Small Forward Watch 2022
Nikola Jovic - Unless he gains a lot of weight, I’m seeing a SF, even at 6’10”Three level scorer. Dribbles like a wing. Plays aggressive. Really eager to see what he does in his pro league this year.
AJ Griffin - One of the youngest guys in the draft class but has an NBA ready body at still under 18. Broad shoulders, wide base, it’s like looking at at a teenager with Jimmy Butlers current frame/body. Hard to tell watching clips against HS and U19 international competition but just seemed to have a little extra swagger and dog in him then some of the other wings. Father is NBA player and now coach Adrian Griffin
Ousmane Dieng - French but going to play pro in the NBL this coming year so we’ll be able to come his impact nicely to LaMelo, Giddey, and RJ Hampton. The most wiry of the main SF prospects but plenty of bounce, dribble, range, and long strides. Can’t really tell much about his defense from what I looked at but do the French players play physical? He probably could stand to gain a little weight and strength.
Caleb Houstan - Michigan commit and another young talented Canadian player. Body type reminded me a bit of Michael Porter JR. Looked aggressive and seemed like a leader on the U19 Canadian team.
Patrick Baldwin,
Jr. Milwaukee commit( to play for his dad who coaches there). Like Jovic and Houston, another 6’10” listed player who is not skinny by any means but still seems to have more of a SF game and body control than a PF game.
Peyton Watson - UCLA commit. Really gangly body type, like a younger Giannis Durant, or Pascal Siakam. Body type and posture in these comparisons, not saying he’s a future Durant or Giannis, Dribble is really loose/high right now. 5 star recruit though.
@daytripper any west coast AAU thoughts/intel on Watson?
I’m sure there will be more names to follow as traditionally a lot of the best NBA SF of the past 15 years have been 2nd or 3rd year college guys who weren’t taken in the high lotto like Kawhi, Butler, PG13, Hayward, and Jimmy Butler. Maybe someone like Julian Champagnie(an
@Nathan S favorite), Earl Timberlake, Marcus Bagley, or even EJ Liddell could end up following that same path.
But for now, I think these are the mains celebrating ID’d as elite prospect guys to keep our eyes on and scout/run the numbers throughout the course of the year.
nbadraftroom.com
