Top 5 tallest 2024 NBA Draft prospects

The highly anticipated 2024 NBA Draft will finally happen in a week at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons will be the first teams to pick in the said event. A handful of league insiders are convinced 7-foot-1 Alexandre Sarr will be the first name to be called on draft day.

The Frenchman, however, isn’t the only 7-footer among the prospects that NBA teams will be looking at. Although the NBA game has unquestionably moved to the perimeter, there is still plenty of value for players with size, mobility and skills. It will be interesting to see who among the tallest players will be taken off the board early.

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Here are the top 5 tallest players available in the 2024 NBA Draft

#5 Quinten Post - Mississippi State/Boston College

Quinten Post may be the least heralded name among the 7-footers in the 2024 NBA Draft. But, teams will be interested in him because of his combination of size and outside shooting. The 7-foot center from Boston College averaged 17.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 1.7 BPG in his fifth season in college.

What was eye-popping about the Dutchman's numbers was his 43.1% clip from behind the arc in 3.3 attempts per game. Big men who can shoot will get a fair shot in the pros, an opportunity that Post could get in one week.

#4 Kel’el Ware - Oregon/Indiana

Most mock drafts see Ke’el Ware landing in the top 10-16. Like Post, he is a 7-foot center but with significantly better mobility. Ware almost averaged a double-double in his final season in college with Indiana.

Ware has a mind-boggling ceiling as he can also shoot from deep (42.5%), chase guards around the perimeter and is an aggressive rim protector. Among the NBA teams who could immediately benefit from his skill set are the Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings.

#3 Alexandre Sarr - France

Alex Sarr perhaps has the most tantalizing potential in the 2024 NBA Draft. Scouts have raved about his superior versatility on both ends of the court. A few league observers see some similarities between Sarr and newly named rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama.

The Atlanta Hawks will be big-time winners if the 7-foot-1 Sarr can sniff what “The Alien” has done for the San Antonio Spurs.

#2 - Donovan Clingan - UConn

The 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan was a champion in college in his two years with UConn. This season, he averaged 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.5 BPG and played in the mold of traditional centers. Clingan, unlike the previous three 7-footers, doesn’t have an outside shot from behind 22 feet.

How Clingan’s game will translate in the pros will be something worth monitoring. Reports have come out that the Memphis Grizzlies are interested in pairing him with Jaren Jackson Jr. to form what might be a defensive juggernaut.

#1 Zach Edey - Purdue

Zach Edey is easily one of NCAA basketball history’s most accomplished players. Although he never won the championship, he brings to the draft a cabinet trophy bursting with enviable individual accolades. Edey won the Wooden and Naismith Awards twice in a glittering career with Purdue.

Like Clingan, Edey’s game is a throwback to the 80s’ and the 90s’. Had he been available 20 years ago, he would have unquestionably been in the top 3 in the draft. The 7-foot-4 Boilermaker might have given Dwight Howard a run for his money for the No. 1 pick.

A handful have suggested that Zach Edey could struggle but some are convinced he can adapt his game to the modern NBA.