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2024 NBA mock draft roundup: Will Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw all go ahead of Bronny James?

In at least one early mock draft out there, the trio of local products will be off the board before LeBron James’ son.

Imhotep’s Justin Edwards (left) and Camden’s Aaron Bradshaw battle for a rebound during a game last season. Next season, they'll be teammates.
Imhotep’s Justin Edwards (left) and Camden’s Aaron Bradshaw battle for a rebound during a game last season. Next season, they'll be teammates.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer

The 2023 NBA draft is barely in the rearview mirror and a busy free agency period lies ahead — not to mention, you know, the entire NBA and college seasons — but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to where some of the top players may go in a year from now, especially when so many of the projected lottery picks have ties to the Philadelphia area, including a trio of Kentucky-bound players in Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw.

There’s also Elmarko Jackson, a South Jersey (Richland) native who previously played at Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn before finishing his high school career in Connecticut.

And then there’s Bronny James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James, who is set to attend USC in the fall. Although he’s not local and is not projected to be the top pick — or even in the top 10 in most cases — he certainly carries the biggest name and most star power of the class.

With the understanding that a lot can change between now and next year’s draft, let’s start with the player most likely to go first among the names listed above ...

Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky (via Imhotep Charter)

It’s been only a year since Edwards committed to Kentucky, but like most Wildcats, the 2023 Mr. Basketball in Pennsylvania and No. 3 ESPN recruit is likely to spend only one season playing under John Calipari. And that’s just fine, since almost every mock draft that has come out to this point has Edwards going in the top 10. Here’s a look:

  1. CBS Sports: 4. Justin Edwards

    1. Edwards is a 6-7 wing who is the highest-rated prospect in Kentucky’s top-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He’s the son of a former professional athlete who has great positional size and the type of athleticism that allows him to be an active defender, electric slasher and elite rebounder. — Gary Parrish

  2. ESPN: 5. Justin Edwards

  3. USA TODAY: 5. Justin Edwards

  4. SB Nation: 7. Justin Edwards

  5. Yahoo Sports: 8. Justin Edwards

    1. Edwards is a long, athletic wing and one of the best defenders in transition with the way he anticipates passes and is a solid chase-down blocker. Edwards played in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit where NBA scouts got an extended look at the freshman Kentucky guard. Coach John Calipari has the No. 1 recruiting class coming in, and Edwards should see early playing time. Edwards put up 11 points and five rebounds during the McDonald’s All-American Game and finished with 10 points and five rebounds at Nike Hoop Summit. — Krysten Peek

» READ MORE: Imhotep Charter’s Justin Edwards is Philly’s top high school player in 30 years. His mom worked two jobs to keep his dream alive.

DJ Wagner, PG, Kentucky (via Camden High)

Right behind Edwards in the ESPN 100 rankings — and in some mock drafts as well — is Wagner, his future Wildcats teammate (and former AAU teammate). The Camden High product is a member of South Jersey basketball royalty, the son of Camden legend Dajuan Wagner, who once scored 100 points in a game, and the grandson of NBA and NCAA champion Milt Wagner. Now, the youngest generation of this hoops family will take his talents to Kentucky, where he’ll also last only a season before becoming a likely lottery pick.

  1. SB Nation: 5. DJ Wagner

  2. CBS Sports: 7. DJ Wagner

    1. Wagner, a Kentucky signee, was named co-MVP of the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game after finishing with 19 points and 12 assists while leading his East team to a victory. The 6-3 combo guard is the grandson of former McDonald’s All-American Milt Wagner, and the son of former McDonald’s All-American Dajuan Wagner, making his family the first in history to produce three generations of McDonald’s All-Americans. — Gary Parrish

  3. ESPN: 7. DJ Wagner

  4. USA TODAY: 9. DJ Wagner

  5. Yahoo Sports: 13. DJ Wagner

    1. Wagner is the son of former NBA player Dajuan Wagner and the grandson of Milt Wagner. D.J., Dajuan and Milt are the first trio through three generations to appear in the McDonald’s All-American Game. His dad played in 2001, and his grandfather played in the 1981 game. Wagner was one of the best guards on the court during Nike Hoop Summit. He helped lead Team USA to a win and finished with 10 points and four rebounds. — Krysten Peek

» READ MORE: ‘A rare talent’: 24 hours in Louisville with Camden’s D.J. Wagner, the nation’s No. 1 recruit

Aaron Bradshaw, C, Kentucky (via Camden High)

The third local player headed for Kentucky this year — and likely the first round of the NBA draft next summer — should be plenty comfortable on the Wildcats, as he’ll be paired with his high school teammate in Wagner. In fact, all three (including Edwards) were teammates in this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game, helping give the East the victory. Unlike the previous two players, however, there seems to be a divide on just how early Bradshaw will go.

  1. USA TODAY: 7. Aaron Bradshaw

  2. CBS Sports: 8. Aaron Bradshaw

    1. Bradshaw has most of the tools to develop into a high-level modern big who rim-protects, guards in space, catches lobs and makes shots from the perimeter. Assuming a foot fracture suffered recently doesn’t slow his development and/or keep him sidelined too long, the 7-foot center should start in the middle for Kentucky. — Gary Parrish

  3. Yahoo Sports: 9. Aaron Bradshaw

    1. Bradshaw suffered a fractured foot last month and could miss the beginning of the college basketball season. The 7-2 center plays a very similar game to Dereck Lively II, who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the lottery in the 2023 draft. NBA teams value rim-runners who can be an offensive threat from 3-point range, and Bradshaw showed early signs of that during his high school season and postseason all-star games. NBA scouts will be watching closely to see how this injury affects his mobility once he returns to the court. — Krysten Peek

  4. SB Nation: 28. Aaron Bradshaw

  5. ESPN: 32. Aaron Bradshaw

» READ MORE: As Aaron Bradshaw stars for Camden and has his choice of colleges, Rahway remains meaningful

Elmarko Jackson, G, Kansas (via South Kent School & ANC)

Unlike the previous three players, Jackson is headed to Kansas, not Kentucky. And while some mock drafts have him landing just outside the lottery range, a few don’t have him going in the first round — or in the case of ESPN, which did both rounds, don’t have him going at all.

  1. Yahoo! Sports: 18. Elmarko Jackson

    1. Jackson was one of the most athletic guards during the McDonald’s All-American Game and showed a nice second burst in transition. He has a strong frame and uses his body well, especially at the rim in the way he scoops shots under defenders. Jackson is one of the quickest guards in the country with the ball in his hands and has a solid 3-point jumper. — Krysten Peek

  2. SB Nation: 19. Elmarko Jackson

  3. USA TODAY: 22. Elmarko Jackson

  4. CBS Sports: N/A as a lottery pick

  5. ESPN: N/A

So will they all go before Bronny James?

The answer to that question depends on whom you ask.

In three of the five drafts we highlighted above, all three players would be taken before James, who will attend USC in the fall:

  1. CBS sports only ranked the top 14 lottery picks, and James was not included there, but each of the three local players were.

  2. USA Today had all three in their top 10, while it had James falling to 20th.

  3. Yahoo Sports also had all three well ahead of James, with Wagner (13th) being the lowest of the three locals but James not being selected until 28th overall.

Of course, as we mentioned at the beginning, a lot can change between now and next year’s draft.