The 2024 NBA draft has plenty of prospects who first arrived on the national radar as high school All-Americans who ranked among ESPN's Top 100. Nine of the top 15 players on ESPN's current draft board are ranked (international players are not ranked).
But there are also prospects drafted every year whose profile and skills were lesser known in high school for a variety of reasons. Kris Murray (Sacramento Kings) and Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors) are examples of unranked high schoolers who became first-round draft picks, and both averaged more than 20 minutes a game last season as rookies.
And while the numbers aren't in their favor, unranked players ultimately emerge as NBA prospects every year. Ja Morant, Devin Vassell, Jalen Williams and Bennedict Mathurin are other examples who went on to become lottery picks within the past five years.
Identifying, evaluating and hitting on these players is a boon for NBA scouts and decision-makers, sometimes even altering the trajectory of a franchise. After all, the NBA draft is all about talent acquisition in the lottery, or unearthing valuable hidden gems later in the draft. This is a group of players with extraordinary work habits, perseverance and special traits.
Let's take an in-depth look at the path of five NBA prospects who will be drafted this week after being unranked in high school.
