Yahoo Sports is breaking down the best players in the 2024 NBA Draft by position this week. On Monday we ranked the best point guards in this class, on Tuesday we broke down the top centers, on Wednesday we analyzed the best forwards and today we’re ranking the best point guards available.
With the NBA becoming less and less positioned and the designated spots on the court becoming more and more blurred, the best shooters in this draft are expected to be more versatile in the backcourt and play on and off the ball. No one was more successful in that role during the college basketball season than Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard, who came off the bench with the second unit and was typically on the floor late in games in decisive moments. Meanwhile, Tennessee fifth-year senior Dalton Knecht was the best scorer in college basketball and found different ways to make shots despite frequently being double- and triple-teamed.
With the NBA Draft on June 26-27 in New York two weeks away, here are the five best shooters to keep an eye on, plus others to watch late in the first round or early in the second round.
1.Reed Sheppard
Weight/Weight: 6-2, 182 pounds | Age: 19
Sheppard, who turns 20 two days before the first night of the draft, will likely be the first point guard off the board, going anywhere between pick 3-7. He tied for first place in maximum vertical leap at the combine (42 inches), surprising a handful of scouts with his additional athleticism of just 6 feet 2 inches. Sheppard also shot an incredible 52.1% from 3-point range (on 3.5 attempts per game) in his one year at Kentucky and scored from the perimeter in a variety of ways, whether on deep transition 3s, off screens or catches. . photograph situations.
His two-way potential is what will put him on the court sooner, due to the way he can anticipate passes in defense, keep players in front and deflect the ball into the post. Sheppard finished his junior year averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
2. Dalton Knecht
Weight/Weight: 6-5, 204 pounds | Age: 23
Knecht’s journey to the NBA was unlike any other player in this draft class. He went from an anonymous high school recruit who played two years at a JUCO east of Denver before transferring to Northern Colorado, where he played two seasons and was one of the best players in the Big Sky conference. Knecht then transferred to Tennessee for his senior season, choosing the Vols over Kansas and North Carolina to improve his defense – credit to coach Rick Barnes and his staff for helping him improve his lateral movement on the perimeter.
Knecht is the best three-tier scorer in the draft. He can shoot from anywhere on the court, finish through contact and come off ball screens with intent. He led the SEC in scoring with 21.7 points per game, while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from 3. His draft range ranges from 6-10, and he could immediately contribute offensively in the NBA.
3. Kyshawn George
Weight/Weight: 6-7, 205 pounds | Age: 20
There is always an unexpected player who does well in the lottery every draft, chosen based on potential and not necessarily the outcome of the season. George could be that player this year. After a quiet freshman season in Miami, averaging just 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23 minutes, George shot well at the combine and has been great in workouts leading up to the draft.
He had a growth spurt two years ago and moved from point guard to wing. His passing and quick decision-making are his most underrated trait as a prospect and his shooting style, with a quick, high release, is what caught scouts’ attention as a catch-and-shoot threat. George has been slowly climbing the draft boards all season, and don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the back half of the lottery, with Portland, Sacramento and Oklahoma City as possible landing spots.
4. Ja’Kobe Walter
Weight/Weight: 6-4, 194 pounds | Age: 19
Walter’s pre-draft workouts have been kept relatively quiet and there hasn’t been much news regarding Baylor’s freshman guard. Teams may be doing this to protect their draft stock and hope it falls into their hands on the first night of the draft.
Walter’s season at Baylor was up and down. There were many older, more experienced players along the perimeter, which limited his touches. But he projects well as a catch threat and with his off-ball game. Former Baylor guard Keyonte George joined the Jazz as a 16-year-old last year and had a very productive year, earning First-Team All-Rookie honors and solidifying himself as a cornerstone in the Jazz’s rebuild. Walter could follow a similar path. His draft stock ranges from the end of the lottery to the middle of the first round.
Weight/Weight: 6-8, 202 pounds | Age: 19
The Australian guard opted to remain in this year’s recruiting class and reportedly turned down a lucrative NIL deal to return to Kansas for another year. The fact that he remains in this draft projects him as a first-round lock, with several teams likely showing interest after scouting him at the Combine and meeting with him. Furphy is far from a finished product, but established teams in the 20s will have the time and flexibility to develop him as a perimeter player. His shooting instincts are extraordinary and his length and size add pressure to the defense.
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Pacome Dadiet He is one of the youngest players in this draft, only turning 19 in July. The 6-8 guard from France is also one of the more intriguing players in this draft with his combination of size and shot creation. Dadiet played for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany last season and was a late bloomer and could enter the first round well.
Cal’s Jaylon Tyson was one of the Pac-12’s top scorers last season and averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He can slide into any position in the backcourt and is a threat both off the dribble and shooting from distance. Tyson’s draft range since January has ranged from late first round to early second round.
Baylor Scheierman was one of the best shooters during the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the Combine and made a statement on the first day of games about how productive he can be playing alongside other ball-dominant guards. The Creighton senior has averaged nearly 20 and 10 this season, has the size to move anywhere along the perimeter and creates mismatches off screens.
