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Way-Too-Early 2027 NBA Draft Big Board: Full Top 60 Prospects
For the first time in Hoops Sicko history, I've put together a "Way-Too-Early" NBA Draft board, featuring my top 60 prospects entering the season.
Check out the article at the link below!⬇️
For the first time in Hoops Sicko history, I've put together a "Way-Too-Early" NBA Draft board, featuring my top 60 prospects entering the season.
Check out the article at the link below!⬇️
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Highest ranked freshman on the last five national championship rosters (NIL era) via 247:
Michigan: Trey McKenney (#21)
Florida: Isaiah Brown (#125)
UConn: Stephon Castle (#9)
UConn: Donovan Clingan (#73)
Kansas: Zach Clemence (#73)
It's pretty simple: the best teams are older and more experienced. It's reminiscent of what the sport looked like for decades before the one-and-done era took it by storm in the 2010s. That doesn't mean a program should pass up on top recruits, but they probably shouldn't recruit the high school level at the expense of the transfer portal.
Unless you're Dan Hurley and you're able to convince five-stars to be role players; you're probably better off loading up on 23- and 24-year-olds.
So, get two, maybe three undervalued high school recruits who you think fit your system, but don't spend bookoo bucks on players who are (1) unprepared to lead your program to a national championship and (2) will likely head to the professional ranks after only one season, leaving you in the same spot you found yourself in the year prior. Elite programs have already figured this out (UConn before everyone else, then Florida, now Illinois is doing it extremely well)
Michigan: Trey McKenney (#21)
Florida: Isaiah Brown (#125)
UConn: Stephon Castle (#9)
UConn: Donovan Clingan (#73)
Kansas: Zach Clemence (#73)
It's pretty simple: the best teams are older and more experienced. It's reminiscent of what the sport looked like for decades before the one-and-done era took it by storm in the 2010s. That doesn't mean a program should pass up on top recruits, but they probably shouldn't recruit the high school level at the expense of the transfer portal.
Unless you're Dan Hurley and you're able to convince five-stars to be role players; you're probably better off loading up on 23- and 24-year-olds.
So, get two, maybe three undervalued high school recruits who you think fit your system, but don't spend bookoo bucks on players who are (1) unprepared to lead your program to a national championship and (2) will likely head to the professional ranks after only one season, leaving you in the same spot you found yourself in the year prior. Elite programs have already figured this out (UConn before everyone else, then Florida, now Illinois is doing it extremely well)
CJ Rosser is probably my favorite long-term prospect in the 2027 graduating class, but I am a bit worried about the number of high school developmental pieces Kentucky has added/is looking to add next season.
Hampton and Millogo are both multi-year guys who will need significant developmental attention during their debut campaigns, IMO.
Rosser is likely a one-and-done who will do most of his developing in the league, but that does raise questions about how much he’ll be able to impact winning as a freshman.
The program soured on Calipari because of his roster building strategy that hinged on a yearly influx of recruits, a strategy that many (myself included) didn’t trust would find success in an NIL era where the best teams are the oldest and most experienced.
That’s not to say that I don’t want Rosser in Lexington; I do. I simply don’t care all that much when Pope misses on high school recruits, because at the end of the day I’d rather the staff focus on older, more experienced transfers, as well as roster retention. As long as the program maintains enough money to land those older players, there’s no harm in stocking up on long-term pieces for the bench unit. (Although, Rosser would almost certainly start)
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And by the way, this is FANTASTIC news for mid-major programs, who are now able to recruit kids that would have never considered their program in years past. We've already seen this in action over the past couple of recruiting cycles.
I love mid-major basketball; I love common sense roster construction; it's a win-win.
I love mid-major basketball; I love common sense roster construction; it's a win-win.
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It's clear that Gavin Placide was at the top of Vanderbilt's scouting report, but it seems like Wake has gone completely away from him, and that just doesn't make much sense.
He came out of the gate, immediately punked Vandy's frontcourt below the hoop, and that was about all we saw from him on the offensive end for the rest of the first half. Solid rebounding effort though.
He came out of the gate, immediately punked Vandy's frontcourt below the hoop, and that was about all we saw from him on the offensive end for the rest of the first half. Solid rebounding effort though.
