NBA Draft Big Board + Prospect Rankings 2022

The most updated Lineups.com Big Board is here now that NBA Playoffs are almost over! There are a ton of factors that go into making a Big Board: performance during the college basketball (or professional, if they are overseas or in the G-League) season, measurements like height, wingspan, and weight, and projectability at the next level are a variety of factors that contribute to it. With the NBA Combine finished, all players’ measurements are updated. Height is listed with shoes on, and wingspan and weight will be as accurate as is available leading up to draft night. NBA Prospects should continue to rise and fall on this Big Board, so stay tuned!

NBA Draft Big Board 2022

NBA Prospect Rankings 2022

1. Paolo Banchero

2021-22: 17.2 Points – 7.8 Rebounds – 3.2 Assists

The NCAA Tournament left little doubt about who is the No. 1 player in this year’s draft. Banchero led the Duke Blue Devils all the way to the Final Four behind impressive offensive output. There were several plays throughout where Banchero displayed superior strength, footwork, and agility than the rest of the field as a 6-foot-10 forward. The only concerns with Banchero are three-point shooting and defensive projectability. With that being said, he is a can’t-miss prospect with All-Star upside.

2. Jaden Ivey

2021-22: 17.3 Points – 4.9 Rebounds – 3.1 Assists

Ivey landed on scouts’ radars towards the end of last season and would have likely been drafted had he left early for the NBA. There are few players who have benefitted more from staying a second year in college than Jaden Ivey. Ivey alleviated concerns surrounding three-point shooting by displaying “in the gym” range and shooting an impressive 36% from deep (10% higher than last season) with some of those looks coming with a high degree of difficulty. I describe Ivey as being part John Wall and part Russell Westbrook with the potential to be a better shooter than both. That’s worth a look in the top three, if you ask me. The main concern surrounding Ivey is his decision-making as a primary playmaker. Sometimes, Ivey gets out of control and turns the ball over, which should definitely be a fixable problem. His mind has not caught up with his body yet in pace of play, but that will come.

3. Chet Holmgren

2021-22: 14.1 Points – 9.9 Rebounds – 1.9 Assists

Chet’s ceiling could be as a generational player. Holmgren very much falls under the category of “unicorn” when discussing basketball player archetypes, but unicorns don’t always work out or maximize their potential. There is no denying Holmgren’s aptitude as a shooter or his long, Gazellian-like strides in transition that make him difficult to guard and stay in front of defensively. Chet has solid functional basketball strength, but he is still very thin and that can be problematic. There have been instances of Holmgren getting backed down in the post by stronger players, which is a cause for concern. He also lacks quickness, which could ultimately limit his upside. Holmgren could be some combination of Kristaps Porzingis and Aleksej Pokuševski in the NBA.

4. Jabari Smith

2021-22: 16.9 Points – 7.4 Rebounds – 2.0 Assists

There are few shooters in college that shoot better than Jabari Smith Jr, and he is a whopping 6-foot-10. In recent years, there have been few better stretch four prospects than Smith. This season, Smith posted a shooting split of 43/42/80; the impressiveness of this cannot be overstated. Smith also has the ability to shoot over smaller defenders and drive by larger defenders, making him a difficult guard at any level. There are a few aspects of Smith’s game, which could potentially limit his ceiling (albeit a little), that I don’t think most experts are paying attention to, though. Smith looks awkward as a get-it-and-go forward in transition, unsure of what to do, when to make a play, and when to pull it out and start the half-court offense. Additionally, his dribbling needs improvement as he can put it on the deck for straight-line drives, but won’t get around many high-quality defenders at the next level. No one will be asking Smith to go coast-to-coast off the defensive glass or dribble like Kyrie, so these concerns are minor. Any Kevin Durant comps need to chill way out, though.

