The 2024 NBA Draft Combine continued on Wednesday in Chicago with the second day of scrimmages. While some draft prospects sit out and conduct interviews behind the scenes, all of the eyes in Wintrust Arena fell on who was actively looking to improve their draft stock by playing five-on-five. Of course, the attention was cast on the second game of the day, with LeBron James in attendance to watch his son, Bronny James.
When measurements were taken and players were put through a variety of agility tests, Bronny certainly stood out as one of the biggest winners during Day 1 of the NBA Draft Combine. The second day was not as great for James, as he had four points and four rebounds while shooting 2-of-8 from the floor in just under 20 minutes in his first scrimmage. Bronny shot 0-of-4 from three-point range in his first scrimmage on Tuesday.
Looking to prove that he has what it takes to make it to the NBA right now, Bronny seemed a lot more comfortable and confident on the court during his second scrimmage on Day 3. In fact, he looked much better off the ball on the perimeter and as a secondary playmaker for his team.
Along with Bronny, several other prospects drew the attention of scouts and NBA personnel in attendance during Day 3 scrimmages at the combine.
G Bronny James – USC – Freshman
A decision to move Bronny James off the ball during the scrimmages was made between Tuesday and Wednesday. This was the best thing that could've happened to Bronny because he looked more confident and more in rhythm when he received the ball. Although he was utilized as a point guard at USC, James can potentially make a difference at the NBA level as a defensive-minded guard who can be a catch-and-shoot threat off the ball.
During his second scrimmage on Wednesday, Bronny recorded 13 points and two assists off the bench. He shot 4-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from three-point range. There is certainly buzz surrounding Bronny after what he showed during the scrimmages as an athletic defender with a perimeter shot. A lot of teams are going to want to get a closer look at him throughout the pre-draft process in private workouts.
*Bronny James is projected to go 55th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 90th overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
G/F Baylor Scheierman – Creighton – Senior
Jalen Williams, Olivier Maxence-Prosper, and Brandin Podziemski are a few of the young NBA talents through the years that secured their first-round status and improved their draft stock by playing at a high level during the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages. Baylor Scheierman from Creighton is the latest name we may be adding to this list, as the sharpshooting wing has really impressed scouts in attendance at the combine.
“Teams have been really impressed with his movement and confidence on the wing,” one scout told ClutchPoints. “With the way he has shot during the scrimmages, there is a lot of buzz about him being a sure-thing first-round pick.”
Entering the draft combine, Scheierman was projected to be a second-round pick. Now, there could be plenty of interest from team picking near the end of the first round as a result of his instant impact off the bench. Scheierman was smooth in both of his scrimmages, and he always seemed to be the best offensive weapon on the court. In two scrimmages, Scheierman scored 26 total points on 10-of-18 shooting, including three made triples.
*Baylor Scheierman is projected to go 40th overall to the Portland Trail Blazers in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 43rd overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
F Coleman Hawkins – Illinois – Senior
Just because a player fills up the stat sheets during the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages doesn't necessarily mean they played well. Teams are always looking for scorers, but they want to find players who are well-equipped and simply play hard on both sides of the ball. Coleman Hawkins shot the ball well, and he led his team with 17 points in the first scrimmage on Wednesday. He especially shot the ball well from three-point land, knocking down three triples.
Overall, Hawkins was impressive when it came to making the right decision. He did not rush his jumper, and Hawkins displayed his versatility by bringing the ball up the floor on some possessions as a big man. Hawkins could play his way into second-round consideration should he continue to shoot well throughout the pre-draft process, given his larger frame. These types of performances could result in Hawkins remaining in the draft.
*Coleman Hawkins is projected to go undrafted in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 79th overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
G/F Nikola Djurisic – Serbia (KK Mega Basket – ABA)
Next to Hawkins, Nikola Djurisic stood out as the best player in the first scrimmage on Wednesday. Djurisic is an international prospect that teams do not have a ton of information about, which is why playing in front of everyone is valuable for him. The Serbian wing finished with 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists. He scored in many different ways, cutting the rim and displaying confidence in his jumper.
The best moment of the combine was Djurisic making a behind-the-back pass to the corner, setting up a made three for Hawkins. This was a much better showing for a player who could wind up being a steal in the second round.
*Nikola Djurisic is projected to go 39th overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 32nd overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
G KJ Simpson – Colorado – Junior
KJ Simpson was a standout performer on Tuesday when he scored 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting off the bench. On Wednesday, Simpson continued his hot play, registering 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Out of all the guards that played in the scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine, Simpson was the one who impressed the most as a calm and collected playmaker who can do a little bit of everything on the court.
NBA teams that have a need for a backup point guard and extra depth in their backcourt should look no further than Simpson in this draft class. He is an older college player who is ready to help a team win right now.
*KJ Simpson is projected to go 56th overall to the Denver Nuggets in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 41st overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
G Ajay Mitchell – UC Santa Barbara – Junior
Ajay Mitchell has been another impressive guard during the two days of scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine. Like Simpson, Mitchell is not the most explosive player, but he makes up for it with his decision-making skills. Unlike most guards who look to display their shooting abilities, Mitchell made the most of his time on the court by being a true facilitator. He found open lanes to drive to the rim and create space for his teammates, as well as making tough passes others were unable to defend.
The UC Santa Barbara product has helped his draft stock tenfold after displaying his two-way nature of play.
*Ajay Mitchell is projected to go 49th overall to the Indiana Pacers in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 36th overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
C Adem Bona – UCLA – Sophomore
Although he doesn't step out onto the perimeter on offense, Adem Bona is a very versatile defender as a center. He thrives as a pick-and-roll defender, and Bona's toughness wasn't matched in the scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine. Whether it was going up for a rebound or contesting a shot at the rim, Bona's confidence on defense is something that surely resonated with many scouts. On Wednesday, he had 10 points, eight rebounds, and a great block at the rim.
Expect Bona to be one of the first frontcourt players off the board in the second round of the draft, assuming he doesn't go back to college.
*Adem Bona is projected to go 46th overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 53rd overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
G AJ Johnson – USA (Illawarra Hawks – NBL)
AJ Johnson is a prospect many teams are looking to gather more information about right now. After deciding to play in the NBL instead of going the traditional college route to the NBA, Johnson entered the combine a step ahead in terms of already playing professional basketball. On Tuesday, Johnson had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He also recorded four assists.
The second day of scrimmages allowed Johnson to showcase his offensive repertoire even more than he did on Day 2 of the combine. Despite only scoring four points on Wednesday, Johnson collected six assists without turning the ball over in 22 minutes off the bench. His confidence, length, and athleticism are all traits that stand out as those of a guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. There is a lot of two-way potential that stands out with Johnson, which is why he is a player rising up draft boards after standing out during the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages.
*AJ Johnson is projected to go undrafted in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0; He is ranked 59th overall in ClutchPoints' 2024 NBA Big Board 1.0.
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