Gonzaga vs. Memphis is sure to have plenty of eyes on it. And they won’t be just the eyes of those looking out for a possible upset to their bracket.
The Bulldogs and Tigers have several top NBA draft prospects on their rosters, highlighted by a pair of forwards that will make a strong case to go at or near the top of the draft in June.
With so many big names taking to the court at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Sporting News is taking a look at some of the biggest names in the 2022 NBA Draft that will be playing for a chance to move on to the Sweet Sixteen. Though Memphis freshman Emoni Bates is one of the top players in the game, he is not eligible for the draft until 2023.
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Here’s a look at five top draft prospects in the 2022 class.
Gonzaga vs. Memphis NBA draft prospects
Jalen Duren, Memphis
SN Mock Draft: 7
Position: C
Height and weight: 6-10, 235 pounds
Age: 18, Freshman
When Memphis’ Jalen Duren takes over a game, there are few who can stand in his way. He averaged 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks during his first season with the Tigers. He had nine double-doubles during the year, including a 22-point, 19-rebound performance in his fourth college basketball game and a 21-point, 20-rebound game in the AAC Tournament against UCF.
Sporting News has him listed as going seventh overall in the latest mock draft, noting that he could be a top-five pick.
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
SN Mock Draft: 1
Position: F/C
Height and weight: 7-1, 190 pounds
Age: 19, freshman
As if the reigning national runners-up couldn’t get any more loaded, the Bulldogs added freshman forward Chet Holmgren to their starting five for the 2021-22 season. And he has done it all for Gonzaga. Holmgren is currently averaging 14.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. The 7-1 forward had 12 double-doubles, and had arguably the best game of his career against Georgia State in the first round, when he had 19 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks.
His standout season has him listed by Sporting News as the favorite to go first overall in the latest mock draft.
MORE: Gonzaga vs. Memphis odds, prediction, betting trends for 2022 March Madness second round game
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
SN Mock Draft: N/A
Position: G
Height and weight: 6-5, 193
Age: 22, senior
Andrew Nembhard had two strong years with Florida before transferring to Gonzaga ahead of the 2020-21 season, but he has saved his best efforts for his senior year with the Bulldogs. He is averaging career-highs in points (11.7), rebounds (3.2), assists (5.7) steals (1.6) and 3-point shooting percentage (36.5 percent), while also posting his second-best field-goal shooting percentage at 46.1 percent.
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
SN Mock Draft: N/A
Position: F
Height and weight: 6-10, 235
Age: 21, junior
Drew Timme was perhaps the face of Gonzaga’s run to the national championship in 2021, when he scored at least 20 points in all but two of the Bulldogs’ six tournament games. He has continued to be the focal point of the team’s offense in the 2021-22 season. Timme leads the team with 18 points per game, while averaging 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with a 59 percent field goal percentage. This year, he has recorded at least 30 points in four games, including in the team’s first-round win against Georgia State, when he had 32.
DeAndre Williams, Memphis
SN Mock Draft: N/A
Position: F
Height and weight: 6-9, 190
Age: 25, senior
DeAndre Williams is a bit older than most draft prospects in the 2022 class, but he has shown in his past two seasons with Memphis that he is a high-impact player. Williams has averaged 11 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists this season, coming off a campaign in which he averaged 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists.