If there is one thing for certain, it’s that Zion Williamson will be going first overall in this year’s NBA Draft coming up on June 20.

A score of reporters and analysts have little to no doubt that he will be the first name NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will be saying, and with good reason. Experts have been trying to find a comparison to the Duke power forward for some time, but to be fair, it’s tough to compare anyone to a player like this. The potential is limitless for Williamson. He has the size, the athleticism and the knack of getting himself to the rim whenever he wants. Williamson critics could say his range from deep is limited, but at Duke last season, he shot just under 34% from behind the arc, which is better than his Blue Devil teammates and certain lottery picks R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish.

The next two picks looked to be cemented as well. For instance, both CBS Sports analysts Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone have Murray State guard Ja Morant going to the Memphis Grizzlies for the second pick, and Barrett going to the New York Knicks for the third pick. According to CBS Sports, Lakers legend Jerry West has reportedly said that he thinks Morant is the best talent in the draft, despite breakout star Williamson and his incredible potential. Experts have compared Morant to the triple-double monster and former MVP Russell Westbrook of the Thunder. Barrett averaged 22.6 points a game, tied with his Blue Devil teammate Williamson, and scored more points than any other ACC freshman this season.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

For the other 27 first-round picks, however, other players have a certain range of where analysts think that they will be picked. The Los Angeles Lakers have the fourth overall pick, with several building options to help superstar LeBron James win a championship in L.A. The Lakers could take forward DeAndre Hunter from Virginia, who won the March Madness tournament this year. The Lakers could also go smaller and pick Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland. Garland played just five games for the Commodores last year, after a season-ending injury, but he displayed signs of immense potential. 

The Lakers could also be in pursuit of trading their pick for the likes of Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis, and potentially break up the Davis-Williamson duo that New Orleans is so excited about. James and the Lakers were pursuing Davis heavily last season, until the Pelicans turned it down. If not Davis, the Lakers could also potentially pursue Kawhi Leonard from Toronto, who is currently playing in the NBA Finals.

Texas Tech breakout star Jarret Culver climbed the boards after the NBA Combine, and could be a potential candidate for the fifth-pick Cleveland Cavaliers, after their signing of the former Michigan head coach, John Beilein. Reddish could fall as low as the eighth pick, to the Atlanta Hawks, to pair with Rookie of the Year candidate Trae Young. The Hawks also picked up the 10th pick from Dallas, where they could get the likes of the Texas power forward, Jaxson Hayes or North Carolina freshman Nassir Little.

Zion Wiliamson‘s stepfather revealed this week that the Duke standout would be eager to play for the New Orleans Pelicans should they choose him — as is expected — as the first overall pick in next month’s NBA draft.

“We’re excited [about coming to New Orleans],” Lee Anderson told the Off the Bench radio show Thursday on 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge.

Rumors have been swirling recently that Williamson may not be as interested in joining the Pelicans as most people initially believed. The team is undergoing a rough patch after Anthony Davis requested a trade last season.

“And you said about returning to Duke … there has been a lot of speculation, but that is nothing that we have even considered,” Anderson added about speculation his 18-year-old stepson might remain with the Blue Devils for another season.

Anderson also said he talked to Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry recently and that their discussions went well.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Some NBA fans have speculated that the New York Knicks — who are among the teams that have the best chance at winning this year’s draft lottery — could select Williamson as a top pick.

“One thing that Zion has always been taught, you accept the things you can’t change, you change the things that you can change, and this is one of the things that he had nothing to do with,” Anderson said. “It’s the process of the NBA.”

New Orleans finished last season 33-49 and missed the playoffs after placing 13th in the Western Conference.

According to an Instagram post on Father’s Day last June, Williamson is close with Anderson, whom he said has been in his life since he was four years old.

Tennessee basketball found itself in the midst of a potentially historic collapse on Sunday after blowing a 25-point lead to Iowa. Yet, the team’s best player, Admiral Schofield, was on the bench during overtime. Fans were confused at how head coach Rick Barnes could make such a choice.

Vols Basketball Star Admiral Schofield Coud Join Cavs

However, after the game, Barnes said, “He didn’t want to play.” Schofield explained that he “just made a sacrifice, and said, ‘You know what, take me out.’”

For a hypercompetitive, All-SEC 21-year-old, the move could be viewed as wisdom and poise beyond his years. With four fouls, he knew that the opposing offense would go after him and that he couldn’t guard the way his team needed him to.

“I’m a winner,” Schofield said. “At the end of the day, if I don’t have to be on the floor to win, that’s fine.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Schofield declared for the 2019 NBA draft this year. While he could still return to the Vols, rumors are beginning to drum up about the star that he very well could fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Most of the team’s draft focus will go to their own pick, which is projected to be the No. 2 overall selection. But they also hold the Houston Rockets‘ 2019 first-rounder. The Cavs do have to address both issues on defense and in playmaking, however, Schofield could slot in as a much-needed addition.

Since trading shooter Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz, the team has lacked a go-to 3 and defensive guy. With an NBA-ready body, pure shooting ability and the size and skill to guard up to four positions, Schofield could be a solid building block for the team. With Brandon Knight and Jordan Clarkson under contract for 2020, Schofield could develop and then anchor the second unit by as soon as next year.

As Kevin Love provides stability, Collin Sexton is developing into a strong player, and the No. 2 overall pick still ready to be used, Cleveland shouldn’t remain irrelevant. Schofield may never be the sole reason a team wins a championship, but James Jones and Shane Battier all helped LeBron James to the NBA Finals.

Duke star Zion Williamson knows that there’s hype around him. In high school he was the subject of a Sports Illustrated story and had a viral highlight reel.

Duke’s Zion Williamson Likes Draft Rumors

Now he’s playing in front of 9,000 people every night. But even though he’s got any NBA team to choose from, he’s not playing favorites.

“My college classmates let me know a lot,” Williamson told reporters Monday. “They’re like, ‘Zion, the Bulls want you, man. Like, come here.’ I’m like, ‘You don’t know that. You’re in college.’ They’re like, ‘Come to Cleveland, come to L.A.’ I’m like, ‘Whoever wants me, that’s where I want to be at.'”

Williamson was asked if he had any destination in mind that he wanted to go to. He shut that down immediately, saying that he doesn’t really have time between school and the Blue Devils’ season to watch NBA games. But he’s not completely out of the loop. “I do see a lot of people on Twitter saying stuff like that,” Williamson said. “It just cracks me up.” No word on if he’s aware of the #tankforzion trend in Madison Square Garden or out in Chicago.

A handful of teams around the league have given up any hopes of winning and instead are bottoming out for the chance to draft him. Though he’s got no say in what team drafts him, it’s hard to imagine that he’d be selected by a team he explicitly says he doesn’t want to play for. Rather than becoming a chemistry issue, Zion showed wisdom beyond his ages and said that he’ll play for whoever drafts him.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Already an amazing prospect, this diplomatic response from an 18-year-old with the world at his fingertips is just another reason for why he’s going to go No. 1 overall come June 20. He’s got an NBA-ready game and an unbelievably developed frame on top of that.

Duke will take on St. John’s on Saturday at noon EST. Williamson is averaging 22 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2 blocks,\ and 2 steals per game this season.