Category Archives: 2021

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Jalen Johnson F-Duke: 2021 NBA Draft Preview (video)

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Johnson, despite playing in just 13 games for the Blue Devils in 2020-21, remains a viable Top 15 prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft. The powerful 6-foot-9 forward has a diverse game that includes enough range, strength and open floor capability. The former Phenom U AAU

Jalen Johnson F-Duke, 2021 NBA Draft Preview
Former Duke forward Jalen Johnson (pictured in 2019 with the Phenom U AAU squad) put up 24 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, four blocked shots and two steals versus Pittsburgh on January 19, 2021.

product made stops at three different high schools before settling at the IMG Academy, where he never actually played. Nevertheless, Johnson -a former five-star recruit, earned a Jordan Brand Classic invitation.

DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson discussed in detail about the struggles of programs like Duke in late February, and Johnson’s decision to leave the program in mid-February ranked near the top of the list for the Blue Devils.

In the 13 games in which Johnson did play for the team, he averaged over 11 points per game and snagged six rebounds per contest. Turnovers, however were an issue, as he posted six games with at least three.

His midseason departure has left many NBA scouts in disagreement on his final draft status. Will he continue the Blue Devils’ recent tradition of forwards going high in the first round or fall out of it altogether? We take a look back at Johnson during his AAU prep level playing days.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Cam Thomas SG-LSU: 2021 NBA Draft Preview (video)

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LSU’s Cam Thomas ended this past season as the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 23 points per game. He has a game that combines savvy and footwork, which often ended up with him at the free throw line. Thomas shot 88-percent from the line in 2020-21 for the Tigers and that total ranked 19th nationally. Of the Top 20 players nationally in terms of free throw percentage, Thomas led the group with 220 attempts (7.58 per game) in 29 contests.

The former Oak Hill Academy (Va.) star transferred from Oscar F. Smith HS (Va.) and played for the Boo Williams AAU squad in the Nike EBYL. During his 2019 Offensive Player of the Year performance in the EBYL, he averaged nearly 30 points per game.

Cam Thomas vs. Jonathan Kuminga-2021 NBA Draft Preview
Cam Thomas (pictured vs. NY Renaissance SF Jonathan Kuminga) led the 2019 Nike EBYL in points per game (29.5).

We go inside his matchup with potential lottery selection Jonathan Kuminga in our spotlight on the first-team All-SEC guard.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Isaiah Todd PF-NBA G League Ignite: Washington Wizards (traded by Milwaukee via Indiana), 2021 NBA Draft, 2nd Round, 31st overall

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If you’re looking for someone to pull for in the 2021 NBA Draft, please stop at former NBA G League Ignite forward Isaiah Todd. His story is not one of redemption but it very well could be. Following a mother, Marlene Venable, who remarkably turned her life around, Todd has displayed a maturity well beyond his years.

Take this past season for instance, where despite starting just two games in the NBA’s G League (for the Ignite), he still managed to average over 12 points per game. The 6-foot-10-inch forward has a chance to develop into a legitimate contributor for the team and he will begin his journey this summer.

Isaiah Todd PF-Washington 2021 NBA Draft Recap
Todd, pictured, averaged nearly 13 points and five rebounds per game for the NBA G League Ignite in 2020-21. He became the first pick of the second round in the 2021 NBA Draft and was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards (through Milwaukee via Indiana).

It would not have been a surprise to see Todd, who played with fourth overall pick Scottie Barnes on the Nightrydas Elite AAU squad back in 2019, also go in the first round of this year’s draft. He has an 8’11.5″ standing reach, runs the floor well and has potential as a long distance shooter. Despite just two starts for the NBA G League Ignite, he averaged over 12 points per game and shot an impressive 82.4% from the free throw line.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, Video, Basketball

Greg Brown III F-Texas: Portland Trail Blazers (via New Orleans), 2021 NBA Draft, 2nd Round, 43rd overall

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Texas forward Greg Brown III, once a five-star recruit from the same state, earned his keep during a one-year run at the school. A 24-game starter in 2020-21, Brown averaged over nine points and grabbed six rebounds per game. His high-flying antics date back to his time playing with Detroit Pistons 2021 number one overall draft pick Cade Cunningham as a member of the Texas Titans AAU squad in 2019.

