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Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo
Jan 2, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
Another month, another change at the top of our NBA draft board.
Isaiah Collier was previously ranked No. 1, but the USC freshman guard struggled to score in December as the Trojans have lost five of their past six games.
As a result, the steady Alex Sarr is now No. 1 in ESPN's top 25 rankings. The 7-foot-1 big has continued to improve for Perth this season in the NBL after initially moving up draft boards following his two-game outing against the G League Ignite in September.
One prospect making a jump of nearly 20 spots to crack the top 15 is Purdue's Zach Edey, the reigning national player of the year. Edey returned to school for his senior season, and his game has found another gear against some of the top teams in college basketball.
Conference play is here, so these rankings -- complied by NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony, with Jeremy Woo assisting in providing analysis -- will change as we inch closer to June's 2024 NBA draft.
Check back all season as we inform you of the risers and fallers of this unpredictable draft class.
Rankings and writeups last updated: Tuesday, Jan. 2.
1. Alex Sarr | PF/C | Perth
7-1 | Age: 18.6 | Previously ranked: 2
Sarr continues to produce for Perth, winners of nine of their past 11 games, stringing together some of his best games of the season in December. He plays a compact, efficient role as a cutter, roller and offensive rebounder, with plenty of freedom to demonstrate his versatile skill set pushing off the defensive glass and facilitating as a passer, making perimeter shots in a variety of ways, and showing his excellent footwork and soft touch as a finisher. Sarr ranks among the NBL's best shot-blockers, but he is highly switchable on the perimeter with his quick feet, long arms and outstanding mobility. Adding strength and becoming a more physical rebounder will be important, but it's difficult to nitpick his play too much considering his productivity versus high-level compe ion in a situation in which he's not just being spoonfed playing time. Sarr's continued improvement this season, overall consistency and outstanding NBA fit playing a similar role to the likes of Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren makes him a safe choice currently as the potential No. 1 pick. -- Jonathan Givony
2. Zaccharie Risacher | SF | JL Bourg
6-10 | Age: 18.7 | Previously ranked: 3
Risacher emerged this season as a more decisive and confident player, with the size and skill level to play a highly valuable NBA archetype. He's playing a major role on a good Bourg team that has given him a strong runway to develop his game. In a year with no clear No. 1 pick, Risacher's steady trajectory has enhanced his standing as a prospect. There's quite a bit for teams to work with, and the growth he has shown has put him in the conversation at the very top of the draft.
While unlikely to carry an offense with his scoring, Risacher's ability to facilitate, space the floor and attack space off the dribble gives him a good baseline level of versatility and leaves room to evolve. Defensively, he plays an active, intelligent style and can guard multiple positions. As a tall, switchable perimeter player who can mix and match with a wide range of lineups around him -- and one of the younger players in the draft -- Risacher offers a good mix of floor and upside. -- Jeremy Woo
3. Cody Williams | SG/SF | Colorado
6-8 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 10
Currently sidelined with a wrist injury, Williams is expected to return in the coming week, a source told ESPN, and will have a chance to further showcase himself after a solid start to his freshman year. The younger brother of Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, Cody offers intrigue with his mix of size, length, passing instincts and defensive a en, presenting intriguing upside for him to grow on both ends. His body hasn't filled out yet and he's still raw in some areas, without a polished scoring arsenal and consistent jump shot. While more of a playmaker than a go-to guy, when Williams plays assertively, you can see the blueprint for what he might become. There are still some important developmental unknowns -- he'll need some time, particularly if tasked with handling the ball -- but his point-forward mold is certainly interesting to ponder at the top of this draft class. -- Woo
4. Ja'Kobe Walter | SG/SF | Baylor
6-5 | Age: 19.3 | Previously ranked: 4
Walter is having an excellent season for Baylor, scoring prolifically and efficiently while emerging as one of the best freshman shooters in college basketball. He can shoot running off screens, ducking behind handoffs, or drifting into corner 3s, giving him a ready-made NBA skill. Defensively, he plays with great energy and has the potential to develop into a multipositional stopper with his 6-foot-9 wingspan, even if he's far from that at the moment, giving up far too many blow-bys and suffering lapses off the ball.
