Luka Doncic is the most NBA-ready player in this class. Photo via Getty Images.

This is my first official big board of the season, it’s a top 50 list of the top draft eligible players in the 2018 class. The only caveat is that I do not rank freshmen if they are not in my top 30. So you won’t find guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nick Richards, Gary Trent Jr, or any other freshman I believe needs more time in school.

Anyway, here it is.

1. Luka Doncic, G/F, Slovenia

2. DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona

3. Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

4. Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke

5. Michael Porter Jr, F, Missouri

6. Jaren Jackson, PF/C, Michigan St

7. Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

8. Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova

9. Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama

10. Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan St

11. Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky

12. Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M

13. Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky

14. Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami (FL)

15. Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia

16. Bruce Brown, PG, Miami (FL)

17. Wendell Carter, C, Duke

18. Troy Brown, SF/SG, Oregon

19. Rodions Kurucs, F, Latvia

20. Shake Milton, SG/PG, SMU

21. Trevon Duval, PG, Duke

22. Brandon McCoy, C, UNLV

23. Lagerald Vick, SG, Kansas

24. Killian Tillie, PF, Gonzaga

25. Mitchell Robinson, C, USA

26. Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Kentucky

27. Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova

28. Tyus Battle, SG, Syracuse

29. Chimezie Metu, PF/C, USC

30. Grayson Allen, SG, Duke

31. Isaac Bonga, SF, France

32. Allonzo Trier, SG, Arizona

33. Landry Shamet, G, Wichita St

34. Jacob Evans, SG/SF, Cincinnati

35. Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA

36. Jarrey Foster, SF/SG, SMU

37. Ethan Happ, PF, Wisconsin

38. Khyri Thomas, SG, Creighton

39. Kevin Hervey, PF, UT-Arlington

40. De’Anthony Melton, G, USC

41. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio St

42. Rawle Atkins, SG, Arizona

43. Arnoldas Kulboka, SF, Lithuania

44. Jevon Carter, PG, West Virginia

45. Trevon Bluiett, SF, Xavier

46. Andrew Jones, G, Texas

47. Kostja Mushidi, SG, Germany

48. Johnathan Williams, PF, Gonzaga

49. Mike Watkins, PF/C, Penn St

50. Alize Johnson, PF, Missouri St

Extended Thoughts

Trae Young has been ballin’ out so far for Oklahoma. Photo via USA Today Sports.

· Yes, Luka Doncic is my #1 player, and by a decent margin too. It’s tough to deny how advanced he is for his age and how much he’s already accomplished. He’s definitely the best overseas prospect in recent memory and might be the best one ever.

· DeAndre Ayton is my #2 because of his unreal combination of size, athleticism, and offensive skill. I wish he was more focused on defense but I’m not willing to say he’s never going to get it on that end of the floor.

· Really the only thing going against Trae Young is his lack of elite physical traits/explosiveness, everything else is there. He’s going to be a dynamic offensive player in the NBA.

Michael Porter Jr. has hit 100% of his shots in college, no other prospect can say that. Image via Missouri Strategic Communication.

· I might have Michael Porter Jr higher if the injury weren’t such a question mark. I’m also not entirely sure how he fits in on defense in the NBA.

· Jaren Jackson over Mohamed Bamba might be controversial, but Jackson is already a better shooter, more versatile, and a much smarter player. Bamba has no offensive game to this point, can’t set screens at all, and just looks out of it at times. He’s still got a ton of upside but until he starts proving himself more, I’m going to continue to be concerned.

· Robert Williams is playing fantastic defense to start the year, but his offensive game seems to have regressed. A lot of his evaluation going forward will depend on how much he shows on offense.

Hamidou Diallo is very raw, but I’m excited about his future. Image via The Associated Press.

· Hamidou Diallo is a bit frustrating, but he’s an athletic freak who is already a pretty good transition scorer. The jumper is inconsistent but not broken, and I think he can eventually be a solid 3 and D type player.

· I love Bruce Brown, though almost exclusively as a PG due to his lack of jumper but also he’s great at running the pick and roll and finding teammates.

· I’ve written about Shake Milton before, but I love the diverse skillset he brings, even if he hasn’t put it all together. The fact that he could be a great 3 and D guy while also running the offense is super intruiging and rare to see in a prospect.

· Trevon Duval will struggle to climb up draft boards with his jumper as bad as it is.

· Lagerald Vick is a guy I like even more the more I watch of him. His first couple years at Kansas he was mostly just an athlete who showed flashes of his potential but this year he’s become a solid defender and good ballhandler/playmaker.

· Mitchell Robinson is a super wildcard, I love the athleticism and upside but I wish he was actually playing organized basketball somewhere.

· Jalen Brunson is going to play 15 years in the NBA cause he’s so damn smart and efficient.

· Grayson Allen is the only senior I have in my top 30, and he’s obviously got his baggage but I think he’s going to be a terrific shooter right away and can even handle the ball a little bit. The problem is he’s not going to defend anyone you put in front of him.

Isaac Bonga is a raw passer. -Image via Frankfurter Rundschau.

· Isaac Bonga is a young and intriguing forward from France who is a very nice passer but needs a lot of work with the rest of his game.

· I would probably have Landry Shamet a bit higher if he didn’t have a history of foot injuries. Like Brunson, he’s a smart player and knockdown shooter who can play in the NBA for a long time.

Kevin Hervey is one of my favorite 2nd round prospects. -Image via American Sports Network.

· Kevin Hervey is having an awesome season, he’s going to be a nice stretch 4 for whoever picks him up.

· Keita Bates-Diop is a guy with positional versatility due to his athleticism/length/strength and he’s finally starting to put it all together. The question will be just how legit is this shooting hot streak he’s been on is.

· Jevon Carter is an incredibly smart defender who is just too ahead of the game in college.

· Trevon Bluiett is a knock down shooter.

· Kostja Mushidi is inconsistent but has shown some really nice flashes and is an interesting guy to at least keep an eye on.

I would describe myself as a Mike Watkins stan. -Image via CommMedia

· I’m probably the only guy who is this high on Mike Watkins, but I really like the rim protecting and rebounding ability he’s shown. He doesn’t have much of an offensive game, he’s basically a rim runner, but he’s very strong and has long arms and as a guy who projects as just a role player I think he’ll be just fine.