BYU’s Yoeli Childs Projected To Go In Top 40 Picks Of One NBA Mock Draft

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former BYU basketball star Yoeli Childs has his eyes set on being a player in the NBA. Childs who finished his BYU career as one of the program’s all-time leading scorers is working to hear his name called at the 2020 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft was supposed to happen next week but the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed that back to October 15th according to multiple reports.

The #BYU experience these past four years in Provo made Yoeli Childs a “Cougar For Life.”

Childs is one of the all-time great people to ever come out of the @BYUbasketball program.#BYUhoops @kslsports

📰: https://t.co/1cxmfC69xz pic.twitter.com/VjrZb7Z6uk

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 18, 2020

When the Draft does in fact take place, will Childs be the first former BYU player to hear his name called since Jimmer Fredette in 2011? One mock draft believes Childs will be selected.

USA Today’s Rookie Wire Mock Draft has Childs going in the second round of the Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies at pick No. 40.

Yoeli Childs, who had a workout with the Memphis Grizzlies when he tested the draft waters last year, was easily one of the most underrated players in college basketball. He averaged 22.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting a stunning 22-for-45 (48.9%) on his 3-pointers. Among all Division I players who had as many pick-and-pop possessions, he ranked second-best in efficiency. The general consensus is that due to uncertainty that surrounds the pre-draft process this offseason, Childs will be a riser due to the maturity he brings both on and off the court.

The Grizzlies would be a good spot for Childs as Memphis is undergoing a youth movement in their franchise. Despite the youth, Memphis led by Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant is in the pole position for the Western Conference’s 8th seed in the upcoming playoffs in Orlando.

There are mixed reviews on Childs’ game potentially translating to the NBA. At BYU, he primarily played in the post but was efficient from three-point range. The doubters don’t faze Childs as he told USA Today Sports back in May, “Whoever gets me is going to get a steal.”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.