The men's college basketball conference schedule is starting to heat up, and the international leagues are well into their seasons.
That means players have had opportunities to impress – or not impress – NBA executives and scouts.
One trend that has been spotted early in the season is the rise of international players , including France's Alexandre Sarr, whose brother Olivier plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Serbia 's Nikola Topic and France's Zaccharie Risacher.
The NBA's G League Ignite has four projected first-round picks, including two lottery picks, and John Calipari continues to bring talent to Kentucky. The Wildcats also have four projected first-round picks on their roster.
Here's a look at USA TODAY Sports' NBA mock draft in early January:
2024 NBA mock draft
1. Alexandre Sarr, Perth (Australia) Wildcats
Forward-center, 7-feet-1, 216 pounds, 18 years old
2023-24 stats: 9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 50.8% FG
2. Nikola Topic, KK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
Guard, 6-6, 200, 18
2023-24 stats: 18.6 ppg, 6.9 apg, 3.7 rpg, 52.4% FG (for KK Mega Basket before transfer)
3. Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg (France)
Forward, 6-9, 200, 18
2023-24 stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg
4. Ron Holland, G League Ignite
Guard , 6-8, 206, 18
2023-24 stats: 17.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.4 spg, 44.5% FG, 21.4% 3P, 75% FT
5. Isaiah Collier, Southern California
Guard, 6-5, 210, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 spg, 50.3% FG, 31.9% 3P, 67.1% FT
6. Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor
Guard, 6-5, 195, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 15.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 42.7% FG, 40% 3P, 87.3% FT
7. Cody Williams, Colorado
Forward, 6-8, 190, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 62.3% FG, 60% 3P, 66.7% FT
8. Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite
Forward, 6-10, 209, 19
2023-24 stats: 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.4 bpg, 1.1 spg, 41.8% FG, 22.4% 3P, 78.3% FT
9. Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Guard, 6-3, 176, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 48% FG, 44% 3P, 78% FT
10. Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
Guard, 6-3, 187, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.5 spg, 56% FG, 54% 3P, 87% FT
11. Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Center, 7-0, 248, sophomore, 20
2023-24 stats: 16.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.0 bpg, 1.3 spg, 50.3% FG, 31% 3P, 70.6% FT
12. Ryan Dunn, Virginia
Guard, 6-8, 216, sophomore, 21
2023-24 stats: 9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 2.1 spg, 53.2% FG, 59.6% FT
13. Tidjane Salaun, Cholet (France)
Forward, 6-9, 205, 18
2023-24 stats: 7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 spg, 34.7% FG, 30.9% 3P, 73.7% FT
14. Donovan Clingan, UConn
Center, 7-2, 280, sophomore, 19
2023-24 stats: 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.3 apg, 63.2% FG, 53.2% FT
15. Stephon Castle, UConn
Guard, 6-6, 215, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 9.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 spg, 51.7% FG, 20% 3P, 75% FT
16. Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Guard, 6-7, 212, graduate student, 22
2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.6 spg, 48.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 83.9% FT
17. Tyler Smith, G League Ignite
Forward, 6-11, 224, 19
2023-24 stats: 13.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 bpg, 47% FG, 38.8% 3P, 68.2% FT
18. Yves Missi, Baylor
Center, 7-0, 235, freshman, 19
2023-24 stats: 10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.0 spg, 65.9% FG, 50.9% FT
19. Justin Edwards, Kentucky
Guard, 6-8, 203, freshman, 20
2023-24 stats: 9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 spg, 56% FG, 24% 3P, 68% FT
20. Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Guard, 6-6, 213, graduate student, 22
2023-24 stats: 15.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 45.3% FG, 36.1% 3P, 80.4% FT
21. Bobi Klintman, Cairns (Australia) Taipans
Forward, 6-8, 225, 20
2023-24 stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 45.5% FG, 36.1% 3P, 80.4% FT
22. Zach Edey, Purdue
Center, 7-4, 300, senior, 21
2023-24 stats: 21.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 63.2% FG, 74.7% FT
23. Tyrese Proctor, Duke
Guard, 6-5, 183, sophomore, 19
2023-24 stats: 9.0 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.6 rpg, 43.7% FG, 31.9% 3P, 77.3% FT
24. Kel'el Ware, Indiana
Center, 7-0, 242, sophomore, 19
2023-24 stats: 14.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 57.5% FG, 65.1% FT
25. Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
Center, 6-11, 235, senior, 21
2023-24 stats: 13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 61.3% FG, 64.2% FT
26. Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
Forward, 6-10, 220, sophomore, 21
2023-24 stats: 9.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 50% FG, 38.6% 3P, 69.2% FT
27. Trista da Silva, Colorado
Forward, 6-9, 220, senior, 22
2023-24 stats: 15.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 52.4% FG, 36.8% 3P, 83% FT
28. Izan Almansa, G League Ignite
Forward, 6-10, 230, 18
2023-24 stats: 10.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 bpg, 54.5% FG
29. D.J. Wagner, Kentucky
Guard, 6-4, 192, freshman, 18
2023-24 stats: 12.4 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.1 rpg, 1.0 spg, 44% FG, 33% 3P, 73% FT
30. Trey Alexander, Creighton
Guard, 6-4, 190, junior, 20
2023-24 stats: 16.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.2% FG, 31.6% 3P, 77.6% FT
More: 2024 NBA mock draft 1.0: Matas Buzelis, Bronny James, G League Ignite should light up board
More: 2024 NBA mock draft 2.0: G League Ignite sensation Ron Holland projected No. 1 pick
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA mock draft 2024: France, G League Ignite, Kentucky dominate list

