The 2019 NBA Draft is right around the corner!
The draft hype gets started on Wednesday, May 15, with the drawing of the NBA Draft Lottery. A little over one month later, on Friday, June 21, the NBA Draft takes place.
There are a number of NBA prospects set to make an impact in their first season in the NBA. We'll start you out with our official Big Board, listing the top 30 prospects in this year's NBA Draft.
Once the lottery occurs and the draft order is official, we'll convert our Big Board into an official 2019 NBA Mock Draft.
Take a look at some of the best young players available in this year's draft pool.
10. Rui Hachimura
School: Gonzaga
Position: Forward
Height: 6'9
Weight: 234 lbs.
Hachimura was outstanding in his final season at Gonzaga.
He was an All-American, earned the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and was All-West Coast Conference First Team. The 21-year-old prospect averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this past year, leading Gonzaga to the Elite Eight.
He fits the prototype of what an NBA power forward plays like in today's league as a strong, physical and athletic big who also has nice touch and possesses the ability to step outside and knock down 3-pointers (41.7% from 3-point range).
9. Jaxson Hayes
School: Texas
Position: Centre
Height: 6'11
Weight: 220 lbs.
Hayes was a stud in his one and only season at Texas.
The freshman centre made a name for himself in the Big 12 – he made the All-Big 12 Second Team, All-Big 12 Rookie Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team and was the Big 12 Rookie of the Year. His 2.2 blocks per game ranked third most in the conference and his 71 total blocks ranked fourth.
He led the conference in field goal percentage (72.8%), mostly in part to his ability to dunk everything and finish alley-oops. He's a tremendous athlete who has a 7'3 wingspan and surprising speed for his size.
Hayes was one of the best shot blockers in college basketball and his athleticism makes him a good fit for the switch-heavy trend in the NBA.
8. Cam Reddish
School: Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6'9
Weight: 205 lbs.
Reddish spent the majority of his freshman year in the shadows of Duke's other two top prospects.
He already has the body of an NBA player and though he's listed at 6'9, he'll likely play more small forward than power forward in the league.
Reddish is a shooter even though his numbers from his one season might not show it. He can shoot from both midrange and the perimeter but didn't hit consistently this past season.
Reddish's potential, size and athleticism make him a higher ranked prospect than his production on the floor at Duke.
7. Jarrett Culver
School: Texas Tech
Position: Guard
Height: 6'7
Weight: 190 lbs.
Culver was a stand-out star in the NCAA this season.
He averaged 18.5 points per game to go with 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals, leading Texas Tech to their first National Championship appearance in school history. Culver racked up an All-American honour, Big 12 Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, All-NCAA Tournament team and was a John Wooden Award Finalist.
Culver fits the bill perfectly for an NBA shooting guard. He can create his own shot, attack off the dribble, work in the pick-and-roll, defend 1-through-3 and rebound.
6. Darius Garland
School: Vanderbilt
Position: Guard
Height: 6'3
Weight: 173 lbs.
Garland might be an unfamiliar name, as he only played five games at Vanderbilt this past season.
A torn meniscus cut his season short. He underwent surgery back in November and a few months later in January, he opted to leave Vanderbilt to begin preparing for the NBA.
Garland was the No. 1 point guard and No. 16 prospect in the class of 2018, according to ESPN's top 100. He is quick and shifty with the ball and has elite handle. He can shoot from range, off the dribble and off of the pick-and-roll and works around his skinny frame with a variety of finishes at the rim.
5. Coby White
School: North Carolina
Position: Guard
Height: 6'5
Weight: 191 lbs.
White went into his freshman season in the shadow of his teammate Nassir Little but emerged as the better NBA prospect by the end of the season.
White earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team – a remarkable achievement for a conference that was loaded with talent this season. He was also an ACC All-Rookie First Team section.
White has an incredibly high motor and is always on the go. His speed makes him a terror in transition and he is not afraid to attack the basket. He's a solid spot-up shooter but lacks consistency as a shooter off the dribble.
At 19-years-old, White still has plenty of room to grow as a defender, playmaker and shooter, though none of the aforementioned are glaring weaknesses in his game, making him an enticing prospect.
4. DeAndre Hunter
School: Virginia
Position: Forward
Height: 6'8
Weight: 222 lbs.
