[OhCanada-Participant]

Looks like Kasparas Jakucionis has established himself as a top 10 pick in this deep draft maybe even top 5. He’s good for about 20 points and 5 assists a night on a winning competitive Illinois team and is a big guard (6’6) with great vision and playmaking skill (2/1 assist turnover). He’s also outstanding with his movement off the ball and thats what teams are really looking for. Players that can takeover the game without dominating the ball.

His last 4 games he’s making 4 threes a game at 55% and it doesn’t look like ihe’s just on a hot streak. Worst case scenerio I see him being able to step into a similar role as Bogdan Bogdanovic although I think his upside is much higher. I’ve been trying not to say Manu Ginobli but its hard not to make the comparison. Him and his teammate Will RIley have emerged as two of the drafts top prospects. I’ve got Jakucionis right up there with Harper and Johnson as the best guards in the draft.

[HitsterParticipant]

I’ve not seen a lot of him but I’d say he has top 10 potential at the moment. He has good size for an SG and has been a lights out shooter in his last few games so I can see him being a very exciting prospect.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Yeah he’s got great size and he’s kind of more like a PG. Not in the traditional sense but in todays game. I’m not comparing him to Steph but thats the kind of guard he is. He’s still running the offense but he’s gonna also play off the ball. a ton.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I think by the numbers you’re right, he’s up there. Many scouts are high on him. I’m not as high on him myself. Seems like he struggles more against stronger athletic guards. With him I go back to the Labaron Philon game and wonder what it would be like if Philon weren’t asked to exert so much of his game on defense, would he be ranked higher than he is on most boards??? Would his shooting percentage be better? Because Jakucionis doesn’t have much defense to me at least yet. Imo he’s a big backup guard.

[HitsterParticipant]

Back up scorers like Sheppard and the lesser seen Dillingham went high last year but in a deeper draft it’s hard to judge where Jakucionis might land. But he is a starter for his college team unlike the Kentucky benchwarmers from last season. If he is more about being a pure shooter how does he stack up against say Liam McNeeley who plays as a swingman but is considered one of the best shooters in his year.

I’d personally have to put Kasparas ahead of Liam at this moment. If Kasparas is more a shooter who can run some offence and not a rounded player then I still don’t see him falling much or at all out of the lottery. Play In/improving teams will always take a guy who can shoot, run some plays and be an impact bench scorer.

[HitsterParticipant]

NBA Draft Room has Kasparas at 6 on their latest mock so they have put him nearly as high as Oh Canada suggests, so he’s picking up attention as a legit prospect.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

That’s about the range most scouts have him… I disagree with him being that high. The eye test tells me he’s a suped up Delladova. He is a legit prospect, but so are about 30 others that at least make that case in this class. And actually Sheppard I think is better than his numbers at Houston. Infact they should be playing Whitmore and Sheppard instead of FVV and D Brooks. I’d personally rather have a guy that plays on both ends of the floor like Sheppard than a Kasparas. Kasparas has some things going for him – sure. Shoots and passes well. Bigger guard, decent floor. Imo not the highest ceiling though. We’ll see, but I’m not that high on the bandwagon at least yet.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Maybe Jeremiah Fears could sneak in the top 5… He’s been hoopin’

[Andrew1984Participant]

Kasparas reminds me of my favorite player of all time, Mark Price, just taller. They dribble, pass, and shoot the same way, same technique, same style. Incredibly sound fundamentally, very calm, comfortable with both hands. Very similar stats in their freshman years of college. And I could see him ending in Washington DC, like Price did in ’95.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

interesting takes, if it were the same order as you posted… my current mock would look something like this:
BKN – Flagg
NO – Harper
UTA – Ace TRADE to CHA
PHI – Tre Johnson
CHA – Jeremiah Fears TRADE to UTA with 2027 1st
CHI – Demin
WAS – Essengue
DET – Queen
TOR – Edgecombe
SAC – Dink Pate

Good to see you on here Andrew1984!!!

[OhCanada-Participant]

I’m not gonna mock teams but my board looks like this.
1.A Flagg
1.B Harper
3. Tre Johnson
4. Demin
5. Edgecombe
6. Bailey
7. Jakucionis
8. Fears
Those 8 to me are ahead of the rest right now. Edgecombe is gonna stay in the top group on potential alone someone’s gonna pick him high. Then a bunch of players like Newell, Queen, Pate, Traore etc. that have some things to prove to move up. Fland ‘s draft stock is gonna depend on uhios combine measurements. Tahaad Pettiford is my prediction to have the largest breakout in tournament play. He’s coming off the bench playing behind three senior guards right now but he’s a baller. Either way being a short guard hes gonna need to test well at the combine to get drafted high and get a nice rookie contract.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

He’s been out the last couple of games, but he was looking like Steve Nash a little lately. Maybe a little taller and not likely an MVP guy, but a watered-down version of Nash. Nothing to sneeze at.

[Andrew1984Participant]

Here’s my prediction:
1. Brooklyn (an all-time come-from-behind tanking performance) : Flagg
2. New Orleans: Harper
3. Utah: Demin
4. Philadelphia: Bailey
5. Charlotte: VJ
6. Chicago: Traore
7. DC: Kasparas
8. Detroit: Newell
9. Toronto: Fland
10. Sacramento: Tre

[HitsterParticipant]

I’d be purely on player ratings and not looking at roster needs. My very early draft lottery mock would be:-

1. Cooper Flagg
2. Dylan Harper
3. Igor Denim
4. Ace Bailey
5. VJ Edgecombe
6. Tre Johnson
7.Noa Essengue
8. Khaman Maluach
9. Nolan Traore
10. Kasparas Jakucionis
11. Asa Newell
12. Derik Queen
13. Liam McNeeley
14. Boogie Fland

Frears, Pate, Toppin, Zikarsky, Riley would be some of the next names pushing for places in my top 20.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

You know… I’m turning the corner some on Kasparas… and it’s not because he’s been dominating or anything – there are things about his game I want to see more of… particularly whoever he’s matched up against tends to go off on him due to his suspect defense. But his offense is pretty amazing and his ability to run screens is as good as anyone’s.

