Caine Purnell, who works for scouting agency ID Prospects, says strength is still a valid concern heading into the draft. What to watch for: Brown looks like a Cinderella darling candidate, playing for a formidable Murray State team that is 30-2 and hasn't lost in nearly three months. "[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.". "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. 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. June 3, 2022 11:14 AM CDT Joseph Austin: The Bulls have already given their money to DeRozen, Ball, and Caruso. 10 Davidson | Friday | 9:40 p.m. | CBS. -- Givony, Kris Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'8" | PF | Age: 21.5, Mike Miles | Sophomore | TCU | 6'1" | PG | Age: 19.5, When: No. Foul trouble and turnovers have been an issue at times this season, exposing his youth and lack of experience. Multiple teams currently . What to watch for: Fresh off a record-breaking Big Ten tournament, Murray enters the Big Dance with as much momentum as any NBA prospect. 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. "I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft," wrote Sotto. 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. 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. 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. Stay on current site or go to US version. -- Schmitz, 10. Offense has been a major struggle at times for Davison, who isn't a polished ball-handler or a consistent shooter. 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. 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. Duren has emerged as a major force inside the paint on both ends of the floor -- be it crashing the glass, protecting the rim or finishing ferociously and with incredible ease around the basket -- giving him a ready-made role to step into early in his NBA career. His combination of physical tools (6-foot-11, 250 pounds, 7-foot-5 wingspan), power, explosiveness and budding skill is unmatched. 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. Search Players; Articles; News; Blogs; Forum; BLACK LIVES MATTER. 15 Saint Peter's | Thursday | 7:10 p.m. | CBS. Although he is rock solid across the board, Branham doesn't quite have that one elite skill, at least at the level of an NBA starter. After an ejection and an Indiana game-tying 3-pointer, Ron Harper Jr. hits a dramatic game-winning trey for Rutgers. 2 Auburn vs. No. Few will question Davis' toughness or willingness to play a winning style of basketball, but the extent of his upside is still a topic of conversation, something he can push back against with a strong finish to his season. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Kai Sotto's defense and experience may put him behind other international prospects. However, he decided to forgo his college eligibility and join the NBA G League Ignite. "[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.". When Christie's jumper is falling, it's easy to see him getting looks in the late first-round, projecting somewhere between Landry Shamet and Primo on his best days. -- Givony. Today, we're focusing on the rest of his game: His defense, his intangibles on and off the floor, and his potential future paths. Grading Kai Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft Skip to main content Skip to navigation Search You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. 7 Ohio State vs. No. -- Schmitz, Jalen Duren | Freshman | Memphis | 6'10" | C | Age: 18.3, When: No. AJ Griffin | Freshman | Duke | 6'6" | SF/PF | Age: 18.5, When: No. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? More mobile than overly quick or explosive, he'll have to rely more on skill than vertical pop in the NBA, making it that much more important that he is at least a threat from 3 to open up the rest of his game. Las Pias, Philippines . "A negative assist-to-turnover ratio indicates further experience is needed to make him an efficient player with ball in hand," Houben added. NBA teams will be closely monitoring whether the 18-year-old can put those tools to use on both ends of the floor, as he too often settles for perimeter jumpers and isn't nearly the type of versatile defender and rebounder his frame and length suggest he should be. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Grading Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft. "There's no reason Sotto would not have the potential to be a productive contributor on the offensive end of the floor," Houben said. Sotto, a former four-star prospect from the Philippines, averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field in 23 . Six-time PBA champ 'Plastic Man' Saldaa remembered fondly following death at 64, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award. He's easy to get along with, loves joking, and doesn't back away from challenges. Just how high Tshiebwe gets drafted is what scouts are trying to determine, but a deep NCAA tournament run that includes strong showings against physical frontcourts could go a long way in solidifying his standing and potentially emerge as a first-round prospect. 1 pick. Scouts will be evaluating Branham's ballhandling and passing to discern whether they think he can play more of an on-ball role in the future, as that would greatly boost his value given that he's most impactful defending 1s and 2s. PF - Duke - HT: 6-10 - WT: 250 - WING: 6-10 - Fr - Paolo is making a late move up the board and could go no.1 overall to the Magic. 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. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers), Walker Kessler | Sophomore | Auburn | 7'1" | C | Age: 20.6, What to watch for: At 7-foot-1 and 245 pounds, with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Kessler's appeal is readily evident on first glance. "Kai is a positive influence who brings energy and effort to the team at practices and games everyday. Sotto's name was absent from the 2022 NBA draft early entrants list released on Tuesday, which featured 36 international players among a total of 283 candidates. 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. 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. Cavaliers-Celtics, 7:30 p.m. 2 Kentucky vs. 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. Brown could help himself significantly with strong showings against San Francisco and likely Kentucky in the opening weekend if the Racers advance, and will be studied closely by teams in the pre-draft process as he has a real NBA skill he can hang his hat on and might be able to carve out a roster spot, similar to Bryn Forbes or Garrison Mathews. