- Close
ESPN
What are the big developments in the 2021 NBA draft class?
ESPN draft experts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz debuted their top-100 draft rankings this week, with a look at what is shaping up to be a loaded class.
In another uncertain draft year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge, every scouting opportunity is important to NBA front offices. Here are the latest storylines, trends and prospects to watch, including USC's Evan Mobley looking like a No. 1 pick contender, breakout international players and more scouting notes.
Evan Mobley | C | USC | No. 2 overall prospect
Although Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham sits atop our rankings, Mobley has proven that he belongs in the top-pick discussion with his play through five games.
The 19-year-old 7-footer has done just about everything on both ends of the floor for the 4-1 Trojans, averaging 17.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.0 blocks in 33.5 minutes while shooting 64% from 2 and 44% from 3. The raw numbers are impressive, but the details of the performance really have NBA decision-makers enamored.
Mobley's immediate NBA value will come on the defensive end, where he's already showing glimpses as an elite rim protector, thanks to his 7-foot-4 wingspan, timing, quick leaping ability and fluidity. At times, Mobley looks like he's operating at half-speed, but he gravitates to the ball instinctually. Mobley projects as a major asset in pick-and-roll, covering a ton of ground in drop situations while showing the foot speed to step out and switch for stretches.
USC's five opponents have a combined 8-11 record, so we'll have an eye on whether Mobley can sustain his defensive prowess against the Pac-12's elite. His first test comes Sunday against potential top-10 pick Ziaire Williams and Stanford. One of the biggest questions surrounding Mobley has been the consistency of his motor. He's far from a forceful defensive rebounder -- his high center of gravity and light lower body, at 215 pounds, allow more physical bigs to eliminate him on the glass or move him on the block. But even if you'd like more fire on the backboards, Mobley gets so much done on defense.
Jalen Wilson scores 21 of his 23 points in the second half as Kansas comes back to beat Kentucky 65-62.
The defense was expected, but Mobley's offensive versatility has been intriguing through five games. Equipped with great hands and a big catch radius, he is finishing lobs, dropping in jump hooks and igniting fast breaks as a ball handler. We saw glimpses of this in the past, but seeing it on a collegiate floor carries more weight. Mobley is incredibly coordinated for a player his size. He can stride to the rim in either direction, throw a lob to a wing or kick it out to an open shooter. Every NBA team wants bigs who can handle and pass, and Mobley figures to be valuable in dribble handoff and short roll situations when flush with shooting around him. After watching him warm up and shoot the ball through five games, it looks clear that it won't take him long to adjust to the NBA 3-point line, thanks to his excellent balance, soft touch and sound mechanics.
Mobley still doesn't have many ways to generate offense for himself in the half court against elite defenses. He can make face-up jumpers and hooks with either hand, but he shouldn't be counted on as a No. 1 or No. 2 option early in his career. Plus, he can be a bit passive. But he does just about everything on the floor, and there are loose glimpses of a young Anthony Davis when you watch him. Although not the same caliber shooter at a similar age, Mobley has similarities to Jaren Jackson Jr. with his shot-blocking instincts, switch ability and mismatch ballhandling.
There's a lot to be excited about with the USC big man, and if a team in dire need of a franchise big lands the No. 1 pick, I would expect Mobley to be in the mix as long as he keeps playing this way. -- Schmitz
Alperen Sengun | C | Besiktas | No. 30
Averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals in 28 minutes per game, Turkish big man Alperen Sengun is producing in a way we've never seen from an 18-year-old at the highest levels of European basketball.
A stalwart of junior national teams who always played up on the competition but produced in elite fashion, Sengun made his debut with the senior national team in the FIBA window a few weeks back. He doesn't pass the eye test at first glance, standing 6-foot-9 with a pudgy frame and average length. On paper, he isn't really what the NBA is looking for in a modern big man, as he's caught between positions defensively and shooting just 1-of-10 from beyond the arc on the season. But he possesses the type of supernatural basketball instincts that are difficult to find, allowing him to lead one of the strongest leagues in European basketball in player efficiency rating (a massive 35.8) and suggesting that he has the type of skill and feel that will allow him to translate his productivity to NBA settings.
Sengun doesn't look particularly explosive or strong, but he's a fluid mover who is quick to the ball and usually first off the ground for dunks, rebounds and blocks. That fluidity helps him shoot an incredible 70% from the field while living at the free throw line. He has emerged as a real playmaker defensively and leads the league in offensive rebounding (7.6 per 40 minutes).