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Kentucky Lands Five-Star Recruit Cherif Millogo
Mark Pope secures a commitment from five-star, 7’5” center Cherif Millogo, the highest-ranked recruit of his coaching career.
Check out the article at the link below!⬇️
Mark Pope secures a commitment from five-star, 7’5” center Cherif Millogo, the highest-ranked recruit of his coaching career.
Check out the article at the link below!⬇️
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Check out the article here⬇️Be sure to subscribe!
hoopssicko.substack.com/p/kentucky-lan…
hoopssicko.substack.com/p/kentucky-lan…
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CJ Rosser is probably my favorite long-term prospect in the 2027 graduating class, but I am a bit worried about the number of high school developmental pieces Kentucky has added/is looking to add next season.
Hampton and Millogo are both multi-year guys who will need significant developmental attention during their debut campaigns, IMO.
Rosser is likely a one-and-done who will do most of his developing in the league, but that does raise questions about how much he’ll be able to impact winning as a freshman.
The program soured on Calipari because of his roster building strategy that hinged on a yearly influx of recruits, a strategy that many (myself included) didn’t trust would find success in an NIL era where the best teams are the oldest and most experienced.
That’s not to say that I don’t want Rosser in Lexington; I do. I simply don’t care all that much when Pope misses on high school recruits, because at the end of the day I’d rather the staff focus on older, more experienced transfers, as well as roster retention. As long as the program maintains enough money to land those older players, there’s no harm in stocking up on long-term pieces for the bench unit. (Although, Rosser would almost certainly start)
Hampton and Millogo are both multi-year guys who will need significant developmental attention during their debut campaigns, IMO.
Rosser is likely a one-and-done who will do most of his developing in the league, but that does raise questions about how much he’ll be able to impact winning as a freshman.
The program soured on Calipari because of his roster building strategy that hinged on a yearly influx of recruits, a strategy that many (myself included) didn’t trust would find success in an NIL era where the best teams are the oldest and most experienced.
That’s not to say that I don’t want Rosser in Lexington; I do. I simply don’t care all that much when Pope misses on high school recruits, because at the end of the day I’d rather the staff focus on older, more experienced transfers, as well as roster retention. As long as the program maintains enough money to land those older players, there’s no harm in stocking up on long-term pieces for the bench unit. (Although, Rosser would almost certainly start)
As others are reporting, Kentucky is turning all its attention to 2027 5⭐️ W/F CJ Rosser and making a significant push to land his commitment and close out their 2027 recruiting class, im told.
Getting Ryan Hampton and Cherif Millogo on the bargain deals they did has certainly y to have a significant gap in the NIL package they offer to CJ, v the other 2 teams most involved Arkansas and North Carolina.
Arkansas has the benefit of Beckham Black, his current teammate of 3 years most likely going there, and of course playing for John Calipari. But it’s no secret Cal won’t get into NIL bidding wars, and he has other options on the W/F spot he is in deep with. (2028 5⭐️ Evan Willis)
North Carolina has been the perceived leader. It’s home. But they’ve signed the #1 overall player DeMarcus Henry with a significantly high reported NIL deal since CJ has visited, and since alot of the talk behind the scenes has cooled down. It’s possible UNC staff made their decision with Henry. Paying CJ will atleast start at the number Henry received. That’s up to UNC staff to decide if allocating that much NIL is worth it for 2 Freshman.
Going back to this article I wrote after CJ’s official visit to Kentucky, it was clear UK had positioned themselves well not just from an NIL standpoint, not just from a basketball standpoint, but also from a relationship building standpoint. Don’t forget a lot of these current players made him feel like one of them. They all bonded, reportedly.
Can Kentucky close out their recruiting class with a massively talented recruit? They’ve cancelled visits and officially pulled out of the other 2027 recruits they were in on to officially focus and certainly go all in on landing CJ Rosser.
(🎥: @OvertimeElite)
#BBN #KentuckyBasketball
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Hawthorne hive appreciates the kind words on the recap from @gwizzy12 & @CarterElliott__
Let it be known that it was Inspector Gadget who kicked off the first half run with his high IQ ball movement, lockdown defense, and undeniably mysterious aura.