While there's a comfort level and relatively high floor stemming from his shot-making, length and outstanding intangibles, Walter's upside is limited somewhat by his just-decent burst and explosiveness, a rudimentary handle, and average passing ability, as he doesn't currently project as a high-level shot creator. He didn't have great showings in any of Baylor's biggest nonconference games outside of a season-opening win against Auburn (28 points), so NBA scouts will be monitoring his play in the loaded Big 12 closely to get a better read on his skill level and feel for the game versus high-level compe ion to see whether he can make a run at being a top-three pick. -- Givony
5. Nikola Topic | PG | Red Star
6-7 | Age: 18.3 | Previously ranked: 9
Topic has returned to Red Star Belgrade, the club where he began his career, putting him in position to show different elements of his game against a higher level of compe ion in the EuroLeague. After a historic start to his season with Mega MIS, Topic put himself in the top-five conversation with positional size, creativity and remarkable feel setting him apart, as well as a proclivity for scoring in the paint. NBA teams will closely monitor how his in-season transfer affects his role and production the rest of the season, as he's likely to receive more opportunities to play off the ball and demonstrate his utility. It's not out of the question Topic plays himself higher than this on draft night, considering the dearth of polished lead guards in this class and how advanced he is for his age. -- Woo
6. Tidjane Salaun | PF | Cholet
6-10 | Age: 18.3 | Previously ranked: 15
Salaun had an outstanding December, shooting 17-for-25 from 3 over six games, helping Cholet advance a round in the FIBA Champions League and win three consecutive games in the French league with Salaun entrenched in the starting lineup. The youngest player in LNB Pro A, Salaun is looking increasingly comfortable on both ends of the floor after a slow start. He's showing impressive confidence and shot-making prowess hitting stepback, pullup and deep spot-up 3s, converting 39% of his attempts on the season.
He's also making a significant impact defensively generating turnovers out of Cholet's pressing, switching, trap-heavy system with his outstanding combination of size, length, mobility and intensity, showing impressive agility helping and recovering all over the floor. He's still not a great ball handler, shot creator or passer, and NBA teams will be monitoring the growth of his floor game closely in the second half of the season. At 6-10 and 18 years old, with an enviable frame, physical tools and versatile two-way game, Salaun's sky-high upside could see him drafted as high as the top five if he continues to improve. -- Givony
7. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 18.9 | Previously ranked: 16
Dillingham continues to show growth at Kentucky, settling into a role in a crowded backcourt in which he has been able to create and make a positive impact. While not gifted with great size, Dillingham changes speeds and creates off the dribble as well as anyone in this draft class, and he has shown maturity in his adjustment to college basketball coming from Overtime Elite's more wide-open league. Dillingham's passing and decision-making has been solid, and he's shooting well from deep thus far. There's a variance of opinion on all of Kentucky's prospects -- and Dillingham's lack of great tools and physicality presents concerns as a viable starter, particularly holding up on the defensive end -- but he has certainly helped his standing two months into the season, and there's some significant upside in the way he creates shots. -- Woo
8. Isaiah Collier | PG | USC
6-5 | Age: 19.2 | Previously ranked: 1
Collier had a difficult December, struggling to score (11.8 PPG) with middling efficiency (50% true shooting), as USC dropped five of its past six games. Collier has been well scouted by opponents, as it's clear he wants to drive left and finish with his right hand at seemingly all costs, missing teammates consistently and not having a midrange game to fall back on. He has made just 21% of his 3-pointers in December after a promising start to the season as a shooter and has been inconsistent with his defensive intensity as well, even if he has trended upward in that area recently.
Collier's excellent size, strength, shot-creating prowess in transition and the flashes he shows as a live dribble-passer are intriguing enough to keep him in the top-10 conversation, but his struggles as a finisher, shooter and decision-maker will create some difficult conversations among NBA teams on draft night if he doesn't pick up his play, especially with USC currently 6-7 (0-2 in conference) and not in the NCAA tournament conversation. -- Givony
9. Kyle Filipowski | PF/C | Duke
7-0 | Age: 20.1 | Previously ranked: 11
Filipowski is in the midst of an All-American season, showing significant improvement while making a major impact on both ends of the floor. Possessing the versatility to operate as a roller, post-up threat, one-on-one creator or spot-up shooter, he has an extremely high skill level and feel for the game for a 7-footer. After some early inconsistent play, Filipowski has increased his intensity level defensively as well, posting an impressive 2.6 blocks, 1.6 steals and 9.6 rebounds in December, most notably anchoring Duke's pick-and-roll defense in an important win over Baylor in front of a host of NBA executives at Madison Square Garden. The challenge will now be to translate that to ACC play, where Duke still has work to do on its résumé to be a high enough NCAA tournament seed to make a Final Four run. -- Givony
10. Matas Buzelis | SF | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 19.2 | Previously ranked: 7
Buzelis' December return was a mixed bag: He played a role as Ignite won four of six games, notching a pair of 20-point games against Rip City, then struggled to make his presence felt in two games at the G League Winter Showcase. His long-term appeal is tied primarily to his size and skill level, but he'll need to play with greater all-around consistency and demonstrate more physicality. Still more of a long-term play at this point given his need to add strength, Buzelis will need to back up his ranking with a bit more production to solidify himself as a top-10 prospect. A longer adjustment period to the G League level was predictable here, but he has work to do to back up his lofty preseason standing. -- Woo
11. Ron Holland | SF | G League Ignite
