re: 2024 Basketball team

quote:

---

Lakers is arkansas east

---

*west

I predict Nick falls to second round.

He has a first round grade for many analyst/mocks but his management handling makes you wonder with no measurements or participation in the combine.

I watched a full first round mock draft 1-30 (didn't do any trades) by 4 guys tonight and NSJ was the best available player remaining when they finished the 1st round.

From another draft lottery vid I watched they mentioned NSJ in a group with players who could go anywhere from 12-25.

I've seen him mocked at 14 to the Pelicans. Lakers at 17, Miami at 18 could pick him or trade out and dump Duncan Robinson's salary along with the #18 pick to someone like the Spurs who could absorb the guaranteed money and maybe SA would take NSJ at 18.

Another vid talks to the draft prospects mentioned in passing when NSJ came up in conversation that a few players had asked them about NSJ and they didn't understand the hype.

Meanwhile Hollinger had AB at #5 on his twitter prior to the Pistons getting the pick in the lottery. Others had AB going 6 to Orlando. I sure seems like AB and whatever Thompson twin remains won't fall below 8-9 (Washington and Utah).

The trades should be worth watching to see what happens with Portland and Dame, do Mavs sit and hope to get a cheap contract player to play with Luka or trade the 10th pick for a vet 3&D player or two, do the teams in the late teens early 20s look to dump salary like Miami, and all the teams with multiple assets this year and in the future years (OKC, Utah, Orlando, Nets).

I just can't see a combo guard, who can run point, with his upside, falling out of the first round.

He just turned 19 last month.

Even looking at his disappointing numbers at the rim, he still showed flashes of his ability to score in 3 different ways.

Let's not forget our court spacing this year was not great. We had zero shooters out there.

quote:

---

Devo Davis coming back. Announcement on that should be coming soon.

Ron Holland should be coming in once he gets released from his LOI.

Arkansas news

---

Fwiw

LINK

Dunno, hence the fwiw

quote:

---

Devo must have been reading too much 247 (aka Hogville 2.0 now) where people on there actually said he would be a 2nd round pick.

---

Eh, there are people that battle over devo everyday. There really isn't a group think over him on 247 regarding him.

The issue is many of these people here, 247, wherever that watch college basketball don't understand the NBA draft at all.

It's projection based and that is why Devo won't be drafted. If he ever plays in the NBA it will be from a Europe league career or UDFA 2 way contract.

Also the same reason Hunter Dickinson had his bidding war past few weeks because the amount of money he will get from Kansas he knows he will never get playing professionally. His game isn't valued that way.

LINK

quote:

---

Yahoo

9. Utah Jazz: G Anthony Black
Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 196 pounds | Class: Freshman | Arkansas

The Jazz could add Black in the backcourt and bring some size and playmaking as they continue rebuilding in the post-Donovan Mitchell era. Black is a reliable guard who plays the right way and was one of the best passers in college basketball. He is spending the pre-draft process working out alongside other projected first-rounders Whitmore, Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson. Black’s outside shooting remains an area of development, but he’s a hard worker and it’s little for concern with his upside and what he projects as an NBA guard.

13. Toronto Raptors: G Nick Smith Jr.
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185 pounds | Class: Freshman | Arkansas

Despite a rocky year that was plagued with a knee injury, Smith Jr. returned to the court and NBA scouts saw flashes that were positive and encouraging in his shot-making capability and touch around the rim. There are numerous skilled guards projected at the top and it will all depend on small preferences that differentiate the handful of primary ball-handlers in the lottery.

43. Memphis Grizzlies: G Ricky Council IV
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 205 pounds | Class: Junior | Arkansas

---

LINK

quote:

---

USA Today/FTW

10. Dallas Mavericks: Anthony Black
Arkansas Razorbacks, Freshman. 6-foot-7 guard

FROM: Duncanville, TX

DRAFT AGE: 19.4

Anthony Black is a swiss-army-knife prospect and prospects with his blend of size, playmaking, and defensive ability tend to hear their name called early in the draft. Black was also able to draw more total shooting fouls (80) than all high-major guards except just Judah Mintz, per CBB Analytics.

The biggest hole in his game is his shooting, the encouraging news is that his jump shot isn’t necessarily broken.

Although the SEC All-Freshman point-forward shot only 30.1 percent on 3-pointers, he got his shot to fall when he was open. Black was 18-for-48 (37.5 percent) on his uncontested shots from beyond the arc, per AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform, and 16-for-34 (47.1 percent) on shots from the NBA distance.

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Smith Jr.
Arkansas Razorbacks, Freshman, 6-foot-4 guard

FROM: Jacksonville, ARK

DRAFT AGE: 19.2

Although he struggled to stay healthy and wasn’t particularly efficient during his one-and-done season at Arkansas, the upside for Smith is still very high.

With a clean slate free from injuries, it’s worth betting on his development that Smith could make a return to the player he was as a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 1 overall recruit coming out of high school.

51. Brooklyn Nets: Ricky Council IV

---

USA Today

LINK

quote:

---

7. INDIANA PACERS: Anthony Black, Arkansas
Guard, 19, 6-7, 198 pounds, freshman

2022-23 stats: 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals

Black is a floor general who sets his teammates up for success with sharp passes. He can also attack the basket himself or pull up from beyond the arc. He is another big guard in the draft.

12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas
Guard, 18, 6-5, 185 pounds, freshman

2022-23 stats: 12.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists

One of the top players coming out of high school in 2022, Smith was limited to just 17 games because of knee problems. However, scouts are enamored with his shooting. Consistency and playmaking are areas that require attention.

---

LINK

quote:

---

10. Dallas Mavericks - Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
Anthony Black is a huge guard who should make a significant impact on the defensive end as he figures out his role offensively. At 6’7, 200 pounds, Black is a determined on-ball defender with sharp rotational instincts who could be able to switch across four positions at the NBA level. Black has a strong lower body and quick hands that helps him hold up against bigger matchups, and he’s still quick enough to hang with speedy guards most of the time. The question for Black is how much scoring punch he can provide. He’s a shaky outside shooter (30 percent from three on 98 attempts), and doesn’t generate much rim pressure as a driver. He’s more of a connective passer than a true lead guard, but if the shot comes around this is exactly the type of player teams want in the rotation during the playoffs.

16. Utah Jazz - Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
Smith was supposed to be the best NBA prospect in college basketball this year. Instead, he battled a knee injury and gave pro scouts more questions than answers about his game during his one year at Arkansas. At his best, Smith is an incredible half-court scorer who can beat defenses with floaters, pull-up jumpers, and spot-up threes. He didn’t get to and finish at the rim as often as NBA teams wanted, and his thin frame is going to face major questions defensively. Smith’s best role in the league might be as a microwave bench scorer, but you don’t have to squint too hard to still talk yourself into star upside here.

30. Los Angeles Clippers - Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas
Walsh is a defensive stopper on the wing who will need to improve his jump shot to stay in the league. At 6’7 with a 7’2 wingspan, the Arkansas forward is a determined defender who can switch ball screens and guard a variety of assignments. He can handle and pass the ball in transition a bit, but needs to figure out ways to score in the halfcourt. Still, there aren’t many wings this big and this skilled defensively if a team thinks it can improve his scoring against a set defense.

---