Draftstack

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 side in sophomore big Tyrin 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.

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 impact winning every night, 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.

When people talk about their excitement level for Tennessee basketball this year, the two names that typically are brought up first are Jalen Haralson and Juke Harris. While both of them looked solid in Tennessee's preseason game against Xavier, it was a different transfer portal add that stood out for the Vols: Terrence Hill Jr. ​ The VCU transfer won the Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year award last season, but really made a name for himself with his 34-point performance to help VCU knock off UNC in round one of the NCAA Tournament. ​ In his debut for Tennessee, he put up 22 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 TOs, 9/17 from the field, 2/8 from three, 2/3 from the line. Hill Jr. is a 6'2 guard whose shot creation and scoring ability have always stood out, but if the effort he puts in defensively against Xavier remains consistent, he could be a real draft prospect. ​ Offensively, Hill Jr. is gonna be a bucket. Whether it's a pull-up middy, a floater, a bank layup, or a three off the dribble or catch, he can score all over the court, and the confidence in his scoring translating to SEC competition is much higher after his debut. He is very good at handling the rock and navigating through ball screens, as he has a tight enough handle and is super shifty, which allows him to get to the rim or gives him a big enough shot window when playing with screens. ​ Where concerns arise offensively for Hill Jr. are his physicality and playmaking. Because he’s not very big, playing through contact and finishing at an elite level against bigger defenders can be very hard for him. While he looked bigger in his debut for the Vols, getting even bigger could really help him as a finisher, but it could also have negative impacts on his first step and shiftiness. ​ Playmaking-wise, Hill Jr. can have tunnel vision at times despite having good passing instincts and skills. But the bigger issue is his nonchalance, as at times he turns it over because he’s not passing quickly enough or with enough intent, a habit that hurts his outlook as a pro player. ​ Obviously, given his build, there are going to be real concerns about his defense, and the tape from VCU last season did leave a lot to be desired. However, his effort level against Xavier wasn’t too bad. While the Vols' defense as a whole looked like a disaster, Hill Jr. did a solid job navigating screens, helped generate a jump ball against a forward on the inside, and was switching well. If he can maintain the level of effort he showed on defense for the majority of the first half and parts of the second half consistently for full games, the label of him being a liability defensively will be dropped. One thing to monitor is that Hill Jr. suffered an ankle injury in Tennessee’s second exhibition against Duke. It looked bad when it happened but has been reported as just an ankle injury that isn’t expected to sideline him for an extended period of time. Unlike other prospects that Draftstack has done these X breakdowns on, Terrence Hill Jr. isn’t being talked about as an established prospect in the 2027 class. But what he showed in his Vols debut may be the start of him changing that narrative, so keep your eye out for THJ this season.

Ian Jackson may finally be putting it all together. After being a top-10 recruit in the 2024 high school class, expectations were high for Jackson when he first arrived at Chapel Hill for his freshman season. Things didn’t pan out as he struggled to adjust from high school to the college game, mostly because Jackson wasn’t very effective when the ball wasn’t in his hands and didn’t get to be the primary scoring option. He still posted impressive numbers for a freshman in the ACC: 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.5% from three. The issue was that his willingness to buy into a team-oriented offense wasn't always there. Jackson made the move to St. John's to play under Rick Pitino, but that didn't go particularly well either, as the same issues persisted. The one positive takeaway was that Jackson appeared more engaged and willing to defend, which was a concern at UNC. Now heading to his third college season, it may be time for Jackson to break through as a legit NBA prospect. With Pitino’s Johnnies in a transitional year following Zuby Ejiofor's departure to the NBA, their offense needs a new look, and Jackson appears to be a big part of that change. Jackson has started all three of the Red Storm's exhibition games and had a standout performance in their win over Texas this past weekend. He finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 7/14 from the field, 3/7 from three-point range, and 1/2 from the FT line. Jackson showed off the three-level scoring ability that had him so highly ranked coming out of high school, but it looked different. He wasn't hunting his own shot and was instead making plays based on what the defense was giving him. Playing within the flow of the offense is one way Jackson can attract more attention from NBA teams, but it'll also build some good juju with Pitino, which will help his role with the Johnnies grow. Defensively, he was engaged on and off the ball too. If that’s the version of Ian Jackson the Johnnies get all year, he will be drafted next June. Everyone always knew he had the size, athleticism, and scoring ability to be a two-guard at the NBA level. The question was more about his willingness to buy into being a winning player every night. It is just one game, but if he keeps getting Pitino to say things like Jackson was “by far the best player on the floor” when talking about his play against Texas, you might want to buy stock in him sooner rather than later. #SJUBB