5. Dyson Daniels

2021-22: 11.3 Points – 5.9 Rebounds – 4.4 Assists

Daniels will continue the line of intriguing Australian prospects that have exceptional IQ and feel for the game. He will be following in the footsteps of last draft’s high-riser, Josh Giddey, who has demonstrated very valuable skills in just his first season in the league. Rumors of Daniels shooting up to 6-foot-8 have NBA front offices drooling for a chance to draft him. It was not too long ago he was 6-foot-4, and even then, was a mid-to-late first-round prospect. He could continue to climb these boards over the next month or two, so keep an eye on him.

6. Shaedon Sharpe

2021-22: n/a

Shaedon Sharpe could be the biggest hit-or-miss prospect in the NBA Draft, should he choose to declare, and is widely regarded as the biggest mystery this year. Sharpe enrolled at Kentucky in the second semester after he graduated high school early. It was decided that he would not play, and therefore, there is no footage of him competing at the collegiate level. Sharpe’s prep school highlights show him as an uber-athletic off-guard with a smooth offensive game. His ability to create space between himself and the defender off the dribble without pushing off is very impressive. If Sharpe can develop craft around the rim, and a slightly quicker first move off the bounce, then he should have a successful NBA career.

7. Benn Mathurin

2021-22: 17.7 Points – 5.6 Rebounds – 2.5 Assists

Benn Mathurin is such an incredibly solid prospect in this year’s draft, and I think that despite his high ranking in most mocks, he’s somewhat overlooked. Mathurin’s shooting mechanics are as pure as virtually anyone in this draft. His ability to shoot on catch-and-shoots, handoffs, and off-the-dribble will make him incredibly valuable in the NBA. The fact that Mathurin is roughly 6-foot-7 with a plus wingspan helps his switchability at the next level; if he puts on more muscle to his frame, there’s no reason why he couldn’t reasonably switch “1-4.” Defense is another huge positive for Mathurin and there’s no reason he couldn’t immediately impact that end of the floor at the next level. Mathurin has All-Star upside if he continues to hone his craft around the rim and finishing ability when he’s not getting a clean liftoff in the lane.

8. Jalen Duren

2021-22: 12.0 Points – 8.1 Rebounds – 1.3 Assists

If it were the 1990s or even early 2000s, Jalen Duren would likely be a top two or three pick in this draft. Unfortunately, because it is not, he will drop a bit in this one. Still, Duren possesses a rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism that enamor scouts and execs alike: think lite Dwight Howard athletically, but with playmaking upside. Duren is massive: he’s 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan! Duren was the anchor behind the Tigers’ elite defense this season, and his potential switchability at the next level off of ball screens makes him an eye-popping prospect. Despite not being much of a ball-handler at this point, Duren flashes a high passing IQ on high-lows and out of the post (cross-court passes, finds cutters, etc…) His shooting mechanics aren’t bad; he’s fairly fluid in the mid-range, despite not taking many shots there. Developing a three-point shot is a long-term hope, but if he found a way to do that, he could end up being one of the best prospects in this draft.

9. Keegan Murray

2021-22: 23.5 Points – 8.7 Rebounds – 1.5 Assists

There may not be a more natural scorer in college basketball than Keegan Murray. Murray finished fourth in the NCAA in points per game and did it in the Big Ten, which is a league that tends to pride itself on its defense. Murray comes from the same “school” as Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Benn Mathurin, and Mark Williams in that sometimes it is good to come back for a second year. Despite not looking overwhelmingly strong, Murray has terrific lower body stability and functional basketball strength; he finishes incredibly well through contact in the post and down low. Another aspect to like about Murray is how he can take defenders off the dribble with the ability to create his own shot. Opposing small forwards will get a dose of “bully ball” in the post, and power forwards can’t possibly stay in front of, or contest, Murray due to his handle and quickness. There is significant upside for Murray to turn into a more consistent perimeter threat, in a primary scoring role.

