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. Looking the part of an NBA wing physically with his long arms and solid frame, he brings great energy on the glass, gets in passing lanes frequently, fills lanes effectively in transition and is an efficient scorer who does a lot of little things to impact winning. Sotto was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft because he is a 19-year-old talent one year removed from playing high school basketball. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. 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. Breaking down the top prospects for the 2022 NBA Draft | NBA Today 229,202 views Feb 3, 2022 2K Dislike Share Save ESPN 8.61M subscribers Mike Schmitz joins NBA Today to discuss the. With the 2021 NBA Draft in the books, Jason McIntyre looks ahead to the top 30 players available in 2022. . In Adelaide, Sotto mostly subsisted on cuts and as a roll man in the pick and roll -- two of four play types where he derived most of his offense. Whoever signs him will get a well-worth piece in their winning puzzle.". (2:02). 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. 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. In general, catch-and-shoot shots (8.5 percent) and pick and pops (4.5 percent) comprised a small percentage of his shots, and Adelaide was below average in possessions that involved Sotto in those plays, per InStat. 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. "Kai is a positive influence who brings energy and effort to the team at practices and games everyday. June 3, 2022 11:14 AM CDT Joseph Austin: The Bulls have already given their money to DeRozen, Ball, and Caruso. "[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.". Banchero is the type of offensive talent who can take over a game, and doing so when it matters most would be a great way to remind NBA executives why he was once considered the early favorite for the No. Offense has been a major struggle at times for Davison, who isn't a polished ball-handler or a consistent shooter. 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. While Roddy is competitive with excellent instincts, his lateral quickness and ultimate position defensively at the NBA level is something scouts will want to gather more information about in the NCAA tournament. 2 Duke vs. No. 5 amid Smith talks, O's, Pirates play ump-less bottom of ninth inning, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West. 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. Stay on current site or go to US version. 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. Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream". The league loves him, the fans love him, and he will undoubtedly grow into one of the league's best big men if he continues to play in Australia," said Houben. "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. "There's no reason Sotto would not have the potential to be a productive contributor on the offensive end of the floor," Houben said. 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. On June 24, Facebook page "NBA World" uploaded a screenshot of a fake tweet from American sports reporter Shams Charania. ", "His mobility and awareness are above average at his height," Chan added. 13 Chattanooga | Friday | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Jahvon Quinerly | Junior | Alabama | 6'1" | PG | Age: 23.2, Caleb Love | Sophomore | North Carolina | 6'4" | SG | Age: 20.4, 57. 12 Indiana vs. No. He's coachable and receptive to feedback from coaches and teammates," Chan said. Mathurin's decision-making in high-leverage moments also will be closely scrutinized. There are only four sub-6-foot-1 guards who play at least 15 minutes per game in the NBA this season, meaning Chandler will have to be viewed as a special talent to warrant a high draft pick. "Seeing him at practices and games reinforce the projection he's achieving. The U19 FIBA World Cup MVP is more than able to space the . (2:08). But there is belief Sotto can build around those figures in order to raise his ceiling and find a place on offense in the modern NBA. Ellis has been streaky with his shooting against better competition this season, and scouts will want to get a better feel for his ball-handling and decision-making, which has looked questionable at times.-- Givony, Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Junior | UCLA | 6'6" | SG | Age: 21.0, When: No. Understandably, NBL21 has been a year dominated by talks of Adelaide 36ers star Josh Giddey as an NBA draft prospect. 2024 NBA mock draft: Why Bronny James is projected as a top-10 pick . 15 Jacksonville State | Friday | 12:40 p.m. | truTV. 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. He's easy to get along with, loves joking, and doesn't back away from challenges. 6 Alabama vs. No. However, he still remained ineligible to play NCAA basketball, so he moved on to the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Kai Sotto's defense and experience may put him behind other international prospects. "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.". "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. 1.7K. He has a great opportunity to solidify his standing versus a Big Ten team in Michigan and then a potential showdown with Tennessee, one of the best defensive teams in college basketball in the Round of 32. With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? "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. 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. -- Schmitz, David Roddy | Junior | Colorado St. | 6'5" | PF | Age: 20.9, When: No. Sotto can still land a contract and play in the Summer League in July. Smith, meanwhile, says the NBL is a great avenue for Kai to continue growing as a professional at this stage in his young career. His passing and floor vision has garnered some attention over the years, but the potential has yet to fully materialize, as Sotto tallied more turnovers (32) than assists (14) in his first year with Adelaide. Somewhat of a jack of all trades, master of none, Braun's ability to emerge as a consistent scoring presence, and not run away from open jump-shots, will be scrutinized by scouts as the stakes rise in big moments. 