2024 NBA Draft: CBS Sports shakes up mock draft ahead of March Madness

With the leap day upon us, the month of March and the madness that comes with it is less than 24 hours out. That means college basketball and its best players and prospects are about to take center stage over the next few weeks.

However, while Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament are coming up quickly, the 2024 NBA Draft will feature several selections that are not currently in the collegiate ranks, especially at the top. That’s what the latest mock at CBS Sports suggests based on Kyle Boone’s reading of the first 30 picks.

In Boone’s mock, there are still 22 college players from 16 different schools amongst the first round. Still, amidst the other eight, there are three from France, three from the G-League Ignite, and one apiece from Serbia and Sweden with six of those eight within the first 10 selections.

Here’s the full look on how Boone sees the first round shaking out come June 26th.

1. Washington Wizards: SF Zaccharie Risacher – France

With plenty of debate of who’s the No. 1 pick in this class, Boone’s selection is Risacher out of France. He currently competes overseas in his home country where he has played in preparation for this upcoming NBA Draft.

With how the class stacks up, it’s looking like a take-your-pick deal as far as your preference at No. 1. That’s why, due to the “superstar potential” of “wings at 6-foot-9 who can handle and shoot with ease the way he can”, Boone is leaning toward Risacher as his top selection.

2. San Antonio Spurs: PG Nikola Topic – Serbia

For Boone, the selection of Topic is less about prospect and more about fit. In his mind, the next player he has picked is a better player than the 6’6 Serbian.

However, due to the roster and trajectory of San Antonio, it’s his opinion that the Spurs should select him since “it’d be impossible to pass on the possibility” of pairing him with Victor Wembanyama. That would give their franchise player and last year’s No. 1 pick a playmaking point to set the table for him.

3. Detroit Pistons: C Alex Sarr – France

Sarr, the younger brother of current Thunder C Olivier Sarr, has as much of case as the other two as the top pick in this draft. He has earned that distinction based on his development at Overtime Elite and his most recent season with the Perth Wildcats in the NBL.

Now, as far as his professional projection, Boone believes Sarr “has a case to be considered the most high-ceiling defender” in the draft. His season in Austrailia has flashed that with an average of 1.3 blocks to go with 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17 minutes down under.

4. Charlotte Hornets: SG Cody Williams – Colorado

Williams is the first collegiate player off the board as a top freshman in this previous recruiting class. He is also related to a member of Oklahoma City as the younger brother of Jalen Williams, a first-round pick by the team in the 2022 NBA Draft.

In 18 games with the Buffaloes, Williams is averaging 13.7 points while shooting 59% from the field. Pair that with the versatility at his size of 6’8 and he fits the mold of wings that tend to have the tools to work out at the next level.

5. Portland Trailblazers: SG Reed Sheppard – Kentucky

Few players have done it all for their respective teams this season than Reed Sheppard has in Lexington. The home-state hero has “consistently been the team’s most impactful presence” according to Boone and many other who follow the Wildcats.

Sheppard is averaging 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, a team-high of 4.3 assists, and a team-high of 2.7 steals while shooting 53.8% from the field and 51.7% from three. He is consistently stuffing the box score and, as such, will have a chance to be the program’s latest one and done after being the least heralded freshman in their class coming into the year.

6. Toronto Raptors: PG Rob Dillingham – Kentucky

Rob Dillingham is just as much of a luxury off the bench for Kentucky as Sheppard is. He is second for the Wildcats’ in scoring at 14.8 points, assists at 3.7, and steals at 1.1 while shooting 48.3% from the field and 44.5% from three.

Dillingham’s size and defensive limitations could hold back is overall ceiling in the NBA. Still, per Boone, his “sheer potential…is tantalizing” based on what he brings to the court as an energetic, high-volume spark plug.

7. Memphis Grizzlies: SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor

Walter is yet another impressive freshman based on his current season in Waco. He is Baylor’s leading scorer at 14.8 points, even while shooting under 40% from the field and 35% from three.

As a full-time starter for the Bears, his ability to get to the next step is clear. It’s just that Boone is hoping to see better efficiency from him by the end of his season or during his eventual career as a pro in the league.

8. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets): SF Tidjan Salaun – France

Salaun is the fourth international player and third Frenchman in the top-eight for Boone. It’s justified, though, based on how high he is on him as a prospect.

At his height at around 6’10 and an age that’ll make him one of the draft’s younger players, Boone expects him to be able to compete right away in the NBA. That’ll especially be the case if his jumper and three-point shot continues and comes with him from overseas.

9. Atlanta Hawks: PF Matas Buzelis – G-League Ignite

Buzelis, another top freshman recruit from this last class, chose to forego college and instead be the next member of the G-League Ignite. That decision has panned out for him, even if he hasn’t reached the heights that many expected from him in a weaker draft class overall.

Buzelis has averaged 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.6 assists, and a steal over 21 games in the G-League before appearing at NBA All-Star Weekend during the Rising Stars Game. All that with his previous potential leads Boone to believes that it’s “still hard to see him slipping out of the Top-10”.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets): PF Ron Holland – G-League Ignite

Holland is another former top recruit that, like Buzelis, chose the G-League over college after originally committing to Texas. It has been a successful path for him too with averages of 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assist, and 2.5 steals with the Ignite.

Boone has liked Holland’s game and has seen development from him as a player in his 14 outings as a pro. Now, ahead of the NBA Draft, he wants to see that trend continue to keep buying in stock for him as a Top-10 prospect in the lottery.

Picks No. 11 through No. 30

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz): PG Isaiah Collier – USC
12. Chicago Bulls: PG Stephon Castle – UConn
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers): C Yves Missi – Baylor
14. Sacramento Kings: C Donovan Clingan – UConn
15. Miami Heat: C Kyle Filipowski – Duke
16. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers): PF DaRon Holmes II – Dayton
17. Orlando Magic: SG Dalton Knecht – Tennessee
18. Portland Trailblazers (via Golden State Warriors): PF Trevon Brazile – Arkansas
19. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks): PF Bobi Klintman – Sweden
20. Phoenix Suns: SG Kevin McCullar Jr. – Kansas
21. Philadelphia 76ers: SG Terrence Shannon Jr. – Illinois
22. New York Knicks: SG Johnny Furphy – Kansas
23. Milwaukee Bucks: PG Jared McCain – Duke
24. New Orleans Pelicans: SG Hunter Sallis – Wake Forest
25. Denver Nuggets: PF Tyler Smith – G-League Ignite
26. Los Angeles Clippers: SG Trey Alexander – Creighton
27. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG D.J. Wagner – Kentucky
28. Toronto Raptors (via Oklahoma City Thunder): SF Ryan Dunn – Virginia
29. Minnesota Timberwolves: C Zach Edey – Purdue
30. Boston Celtics: SG Dillon Jones – Weber State

March Madness is as good a spotlight as any for some of these collegiate players to boost their stock and overtake some of their other counterparts. Still, for now, it’s worth noting just how many international and non-college prospects are looking to go high in this NBA Draft at this point.