10. A.J. Griffin

2021-22: 10.4 Points – 3.9 Rebounds – 1.0 Assists

Griffin has an undeniably accurate three-point shot and managed to post a 50/45/80 shooting split in 39 games for the Blue Devils. Additionally, Griffin is spectacular at creating his own shot off the bounce with various impressive dribble-combos and ballerina-esque footwork. Weirdly enough, Griffin did not have a definable role for Duke, and only logged just over 24 minutes per game. My main concern about Griffin is his vertical athleticism, which is strange because he’s a stellar athlete off two feet. However, there has been some visible regression between his senior year in high school and his freshman year of college in his bounce and I wonder if that has anything to do with his knee injuries.

11. Jaden Hardy

2021-22: 17.7 Points – 4.6 Rebounds – 3.2 Assists

Coming into this season, many people, including myself, viewed Jaden Hardy as a legitimate top five or top ten pick. In terms of shot creation and craft, Hardy is at the top of this class; he uses hesitations, change-of-speed, and change-of-directions masterfully for such a young age. Jaden certainly possesses great vertical athletic ability and straight-line speed but has several areas to work on if he wants to be a premier NBA player. Defense and efficiency are two obvious issues. How will he mesh with teams if he is missing a lot of shots and then not strapping up on the other end of the floor? If he can’t “get up” to play defense in the G-League, then there’s no guarantee he will do it in the NBA.

12. Nikola Jovic

2021-22: 11.7 Points – 4.4 Rebounds – 3.4 Assists

I won’t ever apologize for getting excited about a 6-foot-10 two-guard that has solid shooting mechanics, impressive ball-handling, good straight-line speed, and flashes glimpses of shot-creating potential. If there was one word to describe Jovic, it would be “fluidity.” There are few players in the world that stand at 6-foot-10, let alone ones that have a “fluid grace” about their game. Specifically, Jovic’s feet are bouncy and don’t get stuck to the floor; he does not have a great change of direction in his game yet, but he projects as a player who could in the future. Like any 6-foot-10, 19-year old guard/forward (there has never been a perfect one coming into the draft), there are some concerns, particularly around his left hand. Jovic has to develop his left hand as much as his right to be an effective and consistent driver/finisher. Regardless, he is a tremendous prospect and well-worth a lottery pick for a team that can wait a few years.

13. Mark Williams

2021-22: 11.2 Points – 7.4 Rebounds – 0.9 Assists

For as long as I cover the NBA, there will always be a place for a player like Mark Williams. Williams is tall, long, strong, and athletic: everything you want in a rim-running, rim-protecting center. His spacial awareness, footwork, and lower body strength allow him to control the paint and terrorize opponents. Williams’ interior defensive ability alone would get him drafted in the lottery, but he also possesses great pick-and-roll IQ and finishing ability. His wingspan is reportedly an astonishing 7-foot-7. Since 2009-10, Williams holds the sixth-highest PER (player efficiency rating) over a collegiate career; he has been one of the most efficient players in the nation from the floor. Also, Williams shoots it fairly well from the charity stripe for a center. If he ever can develop a mid-range jump shot, look out!

14. Johnny Davis

2021-22: 19.7 Points – 8.2 Rebounds – 2.1 Assists

Another sophomore surprise, Johnny Davis had a phenomenal year in his second go around. Davis has a very “Devin Booker-like” feel to his mid-range game. He can hit pull-ups off the bounce, with a post-fade, or just by jab-stepping you hard to put you on your heels and rising up. There are few players in today’s NBA that can pull off relying so much on the mid-range for their offensive output. However, there is little doubt that Davis falls into that category. Three-point shooting is the biggest question mark for Davis; he started the season relatively hot but cooled way down by the end of the season. Still, Johnny’s patience off of ball screens, efficiency from mid-range, functional vertical athleticism, and craft make him a lottery-draftable player with a high floor.

