2024 NBA Draft: ESPN updates mock draft, 1st round predictions as calendar speeds to March Madness

March Madness is less than a month away, meaning 2024 NBA Draft hopefuls will look to increase their stock. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their updated mock draft this week to see which players could go atop the board in late June at Barclays Center.

There’s sure to be plenty of international talent in the lottery, highlighted by Zaccharie Risacher. The French forward is the projected No. 1 pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft, going to the Washington Wizards. ESPN’s order was based on projections since the draft lottery isn’t until May.

The first college player didn’t go off the board until Rob Dillingham at No. 3, while G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis – fresh off a strong performance in the Rising Stars game – also comes in as a top-five pick.

1. Washington Wizards – Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg (France)

Unlike last year when Victor Wembanyama went atop the board, the 2024 NBA Draft doesn’t seem to have a clear-cut top pick. In ESPN’s latest projection, French forward Zaccharie Risacher went No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards.

Risacher stars for JL Bourg in France, averaging 11.4 points on better than 50% shooting from the floor. His length and touch around the rim make him an intriguing prospect, and he very well could find himself going as the top selection in June.

2. Detroit Pistons – Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth Wildcats (Australia)

Another international talent came in as a top selection in ESPN’s mock draft. French big man Alex Sarr looks like a lottery pick, and Givony and Woo have him going to the Detroit Pistons at No. 2 overall.

Sarr has been viewed as a potential No. 1 overall selection amid his strong season for the Perth Wildcats, shooting better than 50% from the field and averaging 9.7 points per game. He also spent two years with Overtime Elite before heading back to international basketball this season.

3. San Antonio Spurs – Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky

Rob Dillingham is the first college player off the board in ESPN’s latest mock draft, going No. 3 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. The Kentucky star is in the midst of an impressive freshman season in Lexington, and he continues to be a projected top-five pick.

Dillingham is averaging 14.7 points and 4.0 assists this year while shooting 44.8% from the field to help the Wildcats to an 18-7 overall record. He continues to be a key piece for Kentucky as March approaches, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

4. Charlotte Hornets – Matas Buzelis, SF, G League Ignite

Matas Buzelis is one of the biggest risers on the board, and his performance in Indianapolis over the weekend only helped that. The Chicago native hit the game-winning shot to stun the team of NBA rookies in the Rising Stars Challenge, and he’s generating plenty of conversation in draft circles.

Buzelis is averaging 13 points and 6.3 rebounds for G League Ignite this season, and he had seven points in the Rising Stars game. He is a former Five Star Plus+ recruit a year ago as he cemented himself as one of the top players in the 2024 NBA Draft.

5. Portland Trail Blazers – Cody Williams, SF, Colorado

Despite missing time with a wrist injury, Cody Williams has been a crucial piece for Colorado this year. The Buffaloes improved to 17-9 this year with a thrilling victory over USC over the weekend, featuring 14 points from Williams.

In 17 games for CU, Williams is averaging 14.2 points and is shooting 59.2% from the field to help lead Colorado through Pac-12 play. He continues to move up the draft board, and his stock looks like it’ll keep building with the conference tournament and March Madness looming.

6. Toronto Raptors – Nikola Topic, PG, Mega MIS (Serbia)

Another intriguing international prospect is Nikola Topic, the Serbian forward projected to go No. 6 overall to the Toronto Raptors in ESPN’s latest mock draft. He won MVP honors at the FIBA U18 European Championship last year and could make a major impact in the NBA as a top-10 pick.

Topic would fit a bigger point guard mold, standing at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds. He also has plenty of room to grow at just 18 years old, which would likely be enticing from a developmental standpoint.

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

As Baylor goes through another impressive season in the Big 12, Ja’Kobe Walter is playing a key role in that success. He leads the Bears with 14.5 points per game to help them to a 19-6 overall record entering Tuesday night against BYU.

Walter is coming off one of his biggest games of the year on Feb. 13. He dropped 23 points to help lead Baylor past West Virginia 94-81, keeping the Bears in the thick of the Big 12 race.

8. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets) – Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France)

Another French forward with a high ceiling, Tidjane Salaun looks to be a lottery pick amid his first professional season. He signed his first contract last year with Cholet Basket and also has experience at the FIBA U18.

Salaun stands at 6-foot-9, meaning he’d bring some impressive length to whichever NBA team selects him in the 2024 draft. In ESPN’s latest mock, that’s the Houston Rockets, who will acquire a first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the James Harden trade.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets) – Kyle Filipowski, PF/C, Duke

Kyle Filipowski could have been a fringe lottery pick a year ago, but decided to return to Duke for another season. Now, he’s looking at possibly becoming a top-10 pick as he puts together yet another solid season in Durham.

Filipowski leads Duke with 17 points per game while adding team-highs with 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on average. Those are even better numbers than he put up last season, meaning his arrow is pointing up with draft season right around the corner.

10. Atlanta Hawks – Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite

A former Five Star Plus+ recruit, Ron Holland was seen as a possible No. 1 overall pick in the early draft process. He’s in the midst of a strong season for G League Ignite, but now finds himself as a top-10 selection.

Holland is averaging 20.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for Ignite, although he didn’t play in the Rising Stars Challenge. Still, he’s looking like a lottery selection with just a few months to go until Draft Day.

Rest of ESPN’s NBA mock draft

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz) – Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
12. Chicago Bulls – Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
13. Sacramento Kings – Zach Edey, C, Purdue
14. New Orleans Pelican (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
15. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers) – Stephon Castle, G, UConn
16. Miami Heat – Kevin McCullar Jr., SF, Kansas
17. Portland Trail Blazers – Devin Carter, G, Providence
18. Orlando Magic – Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
19. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks) – Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite
20. Philadelphia 76ers – Jared McCain, PG, Duke
21. Phoenix Suns – Ryan Dunn, SF, Virginia
22. Milwaukee Bucks – Yves Missi, C, Baylor
23. New York Knicks – Bobi Klintman, F, Cairns Taipans
24. New Orleans Pelicans – Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana
25. Denver Nuggets – Izan Almansa, PF/C, G League Ignite
26. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City Thunder) – Trevon Brazile, PF, Arkansas
27. Washington Wizards – DJ Wagner, G, Kentucky
28. Cleveland Cavaliers – Juan Nunez, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
29. Minnesota Timberwolves – Johnny Furphy, SG/SF, Kansas
30. Boston Celtics – Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
31. Utah Jazz – Melvin Ajinca, SG/SF, Saint Quentin
32. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons) – Kyshawn George, SG/SF, Miami

There’s still plenty of time before the 2024 NBA Draft gets underway – especially since we won’t know the order until mid-May. Still, there’s an opportunity coming up for players to improve their stock on college basketball’s biggest stage in March Madness.