March 2022 Basketball Wiretap

Jabari Smith Jr. Has Become 'Pretty Big Favorite' Amongst Lottery Teams To Go No. 1

Jan 20, 2022 3:40 PM

Jabari Smith Jr. of Auburn has started to become the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, according to Chad Ford.

"Among the lottery teams I surveyed, he’s become a pretty big favorite among most of them," writes Ford. 

"Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero still have support [at No. 1]," writes Ford.

Smith is a 6'10 power forward shooting 44 percent on three-pointers.

The Detroit Pistons are amongst the teams "pining" for Smith, according to sources that spoke with Ford. 

Chad Ford/NBABigBoard

Tags: Jabari Smith, Jr., Auburn Tigers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Potential Top-5 Pick Shaedon Sharpe Can Apply For 2022 NBA Draft

Jan 20, 2022 2:51 PM

Shaedon Sharpe, who was ESPN's No. 1 prospect in the 2022 high school class before he joined the Kentucky Wildcats in early January, can apply for the 2022 NBA draft as an early-entry candidate.

Sharpe started the current school year at Dream City Christian in Phoenix, but he had sufficient credits to graduate from high school before the start of the NBA season in October. 

Sharpe is currently practicing with the Wildcats and is eligible to play, but he has not yet participated in any games, something that might change in the coming weeks depending on the inclination of John Calipari.

Sharpe is a potential top-5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Sharpe has yet to make his intentions known on whether he would return to Kentucky for the 22-23 season and declare for the 2023 draft.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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