15. Ousmane Dieng

2021-22: 8.9 Points – 3.2 Rebounds – 1.1 Assists

Dieng is one of my favorite long-term prospects in this year’s draft. He’s a towering 6-foot-10 forward with potentially projectable PnR (pick-and-roll) ball-handler capabilities. His jump shot is a work-in-progress, but there are no major hitches or concerns; he just needs to get stronger and tweak a few small things. Defense is a major selling point for Dieng. Once he puts on more muscle to his currently slender frame, I expect he could guard 3-5 and even contest perimeter shots on 1s and 2s. There’s little doubt about how raw he is, though, as he will need several years to adapt to the NBA game. Once he grows into his body, puts on more weight, and develops his game, Dieng could end up being one of the better prospects in this draft class!

16. Tari Eason

2021-22: 16.9 Points – 6.6 Rebounds – 1.0 Assists

Tari Eason has pro written all over him with his combination of strength, athleticism, finishing, and body control! Eason has shot up draft boards from a second-rounder, at best, to a potential lottery pick after a successful season at LSU. After transferring from Cincinnati at the conclusion of his freshman season, Eason was put in front of better competition all season long; no one could use an argument against him about the competition he was playing. Concerns around Eason include his shooting mechanics, discipline, and basketball IQ. Oftentimes, Eason makes strange decisions on the floor that are hard to explain, especially fouling opponents 30+ feet from the basket. While a strong ball-handler for his size and position, I wouldn’t count on Eason to ever be a primary playmaker at the next level.

17. Jalen Williams

2021-22: 18.0 Points – 4.4 Rebounds – 4.2 Assists

There may not have been a bigger winner during the NBA combine than Jalen Williams. Williams impressed in the 5v5 scrimmages, showing off his obvious scoring and facilitating talent and proving that being at a smaller school does not minimize his translatability to the next level. Additionally, Williams measured well with a wingspan of nearly 7-foot-3 inches! The biggest concern for Williams heading into this season was his shooting, but he put that to rest by finishing with a 51/40/81 shooting split on a significant amount of volume. On a team like Santa Clara, Williams was constantly the focus of opposing defenses, so these incredible shooting stats further prove he’s one of the most well-rounded players in this draft. Jalen’s apparent ability to facilitate for others should make him a mid-first-round pick without much shock to anyone who has watched his tape.

18. Malaki Branham

2021-22: 13.7 Points – 3.6 Rebounds – 2.0 Assists

Malaki Branham is one of the better shooting prospects in the 2022 draft class, putting together an impressive 50/42/83 shooting split this season! Branham is a superb catch-and-shoot threat from deep and loves elevating in the mid-range to get looks over defenders who went over on ball screens or bigs who don’t step up off the switch. Additionally, he’s a fluid athlete with above-average vertical athleticism. His plus wingspan will help him defensively against taller two-guards in the league considering he’s only 6-foot-5. Branham is a high-floor prospect who has a moderate ceiling if he can continue to develop his playmaking and scoring abilities on offense!

19. Patrick Baldwin Jr

2021-22: 12.1 Points – 5.8 Rebounds – 1.5 Assists

This one will likely come crashing down on me in an apocalyptic way, but I will die on this hill. Patrick Baldwin has projectable shooting mechanics and scoring capabilities as a 6-foot-9 forward. Plenty of moments throughout this season have still made me gasp in awe; don’t let the media and sports gurus’ narrative completely dictate your opinion on his skill. Baldwin passes the eye test and has the potential to be an All-Star in the NBA if he avoids injury. This guy was a consensus top-three pick merely six months ago, so don’t box him out quite yet. He could get grabbed in the mid-first round by a team willing to take a big risk, much like the Memphis Grizzlies’ last draft with Ziaire Williams. The major downside with Baldwin has been his combine measurements, which were incredibly underwhelming.

20. Jeremy Sochan

2021-22: 9.2 Points – 6.4 Rebounds – 1.8 Assists

Sochan joins the already-vast list of unorthodox and raw players in this year’s draft! At 6-foot-9 with a plus wingspan, Sochan has the size and length to play at the next level. What is impressive about Sochan is how well he moves for being that tall and long. Most guys that size move without much coordination and it can be difficult to build much with that at the next level. However, Sochan has advanced coordination for his size and has glimpses of brilliance in transition (he can get it and go) or playmaking in the half-court. The great thing about Sochan is that he should see an NBA floor fairly quickly solely because of his defense and energy. Gaining that experience at a young age and then building on your offensive skill set over time is a recipe for success for a professional prospect. Shooting is a slight concern as his efficiency behind the arc and at the charity stripe is below average.

