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The NBA Draft Combine is upon us, with the league inviting 69 young prospects to the event. The Draft Combine is an annual event where a pool of college prospects attend a showcase event in front of the NBA coaches, general managers and scouts.
The college athletes undergo medical tests, shooting drills, athletic tests, interviews and games in front of their audience ahead of the NBA Draft.
Ten best college players attending the 2021 NBA Draft Combine
The players attending can do so by invite only. A rare group of young stars get the invite, and most of them attend. However, the 2021 NBA Draft's first projected pick, Cade Cunningham, declined the invite and so did highly scouted prospect Jalen Suggs.
All eyes will be on a handful of players out of the over 60 participants. On that note, let's take a look at the top ten prospects attending the 2021 NBA Draft Combine, not ranked in any order.
#1 Jalen Green
Guard - Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 180 lb | Age: 19
Jalen Green plays for the NBA G-League Ignite and is an explosive high-scoring guard. Often referred to as a scoring machine, Green reminds people of a young Kobe Bryant, an elite offensive talent who will stop at nothing when determined to get a bucket.
He would be an ideal guard in the current offensive-heavy era of the NBA. Green has deep range, can pull off the dribble, has creativity in finishing near the rim and is athletic.
#2 Jalen Johnson
Forward - Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 220 lb | Age: 19
Jalen Johnson is an athletic point forward whose best skill is playmaking. He reads the floor really well and makes accurate off-the-bounce passes. If Johnson can develop his jump shot, he could become an elite pick-and-roll operator in the NBA.
He is incredible on the open floor and has great speed and athleticism. He rebounds well and would have had higher assists if his teammates at Duke made their shots. The 6' 9" forward is versatile in defense both on and off the ball and has lateral quickness and strength capable of guarding any size.
#3 Evan Mobley
Big - Height: 7' 0" | Weight: 215 lb | Age: 19
Evan Mobley is one of the consensus top-five in the 2021 NBA Draft. The 7' 0" Freshman is a highly versatile two-way big man who can do it all and reminds people of Chris Bosh.
He can pull up for jump shots, attack the rim and finish with either hand and throw down lobs. Mobley is considered one of the rare big men with go-to scoring potential, as he has the touch and feel for the game. Even though he is 7' 0" tall and has a 7' 4" wingspan, scouters consider him a forward, as he does big man-type things with fluidity and has the skillset of a wing.
#4 Tre Mann
Guard - Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 190 lb | Age: 20
Tre Mann of the Florida Gators is a knockdown sharpshooter with a great handle and incredible speed. He has great touch on his floater and is a solid playmaker who uses his scoring as a way to get open looks for teammates.
Mann needs to get better in defense and rebounding. He is not an incredible finisher at the rim but can certainly improve once he is in the NBA. However, his jump shot and handle make him an elite scorer anyway.
Tre Mann averaged 16 points on 40% three-point shooting and made 83% of his free throws. People have compared him with D'Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
#5 Jonathan Kuminga
Forward - Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 220 lb | Age: 18
Jonathan Kuminga plays for the NBA G-League Ignite alongside Jalen Green. He is a versatile forward who is an active rebounder and is an ambidextrous finisher near the rim.
He has a tight handle and makes massive strides while running to the rim. He is supremely athletic and has elite defensive potential if committed to stopping a player. Kuminga has been compared with Jeff Green, and many believe he could crack the top-five picks in the 2021 NBA Draft.
#6 Ayo Dosunmu
Guard - Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 200 lb | Age: 21
Although not the most highly scouted prospect, Ayo Dosunmu is expected to crack the top 20 in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. He is a great ball-handler with incredible defence and hustle.
He sets the tone of the game and controls the offensive tempo. He uses his size and strength to power defenders and create space and pushes the ball in transition to attack the rim or kick out a pass. Dosunmu is a versatile on-ball defender who has had multiple games playing lockdown defense while also averaging 20 points per game.
#7 Davion Mitchell
Guard - Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 205 lb | Age: 22
Davion Mitchell is a highly competitive player who made strides in his offensive game to eventually end up as a highly scouted prospect. He is expected to be a top-ten pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Mitchell is an elite defender both on and off the ball, who uses his hustle and speed. He reminds people of Jrue Holiday in defense and Donovan Mitchell in offense. He improved his three-point shooting from 31% in his first two years in college to 44% in his junior year.
Davion Mitchell is also a dynamic shot creator who has the ability to finish near the rim with either hand.
#8 Keon Johnson
Forward - Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 186 lb | Age: 19
Keon Johnson is expected to crack the top ten of the 2021 NBA Draft. He is an explosive athlete who could become an excellent go-to scorer in the NBA.
Johnson can be lethal in the pick-and-roll due to his force as a driver and explosiveness near the rim. He is also a versatile defender both on and off the ball, He willingingly draws charges and crowds passing lanes and reminds people of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Gary Harris.
#9 Franz Wagner
Forward - Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 220 lb | Age: 19
Franz Wagner can be a great offensive talent in the NBA as he is a 6' 9" forward who can knockdown the three. He can drill shots off the dribble and can be a playmaker in the pick-and-roll.
One of his highlights is that he rarely turns the ball over and can be a facilitator in offense, thanks to his dribble handoffs, relocations, cuts and screens. Wagner is also a great off-the-ball defender who reads the defense perfectly and beats the defenders to their spots.
He has shown high IQ at both ends of the floor and has incredible feel for the game. Franz is the brother of NBA player Moe Wagner and reminds people of Danilo Gallinari or Lamar Odom.
#10 James Bouknight
Guard - Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 190 lb | Age: 20
An explosive athlete with a mean handle and competitive nature, James Bouknight is referred to as NBA-ready, with comparisons drawn with Jordan Clarkson and CJ McCollum.
He is an incredible scorer who attacks the paint and finishes above the rim with an acrobatic move or a thunderous dunk. He can use his handle to create space and hit contested jump shots. Bouknight is also great off the ball and cuts to the rim and relocates for open shots. He is also a great defender, as he uses his speed and athleticism to trouble guards and wings.
Also Read: NBA Draft 2021: Top 5 prospects to watch out for
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