Top remaining 2024 NBA Draft prospects

For the first time in NBA history, the NBA draft has been broken down to a two-day event. Here are the best players available on day two with their scouting profiles.

1- G/F Johnny Furphy, Kansas

Strengths

• Ball Handling
• size and skill
• 3-point shooting
• High Energy

Johnny Furphy is a high-motor player with a ton of energy who excels in transition. At 6-foot-9 he will be a tough matchup for a two-guard and he can match up at the small forward position. He is strong enough to play through contact and he does an effective job of finishing when he drives the ball to the basket. He spaces the floor efficiently and understands where the ball needs to go on offense. He is not the most creative passer but will not be a turnover liability either. He works for rebounds and will have a height advantage at the two-guard position.

Weaknesses

• Defense
• Off the dribble creation
• Average athlete

Furphy is a good shooter but he does not create and lacks the moves to beat a tight defender one-on-one. He plays better in the open court. 

On defense, he will struggle if he is put on an island against a faster opponent. He needs to tighten up his mechanics and footwork on defense and may be a liability in man-to-man coverages. He lacks the athleticism of some of the other top prospects and may only project as a situational player in a rotation.

2- PF/C Kyle Filipowski, Duke

Strengths

• versatile
• size and skill
• positioning
• cutting to the hoop

Filipowski is another 7-foot big man who has the versatility that the NBA seeks nowadays. He has the combination of skill and size, and he can score from all over the court. He is strong enough to do some damage in the paint and has a shooter's stroke from outside the arc. He is able to grab a rebound and start a fastbreak and is a fantastic facilitator. 

On offense, the youngster is used for a little bit of everything. He sets screens and makes himself an available option each time down the court. On offense, he is a weapon with his cutting ability and an NBA team will enjoy taking advantage of this skill. When a shot goes up, Filipowski does an effective job of finding a body to box out.

Weaknesses

• consistency with shooting
• Loose handle
• strength
• over aggressive passes

However, his outside shooting is still a work in progress. If he keeps improving his outside shot and range, it will open up his ability to drive to the net. He needs to improve his strength to match up against the bigger, faster NBA players and he is a much better shooter when standing still and will need to improve his release while taking the ball on the run. He has moments where he is careless with his handle in the open floor and will turn the ball over, and he can also get too aggressive with some of his passes. He tries to fit the ball into the tightest windows, causing unnecessary turnovers. He lacks the rim protection skills of the other 7 footers and does not have the best feel for shot blocking in the paint. He commits too fast on jump shots, leaving his feet early on. 

3- G Tyler Kolek, Marquette

Strengths

• vision
• 3-point shooting
• Basketball IQ
• Facilitation of ball

Tyler Kolek understands the game of basketball and what his job as a point guard is to do. He sets up screens effectively and has an excellent rhythm in offensive sets. Marquette's offense flowed smoothly through Kolek. Kolek's court vision is second to none in this year's draft class. He sees the whole court and gets the ball to where it needs to be. He led the nation in assists last season, and has extremely strong ball handling skills. He has improved his shot over the past 2 seasons and is able to shoot the 3-ball with consistency. He is tough and plays with a chip on his shoulder and has been a leader on the court since day one.

Weaknesses

• Defense
• Average athlete
• Speed

Kolek does not have elite speed, size or strength and the transition to the NBA may be a tough one for him. In college he was able to slow the pace of the offense down and work methodically through screens and pick and rolls. The faster game of the NBA may be hard for Kolek to overcome and take away from his creativity.

On defense, he will struggle to defend the larger and faster point guards and he will have to adjust his style and aggressiveness. He is 23 years old and will be one of the oldest prospects coming out. He has less ceiling than the other prospects at point guard.

4- SF Justin Edwards Kentucky

Strengths

• Off the dribble creation
• Shooting ability
• Athleticism

Justin Edwards is a small forward whose length and playmaking abilities can make him a handful to defend in the NBA. Edwards is able to be creative off the dribble and can score in several different ways. He has a smooth jump shot and does a solid job of finding open space to create shots. He has strong shooting mechanics and can take over games when he starts to find his range. He is athletic enough and has enough ball handling skills to play a point-forward position. He is productive on fast breaks and sees the floor well.

Weaknesses

• strength
• Turnovers
• Spotty shot selection
• Undisciplined on defense

Edwards was very inconsistent in his one and only season at Kentucky. His shot selection at times leaves you scratching your head and he plays better in open space, but really struggles playing in half court sets. Edwards can be turnover prone when the game slows down. 

On defense, Edwards can be very undisciplined. He will leave his man to try and make a play, leading to easy baskets for the opponent. 

Edwards needs to get stronger if he wants to succeed at the NBA level. He is not very physical on defense and he does not produce the rebound numbers he should.

5- PF Tyler Smith, G -League Ignite

Strengths

• size wingspan
• Shot Blocking
• Rebounding
• High Energy

Tyler Smith is a high energy big man who can stretch defenses by being able to shoot from around the arc. He has elite length and uses this to control rebounds, and is a force in the lanes on contested shots. He is athletic and almost 7'0" tall, two things that the NBA love in their big men. He is quick enough to be a finisher on fast breaks and is a defender who can play all over the court.

Weaknesses

• Ball Handling
• Defense
• raw
• Inconsistency

Smith is still very raw on the offensive side and has moments where his production disappears. He has issues with scoring in traffic, and seems more comfortable shooting a jumper than he is driving to the rim. His passing game will need to be improved to be adequate at the next level as he too often misses open teammates or holds onto the ball too long. 

On defense, he has all the tools to dominate but he can be too anxious and undisciplined, leading to easy baskets for opponents.