"I feel like the next year or so is going to give us a better idea of the extent of his perceivable upside. 1 scorer in the country making shots running off screens, per Synergy, giving Murray State a dangerous element to their half-court offense, while also being capable of relocating off closeouts and pulling up off the dribble with deep range. Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. NBA rumors: 2022 top draft prospect Kai Sotto signs with NBL club 2 years ago - via Twitter ShamsCharania Shams Charania: Kai Sotto a 7-foot-2 prospect from the Philippines is signing. -- Givony, Kris Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'8" | PF | Age: 21.5, Mike Miles | Sophomore | TCU | 6'1" | PG | Age: 19.5, When: No. Ochai Agbaji | Senior | Kansas | 6'6" | SF | Age: 21.8, When: No. "He has the type of movement that allows him to find himself an open lane for big-time dunks and create open shots for himself.". Harper's thick, doughy frame has always been a concern dating back early in his career, and it's been disappointing to see him fail to get in better shape, something teams will certainly want to see him do in the pre-draft process. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per . "Given his defensive motor and willingness to run the floor, I think he has the right mindset suited for the NBA," said Chan. He also has gradually emerged as a more consistent force in Purdue's half-court offense, doing a better job of harnessing his explosiveness, picking his spots and making others better, even if his decision-making still leaves something to be desired at times. Asked if this means Sotto might be limited mostly to defending in drop coverage as to being able to defend in more aggressive schemes in the NBA, Houben concurred. 9 Memphis | Thursday | 1:45 p.m. | TNT. Duke extends its lead over Syracuse thanks to Paolo Banchero's cut inside and big finish. After an ejection and an Indiana game-tying 3-pointer, Ron Harper Jr. hits a dramatic game-winning trey for Rutgers. "[But] it is generally only justifiable to play a seven-footer on an NBA floor if they're being heavily utilized on the offensive end, and whilst Sotto has shown utility as a finisher and lob threat at the NBL level, a clear cut offensive skill will go a long way into making him a useful NBA player.". "Given his defensive motor and willingness to run the floor, I think he has the right mindset suited for the NBA," said Chan. Standing 6-foot-5 with long arms and excellent footwork as a ball handler, Wesley has a lot of juice off the bounce, changing speeds and directions to attack the rim or stop on a dime to pull up. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? He left for the United States as a junior in high school to advance his basketball career. "I remember I really liked his passing for a big man but his body was a big problem. In the first of our two-part series on 2022 NBA Draft hopeful Kai Sotto, ESPN talked to scouts and experts who cover Australia's National Basketball League about his decision to declare for the draft, . 6 LSU vs. No. The 2.18-meter center -- who only turns 20 on May 11 -- just finished his first season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's National Basketball League, where he averaged 7.52 points and 4.48 rebounds across 23 games. Sochan gives Baylor a different dynamic as a small-ball 5, and a few strong NCAA tournament performances could help solidify his status as a potential lottery pick. "Kai is a positive influence who brings energy and effort to the team at practices and games everyday. He's an active offensive rebounder and a defensive playmaker. I think it would be even worse and he would struggle a fair bit against stronger post players. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. His fluidity and mobility is an intriguing aspect of his game and really stands out when rolling to the basket, where he had some vicious dunks," Smith said. He is a capable spot shooter from 3 at 42%, is elite rising up in midrange spots and is slithery downhill to the rim while also showing the ability to make some basic reads. With a body type that earns him comparisons ranging from Kevin Durant to Brandon Ingram to Kristaps Porzingis to Bol Bol, Holmgren has let his game do the talking, as he is in the midst of a record-breaking freshman season for Gonzaga. It was the first time that Sotto's name has appeared in such draft predictions since he declared for the NBA draft last month. At the end of the day, the NBL is a highly-regarded league that is able to help ease prospects into the professionalism of next-level basketball. May 9, 2022 1:40 pm ET. One of the most prolific isolation players in the NCAA, Banchero has an NBA-ready offensive bag. Hell have to develop his lower body strength and work on his agility and foot-speed to be able to defend at the next level. Koloko's thin frame, lack of physicality and developing feel for the game, which manifests itself in foul trouble, point-blank misses and struggles keeping up with the speed of the game are things NBA scouts will want to learn more about in high-stakes matchups with pro-sized frontcourts as the competition stiffens. "Continuing to find ways to maximize the value he gets out of his physical tools while he continues to work on improving the processing and shooting seems to be the current path for Kai," Smith offered. Filipino big man Kai Sotto needs to ramp up his on-court work as he still ranks low in several NBA mock drafts. