Ball, Rozier among 4 Hornets to enter protocols

Bronny James is projected as a top-10 selection in ESPN’s first mock draft for 2024, which is significantly higher than many have expected based on his recruiting ranking.

James is a 6-foot-4 senior combo guard at Sierra Canyon School in California. He’s undecided on his college of choice, as of this moment. With the NBA and NBPA seemingly no closer to eliminating the “one-and-done” rule in collective bargaining, James will likely attend one year of college before becoming draft eligible.

James, who is the eldest son of LeBron James, will become draft eligible for the first time in 2024, should he enter the draft after one year in college. James could also choose to play for the G League Ignite next season and get a jump-start on his professional career that way.

The draft eligibility of the younger James will coincide with the elder James having the ability to become an unrestricted free agent by declining his player option for the 2024-25 season. The elder James has indicated he’d like to play with his son in the NBA before he retires.