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ESPN- NBA draft analyst and writer
Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams
What has changed in the 2020 NBA draft picture since the start of the college basketball season?
After breaking down the latest movement in the No. 1 pick race among the NBL's LaMelo Ball -- now out for four weeks with a foot injury -- Georgia's Anthony Edwards and Memphis' James Wiseman, our NBA draft experts, Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz, highlight more movement in an updated mock draft.
There are risers and fallers throughout the lottery, plus a new projected draft order now that we're nearly one-quarter of the way through the NBA season.
Here are our new projections for 2020, plus scouting notes on some notable prospects.
ESPN's Basketball Power Index was used to create the draft order.
More: Top 100 NBA draft rankings
Precious Achiuwa | PF/C | Memphis | No. 11
Achiuwa drew approximately 20 NBA scouts to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for Memphis vs. NC State last week. After an ugly start to the season, Achiuwa has taken advantage of James Wiseman's absence to post the four best games of his college career, which included a pair of contests against high-major competition in Ole Miss and NC State. Achiuwa seems to be adjusting to the college game, no longer looking quite as sped up offensively or lost defensively and doing a better job of using his supernatural physical tools. In Brooklyn, he hit his first college 3-pointer while knocking down six of eight free throws and canning a pull-up midrange jumper, improvement areas that will surely play a major role in how he's viewed in June.
Memphis seems to be doing a better job of getting Achiuwa the ball in places he is comfortable scoring. He doesn't look as intent on proving his mettle as a one-on-one scorer every time he touches the ball, like he did earlier in the season. There are few players in the country who are better operating in a straight line than he is, thanks to his incredible combination of first step, long strides and sheer power attacking the rim. When Achiuwa is keeping things simple as a slasher, throwing his body around on the offensive glass and playing with a high motor defensively, he really stands out.
He still has a long way to go in terms of polishing his skill level, improving his decision-making and gaining experience on the defensive end. The past few games have been a step in the right direction. -- Givony
Obi Toppin | PF | Dayton | No. 13
With high-level NBA executives sitting courtside for his games at the Maui Invitational, Toppin crashed the 2020 draft lottery conversation. Over the course of three games, the 21-year-old redshirt sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 33 minutes on high efficiency.
The bouncy, 6-foot-9 big man played with nonstop energy, sprinting the floor, rolling hard to the rim and rotating for blocks all while keeping the ball humming on the perimeter. He's a lob threat rolling to the rim, punishes switches in the post and spaces the floor. Although he finished with only one assist in the tournament, Toppin handled constant double-teams beautifully, dribbling away from pressure and delivering crosscourt passes with either hand.
Toppin showed just about everything teams want to see in a modern big man, as he offers a unique blend of skill and run-and-jump athleticism to go with his high shoulders and big reach. Toppin also is in an ideal situation in Dayton, where he'll play in meaningful games in a system that breeds NBA habits.
But Toppin isn't the most graceful mover when he puts the ball on the deck. On top of that, he isn't all that comfortable defending perimeter forwards, yet he doesn't have the sheer bulk to bang with NBA centers. Because he isn't much of a shot-creator or mismatch driver, which we see from a lot of modern NBA forwards, Toppin might be more of an NBA starter than a future star. Even so, he is likely poised for a record-breaking sophomore season that could propel him to be an immediate NBA contributor. -- Schmitz
Obi Toppin buries a 3-pointer and proceeds to stare down the Kansas bench.
Isaac Okoro | SG/SF | Auburn | No. 15
A fixture on the USA Basketball landscape since he was 15, Okoro never got the recognition he deserved as a high school recruit. Now the No. 2 scorer for undefeated Auburn, Okoro is beginning to get credit for the way he impacts winning, drawing a large number of high-level executives to evaluate him in two games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Legends Classic.
Okoro didn't post huge scoring numbers, but he otherwise put his outstanding versatility on full display, guarding everyone, being a terror attacking, moving the ball with impressive feel and doing all the little things. He is one of the most gifted athletes in this class. He has a shredded, 225-pound frame that makes it impossible to dislodge him on straight line drives. He also has outstanding feet getting over the top of screens or mirroring opponents in one-on-one situations. His 6-foot-10 wingspan should allow him to see time guarding power forwards in smaller lineups, but he's at his best right now smothering point guards. Seven games into the season, there's little doubt that Okoro has established himself as one of the best defenders in college basketball.
The biggest questions come on the other end, where Okoro is shooting 3-for-14 from beyond the arc and has hit just 55% of his free throws. His shooting mechanics are unconventional and will likely need to be retooled, but the fact that Okoro demonstrates soft shooting touch inside the arc bodes well for his future. His being such a gifted athlete who offers so much versatility means an NBA team will likely bet on his long-term development. -- Givony
Josh Green | SG/SF | Arizona | No. 16
The 19-year-old Green is starting to cement himself as a solid first-rounder with lottery potential, so long as he continues to tear down rims in transition, knock down open shots, defend multiple positions and limit mistakes on offense. Against Pepperdine, he turned in his most complete game as a Wildcat: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 35 minutes with impressive defensive plays.
