The player who seems to have closed the gap on Holmgren the most in the past few months is Duke-bound big man Paolo Banchero. Having grown to 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, Banchero could step on an NBA floor tomorrow and hold his own physically.
Over a four-day span at the Grind Session World Championship in Phoenix in early March, a competitive setting by high school standards, Banchero averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks for BFL Prep. Less important than the numbers were the many different ways Banchero was able to impact the game, showing he has modernized his skill set significantly since the onset of the pandemic.
Banchero saw quite a bit of responsibility as a big playmaker with the freedom to push the ball off the defensive glass or initiate in the half court out of pick-and-roll, changing speeds powerfully out of hesitation moves with either hand. He has made marked improvement as a perimeter shooter, looking extremely comfortable making spot-up 3-pointers, pulling up when defenders go under ball screens or even executing difficult step-backs from NBA range. He lives at the free throw line due to his ability to create from the perimeter and punish smaller players inside, and shows terrific touch at the line or converting turnaround jumpers out of the post. He's also a capable passer who can find teammates on the move. Defensively, Banchero has outstanding timing as a drop defender in pick-and-roll, while also being able to rotate and make plays at the rim with verticality and much improved explosiveness.
Banchero doesn't have the longest wingspan and at times lacks a degree of physicality on the glass, so he will need to continue to improve his decision-making and overall polish to reach his full potential. Banchero will likely see significant minutes at power forward at Duke, where he'll team up with 7-foot-1 center and fellow projected first-round pick Mark Williams. That will give him substantial opportunity to showcase his perimeter skill set, while also potentially presenting some real challenges in terms of offensive spacing. Showing he can defend outside the paint, make good decisions with the ball and contribute to winning will go a long way in bolstering his case as the No. 1 pick.
Givony has also moved Griffin up from #7 to #6 in his mock draft.
Over a four-day span at the Grind Session World Championship in Phoenix in early March, a competitive setting by high school standards, Banchero averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks for BFL Prep. Less important than the numbers were the many different ways Banchero was able to impact the game, showing he has modernized his skill set significantly since the onset of the pandemic.
Banchero saw quite a bit of responsibility as a big playmaker with the freedom to push the ball off the defensive glass or initiate in the half court out of pick-and-roll, changing speeds powerfully out of hesitation moves with either hand. He has made marked improvement as a perimeter shooter, looking extremely comfortable making spot-up 3-pointers, pulling up when defenders go under ball screens or even executing difficult step-backs from NBA range. He lives at the free throw line due to his ability to create from the perimeter and punish smaller players inside, and shows terrific touch at the line or converting turnaround jumpers out of the post. He's also a capable passer who can find teammates on the move. Defensively, Banchero has outstanding timing as a drop defender in pick-and-roll, while also being able to rotate and make plays at the rim with verticality and much improved explosiveness.
Banchero doesn't have the longest wingspan and at times lacks a degree of physicality on the glass, so he will need to continue to improve his decision-making and overall polish to reach his full potential. Banchero will likely see significant minutes at power forward at Duke, where he'll team up with 7-foot-1 center and fellow projected first-round pick Mark Williams. That will give him substantial opportunity to showcase his perimeter skill set, while also potentially presenting some real challenges in terms of offensive spacing. Showing he can defend outside the paint, make good decisions with the ball and contribute to winning will go a long way in bolstering his case as the No. 1 pick.
Givony has also moved Griffin up from #7 to #6 in his mock draft.