A bucket-getter, a hustle-first demon, an athletic two-way freak, a traditional four-man, and a project big man walk into a bar. They meet Chris Lambert. @CLambertmedia’s freshman five, check it out at the link below! ⬇️ 🔗

After two decent games in preseason college hoops, potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft Tyran Stokes delivered the type of performance evaluators were waiting for against Duke. In Kansas’ preseason finale, Stokes put up 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and shot 7/17 from the floor, 2/7 from three and 11/15 from the free-throw line. Stokes flashed exactly what makes him such an intriguing scoring talent in this one: blowing by bigs on the perimeter in isolation, bullying forwards on the way to the rim, and being a contact-drawing machine, getting to the line 15 times. He looked confident with his outside jumper, and his 73% free-throw percentage made it easier to stomach that he shot 28.6% from deep. But what stood out more in his offensive game was the playmaking. Stokes was clearly Duke's top priority defensively, and he made a point of punishing them any time he saw two defenders or was pressured as the ball handler. Stokes showed off high awareness and strong passing skills all game, whether it was out of the post, on drives and kicks, or in the open floor. He demonstrated why so many are high on his potential as a point forward. The gravity he draws as someone who is always putting pressure on the rim was clear in this one and helped create advantages for other Kansas players all game. Defensively, Stokes definitely looked more engaged than he did in the previous two exhibition games for the Jayhawks, and the impact he brings to the inside as a physical specimen is always going to allow him to have an effect on the game as a rebounder. Now it’s just about consistently finding that engagement and desire to defend every possession. If that becomes reality, Stokes' two-way upside is unreal. ​Overall, this was a strong showing for Stokes against what looks like the best team in the country this season. The biggest question moving forward is whether he can turn performances like this into consistent production, particularly on the defensive end. Even with those questions, his physical tools, scoring ability, and playmaking flashes have already made him as legitimate a contender for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft as anyone.

On a night when 11 NBA games were played, Louisville freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr.’s debut became an afterthought for many. The 7’2” freshman big man finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks while shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range. Ekezie Jr. comes into the 2027 draft cycle after reclassifying from the 2027 high school class to the 2026 class. It was unclear how impactful he could be from day one, and he was widely considered one of the biggest wild cards in the 2027 NBA Draft class, but he’s got our full attention now. In the paint, he was an imposing shot blocker, denying Tyran Stokes, one of the top players in the 2027 draft class, several times and showing a strong combination of skill and timing as a rim protector. He’s super mobile for a big, and it helped him patrol the paint and alter shots all game against Kansas Wednesday night. He also held his own pretty well for such a young player when put into ball screen actions. Offensively, Ekezie Jr. was looked at as a solid play-finishing big who can set solid screens and be a good roller, with his outside shot being a swing skill. But after one game, that swing skill looks more like a polished skill than anything. All game, he punished Kansas in the pick-and-pop, while showing a ton of confidence in his outside shooting stroke. It is just one preseason game. But the flashes of being a defensive anchor and floor-spacing threat will always have scouts circling a player's name, especially when he's still so young. Ekezie Jr. won't turn 19 until May. Louisville was already going to be a program with a ton of eyes on it this season, and Ekezie Jr., between 5 blocks and 4 threes, gave evaluators 9 more reasons to tune in to Cardinals basketball. Below is tape of one of his five blocks and three of his four made threes⬇️

