Where Jayhawks Project in the NBA Draft: Pre-NBA Combine

A look at how industry experts are evaluating Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Jalen Wilson, and David McCormack.

Four members of the national champion Kansas Jayhawks will either be playing in the NBA or are testing the NBA waters (five if you count Remy Martin – but we’re focusing on the four that were invited to one of the draft camps this week). Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack are expected to turn professional no matter what, while Christian Braun and Jalen Wilson still have the option to return to school.

Braun and Wilson have until June 1 to make their decision, and a big first step came when Agbaji and Braun were invited to the NBA Combine this week, while Wilson and McCormack received invites to the G League Elite Camp taking place alongside the combine.

Based on performances at these events, as well as individual team workouts, the standing and perception of each player can change dramatically over the next few weeks and ahead of the June 23 draft. We will track this progression as it happens, but first, let’s start with where each stands now. There are dozens of mock drafts and breakdowns out there, but for this exercise, I’m just focusing on six publications:

• The Athletic
• CBS Sports
• ESPN
• The Ringer
• NBADraft.net
• NBA Draft Room

This article is not a mock draft or a prediction of where a player will fall. It is simply a composite of how those in the industry currently see these Jayhawks projecting when we get to June 23.

One reminder: there are only 58 picks in this year’s draft as Milwaukee and Miami have to forfeit second-round picks due to free agency tampering. That’s two fewer opportunities for someone like Wilson and McCormack to have their names called.

Ochai Agbaji

© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic: No. 16 on top 100 big board (updated May 2); No. 13 to Atlanta (April 1 mock draft)

CBS Sports: No. 9 on top 75 big board (updated May 13), No. 7 to Sacramento (May 9 mock draft)

The Ringer: No. 17 on big board (updated April 25); No. 12 to Oklahoma City (updated May 12)

ESPN: No. 14 to Cleveland (updated April 25)

NBADraft.net: No. 11 on big board (updated May 10); No. 11 to New York Knicks (updated April 26)

NBA Draft Room: No. 22 to Memphis (updated May 15)

Virtually everyone has Agbaji as a late lottery pick in the company of Johnny Davis, Benedict Mathurin, and Jeremy Sochan. The combine will be a good chance for Ochai to stand out and maybe move up to the late single digits. His placement will also depend on how the lottery shakes out and the needs/fit of the teams in the 8-14 range. 

Christian Braun

© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic: No. 39 on top 100 big board (updated May 2); No. 32 to Orlando (April 1 mock draft)

CBS Sports: No. 31 on top 75 big board (updated May 13), No. 25 to Boston (May 9 mock draft)

The Ringer: No. 28 on big board (updated April 25); No. 30 to Oklahoma City (updated May 12)

ESPN: No. 28 to Golden State (updated April 25)

NBADraft.net: No. 48 on big board (updated May 10); Not drafted (updated April 26)

NBA Draft Room: No. 45 to New Orleans (updated May 15)

The evaluations are more split with Braun and he has a lot to gain from a good showing at the combine. Given what he can make in NIL at Kansas, a first-round guarantee from a team in the 25-32 range may be what it takes for Braun to keep his name in the draft. A strong combine could make that a reality. 

Jalen Wilson

© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic: Not included on top 100 big board (updated May 2); Not included in mock draft (April 1 mock draft)

CBS Sports: Not on top 75 big board (updated May 13), Not a first-round mock pick (May 9 mock draft)

The Ringer: Not on top 32 big board (updated April 25); Not a first-round mock pick (updated April 25)

ESPN: Not included in mock draft (updated April 25)

NBADraft.net: No. 92 on big board (updated May 10); Not included in mock draft (updated April 26)

NBA Draft Room: Not in top 120 prospects (updated May 15)

Wilson is on the outside looking in right now, and the lack of NBA Combine invite had to be disappointing. Now, Wilson will need to impress at the G League camp and try to raise his stock to being a top-58 pick. But is even that enough to stay in and go pro, or will Wilson take on a bigger role at Kansas and look to make a jump during his junior year?

David McCormack

© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic: Not included on top 100 big board (updated May 2); Not included in mock draft (April 1 mock draft)

CBS Sports: Not on top 75 big board (updated May 13), Not a first-round mock pick (May 9 mock draft)

The Ringer: Not on top 32 big board (updated April 25); Not a first-round mock pick (updated May 12)

ESPN: Not included in mock draft (updated April 25)

NBADraft.net: Not included on big board (updated May 10); Not drafted (updated April 26)

NBA Draft Room: No. 120 prospect (updated May 15)

McCormack will likely not have much to do during draft night at this point, though that could certainly change. Instead, McCormack’s focus will likely be on trying to earn a two-way contract and impress in the summer league, if he’s able. 

 

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