Miami's Caleb Gaskins hasn't been introduced to the college basketball world just yet, so his 2027 NBA mock draft should not be judged too harshly. Still, Bleacher Report placing the Miami freshman at No. 20 overall feels like a relatively conservative starting point for a player who should have every opportunity to climb much higher.
Bleacher Report NBA draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman projected Gaskins to the Utah Jazz with the No. 20 pick in his first 2027 mock draft.
Miami freshman Caleb Gaskins will have a chance to be a 2027 NBA lottery pick
Gaskins arrives at Miami as one of the most accomplished recruits in program history. The 6-foot-8, 219-pound forward was a McDonald's All-American and finished as the No. 18 overall prospect in the final 247Sports rankings.
As the featured player at Christopher Columbus, Gaskins averaged 22.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a senior. That came after spending his junior season alongside eventual Duke stars Cameron and Cayden Boozer.
Miami's depth will help, not hurt, Gaskins' draft stock
Shelton Henderson is back after averaging 13.7 points and shooting 56.7% from the floor. Miami also added former Villanova point guard Acaden Lewis (12.2 points and 5.3 assists), who is a second-team All-Big East selection and Horizon League Player of the Year DeSean Goode (15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds).
Conventional wisdom would suggest that the depth the Canes have would potentially sideline Gaskins during part of his freshman season. But it actually could be a positive if he can take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented to him that come with being on a tournament team.
With experienced ball handlers and scorers around him, Gaskins can ease into some of the expectations placed on him and will get better looks even when he does become more of a scoring threat later in the year.
Malik Reneau's current legal situation should be mentioned and Wasserman did note that his current challenge to receive another year of eligibility could make it more difficult for Gaskins to build a one-and-done case. Reneau, who averaged a team-high 18.9 points and earned first-team All-ACC honors last season, is pursuing another season of eligibility but nothing is final on that.
Even if Reneau returns, though, Gaskins will have plenty of chances to make a name for himself and the talent around him will put him in good position.
Miami is projected to face tough competition in 2026
Jai Lucas will have the Hurricanes back in the tournament this year and if Gaskins establishes himself as one of their best players, scouts will have no shortage of elite matchups to evaluate him.
Miami opens the season against Florida, hosts Alabama in the ACC/SEC Challenge and plays Texas. Their ACC schedule includes games against Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and NC State. Those teams have players littered all over Bleacher Report's 60-pick mock draft.
Players that Miami is scheduled to face in Bleacher Report's 2027 mock draft
- C, Patrick Ngongba II, Duke, No. 7
- SG/SF, Amari Allen, Alabama, No. 11
- C, Cameron Williams, Duke, No. 16
- SF/PF, Thomas Haugh, Florida, No. 21
- SG, Matt Able, North Carolina, No. 32
- C, Flory Bidunga, Louisville, No. 33
- C, Alex Condon, Florida, No. 34
- SG/SF, Neoklis Avdalas, North Carolina, No. 36
- C, Rueben Chinyelu, Florida, No. 39
- SG, Paul McNeil, NC State, No. 41
- SF/PF, Elyjah Freeman, Texas, No. 53
- SG, John Blackwell, Duke, No. 56
Miami could also face center Moustapha Thiam (No. 47) out of Michigan in the Players Era 16. The Hurricanes are scheduled to play either Michigan or Creighton on Nov. 26 depending on the opening-round results in Las Vegas.
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