Final Four 2022: Players To Watch, Possible Lottery Picks On Duke, Kansas

Several of the players in the 2022 Final Four will be in the NBA next season. A handful of them have a strong chance to be lottery picks in a couple of months.

North Carolina and Villanova might have future pros on the roster, but neither team has a player who’s expected to be selected in the top half of June’s draft. Duke is loaded with talent, including a potential No. 1 overall pick. Kansas’ best player is expected to be a first-round draft pick.

Here’s a look at the possible 2022 draft lottery picks in the Final Four.

Paolo Banchero, Duke

The Duke freshman is the only player in the Final Four who has a chance to be the No. 1 pick. Banchero is no longer viewed as the favorite to go first, but he remains in the conversation and will almost assuredly last no later than fourth overall. Banchero leads the Blue Devils with 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The 19-year-old’s ability to shoot and create his own shot at 6-foot-10 gives him a higher ceiling than almost any player in the 2022 draft class.

AJ Griffin, Duke

There are games when Griffin looks like Duke’s most talented player. That was the case when Duke blew out North Carolina 87-67 in February. The freshman scored 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range. A 6-foot-6 guard who makes 45.8% of his attempts from behind the arc, Griffin could crack the top five in the NBA Draft.

Ochai Agbaji, Kansas

Agbaji is the best college basketball player who will take the court in New Orleans this weekend. The senior averages more points per game (18.9) than anyone in the Final Four, and he does so efficiently. In addition to shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.8% from 3-point range, Agbaji is a good defender. Because he’ll be 22 years old on draft night, Agbaji is considered to be a late-lottery pick.

Mark Williams, Duke

Williams could be the first true center to come off the board in this year’s draft. Without making a single 3-pointer, Williams averages 13.5 points on 71.9% shooting. The seven-foot sophomore averages 12.6 rebounds and 4.9 blocks per 40 minutes. Winner of the 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, Williams could prove to be a valuable rim protector at the next level.