2023 - NBA Draft Guide 4

’23 Draft
The Athletic’s Written by

NBA Draft Guide Sam Vecenie
Cover
2023 NBA DRAFT GUIDE
Table of Contents CLICK ME!
Introduction 03
Top-100 Board 04
Tier Vic: Victor Wembanyama 07
Tier 1: Projectable All-NBA Upside 12
Tier 2: Projectable All-Star Upside 16
Tier 3: High-Leverage Starters 25
Tier 4: Starter/All-Star Tool Swings 36
Tier 5: Rotation Players and Upside Swings 55
Tier 6: Second-Round Guarantee Swings 103
Tier 7: Priority Two-Ways 118
Tier 8: Two-Ways, Stashes, Exhibit 10s 144
Copyright: June 14, 2023 | @svecenie | svecenie@TheAthletic.com

All scouting reports and rankings are the original views and analysis of Sam Vecenie and The Athletic.
Ages listed in top-100 board and bios are as of the date of the 2023 NBA Draft (June 22, 2023). Those listed in
stats tables are players’ ages for majority of that season. Heights listed are players’ measurements without shoes.
Design by John Bradford & Luke Leissring, images via Getty Images ©2023 THE ATHLETIC MEDIA COMPANY
2023 NBA DRAFT GUIDE 03
Introduction
This is the fourth year for the draft guide, and it gets better every single year because of the terrific team at The Athletic that
works to bring you such an awesome product.
The goal is simple every year: Produce the most comprehensive NBA Draft report for basketball fans and those who work within
the game. I want it to be basic enough that an NBA fan who has never watched any of these players gets a feel for them but
thorough enough that an NBA executive potentially learns something they might not have known.
This project gets a bit harder each year as my time continues to be split in different directions, from NBA and draft coverage to
college basketball transfers to the Game Theory Podcast to on-camera responsibilities. Again, we dived deep on 75 players. But
this year, the product is the longest it’s ever been at more than 130,000 words. It’s a labor of love and a prospect bible I truly love
getting to share.
I see this year’s draft as being quite good in the top half of the lottery, largely due to 7-foot-4 superstar Victor Wembanyama. I
believe Wembanyama is the best prospect to enter the NBA since LeBron James and have created a tier for only him. Tier Vic
is a new house for a prospect, but it didn’t feel right putting Wembanyama in the same grouping as others. Beyond him, I have
one Tier 1 player in Scoot Henderson and three Tier 2 players I think have genuinely realizable All-Star upside. I’ll probably
be out on a limb a bit ranking Cam Whitmore at No. 3 and Brandon Miller at No. 4, but their grades are so close, and both are
terrific in different ways. That tier also features Amen Thompson, an explosively powerful and graceful point guard who can
create transition opportunities as well as any perimeter player I’ve seen in a long time, in addition to throwing passing reads
all over the court. The next group of prospects also is quite strong, featuring Amen’s twin brother, Ausar, a pair of great forward
prospects and one of the smartest point guard prospects I’ve evaluated in terms of pure processing speed on the court.
After that, expect this draft to be all over the map. You want wild cards? We’ve got them in guys like Bilal Coulibaly and Leonard
Miller. You want freshmen with clear talent who didn’t quite live up to expectations? Dariq Whitehead and Nick Smith Jr. are all
over NBA teams’ boards. What about veterans who helped their teams win? Jordan Hawkins, Kris Murray and Olivier-Maxence
Prosper look like they could help a team sooner rather than later. There are projects galore, and it’s led to NBA teams having
some wild opinions in terms of the ranges and tiers players are placed in. Expect the unexpected.
I’m asked every year if I have favorite prospects compared to consensus, and this year is no different. I would say the guys I’m a
bit higher on than teams and evaluators are Henderson, Whitmore, Kobe Bufkin, Leonard Miller, Kobe Brown and Prosper. I’m
probably a bit lower on Smith, Keyonte George, Jett Howard, Maxwell Lewis and G.G. Jackson. I like guys who are efficient, have
positional versatility on defense and have helped teams win. My board is also likely taller than most – and wing-heavy. Only four
players in my top 60 are below 6-foot-4 without shoes.
I’m thrilled about this year’s draft, almost as excited as I am for you to explore this guide. It’s a real team effort that involves
copious hours from The Athletic’s editors, design staff, social media team and others. I couldn’t be more appreciative of
everyone who makes this happen.
This also wouldn’t be possible without the great online resources I’m lucky to have access to. Very special thank yous go to the
terrific folks at Synergy Sports, whose statistics are often referenced and without whom I wouldn’t be able to complete this work.
Any data you see in tables come from the great teams at sports-reference.com and RealGM.com, whose tireless work aggregating
stats is invaluable to evaluators. Thanks to the people at 247Sports, whose composite system is used when recruiting rankings
are referenced. The great folks at Pivot Analysis provide access to some fun advanced numbers and deserve a shout-out. Thanks
to all the folks within athletic departments who help gather info on player backgrounds, and thanks to all the sources willing to
discuss players to learn more about them. Most importantly, I’m eternally grateful for my unbelievable wife, Laura, who is such
an incredibly supportive partner throughout projects like this.
