It’s been roughly one month since the 2021 NBA draft gave way to our first mock draft of the 2022 NBA draft cycle, and we’ve already witnessed major movement and some fresh names among the next group of prospects. The 59 names we unveiled in our first two rounds in late July are still here, but we’ve expanded the enterprise this time to a complete 2022 NBA draft top 100. In addition to our updated list, we’ve addressed some of the key questions being asked in what will be another abbreviated draft calendar because of the effects of the pandemic.
What’s the deal with the lack of point guards? Has the NBA’s obsession with young talent begun to shift, ever so slightly, after a 2021 draft that saw a deeper pool of veteran prospects than usual? What will the impact of a lack of international events, as well as a series of watered-down international events, have on the evaluation of the next draft class?
We’ve sought to answer those questions and more. But first, let’s take a look at the full 2022 top 100:
1. Chet Holmgren | PF | Age: 19.3 | Gonzaga
2. Paolo Banchero | PF/C | Age: 18.7 | Duke
3. Jaden Hardy | SG | Age: 19.1 | G League Ignite
4. Jalen Duren | C | Age: 17.7 | Memphis
5. Caleb Houstan | SF | Age: 18.6 | Michigan
6. Yannick Nzosa | C | Age: 17.7 | Malaga
7. Jabari Smith | PF/C | Age: 18.2 | Auburn
8. A.J. Griffin | SF/PF | Age: 17.9 | Duke
9. Peyton Watson | SF | Age: 18.9 | UCLA
10. Patrick Baldwin Jr. | SF/PF | Age: 18.7 | Milwaukee
11. J.D. Davison | PG | Age: 18.8 | Alabama
12. Jaden Ivey | PG/SG | Age: 19.5 | Purdue
13. Kennedy Chandler | PG | Age: 18.9 | Tennessee
14. Ousmane Dieng | SF/PF | Age: 18.2 | New Zealand Breakers
15. Jean Montero | PG/SG | Age: 18.1 | Overtime Elite
16. Dyson Daniels | PG/SG | Age: 18.4 | G League Ignite
17. TyTy Washington | PG/SG | Age: 19.7 | Kentucky
18. Daimion Collins | PF/C | Age: 18.8 | Kentucky
19. Allen Flanigan | SF | Age: 20.3 | Auburn
20. Ben Mathurin | SF | Age: 19.1 | Arizona
21. Tristan Vukcevic | PF | Age: 18.4 | Real Madrid
22. Nolan Hickman | PG | Age: 18.2 | Gonzaga
23. Earl Timberlake | SF | Age: 20.7 | Memphis
24. Nikola Jovic | SF | Age: 18.2 | Mega Basket
25. Roko Prkacin | PF | Age: 18.7 | Cibona Zagreb
26. Khalifa Diop | C | Age: 19.6 | Gran Canaria
27. Keegan Murray | PF | Age: 21.0 | Iowa
28. Jaime Jaquez Jr. | SG | Age: 20.5 | UCLA
29. Caleb Love | PG/SG | Age: 19.9 | North Carolina
30. Mark Williams | C | Age: 19.6 | Duke
31. Michael Foster | PF | Age: 18.2 | G League Ignite
32. Marcus Bagley | SF/PF | Age: 19.8 | Arizona State
33. Ochai Agbaji | SF | Age: 21.3 | Kansas
34. Andre Curbelo | PG | Age: 19.8 | Illinois
35. Hugo Besson | PG/SG | Age: 20.3 | New Zealand Breakers
36. Fedor Zugic | SG | Age: 17.9 | Ratiopharm Ulm
37. Josiah-Jordan James | SG | Age: 20.9 | Tennessee
38. Johnny Juzang | SF | Age: 20.4 | UCLA
39. Matthew Mayer | SF/PF | Age: 21.9 | Baylor
40. Justin Lewis | SF/PF | Age: 19.3 | Marquette
41. Gabriele Procida | SG | Age: 19.2 | Fortitudo Bologna
42. Julian Champagnie | SF/PF | Age: 20.1 | St. John’s
43. Walker Kessler | C | Age: 20.0 | Auburn
44. Drew Timme | PF/C | Age: 20.9 | Gonzaga
45. Ruben Dominguez | SG/SF | Age: 18.5 | Estudiantes
46. Zach Edey | C | Age: 19.2 | Purdue
47. Ariel Hukporti | C | Age: 19.3 | Melbourne
48. Ibou Dianko Badji | C | Age: 18.8 | Barcelona
49. Malcolm Cazalon | SG | Age: 19.9 | Mega Bemax
50. Taevion Kinsey | SG | Age: 21.4 | Marshall
51. Andrew Nembhard | PG | Age: 21.6 | Gonzaga
52. Max Abmas | PG | Age: 20.3 | Oral Roberts
53. Azuolas Tubelis | PF/C | Age: 19.4 | Arizona
54. Guilherme Santos | SF/PF | Age: 19.1 | Minas
55. Terrence Shannon Jr. | SG/SF | Age: 21.0 | Texas Tech
56. Abramo Canka | SG/SF | Age: 19.4 | Nevezis
57. Zsombor Maronka | SF | Age: 18.9 | Prat
58. Pavel Savkov | SG | Age: 19.3 | Vitoria
