Welcome to an NBA Draft centered article series where I’ll share my thoughts on the 2022 class as the year goes on. Each month I’ll give reports on around 10-15 prospects which will detail what I’ve noticed from watching their film. The reports will have strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and outlooks on them as prospects.
This edition will mainly start out with the bigger name prospects since I decided to scout them first. As the months go along I’ll go further down my personal watchlist and some editions will have a big focus on the Team Ignite, Overtime Elite, and international prospects. Also, each edition will provide updates on certain players I’ve already covered depending on how they develop.
The players are in no particular order since I haven’t watched enough players to form a big board ranking. Finally, these thoughts are subject to change as the year goes on because all of these players are capable of getting better or worse at certain skills.
Updates from the last edition:
JD Davison: There was a stretch where Davison really seemed to find his footing on a busy Alabama roster. Unfortunately, as Alabama has been struggling so has the play of Davison. His outside shooting has cooled off as he’s struggled to be the constant C&S threat he once was. He still has every athletic tool you want in a guard prospect but the lack of consistent flashes particularly on offense has led many to drop him a bit on boards.
Kendall Brown: While Brown remains one of the most impressive defenders in the class, his offensive game has become concerning in some areas. Brown has looked flustered when asked to create his own shot. A heavy number of his shots come off cuts and off-ball action which is fine but the lack of self-creation makes you question his true lottery/top 10 status.
Johnny Davis: Davis continues to build his case as a top-five prospect as he’s developed into a true two-way superstar. The fact that he’s asked to carry such a high-scoring load on offense but remains a constant pest on defense is impressive. In addition to the scoring and defensive prowess, Davis has also shown some passing flashes and strong play off the ball on offense.
Wendell Moore Jr.: I’m a bit lower on the projection of his three-point shooting now than I was in December. He still has a terrific well-rounded skillset but the shooting from deep needs to be there for me to buy into his stock as a mid-first-round guy.
Tyty Washington Jr.: When I did my initial report on Washington I was in the middle of his potential. But now more than ever Washington is proving his case to be top PG of the class. He may be the most nuanced P&R ball handler at the college level. Something else that’s impressed me is his deceleration when slashing. He reminds me a bit of another former Kentucky guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Tari Eason: Eason has had a few more standout performances in the last few weeks. His defensive skills are obvious but he’s looked more comfortable as an offensive threat as of late. I like Eason’s improved ability to drive to the basket and finish through contact. His combination of ball handling, size, and finishing tools make him an intriguing prospect.
Jabari Walker: By my view, Walker seems like the most polarizing prospect in the class. Some see him as a lottery pick while others see him in the late 2nd round. I think he’s a first-round guy but I can’t buy into the lottery level buzz. To me, there are still legitimate question marks about his outside shooting, ball handling, and defensive consistency.