Ball knowers recognize that if he loses minutes, Kentucky loses looks at their best long-term draft prospect.
Let it be known that it was Inspector Gadget who kicked off the first half run with his high IQ ball movement, lockdown defense, and undeniably mysterious aura.
Ball knowers recognize that if he loses minutes, Kentucky loses looks at their best long-term draft prospect.
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I’ve long been a big believer in Toni Bryant; he impressed me during a film dive I conducted, as well as in the handful of in-person performances I managed to catch.
He’s one of the better athletes in his graduating class, and he was the best rim protecting forward of that group during their senior seasons, IMO.
He can knock down the three and has a potent face-up game. He’s also a big time lob target. His weaknesses mostly stem from his decision making and ball stopping, which I believe will get polished out throughout his debut campaign with the Tigers.
He’s one of the better athletes in his graduating class, and he was the best rim protecting forward of that group during their senior seasons, IMO.
He can knock down the three and has a potent face-up game. He’s also a big time lob target. His weaknesses mostly stem from his decision making and ball stopping, which I believe will get polished out throughout his debut campaign with the Tigers.
The Missouri Tigers have an opportunity to be one of the best teams in college basketball and compete for an SEC title this season, and freshman forward Toni Bryant is a big reason why. Bryant is a four-star McDonald's All-American joining Jason Crowe Jr. as the team's other top for the Tigers Tuesday night, he finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, and 1 steal while shooting 5/7 from the field.
At 6-foot-10, Bryant has extremely impressive physical tools and is super mobile for his size, making him a multi-positional defender who can be a threat to protect the rim and stop players from the point of attack. He plays with an awesome motor that is reflected in his offensive rebounding, as Bryant is a possession extender frequently. His motor also shows up in his second efforts defensively and overall activity no matter who he’s guarding on that side of the court. Bryant has good shot-blocking instincts and timing and plays with a physical inside presence that is bound to catch the eyes of NBA teams in this draft cycle.
Offensively, Bryant isn’t an on-ball threat but is a smart cutter, someone who can finish lobs, is a physical driver, and a problem in transition. His swing skill remains his outside jumper, and if he can find some level of consistency with the way he shot the ball against Cleveland State, the NBA is going to be calling. In Mizzou's dominant win, Bryant shot 3/5 from three, with all three makes coming from the corners on catch-and-shoot attempts. It wasn’t super flashy, but it was super effective.
When you pair his defensive versatility and athleticism with the ability to knock down open threes off the catch, that screams ideal role player for the way teams like to play in the modern NBA. Crowe Jr.’s 23-point debut or Mark Mitchell's 10-assist night might steal headlines among college basketball fans, but no one looked better suited for the NBA in their season opener than Bryant.
For many, he looked like someone with some one-and-done potential but was more likely a two- to three-year player. After his debut, the possibility of him being a one-and-done prospect suddenly feels much more realistic. #Mizzou
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Here’s a link to my Toni Bryant film deepdive if you want to better understand how I feel about his chances of breaking into the draft’s first round this year: open.substack.com/pub/draftstack…
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San Jose State was already very good before they landed Moe Odum, now they’re officially one of the top mid-major groups in the nation. Very worth monitoring.
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WE (yes, WE) are ALL ecstatic to see THE Braydon Hawthorne suit up for YOUR Kentucky Wildcats on this beautiful Tuesday evening!
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Pittsburgh's Chase Foster looked great in the Panthers' blowout win over Rider last night.
The freshman forward put up an efficient 23 points, chipped in 6 rebounds and picked up 5 stocks.
This Pitt team has a lot of interesting pieces and I'm curious to see how they all fit together, but Chase Foster definitely stood out above the rest in his debut.
The freshman forward put up an efficient 23 points, chipped in 6 rebounds and picked up 5 stocks.
This Pitt team has a lot of interesting pieces and I'm curious to see how they all fit together, but Chase Foster definitely stood out above the rest in his debut.
