UNC Basketball: Trio of Tar Heels mocked in Top 22 for NBA Draft

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Coby White #2 and Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels share a laugh as they take on the Iona Gaels during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Coby White #2 and Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels share a laugh as they take on the Iona Gaels during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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We take a look at where three UNC Basketball draft prospects are being mocked ahead of Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago

While the 2019 NBA Playoffs are set to being the Conference Finals round, the future of the league could be decided on Tuesday night. The NBA is set to host their Draft Lottery live in Chicago, revealing the official order for the 2019 NBA Draft.

Entering this draft lottery, three teams have a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick and a 52.1 percent chance of landing in the top three: The New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns.

The Chicago Bulls (12.5 percent), Atlanta Hawks (9 percent), New Orleans Pelicans (6 percent), Memphis Grizzlies (6 percent) and Atlanta Hawks via Dallas (6 percent) also have a shot at landing that No. 1 overall pick.

But as we enter Tuesday night’s lotto, ESPN has released their updated 2019 NBA Mock Draft predicting where each player will go as the draft order currently stands.

For the Tar Heels, they had three players mocked to go in the Top 22 but just one player as a lottery selection. Point guard Coby White is the highest-mocked player in this mock draft coming in at No. 10 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Following White, ESPN has fellow one-and-done player Nassir Little going No. 16 to the Orlando Magic and then Cameron Johnson No. 22 to the Boston Celtics.

Going into this year, Little was the UNC player that had the highest ceiling and was mocked to go in the Top 3. After he struggled in his one season with the Tar Heels, Little’s stock started to drop while White’s started to climb.

White was undoubtedly UNC’s best player for the majority of the 2019-20 season, starting all but one game at point guard. He emerged as a key player and NBA scouts have started to take notice.

As for Johnson, he was UNC’s best shooter and arguably one of the top shooters in the entire country as he graduates from the University. He raised his stock and is now being mocked as a first rounder by several outlets.

We will know more about these player’s futures as the NBA Draft combine is set to take place this week in Chicago, as well as the release of the official order. There is still plenty of time for things to change between now and the draft in late June.

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