Ryan Nembhard’s NBA Draft Stock: Rising or Dropping?

Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard didn’t receive an invite to the NBA Draft Combine. That’s a snub.

The premier event which eventually leads to hearing your name called only 75 of the best around the world. ESPN has the point guard representing the Zags ranked as the No. 92 top prospect.

That doesn’t mean all the NBA scouts and general managers won’t see his talents on the court before the draft on Wednesday, June 25th. Nembhard was invited to the NBA G-League Elite Camp which runs from May 9th through the 11th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Five players from last year’s G-League Elite Camp were later invited to the NBA Combine. Expectations for the NCAA’s assist leader this past season (9.8 per game) in Nembhard are to do the same.

If New York Knicks forward Anton Watson hadn’t been injured at the G-League Elite Camp last year, he too would have been invited to the combine. Regardless, he was still later drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round with the 54th pick. A positive fact to remember when looking at Nembhard’s case to hearing his name called by the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum, during the late second round in New York City.

The NCAA’s assist leader (9.8 per game) was the best floor general in college basketball this past season, despite the fact he wasn’t even a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. In 134 starts with the Creighton Bluejays and Zags, Nembhard averaged 11.7 points on a shooting split of 43.2 field goal percentage, 40.4 three-point percentage, 77.0 free throw percentage. He also contributed 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals throughout his memorable collegiate career.

His 882 career assists ranks him at No. 21 on the all-time college list. Who wouldn’t want that type of facilitator to develop and prosper within their NBA franchise? Just take a look at what his brother and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard has done in the short time since he was taken with the 31st pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft. Apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

Ryan (6-0) may not have been blessed with the height that Andrew was (6-4), but both are capable distributors, can handle the ball, and are willing to compete on the defensive end. Love diving on the floor for loose possessions and putting their bodies on the line.

Ryan had a career season with extending his range with the Zags. Nembhard’s shooting touch from beyond the perimeter will continue to improve as he embarks on his professional path.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho