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NBA mock draft 2024: Updated projection with latest rumors after NBA Finals nba,mock,draft,updated,projection,with,latest,rumors,after,nba,finals,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,nba-mock-draft,draftkings

NBA mock draft 2024 Updated projection with latest rumors after
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The 2024 NBA Finals are over with the Boston Celtics emerging as champions. The league is now ready to turn the page to next season, starting with the 2024 NBA Draft. The first round of the draft is happening on Wednesday, June 26 on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET, and for the first time, the second round will happen the next day.

This has always been a tricky draft to project due to the lack of consensus at the top of the class. Information is slowly starting to trickle out about how teams are approaching this draft, and at this point a framework for team preferences is slowly starting unfold.

Last week, we dropped a mock draft based on what we would do with every pick. This week, we’re delving into the latest intel around the draft to project how the first round looks like it will actually play out. The Hawks hold the keys to the draft at No. 1, and their decision will set the rest of the picks into motion.

1. Atlanta Hawks – Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

No one knows what the Hawks are going to do with this pick mostly because there hasn’t been a consensus No. 1 player in this class at any point in the cycle. The fact that Atlanta was preparing to draft at No. 10 entering the lottery before jumping all the way up to No. 1 probably didn’t help matters. We know the Hawks have scouted French wing Zaccharie Risacher in person at a playoff game and brought him in for a workout. There are rumors the team is also considering trading down, perhaps to target UConn center Donovan Clingan. With Washington and Houston lurking as potential Clingan suitors slightly down the order, it’s starting to feel like Atlanta could just take the Huskies big man at No. 1.

The Hawks’ defense has always been bad since they drafted Trae Young. Last season, Atlanta finished No. 27 in defensive efficiency. Rim protection was a distinct weakness, with the Hawks finished No. 26 in blocks per game. Clingan is the draft’s best shot-blocker, and arguably its most impactful overall defender. An underrated factor in this pick is that Atlanta owes unprotected first round picks to the San Antonio Spurs in 2025 and 2027. Clingan feels more ready to contribute than someone like Sarr (who was my personal pick here last week), and that might make the difference for a team that doesn’t want to surrender a high pick next season.

Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images

2. Washington Wizards – Alex Sarr, C/F, Perth Wildcats (France)

Sarr has only worked out for one team according to HoopsHype, and that’s the Washington Wizards. This feels like an obvious match if he’s still on the board at No. 2. Sarr has the best physical tools in the draft as an athletic 7’1 big man with a 7’4 wingspan who can run the floor, make plays above the rim on both ends, and has shown flashes of ball handling and shooting ability. The Wizards’ rebuild still feels like it’s in its infancy, and that means someone like Sarr — obviously talented but still years away from his potential ceiling — also fits the team’s big picture timeline.

3. Houston Rockets – Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

The only elite prospect Houston has brought in for a workout so far is Clingan. There have also been rumors that the Rockets are looking to trade this pick, maybe even seeing if they can get the Nets to bite on a Mikal Bridges deal. If Houston stays at No. 3, Sheppard makes a lot of sense as a long-term addition to the backcourt. Sheppard is tiny by today’s standards (6’3 with a proportional wingspan), but he’s an elite three-point shooter (52 percent from deep) and has razor sharp hands defensively that help him force turnovers. The Rockets have enough freak athletes to cover for Sheppard’s limitations, and he can help Houston’s existing young core by providing spacing and more transition opportunities via turnovers.

4. San Antonio Spurs – Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg (France)

Risacher has only worked out for the Hawks and Spurs, according to HoopsHype. This is starting to feel like his floor, and the Spurs would probably be elated to have him fall. Risacher is a good fit in San Antonio, and not just because he’s another young Frenchman to put around Victor Wembanyama. The 6’9 wing played a big role in the top French league as an 18-year-old, contributing shooting, on-ball defense, and transition playmaking. He hit more than 39 percent of his threes on the season, and had some of his best games deep in the playoffs. The Spurs can still fill their obvious need in the backcourt with their next pick at No. 8 overall.

5. Detroit Pistons – Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite

The Pistons are still fleshing out their new front office led by Trajan Langdon, and he has a ton of work to do coming off a 14-win season. He inherits a team built by former executive Troy Weaver that’s loaded with former lottery picks (Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren) who haven’t gelled into anything resembling a competitive NBA team yet. Buzelis is a nice on-paper fit in the existing young core, adding a raw but talented 6’10 forward who flashes perimeter skill and showed surprising toughness at the rim defensively. I continue to really like the fit for Rob Dillingham here, because the Pistons desperately need shooting and playmaking. Buzelis just feels more likely to go in the top-5, and this is a sensible enough fit.

