Holding Court: 5 Angles to the 2022 NBA Draft

Kansas, Duke, Banchero, Williams, Manek Among Intriguing NBA Draft Storylines

By David Glenn

 

(Part Six of a Six-Part NCAA/NBA Draft Series leading up to the 2022 NBA Draft, following Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four and Part Five.)

Here are five angles worth following in Thursday’s nationally televised NBA Draft (8 pm, ABC/ESPN) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn:

1. Will the 2022 Kansas Jayhawks continue a 75-year-long streak in which every NCAA title team had at least one future top-30 (modern-day first-round) NBA draft pick on its active roster when it won the NCAA Tournament?

This streak (please see the various links to the rest of this six-part series above and below), which dates all the way back to the creation of the NBA draft in 1947, appears likely to continue, mainly because KU senior guard Ochai Agbaji is projected as a first-round lock. Junior guard Christian Braun also has a chance to be selected among the top 30 picks. Senior point guard Remy Martin and senior center David McCormack are draft-eligible this year, too.

It also will be interesting to see if the 2022 Jayhawks produce a lottery (top-14) pick, either this year or in a future draft, because over the last 75 years only six college teams have won an NCAA title without the benefit of a top-14 NBA pick.

North Carolina’s 2017 champions, led by coach Roy Williams, are the most recent group to accomplish this rare feat. UNC star Justin Jackson was selected #15 overall, just outside the lottery, in 2017. Three of the other five examples also had a Hall of Fame coach leading the way: 1987 Indiana (Bob Knight-HOF), 1998 Kentucky (Tubby Smith), 2010 Duke (Mike Krzyzewski-HOF), 2013 Louisville (Rick Pitino-HOF) and 2014 Connecticut (Kevin Ollie).

2. Will Duke match the all-time record for most first-round picks in a single draft?

The 2010 Kentucky Wildcats are the only team ever to produce five first-round selections in a single NBA draft. Freshman point guard John Wall was the #1 overall pick in 2010, followed by freshman center DeMarcus Cousins (#5), junior forward Patrick Patterson (#14), freshman point guard Eric Bledsoe (#18) and freshman center Daniel Orton (#29).

The 2022 Blue Devils appear to have three first-round locks: freshman forward Paolo Banchero, freshman guard AJ Griffin and sophomore center Mark Williams. Junior guard Wendell Moore Jr and freshman guard Trevor Keels are projected to land somewhere in the latter part of the first round or the early part of the second round.

Interestingly, neither star-studded team won the NCAA title during the year of their impressive draft exodus. The Wildcats finished 35-3, winning the SEC regular-season and tournament titles and earning a #1 NCAA Tournament seed, but lost to West Virginia in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils went 32-7, including a first-place ACC finish, but fell to UNC in the Final Four.

3. Will Banchero secure a place in history as a #1 overall pick?

A 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward, Banchero is considered one of the three most likely players to be selected with the #1 overall pick, which this year is held by the Orlando Magic. Auburn freshman forward Jabari Smith Jr and Gonzaga freshman forward Chet Holmgren are regarded as the other top candidates, with Smith the betting favorite to take the top spot.

Eleven former ACC players have been #1 overall NBA picks: Duke guard Art Heyman (1963), NC State forward David Thompson (1975), Maryland guard John Lucas (1976), UNC forward James Worthy (1982), Virginia center Ralph Sampson (1983), UNC center Brad Daugherty (1986), Maryland forward Joe Smith (1995), Wake Forest center Tim Duncan (1997), Duke forward Elton Brand (1999), Duke guard Kyrie Irving (2011) and Duke forward Zion Williamson (2019).

4. Will the ACC Player of the Year actually go undrafted again?

For the first 67 years of the 69-year-old ACC, the league’s Player of the Year in men’s basketball went on to become an NBA draft pick, and usually a high first-round selection. Through 2020, in fact, all but one ACC POY (Wake Forest guard Charlie Davis in 1971) entered the NBA as a first- or second-round pick; Davis was taken in the eighth round.

Last year’s ACC Player of the Year, Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright, became the first POY in league history to go undrafted. (The NBA draft has been only two rounds since 1989.) This year’s ACC Player of the Year, Wake Forest guard Alondes Williams, could be a second-round selection, but most mock drafts have him falling to undrafted free agent status.

5. Who will sign UNC’s one-year wonder Brady Manek?

A 6-9, 230-pound forward, Manek was a rare five-year starter at the college level. He started 111 games over four seasons at Oklahoma (Big 12), then 27 more as a graduate transfer for UNC, while distinguishing himself in two of the best conferences in college basketball.

Manek averaged about 15 points, six rebounds and two assists per game, while shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range, as the Tar Heels won 29 games, finished second in the ACC, knocked off #1 seed Baylor, defeated Duke at the Final Four and advanced to the NCAA championship game.

Manek went through pre-draft workouts with a number of NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. If he goes undrafted, he is expected to sign a free agent contract that would include an invitation to represent an NBA team at the NBA Summer League. If he doesn’t see a realistic path to a roster spot after that experience and/or an NBA team’s training camp this fall, he is expected to have a multitude of professional options in high-level foreign leagues.

 

TOP-30 NBA PICKS ON NCAA CHAMPIONS (2010-22)

(For detailed information on the NCAA champions from 2000-09, please click here.)

(For detailed information on the NCAA champions from 1990-99, please click here.)

(For detailed information on the NCAA champions from 1980-89, please click here.)

(For detailed information on the NCAA champions from 1970-79, please click here.)

(For detailed information on the NCAA champions from 1955-69, please click here.)

