College Basketball: Eight Mid-Major Prospects Entering the NBA Draft Conversation

The 2024 NBA Draft continues to be a fun one to track. The tiers of players for this year’s draft are robust. The excitement lies in the fact that when draft night comes, the order of the names we hear will have no consensus. This will be a beauty is in the eye of the beholder type of draft. And with every team in the NBA having different needs and outlooks on players, the range of variance for players will be wide.

This year, more than ever, NBA scouting departments will need to trust their eyes. What are your core values, who are you building around, and what needs do you have? And they will need to cast a wide net and narrow down accordingly.

In the 2023 NBA Draft, five players (Julian Strawther, Brandin Podziemski, Taylor Hendricks, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard) were drafted in the first-round from programs outside of the Power Six structure. Three mid-major players were taken in the first-round of the 2022 NBA Draft. NBA teams continue to leave no stone unturned.

We are about at the halfway point of the college basketball season. The 2024 NBA Draft is not until June 27, five months away. On Monday, I discussed the top ten NBA Draft prospects in college basketball. Tuesday and Wednesday, I talked about eight college basketball under and upperclassmen who have used this season to play their way into the NBA Draft conversation. On Thursday, I discussed five late-blooming freshmen who have worked their way into the first-round conversation of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Today, to wrap up the week, I am discussing eight mid-major players who have played their way into NBA Draft conversations.

*for the purposes of this article, a mid-major program is defined as a team that is outside of the Power Six conferences.

READ | Top 10 NBA Draft Prospects in College Basketball | Eight Sleeper NBA Draft Picks That are College Basketball Underclassmen | Eight Sleeper NBA Draft Picks That Are Upperclassmen | Five Late-Blooming Freshmen Who Are Potential First-Round NBA Draft Picks

F Adama Bal, Santa Clara 

The Buzz: Adama Bal spent his first two college seasons at Arizona, where he saw 6.5 minutes per game. Similarly to Brandin Podziemski last year, Bal transferred from a Power Six conference to Santa Clara. He has been able to show his well-rounded skill set. The production for Bal is eye-opening. He is averaging 15.5 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from three. Listed at 6-foot-7, 190 pounds the native of France will have to answer some explosion and burst questions. With that said, his processing and ability to create with the ball are interesting. 

G Johnell Davis, FAU

The Buzz: Johnell Davis burst on the scene last season helping FAU make a run to the Final Four. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard came back to school, with a target on his back, and has out-procuded what he accomplished last season. FAU moved up to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) this season. Through seven conference games, he is averaging 21.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 51.9 percent from three on 3.9 attempts. Davis has some connecting qualities to his game, good at all and great at none. His versatility is intriguing as a connecting guard. The fact that he is shooting 46.3 percent from three on the season is encouraging.

F Tyler Harris, Portland

The Buzz: This one may be one year early, but Tyler Harris is causing people to pay attention. Listed at 6-foot-8, and 190 pounds, the forward has shown an intriguing mix of skills. Harris is leading his Portland team in rebounds and blocked shots while his 12.2 points are second. Harris is also shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three on 2.3 attempts. He will need to continue tightening his handle and getting stronger which will help on both ends. And while he might be a year away from being a year away, the archetype is intriguing and the overall production has been there.

F Daron Holmes, Dayton

The Buzz: Daron Holmes tested the NBA Draft waters last season before opting to return to Dayton. The 6-foot-10 forward, and reigning A10 Tournament MVP, has upped his production across the board. Holmes is looking more fluid this year and is making quicker decisions with the ball. He is also shooting 43.2 percent from three on 2.4 attempts. Holmes is explosive around the basket and has shown natural shot-block talent. A rim-protecting big who has shown continued improvement throughout his career, and can move his feet, knock down a shot, and make a pass is intriguing.

F Sion James, Tulane

The Buzz: There is a unique nature to Sion James’ game that is to be appreciated when you really sit down to watch. Listed as a 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward, James has averaged 3.6 assists through seven AAC games. He has had four, five, and six assists in three of his previous four games. With his physical frame, James is also an accomplished defender. He finished second in the AAC in steals last season and currently sits at No. 8 on the all-time AAC list. The shooting is the swing skill for James. For his four-year career, he has hovered around 70 percent as a free-throw shooter. This year his three-point percentage is up to 42.3 percent on 4.1 attempts. A secondary creator with defensive versatility, who can knock down a shot has interesting value.

G AJay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara

The Buzz: Craft might be the first word that comes to mind when asked to describe AJay Mitchell. Instead of excess acceleration, he has deceleration. With that, I mean that while he is not overly athletic, his change of pace gets him to the areas of the half-court he wants to get to. Mitchell, a 6-foot-4 guard and native of Belgium, is averaging 19.4 points on 51.2 percent shooting and 40 percent from three. In conference play, he is dishing out 3.9 assists per game. His feel and continued production are very intriguing. 

F Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco

The Buzz: Jonathan Mogbo is a production monster, every time he steps on the floor. Listed at 6-foot-8, and 225 pounds, Mogbo is averaging 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks through 21 games this season. While Mogbo does not take any threes, his quick processing ability at multiple levels on the floor could make him playable in the half-court. There is a switchability factor on defense that is interesting as well. The advanced numbers on Mogbo also pop, 33.9 PER, 32.3 win shares per 40, 12.6 box plus-minus, etc. Even at 22 years old, there is a Brandon Clarke, Kenneth Faried factor with some playmaking that will be intriguing to see how it plays out.

F Kasean Pryor, USF

The Buzz: His game, even down to the way he moves, is unorthodox, but the production of Kasean Pryor is hard to ignore. You will inevitably hear the Bird Man (Chris Anderson) comp thrown around, and there are some similarities. Pryor has an excellent frame, standing at a lengthy 6-foot-10. He will need to continue adding weight, but it is his motor that might be the biggest takeaway. Defensively, Pryor flies all over the court, switching from perimeter forwards to on-the-block guys. He is an excellent rim protector, deflecting or intimidating shots consistently, as a roaming weak-side defender. Offensively, he runs the floor hard and attacks the basket with purpose. He will need to continue tightening all aspects of his game, handle, balance, footwork, etc. But the flashes are real, and the things he does well translate as he progresses forward. In league play, Pryor’s minutes have risen to 30.8 per game. With that, his production has jumped to 18.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks through six games. He is also making 1.3 threes at a 33.3 percent clip in AAC play. Pryor’s dad played at Oregon State and then professionally overseas. He carries a lot of late-blooming intrigue.