6. Charlotte Hornets – Stephon Castle, G, UConn

One of the few rumors of this draft thus far is that Castle wants to play point guard in the NBA, and doesn’t want to work out for teams with star point guards already in place, according to ESPN. Castle hasn’t had any workouts yet according to the HoopsHype tracker, but insiders are saying he won’t slip past the Hornets at this pick. Castle might want to be a point guard, but he plays much more like a connective wing, and that makes him a good fit between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in Charlotte. Castle defends his ass off, fights for loose balls and rebounds, and has the strength to finish through contact at the rim. His jump shot is terrible at the moment, but his 75.5 percent mark from the free throw line could inspire some long-term hope in his shooting.

Colorado v Marquette

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

7. Portland Trail Blazers – Cody Williams, F, Colorado

The Blazers have been connected to several players at this point in the pre-draft process: Clingan (who they might have to trade up for), Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht, and French forward Tijane Salaun, all of whom have officially had workouts with the team. Cody Williams has also reportedly had a less publicized meeting in Portland, and would seem to fit well as a long-term piece on the wing around Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. The real question is how much pressure Portland’s front office is under to try to inch this thing closer to competitiveness. The Blazers still feel far away from making a real push in the West, and Williams is far away from hitting his potential ceiling as an NBA player. This pick makes sense unless someone powerful in the organization is starting to lose patience.

8. San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Topic, G, Red Stars (Serbia)

The Spurs need to fill their hole at point guard somehow this summer, whether they’re trying to trade for a veteran like Darius Garland or nabbing a playmaker in this draft. Topic likely would have been gone by this point in the draft had he not torn his ACL in May. While the length of Topic’s recovery remains a point of speculation, he makes sense for San Antonio even if he has to miss his whole rookie year. Topic is a super fast lead guard who thrives getting downhill and finishing with craft below the rim. Isaiah Collier and Rob Dillingham would also make sense here. The reality is that San Antonio — with Victor Wembanyama in tow — feels like by far the best landing spot for any young guard prospect.

9. Memphis Grizzlies – Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

The Grizzlies struck gold in the draft last year by taking a former highly-touted recruit who slipped in the draft after struggling in his pre-draft season. If it worked with GG Jackson, it can work with Ron Holland too. Holland had a brutal year shooting the ball for a G League Ignite team that was so bad they shut down the program. Still, his defensive motor, transition scoring, and wicked athleticism will quickly remind you why he was once considered the front-runner to go No. 1 overall in this class. The Grizzlies reportedly want to contend in the West this season and Holland is a little too young and too raw to do that, but with Ja Morant only turning 25 years this summer, Memphis still has a wide window. Holland could fit their long-term vision well as a player who embodies the franchise’s old grit-n-grind spirit.

10. Utah Jazz – Tidjane Salaun, F, Cholet (France)

Salaun has been the most active lottery prospect in team workouts thus far, already spending time with the Pistons at No. 5, the Blazers at No. 7, the Spurs at No. 8, the Jazz at this pick, and the Thunder at No. 12. Utah doesn’t seem like they’re in any rush to be competitive, and likely has its eye on Cooper Flagg at the top of the 2025 draft. Salaun is a good long-term prospect for his size, motor, and shooting potential at forward, and his development fits the timeline of the organization.

11. Chicago Bulls – Devin Carter, G, Providence

The Bulls are reportedly eying trading up in this draft, but parting with future draft capitol to do it would be a huge mistake. Chicago is in a great spot at No. 11 to just take the best player who falls, and Carter, Rob Dillingham, and Isaiah Collier could each fit that description in this mock. Carter was the first lottery prospect to work out for the Bulls, and there has been speculation that they gave him a promise. Carter would be a good long-term replacement for Alex Caruso as a tenacious on-ball defender who made real strides as a shooter and driver last season as a junior at Providence. Carter and the Bulls have been connected so often in the pre-draft process that this feels like the safest player to peg here.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

Dillingham should go much higher than this based on talent, but it’s understandable that teams would be weary of a guard this small, this weak, and this bad defensively. The Thunder are smart enough to spot a great value when they see one. Dillingham might be the best ball handler in the class, and he has a case as the best shooter available, too. He’s deadly at ripping deep shots whether he’s on or off the ball, and his passing vision is underrated, too. OKC has so much length and defense already in place that it can accommodate a small guard bursting with offensive talent like Dillingham.

