In July, I wrote about 4 early contenders to go No. 1 within the 2024 NBA Draft and two darkhorses who might emerge — highlighted by the always-relevant caveat that the record might change somewhat or so much over the following yr. Now, as we sit right here in late-September, it seems the reply was that so much will change and in a brief span of time.
Matas Buzelis was No. 1 in our way-too-early rankings for 2024 headlining a loaded G League Ignite crop of expertise. That now not holds after an up and down few months wherein he little doubt showcased his potential but additionally confirmed he has room to develop if he is to go No. 1 subsequent summer season.
Buzelis bumps all the way down to No. 6 in our up to date prospect rankings for 2024 aided partially by his personal play however largely as a result of rise of different contenders close to the highest of the category.
Kentucky’s Edwards is No. 1 in Massive Board debut
Our new No. 1, once more with the caveat that this might completely change within the coming months, is Kentucky freshman ahead Justin Edwards.
Edwards showcased scoring, playmaking and creation for Kentucky in a brief stint with the Wildcats in Canada, serving to UK convey house {hardware} regardless of being restricted with accidents to their frontcourt. The previous five-star has the bodily stature and maturity to be an influence participant on and off the ball with a uncommon mix of size, athleticism and ball abilities that makes his projection to the NBA degree a pure one.
Holland not far behind at No. 2
On Edwards’ tail is one other fast-rising former five-star who additionally had a very good summer season in G League Ignite first-year participant Ron Holland. Holland, a former Texas signee, regarded each bit the half throughout the group’s current exhibition video games in Vegas vs. the NBL’s Perth Wildcats, as he went off for 56 factors in two video games and capped his week off with a 33-point explosion to go together with 5 steals and 6 boards.
Edwards for now’s No. 1 in our rankings, however this can be a 1A, 1B scenario proper now with he and Holland each primed because the clear early favorites.
G League places 4 in prime 10
Holland’s fellow G League Ignite teammates might have some say in how that race shakes out, although. Buzelis fell to No. 6 in our rankings however stays intriguing as a big-bodied wing who can put the ball on the ground.
There’s additionally the meteoric-rising huge man in Alexandre Sarr, who was arguably the greatest star of the sequence in opposition to Perth for either side. Sarr spent the previous couple of seasons with Extra time Elite as an attention-grabbing potential first-round decide, and already he seems to be primed to make the leap from particular first-round decide to attainable top-10 decide and darkhorse No. 1 contender. He is been that spectacular.
So how else did the remainder of the early rankings shake out in our first official prospect rankings of the 2024 cycle? The primary 2024 NBA Draft Massive Board Prime 10 is beneath.
2024 NBA Draft Massive Board
| RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YEAR | POS | HT | WT |
| 1 | Justin Edwards | Kentucky | Fr | SF | 6-8 | 190 |
| 2 | Ron Holland | G League Ignite | N/A | SF | 6-6 | 204 |
| 3 | Isaiah Collier | USC | Fr. | PG | 6-5 | 210 |
| 4 | Stephon Fortress | UConn | Fr. | PG | 6-6 | 215 |
| 5 | Donovan Clingan | UConn | Soph. | C | 7-2 | 280 |
| 6 | Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | N/A | SF | 6-8 | 209 |
| 7 | Alexandre Sarr | G League Ignite | N/A | C | 7-1 | 205 |
| 8 | Tyrese Proctor | Duke | Soph. | PG | 6-5 | 183 |
| 9 | Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | N/A | PF | 6-10 | 216 |
| 10 | Kyle Filipowski | Duke | Soph. | PF | 7-0 | 248 |
