Patrick Baldwin Jr. Will Fall Out Of First Round
Patrick Baldwin Jr. would have been a top-10 selection had the past year not happened. Now, he’ll be lucky to be drafted in the first round, despite his blue-chip pedigree and initial scouting reports.
ESPN had Baldwin Jr. ranked 5th in their top 100 for the Class of 2021. After a season mired in disappointment and injuries while playing for his father at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Baldwin’s draft stock significantly tanked. His scoring prowess now seems more theoretical than actual reality and his underwhelming athleticism could drag him into the second round.
Baldwin Jr. reportedly only posted a 26.5″ max vertical. That’s a historically low number and bodes poorly for his ability to be able to survive on defense against NBA talent.
With all of the questions surrounding Patrick Baldwin Jr. — regarding his injury history, his scoring efficiency, and now his athleticism — in tandem with the sudden rise of originally second-round-grade prospects such as Jalen Williams, Jake LaRavia, and Dalen Terry, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Baldwin Jr. fall out of the first round completely.
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There’s still a chance he pans out in the NBA, but most likely, it’ll be on a team that decides to roll the dice on him in the second round of the draft.