13. Sacramento Kings – Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee

This feels like the low-end for Knecht’s range in the draft, with the Blazers lurking as his floor with the next pick. Knecht fits Sacramento’s existing style well: he’s a high-volume, highly-accurate three-point shooter for a team that finished No. 3 in three-point rate last season. Sacramento could probably use a little more size at this pick, but Knecht feels like a plug-and-play option for a team that wants to stay competitive in the West.

14. Portland Blazers – Tristan da Silva, F, Colordo

A four-year player at Colorado, da Silva is a tall shooter who lacks premium athletic ability. Portland is the only team he’s worked out for at this point, according to HoopsHype, and it’s easy to see his potential value there as a floor spacer for Scoot Henderson and Co. Indiana center Kel’el Ware and Miami forward Kyshawn George feel like other options here.

California v USC

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

15. Miami Heat – Isaiah Collier, G, USC

Collier was supposed to compete for the No. 1 pick entering this cycle before an up-and-down year filled with losing for USC. Collier has only worked out for the Heat, according to HoopsHype, and Miami should jump at the chance to take a player with the potential to be a long-term offensive engine if everything goes right. Collier is a fast and strong lead guard who can bully his way into the paint and has impressive passing vision. He needs to work on his jumper, but the Heat do player development better than anyone.

16. Philadelphia 76ers – Bub Carrington, G, Pitt

Carrington has reportedly been earning some lottery buzz lately — he worked out for the Kings at No. 13 — and has the mix of size and shooting teams look for in a guard. At 6’5 with a 6’8 wingspan, Carrington is at his best shooting pull-up jumpers off the dribble from deep and from mid-range. Philly feels likely to shop this pick in a trade for a win-now veteran, but this is starting to feel like Carrington’s range regardless of who’s choosing here.

17. Los Angeles Lakers – Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite

Smith has been extremely active on the team workout scene over the last month, stopping by the Heat, Lakers, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Raptors, and Wizards. In a weaker draft, his combination of size (6’9 barefoot) and shooting feels like a worthy bet. Even as he readies to turn 40 years old this season, surrounding LeBron James with shooters is always a good move. Smith was one of the few G League Ignite players who wasn’t a disappointment this season, and he has a pathway to NBA success if he can improve his defensive awareness.

18. Orlando Magic – Jared McCain, G, Duke

The Magic typically prefer players with long wingspans, and McCain does not fit that mold after measuring at 6’2 barefoot with a 6’3.5 wingspan at the combine. Still, McCain feels like exactly what this team needs as a sharpshooter in the backcourt who can space the floor for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. McCain isn’t a natural on-ball creator, but his jump shot would really help out Orlando’s offense.

19. Toronto Raptors – Zach Edey, C, Purdue

Edey has made the rounds in the pre-draft process, working out for the Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Pelicans, Raptors, Blazers, and Jazz. Toronto makes sense as a landing spot for the 7’4 giant, and not just because he’s Canadian. Edey offers a sliver of upside other players in this range don’t due to his unparalleled size and production at the college level. He’s incredibly skilled as an interior scorer and offensive rebounder, and it’s undeniably impressive that he often played all 40 minutes for the Purdue at nearly 300 pounds. He’s a worthwhile flier in this range for a team that needs a long-term ceiling raiser.

Nebraska v Indiana

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

20. Cleveland Cavaliers – Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana

Cleveland has so much up in the air entering the offseason. Will Donovan Mitchell sign a long-term extension? Will Darius Garland be shopped if that happens? Will the trade rumors that have floated around Jarrett Allen in recent years come to fruition? Ware makes sense as the best player available if the Cavs do decide to swap out Allen for a wing. He has similar athletic tools to Allen, but has the potential to be a real floor spacer with his jump shot. This would be an extremely skilled young front court if Cleveland can keep Ware’s motor up.

21. New Orleans Pelicans – Jaylon Tyson, G, Cal

Tyson has been everywhere in the pre-draft process with reported workouts in Cleveland, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, and Toronto. At 6’5.5 barefoot with a 6’8 wingspan, Tyson offers advanced ball handling and footwork, a solid shooting stroke, and some passing flashes. He can fit into almost any team context as a wing who can provide off-ball scoring and some secondary creation.

22. Phoenix Suns – Yves Missi, C, Baylor

There’s been a lot of buzz for Tyler Kolek in this spot, but if a talent like Missi falls, the Suns should feel comfortable taking a swing. Phoenix could really use some rim protection and athleticism in the front court, and Missi has that in spades. He may not fit Kevin Durant’s win-now timeline, but Missi has great long-term tools as an above-the-rim play finisher and shot blocker.

