The 2022 NBA Draft is here, bringing with it great excitement and anticipation for the beginning of professional basketball careers. This year's draft has another reason for excitement. History could be made at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Each of the projected top three picks, Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero have the chance to make NBA Draft history. Here's how, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

Per ESPN, Smith, Holmgren and Banchero can be the first group of freshmen to go 1-2-3 in the NBA Draft since 2017, when Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum were the first three players off the board.

Freshmen have gone 1-2-3 just six times in the common NBA Draft era. This year's crop is more than likely going to do it, as Smith, Holmgren and Banchero have widely been regarded as the three best players in the class since the draft lottery.

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The only real question marks regarding the trio are what order they'll be selected in within the first three picks of Thursday's draft. For most of the last several weeks, it's been Smith and Holmgren flip-flopping at the top.

However, Banchero made a surge overnight as the potential no. 1 pick. While there could be some surprises within the top three picks, it seems likely that this trio of prospects will be the first names off the board.

NBA draft history is likely to be made.