2024 NBA Draft: ESPN expert makes bold prediction on who will go No. 1

Jonathan Givony, one of the most trusted names in the NBA Draft, gave an initial list of top prospects that will be taken off the board on the first day of the 2024 NBA Draft.

His list gives an intriguing insight on what the league will look like in the future as countries all over the world continue to improve their basketball programs:

Alex Sarr may be a surprising top selection for some, but The Spun’s Daniel Bates wrote a compelling summary of who the young Frenchman is that makes him such an intriguing prospect:

Sarr comes from a family of basketball players and is viewed as an elite rim protector with defensive anchor potential and an outstanding athletic profile. At 7-foot-1 Sarr can run the floor, put the ball on the deck and has promising jumpshot form.

Given the success of Victor Wembanyama in his debut season, the Hawks will hope for similar levels of success with their potential franchise cornerstone.

Will the 2024 NBA Draft change how blue-chip prospects view the NCAA?

It’s interesting to see that four of the top seven selections Givony provided didn’t play in the NCAA. Sarr plied his trade in Australia. Zaccharie Risacher, the second name in his list, developed in his home country of France.

While Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham take the third and fourth spots, the fifth overall selection is pegged to be G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis. Donovan Clingan of UConn is number six, and Red Star Belgrade’s Nikola Topic rounds out the top seven.

While the final order can change come draft day, to see so many top prospects come from outside the NCAA may already affect how some blue-chip prospects think. While there’s the NIL money, some of the more ambitious prospects may choose to try their luck abroad and boost their rankings when it’s their turn on the NBA Draft spotlight.