1 overall seed Gonzaga to its first NCAA men's basketball title. He can push the ball himself in transition or run the floor like a center. He has two siblings. 9 Memphis | Thursday | 1:45 p.m. | TNT. Stay on current site or go to US version. NBA scouts will have a close eye on whether Murray can take over games like he showed in the Big Ten tournament. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. -- Givony, Justin Lewis | Sophomore | Marquette | 6'7" | SF/PF | Age: 19.9, When: No. After attempting just 2.3 free throws per 40 minutes in 34 games, Griffin -- who has looked like a potential top-five pick at times and at others a one-dimensional gunner -- must demonstrate he is more than just a standstill shooter and a willing, engaged defender. "Having this opportunity to develop in the NBL is a great situation for Kai and I'd imagine he spends the next year or two in Australia as he continues to find his footing in the world of professional basketball," Smith explained. Check out some of the best highlights from Gonzaga sensation Chet Holmgren as he stays near the top of NBA draft boards. 5 Iowa vs. No. Listen, What to watch for: A junior college transfer who played a minor role last season, Ellis has emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. 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. 13 Vermont | Thursday | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Dalen Terry | Sophomore | Arizona | 6'7" | PG/SG | Age: 19.6, 41. 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. ", "His mobility and awareness are above average at his height," Chan added. Playing with little help around him offensively, Harper has been forced to carry a heavy load for Rutgers this season, which has led to some inconsistent and especially inefficient performances. I can recall Sam Froling absolutely dominating him when they played against Australia (in 2019 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup)," Purnell recalled. "Drop bigs can still find ways to be effective on the defensive end of the floor," he continued. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? 13 South Dakota State | Thursday | 12:40 p.m. | truTV. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. The 20-year-old, 7'3 center played in 23 games for the 36ers this past season. Per tracking data from InStat, the 36ers scored 1.33 points per possession (PPP) with Sotto as a cutter and 1.17 PPP when he was involved as a roller, both marks above the league average (1.09 and 1.02 PPP, respectively). Governors' Cup Power Rankings: Is NorthPort's rise real? Still, there's a near consensus that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a no-brainer pick for a spot on an NBA roster. If it happens with LaVine, the Bulls will need to diversify their money. Stock watch: Which players are on the move during Champ Week? The defensive end is where scouts will want to see Mathurin show better focus, especially off the ball, where he can at times be Arizona's weakest link. In general, catch-and-shoot shots (8.5 percent) and pick and pops (4.5 percent) comprised a small percentage of his shots, and Adelaide was below average in possessions that involved Sotto in those plays, per InStat. 1 Kansas vs. No. "The first thing that stands out with Kai is that the size is very real. Basketball Home PBA Schedule PBA Standings Gilas Schedule 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. 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. In January of 2020, he was named MVP of the King Invitational tournament, where in three games, he averaged 27 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.3 blocks and 3.0 assists. 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. Auburn's Walker Kessler does it all with a steal and a beautiful slam dunk to start off the game against South Carolina. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. 12 Wyoming | Tuesday | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, Julian Strawther | Sophomore | Gonzaga | 6'7" | SF | Age: 19.9, Moussa Diabate | Freshman | Michigan | 6'10" | PF/C | Age: 20.1, Ron Harper Jr. | Senior | Rutgers | 6'6" | SF/PF | Age: 21.9. Washington plays a relatively simple game, thriving off transition hit-aheads, spot 3s, closeout attacks, midrange pull-ups, floaters and occasional ball screens, for which he makes the right play more often than not. Brown's productivity has really fluctuated against better competition, which makes sense considering his limitations in the skill department. His shooting stroke was apparent at times, but Sotto did not take enough 3s and attempted just 14 shots from beyond the arc through 24 games, including just four from the corners. When Keels is making shots and defending with energy, he looks like a potential lottery pick who could help an NBA team tomorrow, as he's capable of spot shooting, making the right reads in the pick-and-roll and pressuring the ball. 5 UConn vs. No. Kai Sotto - NBA Draft Room Kai Sotto NBA DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT Draft Notes Sotto is an intriguing prospect who comes from good basketball bloodlines (father Ervin Sotto) and who has shown marked improvement in his frame over the past couple of seasons. Sotto averaged 11.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting along with 4.2 boards and 1.2 swats while breaching double-digit scoring in three of those contests. 11 Notre Dame vs. No. -- Schmitz, Johnny Davis | Sophomore | Wisconsin | 6'5" | PG/SG | Age: 20.0, When: No. He had a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a 30-inch maximum vertical leap. Kai Sotto. 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