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. Despite . BASKETBALL; FOOTBALL; Player Traits Key A darling of NBA analytics models thanks to the way he has filled up box scores his entire career, strong showings against high-major competition in the NCAA tournament and pre-draft process would go a long way in validating his production at the low-major level and proving his pass-dribble-shoot game translates. Grading Kai Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft Skip to main content Skip to navigation Full Scoreboard > ESPN Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. How will Holmgren's frame fare against more physical tournament opponents, particularly Memphis big man and projected top-10 pick Jalen Duren, as Duren, with his Dwight Howard-like physical profile, is the exact type of player that Holmgren's biggest naysayers worry he'll struggle against in the NBA. Kessler has had some issues dealing with physicality at times this season and has some limitations offensively for what NBA teams expect from a modern big man in terms of a shooting range that suppresses his upside to a degree -- all while, simultaneously, questions persist about the value of drafting centers in the first round.-- Givony, JD Davison goes behind his back for the absolute dime, Kennedy Chandler | Freshman | Tennessee | 6'1" | PG | Age: 19.4, When: No. If nothing materializes there, an NBL return is always on the table, as he still has two more years (with the second a team option) on the original three-year deal he signed with Adelaide. In 24 games, he shot 49.6% from the floor, 35.7% from 3-point range and 68.1% from the free throw line -- numbers that have drawn polarizing opinions from those who have followed Sotto's journey with close interest. "More minutes, along with another year of skill development and physical training, could only help his stock in the eyes of NBA evaluators.". Even so, a possible callup in the second round remains within the realm of possibility. "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.". 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. 1 pick who looked unfazed by the pressure of MSG or the player who looked tentative down the stretch of a few Duke losses during conference play? 4 Illinois vs. No. His progress is ideal for both a foreign kid and a 7-3 unicorn.". 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. Sotto, the 7-foot-3 wunderkind, made it at No. Basketball Home PBA Schedule PBA Standings Gilas Schedule I think it's a valid concern in the NBA if he got a chance. Given Zach Edey's struggles staying on the floor late in games, Williams has a great opportunity to continue showcasing his passing, instincts and answering questions about his motor during what could be a lengthy Boilermakers run if Ivey is at his best.-- Schmitz, Keon Ellis | Senior | Alabama | 6'6" | SG/SF | Age: 22.1, Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you an inside look at the most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on the planet. 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. Kai isnt the most agile big man so hell have to rely more on his great height and basketball instincts. Kai Sotto Shocked ESPN how popular he is and compared to Chet Holmgren | Drafting the whole Country 278,070 views May 1, 2022 1.5K Dislike Share Save Dribble Talks 6.15K subscribers. Go to Ratings, What to watch for: Davison entered the college game known as a YouTube sensation thanks to his explosive dunking ability, but quickly showed there's more to his game, showing impressive feel as a passer and real grit defensively. Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. -- Givony, Johnny Juzang | Junior | UCLA | 6'7" | SF | Age: 20.9, Tevin Brown | Senior | Murray St. | 6'5" | SG | Age: 23.4, When: No. "He has the type of movement that allows him to find himself an open lane for big-time dunks and create open shots for himself.". "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. MANILA, Philippines Sports Illustrated has projected Kai Sotto as the No.49 overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in its mock draft for the 2022 NBA Draft. 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. 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. 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. 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. People will realize . 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. He is the No. "I think mock draft boards are great for the general public's . You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. 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. 1 overall pick in this year's lottery via the Draft. Sotto isn't popping up in any mock . If it happens with LaVine, the Bulls will need to diversify their money. 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. After not appearing in any major mock drafts for the past few months -- including ESPN's big board, which lists the 7-foot-3 center as the 11th-best prospect at center -- the Filipino talent cracked Sports Illustrated's post-combine top 60 released on May 24 and is reportedly in line for a workout with NBA teams. Williams came out of North Carolina with an elevated level of expectations, so much so that the Broncos moved up in the NFL draft to land him in the second round. Over time I think he continues to get stronger, and his muscle growth has been very promising, but he isn't strong enough just yet.". 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. -- Schmitz, David Roddy | Junior | Colorado St. | 6'5" | PF | Age: 20.9, When: No. How Oftana and Lastimosa went from Dumaguete dreamers to Gilas, Already a standout walk-on, La Salle's Ben Phillips looks to make his mark on another court, 'It's a fans' game': Tiongson, Ahanmisi move on from All-Star snubs, The seven biggest 2023 PBA All-Star omissions, and the players who took their spots, A night of nostalgia: Toyota Tamaraws celebrate 50th anniversary, Kai Sotto's second season mirrors 36ers' ups and down. On June 24, Facebook page "NBA World" uploaded a screenshot of a fake tweet from American sports reporter Shams Charania. Davis' rebounding, defensive versatility and all-around grit stand out in addition to the strides he has made offensively. Theodore Chan, Adelaide's scouting director, insists Adelaide benefited from having Sotto on the defensive end, where the center's aggression and willingness to mask his deficiencies served the 36ers (109.9 defensive rating, sixth among 10 teams) well at various points in the season. 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. 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. 