The 2024 NBA draft has many prospects who first hit the national radar as high school All-Americans who ranked in ESPN's top 100. Nine of the top 15 players on ESPN's current draft board are ranked (international players are not ranked).
But there are also prospects drafted each year whose profile and skills were less known in high school for a variety of reasons. Kris Murray (Sacramento Kings) and Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors) are examples of unranked high schoolers who became first-round draft picks, and both averaged over 20 minutes per game last season as rookies.
And while the numbers aren't in their favor, unranked players ultimately emerge as NBA prospects each year. Ja Morant, Devin Vassell, Jalen Williams and Bennedict Mathurin are other examples who became lottery picks in the last five years.
Identifying, evaluating and flirting with these players is a boon for NBA scouts and decision makers, and sometimes even alters the trajectory of a franchise. After all, the NBA draft is about acquiring talent through the lottery or discovering valuable hidden gems later in the draft. This is a group of players with extraordinary work habits, perseverance and special characteristics.
Let's take an in-depth look at the path of five NBA prospects who will be drafted this week after going unranked in high school.
