Kevin Broom and Matt Modderno go live for a First Round mock draft, blending college-basketball context with NBA-prospect projection

Yahoo Sports hosted a live first round mock draft featuring Kevin Broom and Matt Modderno on June 20, as the pair tackled a simulated projection of how the opening selections could shake out. The format was built for real-time participation, with viewers encouraged to post comments and questions while the draft board was being discussed.

While a mock draft is not a decision document, it functions as a rapid translation tool between college basketball evaluation and NBA roster construction. College prospects are typically assessed through the lens of role fit, physical matchups, spacing and shot creation, rim pressure, defensive responsibilities, and how quickly a player can adapt to NBA spacing and pace. A first round grouping, in particular, often reflects teams’ short-term needs alongside long-term development plans.

Broom and Modderno’s live approach underscored one of the practical reasons these events draw attention from college fans. Mock drafts can highlight which players are being treated as likely early options and which prospects might be viewed as more situational selections, dependent on team-specific priorities. For college programs, that attention can affect recruiting narratives and the way fans evaluate a player’s next-step readiness.

The stream also reflects the season-to-draft evaluation cycle that college basketball now lives inside year-round. Even after the college season ends, analysts revisit each prospect’s body of work, including how they performed in high-leverage moments, how they handled pressure lineups, and whether their skill set projects to guard against elite NBA matchups. In a first round mock, those considerations are typically condensed into a single set of projected outcomes, which is why the conversation often centers on why a player might rise or fall.

Because this item is a live mock-draft show rather than an official league document, readers should treat it as informed opinion, not confirmation of actual draft results. Without additional published, team-by-team decision reporting, it is not possible to verify that any specific prospect landing spot was grounded in confirmed organizational plans.

Still, the live component matters in a different way. By inviting questions during the broadcast, the creators positioned the mock draft as a forum for immediate clarification about prospect tiers and basketball fit. That can be especially useful for viewers trying to connect college stat lines and scouting reports to NBA decision-making.

Looking ahead, the key watch point is whether the broader draft conversation, including how teams publicly describe their priorities, aligns with the assumptions embedded in early-round projections. As the draft approaches, the gap between “mock” and “real” typically narrows or widens based on verified interviews, team needs, and prospect workouts, all of which can reframe how college players are valued for specific roles in the NBA’s first wave of selections.