The 2023-24 NBA regular season isn’t even a quarter of the way complete, but there are already analysts looking ahead to the 2024 NBA Draft. Given the starts that some teams have gotten off to this season, there are likely a few teams with an eye toward the draft already as well.
The 2024 draft class doesn’t pack anywhere near the same punch as the 2023 class did. Phenom Victor Wembanyama headlined that class and went first overall to the San Antonio Spurs. Scoot Henderson, from the G League Elite, was a highly regarded prospect as well and went third overall to the Portland Trail Blazers. Alabama’s Brandon Miller was selected second by the Charlotte Hornets.
Henderson and Miller would have likely both been the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft as there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the class right now. Several prospects will be looking to move into the conversation for the first overall pick.
A lot will change between now and June, but as things currently stand, USC point guard Isaiah Collier is the No. 1 player in the 2024 NBA Draft. That is where he was selected in a recent mock done by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo over at ESPN.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Isaiah Collier, Alex Sarr, Zaccaharie Risacher, Ja’Kobe Walter, 2024 NBA Draft Updates
“Collier is no stranger to the top prospect conversation, having earned the No. 1 Men’s Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI) ranking in the 2023 high school class and entering the season at No. 2 in our mock. Through his first six games with USC, Collier has been a bit of a mixed bag — some pronounced highs and lows — but his overall production has been up to snuff.
The good: He’s averaging an efficient 18.2 points per game, shooting 56% on 2s, 41% from 3 and 76% from the line.
The bad: He’s turning the ball over 5.3 times per game — to just four assists — an alarming turnover clip for any prospect, much less a player who figures into the discussion at No. 1. While it’s a tiny sample size, it’s safe to say there’s much for Collier to improve on to shore up his place atop draft boards,” written about the decision to have Collier atop the most recent mock over at ESPN.
Collier possesses elite size for a lead guard, listed at 6’5” and weighing 210 pounds by USC. His combination of strength and speed make him a handful in the open court with the ability to quickly get downhill and finish at the rim.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Isaiah Collier, Alex Sarr, Zaccaharie Risacher, Ja’Kobe Walter, 2024 NBA Draft Updates
Already comfortable as a ball handler, Collier should find success in the pick-and-roll, which is a staple of NBA offenses. But, as mentioned in the write-up, he has a long way to go as a decision maker given his astronomically high turnover numbers. A streaky jump shot plays a part in that, but those are all things that can be improved upon at the next level.
There are numerous players still in the mix, including two international players; Alex Sarr of the Perth Wildcats out of the Australian professional basketball league and Zaccharie Risacher, who hails from France like Wembanyama.
Joining Collier in the college ranks is Ja’Kobe Walter out of Baylor, who could also make a strong case to go No. 1. With the NCAA season quickly approaching conference play and international play in full swing, expect to see plenty of jockeying near the top of the 2024 NBA Draft class, as it is the least set in stone group in the last few years.
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