23. Milwaukee Bucks – Kyshawn George, F, Miami

George measured at 6’7 barefoot with a 6’10.5 wingspan, and made 40.8 percent of his threes as a freshman for Miami. He moves well enough to have some defensive potential, and he knows who he is as a player: 68.4 percent of George’s field goal attempts were from three-point range. Milwaukee would probably prefer a more “NBA ready” player, but this feels like the right range for George and a decent landing spot.

NC State v Duke

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

24. New York Knicks – Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke

Filipowski is probably too talented to fall this far in the draft, but it would be a boon for the Knicks if it happened. While the Duke sophomore is relatively slow and gravity-bound, he’s one of the most skilled bigs in this class. Filipowski could replicate a lot of Isaiah Hartenstein’s playmaking, and he has more shooting potential. There are some defensive concerns with Filipowski, but he can be a weapon offensively if he shoots it.

25. New York Knicks – Ja’Kobe Walter, G, Baylor

Walter was getting lottery hype for most of the year, but it’s easy to see a scenario where he starts to fall on draft day. He’s a wing in the ‘three-and-D’ mold, but both his shot and his defense were inconsistent as a freshman at Baylor. If he slips this far, he’d be a great value as an off-ball floor spacer for the Knicks.

26. Washington Wizards – Johnny Furphy, F, Kansas

Furphy makes sense for a Washington team trying to develop young players next season without any real pressure to win. A 6’8 freshman wing from Kansas (via Australia), Furphy scored efficiently (61 percent true shooting) and shot the ball well from three (35.3 percent) even if his shot dipped a bit late in the season.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves – Baylor Scheierman, F, Creighton

Scheierman’s range appears to start in the late first round after he worked out for the Wolves, Jazz, and Celtics, all teams picking between 27-30. The Wolves don’t really have a designated shooter off the bench, and the Creighton super senior makes sense in that role. He hit 39 percent of his threes for his college career, and showed he could get them up with volume last season by attempting 8.3 triples per game. He’s not the longest or strongest wing, but he’s just tall enough (6’6.25 barefoot) to have a chance to stick.

28. Denver Nuggets – Pacome Dadiet, F, Ulm (France)

It would make sense if the Nuggets shopped this pick for a win-now veteran, but we can’t have Dadiet falling much farther. The French wing measured at 6’7.5 without shoes with a 6’9 wingspan, and showed solid athletic traits, a high motor, and decent three-point touch while playing for Ulm in the German league. He’s very young, but he feels like one of the best upside fliers in the draft once we get to the 20s.

29. Utah Jazz – Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia

Dunn is a defensive monster as a rangey forward with elite athleticism who can defend out on the perimeter or provide secondary rim protection. The issue is that he can’t just can’t shoot at all right now — he went 7-of-35 from three as a sophomore at Virginia. Dunn has worked out for Utah and makes sense as a long-term development bet if they can fix his jump shot.

30. Boston Celtics – DaRon Holmes II, C/F, Dayton

Holmes has reportedly shut down his pre-draft workouts amid rumors that he’s received a promise somewhere in the first round. If he slips this far, it would be highway robbery for the Celtics. The junior big man was one of the best players in college basketball for Dayton this past season, combining improved shooting and playmaking ability with the athletic big man skills he’s always showcased. Holmes may be a tad undersized as a center, but his perimeter offensive development gives him a chance to play next to other bigs down the road.

MLB mock draft 2024: Updated projection ahead of Men’s College World Series mlb,mock,draft,updated,projection,ahead,of,men,s,college,world,series,sbnation,com,front-page,mlb,mlb-draft,draftkings

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This week eight men’s college baseball teams arrive in Omaha with a shot at a national championship, and NCAA baseball immortality.

But for some of the players in Omaha, the Men’s College World Series is just the next stop on their way to achieving their personal MLB dreams.

The 2024 MLB Draft is now a month away, as it gets underway on July 14 in Fort Worth, Texas. Many prospects have done all they can to impress the scouts, but some players still have some baseball to be played, as they chase down a National Championship in Omaha.

How might the first round play out, and what players should you keep an eye on in the Men’s College World Series? Here is our first MLB mock draft of the 2024 scouting season..

1. Cleveland Guardians: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Throughout the spring Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana have flip-flopped in this position, and if the Guardians end up drafting Bazzana it will certainly not be a surprise. Both players posted video game numbers this year (with Condon putting up a slash line of .433/.556/1.009 along with 37 home runs) and the Georgia infielder has room to grow into his 6’6 frame.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

As noted above, Bazzana and Condon have flip-flopped in the one and two spots throughout mock draft season. Many mocks have the Oregon State infielder in the top spot right now, given his production over his time on campus. A tremendous summer on the Cape, as he won Cape Cod MVP honors as well as a batting title with a .375 average — done with a wooden bat, which MLB scouts love to see — might give him the edge.

