On the offensive end, he was able to elude box outs and use his frame to clear out space as he elevated for putback dunks; he ended up with 17 points. I expect his physicality to hold up well at the next level, but would love for him to become a bit more versatile on the offensive end. With some improved skill and ball-handling improvements during his time in the G League, Foster could see his 2022 stock rise.&nbsp;
Trevor Keels | 6-foot-5 | Guard | Duke
Keels is committed to Duke, but there doesn&rsquo;t seem to be a ton of hype around him across the media. It makes sense because he isn&rsquo;t wildly athletic and doesn&rsquo;t regularly provide high soaring dunks, but he made a real impression on me with his play. Quietly one of the best scorers I saw, Keels plays with tremendous basketball IQ and has the ability to score at all levels. His shooting from deep is what drew me in, displaying good footwork and a smooth, balanced release. Keels is also disciplined on both ends, and has a strong physical frame, allowing him to be a plus-defender both on and off the ball.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9-EbLgqmYw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Josh Minott | 6-foot-8 | Forward | Memphis
I had not seen Minott live this season, but while watching him score 18 points and gather 5 rebounds, it became apparent why he is a top-50 recruit. He&rsquo;s 6-foot-8 with a 7-2 wingspan, and has easy athleticism that allows him to play above the rim. He elevates well in traffic and displays strong body control with some crafty finishes, as well. Minott has the potential to provide real versatility for the Tigers next season, both on the wing and with some ball-handling responsibility. I don&rsquo;t expect him to be a one-and-done prospect, but he is certainly one watch for the NBA down the road.
Kendall Brown | 6-foot-8 | Forward | Baylor
After a terrific showing at Geico Nationals, Brown looked good again in Memphis. Brown is an athletic swingman who excels as a slasher. He&rsquo;s bouncy on the interior, and pairs his athleticism with strong body control to finish tough plays. I really liked his defense as well, as he has good mobility and length, allowing him to defend the perimeter at a high level. I see Brown as a potential one-and-done player at the next level, so it will be interesting to watch how his offensive game and skill set develop this season in Waco.&nbsp;
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield | 6-foot-9 | Forward | Tennessee
Huntely-Hatfield recently reclassified to the Class of 2021 and will be taking his talents to Knoxville. Another young player that was immediately captivating with his size and strength, his defense is what really captured my attention. He is a bit mechanical in his movement, but when locked in and focused, his strength and ability to contest shots were impressive. On offense, he remains a bit raw, and the shooting mechanics are funky -- but I think there is promise as an interior scorer. Potentially a multi-year player for the Volunteers, I look forward to seeing him again next season.&nbsp;

Derek Murray recaps the Iverson Classic in Memphis by breaking down the top prospects who stood out and their performances.