The 2024 NBA Draft class is not a very highly touted one, but history suggests that future stars and contributors are hiding in plain sight.
Even the infamous 2013 NBA Draft class produced future stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert outside the lottery. This year’s draft will be no different, with overlooked players guaranteed to fall through the weeds of an unpredictable crop of prospects.
Who are some names to monitor as sleepers for the 2024 NBA Draft? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
NBA DRAFT: Final two-round Mock Draft | Final Big Board
2024 NBA Draft sleepers to know
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
Age: 23, Senior
Position: Forward
Height and weight: 6-6, 202 lbs.
Scheierman is starting to garner some first-round attention but still leads a crop of potential sleepers in case he falls into the second round. The Creighton transfer helped his draft stock tremendously during his super-senior season, averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 38.1 percent from 3.
Scheierman is the type of three-level scorer, read-and-react passer and versatile defender who could fit into any system. He’s not a superb athlete but he plays within himself with a great feel for the game. He can shoot from 3 or midrange, he keeps the ball moving on offense and positions himself well enough defensively to make up for what he lacks in explosiveness.
Kevin McCullar, Kansas
Age: 23, Senior
Position: Guard
Height and weight: 6-6, 210 lbs.
McCullar was once a projected first-round pick but now lands on this sleeper list as a likely second-round selection. The Kansas super-senior missed a major opportunity to increase his draft stock after suffering a season-ending knee injury that sidelined him for the Jayhawks’ March Madness run.
McCullar is a do-it-all wing who can morph into whatever is needed of him. At 6-6 and 210 lbs., the Big 12 All-Defensive Team guard can take on any perimeter assignment. He’s a connective playmaker who can make an impact with or without the ball in his hands, attacking off the dribble or finding open space as a cutter.
His jump shot may limit him — he shot 30.9 percent on 379 attempts over his five-year college career — but his other tools are strong enough to carve out a role in the NBA.
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Pacome Dadiet, Ulm (Germany)
Age: 18
Position: Forward
Height and weight: 6-8, 217 lbs.
Dadiet is the true definition of a sleeper.
The 18-year-old is one of the youngest players in this class, and there were questions if he’d even stay in the 2024 NBA Draft. Once he elected to keep his name in the pool, Dadiet started to skyrocket up Big Boards and Mock Drafts.
Dadiet is a raw, 6-8 forward with tremendous upside as a shot-creating scorer. He only averaged 6.4 points in 14.9 minutes per game for Ulm in the renowned Bundesliga, but he was going up against some of the best players in the world outside of the NBA.
In a draft class that has so many question marks, Dadiet is well worth the home run swing as a potential developmental diamond.
Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
Age: 21, Junior
Position: Forward
Height and weight: 6-6, 234 lbs.
Ingram is one of my personal favorite sleepers in this draft class. He might be a bit undersized as a 6-6 forward but he has a 7-foot wingspan. His willingness to make winning plays cannot be overstated.
When Ingram was on the floor for North Carolina this past season, good things happened. His length, strength and athleticism make him a versatile perimeter defender who can hold his own against bigger matchups.
He’s a tenacious rebounder, posting 8.8 boards per game. He’s an active cutter off the ball and made a significant improvement as a 3-point shooter, converting at a career-best 38.5 percent clip.
Ingram should be a target for any “win-now” team in the second round.
KJ Simpson, Colorado
Age: 21, Junior
Position: Guard
Height and weight: 6-1, 187 lbs.
Speaking of winning plays, Simpson falls in that same category. If the Colorado junior was 6-4 instead of 6-1, there is no question he would be a first-round pick.
His playmaking skills are undeniable as a crafty passer and pick-and-roll ball-handler. Simpson is a reliable 3-point shooter, knocking down 43.4 percent of his attempts this past season. He works relentlessly on the defensive end to make up for what he lacks in size, pestering opposing ball-handlers.
It’s hard not to get Fred VanVleet vibes when you watch Simpson play.