Monday night's college basketball national championship between Gonzaga and North Carolina may not feature any Top-10 NBA prospects, but Zach Collins and Justin Jackson are doing their best to change that--and are quickly rising in the newest 2017 mock draft.
After combining for seven points and eight fouls against West Virginia and Xavier, Collins--a freshman who comes off the Zags' bench and averages just 17.3 minutes per contest--was looking like a strong bet to return to Spokane next year. But then came the Final Four. With Przemek Karnowski battling an eye injury and Johnathan Williams having his least effective game of the tourney, Collins logged a season-high 23 minutes and responded with 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in a transcendent performance. It was a stark reminder that this is one of the most talented freshmen in the country with some of the best per-40 minutes among the Top 100 prospects. He's a seven-footer with a polished offensive game, just as capable of scoring with his back to the basket as he is stepping out and knocking down a jumper. “The skill set is off the charts, and he has a great feel for the game,” one NBA director of player personnel told Sports Illustrated. “He has a mid-range game and can play short corner. He plays the pick-and-pop game with ease and will be huge in the pick-and-roll game.” Collins has yet to make a decision for next year, but he's moving up draft boards, and another big performance against North Carolina's NBA-sized frontcourt would go a long way in cementing himself as a Top-20 pick.
Then there's Jackson, who is a former McDonald's All-American like Collins but has taken a decidedly different path through college. An enigma with an inconsistent jump shot through his first two years, he turned into a dominant force as a junior. He won ACC Player of the Year and has been a monster in the NCAA tourney, averaging 20.2 points (46.7 percent shooting, 41.7 percent from three-point range), 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals. His unstoppable mid-range game has drawn comparison to Rip Hamilton, and he's looking more and more like a lottery pick with every subsequent game.
There will be some other intriguing prospects on the court Monday night, from Carolina's Tony Bradley to Gonzaga's Killian Tilie, but if we're talking about the 2017 draft, the ones to watch will certainly be Jackson and Collins. You can click through the gallery to see where they land in my newest mock draft, as well as predictions for the other 28 first-round picks. Note that draft order is based on standings as of April 2, 2017. (Getty)
1. Boston Celtics: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
Age: 18 (May 29, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-4, 195 pounds
Nothing that happened during the NCAA tournament came close to moving Fultz off the No. 1 line for me. You could perhaps make the argument that a few other prospects in this class have a higher upside, but Fultz in unmatched in terms of offensive polish--which is especially impressive considering he's seven months younger than Lonzo Ball. He's big, he's long, he's explosive, he's really good in the pick-and-roll, he can get to the rim at will, and he answered questions about his jump shot by knocking down 41.3 percent of his threes despite often having to create on his own.
The Celtics have a bit of a crowded backcourt, but that doesn't matter when you have a chance to add the clear-cut best player in the draft. Fultz gives the C's an elite scorer and distributor at point guard when Isaiah Thomas goes to the bench, but he has also shown the ability to play off the ball and could fit next to the fellow former Husky. (Getty)
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Age: 19 (October 27, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
Josh Jackson is going to be awfully compelling here, but getting a potential generational passer and distributor would be the best-case scenario for the Lake Show. Not only would Ball's passing immediately improve a Lakers squad that ranks 27th in assist ratio, but it would be beneficial for younger players like Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac, and it would allow D'Angelo Russell to stay at the 2, where he has been so good down the stretch of this season.
Ball's college basketball finale was a forgetful one, but that shouldn't ultimately reverse a remarkable season in which he was one of the most efficient players in the nation and turned UCLA into a well-oiled offensive machine. (Getty)
3. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Age: 20 (February 10, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-8, 207 pounds
The Suns--losers of 11 straight--are doing their best to get that No. 2 pick, but the Lakers are just too good (at tanking). For now, though, it doesn't really matter because Jackson is the best option for a Phoenix squad that already has a talented young backcourt in Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis.
Not only does the Kansas star bring game-changing defensive potential to a team that ranks 27th in the league in defensive rating, but his offensive game improved greatly down the stretch. His athleticism makes him a menace in the open court, he's a really good passer, and if he continues to get more consistent as a shooter, you're looking at an elite two-way player. (Getty)
4. Orlando Magic: Jayson Tatum, PF, Duke
Age: 19 (March 3, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-8, 205 pounds
The Magic rank 29th in the NBA in offensive rating, 28th in field-goal percentage and 27th in points per game. An offensive spark is desperately needed.