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. "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. Hes been focused on basketball all is life and it shows in his skill level, passing and great understanding of the game. As the season has gone along, however, Keels' defensive motor has fluctuated wildly. Sports Illustrated's mock draft recently had Sotto at number 49 going to the Sacramento Kings. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? "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. It has . ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz predict what the 2022 NBA draft could look like if all 58 players came from college basketball's marquee event. "Kai had a more productive NBL season statistically than I think many were expecting him to, but as it remains, there is still room for improvement," Smith said. Visit Instagram In 24 games, he shot 49.6% from the floor, 35.7% from 3-point range and 68.1% from the free throw line -- numbers that have drawn polarizing opinions from those who have followed Sotto's journey with close interest. MANILA, Philippines - Kai Sotto has a huge uphill climb ahead of him after he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, April 28. Washington, there are players in Lewis' mold having success in the NBA. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per . For Kai who played his first pro season in the NBL, with some training with G League Ignite last season, I think he competed pretty well in a physical league," Chan observed. 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. "Given his defensive motor and willingness to run the floor, I think he has the right mindset suited for the NBA," said Chan. "Drop bigs can still find ways to be effective on the defensive end of the floor," he continued. Paolo Banchero | Freshman | Duke | 6'10" | PF/C | Age: 19.3, When: No. Filipino big man Kai Sotto needs to ramp up his on-court work as he still ranks low in several NBA mock drafts. I can recall Sam Froling absolutely dominating him when they played against Australia (in 2019 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup)," Purnell recalled. 4 Providence vs. No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. What to watch for: Keels is a skilled two-way combo guard with a strong foundational skill set and the type of defensive toughness -- when fully engaged -- that NBA teams covet. His 7-foot-4 wingspan, outstanding mobility and quickness getting off his feet make him a force both around the rim as well as covering ground on the perimeter, where he's often asked to guard smaller players in Arizona's jumbo lineups. A deep NCAA tournament run could earn him looks in the late lottery, similar to what we saw from Joshua Primo last year. Jabari Smith | Freshman | Auburn | 6'10" | SF/PF | Age: 18.8, When: No. At the time of this writing we have him no.5 overall in our 2022 Mock Draft. 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. Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cavaliers via Wizards), Andre Jackson | Sophomore | Connecticut | 6'6" | SG/SF | Age: 20.3, When: No. Although still improving as a passer, Murray has added something new to his offensive repertoire seemingly every game and has the next-play mentality that generally shines in the postseason. 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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. 12 Indiana vs. No. "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. He can be a playmaker defensively when engaged, thanks to his huge wingspan and impressive lateral quickness, but he loses his focus frequently and has too many bad moments falling asleep off the ball. 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. 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. 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. -- Givony, Christian Braun | Junior | Kansas | 6'6" | SG/SF | Age: 20.9, When: No. Check out some of the best highlights from Gonzaga sensation Chet Holmgren as he stays near the top of NBA draft boards. While Washington isn't the most dynamic player or overly shifty ball handler, scouts will be studying his ball skills and ability to break down his man, as he has been far more efficient and effective against lesser teams, boasting a 50.5 true shooting percentage (TS%) in 21 games against teams with a winning record versus a 61.5 TS% in nine games against teams under .500. 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, as well as his production and upside on offense. 2019 NBA champion Jeremy Lin believes all is not lost for Kai Sotto after the Philippine prospect missed out on being picked up in the 2022 NBA draft. May 27, 2022 3:23 PM. So far, only Siegel has included the Filipino homegrown talent in his mock drafts with Sotto still missing the Top 60 lists for the June 24 proceedings (June 25, Manila time) in other reputable outlets like ESPN . Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans), Bennedict Mathurin | Sophomore | Arizona | 6'6" | SF | Age: 19.7, When: No. In 2019, he joined The Skill Factory a prep program in Atlanta, Georgia. What to watch for: Branham is a long-armed, 6-foot-5 off guard who can score the ball at all three levels and defend his position, and he holds some untapped upside as a secondary ball handler in the Caris LeVert mold. Basketball Home PBA Schedule PBA Standings Gilas Schedule The link to this photo or video may be broken, or the post may have been removed. 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. ESPN's Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony has him slated at pick #14 in his 2021 NBA mock draft.. Williams isn't quite as feared defensively as you might expect considering his accolades, as you frequently see opposing teams post him up or challenge him in the pick-and-roll, where he's still a major work in progress. And he has averaged as many turnovers as assists, making it difficult for him to emerge as a late-game, go-to option, which has hampered Auburn at times with its inconsistent guard play. 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. KAI Sotto 's name was noticeably absent from the early entry candidates list for the 2022 NBA Draft that the league released on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time). "Kai is a positive influence who brings energy and effort to the team at practices and games everyday. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. 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. "His versatility is unlike most giant bigs, and it will continue to show as his body gets more matured. 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. 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