Notes from Day 2 of the 2022 NBA Draft Combine Scrimmage Games, and Picks for the 2022 All-NBA Draft Combine Teams
May 21st, 2022
By Alan Lu
Yesterday, I took the time to watch the final two scrimmage games that were played at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine. For those of you who want to read on what happened in the first day of these games, here is a quick recap. Team Johnson squared off against Team Weaver early on, which aired in the morning on the West Coast, and Team Erman and Team Curry played against each other in the late game. The telecast would splice in interviews with players and coaches midway through the scrimmage games, and so the telecast was not showing the full game in its entirety.
It’s the last day of these combine games, and I’m pretty much exhausted from watching all of these prospects participate in these combine games, so I’ll try to keep it relatively short and tell you guys who I feel played the best in both of the games, and what stood out to me the most.
Thoughts on the Game Between Team Johnson and Team Weaver:
Here are my thoughts on the prospects that impressed in the first game on the second day of the 2022 NBA Draft Combine scrimmage games, which would make it the third game overall. Also, for those of you who are interested in the box score, here is the link.
(Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press, via FTW USA Today)
Andrew Nembhard had a superb showing, as he scored 26 points and had 11 assists for Team Weaver in this game. He did a terrific job of passing and distributing the basketball, and he made great decisions with the ball in his hands when he ran the point.
The coaches really trusted him to make decisions, and he rewarded their faith. He also showed a knack for making dribble, mid-range jumpers, and he also was able to score on a fadeaway jumper from the post. He also defended well. The only knock was that he didn’t shoot the three-ball nearly as well, but Nembhard did an outstanding job of making two-point shots, running the point, and making plays on both ends of the floor. With the season he’s had and the performance he put forth in this game, Nembhard looks like he may have solidified his footing in the second round of the 2022 draft.
(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images)
Drew Timme also had a fantastic showing to help lead Team Johnson to get the win in this game. Timme shot the ball really well, especially from downtown. He thoroughly excelled at making spot-up threes, and he also moved off the ball quickly to make an impressive, movement three that wowed the crowd late in this match.
He showed good footwork to score off the dribble and in the post. Overall, Timme is a very skilled scorer that just finds ways to score the basketball, and he is a gamer that will compete. He played very well in this game, and he has had a very good season overall, and I think he also has likely solidified a place to be selected in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Kofi Cockburn had a strong showing in this game. He did a great job of scoring in the post, and he is a strong, muscular center that would often get deep position to score at the rim. He would score on drop steps and jump hooks, and he also was able to score on a thunderous dunk out of the post. He would get the ball on short rolls, and then drive his way to the hoop to get scores and free throws.
Cockburn did a great job of scoring in the paint and grabbing rebounds for his team, and he often would dominate smaller opponents that would attempt to guard him in the post. He had a very good showing in this camp, and he could be a good option for NBA teams to consider in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Aminu Mohammed was terrific in this game, especially in the second half. He did a great job of driving to the hoop to score and get free throws, and he willed his way to do so to help Team Johnson get the win. He is an athletic, physical swingman that would score at will, and he also was able to throw solid interior passes to notch assists.
He didn’t make a three, and he was a bit foul prone, as he would sometimes commit reach-in fouls and struggle to defend in one-on-one situations. Still, Mohammed did a terrific job of driving to the hoop, and he also threw down a powerful dunk on the break. He has really helped himself by having a strong showing here, and he has put himself firmly into the second round conversation for the 2022 draft.
Darius Days also played very well in this game. He shot the ball very well, as he thrived at making shots both inside and out. He excelled at making spot-up threes. He also showed that he can make mid-range jumpers and score out of the post. Also, Days rebounded the ball well. He was a bit foul prone due to over-aggressiveness. Overall, he played much better in this match, and Days is an athletic, physical combo forward that could project well into a 3 and D role in the NBA>
Dominick Barlow played very well to help Team Johnson get the win. He especially thrived as an inside scorer, and he played considerably better on both ends of the floor. His strong performance in this game may indicate that he could be worthy of a second round selection in this year’s draft.