Ultimately it might come down to a preference regarding Bazzana’s middle infielder profile, and Condon’s corner infielder prospects. However, both the Reds and the Guardians are in a good spot.

3. Colorado Rockies: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

This might be where the 2024 MLB Draft truly begins, with the Colorado Rockies in the third spot. A number of players have been linked to Colorado with this pick, but for my money Ja Caglianone is the most fascinating player in the draft. His two-way skills have earned him the nickname “Jactani” — a nod to Shohei Ohtani — but his MLB future is likely forged as a hitter.

To that point, Caglianone stands alone in the storied history of SEC baseball as the only player with back-to-back 30 HR seasons.

Coming into this season there was a concern about his strikeout numbers, as he struckout 58 times in 319 plate appearances a season ago. But this year he cut down on the strikeouts dramatically, striking out just 25 times over his 297 plate appearances. He also raised his batting average from .323 in 2023 to an impressive .411 this past season.

Given that he is absolutely a pro-level prospect with what he can do on the mound, Caglianone is absolutely worthy of an early selection.

4. Oakland Athletics: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

A few different arms have the potential to be the first pitcher taken in July, and at the moment the nod might go to Chase Burns out of Wake Forest. Burns began his collegiate career at Tennessee — after being drafted in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres — but was moved to the bullpen after a stint as a starter in the Volunteers rotation.

Burns transferred to Wake Forest and thrived as a starter, going 10-1 this season with an ERA of 2.70 while holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average. He has a solid array of pitches, with a fastball that can top out in triple digits, an impressive slider, and a curveball and a changeup that round out his attack.

5. Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Burns is one option for an arm inside the top five of the 2024 MLB Draft. Left-hander Hagen Smith is the other. Smith leaves campus having gotten better and better every single season at Arkansas. Back in 2022 Smith started 20 games for the Razorbacks, posting a 7-2 record with an ERA of 4.66 and a batting average allowed of .234.

Over the 2023 season Smith posted a win-loss record of 8-2, with an ERA of 3.64 while holding hitters to a batting average of .217.

This past season? Smith went 9-2 for the Razorbacks, with an ERA of 2.04 and an opponent batting average of .144. That is quite the trajectory.

Smith also uses a three-quarters delivery, which you can see in this cutup from Rob Friedman:

While he underwent Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore, he has been a workhorse since then, with the potential to be a top-tier starter in the majors.

6. Kansas City Royals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Wake Forest recruited Nick Kurtz as a left-handed starting pitcher, but his prowess at the dish saw him thrive as a hitter in the collegiate game. He has been a force at the plate for the Demon Deacons since arriving on campus, posting a slash line of .338/.471./.637 back in 2022 with 15 home runs. This past season saw his average dip a bit, as he hit .306, but combine that with an OBP of .531 and a .763 Slugging Percentage and you have some really solid numbers.

Strikeouts might be an issue, as he was punched out 50 times back in 2023 and another 42 times this past season. But the numbers at the plate warrant an early selection.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Aggies are headed to Omaha, and Braden Montgomery is a huge reason why. The outfielder is part of a three-headed monster at Texas A&M, along with infielder Gavin Grahovac and fellow outfielder Jace Laviolette, that punishes opposing pitchers.

As for Montgomery, he put up a slash line of .322/.454/.733 this past season, while belting 27 home runs and driving in a team-high 85 runs. The switch-hitting prospect has seen his power numbers tick up sine the start of his collegiate career, which came at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M.

Oh, and he also pitches. While the Aggies only used him in two games this past year with one start, he appeared in ten games for Stanford in 2023 and 13 back in 2022. In that 2022 campaign he held hitters to a batting average of just .197.

His MLB future, however, is likely as a corner outfielder.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

At first blush, this might seem like a reach.

But from where I sit, few players have helped their draft stock the past few weeks more than Vance Honeycutt.

The UNC outfielder is a true “five-tool” player, with lots of evidence to back up that proposition. You can point to the second straight ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award he earned this spring, or the 76 bases he swiped on campus over his three seasons. You can also point to the 63 home runs he hit at UNC, becoming the school leader in that category.

But for me it was what he delivered in the Super Regionals that tell his full story, as he belted a walk-off two run shot in Game 1 against West Virginia, and then started Game 2 with a solo shot on the very first pitch of the game.

