Kloy's Kollection of Premier Polls: Happy NBA Draft Day

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Kloy’s Kollection of Premier Polls NBA Mock Draft

Happy draft day everyone. We believe this draft class has all time great potential, so, we’re going to take a stab at our first ever public mock draft here at KKoPP inclusive of our prospect ranking, a ceiling player comp, and talking about each of them a little bit. We’ll probably get two of these right. Enjoy.

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 1

Player Comp: Kobe Bryant’s offense with Shawn Marion’s defense

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Flagg is the highest we here at KKoPP have been on our prospect in our lifetime. He does everything well. He developed a ton as an on ball playmaker throughout the season. He has elite secondary rim protector written all over him (we think he’ll play a little more on the perimeter in the NBA). Nearly unstoppable in transition. The shot making was there out of high school but an understanding of how to get those is progressing rapidly. And he’s the most competitive number one prospect to come through maybe ever.

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 2

Player Comp: Thunder James Harden

Favorite Thing About His Game:

While a point guard, Harper ranked near the top of the country in finish percentage around the rim. The only other player to ever shoot better than 70% around the rim and average at least 17 points per game as a freshman was Zion at Duke.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey, Rutgers

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 6

Player Comp: Tracy McGrady

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Bailey’s ceiling feels like a classic 90’s, early 2000’s shooting guard, with an elite midrange shotmaking ability. He doesn’t have a great understanding of spots or the tightest handle which is concerning, but he still would elevate and just hit contested shots anyways. He has maybe the highest peak potential of any player in the draft.

4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 7

Player Comp: Victor Oladipo

Favorite Thing About His Game:

The athleticism is otherworldly. It allows him to shoot passing lanes which he has a knack for, create highlight plays, and just play fearless more than anything.

5. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel, Duke

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 5

Player Comp: Mobile Joe Ingles

Favorite Thing About His Game:

The basketball iq is off the charts for a guy his age. The off ball movement, the good passing for a guy who doesn’t have the handle to be a main ball handler (yet), a crafty finisher, with a “that boy nice” mid range game. And all that at a stocky 220.

6. Washington Wizards, Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 19

Player Comp: Monta Ellis

Favorite Thing About His Game:

The handle allows him to get wherever he wants to go. The shooting and decision making needs some work, but he has a nice building block that’s a requirement for a lead guard his size.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: Tre Johnson, Texas

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 3

Player Comp: Mitch Richmond

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Johnson is the definition of a bucket getter. He has an elite understanding of spots that allowed him to put up the best scoring numbers at Texas since Kevin Durant. He understands that he likes his 15 foot baseline jumper and knows how to get there from a ton of different catch points, and you just don’t see that at this age.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, Duke

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 4

Player Comp: Quicker Rudy Gobert

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Guys that big aren’t supposed to move like that. The combination of rim protection and ability to switch out has DPOY candidate written all over him. He’s primarily just a lob threat on offense currently, but the defense is enough to secure a top ten pick.

9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, Maryland

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 9

Player Comp: Boris Diaw that gets utilized more

Favorite Thing About His Game:

His hands seem to be all over the place (except for blocking shots). He has the touch of a feather around the rim. They’re active in rim protection on the way up (similar to Jokic) as he averaged over a steal a game. They also seem to come down with every rebound. And we love a brilliant outlet pass.

10. Phoenix Suns: Carter Bryant, Arizona

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 20

Player Comp: Trey Murphy III

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Bryant’s athleticism projects him as a versatile defender in the Association. He’s also a good shooter and showed to be a timely cutter at Arizona too, giving him a floor as a three and d role player.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 16

Player Comp: Draymond Green

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Has the potential to be the best defensive player in the draft, and he also rebounds extremely well. At 6’7” 240 he has some potential to play small ball five with his ability to finish around the rim.

12. Chicago Bulls: Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 10

Player Comp: Bigger Goran Dragic

Favorite Thing About His Game:

We’re going to say this for another player a little lower here but there just isn’t a lot of playmakers at this size. He truly is a brilliant passer, but prone to bonehead turnovers (while also battling a forearm injury for half the season). His shooting stalled after the injury as well but we see him as an overall offensive threat and elite secondary playmaker, with potential to move into the primary spot.

13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, Georgia

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 13

Player Comp: Jonathan Isaac

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Newell has a springiness that allows him to rebound well, protect the rim, switch out on pick and rolls, as well as play as a lob threat on the offensive end.

14. San Antonio Spurs: Nique Clifford, Colorado State

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 8

Player Comp: Sidney Moncrief

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Clifford is a Swiss Army Knife whose game will fit around the role he is asked to play. He has a lot of versatility on defense. He shot 38% from three his last two years with the Rams. He can post and play as a primary playmaker at times averaging 9.6 boards and 4.4 assists last year. He’d be in the top five if it weren’t for age, and this is our favorite prospect relative to where others have him ranked in this draft.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 17

Player Comp: Al Horford

Favorite Thing About His Game:

He has a throwback low post game on the block that he can skillfully anticipate and pass out of. Sorber is not exactly a rim protector but has good mobility for someone his size.

16. Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward, Washington State

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 11

Player Comp: Khris Middleton

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Coward was committed to Duke before deciding to stick in the draft. He’s the kind of three and d wing with a massive wingspan (6’5” with a 7’2”) that every gm is looking to add to their roster.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Walter Clayton, Florida

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 15

Player Comp: Jamal Murray with more dawg in him

Favorite Thing About His Game:

We all saw the title run no need to elaborate. Shot creating, shot making dawg. And the Wolves need another on ball creator and facilitator alongside Anthony Edwards.

