8 players from the 2022 NBA Draft class who will outperform their selection

Let’s face it — drafting is extremely difficult. Projecting what a person in their late teens or early 20s will become when they’re in their late 20s is a complete crapshoot. Despite having a full year to prepare, more draft evaluators than ever and a full staff of scouts available to them, decision-makers always let prospects slip past them in the NBA Draft, and 2022 will be no different.

NBA Summer League is always an exciting chance to look deeper at how some of these prospects react in certain scenarios or showcase their talent, but even then, it can’t always be a clear-cut barometer of future success. However, if you look closely enough, key indicators in a player’s game and demeanor will show you what their true potential is.

Although many wanted to skip ahead to the 2023 NBA Draft hype train, there are sure to be some studs coming from the class of 2022.

1. Picked 29th in the 2022 NBA Draft: TyTy Washington Jr.

Expected by many to go between the late lottery and early 20s, Kentucky point guard TyTy Washington is far more talented than he was able to show in his college role. Although he didn’t perform particularly well in Summer League, Washington displayed a killer mentality and unselfish demeanor in a leading role for his team.

The  6-foot-3 guard has a lot of moves in his toolkit and a sturdy frame for his size that help him gain steam toward the rim. Washington loves to deceive his opponent with a killer floater, but he also made a lot of smart dishes off the drive in Summer League. He sees passing lanes well and didn’t make too many careless turnovers during his first professional experience, which bode well for him as a point guard in this league.

If he can balance his scoring instinct with high-IQ table-setting in the NBA, his floor will be as a backup point guard, which is a win at pick 29.