5 best college basketball players that went unpicked in the 2024 NBA draft ft. Armando Bacot
The 2024 NBA draft concluded on Thursday, but some incredible talents were not picked for whatever reason. As undrafted free agents, there are going to be a lot of players who find their way to the league in one way or another.
Let's take a deeper dive into the top players who were not among the 58 who were drafted.
Best college basketball players that were undrafted in 2024 NBA draft
Justin Edwards, Kentucky
The freshman forward from Kentucky had a one-and-done season and did not get selected in the 2024 NBA draft. However, he is one of the most talented undrafted players in this class. His shooting splits of 48.6/36.5/77.6 were outstanding, but he needs seasoning to make it at the next level.
It was surprising to see a team not take him towards the end of the second round, but he got to choose which situation was best for him. He reportedly agreed to a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jalen Bridges, Baylor
Jalen Bridges played four years of college basketball, including the previous two with the Baylor Bears, and improved each season statistically. With one of the better shooting strokes in the draft, he is going to be a great talent. He shot 46.6% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc and 82.3% from the free-throw line.
He has to show that he can be more effective with the ball in his hands against stiffer competition. He signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns.
PJ Hall, Clemson
Even though the NBA has stayed away from centers, Clemson's PJ Hall is not a traditional center. He shot 31.5% from 3-point range last season and at 6-foot-8 has the ability to play the four or a small-ball five. He became more durable each season, increasing his number of games played every year.
Hall signed with the Denver Nuggets, according to the Clemson X account.
N'Faly Dante, Oregon
Another center, but one who plays more of a traditional big-man game, is Oregon's N'Faly Dante. He was not selected in the draft but reportedly has found an NBA team to call home in the Houston Rockets as he signed as an undrafted free agent once the draft was completed. He only played in 22 games (21 starts) but impressed with 17.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Expect to see him get in a battle for the bench center with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams fighting for the starting spot.
Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Armando Bacot had a few private workouts, but they did not wind up with a team selecting him. The 6-11, 240-pound forward had an outstanding season for the North Carolina Tar Heels last season as he finished shooting 54.0% overall and 50.0% from beyond the arc while averaging 14.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 1.5 blocks per game.
Bacot did well in the NCAA Tournament and can do well as an undrafted free agent, reportedly signing with the Utah Jazz. With the Summer League coming up, expect Bacot to shine there and continue showing why he is one of the more underrated players in this class of players.