12 top Celtics draft prospects, from Ryan Kalkbrenner to Hunter Sallis

The Celtics are entering an offseason of uncertainty. As it currently stands, the 2024 NBA champions have the No. 28 and No. 32 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, which is slated for June 25th.

Longtime draft expert Kevin O’Connor, of Yahoo Sports, joined Celtics podcast You Got Boston to discuss 12 potential prospects who might be available — and be selected — at No. 28 and No. 32.

If you’re just beginning to wade into the draft world and want to learn more about these prospects, I recommend exploring the two draft guides I reference throughout this article: Kevin O’Connor’s Big Board on Yahoo Sports and The Ringer’s Big Board.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

Class: Senior, age 23Position: Big Measurements: 7’1, 257 lbsComparison: Jakob Poetl, Walker Kessler, Luke Kornet Projected draft spot: 29 (Yahoo Sports), 35 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. It’s a bit strange that he isn’t a better rebounder. But as a super senior, he’s also developed some sneaky passing and shooting skills that hint at higher upside.”

The Ringer description: “Colossal big and interior presence on both ends.”

Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Class: Freshman, age 19Position: BigMeasurements: 6’10, 253 lbs Comparisons: Jonas Valunciunas, Jusuf Nukic, Kevon Looney, Trayce-Jackson DavisProjected draft spot: 21 (Yahoo Sports), 16 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill-set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes, and gritty drop-coverage instincts. But to be more than a role player, he needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense.”

The Ringer description: “Disciplined two-way big man who wins with physicality and processes the game at 1.25-time speed.”

Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State

Class: Junior, age 22Position: BigMeasurements: 7’0, 243 lbs Comparisons: DeAndre JordanProjected draft spot: 33 (Yahoo Sports)

Yahoo Sports description: “Konan Niederhauser is an elite athlete who lives above the rim as a finisher and shot blocker, and he displays some intriguing upside as a 7-foot shot creator. But he needs to improve his fundamentals to make it all click.”

Joan Berninger, France

Class: 18Position: BigMeasurements: 6’10, 230 lbsComparisons: Clint Capela, Nerlens Noel, Daniel GaffordProjected draft spot: 34 (Yahoo Sports), 30 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Berninger began playing basketball only three years ago, which makes him a raw project, but also makes his natural talents all the more impressive. He’s a center but has the quickness of a guard, giving him immense defensive versatility to build on for years to come.”

The Ringer description: “Instinctive, physically gifted big man who’s as raw as sashimi.”

Drake Powell, North Carolina

Class: Freshman, age 19 Position: Wing Measurements: 6’5, 200 lbsComparisons: Mikal Bridges, Isaac Okoro, Taurean Prince, Terance Mann Projected draft spot: 16 (Yahoo Sports), 21 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Powell has a chiseled frame that he uses to barrel into defenders at the rim and to contain opponents when he’s on defense. He’s a switch-everything defender who plays with a high motor, and if his spot-up jumper translates, he checks all the boxes to be a 3-and-D role player at a minimum.”

The Ringer description: “Lean and mean two-way wing with the tools to be switchy on defense and swishy when spacing the floor.”

Nique Clifford, Colorado State

Class: Junior, age 23Position: Wing Measurements: 6’6, 203 lbs Comparisons: Justin Holiday, Moses Moody, Josh Hart, Khris Middleton, Desmond BaneProjected draft spot: 14 (The Ringer), 18 (Yahoo Sports)

Yahoo Sports description: “Clifford is a tough-as-nails wing who does it all. He defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. But as a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high level competition despite his age.”

The Ringer description: “Mature, well-rounded wing with an ideal physical frame for the modern NBA game.”

Hugo Gonzalez, Spain

Class: Age 19Measurements: 6’6, 205 lbs Position: Wing Comparisons: Josh Green, Nikola DjurisicProjected draft spot: 23 (Yahoo Sports), 45 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Gonzalez is a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter. But he barely even played off the bench overseas.”

The Ringer description: “High-energy wing whose role is somewhere amid a haze of concerns about his shooting and decision-making.”

Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

Class: Junior, age 20 Measurements: 6’9, 232 lbs Position: Wing Comparisons: Larry Nance Jr., Brandon BassProjected draft spot: 25 (Yahoo Sports), 23 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role player skill-set will translate.”

The Ringer description: “Athletic, play-finishing 3-and-D big man with a retrofuturistic style lifted directly from NBA Live 06’s Create-a-Player assembly line.”

Noah Penda, France

Class: Age 20Measurements: 6’8, 225 lbsPosition: Wing Comparisons: Naji Marshall, Nicolas BatumProjected draft spot: 17 (The Ringer), 31 (Yahoo Sports)

Yahoo Sports description: “Penda plays with a veteran’s mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense, and high-level feel. He’ll need to improve his jumper to stick long-term, but his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation.”

The Ringer description: “Instinctive, big-bodied defender with all the glue-guy skills to stay on the floor as he hones his offensive repertoire.”

Alijah Martin, Florida

Class: Senior, age 23Position: Wing Measurements: 6’2, 210 lbsComparisons: De’Anthony Melton, Derrick Jones Jr. Projected draft spot: 40 (Yahoo Sports)

Yahoo Sports description: “Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding, and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting, and limited creation ability complicate his ability to carve out a specialized role.”

Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest

Class: Age 22Position: Guard Measurements: 6’5, 181 lbs Comparisons: Donte DiVincenzo Projected draft spot: 38 (Yahoo Sports)

Yahoo Sports description: “Sallis is a poised, efficient scorer with body control, defensive tenacity, and the passing feel to hint at more upside. If the jumper proves real, he could play a much larger offensive role than his current projection.”

Adou Thiero, Arkansas

Class: Junior, age 21Position: Wing Measurements: 6’6, 218 lbsComparisons: Toumani Camara, Haywood Highsmith, Torrey Craig Projected draft spot: 35 (Yahoo Sports), 34 (The Ringer)

Yahoo Sports description: “Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter. If he’s able to figure out the shot then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player.”

The Ringer description: “Switchable forward who is perpetually shot out of a cannon and is able to sprinkle value across the stat sheet.”