EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnsurprisingly, the NBA draft cycle stops for no one, and NBA scouts have continued to make the summer rounds, with an eye toward the 2027 and 2028 drafts. I spent time in July and August at Nike Peach Jam and Adidas 3SSB championships in South Carolina, and Nike Academy in Los Angeles. There has also been quality summer FIBA play, with the Under-18 EuroBasket and Under-17 World Cup giving prospects a major international platform.NBA teams are amid early preparations for the 2027 draft, a class that is viewed as down relative to recent years and one that will challenge front offices to find value in different ways. That perceived talent dip coincides with the implementation of a new lottery system that increases randomness and the possibility of picks jumping all over the board -- incentivizing teams to be familiar with the talent pool early.The 2028 draft is looking a bit stronger at the top and has found its headliner with the emergence of Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who scouts have begun to tab as the early No. 1 front-runner and is set to spend the next two seasons developing at Duke.While it's still early to draw strong draft conclusions, here are some of my player takeaways from this summer, after watching players up close and on film, and continuing discussions with talent evaluators around the NBA.2027 prospectsStefan Joksimovi, PG/SG, BaskoniaNo 2027 prospect gathered more momentum this summer than Joksimovi -- a player who many around the NBA have come to view as a real contender at No. 1 next year, and has clearly separated himself as the top international prospect in the class.Joksimovi has been on quite the trajectory in 2026: On the heels of winning MVP at Adidas Eurocamp in the spring, Joksimovi piloted Slovenia to gold at FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket earlier this month. He was named tournament MVP, averaging 23.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists, making 54.2% of twos, 35.6% of threes and 78.1% from the line, and was hands-down the top prospect at the event. Joksimovi also scored 22 points against Sweden playing for the senior team in a World Cup qualifier in June.The son of a former Slovenian national team player, the 6-foot-7 Joksimovi fits into a valuable NBA mold as a jumbo playmaking guard who can facilitate offense and excels at navigating ball screens. He's a left-handed scorer who exhibits excellent vision, smooth changes of speed with the ball in his hands, and encouraging flashes of shotmaking. While not a stopper defensively, he can grow into a good team defender long term. With his excellent positional size, skill and instincts, Joksimovi has a compelling offensive base to build on.While not a high-end explosive athlete, Joksimovi plays with sufficient burst to utilize his size advantage going downhill. He will need to keep improving as a shooter and adding craft around the rim to warrant heavy usage down the line. But he has shown plenty of overall capability already that teams will consider betting big on him early in this draft and developing him as an offensive focal point.Scouts are wondering what type of role Joksimovi will carve out at Baskonia, where he made his senior debut last year, but he is not guaranteed major minutes on a team that finished third in the Spanish ACB and won't be playing to amplify his individual opportunity. But teams in search of a lead playmaker to bolster their offense will continue looking hard at him, in a draft without a consensus No. 1 prospect at this stage.Tyran Stokes, SF, Kansas | FreshmanIn June, I wrote about Stokes' No. 1 candidacy as the top individual talent in this class, but also a complicated evaluation who is already polarizing for NBA executives. There will be teams eager to take a swing on his talent, and others who will view him as a risky bet to lead their franchise. Much will depend on what type of year he has at Kansas, leading a supporting cast that doesn't look particularly strong at this stage.At Nike Academy, he wasn't as individually dominant over two days of scrimmages as he was at the same event one year ago. However, he was noticeably focused on distributing the ball, showcasing his ability to handle and make reads at a powerfully built 6-8, and his strong feel for the game. Stokes has the potential to grow into a supersized shot creator with innate versatility on both ends, an uncommon archetype that has put him atop my early projections.If Stokes can consistently dial in on the right things at Kansas, display maturity and drive winning, he's capable of separating himself with his ability to impact both ends and long-term upside. But scouts also know he can be inconsistent with shooting, turnovers, defensive engagement and on-court mood swings. There's a lot at stake for Stokes this season, and he will be under the microscope at all turns.Quentin Coleman, G, Illinois | FreshmanNBA scouts are watching Coleman closely on the heels of an outstanding spring and summer, when he played for Team USA at the Under-18 FIBA AmeriCup and earned invites to CP3 camp and Nike Academy. Although the USA lost to Canada in the final and earned silver -- a disappointing result by program standards -- Coleman was a bright spot throughout and led the tournament averaging 11.4 rebounds over five games, a nearly unheard-of feat for a guard. He also averaged 11.2 points and shot 40% from the field.Coleman's competitiveness, tenacity and all-around game stood out at Nike Academy, where he was among