Mathurin's decision-making in high-leverage moments also will be closely scrutinized. His skill sets and physical advantages position him to play versatile lineups down the road. 14 Yale | Friday | 2:00 p.m. | TBS. While Tshiebwe's 7-foot-4 wingspan helps, the questions NBA scouts have is how his 6-foot-8 frame and struggles playing through length in traffic translate to the pro level -- which is what has so far kept him out of first-round consideration. Basketball Home PBA Schedule PBA Standings Gilas Schedule Griffin has the type of physical profile NBA teams covet on the perimeter at 6-goot-6 and 225 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan. -- Schmitz, Jeremy Sochan | Freshman | Baylor | 6'9" | PF | Age: 18.8, When: No. Jun 6, 2022. His skill sets and physical advantages position him to play versatile lineups down the road. 9 Memphis | Thursday | 1:45 p.m. | TNT. "The first thing that stands out with Kai is that the size is very real. NBA Home Scores Schedule Standings Stats Teams Daily Lines All-Star Game More "If the NBA is not to be for Sotto, he could certainly make the NBL a home long term, as his Filipino citizenship exempts him from import status in the league. Scouts still have questions about Liddell's long-term upside as he stands no taller than 6-foot-7 with average positional length, a flat jumper that might take time to adjust to the NBA line and a somewhat power-reliant game. Sotto can still land a contract and play in the Summer League in July. Governors' Cup Power Rankings: Is NorthPort's rise real? (2:04) Facebook 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 National Basketball League about his decision to declare for the draft, . Before the NCAA Tournament ends, though, ESPN released an updated NBA mock draft, with the projected draft order based on ESPN's BPI ratings. People will realize . Croatia's Roko Prkacin tested the waters as an early entry candidate in the 2021 NBA draft but, presumably due to a lack of interest, opted to return for another year of basketball overseas. Kai isnt the most agile big man so hell have to rely more on his great height and basketball instincts. Williams' motor has fluctuated wildly this season, as he simply goes through the motions at times, especially on the defensive end, where he doesn't quite project as a rim protector or a switch defender despite being a stellar positional rebounder (14.8 per 40 minutes) with sharp instincts. His measurements at the 2020 BWB were recorded at 7-foot-1.5 in shoes and 227 pounds. The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder completed a trade on Monday that included a 2022 first-round pick headed to Denver, and trade chatter is certain to intensify throughout the rest of the league in the coming days. He's been somewhat streaky at times from beyond the arc, but has found more success as of late after hitting a midseason slump, while consistently doing all the little things his team needs to win games. 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. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cavaliers via Wizards), Andre Jackson | Sophomore | Connecticut | 6'6" | SG/SF | Age: 20.3, When: No. ESPN talked to some of these scouts and regional experts working and covering the NBL and asked them to weigh in on the prospect of Sotto becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the NBA. Scouts will surely be hoping for a deep run from Duke and Gonzaga, as that would set up a Banchero-Holmgren rematch in the Elite 8. Jaden Ivey | Sophomore | Purdue | 6'4" | PG/SG | Age: 20.0, When: No. With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? I think it would be even worse and he would struggle a fair bit against stronger post players. Governors' Cup Power Rankings: Is NorthPort's rise real? NBA teams will be intrigued by his physical profile, age and long-term upside, but avoiding some of the lapses defensively that have plagued him at times and finishing the season on a good note will certainly help his cause.-- Givony, 16. It's a sentiment echoed by another expert in Tim Smith, a New Zealand-based scout who keeps tabs on the leagues around the region. Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. The flashes he shows as a passer and a multipositional defender on the perimeter are intriguing for a 6-foot-8 18-year-old, even if his ballhandling and perimeter shooting still have a ways to go to play on the wing full time and his frame is a little thin for a power forward. Stay on current site or go to US version. In 2019, he joined The Skill Factory a prep program in Atlanta, Georgia. Washington, there are players in Lewis' mold having success in the NBA. What to watch for: The youngest player projected to be drafted, Duren has played some of his best basketball of the season as of late, helping Memphis surge into the postseason. "[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.". Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, has at least 12 pre-draft workouts scheduled with NBA teams, according to Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog. 16 Bryant/Wright State | Friday | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, What to watch for: The Pac-12 player of the year, Mathurin made a big jump as a sophomore while leading Arizona in scoring. 13 South Dakota State | Thursday | 12:40 p.m. | truTV. 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. 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. If not, is he a skilled enough shooter, passer and ball handler to be an asset on the perimeter? Leading the Buckeyes deep into March will go a long way in proving to NBA scouts that they should value Liddell's on-court impact and toughness over his perceived "upside." 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. I can recall Sam Froling absolutely dominating him when they played against Australia (in 2019 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup)," Purnell recalled. With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. The defensive end is where the junior will be studied most closely, as well as his ability to get to his spots off the dribble and get his shot off effectively despite his low, unorthodox release. What to watch for: Washington is a highly skilled 6-foot-4 guard with the type of winning pedigree that bodes well for March. 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. 1 Arizona vs. No. His fluidity and mobility is an intriguing aspect of his game and really stands out when rolling to the basket, where he had some vicious dunks," Smith said. 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. With a body type that earns him comparisons ranging from Kevin Durant to Brandon Ingram to Kristaps Porzingis to Bol Bol, Holmgren has let his game do the talking, as he is in the midst of a record-breaking freshman season for Gonzaga. 16 Norfolk State | Thursday | 2:00 p.m. | TBS. Foul trouble and turnovers have been an issue at times this season, exposing his youth and lack of experience. He lacks a degree of strength and explosiveness, converting just 44% from 2-point range. At 6-foot-6 with a strong frame and a 7-foot wingspan, in theory, Moore is the exact type of versatile wing the NBA covets. He's a disruptive defender, as well, thanks to his quickness, instincts and 6-foot-5 wingspan that has allowed him to rip opposing guards on the perimeter, swipe the ball on digs and even block occasional jumpers as a key cog in Tennessee's top-three defense. 1 scorer in the country making shots running off screens, per Synergy, giving Murray State a dangerous element to their half-court offense, while also being capable of relocating off closeouts and pulling up off the dribble with deep range. -- Givony, 13. "His versatility is unlike most giant bigs, and it will continue to show as his body gets more matured. 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. I think it's a valid concern in the NBA if he got a chance. MANILA, Philippines - Kai Sotto has a huge uphill climb ahead of him after he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, April 28. Las Pias, Philippines . Pelicans-Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. Nets-Celtics, 7:30 p.m. "I imagine Sotto goes undrafted, but even if he [isn't] picked up, he still has two years on his contract with the Adelaide 36ers, and the NBL is an excellent environment for giving Kai the resources and opportunity to further develop and work towards bigger opportunities.". "With Kai's progression throughout the season, it was within expectation Kai would declare for the 2022 Draft. Drew Timme | Junior | Gonzaga | 6'10" | PF/C | Age: 21.5, Andrew Nembhard | Senior | Gonzaga | 6'4" | PG | Age: 22.1, Zach Edey | Sophomore | Purdue | 7'4" | C | Age: 19.8, Jaylin Williams | Sophomore | Arkansas | 6'10" | C | Age: 19.7, When: No. Six-time PBA champ 'Plastic Man' Saldaa remembered fondly following death at 64, Grading Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award. He has an excellent physical profile for a guard, which has allowed him to play on and off the ball for Alabama, who has beaten some of the best teams in college while racking up plenty of confusing losses. Per tracking data from InStat, the 36ers scored 1.33 points per possession (PPP) with Sotto as a cutter and 1.17 PPP when he was involved as a roller, both marks above the league average (1.09 and 1.02 PPP, respectively). -- Givony, Johnny Juzang | Junior | UCLA | 6'7" | SF | Age: 20.9, Tevin Brown | Senior | Murray St. | 6'5" | SG | Age: 23.4, When: No. Photo from Adelaide 36ers. In the eyes of these experts, Sotto lags behind his fellow international draft prospects and might have to wait a bit before being able to get a shot at playing in the NBA. His play can open up an opportunity for a two-way contract later down the road. 