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Ethan Alexander retweeted
You all know the shot, that big one against Duke from last March, right? The one that went like a turnover at half-court, kicked back out to UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins for nothing but nylon, sending the Huskies to the Final Four. Legendary moment, but unlike some other hit big-time shots, Mullins appears to have a clear path to the NBA following this college season, and his season debut only reinforced that.
In their season opener, the Huskies beat Gardner-Webb 86-46, and Mullins put up 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on 7/12 shooting from the field and 4/9 from beyond the arc.
To the casual college basketball or NBA draft fan, Mullins has always been labeled as a shooter, and hitting that big-time shot against Duke in last year's tournament didn’t help that.
Mullins picked up exactly where he left off last season as a shooter, showing elite on- and off-the-ball ability as a three-point sniper, with his stroke looking pure as ever.
Even though it was a lower-level team in Gardner-Webb, Mullins showcased that he is way more than a shooter and has a really versatile game as a 6’6” guard. Against Gardner-Webb, he showed off some fun flashes as an athlete rising up for an electric dunk and as a playmaker throwing a lob that ignited the UConn crowd.
As a passer, Mullins may never be a primary or secondary playmaker for a team at the pro level, but he’s no slouch. His feel for the game is tremendous, and he makes quick and smart reads when the ball is in his hands.
Given his reputation as a knockdown three-point shooter, Mullins’ athletic tools are often brushed to the side, but he can really get up there and doesn’t need much space to elevate and finish above the rim. Beyond dunks and big highlights, he also has a good touch around the basket, and if he keeps getting stronger, that’ll remain a part of his game and only get better.
However, the skill outside of his knockdown shooting that is bound to get NBA teams' attention is his defense. Mullins’ athleticism really pops defensively, as he’s super quick laterally and has a good understanding of playing passing lanes. He plays with a grittiness defensively that matches Dan Hurley’s culture so well. On the ball, he’s also super active both as a communicator and with his hands, which was only further reinforced in the Huskies’ win Monday night, where Mullins had 2 steals.
In recent years, we've seen that whether it’s Dalton Knecht or Gradey Dick, players who come out of college with three-point shooting as their primary skill have struggled to stay put in the NBA. To some, that’s why they’re low on Mullins, but his combination of athleticism, feel for the game, positional size, and defensive playmaking makes putting Mullins in that same category as previous prospects labeled as sharpshooters unfair.
With a bigger role in his sophomore season, Mullins has the runway to break out and be one of the Big East’s best scorers. It’s now just a matter of whether he’s built for that moment or not, and given the shot he hit in last year's tournament, it’s hard not to feel like he is.
In their season opener, the Huskies beat Gardner-Webb 86-46, and Mullins put up 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on 7/12 shooting from the field and 4/9 from beyond the arc.
To the casual college basketball or NBA draft fan, Mullins has always been labeled as a shooter, and hitting that big-time shot against Duke in last year's tournament didn’t help that.
Mullins picked up exactly where he left off last season as a shooter, showing elite on- and off-the-ball ability as a three-point sniper, with his stroke looking pure as ever.
Even though it was a lower-level team in Gardner-Webb, Mullins showcased that he is way more than a shooter and has a really versatile game as a 6’6” guard. Against Gardner-Webb, he showed off some fun flashes as an athlete rising up for an electric dunk and as a playmaker throwing a lob that ignited the UConn crowd.
As a passer, Mullins may never be a primary or secondary playmaker for a team at the pro level, but he’s no slouch. His feel for the game is tremendous, and he makes quick and smart reads when the ball is in his hands.
Given his reputation as a knockdown three-point shooter, Mullins’ athletic tools are often brushed to the side, but he can really get up there and doesn’t need much space to elevate and finish above the rim. Beyond dunks and big highlights, he also has a good touch around the basket, and if he keeps getting stronger, that’ll remain a part of his game and only get better.
However, the skill outside of his knockdown shooting that is bound to get NBA teams' attention is his defense. Mullins’ athleticism really pops defensively, as he’s super quick laterally and has a good understanding of playing passing lanes. He plays with a grittiness defensively that matches Dan Hurley’s culture so well. On the ball, he’s also super active both as a communicator and with his hands, which was only further reinforced in the Huskies’ win Monday night, where Mullins had 2 steals.