Hope you enjoy!
– Sam
2023 NBA Draft Big Board

Top-100 Prospects
RANK PLAYER, SCHOOL/TEAM POS. AGE HT. WING. TIER
1 Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 C 19 7-4 8-0 Vic
2 Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite G 19 6-2 N/A 1
3 Cam Whitmore, Villanova W 18 6-6 6-9 2
4 Brandon Miller, Alabama W/F 20 6-8 N/A 2
5 Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite G 20 6-6 7-0 2
6 Jarace Walker, Houston F 19 6-7 7-3 3
7 Taylor Hendricks, UCF W/F 19 6-8 7-1 3
8 Anthony Black, Arkansas G/W 19 6-6 6-8 3
9 Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite W 20 6-6 7-0 3
10 Dereck Lively II, Duke C 19 7-1 N/A 4
11 Kobe Bufkin, Michigan G 19 6-4 6-8 4
12 Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92 W 18 6-6 N/A 4
13 Leonard Miller, G League Ignite F 19 6-9 7-2 4
14 Cason Wallace, Kentucky G 19 6-3 6-9 4
15 Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana G/W 20 6-4 6-10 4
16 Gradey Dick, Kansas W 19 6-6 6-9 4
17 Kris Murray, Iowa W/F 22 6-8 7-0 5
18 Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut W 21 6-4 6-7 5
19 Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State W 19 6-6 N/A 5
20 Dariq Whitehead, Duke W 18 6-6 6-10 5
21 Noah Clowney, Alabama F/C 18 6-10 N/A 5
22 Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas G 19 6-4 N/A 5
23 Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA W 22 6-6 6-10 5
24 Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette W 20 6-7 7-1 5
25 Jett Howard, Michigan W 19 6-7 N/A 5
26 Keyonte George, Baylor G 19 6-4 N/A 5
27 Colby Jones, Xavier W 21 6-5 6-8 5
28 Ben Sheppard, Belmont W 21 6-5 6-8 5
29 Andre Jackson, Connecticut W 21 6-6 6-10 5
30 Kobe Brown, Missouri F 23 6-7 7-1 5
31 Marcus Sasser, Houston G 22 6-1 6-7 5


32 Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite W 19 6-6 6-10 5
33 Julian Phillips, Tennessee W 19 6-7 7-0 5
34 Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers W 19 6-6 7-2 5
35 Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine W 20 6-6 7-0 5
36 G.G. Jackson, South Carolina F 18 6-8 7-0 5
37 Jalen Wilson, Kansas W 22 6-6 6-8 6
38 Amari Bailey, UCLA G 19 6-3 6-7 6
39 Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana C 23 6-8 7-1 6
40 James Nnaji, Barcelona C 18 6-11 N/A 6
41 Jordan Walsh, Arkansas W 19 6-6 7-2 6
42 Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara G/W 20 6-4 6-6 6
43 Ricky Council IV, Arkansas W 21 6-5 6-9 7
44 Omari Moore, San Jose State G/W 22 6-5 6-10 7
45 Colin Castleton, Florida C 23 6-11 7-4 7
46 Julian Strawther, Gonzaga W 21 6-6 6-9 7
47 Seth Lundy, Penn State W 23 6-4 6-10 7
48 Adama Sanogo, Connecticut C 21 6-7 7-3 7
49 Hunter Tyson, Clemson W/F 23 6-8 6-10 7
50 Jordan Miller, Miami (FL) W 23 6-5 7-0 7
51 Jaylen Clark, UCLA W 21 6-4 6-9 7
52 Adam Flagler, Baylor G 23 6-1 6-5 7
53 Terquavion Smith, NC State G 20 6-3 6-7 7
54 Nadir Hifi, Le Portel G 20 6-2 N/A 8
55 Jalen Pickett, Penn State G 23 6-2 6-7 8
56 Jalen Slawson, Furman W/F 23 6-7 7-0 8
57 Drew Timme, Gonzaga F/C 22 6-9 7-2 8
58 Tristan Vukčević, Partizan C 20 6-11 7-3 8
59 Isaiah Wong, Miami (FL) G 22 6-3 6-7 8
60 Chris Livingston, Kentucky W 19 6-6 6-11 8
61 Sir'Jabari Rice, Texas G/W 24 6-3 6-9 8
62 Mike Miles Jr., TCU G 20 6-1 6-1 8
63 Mouhamed Gueye, Washington State C 20 6-10 7-3 8
64 Mojave King, G League Ignite G 21 6-4 6-8 8
65 Ąžuolas Tubelis, Arizona C 21 6-9 6-11 8
66 Liam Robbins, Vanderbilt C 23 7-0 N/A 8


67 Toumani Camara, Dayton F 23 6-7 7-1 8
68 Darius McGhee, Liberty G 24 5-9 6-1 8
69 Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan W 19 6-8 6-9 8
70 Landers Nolley II, Cincinnati W 23 6-6 6-11 8
71 Charles Bediako, Alabama C 21 6-10 7-3 8
72 Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky C 23 6-7 7-4 8
73 Jaylen Martin, Overtime Elite W 19 6-5 6-11 8
74 Tosan Evbuomwam, Princeton F 22 6-7 7-2 8
75 Caleb McConnell, Rutgers W 24 6-6 6-9 8
76 Tevian Jones, Southern Utah G 22 6-7 6-10 8
77 Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Merkezefendi F 21 6-7 N/A 8