Green has NBA tools at close to 6-foot-6 with a great frame, 6-foot-10 wingspan, impressive open-court speed and explosive leaping ability. He has started to simplify his game a little bit in the half court, making quicker decisions with the ball, taking and making open 3s at a solid clip and starting to show some finesse around the rim as a finisher. On the other end, Green is ultra-competitive, with the feet to check point guards and the size and length to guard some wings. He's Sean Miller's best on- and off-ball defender, and he has shown the willingness to create extra possessions by chasing down long rebounds. His draft stock is trending in the right direction. -- Schmitz
Josh Green hits a pair of 3-pointers in quick succession courtesy of good ball movement from the Wildcats.
Scottie Lewis | SG/SF | Florida | No. 19
Lewis has had a rough start to the season. Touted as one of the top prospects in his class since age 16, he is averaging just 8.5 points and 0.4 assists in 29.3 minutes while shooting 43.9% from 2 and 23.5% from 3 through eight games.
On the bright side, Lewis' defensive potential remains off the charts. He's one of only three 6-foot-5-and-under players in the country averaging at least 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes. His near-7-foot wingspan and incredible closing speed make him a menace off the ball when he's focused, and his quick feet give him tremendous on-ball potential. Given his wiry frame, Lewis might be at his best as a point-guard-stopper who could eventually slide up to the 3 defensively.
Besides Lewis' energy and defense, though, there isn't a ton there right now. He's an erratic shooter, rigid ball handler and sped-up decision-maker while lacking touch around the rim. He likely needs to turn into at least a league-average spot-up shooter to make up for his other shortcomings. We've long been high on Lewis' defensive intensity and energy, but unless his efficiency improves, he's trending closer to a mid-to-late first-round pick, as opposed to the top-10 prospect we touted him as when we debuted our 2020 mock draft. -- Schmitz
Karim Mane | SG | Vanier College | No. 25
Mane had an uneven showing at the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, going 1-for-8 from the field in his first game and exploding for 28 points and 10 rebounds in his second outing. With Mane eligible for the draft as an international player who has already turned 19 years old, both games were heavily scouted by NBA personnel, with several general managers in attendance for one or both contests.
Mane's physical profile is outstanding. He says he recently measured 6-foot-5 barefoot, with a 7-foot wingspan. He sports an impressive 196-pound frame that should fill out considerably in time.
Mane's decision-making was inconsistent while he saw most of his minutes at point guard. He was at his best changing speeds in the open court, using his quickness to blow by opponents and his strong frame to finish around the rim or draw fouls, getting to the free throw line 23 times in 63 minutes at the event. When the game slows down, his ballhandling in the half court is a work in progress, as is his perimeter shooting.
Defensively is where Mane is closest to being ready to play in an NBA game. When fully engaged, he can engulf opponents with his strong frame and long wingspan, getting over the top of ball screens, busting up dribble handoffs and mirroring his man with terrific lateral quickness. His size and length give him the potential to defend guards, wings and even some forwards.
Both NBA teams and college coaches are in the dark regarding Mane's intentions after his season at Vanier concludes. He hasn't shut the door on attending college or entering the draft.
"That's something I have to think about," Mane told ESPN. "If [going to the NBA is an option], I'll probably think about it. For now, I'm just focused on my season."
Mane put the timetable on his decision around April, which covers both the NBA draft early-entry deadline (April 26) and camps that could be beneficial to his draft stock, such as the Nike Hoop Summit (April 10) and BioSteel All Canadian Game. Should Mane elect to head to college, Marquette is currently viewed as the top candidate, with Michigan State, Alabama, Memphis and others hot on his trail. NBA teams will likely need to see more from him during the pre-draft process to feel comfortable projecting him as a sure first-rounder. -- Givony
Kenyon Martin Jr. | SF/PF | IMG Academy | No. 43
With 26 teams in attendance to watch Mane, it was Martin who had the far more consistent performances in New Haven, even if only a handful of scouts were still in the gym to watch when he was playing.
Martin is a well-known prospect, partially due to his All-Star father and prevalence on the Nike EYBL circuit. Still, Martin wasn't considered more than a fringe top-100 recruit upon his committing to Vanderbilt before he decided to pursue professional opportunities this past summer. He received a cold shoulder from the G League Select program, according to his father, due to his not having a high enough profile in the eyes of the committee. He decided to enroll at IMG Academy, where he's currently in the middle of a post-graduate year, similar to Anfernee Simons two years ago.
