Based on NBA mock draft boards, Carolina doesn’t have a chance vs. Duke.

Of course, your response to these projections will be, “That’s why they play the game!” I totally agree, but you can’t help being intimidated by what the latest mock draft boards say about the Blue Devils. Remember, players are drafted for their pro potential even more than college stats.

There are a half-dozen or so mock drafts out there – ESPN, NBADraftNet and Yahoo, among them. And if you dare to check them out, Duke has players listed all over every one – in ESPN, for example, five Dukies are slated to go in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, which has 30 picks.

Paola Banchero is a lock from No. 1 to No. 4 on every board. The highly skilled, 6-10 power forward who can play all over the court will be a nightmare match-up for the Tar Heels, whoever they choose to guard him.

Next comes his fellow freshman A.J. Griffin, who missed early season games with an injury but has since shown pro scouts all they have to know about the 6-6, 220-pound wing. Then 6-4 Trevor Keels, the other freshman guard, followed by sophomore 7-0 center Mark Williams and 6-5 junior swing man Wendell Moore.

All you can say about that is if those five go, Jon Scheyer’s first recruiting class (currently rated at No. 1) will have a lot of playing time!

If you are interested in where Carolina shows up on the boards, it is scarce. Caleb Love is the No. 36 pick (early second round) on one board, and Brady Manek’s outstanding play of late has vaulted him into the last second-round pick (No. 60) by NBADraftNet.

One surprising take-away is that Armando Bacot, the ACC’s leading rebounder and among its most-accurate shooters and top scorers, is not listed on any mock draft board as of this week. Bacot, who has become a double-double machine, is an easy All-ACC first teamer and in the running for Player of the Year down the stretch, but maybe not an NBA pro.

One other notable name is Carolina transfer Walker Kessler, who starts for Auburn and is having an outstanding season for the top-ranked Tigers, averaging 11.5 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. The NBA has him listed at No. 19, ESPN as the last pick in the first round.

 

Photo via AP Photo/Robert Franklin.

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