With the 2021-22 college basketball season starting today, let’s take a look at the top freshman prospects looking to impress the nation in their one and done season. The 2022 NBA Draft is already looking like a deep one and these five players are considered the cream of the crop. How they perform during their inaugural college season could go a long way in where they end up getting selected come June.
School: Duke
Hometown: Seattle, WA
DOB: 11/12/2002
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 250 lbs
Projected: Top 3
As far as high school prospects go, there are few with a floor as high as Banchero. The 6’9″ PF out of Seattle has great two-way potential and already has an NBA body. His offensive game is advanced for his age, and he can score from all three levels. He asserts his dominance around the rim by overpowering defenders with his strength and has the creativity to score around longer players. Like most front-court players his age, his jump shot can use some fine-tuning, but he already displays go-to scoring moves outside the paint.
On the defensive side of the ball his anticipation stands out. It is not uncommon to see Paolo swatting opponents shot attempts out of the air or off the backboard for blocks. When defending the perimeter, he can make quick reads and jump into passing lanes for steals. His lateral quickness could use some work, and there will be an adjustment period guarding NCAA level talent. Despite these specific critiques, Banchero is the early favorite to be taken as the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and should be must-watch TV during his time in Durham.
School: Gonzaga
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
DOB: 5/1/2002
Height: 7’0”
Weight: 195 lbs
Projected: Top 3
Chet Holmgren has been in the national spotlight throughout his high school career and is finally ready to display his talent at the collegiate level. He showed his “big guard” skillset throughout high school, especially in this viral clip of him beating Steph Curry to the paint at the MVP’s camp. At Minnehaha Academy, Holmgren played alongside former Gonzaga 1-and-done star Jalen Suggs, where Chet showed his incredible offensive potential.
Holmgren has an impressive shooting stroke for someone his size and can run the floor as well as any 7-footer in the game. He is a mismatch nightmare for other defenders and is still scratching the surface in terms of his offensive skillset. Defensively, Chet is a difference-maker in the paint. His switchability is the most intriguing aspect of him on that end of the floor. He’s light enough on his feet to switch on to guards, and has the length to generate easy blocks.
He also is tough to shoot over from any place on the court. His glaring weakness is his slim, underweight frame. This will naturally resolve itself as he matures and begins a more intensive weight program, but adding the weight will take away some of his speed. On the other hand, this increased weight can make him a Giannis-esque threat with a better jump shot. There is a long way to go, but Chet has as high of a ceiling as any prospect in recent memory.
School: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Hometown: Sussex, WI
DOB: 11/18/2002
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 205 lbs
Projected: Mid-Late Lottery
It is rare to see preseason lottery projections coming out of the Horizon League, a group that only has one all-time lottery pick in Gordon Hayward (Butler left the Horizon League following the 2011-2012 season). However, Patrick Baldwin is on the path to change that narrative after committing to play for his father at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Baldwin ended the season as the number five overall recruit on ESPN, turning down offers from some of the top programs in the country.
He impressed this summer for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup and should put U-W Milwaukee in the national spotlight this season. Baldwin has scary offensive tools highlighted by his shooting ability. He is one of the best pure shooters in this draft class and shoots over anyone who attempts to guard him. Patrick gets into the lane quickly and uses his size to his advantage when attacking the rim. He will most likely score most of his points from the outside but can get buckets at all three levels.
His length and quickness gives him plenty of potential on the defensive end, which is what many scouts will be watching during his collegiate season. He can block shots and disrupts passing lanes with his length, and his on-ball defense has been strong enough to this point. The level of competition will be a question throughout the season, but he will have chances to play against power-5 conferences early in the season to silence some of his doubters.
Overall, Baldwin has all the tools to be a great NBA player and brings excitement to mid-major basketball this season.
School: University of Memphis
Hometown: New Castle, DE
DOB: 11/18/2003
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 230 lbs
Projected: Mid Lottery
After reclassifying earlier this year, Jalen Duren is the newest name popping up in the top 5 of most mock drafts. The Memphis commit remains a mystery on the offensive end of the floor in terms of how diverse his skill set is. However, there are a few things that cannot be questioned. Duren is an incredible rim runner who can easily glide above the rim in transition or half-court sets. He is always a threat to soar above the defense for a putback dunk and has the athleticism to elevate without a running start.
His jump shot is solid when he has time, but shooting under pressure is not something he has had to do at this stage in his career. His form is strong enough to believe that an outside shot can develop one day, making him a solid offensive weapon. Duren’s athleticism is even more noticeable without the ball in his hands. He is excellent as an interior defender and a rim protector, always causing havoc in and around the paint.
Although he does not have the same up-down explosiveness as Dwight Howard or Kevin Garnett, many of his defensive plays show shades of those two superstars when they were younger. Additionally, he keeps up well with smaller guards and needs to focus on retaining this ability as he adds weight. Although not a completely polished prospect, Duren has far too much potential for any team to overlook him going into this season and this summer’s draft.
School: Duke
Hometown: White Plains, NY
DOB: 8/25/2003
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 220 lbs
Projected: Mid-Late Lottery
Despite coming off a knee injury his senior season, scouts will talk about AJ Griffin his entire freshman season at Duke. The son of former NBA player and current Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin, AJ has had his sights set on the NBA since a very young age. The uber-athletic wing can jump out of the gym and attacks the rim with a tenacity that all coaches will love.
He performed very well for team USA in the U19 FIBA games and showed his progress on his outside shot and overall offensive game. Although most of his finishes happen above the rim, he displays finesse when he gets near the basket against larger defenders. His activity stands out whenever he is on the court, but especially on the defensive side of the ball. He constantly disrupts the offensive flow using his strength and athleticism to knock the opponent off their spot.
He is a great shot blocker for his size and can guard taller players due to his weight and low center of gravity. His ceiling as a defender will be a lockdown wing tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top wing scorer. Very few things are more valuable in today’s game. There are still questions surrounding how he will respond to his injury, but all signs point up as he begins his career at Duke during Coach K’s last dance.
Jabari Smith (Auburn): Smith just missed out on the top 5. He has all the tools to be a modern NBA big man and should immediately impact the SEC. Scouts will be looking at the range on his jump shot and how physical he defends when tasked with guarding larger frontcourt players.
Caleb Houstan (Michigan): A 3&D prototype and another product out of Montverde Academy. Houston may not carry an offensive load himself, but he should be a steady contributor for a Michigan team stacked with talent. He should be in the lottery conversation throughout the season.
J.D. Davidson (Alabama): Davidson is a walking highlight reel that perfectly fits Nate Oats’s fast-paced offensive scheme. There are still questions surrounding his defense and shooting, but his playmaking ability and athleticism will have fans amazed throughout the season. Overall, he is a great fit for the Crimson Tide as they look to build on their recent success.
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