At last year’s NBA Draft, Anton Watson was selected late in the second round by the Boston Celtics, marking the fourth consecutive year a former Gonzaga Bulldog was chosen in the draft. This year, former Zag Ryan Nembhard hopes to hear his name called and continue that streak — and all signs are pointing to that happening.

With the draft just over two weeks away, Nembhard’s name is all over mock drafts, a notable change from where he stood a month ago.

Gonzaga’s single-season assist record holder wasn’t initially invited to the NBA Combine, but an impressive showing at the G League Elite Camp — where his basketball IQ and premier passing ability were on display — earned him an invite to the combine. There, Nembhard again showcased his skills during two live scrimmages, totaling 19 points and 14 assists, despite being the most undersized player participating.

Following his performances, Nembhard is now projected to be selected in several well-respected mock drafts.

While ESPN doesn’t include Nembhard in its latest mock draft, it ranks him as the No. 62 overall available player in the 59-pick draft and the 29th-best available guard.

Yahoo Sports has Nembhard going the earliest of any major outlet, projecting him at No. 47 overall to the Milwaukee Bucks. Yahoo’s senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor said:

“No matter what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will need some shot creation next season with Damian Lillard sidelined for most, if not all, of next season. Nembhard, the brother of Pacers guard Andrew, is an excellent floor general who excels in pick-and-roll situations and made great progress as a scorer during his senior year.”

Sports Illustrated projects Nembhard being selected just a few picks later by the LA Clippers at No. 51.

NBA Draft Net also predicts him going in the late second round, with the Memphis Grizzlies selecting him at No. 56 overall.

On May 19, Bleacher Report had him listed as the second-to-last pick in the draft, going No. 58 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report noted Nembhard’s size could be a concern for some NBA teams, but his coach-like presence on the court still makes him valuable.

“After leading the nation in assists, Ryan Nembhard dished out 14 in two NBA Combine scrimmages (three turnovers),” Wasserman said. “Athletic and scoring limitations are evident, but he’ll get looks from teams who value his ability to run offense and set the table.”

In Wasserman’s latest mock draft, released June 2, he bumped Nembhard up 10 spots to No. 48 overall to the Grizzlies. He also compared the 5-foot-11 point guard to Tre Jones.

CBS Sports ranks Nembhard as the 12th-best available point guard and No. 54 overall, projecting him as the final pick in the draft, going No. 59 overall to the Houston Rockets.

CBS’s Kyle Boone said Nembhard’s on-court vision can’t be overlooked.

“The table-setting and playmaking of Nembhard was a topic of discussion at the combine after looking more than comfortable facilitating action in the scrimmages,” Boone said. “He led college basketball in assists per game by a wide margin and had a stunning 41.5% assist rate last season at Gonzaga.”

Nembhard, a two-year starter for the Zags, completed a pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors this summer and was also confirmed to have worked out with his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors. He has also been linked to the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

All signs point to Nembhard being taken in the late second round of the NBA Draft, but nothing is certain. We’ll have to wait and see if his name is called.

The 2025 NBA Draft begins June 25 with the first round, followed by the second round on June 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.