Brown actually comes from a football background and his father, Greg, was a former honorable all-conference safety for the Longhorns. In fact, during his 25-game run as a starter, Brown II picked off six passes and took two of them to the house. He went on to snag three interceptions in NFL Europe while playing for the Rhein Fire.

Greg Brown III F-Texas, 2021 NBA Draft
Former Texas forward Greg Brown III is looking to make an impact for the Portland Trailblazers/

Brown III actually has some wing capability and his movement complements rare explosiveness and bounce off the floor. The former Texas Gatorade Player of the Year went under 11 seconds (10.98) in the lane agility and posted a 33 1/2″ standing vertical jump at the 2021 NBA Combine.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, Video, Basketball

Herbert Jones G/F-Alabama: 2021 NBA Draft, New Orleans Pelicans, 2nd Round, 35th overall

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Herbert Jones, a four-year contributor for the Crimson Tide, was one of the better defenders in the SEC over that time period. Jones slides his feet defensively, works through ball screens and consistently drew offensive fouls in school. The New Orleans Pelicans drafted him with hopes that he will continue to develop into at least a viable contributor offensively.

Along with first-round pick Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans upgraded its versatility on the defensive end by drafting two wing defenders with seven-foot wingspans.

Herbert Jones SG-SF-Alabama 2021 NBA Draft recapa
Jones (No. 10 pictured in the 2018 SEC Tournament) drew 23 charges on the defensive end as a freshman in 2017-18.


The SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year uses his frame to frustrate guards or forwards on the wings. His shooting improved dramatically from beyond the arc this past season, but if there is a question mark regarding the left-hander’s game, it starts and stops on the offensive end of the court.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, Video, Basketball

Josh Christopher SG-Arizona State: Houston Rockets, 2021 NBA Draft, 1st Rd, 24th overall (video)

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Josh Christopher’s NBA-ready frame complements a tough work ethic and competitive drive. After starring at Mayfair High School (Calif.), Christopher took his talents to Arizona State. While at the prep level, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors and was ranked as high as the nation’s eighth overall recruit by 247Sports.

Josh Christopher SG-Houston Rockets
Christopher (pictured for Vegas Elite AAU in 2019) has shot 81.3% from the free throw line for Arizona State in 2020-21 (as of 1/22/21).

He went on to average over 14 points and nearly five rebounds per game for the Sun Devils in 2020-21. We go inside the talented Houston Rockets first-round pick’s game while playing for Vegas Elite AAU in the 2019 Nike EBYL.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Can Mann end Florida’s NBA Draft hiatus (video)?

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Mann, a former four-star recruit, took a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore season and earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. He improved his field goal percentage by nearly 10 percentage points (.356-to-.459), his three-point percentage by nearly 13 percentage points (.275-to-.402) and averaged nearly 15 more minutes per contest.

Not everyone was on board with his increased production, and the fact that the Gators have not had a player drafted since 2013, when the Chicago Bulls selected Erik Murphy in the second round, leaves some to wonder if Mann will sneak into the first round.

After measuring in at 6’4 (w/shoes) and 177 pounds during the 2021 NBA Combine, has Florida guard Tre Mann’s stock begun to fall?

The extra muscle he added during the 2020 offseason resulted in an increase of 2.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore. After the untimely loss of Keyontae Johnson early in the 2020-21 campaign due to a medical ailment, Mann stepped up to fill the scoring load with similar efficiency.