Barlow showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays. He was able to make an impressive high-flying, breakaway dunk while getting fouled to get an extra free throw afterwards. He also would tend to score on rolls to the rim. He also managed to make a long two from the corner.
He played fairly average at best defense. He was active in playing passing lanes, and he would deflect passes to nearly get steals. However, sometimes he would take bad gambles, as he fouled a three-point shooter and allowed a score once, and he also would tend to get outmuscled when defending in the post.
Overall, Dominick Barlow did a great job of making shots in this game, and he showed an improved shooting touch, finishing ability, and ability to score off the dribble. He did a good job of making team plays, and he could project to be a solid rotation player in the NBA.
John Butler also had a solid showing in this game. He especially played well in the first half, and he thrived as a shooter and defender in this game. He did a very good job of making spot-up threes off the catch to showcase his shooting skills. He also did a great job of blocking shots, as he was able to swat a three-point shot, and he would swat shots off of drives to protect the paint. Butler also was able to intercept a pass and poke a ball away to get steals.
Overall, Butler is an athletic, skilled big man that shoots and defends well, but he will need to add more strength to his frame. Still, he may have considerable upside, and he could be a very good pick for an NBA team in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Hugo Besson also had a solid showing in this game. He showed off versatile scoring skills. He was able to make threes, and he also drew three free throws on a pull-up three once. He is a crafty player that showed a knack for scoring on left-handed drives to the hoop.
He also showed off satisfactory playmaking skills. He can make passes off the dribble to get assists. However, he also threw a couple of bad passes that got intercepted. He also handled the ball too long and passed the ball at the last second, which led his team to commit a shot clock violation. Overall, Hugo Besson played fairly well in this game, and he had a fairly solid season in the NBL this year. He is a skilled, competitive combo guard that can score the basketball and will compete on both ends of the floor, and he could be a solid value pick in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Thoughts on the Game Between Team Erman and Team Curry Game:
I also took the time to watch the last game that was played at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine between Team Erman and Team Curry. There wasn’t nearly as much scoring as there was in the first game that was played on this day, as it was a hard-fought defensive battle. Team Erman was able to get a steady lead, and they ended up getting a double-digit win in this game. To me, the standout performers of this match were Jalen Williams, Dereon Seabron, Michael Foster, and Moussa Diabate. Here are my thoughts on how they fared, as well as other prospects that seemed to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Also, for those of you who are interested in the box score, here is the link.
(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images, via Bleacher Report)
Jalen Williams had a very good showing to help lead Team Erman to get the win in this game. He is an athletic, rangy forward that was extremely efficient in scoring the basketball. He showed a knack for making pull-up jumpers from the outside, as he can do so both from three-point land and the mid-range. He also did a good job of scoring on left-handed drives to the hoop, as he used a Euro-step to score in transition, and he also scored on a smooth dunk another time.
He looked to be about average at best defensively. He was able to jump on a loose ball that his teammate deflected to help his team get a steal. On the downside, Williams would tend to play too aggressively on the defensive end, or would be slightly out of position, which would lead him to commit touch fouls.
Overall, Williams turned in an impressive performance, as he really excelled as a shooter and scorer in this game. He also measured really well in the measurements and athletic testing, and he could project to go in the late first to the second round range on draft day.
Dereon Seabron had a strong showing to also lead Team Erwin to get the win in this game. He did a great job of shooting and scoring the basketball. He especially thrived at scoring on strong, aggressive drives to the hoop, and he showed good strength, balance, and body control to regularly score at the rim.
Also, Seabron passed the ball fairly well. He also did a good job of making passes off the dribble and throwing interior passes to set up scoring chances for his teammates. Overall, Seabron played very well in both of the games that he played here, and he is an athletic, physical swingman that could be a good pick for an NBA team in the second round range of the 2022 draft day.
