Sam Vecenie’s first 2027 NBA mock draft sees 3 Wildcats selected in the top 10

Despite losing Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley and Tobe Awaka to the NBA from last season’s Final Four team, the Arizona Wildcats are loaded again.

From returning players to incoming star freshmen, there will be no shortage of NBA-level talent in Tucson, with some projected to be lottery-bound.

NBA draft guru Sam Vecenie believes three of Arizona’s players could be selected in the top 10. 

In his first 2027 mock draft, which he laid out on his Game Theory podcast, Vecenie has freshman Caleb Holt going fourth overall, sophomore Ivan Kharchenkov eighth and senior Motiejus Krivas ninth to the Washington Wizards.

Holt projects as a relentless driver with strong rim-scoring ability. However, Vecenie notes that all of Holt’s looks come from playing off two feet, which could hinder him against more physical competition.

“He really loads up off of two feet,” Vecenie said. “If you watch the Ukraine and Lithuania (exhibition) games from this summer, he struggled playing against professionals who are just bigger.”

However, Vecenie mentions that Holt is a winner, an awesome defender and an elite rebounder at guard, which makes him a “locked and loaded NBA rotational player.”

Kharchenkov is returning to Arizona after being a starter and elite defensive presence on the Wildcats’ Final Four team as a freshman last season.

“He should have made All-Defense in the Big 12 over Jaden Bradley,” Vecenie said. “I thought that was comical.”

Kharchenkov averaged 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season on 49.2% shooting from the field and 31.7% from three.

Vecenie thinks that if he can improve his 3-point shot, his 3-and-D skill set will be extremely valuable to NBA teams.

Krivas is the last Wildcat that Vecenie believes could be drafted in the top 10. Despite being on the older side of the 2027 projected draft class at 21 years old (22 by draft time), the production speaks for itself.

“I thought Krivas was the most impactful defender in college basketball last season,” Vecenie said. “His rim protection numbers are out-of-this-world good.”

To Vecenie, Krivas has all the makings of a high-level NBA player due to his rim protection, touch around the rim and extreme physicality.

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