College

Player

The 2023-24 season was the only one that Jones played at Washington State, with the 6-foot-8 transfer making prior stops at Wenatchee Valley (WA) CC and Idaho. During his lone season with the Cougars, Jones earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and averaged 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game. While undersized for a center, the 7-foot-3 wingspan helped compensate for Jones’ lack of height. He has a good feel for the game offensively and did most of his damage around the basket. Being on a two-way deal limits Jones’ chances of cracking the Kings rotation immediately, but he’ll improve his chances by showing he can be an impactful defender.

Buzelis is one of the high-level draft prospects on this year’s G League Ignite roster, and he’s currently projected by many scouts to be no worse than a top-5 pick next June. But the start of his first game with the Ignite wasn’t the best, as Buzelis appeared to be a bit hesitant on the offensive end of the floor. Things changed after the halftime break, and the final stat line is one that many would take from an 18-year-old making his (unofficial) pro debut. Buzelis will look to get off to a better start when the teams meet again on Friday, but there’s little need for concern in the aftermath of his first game.

Making his unofficial professional debut, Holland was the most consistent performer on the court Thursday night. Projected to be a top-3 selection in next summer’s draft, the 6-foot-8 forward was in attack mode throughout the win over Perth, impacting the action on both ends of the floor. The two teams are scheduled to play again on Friday, so Perth should have a better idea of what they’re dealing with regarding the task of defending Holland. That said, he’ll also have some “reference points” to work with. And Holland’s first professional game went about as well as anyone could hope for.

Flagg’s decision to move up into the Class of 2024 is a big deal in the basketball world, and it should be for dynasty managers as well. The 6-foot-10 forward from Maine is considered by some to be the best prospect regardless of class among American high school talents due to the combination of size and offensive versatility. Among the many schools in the running for Flagg’s services are Duke, UConn, and Kansas, and at the rate he’s currently developing, college basketball may be nothing more than a pit stop before the NBA. Keep an eye on him, as Friday’s decision makes him eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Vukcevic struggled with his shot early in this game, but he was able to hit some shots down the stretch to redeem his line. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for him to help Washington get a win. He was the 42nd pick in the draft, but with the Wizards going all in on a tank, he could end up playing a real role this season.

Tshiebwe was a start at Kentucky, but he didn’t end up hearing his name called on draft night. He’ll likely spend the majority of the season in the G-League, but there is a path for him to eventually become a rotational piece in the NBA.

The big man averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 boards and 1.8 swats across 20.8 minutes last season with Alabama, and he shot 35.5% from the charity stripe. With Zach Collins and another Charlie B on the squad (Bassey, that is), Bediako will likely have a tough time finding minutes as a rookie.

The Gonzaga product averaged 21.2 points and 7.5 boards in his final collegiate season, and he’ll look to earn a roster spot with the Bucks after going undrafted Thursday.

The Green Room is empty, as Rupert was the last man left. He’s a great defender and a capable shooter, but he’s not likely to be an offensive menace at the next level. His 3-and-D skillset is attractive for real-world hoops, but it’s not the friendliest for fantasy managers. Rupert was viewed by more than a few scouts as a player capable of going in the first round, so this could wind up being a steal for Portland. But it will take some time.

Vukcevic only played 11.6 minutes per game last season, so he wasn’t able to contribute much statistically. He’s had some hype around him because he has been a professional since 2020 when he was just 17 years old. He can turn into a solid stretch big, but his defensive limitations may keep him from making an impact in the NBA. It’ll take him a few years to develop if he’s able to stick around in the league. We’re not expecting much in Year 1, but after the Wizards moved on from Kristaps Porzingis, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Vuk to see some run off the bench for the thin Wizards frontcourt.