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. It's clear that Davison's struggles as a scorer and concerningly high turnover rate make him more of a long-term prospect, which has allowed more productive guards to jump ahead of him as the season has moved on. 3 Tennessee vs. No. While undersized for the power forward position he mostly plays, Harper's 245-pound frame and near 7-foot wingspan allows him to play bigger than his height. 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. Will it be the ultra-confident potential No. Caine Purnell, who works for scouting agency ID Prospects, says strength is still a valid concern heading into the draft. What to watch for: Duke's most versatile prospect, Moore is an X factor of sorts for the Blue Devils as he gives them a different dimension when he's fully engaged and playing with confidence as a do-it-all wing who can initiate offense, make open 3s, attack the rim and defend his position. 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. Multiple teams currently . The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? Stock watch: Which players are on the move during Champ Week? A capable pull-up shooter (37% from 3), Chandler is a nightmare for opposing defenses to keep in front, and he has the vision to spray the ball out to shooters or drop it off to bigs once he gets a piece of the paint. 1 Baylor vs. No. His progress is ideal for both a foreign kid and a 7-3 unicorn.". If he can continue to improve his hands and strength offensively, whilst refining a basic but effective post game to penalize smaller lineups, then Sotto has a legitimate role offensively," Houben said. 2 Kentucky vs. No. Should the stars align . 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. These same traits help make him one of the most versatile defenders in college, a magnet for steals, blocks and rebounds who flies all over the floor in LSU's suffocating press while rotating from guarding point guards to big men. "I think mock draft boards are great for the general public's . Adelaide (109.9 defensive rating, sixth among 10 teams) held them to just 0.72 PPP during those possessions (league average is 0.86 PPP allowed), per InStat -- an indication that the big man pushed back when smaller attackers targeted him in the two-man game. 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. Tshiebwe lacks some modern elements to his game, having a difficult time defending in space on the perimeter, scoring outside the paint and facilitating for others, but it's difficult to argue with his productivity and sheer intensity, which should give him a ready-made role early in his NBA career. The names at the top will look familiar, but other prospects make their debut on this unique mock draft exercise and will be players to watch in March. NBA Draft 2023 News - ESPN Draftcast Skip to main content Skip to navigation Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. International Stock Watch - 05/27/2022; 2022 NBA G . "If Sotto can develop the things in his control, such as his strength, his awareness and his technique, he could grow into a strong rim protecting presence that could anchor an effective defense.". If he can continue to improve his hands and strength offensively, whilst refining a basic but effective post game to penalize smaller lineups, then Sotto has a legitimate role offensively," Houben said. 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. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 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. Whether it's Eric Paschall or P.J. My Mock Drafts; Create Your Own Mock Draft; Actual Drafts; Outstanding Trades; . -- Givony, Max Christie | Freshman | Michigan St. | 6'6" | SG | Age: 19.0, When: No. Smith, meanwhile, says the NBL is a great avenue for Kai to continue growing as a professional at this stage in his young career. The biggest draft experts make every pick in the 2022 NBA Draft The Field Of 68 33K views Streamed 1 month ago Top 10 Center Prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft. SNEAK PEAK OF THE TOP CENTER OF NBA DRAFT CLASS OF 2022 WERE OUR HOPE KAI SOTTO WILL SEAL HIS SPOT TO ENTER THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA)#adelai. 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. Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Kai Sotto's defense and experience may put him behind other international prospects. -- Givony, Christian Braun | Junior | Kansas | 6'6" | SG/SF | Age: 20.9, When: No. His fluidity and mobility is an intriguing aspect of his game and really stands out when rolling to the basket, where he had some vicious dunks," Smith said. "I think mock draft boards are great for the general public's reference but don't entirely represent the full picture. Jonathan Givony is an NBA Draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams. -- Givony. "Further growth as a passer as he matures and the games slows down for him will also be extremely helpful, as he has shown a certain level of vision at previous levels of play.". Sotto drew nothing but compliments about his work ethic and demeanor during his year in the NBL, where experts and colleagues took note of his energy and poise throughout the season. 12 New Mexico State | Thursday | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Matthew Mayer | Senior | Baylor | 6'9" | SF/PF | Age: 22.4, Trayce Jackson-Davis | Junior | Indiana | 6'9" | PF/C | Age: 22.0, When: No. The 18-year-old has as much riding on this NCAA tournament as any of the Duke prospects given the extreme highs and lows he has had this season. Sochan gives Baylor a different dynamic as a small-ball 5, and a few strong NCAA tournament performances could help solidify his status as a potential lottery pick. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. What to watch for: South Dakota State will be a popular upset pick in their opening round game against Providence, since the 30-4 Jackrabbits haven't lost in more than three months and will have the best pro prospect on the court in Scheierman. LIVE NBA MOCK DRAFT! . 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. 9 Marquette | Thursday | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, What to watch for: Lewis is a scoring forward with NBA tools standing 6-foot-7 with a powerful 245-pound frame and a huge 7-foot-2 wingspan. 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. He's also shooting just 40% at the rim in the half-court, converting 16 shots at the rim in 33 games. "I feel like the next year or so is going to give us a better idea of the extent of his perceivable upside. 10 Davidson | Friday | 9:40 p.m. | CBS. "More minutes, along with another year of skill development and physical training, could only help his stock in the eyes of NBA evaluators.". 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. -- Givony, Keegan Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'9" | PF/C | Age: 21.5, When: No. -- Schmitz, 10. C - Gonzaga - HT: 7-0 - WT: 195 - WING: 7-6 - Fr - This is a . Despite facing Duke, UCLA, Alabama and Texas Tech in nonconference play, a heavy dose of Holmgren's true highlights came against West Coast Conference opponents, as he took more of a back seat offensively against the Blue Devils, Crimson Tide and others. Finishing on a strong note will be important considering the way Davison's productivity has fluctuated, something that may make returning for another season in college appealing (or necessary) depending on how his season ends. His shooting stroke was apparent at times, but Sotto did not take enough 3s and attempted just 14 shots from beyond the arc through 24 games, including just four from the corners. 2 Duke vs. No. The 2.18-meter center -- who . Draft Results: 2022 Draft Results and Instant Analysis, Draft Recap: Thoughts On How The 2022 NBA Draft Played Out, 2023 NBA Mock Draft 2024 NBA Mock Draft, 10 Elite High School Freshmen, Class of 2025. (2:08). Sotto never ended up playing for the Ignite, as he opted to play for the Philippine national team at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. 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's an outstanding rebounder, Kansas' best rim-protector, and is converting 38% of his 3-pointers, making him one of the more versatile wing players in this class. Six-time PBA champ 'Plastic Man' Saldaa remembered fondly following death at 64, Justin Brownlee's journey from replacement import to Ginebra icon, Heartbreak is nothing new for Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa. You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. The 2022 NBA draft is just over a week away, but the wheeling and dealing has already begun. Data from InStat state that Adelaide hemorrhaged points when Sotto defended the roll man in the pick and roll (16 percent of his defensive possessions, second most) and gave up 1.37 PPP -- way above the league mean. "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. In general, catch-and-shoot shots (8.5 percent) and pick and pops (4.5 percent) comprised a small percentage of his shots, and Adelaide was below average in possessions that involved Sotto in those plays, per InStat. ESPN's mock draft (ESPN) ESPN's Jonathan Givony delivered his latest mock draft on Nov. 17. Benefiting from the platform of a Final Four run would go a long way in solidifying his standing as a first-round 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? "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. With the 2021 NBA Draft in the books, Jason McIntyre looks ahead to the top 30 players available in 2022. . 