PNWS lets you know where the mock drafts believe Gonzaga Bulldogs guards Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton will go in the NBA Draft.
Pacific Northwest Sports audited 15 different mock drafts to see where Gonzaga Bulldogs guards Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton wind up.
The NBA Draft is very important for the Zags basketball program. On the one hand, it hurts when good players leave, especially when they still have college eligibility. But on the other, Zags fans can celebrate their recent stars headed to play at the highest levels.
Putting players in the National Basketball Association is some of the best advertising Bulldogs Head Coach Mark Few can get when recruiting prospects. Every one of them has a dream to play in the NBA. Showing them a clear path to their dream brings those recruits to Tacoma.
In 2021, Gonzaga had two players drafted, Jalen Suggs (Orlando, 5th overall) and Corey Kispert (Washington, 11th). This year Chet Holmgren will be andother high pick.
After last year’s COVID shuffle, the NBA’s pre-draft season is back to business as usual in 2022. The NBA Lottery is on May 17, while the Combine runs May 16-22.
The sources we use for the mocks may vary from edition to edition, but they are all credible. This time we included ESPN, USA Today, CBS Sports, Stadium Sports, and more. As draft time gets closer, we will increase the number of mock drafts we use.
Andrew Nembhard
Point guard, 6-5, 195 pounds
2021-22 Stats: 32 games, 32.2 minutes, 11.8 points, 5.8 assists, 38.3% three-point shooting
- Highest Draft Spot – Round 2, New York, 42nd overall.
- Lowest Draft Spot – Round 2, Cincinnati 59th overall.
- Most Common Draft Spot – None.
Draft Prospectus
At this point, the Floor General from Aurora, Canada, should feel confident about his chances in the Draft. Of the 15 mock drafts we looked at, 10 went into the second round, and Nembhard was included in 7 of them.
An unselfish leader on the court, Nembhard is the steadying presence every team needs. He has excellent leadership skills and sees the floor very well. More importantly, Nembhard can be counted on to help his team at crunch time.
Despite all his outstanding qualities, there are reasons why the two-time All-West Coast Conference point guard is a second round pick. He struggles to create his own shot and can be a very streaky shooter. When Nembhard is on, he’s on. But when he’s off, he has a tendency to press and make mistakes on both ends of the floor.
Rasir Bolton
Shooting Guard, 6-3, 185 pounds
2021-22 Stats: 32 games, 27.3 minutes, 11.2 points, 2.3 assists, 46.0% three-point shooting
- Highest Draft Spot – None.
- Lowest Draft Spot – None.
- Most Common Draft Spot – None.
Draft Prospectus
You read that right; Gonzaga Bulldogs sharpshooter Rasir Bolton wasn’t selected in any of the mock drafts we audited. No doubt he’s a good man and an asset to the community, but he doesn’t measure up to NBA standards. In fact, Bolton wasn’t invited to the NBA Draft Combine on May 16.
Three weeks ago, he was the fifth Zag to declare for the draft. Normally, I’d advocate for him to try another year of college. But in this case, he’s 22-years-old, so how much can he raise his draft stock.
Bolton shot 46 percent from three-point range last year. If that didn’t turn scouts on to him, nothing will. It might be better for him to go overseas to make some money.
Related Story: Chet Holmgren Mock Draft Consensus 1.0
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