NBA Draft 2021: Final Big Board of top 60 prospects before draft night

41. Austin Reaves – Oklahoma

Senior – 6’5, 205 lbs – May 1998

Reaves is older, but it’s hard to ignore how productive he was for the Sooners the past two seasons. Even with an inconsistent jumper, Reaves was just under 20 points per game. He’s definitely a better shooter than his 30% from behind the arc last season, he was just tasked with taking some difficult shots. Watching him shoot at the combine, I feel confident that Reaves will be able to make shots at the next level.

He’s got good ancillary skills off the ball. He understands angles well and plays with a craft and confidence to his game. He doesn’t quite have an NBA body and that’ll hurt him in the long run, but he’s a savvy player who knows how to produce and is adaptable to different schemes.

42. Kessler Edwards – Pepperdine

Junior – 6’8, 200 lbs – August 2000

You look at Edwards and you see the body of an NBA wing: a 6’8 frame with long arms and good muscle definition. He’s going to stick, largely because of his defense. He’s a plus-team defender, using that length to disrupt actions. On the ball, he could theoretically guard a few positions.

Edwards has shown he can shoot, knocking down 39.5% of his career threes on 380 attempts. His form is unique, shooting the ball in front of his face. He got away with it against smaller WCC defenders, but those issues reared their head a bit at the combine where he struggled to shoot against legitimate length. I don’t anticipate him doing much more than spotting-up, so if he can shoot proficiently, he’ll be a perfectly fine three-and-D player.

43. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – Villanova

Sophomore – 6’9, 230 lbs – November 2000

Like most Villanova players, Robinson-Earl does a lot of the little things well: he plays within a team game, boxes out, is a willing passer, and plays hard. Shooting is the biggest question mark. He struggled from deep in college but shot the ball well from mid-range. I watched him participate in a pre-draft workout in Chicago and the mechanics looked good. If he could shoot consistently, that could help solidify his role. Robinson-Earl is a bit undersized and doesn’t offer enough rim protection to be a true five. He’s also a bit slow to guard fours and if he doesn’t shoot, that’ll cramp spacing.

At worst, Robinson-Earl is a hard worker who can maybe improve those weaknesses, become a shooter, and stick in a frontcourt somewhere. Villanova guys typically do. But, he also may be better suited in Europe or the G-League.

44. Rokas Jokubaitis – Zalgiris (Lithuania)

6’4, 200 lbs -November 2000

Another draft-and-stash candidate, Jokubaitis has a similar skill set to a lot of European guards. He’s got good size for a lead playmaker, with a handle and craftiness that allows him to beat defenders. He processes the game at a good speed. Jokubaitis isn’t athletically gifted so whether or not that craftiness will translate to on-ball equity in the NBA is what will determine his ceiling. He’s shown some growth as a shooter in his three professional seasons but is still below-average in that regard.

Jokubaitis could help his draft position if he agrees to stay overseas for a year. But he’s not an 18 year old, he’s already played pro there for three years. He might just be destined to be an elite Euroleague guard in the future, but as a draft-and-stash player he’s worth a look in the second round.

45. Neemias Queta – Utah State

Junior – 7’0, 245 lbs – July 1999

Another pre-draft riser, Queta can fill a void as a situational big with his sheer size. He doesn’t “wow” you, but at the combine, it was noticeable the things he can add to a team. Queta’s length makes it easy to protect the rim, and while he’s not an advanced finisher, he’s got a plus catch radius as a lob threat.

Queta needs to improve his hands, to both finish inside and snag rebounds. His defensive awareness is also lagging, missing times where he could rotate for a block. But, he’s a huge player who does enough things well to stick. In a draft class weak on rotational bigs, Queta is worthy of a second-round selection.