the top-performing college players in the group. He's unselfish and continues to flash his abilities as a decision-maker, offering room for offensive role growth to go with the array of other ways he regularly contributes to winning. Coleman is a smooth mover who covers ground very well on both ends and has good physical upside as he continues to gain strength and become more assertive. He shot 38.5% from three in the EYBL, giving him a good shooting base to build off long term.A late-blooming combo guard who was previously committed to Wake Forest before flipping to Illinois in April, Coleman has trended steadily upward since last summer when his Brad Beal Elite team won Peach Jam, and he led his high school team to consecutive Missouri state championships. While it's unfair to expect a Keaton Wagler-like season, and there will be an adjustment period in college, Coleman's rebounding, motor and toughness are expected to help him carve out a big role at Illinois, alongside Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks as the Illini work to replace Wagler and Kylan Boswell in the backcourt.Coleman's demonstrable intangibles and tools, coupled with multiple paths for successful offensive development, have started to separate him as an exciting prospect. Time is on his side, but a strong freshman year could fast-track him into a draft where NBA teams will have incentive to take developmental swings early and often.Jason Crowe Jr., G, Missouri | FreshmanExpect Crowe to score often at Missouri, where he should have the requisite usage to put together a big freshman year. Officially listed at 6-4 and 190 pounds, Crowe appears a little smaller but looked like he had gained some physical strength at Nike Academy, and was his usual self as a high-volume shotmaker with a smooth, quick release off the catch and dribble.The question is whether Crowe can ultimately be enough of a playmaker for teammates to warrant significant on-ball usage in a winning NBA context. The left-handed guard has real scoring gifts but isn't a natural point guard, leaving scouts with questions about his ability to make second-level reads and navigate the type of ball pressure he will likely face in college. How well Crowe handles what is likely to be a massive role at Missouri will be a fun subplot, but his long-term future might simply be as a microwave scorer with continued development.Cameron Williams, PF, Duke | FreshmanWhile much of the chatter around Williams has centered around the likelihood he takes a back seat at Duke this year due to the addition of Boumtje Boumtje, I left Nike Academy encouraged about Williams' long-term prospects. The 18-year-old forward, officially listed by Duke at 7-foot, 215 pounds, has major physical upside and has begun to transition into the natural stretch-four role he'll likely play long term, even though he might not be a high-impact player this season.Williams had some nice moments at Nike Academy, including popping open for jumpers, showing competitiveness on the defensive end and matching up with Stokes for stretches. He has begun to add upper-body strength and looks like he should fill out quite well over time, which should help him become more confident finishing plays and navigating the paint. Although the results are still inconsistent on offense, Williams moves quite well for his size and has potential to eventually impact winning on both ends.While not exceptionally long for his size, previously measuring with a 7- wingspan, Williams looks the part physically as a future NBA power forward and appears to be grasping what Duke is asking of him from a role perspective, leaning into the defense and away from some of the freewheeling shot selection he showed in high school. The question now is how big his role will be this fall, and how often he can put together the type of flashes NBA teams will want to see. That upside gives him a one-and-done pathway even without immense production, particularly as one of the younger incoming freshmen.2028 prospectsJoaquim Boumtje Boumtje, PF, Duke | FreshmanBoumtje Boumtje made his much-anticipated debut with USA Basketball at the Under-17 World Cup in Istanbul, averaging 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.1 blocks in 22.8 minutes, shooting 59.8% from the field and 53.1% from 3, leading his team to gold while winning MVP. Born in 2009, he won't be eligible for the NBA draft until 2028, but has a developmental runway and potential college stardom lying ahead at Duke.The son of former Georgetown standout and NBA draft pick Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Joaquim grew up in the U.S. and spent the past three years developing at FC Barcelona, where he was regarded as one of the top talents in Europe. Duke now lists him at 7-2, giving him immense size to go with an exceptional all-around profile that meshes box score productivity, rare perimeter skill for a 7-footer, and excellent defensive instincts. In short, it's a legitimate unicorn profile that should translate to immediate winning impact in college. There simply aren't many holes to poke in his profile yet.It's not out of the question that Boumtje Boumtje can reach the level of predecessors Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer in terms of college impact. Some scouts view him as that caliber of talent, although he will arrive at Duke a year earlier and can't be held to the same standard right away. The dearth of elite bigs coming up through the domestic ranks makes Boumtje Boumtje's arrival all the more notable -- not just for the future