78 Leaky Black, North Carolina F 24 6-6 7-0 8
79 Chase Audige, Northwestern G 23 6-3 N/A 8
80 Justyn Mutts, Virginia Tech F 24 6-6 7-3 8
81 Kendric Davis, Memphis G 24 5-10 6-1 8
82 D'Moi Hodge, Missouri G 24 6-3 6-5 8
83 Malcolm Cazalon, Mega G 21 6-5 N/A 8
84 Damion Baugh, TCU G 22 6-2 6-8 8
85 Taevion Kinsey, Marshall G 23 6-4 6-11 8
86 Nathan Mensah, San Diego State F 25 6-10 7-6 8
87 Grant Sherfield, Oklahoma G 23 6-1 6-6 8
88 Jazian Gortman, Overtime Elite G 20 6-1 6-10 8
89 Craig Porter Jr., Wichita State G 23 6-1 6-4 8
90 Justin Powell, Washington State G 22 6-5 N/A 8
91 Patrick Gardner, Marist C 24 6-11 7-2 8
92 Drew Peterson, USC F 23 6-8 6-10 8
93 Jacob Toppin, Kentucky F 23 6-8 N/A 8
94 Souley Boum, Xavier G 24 6-2 N/A 8
95 Taylor Funk, Utah State F 25 6-8 N/A 8
96 Tyree Appleby, Wake Forest G 24 6-0 6-1 8
97 Malachi Smith, Gonzaga G 23 6-3 N/A 8
98 Cam Shelton, Loyola Marymount G 23 6-0 6-3 8
99 Tyger Campbell, UCLA G 23 5-11 6-2 8
100 Marcus Bagley, Arizona State F 21 6-7 N/A 8

Tier VIC
Tier Player 01
Victor
VIC Wembanyama
01. Victor Wembanyama

C | Metropolitans 92 | Birthdate: Jan. 4, 2004 (Age: 19) | 7-4 | 235 LBS |
Hometown: Le Chesnay, France
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE AGE GP PPG RPG APG TOPG BPG SPG FG% 3P% FT%
2021-22 ASVEL France + 18 33 7.6 4.2 0.6 1.5 1.8 0.6 41.5 27.5 68.4
EuroLeague
2022-23 Metropoli- French League 19 43 20.8 10.4 2.4 2.9 3.0 0.8 46.7 27.2 81.2
tans 92
*stats as of June 13
BACKGROUND
Wembanyama has long been considered one of the best prospects in his age group. Father, Félix, was a 6-foot-6 high-level long
jumper. Mother, Elodie, was 6-foot-3 and played basketball and helped teach Victor the game. He has two siblings, both of whom
play basketball, and grew up in the Parisian suburbs and joined the Nanterre 92 developmental team at a young age.
Emerged as an elite prospect for NBA teams at the U16 European Championships in 2019, where he averaged nine points, 10
rebounds and five blocks per game as a 15-year-old. He continued to ride the wave of momentum while playing for Nanterre’s
developmental Espoirs team and got his first taste of professional basketball in early 2020 for Nanterre. Quickly emerged as
a first-team player for Nanterre in 2020-21, starting 10 games in the French League and winning the Pro A league’s Best Shot
Blocker award as well as its Rising Star award. That summer, he went to the U19 World Cup as an underage 17-year-old and
dominated again. He averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, putting up a dominant 22-point, eight-rebound, eight-
block game in the championship against the United States team led by Chet Holmgren, with France losing by just two points.
He continued his ascent as a 17-year-old, moving to French power ASVEL and earning starting minutes both in EuroLeague
and French League play. He led the EuroLeague in blocked shots as a teenager, an absurd accomplishment, and largely held his
own, showcasing flashes of elite play mixed with some inefficiency as a young player exploring the boundaries of his game. He
won the French League Best Young Player award again but lost EuroLeague Rising Star award to New York Knicks’ pick Rokas
Jokubaitis. Decided to leave ASVEL at the end of the season, signing a contract with Metropolitans 92 in Paris, where he would
play for French national team coach Vincent Collet.
Exploded in his season with Metropolitans, going from surefire No. 1 overall player to truly generational talent due to his
improvement in terms of shot creation. The NBA put together a showcase game for Wembanyama and potential No. 2 overall
pick Scoot Henderson in September 2022. Wembanyama left scouts salivating and in awe, scoring 37 points in the first game and
then scoring 36 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the second. He went on to carry Metropolitans toward the top of the French
League and as of June 13 led the French League in rebounds and blocks and was second in points.
