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NBA Rookie Ladder: Did Scottie Barnes hold on to the top spot?

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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Herbert Jones, NBA Rookie Ladder
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 12: Herbert Jones #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

. Previous: 9th. Herbert Jones. 8. player. 69.

While Jones is benefitting from playing on a terrible Pelicans team willing to put young guys out on the floor for heavy minutes, the Alabama product is proving to potentially be the best second-round pick in the 2021 class. Jones is looking like a quality small-ball defensive center in his first extended NBA action.

Jones was criticized for his lack of dynamic offensive ability early in the season, but after four nights with 10 or more points since November 29, Jones is continuing to make the strides Willie Green expects. With Zion Williamson still out, Jones isn’t leaving the starting lineup anytime soon.

NBA Rookie Ladder: Alperen Sengun continues to impress.

. . Previous: 8th. Alperen Sengun. 7. player. 169

Houston chose to bench Daniel Theis to let Sengun and Christian Wood alternate between manning the center spot. The change has proven to be exactly what Houston needed, as Stephen Silas has allowed the Turkish big to exhibit all of the traits that made him a hot prospect.

Sengun is not only proving to be a quality interior finisher, but he appears to be much further long on the defensive end than anyone anticipated. With his major pre-draft question appearing to have been answered, Sengun could easily become the best non-lottery pick in this class.