59. Will Richardson | PG | Age: 21.9 | Oregon
60. Jahvon Quinerly | PG | Age: 22.7 | Alabama
61. MarJon Beauchamp | SG/SF | Age: 19.8 | G League Ignite
62. Trayce Jackson-Davis | PF/C | Age: 21.4 | Indiana
63. DeVante’ Jones | PG/SG | Age: 23.3 | Michigan
64. Davonte Davis | PG | Age: 19.9 | Arkansas
65. Iverson Molinar | SG | Age: 21.7 | Mississippi State
66. Justin Powell | PG/SG | Age: 20.2 | Tennessee
67. Dawson Garcia | C | Age: 19.9 | North Carolina
68. Jabari Walker | PF | Age: 19.0 | Colorado
69. Mike Miles | PG | Age: 18.9 | TCU
70. DeAndre Williams | PF/C | Age: 24.8 | Memphis
71. Hyunjung Lee | SF | Age: 20.8 | Davidson
72. Osun Osunniyi | PF/C | Age: 22.8 | St. Bonaventure
73. Buddy Boeheim | SG/SF | Age: 21.7 | Syracuse
74. Mojave King | SG | Age: 19.2 | Adelaide
75. Boris Tisma | SF | Age: 19.5 | Studentski Centar
76. Mario Nakic | SF | Age: 20.1 | Andorra
77. Tom Digbeu | SG | Age: 19.9 | Prienai
78. Ismael Kamagate | C | Age: 20.5 | Paris
79. Carlos Alocen | PG | Age: 20.6 | Real Madrid
80. Kenneth Lofton Jr. | PF/C | Age: 19.0 | Louisiana Tech
81. Marcus Carr | PG | Age: 22.2 | Texas
82. Courtney Ramey | PG | Age: 21.8 | Texas
83. Keon Ellis | SG/SF | Age: 21.6 | Alabama
84. Nate Laszewski | PF | Age: 22.0 | Notre Dame
85. Tyson Etienne | PG/SG | Age: 21.9 | Wichita State
86. Nikita Mikhailovskii | SF | Age: 20.9 | Tasmania
87. Christian Braun | SG | Age: 20.3 | Kansas
88. Isaiah Wong | G | Age: 20.5 | Miami
89. Donta Scott | PF | Age: 20.7 | Maryland
90. Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua | C | Age: 22.3 | Baylor
91. Makur Maker | PF/C | Age: 20.7 | Sydney Kings
92. Jalen Wilson | PF | Age: 20.7 | Kansas
93. Scotty Pippen Jr. | PG | Age: 20.7 | Vanderbilt
94. E.J. Liddell | PF | Age: 20.6 | Ohio St
95. Adam Flagler | SG | Age: 21.7 | Baylor
96. Kofi Cockburn | C | Age: 21.9 | Illinois
97. Isaiah Mobley | PF/C | Age: 21.9 | USC
98. Darius Days | PF | Age: 21.8 | LSU
99. Eric Ayala | SG | Age: 22.6 | Maryland
100. Paul Scruggs | PG/SG | Age: 23.4 | Xavier
Where are the point guards?
For the second straight draft, the 2022 class is mostly devoid of point guard depth, at least at this stage. Davion Mitchell was the only player picked in the 2021 first round standing under 6-foot-4 and who projects to play exclusively at point guard, although top-30 picks Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs and Tre Mann also will likely see time there (as well as off the ball). Jason Preston and Sharife Cooper heard their names called in the second round at the position, but this was one of the shallowest PG groups we’ve seen in some time, a trend that could very well repeat itself if our early projections are any indication.
Alabama’s J.D. Davison and Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler are currently slated 11th and 13th, respectively, with Nolan Hickman of Gonzaga (No. 22) the only other player projected in the first round who will likely see the majority of his minutes at the 1 next season. All three freshmen will surely split playmaking duties with more experienced backcourt options and fellow pro prospects — Jahvon Quinerly (Alabama), Andrew Nembhard (Gonzaga) and Josiah-Jordan James (Tennessee) are all currently slated to be picked in the second round.
Do the old guys still got it?
One of the quietly intriguing storylines of the 2021 NBA draft was the way older, highly productive upperclassmen such as Chris Duarte, Davion Mitchell, Corey Kispert and Trey Murphy III moved into lottery conversations as the draft process moved on, despite ages of 21 to 24. None of those players was projected as a first-round pick when the season started, but all had moved into the ninth to 17th pick range by draft night thanks to their productivity, versatility and plug-and-play fits in modern NBA lineups.