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. 1 Kansas vs. No. 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. -- Schmitz. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony: This "also-eligible" list (33 players) includes: Dominick Barlow, Marjon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels, Michael Foster, Jaden Hardy, Jean Montero, Kok Yat and Fanbo Zeng. Davis' rebounding, defensive versatility and all-around grit stand out in addition to the strides he has made offensively. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. Sotto's size and length has made him a viable rim protector in the NBL, where he averaged 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes, seventh among 84 players who played at least 15 minutes a game, per SpatialJam. Having already played over 1,500 NCAA minutes despite not turning 22 until late April, Agbaji is the type of experienced wing poised for a signature performance or two in March. NBA draft scouts. With legitimate guard skills that allow him to initiate Duke's offense in transition and function as a pick-and-roll ball handler in the half court, Banchero is a true mismatch nightmare, comparing favorably to post-injury Blake Griffin with his combination of power, agility and court vision. "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. Scouts will be closely analyzing whether or not Moore takes a back seat in important moments or takes ownership as one of the lone upperclassmen during a Blue Devils NCAA tournament run. Jabari Smith helped guide Auburn to an unexpected 27-5 season and a No. 1 Kansas vs. No. Thanks for reading our 2022 NBA Mock Draft. 6 Alabama vs. No. He represented the Philippines in the 2018 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship, where he averaged a double-double and was named to the tournament's First Team. What to watch for: No player offers the same type of size, strength and shot creation that Duke star Banchero brings to the table at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds. The 2022 NBA Draft is coming up on Thursday, June 23. 11 Rutgers | Wednesday | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, What to watch for: Wesley is a dynamic shot-creating guard who burst onto the scene as a surprise one-and-done and has piqued the interest of NBA scouts with his ability to go get a bucket off the dribble like few guards, sharing some similarities to a guard such as James Bouknight at the same stage. 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 also has gradually emerged as a more consistent force in Purdue's half-court offense, doing a better job of harnessing his explosiveness, picking his spots and making others better, even if his decision-making still leaves something to be desired at times. "I remember I really liked his passing for a big man but his body was a big problem. Houben and New Zealand-based scout Tim Smith cited players like projected lottery pick Ousmane Dieng, Hugo Besson of France, Australia's Makur Maker and Luke Travers, Lee Hyun-Jung of Korea, and China's Zeng Fanbo and Guo Haowen as names likely to get called ahead of the Filipino big man. Sotto posted up a lot -- about 19.3 percent of his offense came from the block, per InStat, which was the second-highest figure from his portfolio -- but Adelaide only scored 0.68 PPP during those trips, well below the league average of 0.89. If he can, that would go a long way in convincing execs the Iowa star isn't just a "high-floor NBA starter" but rather that his production is more than a product of Iowa's system and he belongs in the same conversation as Holmgren and Smith as a member of the draft's elite. Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. "I think he's very unique compared to all overseas and American prospects. NBA rumors: 2022 top draft prospect Kai Sotto signs with NBL club 2 years ago - via Twitter ShamsCharania Shams Charania: Kai Sotto a 7-foot-2 prospect from the Philippines is signing. "Please pray for me and support me during my quest to fulfill my ultimate dream.". Governors' Cup Power Rankings: Is NorthPort's rise real? 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. NBA personnel have been keeping track of him so he will have his fair chance of being considered," said Theodore Chan, Adelaide's scouting director. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. "I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft," wrote Sotto. Search Players; Articles; News; Blogs; Forum; BLACK LIVES MATTER. 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