Evaluating the Top 2024 Blue Blood NBA Draft Prospects
Only an elite few college basketball teams have truly earned the title of blue blood over the last century, with Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Indiana and Kansas most frequenting those conversations.
Typically, those schools are able to amass the most talent. And that almost always falls hand-in-hand in sending players to the NBA.
Not all of college basketball’s blue bloods have high-level, soon-to-be NBA talent this season, but let’s take a look at who does:
Kentucky Wildcats
To this point, Kentucky likely has the most exciting group of potential prospects, including Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw, and late risers Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham.
Sheppard and Dillingham are both undersized, the former being a standout defensive savant and the latter showing versatile offensive play across the board. And both have shot up boards.
Edwards, Bradshaw and Wagner were highly-ranked coming in, and still offer plenty of potential as a wing, scoring guard and versatile forward, respectively. But for now are swing selections in 2024.
Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils brought back what was likely the best returning duo in the nation in forward Kyle Filipowski and guard Tyrese Proctor.
While Filipowski has been more efficient overall and blocked more shots, neither have taken any massive strides in year two, with Proctor still holding on to a 4.5-1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio as his primary draft case.
Jared McCain, a 6-foot-3 guard who was an unknown coming into the season, earned the starting job and hasn't let go just yet. But may be a flyer or returnee himself.
Indiana Hoosiers
After a slow start with Oregon in year one, former five-star Kel’el Ware has found new life with Indiana, averaging 16.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks with 60-50-70 shooting splits.
While five-star Mackenzie Mgbako hasn’t seamlessly transitioned to college basketball, he still has an obvious NBA frame and skillset overall.
Most importantly, Indiana is a threat in college basketball once again, and that itself could help to get various players drafted in 2024.
Honorable Mentions: Kevin McCullar, KJ Adams, Elmarko Jackson, Kansas; Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina; Adem Bona, Aday Mara, UCLA
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