NBA Draft 2022: Final Big Board of top 60 overall prospects

33. Jake Laravia – Wake Forest – Forward – 6’8, 227 lbs – November 2001 – Junior

Laravia is another huge pre-draft riser, whose game doesn’t pop from casual viewings. Laravia is big, but isn’t the best or longest athlete. He is an impactful multi-positional defender, with a terrific understanding of where to be as a helper. He uses his strong frame to wall-up drivers. Laravia isn’t menacing or overly-quick on the ball, but isn’t someone that will be targeted,

Offensively, Laravia is the ideal connecting piece. He’s a willing ball-mover, and one of the best cutters in the class. Laravia has a clean-looking shot and made threes at a high rate last season, but the volume was a little low for my liking (2.2 per game). As long as he generates closeouts from the defense though, the package makes sense.

Without elite physical tools, I’m not sure how Laravia becomes an elite-level role player. But he’s got good positional size, high IQ on both ends, and some dribble-pass-shoot ability make me think he can crack a rotation.

34. Bryce McGowens – Nebraska – Guard – 6’6.5, 182 lbs – November 2002 – Freshman

McGowens put up impressive counting stats on a terrible Nebraska team while showcasing some impressive isolation scoring and three-level scoring ability. In a lower usage role, McGowens should attack closeouts well and use his athleticism to get downhill. He’ll need to bulk up (for both ends of the court), but that would help him tremendously as a finisher.

Accepting a lower-usage role is a question scouts have. McGowens had a clear “score first” mindset. It’s not like his teammates were very good so it could have been a reflection of that, but McGowens usage will have to be scaled back. There are concerns with the shooting (40/27/83 splits) but watching him shoot in person, I’m a believer. He will need to give more effort on the defensive end, but there’s no denying the physical tools.

McGowens has talent and can do enough things well to stick, but he’s going to need a team to be patient and develop him. I’m not sure he has a bankable NBA skill right away or will handle the physicality from the jump, but by his second contract we could be looking at a legitimate scoring threat.

35. Justin Lewis – Marquette – Forward – 6’7.5, 235 lbs – April 2002 – Sophomore

Lewis is one of the best big-man shooters in this class. He’s got a mechanically sound shot and can shoot off the move very well. Not much of a vertical leaper, Lewis uses good inside strength, footwork, and touch to succeed inside. He’s not a lob threat in tight spaces but can be used as a stretch four/five. He showed some explosive leaping in space.

Defensively, it’ll take some creativity to maximize Lewis. His lack of foot-speed hurts him, but he’s got a 7’2 wingspan and the frame to defend fives, although not a great rim protector. I feel fine with him as a drop and ice defender, and guarding some fives on the block and non-ball-handling fours. The shooting and size alone entice me enough here even if there are not super high-end outcomes.

36. Dalen Terry – Arizona – Guard – 6’7, 195 lbs – July 2002 – Sophomore

Another late-riser, Terry excelled as Arizona’s primary ball-handler at the end of the season when Kerr Kriisa went down with injury. He’s an athletic, wiry wing, who can guard multiple positions and be used most effectively as a connecting piece. Terry is also a plus passer with his size. Arizona’s offense was one of my favorites to watch, with Terry consistently hitting cutters in the right spot and making the right pass in transition.

Terry’s defense is good and versatile, but his lack of strength hurt him a bit, especially as a screen navigator. He’s not going to be a lockdown defender but should be above average.

My biggest hold-up comes with the shooting. Terry shot 35% but that was largely due to a late-season streak and low volume in general. Terry was a pretty unwilling shooter, consistently passing up open looks and his shot has a bit of a hitch in it. I don’t have long-term optimism about his shooting projection. If he isn’t drawing hard closeouts, it’ll be harder to unlock his passing.