It is worth noting Wembanyama has had a history of injuries. In December 2020, he suffered a stress fracture in his leg. In
November 2021, he broke a finger that forced him to miss one month. In December 2021, he suffered a right shoulder blade
bone bruise that forced him to miss over a month. In June 2022, he suffered a muscle injury that forced him to miss the rest
of the French League season. None of these are recurrent, but scouts have taken notice that he continues to miss time. He
has not missed a single game for Metropolitans in his pre-draft year and is considered to have a very professional personality
and demeanor.
STRENGTHS
Wembanyama has elite length for a center. He stands over 7-foot-4 in shoes with a near-8-foot wingspan and will be among the
longest centers in the NBA from day 1. He has a relatively skinny yet well-proportioned frame that should continue to be able to
add weight. He’s already over 230 pounds and has retained a large amount of the coordination and athleticism that has made
him special as an offensive player. He’s not an elite run-and-jump athlete, but he’s good and more than anything possesses
terrific hand-eye coordination and fluidity for his size. He gets off the ground quickly as a jumper, even if his vertical leap likely
isn’t massive. His balance is unlike that of any “super giant” who has entered the NBA.
Wembanyama’s superpower is his ability to defend in the paint. He is the best shot-blocking prospect to enter the NBA in a
long time. He led EuroLeague in blocked shots as a 17-/18-year-old and blocked twice as many shots as any player in the French
League in 2022-23. Possesses a terrific sense of timing and positioning and has clearly been taught well. Length and ability to
move changes the geometry of the game both vertically and on the ground. Pairs this with strong anticipation. He’ll crash down
from the elbows or rotate over from the weak side quickly and can bait potential shooters to try to go up without realizing how
quickly he can cover the ground. Vertically, he’s enormous, and his length ends up covering the top of the rim. On the floor in
the paint, he swallows up drivers and covers an enormous amount of ground due to how mobile and balanced he is. Doesn’t
really need to elevate to impact shots at the rim, which stops him from fouling. Averaged just two fouls per game this season and
is an impediment just by sticking his arms up.
Wembanyama is a strong defender across the court as well. His instincts and awareness in drop coverage are strong, and he has
elite potential there. Because of his length and understanding of angles, he plays the gap between the ballhandler and roller
well. He can both play in retreat where he cedes space or more aggressively closer to the level of the screen. He keeps almost
everything in front of him, but when he does get beat, he has terrific recovery skills due to his length. This causes real hesitancy
from ballhandlers. It’s hard for them to feel comfortable pulling up because of how capable he is getting out to the perimeter
even when he’s dropping to the foul line. You can also feel this in closeouts, where he can speed up shooters. Moreover, he plays
with a reasonable amount of bend and can slide to cut off players in space. He’s not the quickest guy in the world, but he keeps
his feet active and uses his length and angles well and plays on balance.
Offensively, Wembanyama took a significant leap in 2022-23, actualizing the talent that has existed in scouts’ eyes for a long
time. He’s a ridiculous shot creator for someone this big. The threat is immediate because he’ll grab-and-go and pressure the
defense off the glass. He’s very good in transition because of how quickly he covers ground, and his handle is ridiculously
tight for a 7-4 center. He looks like a wing out there with how he sets up defenders then strings together moves to attack the
top foot. He loves the isolation pull-up and is a big fan of the right-foot jab step into the left-hand dribble stepback to the left.
He developed the ability to hit side-step pull-ups this past season and does it to both his left and his right, and he can string
together multiple moves to separate to get to his stepback as well. He loves the hesitation crossover into a pull-up and uses his
stride length to really extend out and create feet of separation on stepbacks. He has counters for days to how defenders attempt
to play him. He’ll hit inside-out dribbles into spinning turnarounds, fake spin-shimmies into midrange pull-ups, mid-post face-
up fadeaways, etc.
Wembanyama also is a creative ballhandler when loading into his shot. He has superb balance and touch combination and
made multiple running floaters from behind the 3-point line earlier this past season that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone
else attempt. There isn’t really a way to contest him because of how high his release point is. He does a good job of using it to
its utmost advantage too. He’ll catch and keep the ball high while gathering and doesn’t need a ball dip to load into the shot,
which is important as it refers to catching-and-shooting and taking advantage of potential mid-post shots. He also hits shots off
movement and made 47 percent of his shots from the field this past season despite taking over two-thirds of them from outside
of 5 feet away from the basket. It’s very easy to imagine him as a primary end-of-shot-clock option in the NBA. He can always
create a reasonable look and makes an obscene number of contested shots. He made 38 percent of his shots between 9 and 20
feet, but that’s a strong number given how absurdly contested these shots were and what the degree of difficulty was in creating
them. He’ll have more space to operate in the NBA.
