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NBA Draft 2019: Surprise No. 1 overall pick in latest mock draft

By Brian Rauf

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during their game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during their game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the floor and battles with Zion Williamson #1, Marques Bolden #20 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils for a loose ball during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the floor and battles with Zion Williamson #1, Marques Bolden #20 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils for a loose ball during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

The new year brings about the start of conference play in college basketball. Where do the top NBA Draft prospects stand after non-conference action?

The 2019 NBA Draft is still months away but with non-conference play coming to a close for college basketball teams around the country, draft boards are starting to change around the league.

Duke’s R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson are pretty much locked in as the top two overall picks – which order will they go in? Williamson has the leg up for many right now because of his once-in-a-generation athleticism and physical tools, and his efficiency is one of the biggest reasons why he’s currently the favorite to win National Player of the Year.

However, I still believe Barrett will end up being the No. 1 overall pick. He has the advantage over Williamson (and everyone else) skill-wise and is capable of doing anything you need from him on both sides of the floor. Barrett has proven throughout his high school, college, and international careers that he’s a tremendous leader and the kind of alpha personality teams expect from their franchise players.

The downside with Barrett right now has been his inefficiency and poor decision-making in some of Duke’s biggest games. He has a tendency to force the issue, often leading to turnovers or bad shots. Yet Barrett has shown some improvement in both areas and did not have these glaring issues before arriving in Durham.

After those two, however, things get much murkier. There are a lot of players who have talent and upside, but either comes with a lack of production so far or a perceived limited NBA ceiling.

So, how will the draft play out? Here are our latest projections as we head into conference play.

*Draft order determined by NBA standings as of 12/31/2018*

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