6-7 | Age: 18.4 | Previously ranked: 5
Holland's stock has slipped as scouts have started to figure out his tendencies, amid a disappointing Ignite season that has highlighted both his remarkable athleticism and questionable feel for making decisions. His raw counting stats are notable for a player his age at the G League level, but he has struggled with efficiency, turnovers and 3-point shooting. Holland doesn't look like a player who can handle heavy offensive usage anytime soon. While that projection is less optimistic than it was a few months ago, Holland still offers a strong upside on the defensive end, where he can be highly impactful with his energy and might eventually settle into a solid role. Expectations need to be reframed, but there's still time for Holland to smooth some things out and allow the game to slow down for him. -- Woo
12. Ryan Dunn | SF/PF | Virginia
6-8 | Age: 20.9 | Previously ranked: 12
Dunn profiles as one of the draft's bigger developmental bets. Where a team decides to select him hangs largely on risk tolerance. He's a stellar defender and plus athlete with great potential on that side of the floor, but his offense is a major work in progress, with his jump shot in a nascent stage of development. His role in Virginia's offense (where he works as more of a dive man and screener) is far different than what he'll do in the NBA, but it's also necessitated by Dunn's struggles to space the floor. If a team believes it can develop his shooting, he's a highly intriguing prospect -- but he may wind up somewhat polarizing due to the risk attached. Dunn is just 4-for-21 from 3 in 13 games, so it's likely these concerns follow him into the pre-draft process, where teams will be eager to evaluate his shooting in private workouts. -- Woo
13. Donovan Clingan | C | UConn
7-2 | Age: 19.8 | Previously ranked: 6
Coming off his best performance of the season in a win over Gonzaga, Clingan's choppy sop re campaign was derailed yet again by another foot injury that will cause him to miss most of January. Already having missed a month of preseason with an injury to the same right foot, Clingan was also ruled a game-time decision earlier this month with a toe injury in his left foot. Considering the track record of foot injuries with 7-3 centers in Clingan's mold, this will be something NBA teams will be studying closely in the pre-draft process. Clingan's conditioning did not look up to par in the dozen games he did play this season, where he wasn't running or jumping as effectively as he did as a freshman, with his rebounding and dunk numbers down considerably. Getting back to full strength closer to the NCAA tournament will be imperative for UConn and Clingan. -- Givony
14. Zach Edey | C | Purdue
7-4 | Age: 21.6 | Previously ranked: 32
The runaway favorite to repeat as national player of the year, Edey has found another gear with his conditioning, mobility and productivity, looking noticeably more impactful on both ends of the floor. He has shown better versatility stepping outside the paint defensively, blocking shots prolifically while drawing fouls and dunking even more than usual, finding some real swagger to his game this season.
Edey has done it against many of the top teams in college basketball, with big performances against Arizona, Alabama, Marquette and Tennessee, even showing some new facets to his game as a passer when double-teams inevitably come. While there will surely be some skepticism around his age, lack of perimeter shooting and ability to hold his own as a pick-and-roll defender, Edey has some clear virtues NBA teams can tap into early in his career and is worthy of a fresh look, possibly as a lottery-level prospect in a class lacking sure-fire contributors. -- Givony
15. Kevin McCullar Jr. | SG/SF | Kansas
6-7 | Age: 22.8 | Previously ranked: 18
Amid a workhorse season at Kansas, McCullar continues to play the best basketball of his career, functioning in a demanding two-way role as a high-volume scorer and top wing defender. His NBA role will be highly scaled down, and there will likely still be some skepticism factoring in his age at his level and his surprising leap as a 40% 3-point shooter. But the potential to plug McCullar in immediately on the wing will have appeal in a thinner draft, where front offices might be more justified taking an older, productive prospect over a longer-view project. -- Woo
16. Reed Sheppard | PG/SG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 22
The biggest surprise of the NBA draft cycle thus far, Sheppard has played an essential role in Kentucky's transformation into one of the fastest-paced offenses in college basketball. He has emerged as arguably the best shooter in the class, shooting 28-for-50 from 3 (56%) through 12 games, while showing high-level pace and court vision whipping passes all over the floor with his terrific feel for the game.
This also manifests itself vividly on the defensive end, with Sheppard generating steals and blocks at an outstanding rate. Measured at just 6-2 with a 6-3 wingspan, Sheppard's physical tools are a major question mark, especially since he has struggled at times handling pressure and being swallowed up inside the paint as a primary ball handler versus the better teams Kentucky has faced. As good a defender as he is off the ball, he gets overpowered one-on-one by bigger players as well. For those reasons, SEC compe ion will reveal a lot about Sheppard, particularly in how his role evolves operating behind and alongside Kentucky's other star freshman guards. -- Givony
17. Stephon Castle | PG/SG | UConn
6-6 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 8
Another UConn underclassman who has battled injuries, Castle missed nearly a month because of a meniscus procedure from which he seemingly hasn't fully recovered. Recently reentering the starting lineup, his playing time has ticked up, but he has struggled to make much of an impact offensively. He looks reluctant and limited as a perimeter shooter (1-for-8 from 3), while appearing tentative attacking the rim and struggling to make good decisions with the ball. Defensively, Castle has added more value, being difficult to score on one one-on-one while making an impact flying around with his outstanding length to get in passing lanes and rotate to protect the rim. NBA teams will be patiently waiting to see whether Castle's breakout comes during Big East play, as it's likely he'll either be picked much higher or lower than where he's currently slated, if he does enter the draft at all. -- Givony
