Gonzaga Bulldogs: Mock Draft Consensus on Chet Holmgren 1.0
Ed Stein
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This is our first 2022 Mock Draft Consensus. PNWS lets you know where former Gonzaga Bulldogs center Chet Holmgren will go in the NBA Draft.
Pacific Northwest Sports audited 15 different mock drafts to see where Gonzaga Bulldogs center Chet Holmgren winds up.
The NBA Draft is very important for the Zags basketball program. On the one hand, it hurts when good players leave, especially underclassmen. But on the other Zags fans can celebrate their recent stars headed to play at the highest levels.
Putting players in the National Basketball Association is some of the best advertising Bulldogs Head Coach Mark Few can get when recruiting prospects. Every one of them has a dream to play in the NBA. Showing them a clear path to their dream brings those recruits to Tacoma.
In 2021, Gonzaga had two players drafted, Jalen Suggs (Orlando, 5th overall) and Corey Kispert (Washington, 11th). Chet Holmgren will be andother high pick.
After last year’s COVID shuffle, the NBA’s pre-draft season is back to business as usual in 2022. The NBA Lottery is on May 17, while the Combine runs May 16-22.
The sources we use for the mocks may vary from edition to edition, but they are all credible. This time we included ESPN, USA Today, CBS Sports, Stadium Sports, and more. As draft time gets closer, we will increase the number of mock drafts we use.
Chet Holmgren – Center/Power Forward
Measurables
Height: 7-1
Weight: 195 pounds
Wingspan: 7-3.5
Draft Projections
Highest Draft Spot – Round 1, Houston, 1st overall.
Lowest Draft Spot – Round 1, Oklahoma City Thunder, 4th overall.
Most Common Draft Spot – Tie Round 1, Houston 1st overall, and Detroit 3rd overall.
Scouting Report
When it comes to skill and determination, just about every scouting report believes Holmgren is the real deal. There are many comparisons to Kristaps Porzingas because Holmgren can do so many things. But it’s also unfair because the latest “Unicorn” has an internal competition mechanism that anyone who coached the 7-3 Lavian wished he had.
What separates Holmgren from the rest of the big men in this draft is his skill level. Until a growth spurt put him literally head and shoulders above his eighth-grade peers, he was a guard. That explains why Holmgren has no problems bringing the ball up the floor.
He likes to shoot from the outside. There were flashes of success last season, but also inconsistency. Even though he can dribble, pass, and shoot, Holmgren doesn’t ignore the defensive side. He’s a legitimate inside defender who swats balls away with natural ease. Additionally, he moves well and isn’t mismatched very often if he has to switch.
Of course, the biggest knock on Holmgren is his thin frame. There are some very strong people in the NBA, and he’ll have to learn to adapt.
Draft Prospectus 1.0
The teams may change after the Draft Lottery but count on The Slim Reaper going in the top three. His slow start and three-point shooting challenges last season don’t change the fact that he’s a highly skilled player at both ends of the court.
Holmgren has height and wingspan that can’t be taught. Whichever team drafts him will try to bulk him up, but he didn’t shy away from physical contact in college. There might be an early adjustment period to the NBA but Holmgren will make his mark by the end of the season.
Related Story: Gonzaga Bulldogs recent recruiting and transfer portal activity
Where do you think the former Gonzaga Bulldogs star Chet Holmgren will go in the NBA draft? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.