He's highly skilled on top of that, regularly creating offense for himself, pushing rebounds off the defensive glass, using shifty ballhandling moves in the half court and showing impressive body control and polished footwork in the lane. More physical than most 18-year-olds, he plays through contact without issue, setting excellent screens, possessing outstanding hands and drawing fouls in bunches. Although he has yet to show 3-point range, his touch around the basket, combined with the fact that he's shooting 84% from the free throw line, suggests that it's only a matter of time before he's able to do so. His continuing to improve as a passer will ease concerns about how heavily he relies on back-to-the-basket and offensive rebounding production.
Sengun is usually tasked with defending centers in Turkey, something that might prove difficult in the NBA, considering his power forward dimensions. His timing and instincts will help, as he's often in the right spots at the right time, but he'll have to continue to trim his frame and improve his lateral quickness in small spaces. The Beşiktaş star struggles to stay in front of quicker players and is strictly a drop defender in pick-and-rolls.
There are reasons to nitpick Sengun, but history suggests that players who produce like this at an early stage should not be discounted. He'll need to continue to do so to hold scouts' interest, but there's a lot to like about what he has shown thus far. -- Givony
Rokas Jokubaitis | G | Zalgiris | No. 43
The runaway favorite to win the EuroLeague's Rising Star award, Lithuanian point guard Rokas Jokubaitis has blossomed into one of the top guard prospects on the continent while turning 20 just a few weeks ago.
Having grown to 6-foot-5, Jokubaitis sees most of his minutes off the ball for Zalgiris, but he still gets plenty of reps operating out of pick-and-roll. Jokubaitis' ability to play at different speeds and find teammates with well-timed bounce passes using his excellent size to see over the top of defenses will intrigue NBA teams. He has been more aggressive looking for his own offense as well, seeking pull-up jumpers in the midrange, attacking the rim aggressively in transition and spotting up for open 3-pointers in the half court.
There's nothing flashy about his style of play, but his improved shooting, polished creativity in finishing with his weaker right hand and defensive feel all give him a clear pathway to be a solid role player in the NBA. Although his lack of standout athleticism might cap his upside, he has solidified his standing in the second round and could look to be selected late in the first round if he can take another step with his production and consistency. -- Givony
Isaiah Jackson cuts down the lane and finishes with a two-handed dunk for Kentucky vs. Kansas.
Jalen Wilson | F | Kansas | No. 58
A broken ankle suffered 30 seconds into Wilson's second game derailed his freshman season at Kansas, causing him to redshirt with just three minutes of playing time. He has been making up for lost time, averaging 15.7 points on 26.5 minutes per game and emerging as the Jayhawks' go-to guy while surprisingly leading the team in scoring.
Wilson came up huge in a pair of wins over Kentucky and Creighton last week, dropping a combined 46 points while making six of 11 from 3-point range. His strong, 6-foot-8 frame and aggressiveness crashing the glass have been key for Kansas, with the ability to go small with him at center.
How sustainable that is -- and what it means for Wilson's timeline as an NBA prospect -- is to be determined after just six games. But it's clear that he has some type of NBA future as a 6-foot-8 power forward who can knock down out-of-rhythm 3-pointers while showing the ability to score in the open floor.
The fact that he has registered a single block and no steals in 159 minutes will surely give NBA teams pause, and his on-court decision-making at points has left something to be desired. But Kansas has sent 18 players to the NBA draft in the past decade, and if Wilson is going to be the team's best offensive player as a redshirt freshman this season, the NBA is likely in his future. -- Givony
Isaiah Jackson | F/C | Kentucky | No. 12
Only the fourth-most heralded prospect in Kentucky's freshman class, according to the 2020 recruiting rankings, Jackson wasn't expected to play such an impactful role when Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr (an All-ACC player in 2019) was ruled eligible by the NCAA.
Jackson opened NBA eyes with his impressive dimensions at the Kentucky pro day and has continued to do so since the games tipped. He's one of the best athletes in the college game in terms of his ability to run the floor and get off his feet quickly for dunks and blocks. His closing speed rotating from the weak side to protect the rim is exceptional and gives him NBA All-Defensive Team potential when combined with the timing and instincts he displays as a shot-blocker.
While Jackson has been a difference-maker defensively, the flashes he has shown offensively have been encouraging as well. He has good hands, some budding ability to pass and create offense, and the type of shooting mechanics and touch that suggest he might be able to extend his range to the 3-point line as his career moves on.
Playing out of position as Kentucky's starting power forward, Jackson has been pretty inconsistent on both ends of the floor, despite the flashes of talent. He lacks lower body strength in a major way and can be mistake-prone with his decision-making, fundamentals and technique, as he's still at an early stage of development in terms of polish, experience and feel. Games against Notre Dame, UCLA and Louisville in the next few weeks will tell us more about where Jackson stands in the 2021 draft pecking order, but it's pretty clear that he's one of the better long-term prospects in this big man class, with significant room for growth as his frame fills out and the game slows down for him. -- Givony
Ibou Badji | C | Barcelona 2/Senegal | No. 64
Unable to carve out a consistent role with Barcelona's first team, Badji had a great opportunity to show his abilities at the under-18 African Championships in Cairo. The 18-year-old 7-footer finished the tournament with averages of 11.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 32.8 minutes for a talented Senegal team that lost to Mali in the finals.
Standing 6-foot-11.5 barefoot, with a 7-foot-9 wingspan and elite feet for a player his size, Badji put a lid on the rim defensively for stretches, getting to shots few NBA centers could wipe away. His 3.2 blocks per 40 minutes wasn't indicative of his enormous impact around the rim. Badji is an ambidextrous shot-blocker whose reach and quick leaping ability make him a force as a defensive anchor when he's fully engaged. He even showed glimpses of verticality technique that we hadn't always seen from him in the past.
He's capable of stepping away from the rim defensively, too. His discipline and mechanics in pick-and-roll or switch situations need major work, but he has zero issue getting deep into a stance and staying with even the quickest guards. Overall, defensive discipline will be the focal point for Badji, but he has the type of versatility that NBA teams covet. It's easy to envision Badji playing a JaVale McGee, Mitchell Robinson or Hassan Whiteside type of role in the NBA.
That said, Badji struggles to catch the ball cleanly, make quick reads offensively and play to his strengths. Although we shouldn't fault him for wanting to show off his improved midrange stroke and post game in his first competition away from Barcelona in some time, he made a handful of questionable decisions. His back-to-the-basket footwork can be rigid, and he isn't that comfortable operating in dribble handoffs. He doesn't always run the floor consistently, either.
But with a strong frame, incredible length and elite run-and-jump athleticism, Badji could already hold his own physically in the NBA. He'll be one of only two NBA players with a wingspan 7-foot-9 or greater, joining Mo Bamba and Tacko Fall. Even with some of Badji's shortcomings and his limited role in Barcelona, it's difficult to envision all 30 teams passing on him twice. -- Schmitz
Khalifa Diop | C | Gran Canaria II/Senegal | No. 65
Diop has a strong frame, plays with a consistent motor and is consistently praised by coaches for his approach to the game. Playing much of the tournament out of position at the 4 next to Badji, Diop finished averaging 12.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 62.5% from 2 and 25% from 3.
Diop was the heart and soul of his Senegal team, manning the backboards, running the floor hard, setting bruising screens, doing his best to protect the rim and moving the ball side to side with his handle and vision. Although he had a fair amount of miscues, Diop proved himself as a facilitator. He ignited the break with outlet passes, found shooters out of short rolls, played out of handoffs comfortably and pinpointed the weakside corner out of post double-teams. Diop's ability to read the game didn't seem like a product of the level of competition, either.
Aside from his passing, Diop's rebounding is most translatable. He plays with great energy, is relentless on the offensive glass and pinpoints the ball in traffic, despite not having the biggest reach or the best vertical. With a 7-foot-2 wingspan, he's nowhere near the shot-blocker of Badji, but he was almost always in position around the rim, sliding over to take a charge or altering shots with verticality. He also has the agility to defend pick-and-rolls both in drop situations and out of switches.
Diop is still a work in progress with his perimeter shooting. He is also in his own head at the free throw line, where he converted just 48.5%. But he shows enough potential to instill some optimism that he could space the floor from NBA 3 down the road. Although his role at the highest level isn't clear, he's absolutely an NBA prospect and will be an attractive draft-and-stash option, should he opt to stay in the 2021 draft. -- Schmitz
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.
Mike Schmitz is an NBA draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.