3 rapid risers and 3 fast fallers in the 2024 NBA Draft

Draft Riser: Rob Dillingham, Guard, Kentucky
15.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 4.1 APG.

John Calipari and the Kentucky basketball program have become infamous for breeding some of the league's top guard talent. Rob Dillingham fits the prototypical Wildcat guard—a gifted offensive player who can score at all three levels while being an impressive ball handler. Kentucky has used Dillingham as a spark plug off the bench, and it has been extremely successful. Dillingham has the sixth-highest usage rating in the SEC, at 29%.

Out of the five guys with higher usage rates than him, only two have higher true shooting percentages: Auburn's Johni Broom and Tennessee's Dalton Knecht, who are the two front runners for SEC POTY. Even as a freshman, Dillingham has proven to hold his own and efficiently be the center of an offense, something the majority of freshmen in college football can't do.

One of the most appealing parts of Rob's game is his body control. His ability to change speeds is reminiscent of De'Aaron Fox and Darius Garland. The combination of his deep arsenal of dribble moves and shiftiness allows him to be a menace downhill.

Dillingham's 6'2 160lb build may present limitations on the next level, especially in an NBA where front offices have an obsession with versatility. For now, his lack of size gets made up a tad by his motor and basketball IQ but it may not translate to the next level. As Kentucky continues to grow as a team, expect Dillingham to continue to fly up the boards.