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Brandon Miller of Alabama, Jalen Hood-Schfino of Indiana and Jacob Toppin of Kentucly have declared for the NBA draft.
Miller and Hood-Schfino seem like lottery picks. Toppin my go in the latter part of first round or early second round, IMO.
Most of the top picks in March madness are between 6'3" and 6'-11". The new NBA. Only a few 7' plus guys. (Lively, Filipowski) 7'-4" Zach Edey isn't even on this list.
Surely, the national player of the year in college basketball deserve to be a first round draft pick. Don't you think?
Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey has been named the Associated Press' National Player of the Year. Edey averaged 22.3 points per game and 12.9 rebounds per game this season, both career highs. The 7'4" center also had 2.1 blocks per game.
They have Brandon Miller at #4 overall. Don't believe that assessment. He might be at least #3 maybe #2 overall. Jordan Hawkins might bolt but Donovan Clingan? Nope. He should stay another year to build his rep up.
Here’s a look at the players who moved up the board from our previous mock draft before the NCAA tournament.
Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF: Hendricks didn’t play in the NCAA tournament, but Central Florida’s NIT berth gave scouts another look at their star freshman. They should like what they saw. Hendricks profiles as a modern NBA four who can stretch the floor out to three-point range on offense, block shots on defense, and finish plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. He ends the season shooting 39.4 percent from three on 155 attempts, and also finished top-100 in the country in block rate at 6.2 percent. Hendricks may never be a takeover scorer, but his size, athleticism, and two-way skill set now feels like it could earn him looks in the top-10.
Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke: Whitehead’s freshman season was full of surprises, both good and bad. He missed the very start of the season after fracturing his foot, and never really looked like the explosive downhill driver he was supposed to be coming into the season. Instead, Whitehead rebranded himself as a shooter — which was supposed to be a weaker area of his skill set coming into the season. He hit 5-of-8 shots from three across Duke’s two NCAA tournament games, and ended the year shooting 42.9 percent from deep on 98 attempts. If Whitehead can regain his athletic burst, his newfound development as a shooter should give him valuable offensive versatility. There’s too much upside here for him to slip outside of the lottery despite a rollercoaster freshman year.
Jarace Walker, F, Houston: Walker was already a projected top-10 pick in our last mock, but we moved him up two spots after his tournament run. The freshman forward had a reputation as a big-time one-on-one scorer when he came out of IMG Academy, but defense proved to be his best trait in college. He had 12 blocks in three games in Houston’s March Madness run, including six rejections against Auburn in round two. While Walker is a bit slow-footed for a modern four, his enticing passing and pull-up shooting flashes give him offensive upside in addition to his defensive gifts. Now he needs to turn those long twos into threes after finishing 35-of-101 from deep for 34.7 percent on the year.
Dereck Lively II, C, Duke: Lively was the top recruit in country coming into Duke according to some services, but ended his freshman year averaging only five points and five rebounds per game. While he was never as productive as Duke hoped, he did show why he was so highly regarded coming out of high school during March. Lively used his reported 7’7 wingspan to have six blocks against Oral Roberts in the first round. His 12.7 percent block rate ends the year at No. 3 in all of college basketball. He also shot 72.1 percent from two-point range, mostly on dunks and putbucks. Lively’s length and two-way play finishing has now moved him into our projected top-20.
Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn: Hawkins is a gifted off-ball scorer who can shoot three-pointers with volume and bend opposing defenses by running around screens. There is on better movement shooter in the 2023 draft class: Hawkins is fast and nimble darting around the perimeter, and he can quickly square himself to the basket to hit shots. By averaging nearly eight attempts per game from three on the season, Hawkins proved he can get up shots against a variety of coverages and matchups. We pegged him to the Kings after Sacramento found so much success with Malik Monk’s movement shooting this season.
Donovan Clingan, C, UConn: Clingan didn’t even play 15 minutes per game for UConn this year, but the 7’1 freshman was a per-minute monster in terms of his production. Clingan has serious length which he uses to block shots and finish inside from the dunker’s spot. He’s also no stiff athletically, showing a bit agility in guarding ball screens throughout the Huskies’ tournament run. His length will play at any level of the game, and it could be enough to convince a team he’s worth a first round pick.
Zach Edey shows great touch around the basket, can finish with both hands, and knows how to seal to create good position. And, he is a good enough foul shooter, too, shooting 73.4% this year. But, the junior lacks the elite athleticism normally seen at the NBA level. That’s why a guy who may have been a top 5 pick even 25 years ago, could go undrafted. But, that’s not stopping Zach Edey, as he is declaring for the NBA Draft while still retaining his college eligibility. The National Player of the Year is widely thought to be a second-round pick, and could decide to come back to school. In fact, he may make more money playing college hoops next year than as an NBA second-round pick likely relegated to the G-League. It never hurts to get some feedback from NBA scouts, and that’s what I think Edey is doing.
1. Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 (France)
Wembanyama is the consensus No. 1 choice atop this draft for a reason. He possesses a skill set unlike any we’ve seen before for a player his size, dazzling scouts with his fluidity, shooting mechanics and ball skills despite towering over most defenders thanks to his 7’4” frame. And defensively, his massive wingspan allows him to impact the game in ways very few others can. He also has received rave reviews for his toughness, competitiveness and makeup. There will be no drama at the top of this draft: Whoever gets the No. 1 pick in this month’s lottery will select Wembanyama and begin building its team around him.
2. Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
There has been increasing debate around whether Henderson or Alabama wing Brandon Miller is the best non-Wembanyama prospect in the class. While Miller seems to have built some momentum off a big season at Alabama, Henderson is still the better prospect in my eyes. Henderson had an uneven second year with G League Ignite, dealing with a concussion that caused him to miss time, and occasionally, struggling with turnovers and inefficiency. Still, his upside as a potential primary ballhandler is enormous, and it’s worth remembering he played much of this G League season as an 18-year-old against professionals.
3.Brandon Miller, Alabama
Miller had a poor NCAA tournament but still established himself as an elite prospect throughout a sparkling freshman campaign at Alabama. That season was marred by off-court controversy due to his connection to the shooting death of Jamea Jonae Harris that left fellow Crimson Tide player Darius Miles in jail on murder charges. Provided NBA teams are comfortable with Miller off the court following that incident, he’s worth a top-5 pick given his size and shooting ability, despite being old for a freshman. His floor is rather high as a big wing shooter, and there’s some upside to tap into here given the playmaking flashes he showed off at Alabama.
4. Jarace Walker, Houston
Walker showed glimmers of brilliance in an impressive freshman season at Houston, and his game fits well in the modern NBA. He’s a sturdy forward with a chiseled frame who profiles as a multipositional defender with a versatile skill set offensively. He made 35% of his threes (heavily of the catch-and-shoot variety) and also showed off a floater that could develop into a valuable shot in his arsenal. He’s not likely to be a guy that shoulders a huge load offensively, but Walker seems like a ready-made high-level role player if nothing else and fits into an archetype NBA teams covet.
5. Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
It’s not hard to see the upside in drafting a 6’7” elite athlete with legitimate point guard skills and hoping to mold that into a potential star. But with those world-class physical tools also comes a lack of truly competitive basketball reps, given Thompson has spent the past two years in the Overtime Elite program rather than college or a more traditional professional setting. Thompson acquitted himself well in events like last summer’s The Basketball Tournament and a foreign tour against overseas pro teams, but how he’ll respond to real structure and the rigors of an NBA schedule are open questions.
6. Anthony Black, Arkansas
Black had a successful season at Arkansas despite the challenging context of near-constant injuries around him and poor floor spacing to maximize his skill set. He’s a cerebral player, one of the best passers in the draft and also a high-level defender, both on and off the ball. He’s still developing as a finisher and may never be a high-level scoring option, but he shouldn’t be a liability offensively thanks to his ability to cut, share the ball and make good decisions. The success of bigger, intelligent guards who can impact the game with or without the ball like Tyrese Haliburton and Josh Giddey helps boost this ranking.
7. Taylor Hendricks, UCF
Hendricks was one of the bigger misses by the recruiting rankings world this year, going from outside the top 50 of the 247Sports composite to a potential lottery pick in a year’s time. Hendricks was somewhat out of the spotlight at UCF but was productive, averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds on impressive shooting splits for a team that made the NIT. It’s unclear whether he’ll develop into a player who can consistently be put on the ball like many of the big wings who blossom into all-stars, but I’ll take my chances on a plus athlete who shot 39% from three at 6’9” and is still just 19 years old.
8. Cam Whitmore, Villanova
Whitmore’s lone season at Villanova was an inconsistent one. He missed time early on due to a thumb injury, then seemed to struggle to find his rhythm on a Wildcats team that fell well short of expectations. Still, Whitmore is a powerful athlete who at times looks the part of a potential high-end scorer in the NBA, with the ability to drive and finish through contact and a developing handle that allows him to create space. He’s not a great shooter, but there’s room for growth there, and the shot is by no means broken. He’s still worth a top-10 pick, and jumping into the top five isn’t out of the question.
9. Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
Ausar is much more of a wing than his brother Amen, but many of the same positives and negatives addressed above with Amen Thompson apply to Ausar Thompson. He’s an elite athlete, and his shooting stroke has clearly improved since he first entered the NBA radar, but there’s no guarantee he’ll develop into a consistent weapon from beyond the arc. It may be a long process to get to the point where Ausar is contributing to winning at a high level given his lack of high-end competitive reps, though he may have a clearer path to being a useful role player than Amen as a plus defender and connective piece offensively.
10. Cason Wallace, Kentucky
There’s very little bust potential with Wallace, who may lack a bit of burst offensively but makes up for that by being an elite defender, a steady-handed playmaker and a high-level competitor. Performances like his eight-steal night against Michigan State at the heavily scouted Champions Classic set the tone, and he acquitted himself well even in varying roles as the Wildcats tried to balance Wallace and Sahvir Wheeler together in the backcourt. NBA spacing should help him offensively, particularly given how many poor shooters he was surrounded by in Lexington.