Wembanyama also has real driving capabilities because of how long his strides are and how much ground he covers. He
combines the threat of his pull-up shot with drives off hesitation dribbles well. He doesn’t have a great first step, but once he
gets defenders leaning, it’s hard for them to stay in front because he can gather into a shot off a drive from the 3-point line due
to his length. He can do it out of isolations if he gets someone off-balance or out of spot-ups if a heavy closeout comes due to
the respect defenders give his shot. He’s very similar to a younger Giannis Antetokounmpo in that way but doesn’t yet have
the same level of strength Giannis developed. Still, Wembanyama does a good job of playing through contact once he gets that
downhill first step. In the NBA, he’ll have even more open driving lanes due to the spacing of the court, which should allow him
to continue to be impactful as a finishing driver. He can also occasionally post his man and bully him to the rim purely due to
his stride length or ability to shoot over the top. If you try to play him tight and get physical with him, he’ll go up and under and
extend his way to the rim.
Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama also is an awesome finisher at the rim. Per Synergy, he made 73.1 percent at the basket this past
season and was at 68.3 percent in the half court, a very strong number given that he self-created a ton of these looks off drives.
A lot of his finishes came off putbacks, where Wembanyama averaged about 2.5 points per game, fourth-most in the French
League behind only fellow 7-foot-3 supergiant Youssoupha Fall. He’s a constant lob threat if he’s in the dunker spot and has good
touch with both hands. He maintains contact balance well as a finisher and has very easy lift as a finisher. He has very high-level
potential as a pick-and-roll finisher due to his balance and hand-eye coordination and poses the pick-and-pop threat as well.
He’s so multi-faceted and versatile as a scorer that it’s hard to find ways to completely shut him down.
WEAKNESSES
There are a few, but not many. Wembanyama has a higher center of gravity, which means he can be moved around a bit more
often than you’d expect. He does have strength and should fill out well physically as he ages, but right now, he can have some
issues getting knocked off his line. That high center of gravity can sometimes come into play when he’s moving laterally in space.
He can sometimes get out-leveraged and beaten by a guard who gets lower than he does. He’s excellent in recovery, but those
spaces become more and more open at the next level. He’s great with his angles but will need to keep improving upon always
having the right ones.
Wembanyama sometimes struggles to see open passing reads and make plays when he’s on the move and sometimes gets a bit
too focused on scoring as a driver. He does a great job of drawing defenders and forcing help but doesn’t always take the best
advantage of bending the defense. He sometimes makes his passing reads in set plays way too obvious. Metropolitans often ran
plays where he was out high and would try to find cutters, but he’d completely telegraph what he was doing. Anecdotally, more
of his turnovers come via the pass as opposed to ballhandling turnovers. Teams can frustrate him with late digs and weakside
doubles. I would expect teams try to aggressively double-team him early in his career and force him to learn these passing reads.
He can get a bit too sped up.
Wembanyama’s shooting can also be a bit inconsistent. He goes through spurts where he just can’t find the bucket. A lot of the
percentage issues have to do with shot selection, as he often ends up taking a ton of absurdly tough ones that others can’t even
create. But it’s worth noting that his numbers aren’t great. In total, he made 32.5 percent of his jumpers and 32.4 percent of his
catch-and-shoot 3s and only 20.7 percent of his 3s off the bounce. The highlights look great, but the results aren’t always there. I
don’t think he engages his lower half enough with good shot prep off the catch right now. Catching-and-shooting often seems
like a second option when he gets the ball, so he doesn’t always look ready to fire immediately. He tends to miss long on his
shots, which I think is due to inconsistent rhythm and engagement of his lower half. He can be a bit stiff.
All of this is eminently fixable, and there is zero reason not to buy Wembanyama as a shooter long term. He’ll get stronger in
his lower half and work with a legitimate shooting coach who helps to improve his overall mechanics. Wembanyama’s touch is
so good that he’ll find mechanics that work for him. But early in his career, you might see some real inconsistency in terms of
the actual result. Because he’s so efficient at the rim and will be playing with better guards who can find him easier buckets, he
should stay above the median efficiency line even as a rookie. But he might go through spurts where the shot doesn’t fall.
SUMMARY
Wembanyama is the highest-upside prospect to enter the NBA since LeBron James. There are things that could go wrong here
and hold him back from that type of upside — particularly, if his body breaks down and his durability becomes a question, or
if the passing and playmaking never quite come along to the levels they need to. But it’s hard to overemphasize how incredible
Wembanyama’s long-term potential is on both ends of the floor.
He will immediately be the biggest, longest player in the NBA, which allows him to change the geometry of the court defensively.
He has great instincts and recovery ability on that end. But moreover, he is a legitimate shot creator at center or even at the four
who can create off the bounce and knock down shots with ease off pull-ups or drives to the rim. He’s a terrific finisher inside
due to his length and touch and is already starting to experiment with shots that could make him special, such as some of the
turnaround pull-ups, the fake-spin shimmies and even the weirdo floater 3s. He is a historic prospect, one well within the
tapestry of former elite big prospects such as Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille
O’Neal and Tim Duncan. It remains to be seen if he can live up to their hype, but his game fits within the modern construct of
basketball just as well as those players’ games did in their eras.
