NBA Draft 2024: 3 under the radar prospects to know

The 2024 NBA draft class is largely looked at as one of the weaker, more unpredictable classes in recent years. Unlike 2023 where Victor Wembanyama was the obvious number one pick and franchise changing talent, this draft does not seem to have a bonified "can't miss" prospect. That being said, there are plenty of guys capable of providing a real boost to teams around the league, including the three listed here.

3. Jamal Shead

The reigning Big-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year was the catalyst this past season for the Cougars, Shead proved to be a great all around floor general this past season while averaging 12.9 points and 6.3 assists for a Cougar team that fell just short of another Elite Eight berth.

What Shead may lack in size at 6'1, he makes up for in effort and toughness. A true leader and winner, Shead provides a more pass-first offensive game but is very solid at getting into the gaps and hitting shots from mid-range. He has demonstrated a strong ability to be a disruptor on the defensive end, which may add to his value as a potential backup point guard at the next level. The knock on Shead has been his ability to shoot the three at the next level but he has shown the capability to make them in his past few years at Houston, shooting 30% over his past three seasons. Finding a consistent shot from range will be very important for Shead as he enters the league as a smaller guard.

Earning First-Team All-America honors, Shead showed he could play with the best of prospects while at Houston. It will be interesting to see if and where he goes in this draft or if he signs as an unrestricted free agent, regardless he looks to be a strong addition to whichever locker room brings him in.

2. Devin Carter

The Providence guard may have been the biggest winner coming out of the NBA combine weeks ago. The Big-East Player of the Year did not participate in the live scrimmages, but turned heads during the testing portion where he tied for first in the vertical jump at 42 inches and set the record in the three-quarter court sprint at 2.87 seconds. Carter also finished second among participants in lane agility with a time of 10.63.

Carter's game has some similarities to Shead's in that he plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He is an excellent finisher at the rim where he was an efficient 65% on shots around the basket. Whether he is driving hard to the hoop for tough and creative finishes or hounding opposing guards on ball, it is hard not to see the intensity in which he plays. His shooting drastically improved this past season for the Friars.

As a sophomore, Carter shot 42.7% from the field and 29.9% from three. He vastly improved in both this past year with a 47.3% field goal percentage and 37.7% from three. Carter could slot into a lineup as a valuable rotation piece due of his athleticism, rebounding abilities and overall efficiency as an offensive player.

1. Carlton "Bub" Carrington

The first-year from Baltimore averaged 13.8 points per game for a solid Pittsburgh team, which finished 4th in the ACC. Carrington is a balanced scorer who is great off of pick and roll situations with the ability to hit mid range jump shots and thread tight passes to the roller. Carrington's isolation game may be what sets him most apart among the younger players in this draft. He does well in creating his own shots off of step backs and hard drives for pull up jump shots. His length at 6'5 combined with his playmaking ability make him an attractive prospect for a team looking to supplement its offense.

The Pitt prospect may have drastically improved his chances of moving up a handful of spots on draft night with his performance at the NBA combine. Carrington shot 20-25 spotting up and 21-30 off of the dribble which were both the best among all combine participants. For a guy who is still only 18 years old, his offensive game is solid at all three levels. His versatility in addition to his combine may have been enough to command a lottery selection, regardless it would be a surprise to see him land anywhere outside of the first 23 picks in this draft.

The 2024 NBA Draft begins June 26th at 8 p.m. ET from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.