In recent years, we've seen that whether it’s Dalton Knecht or Gradey Dick, players who come out of college with three-point shooting as their primary skill have struggled to stay put in the NBA. To some, that’s why they’re low on Mullins, but his combination of athleticism, feel for the game, positional size, and defensive playmaking makes putting Mullins in that same category as previous prospects labeled as sharpshooters unfair.
With a bigger role in his sophomore season, Mullins has the runway to break out and be one of the Big East’s best scorers. It’s now just a matter of whether he’s built for that moment or not, and given the shot he hit in last year's tournament, it’s hard not to feel like he is.
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Ethan Alexander retweeted
Five returners who stood out to us at Draftstack in the return (pun intended) of college basketball
- Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov, 38 PTS, 10 REB, 60% from the field, 33% from 3PT, and a ton of chaos👿
- BYU guard Rob Wright III, 33 PTS, 5 AST, 60% from the field, 80% from in running an offense🧙♂️
- Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, 20 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST, 4 STL, 70% from the field, and a whole lotta lockdown defense🔒
- USC guard Alijah Arenas, 21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 64% from the field, and fascinating, fantastic finishing🎨
- Florida forward Thomas Haugh, 19 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 50% from 3PT, elite crashing and improved shooting👀
Who caught your eye on college hoops’ opening night?
- Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov, 38 PTS, 10 REB, 60% from the field, 33% from 3PT, and a ton of chaos👿
- BYU guard Rob Wright III, 33 PTS, 5 AST, 60% from the field, 80% from in running an offense🧙♂️
- Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, 20 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST, 4 STL, 70% from the field, and a whole lotta lockdown defense🔒
- USC guard Alijah Arenas, 21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 64% from the field, and fascinating, fantastic finishing🎨
- Florida forward Thomas Haugh, 19 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 50% from 3PT, elite crashing and improved shooting👀
Who caught your eye on college hoops’ opening night?
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Last year, Brayden Shorter was checking into games and shooting a three every time he saw daylight.
In this game, he’s taken a measured approach; attempting triples only when he’s more or less wide open.
He’s also incorporated the drive and is playing heads-up defense. He doesn’t look like a totally different player; he looks like a better version of himself.
Could cement himself as one of the best shooters in the country if he keeps this up all year.
In this game, he’s taken a measured approach; attempting triples only when he’s more or less wide open.
He’s also incorporated the drive and is playing heads-up defense. He doesn’t look like a totally different player; he looks like a better version of himself.
Could cement himself as one of the best shooters in the country if he keeps this up all year.
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Roman Domon’s off-ball slashing and all-around play finishing has clearly improved.
Looks like he’s already gotten used to spending most of his minutes away from the ball, which I think is a good thing for his long-term outlook as a potential draftee.
Looks like he’s already gotten used to spending most of his minutes away from the ball, which I think is a good thing for his long-term outlook as a potential draftee.
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Ethan Alexander retweeted
Like many of you, we over at Draftstack tuned into UNLV vs. Missouri last night to keep an eye on potential lottery pick Jason Crowe Jr., who had an impressive 25-point showing, getting to the foul line 14 times and making 11. But the real star of the show came from the Rebels yrin Jones, who led UNLV to a 90-81 win and finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 4 steals while shooting 8/14 from the field.
In his freshman season, Jones showed promise, averaging 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field. However, he appears to be ready for the next step and is definitely someone starting to put himself on the radar of many evaluators as a candidate to be drafted in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Jones's immediate standout trait is how well he moves for a player listed at 6’10”, 200 pounds on UNLV’s team website.
He is a fluid athlete with plenty of vertical pop that will catch your eye the second you tune into his tape. Jones plays with a slitheriness when attacking the basket that lets him leverage his length and create scoring angles for himself. That combination of skills, plus his solid handle for a big, makes him the type of player who can be a nightmare for slower-footed frontcourt players. He also is great at punishing harsh closeouts and is the type of big that can also be a weapon in DHOs or fake DHOs because of his ability to turn and get downhill so quickly.