Wembanyama has every chance to have the kind of storied career all those players had as Hall of Famers. It is somewhat easy
to envision Wembanyama’s upside as being the best player on planet Earth someday, which is a sentence I have never written
about another prospect before.
Tier 1
Tier Player 02
1 Projectable
All-NBA Upside
02. Scoot Henderson

G | G League Ignite | Birthdate: Feb. 3, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-2 | 190 LBS |
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
2021-22 Ignite G League 18 21 14.3 4.8 4.2 2.1 0.2 1.6 44.9 21.6 77.8
2022-23 Ignite G League 19 25 17.6 5.1 6.4 3.3 0.4 1.2 44.3 32.4 75.0
BACKGROUND
Real name is Sterling. Went by Scoota at one point. Parents are Crystal and Chris. Crystal works in health care, and Chris is a
coach and trainer who has his own gym, Next Play 360. Comes from a big family with six siblings, including five sisters. Family
is very important to his story. Scoot’s oldest brother, Jade, played football. Three of his sisters – Onyx, China and Diamond –
played Division I basketball. His younger sister, Crystal, is a well-regarded point guard in the 2023 recruiting class who commit-
ted to Georgia State to play basketball. His brother C.J. lived with him in Walnut Creek last year.
Henderson is one of those players who was immediately, very obviously, an elite prospect. Grew up playing and training with
his dad and sisters. C.J. played with him for his first year in high school, when C.J. was a senior and Scoot was a freshman at Kell
High School in Marietta. Scoot started at point guard and immediately burst onto the scene as one of the best young guards in
high school basketball. As a sophomore, Henderson won Class 5A Player of the Year in Georgia after COVID-19 shut play down.
Henderson’s father having his own gym allowed Henderson to continue to work on his game throughout this down period for
many prospects, and he continued to take another leap. He averaged 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists as a junior, in a
season in which his team lost in the state finals. Throughout his senior season, Henderson doubled up on classes and decided
to graduate early from high school. He bypassed his final year of eligibility in high school and signed with the G League Ignite,
choosing to turn pro for a $1 million contract. He decided on this path over offers from Georgia and Auburn, as well as other
professional opportunities.
At the Ignite, Henderson immediately became the most interesting player within the program. Scouts identified him as the most
interesting long-term player on a team with future first-round picks Dyson Daniels and MarJon Beauchamp. Averaged 15 points
and shot 46 percent from the field playing professionally, immediately looking like he belonged in the NBA. In his second sea-
son, he started the year by playing in a showcase series of games against Victor Wembanyama. Henderson led the Ignite to a win
in the first game, scoring 28 points, dishing out nine assists and grabbing five rebounds. Henderson suffered a bone bruise in the
first half of the second game and missed the rest of it. He stepped into the primary creator role consistently in his second year
with G League Ignite. Results were a bit more up and down than hoped for, as Henderson didn’t shoot well while dealing with
injuries. He had a nasal fracture and missed a few weeks of action and also dealt with an ankle injury in January. None of these
injuries are considered serious or have long-term ramifications. He shut things down with five games to go in the season. He was
invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Also worth noting that Henderson’s character is noted as elite across the NBA. His com-
petitive fire and drive to succeed is seen as a culture builder in and of itself.
STRENGTHS
Elite athlete for the lead guard position. He’s 6-foot-2 with very long arms. Has the young Derrick Rose-esque mix of
explosiveness, balance and body control. Not quite a top-1 percentile athlete like an Amen Thompson but probably a top-5
percentile athlete in the NBA. Plays with real physical force as he explodes through and makes plays happen but also has a
lightning quick first step. Once he rises, he has real vertical pop off one foot that beats rim protectors to the spot. Gets off the
ground quickly and forcefully. Has real contact balance in the air when guys bump him. But also has the hang time and control
to adjust midair and change the angle on rim protectors. Consistently plays hard and aggressively. Motor runs hot. Highly
competitive person who really takes the game on and tries to take it over. Has the kind of mentality you want in a No. 1 option.
He’s the alpha dog on the team.
All of this translates to Henderson being an elite driver of offense. He uses that athleticism to its utmost degree. He creates
transition play by grabbing and going off the glass and attacking relentlessly. Uses his extremely long strides to beat players
down the court. In the half court, he does the same thing. If you give him even a little bit of space to get downhill, he’s going to
immediately do so and be almost impossible to stop. If you don’t get your chest in front of him, he’s going to go through you.
He’s so strong and powerful through his lower and upper halves that rakes across the arms and out-of-position little shoulder
and hip bumps just don’t even really knock him off his center of gravity. The other important note is that he can do everything at
full speed: Euro step, gather, rise for a dunk off one foot without slowing down. However, when he must, he can slow down. He
has real deceleration ability. He can change pace and let guys go by as well as use that Euro step to go around opponents. He’s
more of a speed-and-power based player, but he knows how to throw the change-up when necessary.
