Three NBA Prospects to Watch

With the NBA season, G League action, and NCAA competition looming on the horizon, these three prospects command our attention, offering a glimpse into the league’s future.

1. F Matas Buzelis | G-League Ignite

Matas Buzelis is currently regarded as the top prospect of this upcoming NBA draft class.

While things could undoubtedly change, and Buzelis certainly isn’t anywhere near the talent level of Victor Wembanyama, nor does he have the same hype, for now, Buzelis is slated to go number one.

What separates Buzelis from the rest is his size. Buzelis currently stands at 6’11” and has the skill set to run essentially any position he wants on the floor.

This fact removes the skill versus position debate many teams find themselves in when deciding who they want to draft. The most recent example of this occurred in the past draft when the Charlotte Hornets took forward Brandon Miller over guard Scoot Henderson.

Buzelis’ greatest strength on the court is his ability to finish at the rim at a high percentage. Buzelis shot 63% on two-point field goal attempts in high school. Thanks to his size and ability to play multiple positions, Buzelis can become a matchup nightmare for smaller guards and slower forwards and centers.

Another plus to Buzelis’ game is his playmaking ability. Buzelis averaged 1.8 assists this past season but has plenty of room to grow. Furthermore, as the NBA has shifted into a positionless game, having a player with height that can distribute the ball effectively is a huge advantage.

That said, there are still some holes in Buzelis’ game that could improve prior to the draft.

To start, Buzelis cannot hit threes at a consistent rate. During his senior year of high school, Buzelis only shot 27% from three. Additionally, Buzelis’ shooting mechanics could use some improvement as well. When Buzelis takes a three, not only does the ball’s release look awkward, but the release is noticeably slow, giving opposing defenders a better chance at closing in on Buzelis from the perimeter.

The next main concern with Buzelis is his defensive ability. While Buzelis isn’t the worst defender, as he averaged 1.6 blocks this past season, it could improve, especially at the perimeter.

However, improving his defense shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Since Buzelis took the professional route over the college route, opposing players will be much more physically developed and more challenging to defend, leading to better development for Buzelis.

If Buzelis loses the crown of being the top prospect this upcoming draft, he’s still in good hands. Four G League Ignite players have been selected in the top ten in the past three drafts.

2. F Ron Holland | G League Ignite

Ron Holland is more than talented enough to challenge his teammate, Matas Buzelis, as the top prospect for this draft class. What skills Buzelis lacks on the court, Holland makes up for at the cost of a smaller frame. Holland stands at 6’8”, three inches shorter than Buzelis.

On the offensive side of the ball, Holland is a do-it-all prospect who can score at all three levels. During his senior year of high school, Holland scored 20.3 points per game, shooting 54.4% from the field. While Holland isn’t a knockdown shooter from three, he can hit threes at a solid enough rate to make him a threat from deep.

His ability to create his own shot and motor separates Holland from other prospects. Having these abilities at Holland’s age gives him an incredible advantage over his peers on the court.

Defensively, Holland plays with the same motor he has on offense. Notably, Holland averaged two steals a game on his way to leading his high school squad, the Duncanville Panthers, to three consecutive state championships.

When it comes to Holland’s weaknesses, there are very few.

Due to his ferocious offensive style, he tends to turn the ball over a few more times than one would like, especially as a forward. However, considering Holland is still just 18, this problem will be solved with time.

So, at this point, many may be wondering why Buzelis is touted as the top prospect in the draft when compared to Holland, as it seems Holland is a more complete prospect than Buzelis.

It’s purely due to Buzelis’ size. Buzelis can grow as a prospect in the areas that Holland excels in compared to Buzelis. However, Holland cannot extend into the frame that Buzelis possesses.

Despite this, Holland remains the most complete prospect to look out for this upcoming season for the G League Ignite. If Holland isn’t selected first, he will go in the top three of this upcoming NBA Draft.

3. G Isaiah Collier | USC

Collier is the most gifted guard in this class of prospects.

What stands out most about Collier is his versatility when attacking the rim and his playmaking ability. Collier has the speed to make it to the rim with force and has the strength to progress to the bucket with ease slowly.

In terms of his playmaking, Collier proves to be an outstanding floor general for his age. Collier can run an offense purely through himself and has excellent pick-and-roll skills. Notably, during his senior year at Wheeler High School, Collier averaged 6.8 assists.

Collier definitely has room for improvement from the three-point line but is still a solid three-point shooter. Collier shot 38 percent from three his senior year in high school, but seeing that the three-point line will move back when he plays at USC, he’ll likely hit threes at about an average rate.

Defensively, Collier is solid but can be a little jumpy at times. In some instances, Collier can play with too much hostility. In other words, Collier attacks the ball handler a little too much. Considering he stands at 6’4”, the tools to be a solid defender are there; he just needs to slow it down on defense.

Looking ahead to the draft, Collier is a slam-dunk top-five pick. Collier is miles ahead of other guards in the playmaking category and will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

As the NBA season slowly approaches, so do the G League and NCAA seasons. It will only be a matter of time until we see the future of the league on display.