espn nba mock draft 2022 kai sotto
MANILA, Philippines - Kai Sotto has a huge uphill climb ahead of him after he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, April 28. What to watch for: One of the most improved players in college, Liddell has turned himself into a first-round pick by modernizing his game on both ends of the floor as a powerful 4/5. So far, only Siegel has included the Filipino homegrown talent in his mock drafts with Sotto still missing the Top 60 lists for the June 24 proceedings (June 25, Manila time) in other reputable outlets like ESPN . NBA Draft News Best Available Teams Get the App "I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft," wrote Sotto. Williams isn't quite as feared defensively as you might expect considering his accolades, as you frequently see opposing teams post him up or challenge him in the pick-and-roll, where he's still a major work in progress. In Adelaide, Sotto mostly subsisted on cuts and as a roll man in the pick and roll -- two of four play types where he derived most of his offense. Birthday. Whether it's Eric Paschall or P.J. Mike Schmitz is an NBA Draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. -- 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. Today, we're focusing on the rest of his game: His defense, his intangibles on and off the floor, and his potential future paths. "I think mock draft boards are great for the general public's . If Sotto goes undrafted in June, a couple of alternative routes await. 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. If he can, that would go a long way in convincing execs the Iowa star isn't just a "high-floor NBA starter" but rather that his production is more than a product of Iowa's system and he belongs in the same conversation as Holmgren and Smith as a member of the draft's elite. His shooting stroke was apparent at times, but Sotto did not take enough 3s and attempted just 14 shots from beyond the arc through 24 games, including just four from the corners. 1 Arizona vs. No. NBA teams will be intrigued by his physical profile, age and long-term upside, but avoiding some of the lapses defensively that have plagued him at times and finishing the season on a good note will certainly help his cause.-- Givony, 16. 2 Auburn vs. No. Sotto was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft because he is a 19-year-old talent one year removed from playing high school basketball. He has trimmed down, evolved as a perimeter shooter (38% from 3), expanded his playmaking off the dribble, become an asset in switch situations and developed into a true defensive anchor for the Buckeyes thanks to his stellar timing and nonstop motor. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per . 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. Gilas Pilipinas fall short against Jordan on road to FIBA World Cup, PBA Governors' Cup Import Rankings: Kevin Murphy powers NorthPort's surge. Kai Sotto's NBA draft quest falls short as teams pass on the Filipino prospect You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. 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. -- Schmitz, Mark Williams | Sophomore | Duke | 7'1" | C | Age: 20.2, What to watch for: Williams' 7-foot-1, 242-pound frame and 7-foot-7 wingspan certainly stand out at the college level. Can the Lions fix their defense? -- Givony, Keegan Murray | Sophomore | Iowa | 6'9" | PF/C | Age: 21.5, When: No. Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. Even so, a possible callup in the second round remains within the realm of possibility. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. He said that some of the Sotto's deficiencies on defense, however, are fixable. He's also shooting just 40% at the rim in the half-court, converting 16 shots at the rim in 33 games. Duke extends its lead over Syracuse thanks to Paolo Banchero's cut inside and big finish. 2 Duke vs. No. "His versatility is unlike most giant bigs, and it will continue to show as his body gets more matured. What to watch for: Christie is a 6-foot-6 guard who has the type of footwork to develop into both an on-the-move shooter and sound defender as he continues to grow in the toughness, confidence and experience departments. Sotto's size and length has made him a viable rim protector in the NBL, where he averaged 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes, seventh among 84 players who played at least 15 minutes a game, per SpatialJam. He has two siblings. Sotto, of course, still has to cover more ground in terms of his build in order to stick around in a league where the world's best athletes reside. 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. -- Schmitz, Jeremy Sochan | Freshman | Baylor | 6'9" | PF | Age: 18.8, When: No. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Grading Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft. Theodore Chan, Adelaide's scouting director, insists Adelaide benefited from having Sotto on the defensive end, where the center's aggression and willingness to mask his deficiencies served the 36ers (109.9 defensive rating, sixth among 10 teams) well at various points in the season. -- Givony, Trevion Williams | Senior | Purdue | 6'10" | C | Age: 21.4. 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. NBA draft scouts. With rival Asian leagues circling, is the five-year college player a thing of the past in the Philippines? -- Givony, Max Christie | Freshman | Michigan St. | 6'6" | SG | Age: 19.0, When: No. A darling of NBA analytics models thanks to the way he has filled up box scores his entire career, strong showings against high-major competition in the NCAA tournament and pre-draft process would go a long way in validating his production at the low-major level and proving his pass-dribble-shoot game translates. 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. "Please pray for me and support me during my quest to fulfill my ultimate dream.". 