Henderson is a walking paint touch. Has real technique off the bounce with crossovers and hesitations to get all the way there.
Can string together multiple moves depending on how the defender presents to him, as opposed to pre-ordaining what he’s
going to do. The other athletic trait that’s worth pointing out is his stride length. Henderson really drives off his back foot and
extends out, covering a ton of ground and opening more angles than the average player both as a scorer and as a passer. He
tended to settle a bit this past season – in my opinion, because of the injuries and likely conserving himself to prepare for the
draft – but he gets all the way to the rim when he wants to. Averaged three shots at the rim per game in half-court settings, per
Synergy. Would expect this to increase in the NBA when surrounded by better spacing.
All of this extends to his ability out of ball screens. Henderson’s feel here is superb. His footwork coming off ball screens is
terrific and sets him up for many options because of how well he keeps his center of gravity in alignment. He can use his first
step to drive to survey the defense and try to draw defenders toward him with patient probing dribbles, or he can hold defenders
on his hip to wait for the help defender to make his decision. In general, he’s best as a scorer and finisher at the rim. All these
skills mixed with his pristine footwork allow him to create angles around rim protectors at the basket. Loves the inside-hand
finish on the left side of the basket with his right hand. Can even throw a little English on the ball to get it to fall in. Beyond that,
can rise and throw down on you with a highlight reel dunk. He’ll go through you if your positioning isn’t perfect.
I’ve always thought Henderson was an underrated passer, even though the assist numbers have never been particularly gaudy.
However, this past season, he clearly took a leap. Averaged over six assists per game, and it should have been more if not for his
teammates often leaving him hanging from 3. He is outstanding at reading defenders. The game is slow for him, and again, he
does it all off a live dribble. He reads weakside rim protectors well to hit the dump-off pass and other interior reads. He’ll bring
the big in ball screens toward him to open the angle for his roller. He knows how to read the opposite corner man and hit a skip
pass, and he also knows how to manipulate the low man to help at the rim to hit the skip pass. He has some flair and will make
the highlight reel pass, but he largely keeps it simple and makes the smart, simple read if he can. He’s thinking levels above the
typical teenager and sees everything he needs to on the court to make efficient plays for his teammates.
What also makes Henderson such a difficult problem to solve is his midrange pull-up game. He is way advanced compared to
guys such as Ja Morant and Rose in this respect. If he gets to his spot around the elbows from 15 to 18 feet, and you have dropped
too far, he’s going to stop and pop, and you should feel reasonably comfortable it’s going in. Before his ankle injury, Henderson
made 40 percent of his midrange shots, per Synergy – a strong number for a teenager who takes almost all of them off pull-ups.
Has also started developing a little push-shot floater that has become useful, if not quite as comfortable for him as the pull-up
from 16 feet. Has some stuff to work on with the shot from distance as we’ll note later, but this pull-up midrange weapon is big
because it puts defenders in a tough spot. How do you guard him in ball screens? If you switch a big onto him, he’s too fast. If
you play flatter ball screen coverage, he reads your defense quickly and makes the right read. If you drop him, he might turn the
corner on your big anyway, but even if he doesn’t, he can get your guard defender on his hip and lock him in jail, or he can
pull up if the man isn’t there. This is going to translate quickly to success in the NBA. And if his shooting from distance comes
around, he’s an impossible problem to solve.
WEAKNESSES
The real one is that Henderson is a bit small at 6-foot-2, which could open him up to some struggles on the defensive end.
Sometimes, big creators such as Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Kevin Durant (among others)
are going to try to get Henderson switched onto them in a mismatch in critical moments in the playoffs. Henderson is super
competitive, and he’s strong enough to hold his own position. He fights. You won’t be able to necessarily bury him on the block.
But if someone like Durant gets him in the mid-post 18 feet away from the rim, he’s just going to shoot over the top, and there
isn’t much Henderson can do. On a day-to-day basis in the regular season, this is going to be much less of an issue. But that is
really Henderson’s one limitation that could pose longer-term concerns when considering him as a franchise player.
I think Henderson’s defense is probably just average at this point. He brings it when he must and when he’s challenged, but
there were times in the G League when he was a bit less locked in on that end. He will sometimes lose contain of his man at the
point of attack and struggle a bit to get around screens. His biggest issue right now is his closeout technique. He really comes
up high and hops in, allowing opponents to drive him. But for the most part, I think there is less to worry about with him
technically and physically than someone like Morant.
I am a buyer on Henderson being a shooter from deep long term, but it’s not quite a strength now, and it might take some time.
His overall shooting base is solid but not elite. He doesn’t look quite as comfortable beyond the 3-point line as he does from that
midrange area. Really must load up a bit more physically, and it takes him a bit longer to gather into the shot, which ends up
resulting in the shot being a touch more
contested. It’s just not his natural decision yet to come off a ball screen and fire from 3 if no one is there and he’s wide open. But
he showed so much growth with it this past season that it’s hard to believe it’s going to be a lasting issue. Shot just 21.6 percent
from 3 in 2021-22. This past season, he was up to 32.4 percent, a large improvement but not quite at the level you want it to be.
