Baylor center Yvesi Missi is entering the NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season in Waco, Texas, he announced on Wednesday. Missi reclassified last summer to join the Bears for the 2023-24 season and quickly secured a starting role in the lineup.
Missi started in 32 games and averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 23 minutes per game. He demonstrated his elite finishing around the rim, showcasing why he was the No. 42 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle by 247Sports.
“I intend to enter the 2024 NBA draft and I am looking forward to the process,” Missi told ESPN. “I’m hiring Wasserman as an agency and I am all in!”
In addition to his offensive prowess, Missi is also recognized as one of the top shot-blockers in his class. His exceptional athleticism enables him to defend pick-and-rolls effectively and contest shots around the basket.
Yves Missi’s NBA Draft projection
Missi is currently projected to be a late-lottery or mid-first-round pick in the NBA Draft. At 19 years old, he possesses the tools to excel as an elite shot blocker and rim runner at the next level. However, his lack of shooting outside the restricted area may be a concern. Despite this, Missi is a high-upside prospect who could potentially be selected higher than anticipated if a team is willing to take a risk on his potential.
In the2024 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings from CBS Sports, Missi was ranked No. 16. He was also placed at No. 17 in a recent mock draft by Kyle Boone and ranked No. 22 in Gary Parrish’s most recent mock draft.
“A raw prospect with tremendous upside, Missi is a potential lottery pick due to his size, skill, and shot-blocking ability,” Boone wrote. “He’s a developmental prospect, but the moments of brilliance he displayed towards the end of the season were promising.”
Impact on Baylor
With Missi heading to the NBA and fellow freshman standout Ja’Kobe Walter likely to declare as well, Baylor will need to find ways to fill the void left by their production. The team has the No. 9 recruiting class coming in this fall, with five-star forward V.J. Edgecombe leading the way. Rob Wright (No. 25 in 247Sports rankings) and Jason Asemota (No. 47) are also part of Baylor’s 2024 recruiting class. Additionally, with Baylor coach Scott Drew rumored to be a candidate for the vacant position at Kentucky, the team’s roster could undergo significant changes for the upcoming season.