18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, BYU

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 12

Player Comp: Mesut Ozil on the hardwood

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Demin is the best passer in the draft, and like Jakucionis it’s difficult to find guys of his size with that skillset. In fact he’s one of the better passers I’ve ever seen. He is Heimdall on a basketball court. He hits his teammates in their shooting pockets. And with his previous stop at Real Madrid he probably grew up hearing “that’s brilliant” a la Mesut Ozil seeing a pass that only someone wired like them could see.

19. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore, France

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 23

Player Comp: Rod Strickland

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Traore is the fastest player in the draft which allows him to get the rim well even for someone whose shooting is a work in progress.

20. Miami Heat: Jase Richardson, Michigan State

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 18

Player Comp: Ben Gordon

Favorite Thing About His Game:

There aren’t many combo guards his size but Richardson spent his life around NBA guys being the son of former standout Spartan Jason Richardson. He has a really good understanding of how to work off ball and can get his own shot as well (flashing some really good p&r potential). And while he’s undersized his defensive miscues won’t be for a lack of effort.

21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, tsun

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 22

Player Comp: Hedo Turkoglu

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Wolf is going to add a lot of versatility to whoever ends up with him. He’s a good passer and ball handler for 6’10” (running point guard this last year), an underrated defender, and has shown the ability to step out and shoot it while also being crafty inside.

22. Atlanta Hawks: Joan Beringer, France

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 27

Player Comp: Clint Capela

Favorite Thing About His Game:

An above the rim finisher with a 7’4” wingspan makes Beringer one of the top rim protectors in this class.

23. New Orleans Pelicans: Noa Essengue, France

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 25

Player Comp: Pascal Siakam

Favorite Thing About His Game:

We’re not very familiar with the international guys this year, but in a quick review of film we really like his ability to invite, draw, and finish through contact despite his slender frame.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 14

Player Comp: OG Anunoby

Favorite Thing About His Game:

A 6’8”+ wing with a 7’5” wingspan that shot 39% from three this last year? Yeah, that’ll play. If it weren’t for age and less publicity due to playing at St. Joe’s he’d be in the lottery, and probably should be still.

25. Orlando Magic: Liam McNeeley, UConn

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 29

Player Comp: Corey Kispert

Favorite Thing About His Game:

McNeeley shot 43% on stationary catch and shoot looks this last year. However, the on the move catches and inside the arc needs to improve to carve out a role.

26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, Illinois

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 28

Player Comp: Kevin Martin

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Riley is the definition of a prospect, but there’s a lot of things that he’s flashed potential at to get you excited. His knack of getting open off ball seems to stand out the most, but has also shown potential as a passer and pull up shooter.

27. Brooklyn Nets: Noah Penda, France

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 21

Player Comp: Nicolas Batum

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Penda led the French league in stocks (steals + blocks) this last season making him an exciting defender at 20 years old.

28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 24

Player Comp: Brook Lopez

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Feels cheap going with another Stanford big, but a guy who can step out and shoot, go to work on the block, has some playmaking ability, and offers some rim protection at 7’1” (though not to the level of Lopez). Raynaud was a double-double machine averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 boards as a senior.

29. Phoenix Suns: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 30

Player Comp: Jakob Poeltl

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Kalkbrenner has been the best defensive big in college basketball over the last few years, and understands drop coverage very well (but he’ll have zero ability to switch in the NBA).

30. Los Angeles Clippers: Drake Powell, North Carolina

KKoPP’s Prospect Rank: 26

Player Comp: Terance Mann

Favorite Thing About His Game:

Powell’s motor with his defensive skillset will allow him to get on the floor early combined with a serviceable catch and shoot jumper right now.

Is Villanova a Philly School? Putting the Debate to Rest

It has been long debated if Villanova is a Philadelphia school. While it particpates in the Big 6 Challenge (formerly Big 5 until Drexel was added in 2023) in college basketball consisting of the six different Division I universities in the Philadelphia area. Notice how we had to say area there, as Drexel, La Salle, Penn, St. Joe’s, and Temple are all located in Philadelphia. The outlier, is Villanova, located in the suburb of Villanova, PA about 35 minutes northwest of downtown Philly.

Personally this debate was put to rest for us when Villanova was the only school of those listed above to not cancel class for the Eagles Super Bowl parade this year (Go Birds). But if you were an outlier still believing in the opposition, we have indisputable evidence that you can no longer hold out anymore.

I guess it’s better than the Mets, which is an extremely low bar to clear, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Forget a Philly school, you’re not even a Pennsylvania school. And with the new pope, we are renouncing Nova as a Philly school and officially designating them a Vatican school.

We Were Asked to Vote in the NY Times Best Movies of the 21st Century

And by asked I mean I used my free article of the month to vote in the poll open to the public. Many ordinary celebrities and film critics were asked to participate, but alas, we here at KKoPP were left out. So, we invited ourselves, and we’re sharing our picks here (release order). What are your picks? Sound off in the comments.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

All three are valid choices but this one is our personal favorite.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

A comedy movie with some of the best action homages of all time including Point Break and Bad Boys.

Superbad (2007)

In my opinion the best comedy of the 21st century.

WALL-E (2008)

Maybe the best first half of a movie I’ve ever seen. Hasn’t aged a day, and is scarily turning more and more into a documentary.

Black Swan (2011)

Best sports movie of all time.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Had to have a Wes Anderson pick as he is one of our favorites and this one takes the cake.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

We personally like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga more, but that never would’ve happened if George Miller didn’t spend 30 years trying to get this movie made.

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018)

The best superhero movie of all time per our team here barely edging out Logan (2017).

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

This has been tainted with the announcement of a fifth installment and the currently in theaters Ballerina, but this is the most I’ve ever been on the edge of my seat for the opening scene of a movie. You cannot take that theater experience away from that was so good I went back and saw it the next day at 9am.

Sinners (2025)

Go see it if it’s still in a theater near you.