Brief Evaluations of Six Duke and UNC Prospects
Duke vs North Carolina has been a rivalry as old as time. One of the greatest duels in college basketball and often compared to the Lakers & Celtics, both schools have churned out various NBA talent, from old stars such as MJ, James Worthy, and Grant Hill to new ones like Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving.
With the 2022 Draft just a few months away and these two just finishing a thrilling Final Four, it’s worth evaluating several prospects from both schools, players who could make a major impact for their new teams come October.
DUKE PROSPECTS
Paolo Banchero
Without a doubt a top-two pick in this draft, Banchero has shown his abilities as a star-studded two-way big all year. A 6’10”, 250-pound beast, the one-and-done Banchero put up 17.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG, as well as 0.9 BPG and 1.1 SPG, and he has proven his worth to NBA scouts as a reliable forward-center who can be a star in the NBA. He also showed his ability to stretch the floor, converting 44 of 130 three-pointers at Duke (33.8%), as well as make plays, dropping 124 dimes this year. His contributions to such a prestigious program have certainly not gone unnoticed, and he looks to continue his winning ways in the league while becoming one of its future stars.
AJ Griffin
Joining Banchero in the top-ten could be wing AJ Griffin, whose father played nine years in the NBA for the SuperSonics, Celtics, Mavericks, Bulls, and Rockets. The 6’6” forward put up 10.4 PPG, nearly 4 RPG, and 1 APG on 49–44–79 splits for coach K this year. Griffin projects as a 3-and-D combo forward who can explode at the rim and protect the paint. Despite his athleticism, Griffin has a lengthy injury history, which teams will be monitoring as June 23 approaches. Still, he has potential to be an effective swingman and a high-impact player on an NBA roster.
Mark Williams
Williams is another big man who is a force to be reckoned with, particularly on defense. Boasting nearly 3 BPG along with 11.2 PPG and 7.4 RPG, Williams has shown his ability to protect the paint while rebounding effectively and scoring with ease. At 7’0” and 243 pounds with a rumored 7’7” wingspan, he is sneakily athletic and can come out of nowhere to swat shots at the rim and dunk everything with authority. He has been another draft board riser who’s surprised everyone with his talent, and several teams will be vying for his services as a possible backup center.
UNC PROSPECTS
Caleb Love
Coming off a 28-point performance in the Final Four, the most points scored by a Tar Heel since James Worthy’s 28 in the 1982 National Championship, Love’s name has been gradually rising on NBA mock draft boards. The 6’3” guard has averaged 15.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.7 APG while shooting 37% from deep this season and clearly has a knack for scoring the rock. Love’s distributing ability makes him even more of a threat as a combo guard, and his versatility and two-way play will translate well at the next level. Projected by many as a mid-to-late first-round pick, Love will be a top guard prospect to watch next year.
Armando Bacot
Bacot, like others on this list, has been a draft board riser that’s shown out this year and turned into a possible first-round pick. The 6’10” forward has been a double-double machine with averages of 16.3 PPG and 13.1 RPG to go along with 1.5 APG and 1.7 BPG. Additionally, he’s shot nearly 58% from the field but 66% from the free-throw line. Bacot does a wealth of damage in the paint while being a great rim-runner and screen-setter. Though he has quite a bit to work on as far as offense goes (according to some scouting reports), he knows his role and excels at it: rebound and defend. Bacot is projected to be a second round pick who, with the right development, will turn into a solid role player off the bench.
Brady Manek
The Tar Heels certainly found a diamond in the rough through the transfer portal. Fifth-year senior and 6’9” sharpshooter Brady Manek was one of the most underrated players on this year’s UNC squad, with averages of 15.2 PPG, nearly 6 RPG, and 1.8 APG on 49–40–68 splits. Shooting comes at a premium in the NBA, so Manek’s skills will be highly desired by teams in June. Though he may be seen as a one-dimensional player right now, he is still an offensive threat thanks to his shooting, often creating mismatches and forcing defenses to spread out. Again, with the right development, Manek could blossom into a true two-way stud with elite shooting abilities.
Conclusion
These six prospects have immense potential to succeed in the league and will certainly be hearing Adam Silver call their names in June. With incredibly talented coaches at their side, it’s no doubt that these guys are NBA-ready and will continue the tradition of Duke & UNC players excelling at the next level.
