NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Three players in the top tier

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Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky Wildcats. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Tier 2

4. Jaden Ivey, Guard, Purdue

Jaden Ivey resides in the top four of most NBA Big Boards, but almost always in that fourth spot. He stays there on this Big Board but outside of the top tier. Ivey is absolutely dynamic with the ball in his hands, with the strength to finish and a smooth jumper. What holds him back from the top tier is a shaky perimeter shot and a complete lack of effort defensively. You have to be a really special guard offensively to overcome the lack of an outside shot and defensive impact; Ivey may be that special, but those are major red flags.

5. Shaedon Sharpe, Wing, Kentucky

Shaedon Sharpe is the newcomer to the draft mix, although many expected him to enter the 2022 NBA Draft when it began to be reported that he would be eligible based on his graduation date. At 6’6″ with elite athleticism, Sharpe is the ideal prospect for the modern NBA. He has excellent length, a pure jumpshot and has grown tremendously as a passer over the past few seasons in high school. The concerns all center around Sharpe’s lack of high-end competition; he didn’t play at Kentucky, and his high-school career didn’t afford many big games. The theory of Sharpe is amazing, but it hasn’t been tested like some of the other players.

6. Keegan Murray, Forward, Iowa

One of the breakout stars of this past college season, Murray was barely on NBA radars coming into college; ESPN’s first 2022 mock draft in December of 2020 didn’t mention him in its top-60 (although its top-3 were the same top 3 as this big board, interestingly enough), and coming into this past season most were targeting Murray as an intriguing late-round sleeper. Now he is a consensus top 10 draft pick after an All-American sophomore season for the Iowa Hawkeyes forward.

Murray can score from anywhere, mashing on mismatches in the post or taking bigs off the dribble, with great balance and a sharp pullup jumper. He is a rugged defender who should be a significant asset on that end while still providing shot creation on the other end. He will be 22 before the start of the season, which may cap his upside, but he is already a really talented two-way player at a premium position.