Who are the top prospects in the 2024 NBA draft? Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard

The 2024 NBA Draft is almost upon us, with the event to take place over two nights for the first very time since it was shortened to two rounds. All eyes will be on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on 26 and 27 June, when the Atlanta Hawks will have the first overall pick. But which hot young prospects are likely to be drafted first?

Best draft prospects in 2024

There might not be a clear stand-out candidate, as there has been in previous years (Victor Wembanyama, we’re looking at you) but there is still plenty of talent waiting to be picked up.

Alex Sarr (center): strengths and weaknesses

Seven-foot plus French basketball players are all the rage at the moment following Wembanyama’s impact in the NBA after being drafted by the Spurs last year. Following his compatriot 12 months later is Alexandre Sarr, who spent the last year playing in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia.

Born in Bordeaux in France, the 19-year-old is said to have the potential to become an elite defensive player in the NBA due to his mobility and agility, which will allow him to guard all over the floor.

Like Wembanyama, Sarr’s main weakness could be his relative lack of bulk compared to other NBA players. According to Scouting Combine measurements, he weights in at 224 pounds (101 kg), which may prevent him from holding his defensive position against heavier opponents and attacking the rim as comfortably as someone with his height should be able to. Additionally, he still needs to improve his footwork.

Zaccharie Risacher (forward): strengths and weaknesses

Another Frenchman who is projected to be selected early on in the draft is Zaccharie Risacher, who could shine as a small forward specialising in defense and three-point shooting.

Professional sport runs in the family for the 19-year-old, whose his father, Stephane, won a bronze medal in basketball at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. His efficiency in long-distance shooting (38.7 percent) makes him a serious candidate to excel as a 3&D player, with potential for more.

However, Risacher’s inability to make his own shots is a problem. Additionally, he lacks the strength required to be able to easily drive towards the basket and dominate opponents. Additionally, his considerable height (six foot nine / 2.06 m) isn’t reflected in his rebounding stats; he averaged only 3.6 rebounds last year with JL Bourg in the French league.

Reed Sheppard (guard): strengths and weaknesses

Despite being a reserve with the Kentucky Wildcats under John Calipari, Reed Sheppard is projected to be one of the first picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. The guard averaged 12.5 points with a 53.6 percent field goal success rate in 2023/24. His stand-out skill is his three-point shooting, which is especially notable considering this has become the league’s preferred shot. The 20-year-old made 52.1 percent of his long-distance attempts last season. He also has good ball handling skills, with 4.5 assists against 2.0 turnovers per game.

However, Sheppard’s short stature (six foot three / 1.91 m) for a starting guard is a disadvantage, particularly against the likes of Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. In addition, he will need to work on creating space when under pressure due to not being one of the more athletic guards; at the Scouting Combine, he did the lane agility drill in 10.96 seconds and ran the court in 3.08 seconds. The fastest time was 2.87 seconds, achieved by Devin Carter.

Stephon Castle (guard): strengths and weaknesses

The UConn Huskies won 2024 March Madness under the tutelage of Dan Hurley, who turned down the opportunity to take over as head coach of the LA Lakers. Hurley built a great team around Stephon Castle, the main facilitator and primary perimeter defender, who has notable off-the-ball skills.

In his final year a UConn, the 19-year-old played 34 games, averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Castle has a winning track record having been part of the USA Basketball team that won the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in 2022, where he played alongside Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic and Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets.

The only thing Castle needs to improve is his jump shot. According to Synergy, he made only 29.4 percent of his off-the-dribble three-pointers. The potential to improve his shooting is there, as he finished the season with a 75.5 percent free throw percentage.

Donovan Clingan (center): strengths and weaknesses

Size can’t be taught, and Donovan Clingan is a seven-foot-two (2.18 m) giant who shone alongside Castle with the Huskies. The 20-year-old center has a wingspan of 2.31 meters, allowing him to block almost any shot near the rim. In addition to his great defensive potential and effectiveness in pick-and-roll plays, what sets him apart from Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers, for instance, is his ability to assist his teammates from the high post.

The drawbacks for Clingan are his lack of mobility when it comes to defending the perimeter and not being a reliable mid- and long-range shooter. Last year, he attempted only eight three-pointers, making just two. On top of that, he made just 58.3 percent of free throws.