Michael Foster also played well in Team Erwin’s win over Team Curry. He showed off versatile scoring skills. He was able to make an open, movement three, and he also excelled as a scorer in the post. He was able to make a turnaround jumper after using a spin move in the high post. Foster also caught a lob to score on an alley-oop dunk off of a roll to the rim.
He also defended well. Foster would block and alter shots to help his team protect the paint. He also was active in contesting shots to force misses. Overall, Foster played well in this game, and he is a strong, mobile forward whose ability to score and rebound the basketball could make him a second round pick on draft day.
Moussa Diabate had a very good showing in this game. In the previous game, he did a great job of defending and blocking shots, and he showcased great athleticism, but he really struggled offensively. In this game against Team Curry, Diabate did a much better job of making shots in the paint, and he also did a much better job of passing and rebounding the basketball.
Diabate did a good job of scoring on hustle plays. He would score on put backs and fast breaks, and he was much more controlled in looking to score in the paint. He still struggled with his jump shot and in one-on-one situations, but he did a much better job as a finisher around the basket.
He also passed the ball very well. He did a great job of passing out of the post to notch assists, and he played unselfishly. Also, Diabate did a great job of rebounding the basketball. Overall, Diabate played very well in this game. He will still need to polish his skills up on offense, but he is a very athletic big man whose defensive skills, emerging perimeter skills, and upside could make him a good pick in the mid to late second round range on draft day.
Tyrese Martin had a very good showing in this game. He thrived as a three-point shooter, and he also would look to score on hustle plays. On the downside, he struggled to consistently score from the mid-range or off the dribble.
He also rebounded and passed the ball well, and Martin would make good passes off the dribble. Overall, Martin excelled as a shooter, distributor, and rebounder, and he could project well into a 3 and D role in the NBA.
Alondes Williams had a solid showing in this game. Williams did a very good job of passing the basketball, and he has good court vision that allows him to make long, accurate passes to set up a wealth of scoring chances for his teammates. He also defended well. Williams would poke balls away to make things difficult on opposing ball handlers. He also defended an opposing ball handler out on the perimeter, and leapt up to emphatically block a shot hard off the glass due to possessing good athleticism, timing, and instincts.
He would look to score on fast breaks, drives, and in the post, but he struggled to knock down jump shots. Overall, Williams impressed me the most by showcasing strong playmaking skills in both games. He will still need to improve his outside shot, but his playmaking skills, athleticism, and ability to play multiple positions could make him an intriguing option for NBA teams to consider late on draft day.
Scotty Pippen Jr. also played fairly well in this game. He showed off versatile scoring skills, and he was aggressive in looking to score the basketball. He also was active defensively, and he would poke balls and get his hands on passes to get steals and deflections. He also managed to successfully draw a charge to get a stop on the break.
On the downside, he was fairly streaky with his jump shot, and while he threw some good passes in this game, he didn’t get nearly enough assists. Overall, Pippen played fairly well, and he could project to be a backup point guard in the NBA.
Iverson Molinar also played fairly well in this game. He did a good job of scoring off the dribble, and he also generally excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He would run the floor to score on fast breaks, and Molinar also scored on a backdoor cut on a misdirection play.
He also would throw accurate interior passes to find open teammates around the basket. He also played adequate defense. He would apply considerable ball pressure to make things difficult for his opponents, and he would contest shots. On the downside, his lack of size would sometimes make it difficult for him to defend taller shooters when he was on the court.
Overall, Molinar thrived at scoring the basketball, and he also passed and handled the ball well in both games. He will need to improve his outside shot and show that he can reliably run the point, but his athleticism and scoring skills could make him an intriguing candidate for NBA teams to consider late on draft day.
