
SI’s Diamond Diamond Rankings: How many players do you think should be No. 1 overall?
- August 23, 2021
The Diamond Rankings is an annual ranking of the top players in the world.
It has never been updated in almost a decade, and it is a relatively new concept.
That means the list has never had a full list of potential No.1 picks, and many are still wondering whether a player like No. 8 will be the next player to be considered No. 10.
The answer to that question may be: It depends.
As a result, it is impossible to know what to expect from the Diamond Rankings.
However, we can look at some of the players who are likely to have their names included.
This list is in no particular order, and we will be keeping an eye on each player’s stock throughout the season to make sure it is still valid for the playoffs.
If you’re in the market for a No. 2 overall pick, there are plenty of options.
One name that has been popping up all season is Florida State guard Jahlil Okafor, who is ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s final Top 100, and has been making headlines in his home state of North Carolina.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pounder is considered one of the elite players in this draft class and could potentially go higher than No. 6 overall.
Okaor is a natural scorer, and he is considered a top-five defender in the country, but he also has a high ceiling.
He’s a high-scoring, two-way forward who is able to hit a lot of shots.
If the Heat decide to take Okaafor with the No. 9 pick, he could have a lot to prove.
He is one of only three players in college basketball to have at least 100 steals in a season, which is a feat rarely seen.
But he also scored 30 or more points in every game this season.
That’s not a bad output for a 6-6, 230 man.
But the 6-4, 245 Okaas should be able to get his production up to a level that’s more comparable to his peers at the next level.
He can also rebound and shoot the three.
He could be the No!
1 overall player in this year’s draft.
As far as guards go, the most likely players to fall out of the Top 100 are Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe and Michigan State center Jordan Hulls, both of whom have been struggling in their sophomore seasons.
They both finished among the worst shooting guards in the nation in 2017-18, but they still have some potential.
If the Heat choose to go with a point guard, Michigan State’s Lonzo Ball has the ability to be a top 10 pick.
He shot over 40 percent from 3-point range as a senior, and the 6’11, 210-pound Ball should be a scoring machine.
Ball is a skilled defender, and his ability to score at will is a big reason why he is regarded as one of college basketball’s elite players.
If Miami chooses Michigan State guard Yogi Ferrell, he would be the second-best point guard in the draft.
He has a similar skill set to Ferrell as a scorer with a very high shooting percentage, but his shooting stroke and perimeter skills would also help him develop as a shooter.
He should also be able add some defensive help to his game, as he is the only player in the Big Ten to average at least four steals per game.
The only question for Miami at No. 4 is how much he can improve from his sophomore season.
He was inconsistent in the preseason, and this season, he struggled mightily against some of his best competition, including Duke’s Jaylen Brown.
Ferrell is still a top five player in all of college sports and has the potential to be the best player in America.
If we are talking about the best players in each conference, we need to go back to the Big East.
That is where the two most talented players in these draft classes are going to meet for the first time in their careers.
Syracuse guard Anthony Bennett and Xavier guard Josh Hart are both among the top 10 players in their respective conferences.
Bennett is a five-star prospect and has had a strong senior season.
Hart is a 6’9, 260-pound guard who is already making a name for himself in the NBA, scoring a total of 30 points per game in his last two seasons.
He also had a breakout season in the ACC Tournament, averaging 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Both of these players have the ability and ability to elevate their game to a new level.
If Bennett or Hart were to fall to the Heat in the second round, the second overall pick in the next draft would have a significant advantage over the first-rounder.
Bennett and Hart have similar skills and playmakers in their game, and neither player is considered an elite player in their own right.
They could both end up as lottery picks, but neither would