That being said, outside of the top 2 obvious prospects it seems like every prospect has a lot to work on. Not sure about Ace right now. His FT% is nothing short of atrocious. Fears has a lot going for him, but if he can only shoot. Kind of a hot commodity in the NBA these days. Tre Johnson is the best bucket getter in the draft when he’s hot. Although he’s improved some of his other areas, nothing wows you but the buckets. When he goes cold, he isn’t much use. Dink Pate hasn’t got the buzz around him at least yet. He should, but he just hasn’t. Derik Queen could be maybe considered – but he’s not the prototypical archetype of a modern day big and gets pegged for it. Edgecombe has a ways to go. Egor showed he can play great against nobody – but against worthy competition he’s been struggling. Asa Newell’s improving, I don’t think he’s a top 5 guy though. I guess I’m saying Kasparas is solid good, but he might be top 5 by default because of the flaws within the top prospects after Flagg/Harper. Could be a fit thing after that between a few guys if the trajectory of the season continues similar to the way it has so far.

[HitsterParticipant]

I don’t see Queen being top 5. On upside and size I’d have Maluach ahead of him. But Kasparas is a legit top 10 pick and certainly has to be in the top 5 mix.

I’d have Cooper, Dylan and Ace in that order as my top 3 but after that the order would shift week by week.,

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I’m wondering… what does someone else have to do to pass Ace to you? Or what besides the 39-point display where he never passed the ball has Ace done to merit such a pick as the 3rd overall? Ace is shooting less than 60% from the line. Anyone else shooting that practically would be falling down boards. His 3 ball hasn’t been falling. All we are going for is a good frame and a scoring performance? I mean we’re banking on him having a shot to go with his frame and athletic ability. Seems like he can score and play a little defense, but he doesn’t dribble great or pass great. Now his shot isn’t falling either. Noa Essengue has a good frame and is putting up numbers against better competition across the board. He’s probably fallen an average of 5 spots over the last month amongst big boards. Btw Essengue is 3 days older than Cooper Flagg, so he’s very young too.

Kasparas is definitely a top 10 pick. Top 5 though I’m saying is possible now – when I thought it wouldn’t happen before. Part of the reason is Ace hasn’t held his end of the draft race. He had one stellar scoring performance. Jeremy Fears had a stellar performance against Michigan. I still have him high – but still had to come to terms with his recent lows too. I like all the prospects I mentioned, but not sure why Ace is definitively in 3rd atm.

I don’t see Queen being picked in the top 5 either, but I can see a world where he is one of the top 5 players drafted. If he becomes 85% of what Sengun is or a smaller Boogie Cousins or something, he could be super legit. Maybe he ends up better – doubt it, but depending on where he lands could make or break him. I could also see him being either before or after Maluach, depending on a team’s need or intentions.

[OhCanada-Participant]

This draft is still very wide open.
Outside of the Top 3 not many players in this draft have been consistent. Not including Seniors maybe Queen, Maluach, Sorber and Saraf are the best options there.

Theres a bunch of players who are sort of considered late lottery picks who are kind of “high upside” ” that could move way up the draft if they prove they can shoot and may also move way down the draft if they don’t like Asa Newell. Noa Essengue, Labaron Philon.

You’ve got a handful of guards/wings with large upside that have been inconsistent but have amazing talent like Demin, Tre Johnson, Fland, Fears, Edgecombe.

Then youve got the players that are starting to get more minutes or more usage like Ian Jackson, Danny Wolf and Dink Pate. I mean if Danny Wolf proves he can move his feet and switch on to guards at a decent enough level whats stopping him from going top 10? Ian Jackson currently is in my top 10 and why not? Why is he that different from Tre Johnson?

I think the draft orders and players reputations are still very much unfolding.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Pretty much agree… but what I’m saying is what’s this top 3 stuff? It’s top 2 stuff at least for now… then it’s a crapshoot of like 7 guys that you can make a case for imo. Ace being one of them, but why Ace over Kasparas, Fears, Pate or whoever in the vicinity of that tier you might got? What makes Ace the definitive 3rd guy especially if we’re only in mid-January… After the top 2 it might be about best fit available over the next 5-7 prospect following Flagg and Harper imo and in some others’, opinions trending the same way.

[HitsterParticipant]

I just think Ace pre NCAA and his performances so far this season justify him at number 3. He had been 2 or 3 on the majority of mocks for a while and this season Harper has moved clearly into the number 2 spot. But I’ve not yet seen anyone who I could clearly put above Ace so he stays at number 3 on my big board.

I wonder how Ace and Maluach’s draft stock would be if they weren’t on a side with one of the consensus top 2 picks. Would Ace be shooting more efficiently and would Maluach be dominating the boards more?

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Maluach is raw but could be putting up more numbers maybe. But Ace if anything should be shooting better with Harper. Their style is one up each other like H.O.R.S.E. It doesn’t work for winning basketball or efficient stats. Maluach and Knueppel both benefit from having Flagg on their team. Ace should be benefiting from having Harper as a teammate and vice versa… but their teammates aren’t very good and it’s almost like they have an individual makeup within Rutgers’ system. Not the greatest of ideas so it’s unfolding. Cooper is on another planet though. Harper is pretty far alone on 2 island right now. Ace though has some guys on his tail at least.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Keandre the Hoop Intellect guy has Kasparas #3 and Edgecombe #4 and Bailey 5th. Interesting takes.

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