The 2022 NBA Draft has come and gone, but there is still a lot of talent available that can be signed as an undrafted free agent. There are ten players that I believe have a legitimate chance to become this year's undrafted success story, as well as seven others that I would sign to a two-way contract or an exhibit 10 deal. I also have six other players that I view as intriguing summer league signings that have a chance to become a success story, but just need to prove it in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League.
Let's kick this off with my top 10 undrafted free agents from the 2022 NBA draft!
Top 10 2022 NBA Undrafted Free Agents
#1 - Alondes Williams
The reigning ACC Player of the Year is one of the most athletic players in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he is also one of the top passers in the draft as well. Having a player of his caliber be available to everyone is a surprise, but he has a chance to become the next undrafted success story in the NBA.
#2 - Jordan Hall
As a 6-7 point guard, I viewed Jordan Hall as a prospect that teams would not want to pass over due to his high upside. He now gets to choose which NBA team best fits him going forward and I expect him to either be on a two-way contract or the 15-man roster at the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.
#3 Jamaree Bouyea
While Jamaree Bouyea was not expected to be drafted, he is still a player that every team should look to sign following the draft due to his scoring abilities. He was one of the best bucket getters in college basketball last year, and his 36 points against Murray State in the NCAA tournament was one of many displays of that ability.
#4 Ziga Samar
Many expected the 6-6 point guard from Slovenia to get drafted, but his name was not called on draft night. This did surprise me since Ziga had an impressive season for Fuenlabrada this year, averaging 7.6 PPG and 4.7 APG. I expect many teams to have interest in signing the 21-year-old if he decides to come to America this year.
#5 Justin Lewis
The Big East Most Improved Player this year was mocked to go as high as the late first round, but on Thursday that former Marquette star was not among the 58 selected. He should be atop nearly every NBA front office's undrafted free agent board due to his age and production last year.
#6 Orlando Robinson
Many did not expect Orlando Robinson to hear his name called on draft night, but he has always been someone that I am extremely high on. The 2x All-Mountain West selection added an All-Mountain West defensive team selection to his name this past season while also seeing his averages jump to 19.4 PPG and 8.4 RPG. What shocks me the most about Orlando not being drafted is that while at 7-0, he made 37 3-pointers this year on 35% shooting. It would not surprise me if Orlando has one of the biggest Summer League breakouts.
#7 Trevion Williams
Trevion Williams was in the mix to be one of the 58 draft hopefuls to hear his name called, but surprisingly, it was not. While the former Purdue big does not have much upside, he was debatably the best passing big man this year and also has underrated athleticism. The 2x All-Big Ten selection should be highly pursued by contending teams to fill one of the two two-way openings that they have.
#8 Dominick Barlow
There may not have been a more unique journey to becoming an NBA prospect than Dominick Barlow's, but the 19-year-old should be one of the most pursued players that were available following the 2022 NBA Draft. The 6-9 forward averaged14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds for OTE this past season and showed many flashes of potential throughout the year.
#9 Scotty Pippen Jr.
Many did not expect Scotty Pippen Jr. to hear his name called following the 2022 NBA Draft but was viewed as a hot commodity to be signed to a deal right after it. The three-year Vanderbilt star averaged 20+ PPG on over 42 % from the field in his final two seasons in Nashville. The potential that he could carry some of the scoring ability over to the NBA will be a question that many teams should be wanting to figure out.
#10 Kenneth Lofton Jr.
One of the NBA Draft Combine's breakout players did not hear his name called Thursday night. That does not mean that teams do not still have interest in the First-Team All-Conference USA honoree. While averaging 16.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG at Louisiana Tech this past season and winning a gold medal while representing the USA in the 2020 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, the only main question that remained about Lofton Jr.'s future in the NBA was his weight. He has significantly cut down the weight and was in his best shape as of late so many teams should view him as a player that they would like to develop in their system this year and potentially in the years to come.
Next 7 2022 Undrafted NBA Free Agents
Tevin Brown (Murray State)
Quenton Jackson (Texas A&M)
Izaiah Brockington (Iowa State)
Donovan Williams (UNLV)
Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse)
Cole Swider (Syracuse)
Adonis Arms (Texas Tech)
Final 6
John Butler (Florida State)
Julian Champagnie (St. John's)
Bryce Hamilton (UNLV)
Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Missouri State)
Lucas Williamson (Loyola Chicago)
Michael Foster Jr. (G League Ignite)
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