 

2022 Kansas

Head Coach: Bill Self

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (TBD): TBD
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (TBD): TBD
NBA Players/Games (TBD/TBD): TBD

Note: Senior G Ochai Agbaji (first round) and junior G Christian Braun (first or second round) are expected to be selected in Thursday’s draft. Senior PG Remy Martin and senior C David McCormack also are draft-eligible, while sophomore F Jalen Wilson and perhaps other underclassmen will be on the NBA’s radar in future drafts.

 

2021 Baylor

Head Coach: Scott Drew

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): junior PG Davion Mitchell (#9)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players/Games (2-6/118+): Mitchell+ (75), junior G Jared Butler+ (43), senior G MaCio Teague? (G League in 2021-22), junior F Matthew Mayer? (draft-eligible 2023), sophomore G Adam Flagler? freshman G LJ Cryer (both draft-eligible 2023 or beyond)

 

2020

(No NCAA Tournament-COVID)

 

2019 Virginia

Head Coach: Tony Bennett

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (2): sophomore F De’Andre Hunter (#4), junior PG Ty Jerome (#24)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players (6-7/363+): Hunter+ (149), Jerome+ (112), junior G Kyle Guy+ (53), junior F Mamadi Diakite+ (34), junior F Braxton Key+ (11), sophomore C Jay Huff+ (4), freshman PG Kihei Clark? (draft-eligible 2023)

 

2018 Villanova

Head Coach: Jay Wright

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (3): junior F Mikal Bridges (#10), junior G Donte DiVincenzo (#17), freshman F Omari Spellman (#30)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players/Games (5-7?/1,117+): Bridges+ (344), junior PG Jalen Brunson+ (302), DiVincenzo+ (214), junior F Eric Paschall (162), Spellman (95), freshman G Collin Gillespie? freshman F Jermaine Samuels? (both draft-eligible 2022)

 

2017 North Carolina

Head Coach: Roy Williams

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): junior F Justin Jackson (#15)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): freshman C Tony Bradley (#28)
NBA Players/Games (4/650+): Bradley+ (276), Jackson+ (263), junior F Theo Pinson+ (90), senior F Isaiah Hicks (21)

 

2016 Villanova

Head Coach: Jay Wright

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): junior G Josh Hart (#30)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (2): freshman F Mikal Bridges (#10), freshman G Donte DiVincenzo (#17)
NBA Players/Games (6/1,396+): Bridges+ (344), freshman PG Jalen Brunson+ (302), Hart+ (296), senior PG Ryan Arcidiacono+ (217), DiVincenzo+ (214), senior C Daniel Ochefu (23)

 

2015 Duke

Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (3): freshman C Jahlil Okafor (#3), freshman F Justise Winslow (#10), freshman PG Tyus Jones (#24)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): freshman G Grayson Allen (#21)
NBA Players (7/1,555+): Jones+ (476), Winslow+ (334), Okafor (247), senior PG Quinn Cook (228), Allen+ (211), junior F Amile Jefferson (30), junior C Marshall Plumlee (29)

 

2014 Connecticut

Head Coach: Kevin Ollie

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): senior PG Shabazz Napier (#24)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players/Games (2/359): Napier (354), freshman C Amida Brimah (5)

 

2013 Louisville

Head Coach: Rick Pitino

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): junior C Gorgui Dieng (#21)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players/Games (4/1,145+): Dieng+ (604), freshman F Montrezl Harrell+ (488), junior G Russ Smith (29), senior PG Peyton Siva (24)

 

2012 Kentucky

Head Coach: John Calipari

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (4): freshman C Anthony Davis (#1), freshman F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (#2), sophomore F Terrence Jones (#18), freshman PG Marquis Teague (#29)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (0): none
NBA Players/Games (7/1,852+): Davis+ (643), Kidd-Gilchrist (456), senior F Darius Miller (280), Jones (259), sophomore G Doron Lamb (100), Teague (99), freshman F Kyle Wiltjer (15)

 

2011 Connecticut

Head Coach: Jim Calhoun

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (2): junior PG Kemba Walker (#9), freshman G Jeremy Lamb (#12)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): freshman PG Shabazz Napier (#24)
NBA Players/Games (3/1,713+): Walker+ (772), Lamb+ (587), Napier (354)

 

2010 Duke

Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski

Starters Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (2): junior G Nolan Smith (#21), sophomore F Miles Plumlee (#26)
Backups Who Became Top-30 NBA Picks (1): freshman F Mason Plumlee (#22)
NBA Players/Games (7/2,084+): Mason Plumlee+ (721), senior F Lance Thomas (402), junior F Kyle Singler (363), Miles Plumlee (347), freshman F Ryan Kelly (163), Smith (84), freshman G Andre Dawkins (4)

 

+ – active NBA player during 2021-22 season (team/individual game totals will rise)

? – not an NBA player during 2021-22 season but could reach NBA in 2022-23 or beyond

 

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David Glenn (DavidGlennShow.com, @DavidGlennShow) is an award-winning author, broadcaster, editor, entrepreneur, publisher, speaker, writer and university lecturer (now at UNC Wilmington) who has covered sports in North Carolina since 1987.

The founding editor and long-time owner of the ACC Sports Journal and ACCSports.com, he also has contributed to the Durham Herald-Sun, ESPN Radio, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Raycom Sports, SiriusXM and most recently The Athletic. From 1999-2020, he also hosted the David Glenn Show, which became the largest sports radio program in the history of the Carolinas, syndicated in more than 300 North Carolina cities and towns, plus parts of South Carolina and Virginia.

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