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. Jun 6, 2022. At the end of the day, the NBL is a highly-regarded league that is able to help ease prospects into the professionalism of next-level basketball. These recent developments reinforce the optimism previously expressed by a few voices -- including former Philippines men's national team head coach Rajko Toroman and Sotto's agent Joel Bell -- who believe the 20-year-old's combination of youth, physical tools, and intangibles outweigh some of the weaknesses he showed during his first pro season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's National Basketball League. Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, has at least 12 pre-draft workouts scheduled with NBA teams, according to Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog. (2:08). With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? He can push the ball himself in transition or run the floor like a center. As the NBA draft draws closer, some teams have shown an increasing interest in Sotto's potential. I can recall Sam Froling absolutely dominating him when they played against Australia (in 2019 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup)," Purnell recalled. Paolo Banchero | Freshman | Duke | 6'10" | PF/C | Age: 19.3, When: No. Owning the rights to 21 first-round picks and 34 total draft picks through 2028, the Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to be very aggressive in the 2022 NBA Draft. What to watch for: Fresh off a record-breaking Big Ten tournament, Murray enters the Big Dance with as much momentum as any NBA prospect. 7 Michigan State vs. No. Tshiebwe lacks some modern elements to his game, having a difficult time defending in space on the perimeter, scoring outside the paint and facilitating for others, but it's difficult to argue with his productivity and sheer intensity, which should give him a ready-made role early in his NBA career. Duren has emerged as a major force inside the paint on both ends of the floor -- be it crashing the glass, protecting the rim or finishing ferociously and with incredible ease around the basket -- giving him a ready-made role to step into early in his NBA career. Will Banchero buy into a more free-flowing style that accentuates his pass-dribble-shoot skill set or will his catch-and-hold tendencies show up again during important games? MANILA, Philippines -- Kai Sotto remains a no-show on the latest mock drafts released by US-based sports websites ESPN and Bleacher Report barely three weeks away from the 2022 NBA draft. Hes been focused on basketball all is life and it shows in his skill level, passing and great understanding of the game. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers), Baylor Scheierman | Junior | South Dakota St. | 6'6" | SF | Age: 21.4, When: No. The biggest draft experts make every pick in the 2022 NBA Draft The Field Of 68 33K views Streamed 1 month ago Top 10 Center Prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft. What to watch for: The SEC player of the year and a leading candidate for various NCAA player of the year honors, Tshiebwe is in the midst of a historic season statistically for Kentucky, grabbing more rebounds than any player in the modern era, spanning back at least 30 years. Will it be the ultra-confident potential No. -- Givony, Christian Koloko | Junior | Arizona | 7'1" | C | Age: 21.7, What to watch for: The Pac-12 defensive player of the year and most improved player, Koloko is on pace to become the best shot-blocker in Arizona history in the next few games. His decision to make the NBA jump despite having two more years left on his Adelaide contract (with a team option on the final year) did not come as a surprise to the 36ers. He's coachable and receptive to feedback from coaches and teammates," Chan said. 2 Duke vs. No. "Drop bigs can still find ways to be effective on the defensive end of the floor," he continued. Williams doesn't quite look the part at first glance, standing no taller than 6-foot-10 in shoes with a 260-pound frame, average length and a below-the-rim style that forces him to rely on skill, strength and effort on both ends. Asked if this means Sotto might be limited mostly to defending in drop coverage as to being able to defend in more aggressive schemes in the NBA, Houben concurred. Six-time PBA champ 'Plastic Man' Saldaa remembered fondly following death at 64, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award. He's a magnet for fouls attacking the rim, is highly switchable on the perimeter and is always around the ball as a cutter and offensive rebounder. Although he is as proven a talent as you'll find in the lottery, Agbaji has no shortage of elite prospects in the Midwest region -- Davis, Murray, Tari Eason, Smith -- whom he could go toe-to-toe with to further improve his draft stock. Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. "I think he's very unique compared to all overseas and American prospects. 6 Alabama vs. No. Sotto never ended up playing for the Ignite, as he opted to play for the Philippine national team at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. 13 Vermont | Thursday | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Dalen Terry | Sophomore | Arizona | 6'7" | PG/SG | Age: 19.6, 41. Smith, meanwhile, says the NBL is a great avenue for Kai to continue growing as a professional at this stage in his young career. Sotto posted up a lot -- about 19.3 percent of his offense came from the block, per InStat, which was the second-highest figure from his portfolio -- but Adelaide only scored 0.68 PPP during those trips, well below the league average of 0.89. NBA scouts have questions about Smith's ability to create offense for himself and others and be efficient inside the arc. It's a sentiment echoed by another expert in Tim Smith, a New Zealand-based scout who keeps tabs on the leagues around the region. In 24 games, he shot 49.6% from the floor, 35.7% from 3-point range and 68.1% from the free throw line -- numbers that have drawn polarizing opinions from those who have followed Sotto's journey with close interest. -- Givony, Keegan Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'9" | PF/C | Age: 21.5, When: No. "With Kai's progression throughout the season, it was within expectation Kai would declare for the 2022 Draft. 2024 NBA mock draft: Why Bronny James is projected as a top-10 pick . "Kai had a more productive NBL season statistically than I think many were expecting him to, but as it remains, there is still room for improvement," Smith said. 2019 NBA champion Jeremy Lin believes all is not lost for Kai Sotto after the Philippine prospect missed out on being picked up in the 2022 NBA draft. He had a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a 30-inch maximum vertical leap. And he has averaged as many turnovers as assists, making it difficult for him to emerge as a late-game, go-to option, which has hampered Auburn at times with its inconsistent guard play. The race for No. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? The 2.18-meter center -- who . 11 Iowa State | Friday | 7:20 p.m. | TBS. The fake tweet says, "Kai Sotto will join NBA Draft 2021.". I think it's a valid concern in the NBA if he got a chance. Over time I think he continues to get stronger, and his muscle growth has been very promising, but he isn't strong enough just yet.". NBA Draft 2023 News - ESPN Draftcast Skip to main content Skip to navigation Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. In honor of March Madness, ESPN's NBA draft experts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have complied a mock draft with just players participating in the NCAA tournament. How Oftana and Lastimosa went from Dumaguete dreamers to Gilas, Already a standout walk-on, La Salle's Ben Phillips looks to make his mark on another court, 'It's a fans' game': Tiongson, Ahanmisi move on from All-Star snubs, The seven biggest 2023 PBA All-Star omissions, and the players who took their spots, A night of nostalgia: Toyota Tamaraws celebrate 50th anniversary, Kai Sotto's second season mirrors 36ers' ups and down. ESPN talked to some of these scouts and regional experts working and covering the NBL and asked them to weigh in on the prospect of Sotto becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the NBA. We'll learn more about Christie's ability to take and make big shots in clutch moments during Michigan State's NCAA tournament run, which will either put scouts at ease about the 19-year-old's underwhelming freshman campaign or suggest that he clearly needs more seasoning at the collegiate ranks before making the pro leap. -- Schmitz, Blake Wesley | Freshman | Notre Dame | 6'5" | SG | Age: 18.9, When: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. If it happens with LaVine, the Bulls will need to diversify their money. "A negative assist-to-turnover ratio indicates further experience is needed to make him an efficient player with ball in hand," Houben added. "I think with the way he plays, his height and length helps to make up for that but he was still struggling against some players in the post. "Kai is a positive influence who brings energy and effort to the team at practices and games everyday. 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