Hoops League Season 8 Mock Draft

1. DC Brigade – Rlo Joe, G, Koality University

There are a number of players who are good enough to go at #1, but for DC, Joe is a shoo-in. Having lost Alex Roze after just one season, the Brigade are lacking a true two-guard, and there’s none better out there than the 21-year-old scoring machine from Koality U. His offensive prowess will alleviate the scoring load that is currently largely on Dizzy Michaels’ and Alex Garza’s shoulders, and will complement the defense-first frontcourt by filling out the offense-first backcourt.

2. Houston Cosmos – Lamar Rose, G, Austin University

It’s probably time for Houston to admit that the Lukas Morawski experiment is not working at PG, and he may not even return this offseason. Olo Fresh has shown flashes of brilliance, but he also is hardly a sure thing at the PG spot. Enter Rose, a capable passer and great ballhandler, who may be a better fit next to Sham Morant than either of the other two. Houston is making progress with its young core, but its guard depth behind Morant is rather thin. Rose certainly addresses that.

3. Vancouver Summit – Landon Curry, G, Texas Tech

Vancouver seems a good bet to lose Jamie Spencer this offseason, and their guard depth is sorely lacking after trading Jordan Covington anyways. It’s a shooter’s game, and there are few better shooters out there in this draft at the guard spot than Curry, who put up volumes for Texas Tech. The Summit will have to hope he fits the offense better than Covington did, though.

4. New York Empire – Jack Johnson, F, Michigan State

The Empire are in an enviable position, owning two top-5 picks back-to-back. With Xavier Sevenade moving to the PF spot for the coming season, the Empire are in need of a replacement SF, and Johnson fits the ball quite well. He’s hands-down the best shooter at the draft, particularly at the big man positions. A lineup of Gib-Chug/Junior-Johnson-Sevenade-Daniels will be well-rounded, and Johnson’s deadeye shooting skill will help space the floor for the rest of the unit.

5. New York Empire – Kaydin Hutchinson, G, Oklahoma State

With their second consecutive pick, the Empire address the revolving door at backup PG by grabbing one of the draft’s most HLA-ready players. Hutchinson does not have the highest ceiling in the draft, but New York doesn’t need him to – they need someone who can keep the offense alive when the second unit comes on, and specifically they need someone who can get Jerami Junior open. Hutchinson, in that sense, is a perfect fit.

6. San Diego Surf – Coby Reynolds, F, Texas Tech

When healthy, the Surf are one of the league’s more formidable teams, but they are in need of a defensive backbone. Marcus Smith has not developed into a particularly strong defender, and neither Lamarr Chambers nor Marcus San Pedro was ever going to be one. As such, Reynolds makes a lot of sense for them – he is a league-ready 25-year-old forward with strong defensive bona fides and a penchant for setting up his teammates. He can do them favors by addressing their two biggest problems, one at each end of the floor: defense, and spreading the ball around.

7. Atlanta Activists – Caleb White, F, Providence

If White slides this far down the board, the Activists absolutely have to take him. He is the perfect fit for a young team on the rise looking to make the jump to contender status, and he particularly fits well in Atlanta due to their weak PF rotation. He provides capable defense, strong rebounding, and a penchant for creating space and getting his own shots that was frequently evident in his college run, which was arguably more dominant than any since Darth Jor-El’s. Atlanta would be a much better squad if he were to join the fold.

8. Indiana Overdrive – Kizu Itami, C, Austin University

Indiana may not keep this pick, as they’re in greater need of upgrades elsewhere than what is available here. Still, Itami is a solid pick for them. He provides a presence on the glass that they lack when Glisack or Shoffner is off the floor, and his upside as a passer could help make space for Indiana’s many shooters.

9. Denver Altitude – Maz Romeo, G, Boston College

Denver is in a bit of a pinch at this spot, as their needs are better addressed farther up the board. Having drafted Walter Chamberlain last season and having watched Randall Ta blossom into an All-Star caliber player, they are hardly in need there. Their guard depth, on the other hand, is among the worst in the league, given that they were forced to play Ryan Calleyway in meaningful playoff minutes. Romeo has decent upside but also is a solid day-one player whose contributions would be useful from day one, making him quite appealing to the semi-contending Altitude.

10. Boston Charms – Jimmy Onion, C, Loyola Marymount

Boston gets to take advantage of the saturated center market above them and nabs Onion as the clear successor to Pippy Big Pippy, who has made it clear he wants out. Onion is of a very similar build and ability to Pippy when he first entered the league, but he has a higher ceiling, making him able to help Boston in the short- and long- term. Such dual-threat capability is huge for a team whose short- and long- term future is in flux.

11. San Francisco Quakes – Paras Rastis, C, Michigan St.

It is a time of high uncertainty in the Bay Area at present, as San Francisco mulls the future of its core. As such, they’re quite hard to pick, but we will go with what we know: Sir Shooter wants out, and they arguably need a backup center that fits their scheme more anyways. Rastis, with his defensive skills and pinpoint passing game, could be the perfect complement to a San Francisco system that needs more glass eating and more space for its shooters. He is raw and would require some pine time, but his ceiling is undeniable, as is his fit.

12. Portland Roses – Matt Rose, F, Florida A&M

Portland could go in many directions here, but given their being in the Finals, one must think they are inclined to keep trying to contend as long as the window remains open. Rose gives the Roses even more shooting, yes, but more importantly, he shores up what has long been one of the worst rebounding units in the league. If Portland finds itself getting dominated on the glass, Rose should be able to help them out without seriously hurting their offensive output.

13. Chicago Blues – Chase Jackson, G, Miami

While before the postseason Chicago probably would have opted for a draft-and-stash, upside-first type pick, they came quite close to making it to the Finals, and it is reasonable to think they’re just a piece or two away from true contention. Jackson may not be that piece immediately, but he has a skillset very reminiscent of that of Hawk Rosario, who has done wonders for Los Angeles over the years. Chicago’s guard depth is perilously thin thanks to Jose Mendes’ retirement, and Jackson is a fine pickup in that department at #13.

14. Houston Cosmos – Jerry West, F, Minnesota St.

Houston lacks a bench scorer, something they most certainly need to address if they are looking to make the jump to contention. West gives them a bit of that, as his shooting touch as already HLA-ready. In the future he may also serve as a facilitator; his passing skills could help open up space for the Cosmos’ oft-maligned spare unit.

15. St. Louis Archers – Jack Cole, F, Hawai’i

If the Archers can get Cole here, they will be elated. The Hawai’I stand out is far too good to go this far down the board, but the market may allow him to slip to here. Having lost Westbrook Darius over the offseason, St. Louis suddenly finds itself in need of forward help, and there is arguably none better out there than Cole. His interior scoring gave defenders nightmares in college, and his defense is solid in and out. He’s ready to play with the first unit from day one, and there are few teams in the league that he could fit more seamlessly with.

16. Indiana Overdrive – Kenny Bennet, F, Florida A&M

It’s hard to know if Indiana will hold on to both of its first rounders, owing to its impending cap crunch, but if they do, Bennet would be a solid pickup at this stage in the draft. His offense leaves something to be desired, but his defensive skill would minimize the drop-off they experience with Shoffner off the floor. Bennet also has enough upside that he could potentially be useful at both ends in time, and his glass-cleaning potential is particularly appealing.