Hunter has an NBA-ready frame and a 7'2 wingspan. He's arguably the best defender in this entire draft class and can legitimately guard positions 1-through-4.
Between his elite, versatile defensive ability and his efficient scoring, he's drawn comparisons to Kawhi Leonard.
Hunter was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned both All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Defence First Team honours. He was the two-way star on Virginia's National Championship team, earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team after burying not one but two huge shots down the stretch of the National Championship game.
He scored 15.2 points per game on 52.0% shooting from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc this past season.
3. RJ Barrett
School: Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6'7
Weight: 208 lbs.
Barrett lived up to the hype his freshman season at Duke.
He was a Consensus All-American, All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Freshman and a Wooden Award Finalist. He led the loaded conference in scoring with 22.6 points per game and finished top-five in assists per game with 4.3.
He already has the body of an NBA player. He can handle the rock and has no issue playing a point-forward type role. He's a solid facilitator, uses his size to finish at the rim and welcomes contact.
His motor and determination is what separates him as a player and if he can develop a consistent jump shot, he will be a problem at the next level.
2. Ja Morant
School: Murray State
Position: Guard
Height: 6'3
Weight: 170 lbs.
Morant's explosive athleticism and highlight reel-ability helped him burst onto the scene this past season.
He's quick, shifty and can get going downhill fast. He's no stranger to putting opposing defenders on a poster, attacking the rim with authority once he gets past the first layer of the defence. He has excellent handle and can find ways to get to the hoop with or without ball screens.
Morant isn't just a scorer – he averaged 24.5 points per game this past season – but he's an elite playmaker as well, averaging 10.0 assists per game. He led the NCAA in assists and uses his high basketball IQ to deliver a variety of passes to his teammates.
When the spotlight was at its brightest, Morant played his best basketball.
He hit a game-winner to send his team to their Conference Championship and once they reached the NCAA tournament, he notched a triple-double of 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds to advance Murray State to the second round.
Morant will be fun to watch in the NBA.
1. Zion Williamson
School: Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6'6
Weight: 285 lbs.
Williamson is the biggest NBA prospect since LeBron James.
This once-in-a-generation talent is a physical specimen. He's explosive, energetic, assertive and powerful. He's a walking highlight and has the glow of a superstar.
Williamson is dangerous when he attacks the rim and he's a freight train in transition. He can handle the ball, uses his strength well to score out of the post and passes the ball well for someone his size and age.
He possesses the skill set to be an elite defender and rebounder and his intensity and passion for the game is unmatched.
Williamson's jump shot could use some work – he shot 33.8% from long range and 64.0% from the free throw line in his one season at Duke. If he can find a consistent shooting stroke, look out.
Remaining top prospects
11. Nassir Little – 6'6, 215 lbs. – Forward, North Carolina
12. Nickeil Alexander-Walker – 6'6, 200 lbs. – Guard, Virginia Tech
13. Keldon Johnson – 6'6, 210 lbs. – Forward, Kentucky
14. Sekou Doumbouya – 6'9, 210 lbs. – Forward, International (Guinea)
15. Romeo Langford – 6'6, 202 lbs. – Forward, Indiana
16. Bol Bol – 7'2, 222 lbs. – Centre, Oregon
17. Brandon Clarke – 6'8, 210 lbs. – Forward, Gonzaga
18. PJ Washington – 6'8, 223 lbs. – Forward, Kentucky
19. KZ Okpala – 6'9, 210 lbs. – Forward, Stanford
20. Bruno Fernando – 6'10, 233 lbs. – Forward, Maryland
21. Tyler Herro – 6'5, 193 lbs. – Guard, Kentucky
22. Grant Williams – 6'7, 241 lbs. – Forward, Tennessee
23. Carson Edwards – 6'0, 196 lbs. – Guard, Purdue
24. Kevin Porter Jr. – 6'6, 217 lbs. – Guard, USC
25. Mfiondu Kabengele – 6'9, 235 lbs. – Centre, Florida St.
26. Cameron Johnson – 6'9, 210 lbs. – Forward, North Carolina
27. Ty Jerome – 6'5, 200 lbs. – Guard, Virginia
28. Lugentz Dort – 6'5, 224 lbs. – Guard, Arizona St.
29. Jordan Nwora – 6'8, 205 lbs. – Forward, Louisville
30. Goga Bitadze – 6'11, 251 lbs. – Centre, International (Georgia)
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