21. Ochai Agbaji

2021-22: 18.8 Points – 5.1 Rebounds – 1.6 Assists

The Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Ochai Agbaji, capped off a strong collegiate career with a National Championship. Agbaji shined in the final two games for the Jayhawks when the lights were the brightest, forcing scouts to forget about struggles earlier in the tournament. Agbaji projects as a solid 3-and-D wing with above 40% shooting from deep and the length and athleticism to defend at a high level. He’s a bit older than most of these other prospects, but that should not be too much of a detriment to his draft stock. Agbaji’s an explosive athlete that can make game-breaking plays. The only downside is that his ceiling may be limited to secondary scoring.

22. TyTy Washington

2021-22: 12.5 Points – 3.5 Rebounds – 3.9 Assists

TyTy Washington should be the first true point guard off the board once the 2022 NBA Draft starts. Washington had a successful season at Kentucky, despite a rough ending for the Wildcats. His end-to-end speed is possibly top of the class (Jaden Ivey is up there, too) and his floater reminds me a lot of Immanuel Quickley. Additionally, Washington is a terrific passer and throws precise passes to rolling bigs or spot-up shooters on the opposite wing or baseline. There are a few areas where Washington will have to improve if he wants to be a long-time starting point guard in the league. It concerns me a bit that Washington can’t seem to get to or around the rim much. There’s nothing wrong with his floater; it is highly effective and causes defenses to question how hard to run him off the three-point line and whether or not bigs should step up to meet him in the lane. However, he will need to either work on his craft around the rim or develop a Chris Paul-caliber mid-range shot. His physique is another thing that raises a yellow flag for me. Bigger guards in the NBA will get him in foul trouble and his defensive prowess is not quite up to par.

23. Jake LaRavia

2021-22: 14.6 Points – 6.6 Rebounds – 3.7 Assists

Watch me get a ton of hate mail for this and just not care one single bit. Jake LaRavia is on my list of players that I believe I’m right about and everyone else is wrong about (think Ayo Dosunmu of last year.) The tape and the eye test do not lie: LaRavia is an NBA-caliber basketball player with a much higher ceiling than advertised. LaRavia posted nearly 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists flashing one of the most complete offensive skillsets in this year’s draft. He can quite literally play any position from point guard through power forward and even could body up with some centers if he put a bit more muscle on his frame. Jake shot a scorching 38.4% from deep this season with nearly a 61% eFG% (effective field goal percentage), flaunting his pure shooting stroke. His passing immediately translates to the next level as well, which further pushes the narrative that he’s one of the most complete offensive weapons in this year’s draft. If there is any knock on his game, it would be that he lacks superb vertical athleticism, but he still has no issues getting off the ground for alley-oops and one-handed punches.

24. E.J. Liddell

2021-22: 19.4 Points – 7.9 Rebounds – 2.5 Assists

Liddell is one of the more complete players in the draft, and this could be partially due to his age; however, he has always evolved his game when it was necessary. Liddell needed to trim some weight and get in shape, and he did it. Additionally, he needed to extend his range to behind the arc throughout his latter collegiate years, and he did that, too. E.J. is a terrific basketball player who could easily fill a small-ball four role almost immediately for a win-now team. Look for him to get selected in the first round.

25. Blake Wesley

2021-22: 14.4 Points – 3.7 Rebounds – 2.4 Assists

Wesley was born a natural scorer and has carried that all the way through his time at Notre Dame. This season featured many highs and lows for Wesley, who has had both impressive flashes of primary scoring capabilities and supreme athleticism, but also streaky shooting resulting in inefficiency (think Texas Tech.) Wesley is extremely explosive and has an elite first step that allows him to get defenders on his hip at a high level. His major concerns are shooting, efficiency, and consistency: which Blake Wesley will show up on any given night? Wesley projects as a pick in the 20’s simply because he’s still somewhat of a flier, in my opinion. There is very little guaranteed with him right now.