Looking ahead to 2022, there are currently four players in the first-round range — Allen Flanigan, Earl Timberlake, Keegan Murray and Jaime Jaquez Jr. — who are slated to be 21 or older on draft night, with Ochai Agbaji, Hugo Besson, Josiah-Jordan James, Johnny Juzang and Matthew Mayer all within striking distance in the 30s range. Will any of these players climb into the top 20? Could an “old” prospect by NBA draft standards, such as DeAndre Williams from Memphis (who will turn 25 in October), boost his stock by leading a deep NCAA tournament while showcasing his do-it-all versatility?
How the “vets” from the 2021 NBA draft fare in their rookie seasons will likely play a role in the perception of the 2022 prospects who can legally purchase alcohol.
Will agents allow prospects to compete again?
The previously held strategy of “less is more” when it came to agents allowing client prospects to participate in pre-draft process events more or less fell flat on its face in the 2021 NBA draft.
Almost all of the players who fell the furthest relative to earlier expectations — Jalen Johnson, Brandon Boston Jr., Sharife Cooper, Keon Johnson, Isaiah Jackson, Usman Garuba, Jaden Springer, Ayo Dosunmu, Charles Bassey, Joel Ayayi, Aaron Henry and others — were unavailable or elected to sit out key portions of the NBA pre-draft process, including the combine, competitive workouts and pro days in Chicago.
Meanwhile, players who saw their stock rise in the pre-draft process, such as Joshua Primo, Josh Christopher, Quentin Grimes, Bones Hyland, Jason Preston and Neemias Queta, had one thing in common: a willingness to play in the competitive 5-on-5 portion of the combine, helping them claim the spots that were previously held by those who elected to sit out and subsequently saw their stock drop.
Was this just a strange coincidence? Was it a byproduct of the lack of exposure NBA teams had to prospects over a coronavirus-altered college basketball season? Or will those who elect to compete continue to be rewarded during the 2022 cycle, while prospects who decline opportunities risk falling out of the top 20 and beyond? Only time will tell.
Where can NBA teams get the most bang for their scouting buck?
Efficiency in live evaluations is key for NBA executives who spend weeks at a time on the scouting trail. These programs with multiple draft prospects, based on our top 100, will allow NBA teams to get the most bang for their buck (especially when they face opponents who also have prospects to scout):
G League Ignite (4)
Gonzaga (4)
Alabama (3)
Auburn (3)
Baylor (3)
Duke (3)
Kansas (3)
Memphis (3)
Tennessee (3)
UCLA (3)
Arizona (2)
Illinois (2)
Kentucky (2)
Mega Basket (2)
Michigan (2)
New Zealand Breakers (2)
North Carolina (2)
Purdue (2)
Real Madrid (2)
Texas (2)
While college basketball remains the traditional and primary vehicle for getting young players to the NBA, we’ll continue to see them take alternative pathways. The G League Ignite has five players currently in our top 100, with a sixth, Scoot Henderson, not yet draft-eligible but considered a potential top-5 pick in the 2023 NBA draft class. A seventh player, Fanbo Zeng from China, could join the Ignite, as well, but he has seen his potential move mired in bureaucracy and has yet to be announced.
After seeing LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey get picked third and sixth, respectively, in the past two drafts, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the NBL and its Next Star program emerging as a popular route for young prospects to gain exposure and a development platform. Six international draft prospects have joined the league thus far — Ousmane Dieng, Hugo Besson, Ariel Hukporti, Makur Maker, Nikita Mikhailovski, Kai Sotto — as well as a seventh player in Australian Mojave King, who has moved teams from Cairns to Adelaide. The NBL has pushed back the start of its season to mid-November due to COVID-19 issues in Australia and New Zealand.
Quiet summer on the FIBA trail
Outside of the FIBA U19 World Cup, which we covered in great detail in July but that was sparsely attended by U.S.-based NBA executives due to preparation for the 2021 NBA draft, this has been a tough summer for scouts to get eyes on some of the top 2022 draft prospects.
While 10 projected first-rounders (and 16 top-100 prospects overall) participated in the loaded FIBA U19 event in Latvia, the rest of the FIBA circuit has been surprisingly dull as far as surefire players expecting to hear their names called next June.
Part of this is due to FIBA’s coronavirus-inspired decision to eliminate the U16, U18 and U20 European championships, instead holding “Challengers” pods spread around the continent that were made up of only six teams each. These alternative events didn’t crown champions, did not feature promotion or relegation for next year’s competitions, and were often skipped by top prospects or shunned by entire countries altogether, which watered down the level of play substantially and mostly caused U.S.-based NBA executives to remain at home.
Some of the most interesting players who emerged at the traditionally talent-rich U18s were 2004-born 17-year-old prospects playing up — a group including Romania’s Dragos Lungu, Estonia’s Henri Veesaar, Spain’s Baba Miller, France’s Rayan Rupert and the Czech Republic’s Jakub Necas — none of whom will be NBA draft-eligible until 2023, at the earliest.
The U20s, which yielded a total of 21 draft picks in five events held from 2015 to 2019 (four per year on average), didn’t feature a single prospect currently ranked in our top 70, with at least a dozen eligible international players in our top 100 unavailable or declining invites.
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.