Enter Tatum, whose unique blend of size (6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan) and ability to score at all three levels makes him a potential matchup problem at the next level. Bigger defenders will struggle with his quickness on the perimeter, while smaller defenders won't be able to stop him from rising up and shooting over them. He's exactly what the Magic need a position they lack. (Getty)
5. Philadelphia 76ers: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Age: 19 (February 4, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
With Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and a hopefully healthy Joel Embiid, the Sixers have a lot of intriguing pieces. They do, however, lack scoring and athleticism in the backcourt--as evidenced by the fact they've been starting T.J. McConnell and Gerald Henderson for much of the season.
Monk can be streaky, but at the end of the day he still averaged 19.8 points, shot 39.7 percent on 6.9 three-point attempts per game, had a true-shooting percentage of 58.6, and was often unguardable. With Simmons likely stepping in at point guard, it makes sense for the Sixers to add the best scoring 2 in the class. (Getty)
6. New York Knicks: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Age: 19 (December 20, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-3, 187 pounds
Point guard is an obvious position of need for the Knicks, especially now that Derrick Rose (who was probably gone in free agency anyways) has a torn meniscus. Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. are both going to get a long look--and I keep going back and forth between all three of them--but Fox's performance in the NCAA tournament, especially his 39-point outburst against Lonzo Ball and UCLA, was enough to give him the edge.
Though his three-point shot still needs work, he has the quickness to get to the rim with ease and the mid-range game to be effective even if defenders play off him. He's an electric talent, and he would instantly inject some energy into the Knicks lineup. (Getty)
No. 9 Dallas Mavericks: SF Jonathan Isaac
School: Florida State
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'10"/210 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, .508 FG%, .348 3P%
Outlook: If the draft plays out like we have predicted, the Mavs will likely be choosing between two players if they end up with the No. 9 pick. The Mavs have shown a propensity for selecting international player, and Frank Ntilikina is in play here. Dallas might prefer the upside that Isaac offers them. He was once mentioned as a potential top-five pick but that seems unlikely at this point. Isaac's best basketball is ahead of him, but it is unclear how high his ceiling is. What we do know is he can play both forward positions and will be able to contribute in a few different categories when he enters the league. (Getty)
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Age: 19 (May 22, 1997)
Size: 7-foot-0, 230 pounds
There will continue to be questions about Markkanen's defense and interior game, but this is a 7-footer who is also one of the best shooters in the draft. Putting him in an offense that already includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio and (when healthy) Zach LaVine would make the T-Wolves extremely difficult to match up with. (Getty)
9. Dallas Mavericks: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Age: 18 (July 28, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-5, 170 pounds
The Mavericks need a point guard of the future, and they have two choices in Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. While the latter's athleticism makes him really compelling, look for the Mavs--a franchise used to competing rather than rebuilding--to go with the "safer" option.
Ntilikina's blend of size, length, and defense is what makes him a relatively safe prospect off the bat (good perimeter defenders who can match up with both guard positions will always have a role), but he also has plenty of upside: He'll be one of the youngest players in the draft (two months younger than Fultz) and is continually improving as an offensive player, which he showed during the 2016 Under-18 European Championships. (Getty)
No. 8 Sacramento Kings: PG Dennis Smith Jr.
School: NC State
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.6 rpg, .455 FG%, .359 3P%
Outlook: Things are looking up for the Kings. If all goes as planned, Sacramento will have two picks in the top ten. They freed themselves from a contentious situation with Boogie Cousins who was not leading their team to wins on the court. Additionally, they will not have to pay up to keep him as they would have felt obligated to offer him a mega-extension. Dennis Smith is the best player on the board at this point in the draft. If Smith is surrounded by the right coaching staff, he has the potential to be a bright, young point guard. The downside is fans saw what happened when that was not the case at the end of the NC State season. (Getty)
11. Detroit Pistons: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
12. Charlotte Hornets: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
13. Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
14. Indiana Pacers: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
15. Miami Heat: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
16. Chicago Bulls: T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
17. Portland Trail Blazers: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
18. Atlanta Hawks: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
19. Milwaukee Bucks: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
20. Portland Trail Blazers: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
22. Toronto Raptors: Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia
23. Brooklyn Nets: Harry Giles, PF, Duke
24. Orlando Magic: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
25. Utah Jazz: Edmond Sumner, PG/SG, Xavier
26. Portland Trail Blazers: Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
27. Brooklyn Nets: Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, Syracuse
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide
29. San Antonio Spurs: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
30. Utah Jazz: Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
NBA Mock Draft 2017: 1st-Round Predictions, National Championship Edition