Cole Cloer was a redshirt freshman at NC State last season who flew under a lot of people’s radars before becoming a great addition for Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s a big 6’8 wing who is a high-level floor spacer and a potential first-round sleeper in the 2027 NBA Draft cycle. In Cloer’s exhibition debut against Ole Miss, he dropped 18 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and shot 5/9 from the field and 4/8 from three. He also played the second most minutes, only behind sophomore forward Amari Allen. Offensively, the skill that draws many in is his shooting, as he has a pretty release and is a capable shooter on the move, off the dribble, or as a spot-up guy off the catch. Beyond the interest his perimeter scoring and size are going to generate, he also showed a ton of intriguing stuff as a ball handler and playmaker. Cloer’s processing ability on the ball was really strong, and he showed off a trait every great shooter needs to have on the ball, which is when there’s nothing doing, swing the ball and relocate. He used shot fakes to draw the defense and kick it to his teammates, and did a great job attacking mismatches and drawing fouls. He also was great at driving the ball and hitting Bama shooters right in the pocket so they could lace a three. The NBA loves wings that can shoot and have size, but when you mix in ball skills potential, that’s where prospects can really solidify themselves as first-round talents. Cloer looked like exactly that against Ole Miss. Something fans didn’t get a major taste of but is also part of his game is that Cloer can be an explosive athlete in the open floor. If that part translates from high school to college, he’s checking more boxes than most wings in this 2027 cycle. Defensively, Cloer’s length provides upside for him to develop into a problem on that end of the court too. He did a good job staying connected to his man off the ball while maintaining a distance that allowed him to help his teammates out. Cloer doesn’t project to be some massive stopper or stock machine, but if he can add some more muscle to his frame and improve his foot speed, he has all the tools to be a solid defensive player in the pros. NBA teams are always going to want players with positional size, an outside shooting touch, and playmaking chops in the first round of drafts. Cole Cloer checks all those boxes and is set to play his first college season with a program that has been a factor for NBA talent in recent years. Bama plays Auburn tonight at 8 pm EST

Didn’t think we’d be back here so soon, but Draftstack may have a year packed with Duke content. The Blue Devils hosted No. 8 Tennessee on Tuesday night and blew them out by 39, winning 103–64 and bringing in walk-ons with just under four minutes remaining. It wasn’t just one player who stood out, so this post highlights several players on this Duke roster because this group truly has the potential to ruin college basketball this season. Starting with Deron Rippey Jr., who cut his hair and somehow leveled up even more after a strong debut game against Belmont. Rippey Jr. put up 21 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 made three-pointers while shooting 9/12 from the field off Duke’s bench. Rippey Jr. showed off the ability to make threes off the catch, use his shiftiness and tight handle to expose defenders in isolation, finish through contact at the rim, and turn defense to offense with his active hands and defensive playmaking. Similar to his debut, Rippey’s biggest standout was the constant energy and effort he brought to both sides of the ball. Flat-out infectious. Next up was Dame Sarr, who really popped from the opening tip. Sarr finished with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting 6/9 from the field and 1/3 from three. He did an excellent job finishing at the rim, whether it was cutting, finishing lobs in the open floor, or taking it himself on the fast break. What really stood out was his improved ball skills, with a better handle and passing chops, and his outside shot continued to look more confident. Both were areas for improvement this summer, and if they keep trending up, he may have lottery-pick upside. Patrick Ngongba II enters his third season after a breakout sophomore campaign and is looking to establish himself as a top-tier center prospect in the 2027 cycle. He finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks while shooting 4/6 from the field and 1/1 from three. Ngongba II has been deemed a high-feel big with traditional rim-protecting skills, plus a solid touch around the rim and the upside to keep expanding his game outside the paint. All of those things looked true Tuesday. Ngongba II already had a ton of fans in the scouting space, particularly among the analytic community, and if he keeps having games like this, he may have fans in every part of the draft community. You know a Duke team is stacked when Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje’s performance was a footnote, despite him being the best prospect in all of college basketball this season. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2028 class finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, while shooting 5/7 from the field and 1/3 from three-point range. Cayden Boozer and John Blackwell also deserve shoutouts. Boozer was facilitating the stacked Duke offense, finishing with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. Blackwell showed exactly why Duke wanted him. He’s a bucket. He finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while shooting 6/8 from the field and 4/6 from three. On top of all those performances, don't forget Sebastian Wilkins, Bryson Howard, and Cameron Williams, who could also be 2027 NBA Draft prospects. If Tuesday was any indication, Duke is going to be a problem and may be ready to put on a season college basketball has never seen before.