Holmes shows off outside shooting touch at NBA Draft Combine

“Improved shot this year has moved him into first-round conversation,” Wasserman wrote.

Holmes improved his 3-point shooting percentage in each of the last three seasons: 1 of 7 (14.3%) as a freshman; 6 of 19 (31.6%) as a sophomore; and 32 of 83 (38.6%) as a junior.

Holmes was invited to the combine for the second straight year. He entered his name in the draft in early April. His name was one of 195 to appear on the list of early-entry candidates.

According to a report by NoCeilingsNBA.com on Monday, Holmes measured 6-foot-8¾ without shoes on Monday and weighed 236.2 pounds. He had a 7-1 wingspan.

Holmes has until May 29 to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to UD for his final season of eligibility. The draft takes place June 26-27 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and New York City.

“I still don’t fully know yet,” Holmes said Tuesday, according to a report by Kevin Sweeney, of Sports Illustrated. “Haven’t announced anything yet, but I’m way more confident (about staying in the draft) this year.”

In his latest mock draft released Monday, Wasserman predicted Holmes would be drafted by the Boston Celtics with the last pick (30th overall) of the first round.

“Holmes II enters this pre-draft process with more momentum than he had last year,” Wasserman wrote. “Improved range, handles/body control attacking the basket and passing have raised his draft stock, and he’s coming off a 23-point, 11-rebound, three-assist, four-stock game with a pair of threes against Arizona in the NCAA tournament. There still seems to be some reluctance from scouts who question his defensive fit and how translatable his shot and face-up game are. But the believers out there do sound high on Holmes, and it sounds possible that one of them could use a first-round pick to get him.”

Sam Vecenie, of The Athletic, predicted this week the New York Knicks would draft Holmes in the first round with the No. 25 pick.

“Holmes had an outstanding season at Dayton this past year,” Vecenie wrote, “winning All-American honors by averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks while hitting 54.4 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3. He a versatile big who has a lot of answers for what teams present him in ball screens. He can pick-and-pop, short roll to pass, short roll to finish himself or roll all the way to the rim to catch a lob. Defensively, he’s a good shot blocker on the interior and has flashed potential to stick with guards for a couple of slides on the perimeter.”

Krysten Peek, of Yahoo Sports, released a mock draft Sunday with Holmes going in the second round, 37th overall, to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony’s latest mock draft predicted Holmes would go to the Indiana Pacers in the second round with the No. 50 pick.