Strikeouts are an issue, and are a big reason he is often seen in the late teens in mock drafts. His strikeout rate back in 2022 was 30%, and after dipping in 2023 crept back up to 28% this past season. But someone is going to place a big bet on those tools, and be happy they did.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia

After taking Paul Skenes with the first-overall selection a year ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates likely look to add a bat with this selection. They have been linked to a few players already selected in this mock, including Montgomery and Kurtz, but with both taken they look at the West Virginia middle infielder.

JJ Wetherholt is one of the best hitters in the class, and showed that during a 2022 campaign where he posted an astronomical slash line of .449/.517/.782, earning Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors. A hamstring injury at the start of the 2024 campaign cut down his production numbers, but he is as close to a sure thing at the plate as it gets. His MLB position remains a question mark, as he might be better suited to 2B in the pros, but this is a top ten pick.

10. Washington Nationals: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep MS

After a run of college players we see our first prep prospect come off the board.

And what a prospect Konnor Griffin is.

He put up absurd numbers this past season, batting .559 with 9 home runs. He also stole 85 bases in just 43 games, and was named the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. That combination of speed and power makes him a player with 30-30 potential at the next level.

Try and find where this home run lands. It is not easy:

While he has committed to LSU, expect him to be an early pick next month.

11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Ranier, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

The draft continues along prep lines with Bryce Ranier, a shortstop from Harvard-Westlake in California. At the National High School Invitational Ranier put on a show, going 7-for-13 with two doubles, five walks, and a pair of stolen bases. He also posted the top four exit velocities at the plate, and did that while making a relief appearance that saw him consistently in the mid 90s with his fastball.

That above link has a good cutup of Ranier’s approach at the plate.

Ranier has committed to Texas, but like Griffin he is likely an early pick in round one.

12. Boston Red Sox: James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

This might be the second inflection point of the first round. While the first comes at pick No. 3 by the Colorado Rockies — after the expected top two of Condon and Bazzana in some order — the second is here.

Which makes me nervous as a Boston Red Sox fan.

As noted in this mock draft from MLB.com, at this point there are over a dozen college hitters “who could go anywhere from the teens to the supplemental first round and tye could come off the board in just about any order.” However, that same mock has Florida State outfielder James Tibbs going in the top-ten selections, while here (in yes a bit of homer manifestation I concede) Tibbs slides to the Red Sox at No. 12.

Tibbs put up massive numbers for the Seminoles this season, with a slash line of .374/.497/.813, and was huge for FSU in the Super Regionals against Connecticut. Tibbs went 2-for-5 with four RBI in their Game 1 win over the Huskies, and then had a massive afternoon in Game 2, going 5-for-6 with four RBI and three home runs, including this two-run shot in the top of the 12th to give FSU the 10-8 lead:

Yes, I am manifesting. But you understand why.

13. San Francisco Giants: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)

I know what you are thinking.

No, Cam Caminiti is not Ken Caminiti’s son.

But they are cousins.

The LSU commit has done work both on the bump and at the dish, but his MLB future is likely as a left-handed starting pitcher. Caminiti has four solid pitches, including a fastball that can top out in the upper 90s along with both a curveball and a slider. That fourth pitch is a changeup, which he used more this past season according to scouting reports.

Here is a good look at Caminiti on the bump:

14. Chicago Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Trey Yesavage missed the AAC Tournament with a partially collapsed lung.

He came back for the Regionals and in Game 2 of the Greenville Regional against Wake Forest he went 7.1 innings, allowing just one run. His counterpart that day? Chase Burns, who lasted just five innings and gave up four runs.

On the year Yesavage went 11-1 with an ERA of 2.02, while holding hitters to a .154 clip.

His slider might be his best pitch, but he can dial it up with the fastball, which gets into the upper 90s.

15. Seattle Mariners: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

After hitting just .258 in 2023 for the Seminoles, Smith broke out in a huge way this past season. Smith put up a slash line of .402/.497/.677 for FSU this year, while cutting his strikeout rate from 29% in 2023 to just 16% this past season.

He also enjoyed a strong summer on the Cape, earning Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors in the Cape Cod league while putting up an OPS of .981.

The draft-eligible sophomore can certainly help his cause in Omaha.

16. Miami Marlins: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

After two standout seasons at Division II Wingate (NC) where he slashed .411/.457/.699 with 11 homers as a sophomore, Seaver King transferred to Wake Forest. He played all over the field for the Demon Deacons this season, seeing time at shortstop, second, third, and in the outfield.