of the NBA, but quite possibly for USA Basketball, which will have to contend with Victor Wembanyama over the next decade-plus.Boumtje Boumtje looks like the clear front-runner for No. 1 two years from now. How he adjusts to college at 17 years old will be fascinating, but expect him to be a quick study.Nikola Kusturica, SF, UCLA | FreshmanBoumtje Boumtje's former Barcelona teammate Kusturica will take a similar path to the NBA, heading to UCLA this fall and preparing to spend two seasons in college before entering the 2028 draft. The 6-7 wing led Serbia to the silver medal in Istanbul, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 2.3 steals and shooting 46.8% from the field, a do-it-all showing that helped solidify him as a top long-term talent.At 17 years old, Kusturica will also be quite young for college, but his exceptional competitive motor should greatly help with the adjustment. He's still maturing physically but has a strong offensive package and has potential to score at all three levels and create with the ball in his hands. His overall efficiency and long-range shooting are still works in progress -- he shot 42% across competitions last season with Bara -- but time is on his side developmentally. How he handles the adjustment at UCLA, where he will face a tough learning curve, will be a fun subplot this season.Cayden Daughtry, PG, high school class of 2027Daughtry's stellar performance was the story of Peach Jam, leading his Florida Rebels team to a championship while averaging 32.3 points and 6.1 assists in eight games over six days on 58.6% shooting and 48.8% from range. He is generously listed at 6-1, but by my estimation is the most individually skilled player in high school basketball and has a chance to be the next outlier small guard to buck conventional thought and play his way toward the top of the draft.While there's a ton to unpack with Daughtry, he impressed with his ability to not only take over games with nonstop pace but enable his teammates to succeed while playing at his speed. He has drawn comparisons to Trae Young, but his overall impact was more evocative of Phoenix-era Steve Nash, with his ability to drive tempo, make lightning-quick decisions and score efficiently at that pace. There are no glaring holes in his offensive game, and his competitive makeup makes him the type of player scouts will want to bet on.He also played well in his role off the bench with Team USA in Istanbul, functioning as more of a change-of-pace setup guard than a focal scorer. As is always the case for guards, he will have to keep answering questions defensively as he moves up to college a year from now -- but the NBA is on notice.CJ Rosser, SF/PF, high school class of 2027Rosser has been on an upward trajectory over the past year and continues to show tantalizing flashes of size and skill. While the 6-10 forward hasn't always been consistent, the improvement in his overall motor and engagement level dating back to last summer has been noteworthy. He has an excellent toolbox for the NBA as a dynamic athlete with size who can finish plays and can be exceptionally versatile.It's becoming clear that Rosser is at his best when he keeps things simple -- he struggled mightily with efficiency and shotmaking this season in the EYBL while playing a focal role offensively. This summer, he thrived in situations when he wasn't tasked with heavy creation, averaging 16 points on 51.3% shooting for Team USA in Istanbul. Rosser had an excellent showing in the title game, displaying real offensive confidence, shotmaking flashes and aggression. He also had a particularly dominant stretch at Nike Academy, taking over a scrimmage with his energy and putting pressure on the basket with explosive dunks in transition.While it's a long-term developmental positive for Rosser to keep pushing himself offensively, his optimal role might simply be as a secondary scorer, with room to grow into a plus defender thanks to his huge, lanky frame. There's a ton of upside left for him to tap into as he adds strength and continues to mature.Beckham Black, PG, high school class of 2027Last but not least, Black deserves mention for the offensive leap he made this summer, taking his game to another level as a scorer at Peach Jam (24.2 PPG on 51.4% shooting in six games) with increased physicality, assertiveness and confidence. Known more as a distributor entering this summer -- a role he took on effectively with Team USA in Istanbul, averaging 8.3 assists as the starting point guard -- it was encouraging to see a different side of him in a grassroots setting.The younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, Beckham is well ahead at the same stage from a confidence and poise standpoint. He lacks the elite positional size that helped make his brother a top-10 pick, but he has an outstanding mind for the game and has seen his individual scoring take off as his physical strength has caught up. He has also taken a step forward as a shooter, looking much more comfortable getting into his shot from range.It's safe to project Black as a college-ready starter who will be ready to win immediately and is on a one-and-done trajectory. Despite the lack of glaring holes in his game, NBA scouts have some questions about his ceiling, as he's not a top-tier athlete and will have to depend on craft and smarts while moving up levels. While Black may not have top-tier offensive upside for that reason, there is quite a bit to like, considering his intangibles, improvement and the tenacity he brings on offense and defense.
