Kansas basketball: Latest on current Jayhawks NBA Draft stock

With the nonconference season winding down, we took a peek at current Kansas basketball draft projections from NBADraft.net. While some have helped their draft stock, others have fallen. Elmarko Jackson began the year as a projected lottery pick in the upcoming 2024 draft but is now not shown on mock drafts.

Kevin McCullar is the first Jayhawk selected here, projected to be picked No. 38 in the 2024 draft. The way he has been playing, he can continue to improve his stock and move into the first round, as his all-around game has taken a leap this year. Some mock drafts even have him just outside of the lottery.

The NBA game is a guards game, which is evident by the end of the NBA Draft projections. Hunter Dickinson is currently listed as the 59th pick in the 2024 draft. He leads the nation in rebounds per game at 12.6 and has shown his ability to score in the paint, from mid-range, and beyond the arc.

However, his defense has looked poor and would be picked on at the next level with the high pick-and-roll. The projected last pick in the upcoming draft at #60 is Zach Edey, the other dominant big man in the nation from Purdue. Zach does not have the outside shooting capabilities that Hunter has but is more effective in the paint. He would also struggle in the NBA game on the defensive side of the ball.

The 2025 mock draft features several current and future Jayhawks on it. Johnny Furphy is projected as the 14th pick in the lottery. His all-around offensive skill set and feel for the game make him look like a potential NBA player. He will need to continue to get stronger and work on the defensive side of the ball to have a large impact at the next level.

Elmarko Jackson is projected as the 44th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. His combination of athleticism and speed projects him as an NBA-caliber guard. I think as his confidence grows, he will continue to produce at a higher level as the season moves on.

Also on the 2025 NBA Draft projections is KU commit Flory Bidunga. The future center of the Jayhawks projects as the 57th pick of the 2025 draft. With the assumption of Hunter moving on after the year, Flory will have the opportunity to seize the center role and improve his draft stock. He is not as polished as Hunter but brings another level of athleticism.

As Always Rock Chalk and Let's Go!