Jones showed improved body control in preseason and did a good job adjusting his finishes in mid-air to either draw some contact or still score against a great contest. He plays with a high motor and is really comfortable sitting in that dunker spot, finishing plays off dump-offs or collecting offensive rebounds and scoring putbacks. Off the ball, he’s also an excellent cutter, and while his frame isn’t fully filled out, he sets a solid screen and knows where to go as a roller.
Defensively, his physical traits shine through too, as his lateral quickness, paired with his size, lets him cover ground and be disruptive off the ball. He’s unique in the sense that he can man a zone defense from the point of attack or be the big anchor in the paint. He has solid second-jump ability and is a super exciting shot blocker. Jones will need to keep getting stronger and improving his frame in order to bang with top college bigs and bigs at the pro level, but he does have solid recovery tools for when he gets outmatched physically.
The playmaking feel is definitely there. Now it’s just about improving his decision-making and passing skills. He doesn’t project to ever be an offensive hub by any means, but growing as a short roll passer would definitely improve his stock.
Even though Tyrin Jones only played in one of UNLV’s three preseason games, he gave evaluators a ton to like. Jones is a high-level downhill self-creator, with impressive defensive versatility and athletic tools that make him a very intriguing name for the 2027 NBA Draft cycle. Many of us tuned in for Jason Crowe Jr., but we stayed for Jones.
In his freshman season, Jones showed promise, averaging 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field. However, he appears to be ready for the next step and is definitely someone starting to put himself on the radar of many evaluators as a candidate to be drafted in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Jones's immediate standout trait is how well he moves for a player listed at 6’10”, 200 pounds on UNLV’s team website.
He is a fluid athlete with plenty of vertical pop that will catch your eye the second you tune into his tape. Jones plays with a slitheriness when attacking the basket that lets him leverage his length and create scoring angles for himself. That combination of skills, plus his solid handle for a big, makes him the type of player who can be a nightmare for slower-footed frontcourt players. He also is great at punishing harsh closeouts and is the type of big that can also be a weapon in DHOs or fake DHOs because of his ability to turn and get downhill so quickly.
Jones showed improved body control in preseason and did a good job adjusting his finishes in mid-air to either draw some contact or still score against a great contest. He plays with a high motor and is really comfortable sitting in that dunker spot, finishing plays off dump-offs or collecting offensive rebounds and scoring putbacks. Off the ball, he’s also an excellent cutter, and while his frame isn’t fully filled out, he sets a solid screen and knows where to go as a roller.
Defensively, his physical traits shine through too, as his lateral quickness, paired with his size, lets him cover ground and be disruptive off the ball. He’s unique in the sense that he can man a zone defense from the point of attack or be the big anchor in the paint. He has solid second-jump ability and is a super exciting shot blocker. Jones will need to keep getting stronger and improving his frame in order to bang with top college bigs and bigs at the pro level, but he does have solid recovery tools for when he gets outmatched physically.
The playmaking feel is definitely there. Now it’s just about improving his decision-making and passing skills. He doesn’t project to ever be an offensive hub by any means, but growing as a short roll passer would definitely improve his stock.
Even though Tyrin Jones only played in one of UNLV’s three preseason games, he gave evaluators a ton to like. Jones is a high-level downhill self-creator, with impressive defensive versatility and athletic tools that make him a very intriguing name for the 2027 NBA Draft cycle. Many of us tuned in for Jason Crowe Jr., but we stayed for Jones.
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Ethan Alexander retweeted
Brad Underwood may have done it again. After the success Keaton Wagler found at Illinois last season, there’s an exciting new freshman guard leading the Illini this year: Quentin Coleman.
Coleman is a shifty, crafty guard with a solid all-around game, and he has the tools to ght, whether his shot is falling or not. At 6’4, he plays with a tremendous motor that will help him fit in perfectly with an Illinois system that loves to crash the glass and generate second-chance points. His motor will definitely catch the eyes of NBA teams, as it doesn’t just stop with his rebounding. Despite not being the most gifted defensive player, Coleman works extremely hard on that end when guarding on the ball and has flashed good feel for the game off the ball.
His craftiness allows him to put constant pressure on the rim without being a super explosive athlete, and with a tight handle, you rarely see him turn it over when getting downhill. His downhill scoring, paired with an outside jumper that defenses have to show respect to at all times, gives him the potential to be the type of scoring threat who forces defenders to pick their poison. His offensive bag is deep, and Coleman is a threat to shoot the ball whether he’s coming off screen actions or creating his own shot.
