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Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis goes 5th overall in latest 2022 NBA Mock Draft

By Brian Sampson

MADISON, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 29: Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after scoring during the first half of the game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Kohl Center on December 29, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. Badgers defeated the Redbirds 89-85. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 29: Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after scoring during the first half of the game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Kohl Center on December 29, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. Badgers defeated the Redbirds 89-85. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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The Wisconsin men’s basketball team no longer has a rising star in Johnny Davis–it’s safe to say the star has fully arrived. This aspect has been further realized following a dominant performance against Purdue and a top-five spot in a recent 2022 NBA Mock Draft.

Heading into the 2021-22 season, the Badgers knew they had an up-and-comer in Davis. He flashed during his freshman season last year, made the U19 USA team and helped them win gold, and was in for an increased role thanks to a bunch of seniors moving on from last year’s squad.

Davis returned to Madison this summer with a renewed sense of confidence–a confidence that only playing with the best players in the USA and the world can bring.

Wisconsin men’s basketball star Johnny Davis continues to fly up draft boards and goes fifth in one of the latest 2022 NBA Mock Drafts.

After spending the summer playing alongside other top draft picks like Chet Holmgren–long thought to be the number one overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Davis has vaulted near the top of mock drafts. In the most recent version released by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, Davis goes fifth overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Davis vaulting up draft boards is nothing new to Badgers’ fans who have quickly come to the realization over the last month that this will probably be the final year he suits up for them. However, he was previously thought to be creeping into the lottery, not a top-five pick.

In Vecenie’s version, the only players selected ahead of Davis are Auburn freshman Jabari Smith Jr., Duke freshman Paolo Banchero, Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren, and Purdue guard Jaden Ivey. It’s ironic Davis goes after Ivey after he previously outdueled him in a game earlier this week and lead Wisconsin to an upset victory over the number 3 ranked team in the country. In that contest, Davis continuously created his own shot and controlled the boards by finishing with a career-high 37 points (on 13-24 shooting including 2-5 from the three-point line), 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Talk about a stat-stuffer.

Davis is only just beginning to scratch the surface of his talent and his best days are clearly ahead of him. Each time we think he’s peaked this season, he comes back better than ever.

That’s great news for NBA teams who will look for Davis to continue to improve. The best news is that Davis can do a little bit of everything. He might not always be this dynamic offensive scorer, but that won’t detract from his game. He’s still someone who can create shots for others, contribute on the boards and play lockdown defense on multiple positions.

Seeing him go fifth overall may seem like a bit of a surprise for some fans, but we better get used to it quickly. If Davis continues to play as he has been through the Badgers’ first 13 games of the season, his stock is only going to continue to rise.

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