Martin showed very quickly in New Haven that he needs to be taken seriously as an NBA prospect. He's a unique player with an impressive skill set and professional approach to the game. He's one of the most athletic players in this class, regularly putting his head on the rim for dunks, moving incredibly quickly off his feet for blocks and covering ground seamlessly on defense while defending multiple positions.
Martin showed a higher skill level than we had seen previously, as he knocked down three of his seven 3-point attempts in two games, with compact mechanics and soft touch, despite a low and unorthodox release. On several occasions, he took defensive rebounds off the glass and went coast to coast, showing terrific body control. He's still making the transition to being a full-time perimeter player, and he has room to improve his ballhandling, shooting and all-around scoring in the half court, but there's little doubt that he's making significant strides.
He'll have several more opportunities to be scouted over the course of the season and will likely be a fixture on the pre-draft circuit. His father said Martin will 100% be entering the draft.
"He's going to go to the combine," his father said. "He will do workouts and show people what kind of player he is. Line them up. All the top guys. He'll take them out one by one and will work out against any player teams are willing to line up against him. It's just a matter of time until everyone finds out how good he is." -- Givony
Tyrell Terry | PG | Stanford
Despite not being considered a consensus top-100 player coming out of high school, Terry has established himself as one of the most productive freshmen in college basketball, posting an impressive 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per 40 minutes while shooting a scorching 44% from 3-point range.
It's easy to see why Terry was overlooked in high school, as he has an average physical profile, standing around 6-foot-2 with what appears to be an even wingspan and a 160-pound frame that needs significant work. What he lacks in pure measurables he makes up for in skill. He's already proving to be one of the most versatile young shot-makers in the college game, looking deadly coming off screens and making pull-ups with a hint of daylight. Terry has a knack for operating out of pick-and-roll, and he accelerates well in the open court. He uses touch and skill to finish around the basket while drawing fouls at an acceptable rate relative to his thin frame.
Currently splitting ballhandling responsibilities, Terry shows enough vision, creativity and timing getting teammates involved on the move to project his developing into a full-time point guard. Getting stronger over time will help him do a better job of turning the corner and finishing through contact, areas he'll be tested in much more in conference play. Although he shows impressive instincts getting in passing lanes, Terry is not a good defender right now. He struggles to get over screens, doesn't have the length to contain opponents one-on-one and needs to get better dealing with physicality.
For that reason, Terry likely will need time to maximize his draft stock. But it's easy to project his development into an NBA player down the road, as every team is looking for shot-creators who make winning plays. -- Givony
Robert Woodard | SF/PF | Mississippi State
A member of USA Basketball dating to 2014, the early-blooming Woodard reminded teams of his role-player potential with his play in Myrtle Beach, headlined by a 17-point, 8-rebound, 5-dunk showing in a narrow loss to Villanova with more than 30 NBA scouts in attendance. Woodard showed just enough potential as a floor spacer to fill the 3-and-D combo forward role every team is looking for. The 20-year-old sophomore brings steady two-way production that has been a key in Mississippi State's 6-1 start.
A powerful leaper, Woodard is a physical specimen at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, measuring similarly to OG Anunoby at the same age. Although not overly skilled on offense, Woodard is able to function as the Bulldogs' version of De'Andre Hunter. He focuses on defending multiple positions, rebounding, making open-spot 3s and straight-line driving when given space. He's strong and long enough to slide up to the 4 at the next level, giving him more time and space to get to his sometimes rigid spot-up jumper.
After averaging just 5.7 points in 17.5 minutes per night off the bench last season, Woodard appears poised to make a jump this season. If he can stay efficient in his role on a winning team, he's certain to gain steam as a prospect, even if his stock doesn't fully rise until the 2021 draft. -- Schmitz
Marcus Zegarowski | PG/SG | Creighton
The slippery 6-foot-2 sophomore guard has emerged as a legitimate NBA prospect, leading a balanced Creighton team in scoring through seven games. Zegarowski is one of only six players in the country to average more than 18 PPG while shooting at least 60% from 2 and 40% from 3, doing so with a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
With close to every NBA team in Las Vegas for the Continental Tire Classic, Zegarowski picked up a good time to show off his entire scoring repertoire, torching a usually stout Texas Tech defense for 32 points, five assists and one turnover on 12-for-18 shooting during an OT victory. Zegarowski did lay an egg in a blowout loss to San Diego State the night prior, but that's the only blip on his résumé so far.
Zegarowski is a big-time shot-maker who can get to his pull-up jumper with a variety of moves, displaying the type of shift necessary to make it as a wiry, 180-pound guard. The 21-year-old gets outstanding elevation going into his shot, stopping on a dime regularly with tremendous confidence from well beyond NBA range as a career 40.5% 3-point shooter on 185 collegiate attempts. His quick feet, sharp handle and ability to play at different speeds help him get anywhere on the floor to score or distribute, an improvement area at the moment. -- Schmitz