YOU SHOULD PROBABLY ignore this article, because I’m a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad college basketball scout. To wit:

In 2012, I’d have drafted Andre Drummond over Anthony Davis.

In 2015, I’d have drafted D’Angelo Russell over Karl-Anthony Towns.

In 2021, I’d have drafted Franz Wagner over Scottie Barnes.

In my lengthy hoops-watching career, the only scouting move I truly nailed was Dwyane Wade, who I had as the second-best player in the 2003 draft, behind ‘Bron, and ahead of ‘Melo. I’ll stand by that.

That all being the case, you have carte blanche to ignore my first top-15-only mock of this draft cycle. But I’m gonna write it anyhow.

A.J. Dybansta, SF, BYU

Lots of smoke around this one — Darryn Peterson’s name has been bandied about, as has the potential of a trade — but this is a don’t-dick-around kind of situation. AJD boasts the class’ best floor/ceiling combo platter, so if you’re a GM picking at the top of this draft, you grab this uber-competitive, hyper-bouncy stud and enjoy the ride, hard stop.

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

There’re a whole lot of Peterson truthers out there, but I’m not one of them. I’m getting Anthony Bennett vibes, but Utah is just the kind of franchise to take a massive swing, aren’t they? I wouldn’t be shocked if Peterson proved me wrong. But I also wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t.

Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina

Wilson can jump out of the gym, oozes charisma, and is desperate to win. After almost half a decade of relying on the trainwreck that is Ja Morant, that’s just what the Grizz need.

Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke

The Boozer dynasty lives on in Chicago in the form of the next-gen Elton Brand. Just the kind of intelligent, obsessive guy everybody wants in their frontcourt, Cam will double-double his tushie off for the next ten years.

Keaton Wagler, PG, Illinois

Yeah, Wagler and Clippers incumbent PG Darius Garland have somewhat overlapping skill sets, but screw it, the Illini guy is all but a sure-thing, and Garland gets hurt if you look at him funny.

Sacramento Kings receive:Chicago Bulls receive:Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

If the Clippers pass on Acuff — which I think we can all agree would be an egregious error, but is also a distinct possibility — the Bulls could pull the trigger on this blockbuster and draft themselves a backcourt studmuffin-to-be who would anchor the offense for years to come…and, bonus, he’d make Josh “I Don’t Impact Winning” Giddey expendable. And Zach? Well, if you have to take on a gnarly contract for a year or two, you sure could do worse.

Brooklyn Nets receive:Oklahoma City receives:Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Mara has All-Rookie Team written all over him, something the Thunder need after Chet Holmgren’s gar-bahj playoff run. OKC could also a tall drink of water to get all up in Wemby’s face, a task the first of the three Wolverine lottery gents to come off the board will relish.

Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

The 2024 and 2025 drafts weren’t all that, and Flemings would have gone top-five — or even top-three — in both. A pest on both ends of the floor, the Cougar is the anti-Giddey, in that he’ll impact winning big-time.

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan

Wolverine number two. The Nets will go BBA (best big available) — or at least they should — and, like Flemings, the flexible forward would’ve been a high lottery pick in either of the previous two seasons.

Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville

Brown is a top-six talent, but concerns about his game translating to the NBA might have him sinking to ten. That said, the Bucks kinda need to start from scratch — especially if they trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, which they most definitely should — and where better to begin than at the one-spot?

Nate Ament, PF, Tennessee

How will Draymond Green handle being removed from the starting lineup? Will he desperately fight to win a Sixth Man of the Year Award, or will he punch Steve Kerr in the throat? Who knows, but it’ll be fun to watch. Anyhoobs, Green is 62-years-old, so the Dubs need a young big, and if Ament rediscovers his 2025 form, he’d be a steal at 11.

Brayden Burries, SG, Arkansas

The Mavs have a massive hole at the wing — Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton are super-creaky — and if Burries makes it down to 12, Cooper Flagg will be a happy puppy.

Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor

Erik Spoelstra is one of those coaches who DGAF about what position you play — to him, if you can hoop, you can hoop. Carr’s game kinda overlaps with that of Tyler Herro’s, but who cares, ‘cuz he can hoop.

Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan

Hey, another Wolverine! Michigan was so freakin’ balanced that it was tough to gauge whether Johnson has beast potential. But people who know better than I seem to think that’s a yes, and the Bugs could use some meat in the paint, so here we are.

Jayden Quinstance., C, Kentucky

If the Bulls can walk away from this elite draft with Boozer, Acuff, and the crazy-athletic-if-healthy Quinstance, the rebuild will be off to a smashing start.