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NBA Mock Draft 2018: 1st-Round Predictions and Top Prospects on the Rise
June 20, 2018
As we get closer to Thursday's 2018 NBA draft, there's little certainty about what will happen after the Phoenix Suns presumably select Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick.
While a handful of prospects have dominated the top 10 conversation in the months leading up to the selection process, there are a few players who are on the rise in the last couple weeks who could shake up the selection order.
With some uncertainty surrounding players like Michael Porter Jr., the prospects with booming stock could be taken higher than some expect if certain teams believe in their upside.
Below is a look at three players rising on draft boards at the right time with the draft coming up Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
2018 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke
3. Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, SG/SF, Slovenia
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State
5. Dallas Mavericks: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
6. Orlando Magic: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
7. Chicago Bulls: Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn): Wendell Carter Jr., PF/C, Duke
9. New York Knicks: Kevin Knox, SF/PF, Kentucky
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
11. Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit): Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami
14. Denver Nuggets: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
15. Washington Wizards: Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami): Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Jerome Robinson, SG, Boston College
18. San Antonio Spurs: Elie Okobo, PG. France
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota): Troy Brown, SG, Oregon
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City): Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland
21. Utah Jazz: Aaron Holiday, PG. UCLA
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans): Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State
23. Indiana Pacers: Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Villanova
24. Portland Trailblazers: Jacob Evans, SF, Cincinnati
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland): Chandler Hutchison, SF, Boise State
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Khyri Thomas, SG, Creighton
27. Boston Celtics: Josh Okogie, SG, Georgia Tech
28. Golden State Warriors: Grayson Allen, SG, Duke
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto): Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia and Herzegovina
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston): Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky
Top Prospects On The Rise
Kevin Knox
Kevin Knox appeared in the top 15 of most mock drafts since the end of the college basketball season, but his stock has risen in the last week, as some teams in the top 10 have eyes on him.
The one-and-done player out of Kentucky stood out to the New York Knicks, who pick at No. 9, per ESPN's Ian Begley:
Knox also had an individual workout for the Philadelphia 76ers, who select right after the Knicks, Tuesday.
The small forward's had quite the busy week, as he's worked out for the Sixers twice and the Charlotte Hornets, who possess the No. 11 pick, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted:
With the Knicks, Sixers and Hornets all interested in Knox, it's hard to see him dropping past No. 11 Thursday night.
There's always a chance Knox could be selected higher than No. 9, but if he's available when the Knicks pick, he could be their best option.
Jerome Robinson
Few players have had their stock soar more than Jerome Robinson in the last few weeks.
The shooting guard out of Boston College wasn't mentioned much in the first-round conversation until late May, and now he appears to be a potential top 20 pick.
Robinson impressed teams enough in the last month to earn an invite to the NBA draft green room alongside some of the top talent in the draft class, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, there's chatter about Robinson being chosen in the middle of the first round.
Outside of NBA scouts who had a book on Robinson, few people were aware of his skill before his stock started to rise because Boston College is far from an elite program.
When he gets drafted, Robinson will join a small fraternity of Boston College players in the NBA, as Jared Dudley and Reggie Jackson were the only former Golden Eagles to play during the 2017-18 season.
Elie Okobo
Luka Doncic is far and away the best foreign prospect in the draft class, but there are a few other European-based stars who could be selected in the first round.
French point guard Elie Okobo's picked up more looks from NBA personnel recently due to an impressive close to the season with Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez in France.
The 20-year-old point guard is high on draft boards across the league, as Yahoo's Jordan Schultz noted:
Okobo could fill a need for teams at the back end of the first round searching for a point guard, as he'd provide depth behind an experienced player or work into a starting role.
Once Trae Young, Collin Sexton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go off the board, there's a debate as to which point guard will be selected after the trio, and Okobo is in the discussion alongside UCLA's Aaron Holiday and Villanova's Jalen Brunson.
Where Okobo lands Thursday could come down to the preferences of the teams in the final part of the first 30 picks, or he could be a coveted prospect a team trades up for.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.