As evidence of how much is stock is soaring, Ohio State freshman guard D’Angelo Russell is now projected as the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpess.com.
The 6-foot-5 freshman sensation trails only consensus No. 1 pick Jahlil Okafor of Duke.
Emmanuel Mudiay, playing in China, is No. 3, followed by Kentucky big man Karl-Anthony Towns at No. 4 and Arizona freshman wing Stanley Johnson at No. 5.
Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein is No. 6 and 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia is No. 7.
Minnesota, Philadelphia and the Knicks are jockeying for the NBA’s worst record.
Russell on Monday was named the ZAGSBLOG National Player of the Week after averaging 30.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He leads all freshmen in the country in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per contest.
“He is going to be a Top-5 pick,” one veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “I still think today that Towns, Porzingis and Mudiay are ahead of him in most NBA personnel Mock Drafts. He has risen higher than any player since the start of the college season.
“He’s a very skilled player who can play both the 1 and the 2. He and Mudiay are the two best perimeter players in this year’s draft.”
Photo: USA Today Sports