As a playmaker, there is still room to grow, but he has a sound feel for the game and is a good decision-maker, which makes his outlook as a lead guard at the next level positive.
He’s far from a one-trick pony, and at the guard position we are starting to see teams really value the versatility he brings on both ends of the floor. Through Illinois' three preseason games, he’s averaging 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.0 steal, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
Coleman was originally viewed by most evaluators as a potential two-to-three-year college player before being ready to make the step to the pros. But after generating a ton of buzz during the Fighting Illini’s training camp and backing it up with his preseason play, he looks like someone with legit one-and-done upside. If he can get stronger physically, he could be a lottery-level talent in a wide-open 2027 NBA Draft class.
The highlights below are from his 20-point, 7-rebound, and 4-assist showing against Baylor on October 23rd.
Coleman is a shifty, crafty guard with a solid all-around game, and he has the tools to ght, whether his shot is falling or not. At 6’4, he plays with a tremendous motor that will help him fit in perfectly with an Illinois system that loves to crash the glass and generate second-chance points. His motor will definitely catch the eyes of NBA teams, as it doesn’t just stop with his rebounding. Despite not being the most gifted defensive player, Coleman works extremely hard on that end when guarding on the ball and has flashed good feel for the game off the ball.
His craftiness allows him to put constant pressure on the rim without being a super explosive athlete, and with a tight handle, you rarely see him turn it over when getting downhill. His downhill scoring, paired with an outside jumper that defenses have to show respect to at all times, gives him the potential to be the type of scoring threat who forces defenders to pick their poison. His offensive bag is deep, and Coleman is a threat to shoot the ball whether he’s coming off screen actions or creating his own shot.
As a playmaker, there is still room to grow, but he has a sound feel for the game and is a good decision-maker, which makes his outlook as a lead guard at the next level positive.
He’s far from a one-trick pony, and at the guard position we are starting to see teams really value the versatility he brings on both ends of the floor. Through Illinois' three preseason games, he’s averaging 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.0 steal, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
Coleman was originally viewed by most evaluators as a potential two-to-three-year college player before being ready to make the step to the pros. But after generating a ton of buzz during the Fighting Illini’s training camp and backing it up with his preseason play, he looks like someone with legit one-and-done upside. If he can get stronger physically, he could be a lottery-level talent in a wide-open 2027 NBA Draft class.
The highlights below are from his 20-point, 7-rebound, and 4-assist showing against Baylor on October 23rd.
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I’ve been covering Hawthorne since high school; it’s always been clear that he’d make a defensive impact at the college level.
Perhaps the most intriguing physical profile of any wing in the country.
He’s also always been a good three-point shooter, and I’m hoping for him to find consistency in that department this year.
His developmental focus (beyond continuing to add strength) should be improving his confidence and offensive activity. He’s too lanky and athletic to operate exclusively along the perimeter. I think this will come with time and on-court experience.
Perhaps the most intriguing physical profile of any wing in the country.
He’s also always been a good three-point shooter, and I’m hoping for him to find consistency in that department this year.
His developmental focus (beyond continuing to add strength) should be improving his confidence and offensive activity. He’s too lanky and athletic to operate exclusively along the perimeter. I think this will come with time and on-court experience.
BBN really has something in Braydon Hawthorne.
Long, fluid, versatile. The kind of athlete whose arms seem to cover half the floor defensively, with the ability to stretch the floor on the other end.
With a redshirt year of learning under his belt, the foundation is there. And antalizing.
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Ethan Alexander retweeted
BBN really has something in Braydon Hawthorne.
Long, fluid, versatile. The kind of athlete whose arms seem to cover half the floor defensively, with the ability to stretch the floor on the other end.
With a redshirt year of learning under his belt, the foundation is there. And antalizing.
Long, fluid, versatile. The kind of athlete whose arms seem to cover half the floor defensively, with the ability to stretch the floor on the other end.
With a redshirt year of learning under his belt, the foundation is there. And antalizing.
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