In all, here are my picks for the 3 Stars on Day 2 of the 2022 NBA Draft Combine:
- Andrew Nembhard, Team Weaver
- Drew Timme, Team Weaver
- Jalen Williams, Team Erman
Andrew Nembhard both visually and statistically turned in a very impressive performance by scoring 26 points and dishing out 11 assists to help Team Weaver get the win in the early game. He did a tremendous job of running the point and distributing the basketball, he excelled as a scorer off the dribble, and he made great decisions consistently throughout the match.
Drew Timme really impressed with his shooting, scoring, and by demonstrating his three-point shooting prowess, especially down the stretch. He showed off great footwork to score out of the post and off the dribble. He thrived as a floor spacer, and he also made a really impressive, movement three. He really turned heads as he seems to have added a new dimension to his game, which could solidify his place to be selected in the 2022 draft.
Jalen Williams has been a solid, steady performer at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, and he just finds ways to play sound, smart, efficient basketball. He doesn’t seem to do anything spectacular on the court, but he makes shots, and he makes plays. He also tested really well athletically and in the measurements, and his strong all-around showing at the combine could potentially get him drafted in the first round on draft day.
After having seen all of the games that were played at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, here are my picks for the All-2022 NBA Draft Combine teams.
Picks for the All-2022 NBA Draft Combine 1st Team:
C Drew Timme, Team Johnson
F Kenneth Lofton, Team Curry
F Jalen Williams, Team Erman
G Dereon Seabron, Team Erman
G Andrew Nembhard, Team Weaver – My Pick for MVP of the scrimmage games
Andrew Nembhard did a masterful job of controlling the tempo, making passes, and running the point, and he showed a solid ability to make mid-range jumpers and shots off the dribble to get his team the win on the second day.
Dereon Seabron did a tremendous job of driving to the hoop to score the basketball, and he is an athletic swingman that also rebounded well, and played tough, rangy defense.
Jalen Williams was terrific at shooting and scoring the basketball, and he showed a knack for making shots very efficiently in both games.
Drew Timme shot the ball very well in both games, and he was especially impressive in knocking down threes from beyond the arc. He thrived as a shooter and scorer, and he really excelled at making shots in this tournament.
Kenneth Lofton showcased solid scoring skills, was underrated as a defender, and he is a really strong big man that opened up NBA scouts and teams’ eyes with his motor, ability to shoot the three-ball, and finish plays around the basket.
Picks for the All-2022 NBA Draft Combine 2nd Team:
C Kofi Cockburn, Team Weaver
F Orlando Robinson, Team Weaver
F John Butler, Team Weaver
G Aminu Mohammed, Team Johnson
G Iverson Molinar, Team Curry
Aminu Mohammed did a great job of driving to the hoop to score the basketball, and he is an athletic swingman that played tenacious defense throughout this contest.
Kofi Cockburn did a very good job of scoring and rebounding the basketball, especially in his second game, and he would outmuscle his opponents to get points and rebounds in the paint.
Orlando Robinson showcased versatile scoring skills as he generally made good decisions on offense, and he also did a good job of blocking shots in this tournament.
John Butler was underrated in making plays in both games. He thrived as a three-point shooter, and he did a very good job of defending and blocking shots to make a slew of rangy plays on the court.
Iverson Molinar showed off an impressive ability to score off the dribble, and he is a very athletic combo guard that showed improved playmaking and rebounding skills this week.
Honorable Mention:
Scotty Pippen Jr., Team Curry, Christian Braun, Team Johnson, Jabari Walker, Team Curry, Dominick Barlow, Team Johnson, Michael Foster, Team Erman
I’ve concluded my write-up on the second day of the games that were played at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, as well as have made my picks for the All-Tournament teams at this camp. Meanwhile, the NBA playoffs have been going on, as Golden State is up 2-0 against Dallas, and Boston and Miami are tied at 1 apiece. It will be interesting to see how the Conference Finals will unfold. Thanks for reading.
