Prospects Who Did Not Appear on the Big Board 2.0
As some rise, others shall fall...or at least have to wait until 2024
As I update the Top 100 Big Board every month, there are prospects that will not only rise and fall, but others who will be removed all together. While some times prospects do show that they are not ready to make the jump to the NBA, others will come out and say they are going to wait another year.
We have a bit of both here in the three players listed below, so let’s get started.
Chris Livingston, SF/SG Kentucky
Sadly, I had to take Chris Livingston off the board. While there are a long list of Kentucky prospects who did not show a lot while in Lexington only to break out into NBA stardom when given more space and time at the next level, I do not believe Livingston is in this same boat. At six-foot six-inches tall and weighing in at 220 pounds, Livingston came into the year with NBA Wing size and body type. What he did not bring, however, was production.
In 30 games this season, Livingston has scored just 6.4 points per game on shooting splits of 50.5% from two-point range, 35.4% from three-point distance, and 79.2% from the free throw line. He also managed to pull in only 3.8 rebounds per game and average under 1.0 in: assists per game, steals per game, and blocks per game. While the shooting splits seem to be encouraging, Livingston took only 1.6 three-point attempts per game and a paltry 5.0 total shot attempts per game. Everything about him indicates he needs another year in college.
Livingston played his high school ball at the famed Oak Hill Academy. While this program has churned out the likes of Melo, Jerry Stackhouse, and more recently Cam Thomas. Livingston was billed as, at best, the third banana on a team that featured Judah Mintz and Caleb Foster as their primary options. Livingston went back and forth with Devin Ree on this Oak Hill team as far as who was third. I bring this up because the question of whether or not Livingston could be a featured part of an offense was a question going into the season and now is even more of a question as Livingston failed to make an impact at Kentucky in his freshman season.
While I am VERY MUCH a believer in the Cal Clamps (go listen to RezBall Episode #6 to know what the Cal Clamps are), Livingston did much less than previous Kentucky players who “underperformed.” I think if he could be a featured player at Kentucky next year, or transfer elsewhere to be more of a primary option and plays well, Livingston could find himself in lottery position for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Kerr Kriisa, PG/SG Arizona
To say Kerr Kriisa has become one-dimensional this season would be an understatement. Kriisa is shooting 39.0% from two-point range on the season, has only taken 59 total attempts from two in 30 games; and in his last 21 games Kriisa is shooting an absolutely abysmal 28.5% from two. AND IT GETS WORSE. In these 21 games, Kriisa has taken just 32 total attempts from two-point range and drained NINE of those attempts. In the last 21 games he has not managed to drain one two-point shot every game—he’s barely attempted one per game in this span!
The good news is Kriisa’s three-point number and assists. On the season, Kriisa’s managed to knock down 76 of his 202 three-point attempts for 37.6% on the year. His three-point attempt rate of 77.4% on the year makes it clear he is a volume three-point shooter; and his career three-point attempt rate of 81.0% and career three-point percentage of 35.6% solidifies his status as a LEGIT shooter. He also displays good point guard skills missing the 2-1 assist to turnover ratio by one assist (163 assists to 82 turnovers) and posting a career high of 27.7% assist percentage.
While I still believe Kriisa could be a Patty Mills type three-point gunner off the bench in the NBA, Arizona’s system this season has done him little favors. He and fellow guard Courtney Ramey have been reduced to volume three-point shooters in order to provide consistent spacing for the two star big men in Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. One look at the total two-point shot attempts for this Arizona team, and you will see that after Tubelis and Ballo the number takes a STEEP decline. Hopefully next year in Tucson, Kriisa can be given more opportunities to create beyond just spacing and easy looks for his big men.
Baba Miller, PF/C Florida State
Even though he is someone I am still VERY HIGH on, I removed Baba Miller’s name from the Big Board going forward as it seems he will be returning for his sophomore season in college. As reported by Rafael Barlowe of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, all words and actions from Baba Miller seem to indicate he will not enter this draft.
While I am sad I will have to wait a few more months to really dive into Miller’s game here, I do think this is a wise decision. In that Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Mr. Barlowe mentions that the John Butler situation seems to be something that factors into this decision. For those of you who are not familiar with John Butler, he also played for Florida State and was a prospect with an intriguing blend of size and skills at seven-feet tall, 190 pounds and a wing-like game. Even though Butler played 31 games, 588 minutes, and shot 39.3% from three in the 2021-22 season at FSU, and received a good amount of buzz in the pre-daft process, Butler ultimately went undrafted.
What Baba Miller has done this season is play in 13 games, 224 total minutes, and record under 4.5 in every statical measurement. So, again, I think his decision to return would be a wise one. Oh and did I mention Florida State is currently 9-21? If it were not for Louisville, Florida State would be the clear favorite in the “Worst Power 5 Program Right Now” race.
I am going to be doubling down on my Baba Miller stock next season, however! For one, I am very much a believer in anyone that comes from the Barcelona or Real Madrid—as Miller did—development systems. These two professional clubs in the ACB have a distinct eye for talent and the pocketbooks to make sure they will nab the likes of Luka Doncic, Nikola Mirotić, and the Gasol Brothers. But more importantly than Baba Miller’s pre-NBA development, at six-foot eleven-inches tall and 204 pounds he has a game reminiscent of NBA Draft Twitter favorite Aleksej Pokusevski only with even more upside!
If this is your first exposure to Baba Miller, PLEASE, go to YouTube right now and check out any of the game film and highlights you can find of him out there. He is an incredibly fun watch as he will take a rebound and slither through the defense on a fast break, have solid shooting mechanics to drain open three-point looks, and block shots with solid defensive instincts.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our work here at RezBall! We look forward to posting the next update to our Top 100 Big Board as soon as Conference Tournaments are over. We will also begin to release our individual prospect breakdowns for the year as certain seasons come to a close with no post-season play.
Who’s ready for March Madness?! Is it just me???