In an NBA Draft class led by phenom Victor Wembanyama, there was — for fairly a while, if we’re being trustworthy — little or no debate about who would go No. 1 within the 2023 NBA Draft. However that does not look like the case as we peek forward to the 2024 NBA Draft class.
As you may anticipate, there are constantly a couple of names that stand out as early contenders to be the No. 1 decide in subsequent yr’s draft — amongst them Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland. Nonetheless, even in a category that has had loads of eyes on it over time, there’s removed from a consensus about who the highest names — at the very least by way of order by which they’re going to be drafted and who may very well be the highest choice — might be precisely when the draft rolls round this time subsequent yr.
That makes the never-too-early race for No. 1 all of the extra interesting. Realistically there are a half-dozen prospects, give or take, who may play their manner into pole place to turn into the No. 1 prospect in subsequent yr’s draft class. So with the 2023 draft behind us and an extended runway between now and subsequent yr’s draft, beneath we have handicapped the early race with a have a look at a couple of names in rivalry and a few darkish horses who may be part of them.
The contenders
Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite
Buzelis is not the consensus No. 1 — once more, this class is fairly huge open — however he is No. 1 for me proper now. He is a contact on the older facet and can flip 20 as a rookie, however his 6-foot-10 body and massive wing profile suits the archetype of a promising prospect who may very well be a power enjoying the league’s most essential place.
Ron Holland, G League Ignite
Holland, just like the aforementioned Buzelis, will spend subsequent season with G League Ignite sharpening his abilities and difficult for the No. 1 decide. The previous five-star recruit completed as the highest participant within the 247Sports Class of 2023 recruiting rankings and brings a combo of energy and athleticism together with his 6-8 body in addition.
Justin Edwards, Kentucky
What Edwards has flashed already throughout his brief stint with Kentucky enjoying in Canada exhibits that he may very well be the actual deal. He completed because the No. 3 participant within the 2023 class and the No. 1 prospect at his place, so it is not a stretch to contemplate him a menace to be No. 1, however if you happen to’re making the bull case with him it is that he has already proven a ton of potential as a downhill creator and scorer with room to develop into a possible star.
DJ Wagner, Kentucky
The son of former lottery decide Dajuan Wagner — who can also be set to play for John Calipari like his pops — profiles as a possible top-five decide in subsequent yr’s class. He is a combo guard who would not fairly have elite positional dimension, so of the 4 prospects talked about on this bunch, I believe he is least prone to be the highest decide. However his scoring and defensive toughness brings successful to the desk, and gamers who can facilitate and rating the best way he can convey actual worth to the desk.
Darkish horses to observe
Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg
One of the intriguing worldwide gamers in subsequent yr’s pool, curiosity in Risacher has tapered off a tad in latest months and sure put him (for now) extra within the mid-to-late lottery vary for me. It is exhausting to think about he falls too far, although, given his youth, 6-9 body and flashes of potential enjoying within the Professional A and in Euroleague.
Isaiah Collier, USC
The alternatives for Collier to showcase himself as a possible No. 1 decide within the coming yr is not going to be a problem. The USC-bound combo guard might be a centerpiece of a Trojans crew that may draw a ton of consideration with LeBron James‘ son Bronny James, who’s spending the upcoming season at USC. Collier was as soon as ranked because the No. 1 participant in his class and profiles as a real lead guard with a number of the finest passing imaginative and prescient and playmaking amongst draft-eligible gamers within the 2024 draft class.