This season he put up a slash line of .308/.377/.577, while showing some pop with 16 home runs. He also has some wood bat experience, having secured MVP accolades in the Valley League in 2022, and hitting .424 with the Harwich Mariners last summer in the Cape Cod League.

His MLB position might be a question mark, and his best fit might be at shortstop, but the bat leads the way.

17. Milwaukee Brewers: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

In the bottom of the 11th inning in a game against Wake Forest in last year’s Men’s College World Series, Tommy “Tanks” White strode to the plate with a berth in the Finals on the line. He was looking for a fastball.

He did not get one.

It did not matter:

White’s walk-off home run capped off an instant classic, and has become part of LSU baseball lore. In fact the play was name the Male Sports Play of the Year by the school, and helped LSU along to a National Title.

While the Tigers’ bid for another championship fell short this year, White certainly held up his end of the bargain, slashing .330/.401/.638. He also hit 24 home runs, marking the third-straight season he left the yard at least 24 times (he belted 27 home runs at NC State in 2022, then 24 in both 2023 and 2024 with LSU).

The Brewers are rumored to be eying college bats with this selection, and White stands out as a very good option.

18. Tampa Bay Rays: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)

While teams sometimes shy away from high school pitchers in the first round, the Tampa Bay Rays are not one of those teams. Looking through their draft history you see a number of high school arms in the first round, including Blake Snell, Matthew Liberatore, and most recently Nick Bitsko in 2020.

William Schmidt could be their next high school pitcher in the first round, especially if he slides to them at No. 18. Scouts believe he has the best breaking ball in the class, a low-80s “hammer” that has a spin rate over 3,000 and a heater that sits in the mid-90s.

Here are both pitches in action:

He has committed to LSU, but he might be headed elsewhere.

19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

According to reports the Mets have been looking at college hitters for this spot, and given how this mock draft has fallen, their eyes turn to Carson Benge. The Oregon State outfielder has put up monster numbers the past two collegiate seasons, slashing .343/.466/.535 during 2023 and showing a bit more pop this past year, posting a slash line of .335/.444/.665 with 18 home runs, more than double his 2023 total of seven.

Benge is also a solid prospect on the bump, as he went 3-1 this season for the Beavers with an ERA of 2.75, and an impressive BA allowed of just .175. However, like some prospects we have already discussed, his future lies with what he can do as a left-handed hitter.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

We have our first catcher.

Four catchers are potential first-round picks next month: Walker Janek from Sam Houston State, Malcolm Moore from Stanford, Caleb Lomavita from California, and NC State backstop Jacob Cozart. (For those looking ahead to this weekend’s Men’s College World Series, Cozart is a master when it comes to framing pitches … perhaps too good).

The Toronto Blue Jays have been mentioned as a team that could look to a catcher with this selection, and Janek is the pick here. He hit .281 in the Cape Cod League regular season this past summer with Falmouth, with five home runs. That will certainly help his prospects.

21. Minnesota Twins: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

As you can probably tell there are a host of prospects that will be playing in the Men’s College World Series over the next few days, if not beyond.

One of those is Christian Moore, who helps power a Volunteers lineup that is one of the best in the college game. Moore started his college journey as a DH for the Volunteers, before cracking the lineup at second base. This season he slashed .375/.453/.796, while ripping a career-best 32 home runs. He is one of five everyday players in the Tennessee lineup with an OPS over 1.000, and he has some speed too, as evidenced by the 16 steals a season ago.

22. Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)

Mike Elias has not drafted a high school pitcher since taking over in Baltimore, but if Ryan Sloan falls to this spot, the Orioles GM might just break that streak. Ryan Sloan brings three solid pitches to the table as a prospect: A fastball that hangs in the mid-90s with some upper-90s pop, a solid changeup, and a slider with some good horizontal movement.

You can see all three pitches on display in this cutup of Sloan:

23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

There was a time when I thought Brody Brecht would be appearing in more football mock drafts than anything else, as he enrolled at Iowa as a wide receiver for the football team as well as his duties on the bump for the Hawkeyes. But after a redshirt season, and playing sparingly the year after that, Brecht left the gridiron behind to focus on his pitching duties.

Probably a smart move.

He led all pitchers with a .143 batting average against during the 2023 campaign, when he finished with a 5-2 record and an ERA of 3.74. He went 4-3 this season with an ERA of just 3.33, while hitters managed a .165 average against him in 2024.

He has drawn some comparisons to Paul Skenes thanks to a fastball that can hit triple digits, and a slider with some snap. You can see both pitches here:

A lofty comparison to be sure, but one that will certainly grab some attention.