26. Bryce McGowens

2021-22: 16.8 Points – 5.2 Rebounds – 1.4 Assists

McGowens has a knack for scoring, averaging nearly 17 points per game as a freshman in a conference (Big Ten) that is known for its defense. He was another player that saw opposing teams’ best defenders in every single game; there was no hiding at all. An improvement to McGowens’ three-point shooting will make him an exceptional three-level scorer at the next level given his size and length. The main issues with McGowens’ game right now are his defense and creating for others. Given the amount of usage McGowens had, 1.4 assists per game is a pretty poor stat. On the other end of the floor, McGowens constantly got hunted and would oftentimes get caught flat-footed. His lack of lateral quickness was exposed. Still, there’s a lot to like about a player that can score in bunches rather easily. He’s still really young, so the upside is there.

27. Dalen Terry

2021-22: 8.0 Points – 4.8 Rebounds – 3.9 Assists

Terry is another player who is somewhat of a late-riser in the NBA Draft. After a successful season at Arizona, Terry decided to test the waters, and execs and organizations responded positively. There are not a lot of players like Terry; he’s fun to play with and has an exceptionally positive and contagious personality that makes him an ideal teammate. He also does all of the small things on the floor that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. Terry can play either guard spot at roughly 6-foot-7, which is impressive. Also, he is great in transition and a willing passer. Dalen has explosive vertical athleticism and is one of the faster straight-line runners in the draft. He could be a glue guy on a championship team, and that is a no-brainer in the late-first round.

28. Kennedy Chandler

2021-22: 13.9 Points – 3.2 Rebounds – 4.7 Assists

Chandler is another true point guard that makes up for the size he lacks in his high basketball IQ, craft, ball-handling, and decision-making. He led the Tennessee Volunteers to an unbelievable season and posted roughly 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds on a 46/38/61 shooting split. He’s quick, shifty, and a blur in one-on-one and open floor scenarios. Chandler also projects as a solid shooter off the dribble, which is imperative as a lead guard in the NBA, due to the sheer amount of PnRs. What concerns me about Chandler is that I see a very similar type of player to a Yogi Ferrell, both of which are phenomenal basketball players. Unfortunately, Ferrell bounded around from team to team for a while, and unless Chandler becomes a Chris Paul surrogate, that could be the same destiny for him.

29. Wendell Moore

2021-22: 13.4 Points – 5.3 Rebounds – 4.4 Assists

Wendell Moore was a jack-of-all-trades type of player for the Duke Blue Devils in their successful Final Four run this season! Moore shot at a spectacular clip with a split of 50/41/81 despite having an unconventional release point on his jump shot. He also boasts superb vertical athleticism and speed, which is apparent in his one-handed tomahawks and stellar rebounding ability for a 6-foot-5 forward. Moore is slightly undersized but could project as a two at the next level, so it’s not as much of a concern. Because of his adept passing ability and high basketball IQ, I could see Moore as a Bruce Brown type of player.

30. Kendall Brown

2021-22: 9.7 Points – 4.9 Rebounds – 1.9 Assists

Mega-athlete. That’s one word to describe the 6-foot-8 forward out of Baylor. Brown had too many highlight dunks to count in 2022, which makes for quite the lengthy highlight tape. Obviously, Brown’s combination of size and straight-line speed (he’s a jet) make him an intriguing prospect, but when you combine that with his ability to put the ball on the deck and create, he becomes a surefire first-rounder. Brown’s shooting and playmaking for others are the two main concerns for me. His shooting stroke has a few minor issues, but no major hitches. Brown’s ceiling may be limited if he can’t develop the ability to get others open or find them when they are open.