11. Gradey Dick, Kansas
Dick has a strong argument for being the best shooter in this draft, but there’s more to the Kansas product’s game than just his ability to stretch the defense. He has the requisite size and length to be a somewhat versatile defender, he consistently makes good decisions and is a smart mover without the basketball. Bill Self rarely shied away from giving Dick the ball in key moments to take and make clutch shots. I’d be surprised if he fell out of the lottery.
12. Jordan Hawkins, UConn
One of the stars of the NCAA tournament, Hawkins’s prototypical shooting stroke and ability to make threes off movement has earned him a chance to go in the lottery next month. Watching Hawkins’s near-constant motion running off screen after screen, then making shots in tight windows of space was impressive throughout the Huskies’ run to the national championship. The question is whether there’s another NBA-level skill he’ll develop. Right now, he’s likely to struggle defensively and isn’t strong enough to blossom into a true scorer at the next level.
13. Keyonte George, Baylor
George put up impressive counting stats at Baylor, but the film itself was far more uneven. The talent is obvious, and George clearly has a deep scoring back thanks to his touch and handle. But he also needs the ball in his hands to be successful, isn’t an efficient player and his decision-making and body language were poor at times during his lone season in Waco. George is a lottery-level talent, but sliding down later into the first round wouldn’t be a surprise.
14. Nick Smith, Arkansas
Smith entered the season perceived as perhaps the best NBA prospect in college basketball, but was plagued by knee injuries that caused him to miss significant time. Even when he was out there, he didn’t quite look like the player that earned such high acclaim from scouts late in his high school career. There’s some legitimate shotmaking upside if Smith can get healthy and regain that old form, but it will be hard for some NBA teams to forget his shaky year in Fayetteville.
15. Noah Clowney, Alabama
Clowney quickly emerged onto draft radars as a potential one-and-done at the PK85 event in Portland last November. He’s far from a finished product and may not be ready to truly add value to an NBA team on Day 1, but the potential here is enormous given his size, fluidity and smarts. He should be able to protect the rim in the NBA while also having the mobility to switch onto guards. If you buy his three-point shooting (28% this season) long term, he’s a very impressive prospect.
When the 2023-24 NBA season begins, Wembanyama will officially be stateside and the new face of a franchise. But until then, he's still playing for another team. Wembanyama is the star of the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, one of the teams in France's top basketball league, Betclic Elite. Boulogne-Levallois still has a few games remaining on the schedule, facing Cholet on the road on May 12 and Paris at home on May 16, the latter directly conflicting with the combine. Rather than leave his team at the end of the season to work out in front of NBA personnel, Wembanyama is opting to stay in France and finish out the year with his current squad. His team currently sits second in the overall standings with a 22-10 record, trailing only AS Monaco (26-6).
The NBA Draft Combine will run from May 15 to 21, starting with strength, agility and shooting drills on Monday from 3-5 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in on the NBA app to follow the drills. The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 16, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET. There will be more NBA combine coverage on ESPN2 on Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. ET and on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. ET.
When the 2023-24 NBA season begins, Wembanyama will officially be stateside and the new face of a franchise. But until then, he's still playing for another team. Wembanyama is the star of the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, one of the teams in France's top basketball league, Betclic Elite. Boulogne-Levallois still has a few games remaining on the schedule, facing Cholet on the road on May 12 and Paris at home on May 16, the latter directly conflicting with the combine. Rather than leave his team at the end of the season to work out in front of NBA personnel, Wembanyama is opting to stay in France and finish out the year with his current squad. His team currently sits second in the overall standings with a 22-10 record, trailing only AS Monaco (26-6).
The NBA Draft Combine will run from May 15 to 21, starting with strength, agility and shooting drills on Monday from 3-5 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in on the NBA app to follow the drills. The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 16, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET. There will be more NBA combine coverage on ESPN2 on Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. ET and on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. ET.
That would have been must see TV if Wemba was there.
That would have been must see TV if Wemba was there.
Rule change next year says prospects must show up to at least be formally measured and tested, correct?
More or less a rule change to prevent top prospects from refusing to work out/release information to teams they are discouraging from drafting them as I read it. From a fan's POV, it would be fun to see the real height, wingspan, handsize, etc. from every prospect. It has been awhile since the top guys even showed up to be measured.
Rule change next year says prospects must show up to at least be formally measured and tested, correct?
More or less a rule change to prevent top prospects from refusing to work out/release information to teams they are discouraging from drafting them as I read it. From a fan's POV, it would be fun to see the real height, wingspan, handsize, etc. from every prospect. It has been awhile since the top guys even showed up to be measured.
Beginning in 2024, all invited players will be required to attend and participate in the NBA draft combine or be ineligible to be drafted until the "first subsequent draft for which the player attends and fully participates."
If I was Detroit, I would take Jarace Walker(Houston) or Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite). I am going with Detroit to make the leap to playoff contender with Orlando and Houston nipping at their heels. Spurs getting a play-in. If I was the Blazers, I would get Scoot. He's my Lillard replacement. That's my too early predictions. This is the proper place for my armchair GM musings.
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