24. Atlanta Braves: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Earlier we discussed the potent Volunteers lineup that features five everyday players with an OPS above 1.000. Christian Moore, the second baseman, is one of those players.

Billy Amick is another.

Amick slashed .313/.392/.678 this past season for Tennessee, leading to that OPS north of 1.000. The third baseman also belted 23 home runs, behind only Moore on the Volunteers’ roster. A solid weekend in Omaha could see his stock move even higher than the back end of the first round.

25. San Diego Padres: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (AR)

A.J. Preller has drafted a high school player in the first round of the last seven MLB Drafts.

Will he make it eight?

Slade Caldwell was the Gatorade Arkansas high school Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, when he hit .512 with five home runs. Described as his high school coach as a “true five tool player,” Caldwell can be a menace on the base paths with a left-handed swing that can spray line drives to all fields.

26. New York Yankees: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (OK)

The New York Yankees are likely to select the best bat available, unless one of the top arms falls to them.

In this scenario, one of the top arms indeed falls to them.

Kash Mayfield helped Elk City to the state semifinals in 2023, and he was named Gatorade’s Oklahoma high school Player of the Year as a result. That season he finished with a 9-1 record and a 0.75 ERA across 46 2/3 innings of work. In that span, he fanned 109 batters and walked only 13, allowing 18 hits in total. But after taking the summer off he exploded this spring, he truly made a name for himself at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, where he showed improved velocity on his fastball.

During the 2023 season his fastball was in the mid- to upper-80s, but starting with the Super 60 Pro Showcase and into his spring season it was hitting in the mid- to upper-90s. Add in a solid changeup and a curve that he commands well, and you have starter stuff in the big leagues.

27. Philadelphia Phillies: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

The Philadelphia Phillies dipped into the high school market with their first-round selection a year ago, drafting Aidan Miller out of J. W. Mitchell High School in Florida.

They could dip back into the high school market, and if the board fell this way Theo Gillen out of Westlake High School in Texas would be an option, but here we have the Phillies adding Dakota Jordan from Mississippi State. The left-handed hitting outfielder put up big numbers for the Bulldogs this season, slashing .354/.459/.671 with 20 home runs, doubling the number he posted a season ago.

Another consideration with Jordan? He might still be learning how to use his speed. He was a three-star WR recruit coming out of high school and planned on playing receiver for Mississippi State, and also ran track while in high school.

But speaking of speed, his bat speed stands out. Watch how quick he gets his hands around on this home run from the Charlottesville Regional:

That’s pretty quick.

28. Houston Astros: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

As a sophomore in 2023 Kaelen Culpepper slashed .325/.423/.576 for the Wildcats, but there were concerns about his power projection when he struggled a bit this past summer in the Cape Cod League. Playing for the Harwich Mariners, Culpepper hit just .270 with a .318 Slugging Percentage, as his three doubles were his only extra-base hits.

But Culpepper moved to shortstop for this past season, ahd showed the ability to handle the defensive parts of the position while continuing to improve at the plate. This year he slashed .324/.416/.570 with 11 home runs, a career-high number. He may never be a 20+ HR player in the bigs, but could be a consistent 15-20 HR player with the ability to hit for average.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Thanks to the MLB Draft rules, the Arizona Diamondbacks have three picks clustered together, starting with this selection at No. 29 overall. With Corbin Carroll winning National League Rookie of the Year the Diamondbacks will be on the clock again at No. 31, and then they will be on the clock again at No. 35, in the “Competitive Balance Round.”

So they have a lot of freedom with this pick to explore the studio space.

Catcher Malcolm Moore from Stanford could be an option. Moore put up a slash line of .255/.414/.553 this year, which does not jump off the page, but the tools are there for him to be a more consistent hitter. He showed that during his first season at Stanford, when he slashed .311/.386/.564, and the power has been there both season, as he belted 15 home runs in 2023 and another 16 home runs this past season.

30. Texas Rangers: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

You read that right.

Jurrangelo Cinjntje is a natural left-hander, but wanted to be like his dad, who was a right-handed pitcher in the Netherlands. So he would put on his dad’s right-handed glove and start to throw.

He first became known worldwide as a member of Curacao’s team at the 2016 Little League World Series, where his switch-pitching ability drew lots of eyeballs. As a right-handed hurler he operates with a fastball that can get into the upper 90s, while that same pitch left-handed is more of a low-90s heater.

For fun, here is an overlay of Cinjntje throwing a fastball with both arms:

Also if you are wondering, his glove is a custom design that he can change on the fly:

His best stuff comes as a right-hander, so do not be surprised if he focuses on that going forward. But he is certainly an intriguing prospect.