The 2022 NBA Mock Draft 1.0
By Jim James
Note: Bob and I’s reaction to the NBA draft is coming soon
#1: Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
The consensus #1 pick, Gonzaga might not be missing Suggs, Kispert, and Ayayi too much with their new 2021-22 roster. A 7’1” SMALL FORWARD at only 19 years old, he could usher in a new era of positionless basketball who will be great for any team that drafts him
#2: Paolo Banchero (Duke)
Banchero is the consensus #2 pick in this draft, and along with Chet, will be great for the Gonzaga-Duke rivalry coming up this year. The Power Forward has superstar potential written all over him.
#3: Hunter Sallis (Gonzaga)
Look, I know it seems high for him right now, but once the season with Gonzaga with him, Chet, and Andrew Nembhard, his stock will rise
#4: Brandon Hatley-Hatfield (Tennessee)
He looks like a nice Power Forward and a star for Tennessee. Another great roster in Tennessee with him, Justin Powell, and Josiah-Jordan James, he could lead Tennessee to the Final Four.
#5: Jaden Hardy (G-League)
Okay, I have 2 reasons for dropping him to 5. 1: Kuminga & Green, who both went to G-League, Jalen Green was #1 consensus before he went to the G-League, and not only did he fall to 2, but no one had him 1st overall. Kuminga fell to 7th after he went to the G-League, so why not predict a fall with Hardy, and 2, Tennessee and Duke both have really good rosters, so they will do well, and their players will rise on the draft board.
#6: Jabari Smith (Auburn)
To me, Jabari Smith seems like your traditional Power Forward. Pretty big, Solid under the rim, and just overall, a good player. He could turn into anything from Alonzo Mourning to Ryan Anderson.
#7: JD Davison (Alabama)
He jumps up here, but that is only because of the INSANE Power forward depth in this class as opposed to the PG depth in this class. He, however seems boom-or-bust to me. Not a sure thing. I believe he could max out at 2017 Russell Westbrook.
#8: Caleb Houstan (Michigan)
It would be insane if the Rockets draft Caleb Houstan. Houstan on Houston. Anyway, I don’t see a superstar in him. I’ll say he maxes out at a Johnathan Isaac/Gary Trent Jr. skill level.
#9: Mark Williams (Duke)
A generic name for a player that seems anything but here. A 7-foot, 245-pound center who will be a PERFECT twin towers combo with Paolo Banchero. Watch out, NCAA.
#10: Daimion Collins (Kentucky)
Another generic power forward in this draft, I believe that there will be so many in the lottery that every single one except Banchero will drop.
#11: Avery Anderson (Oklahoma State)
2 MAJOR concerns with Avery Anderson’s game; 1: He’s going to be 21, and a Junior this year, only 1 of 2 players in this lottery who are not sophomores into my draft lotto, and 2; He has Spaghetti arms. He’s 6’3”, but only 170 pounds, and he needs to develop muscle, however, it is not as important as it is for Evan Mobley this year, as Anderson is a point guard.
#12: Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
He is the second player going into the lotto who is not a junior or sophomore, Kinsey will be a 22-year old Senior going into the league. He will have a couple years here in the NBA to show what he will become.
#13: Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
Jaden Ivey seems like a player who will be in his own in the league, a very nice player out of Perdue, he looks like a steal for his 6’4”, 200 lb frame for a shooting guard. If he becomes good, remember; you heard it here first.
#14: Benedict Mathurin (Arizona)
Gotta love my Canadians. Apart from being Canadian and having an AWESOME name, Benedict is a nice, 6’7” oversized shooting guard who just needs to put on a tad more muscle to step his game up.
#15 Pick award: Peyton Watson, UCLA
Most similar name to a current NBA player award: Nikola Jovic, Serbia
International Country with most players in the draft award: France; Jayson Tchicamboud, Ousmane Dieng, Ismael Kamagate, Mattheiu Gauzin
Last thing to note: Jean Montero, projected 50th, is the first ever Overtime Elite player to be projected to be selected in the NBA draft.