Mann has an outside chance of hearing his name called in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, but should definitely go at some point during the draft’s proceedings in late July.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Barnes adding to FSU’s “basketball” tradition (video)

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After a sparkling 2021 NBA Combine performance athletically, FSU’s Scottie Barnes re-affirmed his status as one of the most versatile players in this year’s draft class. His ability to guard multiple positions, run the floor and distribute makes him an amoeba-type prospect. In last year’s NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls surprised many by taking former Seminole Patrick Williams with the fourth overall pick. We spotlighted Williams prior to the draft as a high-riser. Could Barnes be the next Seminole to surprise and go in the top five picks of this year’s draft?

Even if he doesn’t, the cupboard continues to stay full for the basketball program in Tallahassee. Aside from Williams, DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson did a deep dive on his teammate, Devin Vassell, who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. In fact, the Seminoles have produced seven first or second round picks dating back to the 2016 NBA Draft. That list includes 2021 NBA playoffs star Terrence Mann, taken 48th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Scottie Barnes 2021 NBA Draft Preview (video)
Barnes (pictured in the 2018 Nike EBYL for Nike Team Florida) became one of the main cogs in the Florida State Seminoles’ journey to the Sweet Sixteen in 2021. Could he surprise and become the team’s second straight Top Five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft?

Despite playing slightly over 24 minutes per game, the former Seminole earned ACC Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2021. Not only did he average four assists and four rebounds per game, Barnes also averaged over 10 points per game. We went inside his game during his time on the Nike EBYL circuit, when he played alongside former Duke standout Vernon Carey, Jr. for Nike Team Florida (No. 23) in 2018 and then the Nightrydas (wearing No. 1) in 2019, when he starred alongside 2021 NBA prospect Isaiah Todd, who played for the NBA G League Ignite this past season.

2021 NBA Combine results (Barnes):

Scottie Barnes 2021 NBA Combine numbers
NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, Video, Basketball

Jalen Green SG-NBA G League Ignite: 2021 NBA Draft preview (video)

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Green, a former consensus five-star prospect and arguably the best player in the Class of 2020, is an explosive leaper and a proficient ball handler.  He impressed scouts on the AAU circuit with his ability to slash to the rim and create in transition. As the youngest member of Team USA’s FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup roster, Green averaged 10.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. 

The former San Joaquin Memorial HS (Calif.) product set a school record for points in a career before transferring to Prolific Prep as a senior, where he was named Sports Illustrated All-American Player of the Year.

Jalen Green NBA G League Ignite
Green, pictured, was a standout for the AAU squad Team Why Not in the 2019 Nike EBYL circuit.

After forgoing college to play for the NBA G League Ignite, Green continued to answer the bell. He averaged nearly 18 points per game and shot nearly 37% from beyond the arc in 2020-21. A strong lottery possibility in the 2021 NBA Draft, the California native has a chance to go in the draft’s Top Five selections.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Cade Cunningham PG/SF-Oklahoma State: NBA Draft Preview (video)

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Cunningham could become Oklahoma State’s first No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. The school has had just three Top 10 picks in the last 70 years (Joe Bradley-1950, Bryant Reeves-1995, Marcus Smart-2014) and the 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year is nearly a guarantee to become the fourth.

In his lone season on campus, Cunningham -a former AAU standout with the Texas Titans- averaged over 20 points per game, shot 40 percent from beyond the arc and pulled in six rebounds per contest. In addition, he shot a sparkling 85% from the free throw line. It all contributed to him being named the school’s first ever AP first-team All-American.

Cade Cunningham closes out defensively
Oklahoma State SF Cade Cunningham (seen pictured during the 2019 Nike EBYL playing for the Texas Titans) is competitive on both ends of the floor.

The former junior high school quarterback and 2021 Big 12 Freshman of the Year plays the game with a veteran’s feel and continues to increase his strength and explosiveness. The Detroit Pistons will strongly consider securing Cunningham with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. If so, he will join former Oklahoma star Blake Griffin and Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins as the only two modern Big 12 players to be selected with the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft. In 1988, Danny Manning was the first overall pick of the NBA Draft (Los Angeles Clippers), but at the time the conference was still known as the Big Eight.