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. Kai Sotto hasn't really been in a lot of 2022 NBA mock drafts. -- Schmitz, Malaki Branham | Freshman | Ohio St. | 6'5" | SG | Age: 18.8. The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? I think it's a valid concern in the NBA if he got a chance. Grading Kai Sotto: Defense and experience may put him behind other international prospects Skip to main content Skip to navigation Full Scoreboard > ESPN Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. "[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.". He's a powerhouse of a forward who should contribute right away. Here are some more mocks to check out: NBA MOCK DRAFTS: Older Mocks 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026, Remember to bookmark and add to your home-screen, 5-Star Corner: Patrick Baldwin Jr. Interview, A Closer Look At Bronny James as a NBA Draft Prospect, Talented Sons of Famous NBA Fathers Part 2, Thoughts On How The 2022 NBA Draft Played Out, The 10 Top Freshman in High School Basketball, Draft Buzz: Freshmen Ballers Off To A Fast Start, State of the 2023 NBA Draft An Early Look, The Elite 25 The Top Pro Prospects In High School Basketball, 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings (2025 recruiting class), Victor Wembanyamas Physical Profile and NBA Comparisons, The 10 Top Freshmen In High School Basketball Class of 2026 Recruits, Re-Draft of the 2022 NBA Draft, Top 20 2 Months Into The Season, My Guys Prospects Im Irrationally High On In The 2023 Draft, 2023 NBA Draft Big Board Early Season Edition, Upperclassmen Moving Up The Draft Board The Desmond Bane Effect, The Elite 25 The Top NBA Prospects In High School Basketball Fall 2022, April 13-16 The 2022 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, June 1 Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (NCAA deadline). Cavaliers-Celtics, 7:30 p.m. Still, there's a near consensus that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a no-brainer pick for a spot on an NBA roster. Listen, What to watch for: A junior college transfer who played a minor role last season, Ellis has emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. As the season has gone along, however, Keels' defensive motor has fluctuated wildly. "Drop bigs can still find ways to be effective on the defensive end of the floor," he continued. In the NBL, Sotto provided glimpses of what could come and averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in over 15 minutes. -- Schmitz, Trevor Keels | Freshman | Duke| 6'5" | PG/SG | Age: 18.5, When: No. Are PSG better off without Neymar in big games? Filipino big man Kai Sotto needs to ramp up his on-court work as he still ranks low in several NBA mock drafts. 15 CSU Fullerton | Friday | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |. "Given his defensive motor and willingness to run the floor, I think he has the right mindset suited for the NBA," said Chan. 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 . The 32 teams are set: Who's in and who's out for FIBA World Cup 2023? He made 39% of his 3-pointers this season, being especially effective with his feet set due to the low release on his jumper, but is also capable of scoring in the post, attacking closeouts and coming off screens, showing excellent scoring instincts as well as no fear with his approach. "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. "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.". He's a risk-taker like you'll see from an NBA big such as Alperen Sengun, throwing behind the back passes out of the post, trying to thread the needle on backdoor feeds and working to break down his man with a variety of different dribble moves, showcasing the type of shift you don't usually see from a player with his body type. 2024 NBA mock draft: Why Bronny James is projected as a top-10 pick . But speaking on The Huddle, the leading draft analyst has another NBL talent on his radar, with Illawarra Hawks Next Star Justinian Jessup making waves in the competition. (2:08). details for every deal for the 2022-23 season. Possible second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, 5-Star Corner: Patrick Baldwin Jr. Interview, A Closer Look At Bronny James as a NBA Draft Prospect, Talented Sons of Famous NBA Fathers Part 2, The 10 Top Freshmen In High School Basketball Class of 2026 Recruits, Re-Draft of the 2022 NBA Draft, Top 20 2 Months Into The Season, My Guys Prospects Im Irrationally High On In The 2023 Draft, 2023 NBA Draft Big Board Early Season Edition, Upperclassmen Moving Up The Draft Board The Desmond Bane Effect, The Elite 25 The Top NBA Prospects In High School Basketball Fall 2022, 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings (2025 recruiting class), Victor Wembanyamas Physical Profile and NBA Comparisons. ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz predict what the 2022 NBA draft could look like if all 58 players came from college basketball's marquee event. While undersized for the power forward position he mostly plays, Harper's 245-pound frame and near 7-foot wingspan allows him to play bigger than his height. If it happens with LaVine, the Bulls will need to diversify their money. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. As the field of 68 eventually gets down to one team left standing with the championship trophy, some of the top NBA prospects will be on display. 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.". 6 LSU vs. No. Stock watch: Which players are on the move during Champ Week? Scouts will be evaluating Branham's ballhandling and passing to discern whether they think he can play more of an on-ball role in the future, as that would greatly boost his value given that he's most impactful defending 1s and 2s. Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. BASKETBALL; FOOTBALL; Player Traits Key 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. Scouts will want to see if he can turn that talent into consistent and efficient production - on both ends -- in do-or-die games that matter before anointing him a surefire first-round pick. Whoever signs him will get a well-worth piece in their winning puzzle.". 5 amid Smith talks, O's, Pirates play ump-less bottom of ninth inning, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West. Stay on current site or go to US version. Finishing on a strong note will be important considering the way Davison's productivity has fluctuated, something that may make returning for another season in college appealing (or necessary) depending on how his season ends. The defensive end is where the junior will be studied most closely, as well as his ability to get to his spots off the dribble and get his shot off effectively despite his low, unorthodox release. "Further growth as a passer as he matures and the games slows down for him will also be extremely helpful, as he has shown a certain level of vision at previous levels of play.". His passing and floor vision has garnered some attention over the years, but the potential has yet to fully materialize, as Sotto tallied more turnovers (32) than assists (14) in his first year with Adelaide. 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