Henderson also doesn’t live at the foul line as much as he should. It’s not egregious, but he was just a top-30 player in the G
League this past season in free-throw attempts. He can occasionally settle a bit too much with that midrange jumper and floater,
but more than that, I think he just avoids bumps at the rim where he can potentially go into rim protectors’ bodies to try to draw
the foul. Part of this is weirdly that I think he’s excellent at using his deceleration steps and footwork to avoid contact when he
can, then using his stride length and arm length to finish around bigs. That might be good for his long-term outlook in the NBA
as a smaller guard. But he needs to find a happy medium where he can draw fouls by being willing to play through more contact
given how good he is at dealing with it already. He’s not quite there yet.
SUMMARY
In many other drafts, Henderson would be the No. 1 overall pick. He just happens to be in the same draft as Wembanyama. He’s
that good. He’s going to be an exceptionally hard problem to solve for defenses from the first day he hits the NBA because of
how well-rounded he is in ball screen actions. He can pull up and hit floaters, he can get all the way to the rim and finish with
authority or touch, he can play slow or fast, and he can make high-level passing reads. On top of that, he’s going to force the
action in transition and drive easy points that way, as well as be the guy from day one who sets the tone for your organization
due to his competitiveness and drive. Henderson is truly an elite, franchise-altering prospect. No. 2 is no consolation prize in
this year’s class.
Tier 2
Tier Players 03 — 05
2 Projectable
All-Star Upside
03. Cam Whitmore

W | Villanova | Birthdate: July 8, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-6 | 230 LBS | Hometown: Odenton, Md.
2022-23 Villanova NCAA 18 25 12.5 5.3 0.7 1.6 0.4 1.4 47.5 35.0 72.1
(Big East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Beth and Myron. Father was in the Air National Guard. Has an older cousin, Bob Whitmore, who was drafted by the
Boston Celtics in 1969. Cam is from the DMV and played at Archbishop Spalding. Was a tremendous high school player in one
of the toughest high school leagues in the country, the Baltimore Catholic League. Broke his leg as a freshman and missed that
season. In total, played three years there and won two Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year awards. As a senior, he led
his team to the state semifinals in Maryland. Played for Team Melo on the Nike EYBL circuit. Upon the end of his senior year, he
was seen as a solid five-star prospect who had a chance to be a one-and-done player. But Whitmore really emerged into being
a certain one-and-done over the following months. He was selected a McDonald’s All-American, was invited to the Nike Hoop
Summit and played in the Jordan Brand Classic, which gave scouts a big opportunity to see him live and confirm him as a likely
one-and-done prospect. Following those events, he went to play for Team USA at the FIBA Americas U18 event in Mexico, where
he led the team to a gold medal, won MVP and certified himself as a potential top-five pick in the upcoming draft. In the end, he
was considered a clear five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He committed to Villanova before his senior season. Had
surgery on his right thumb in early October that kept him out until Dec. 3. Returned and was a bit of a mixed bag. Scored in sin-
gle figures in five of his first eight games. But over his last 16 games in the regular season, he averaged 14 points, five rebounds
and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3 and 70 percent from the line. Won the Big East
Freshman of the Year award. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Elite intersection of size, frame, athleticism and power. I think his athleticism has been underrated through the process. Mixes
that with very real body control and balance. Whitmore is 6-foot-6 without shoes with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan and a powerful
235-pound build. He has a strong near 8-foot-8 standing reach. But beyond that, he is very explosive. Not quite the overall
athlete Anthony Edwards is in terms of fluidity and ability to flip his hips but is in his ballpark in terms of power generation and
explosiveness. Has a good first step despite being 235 pounds. Very real bounce. Can jump off one foot or two and finish high
above the rim. Very powerful and has real burst in transition. Creates transition opportunities and finishes those chances. But
he’s also a real half-court dunking threat. Threw down some monster ones. The important thing, though, is that he combines all
of this with power and huge hands. Has great contact balance. Hard to knock him off his spot. Drives through rim protectors at
the basket and is a really impressive contested rebounder because of this combination.
Villanova would often run through a set to get him on either the left or the right wing. If he was on the left wing, he’d often
drive baseline and try to beat the rim protector to the spot. Has long strides when he’s not playing off two feet. Loves the rip
through (particularly a stutter rip). Love him when he catches on the wing on an empty side and just attacks. Will beat you to the
rim most times. Very comfortable dribbling and attacking with his left hand. If he was on the right side, he would often take a
middle ball screen and try to get downhill for a finish in the lane. If you try to get in front of him and don’t have enough strength
through your base and lower half, he will just move through you on his way to the rim. Powerful and on-balance as a driver,
largely because of how smart he is playing off two feet. He has an enormous jump stop move to change the angle on defenders.
He initiates contact and is willing to go through you. Center of gravity is strong and doesn’t get thrown off by contact. Also has
this strange ability to contort his body at weird angles and still finish through below the rim. Uses that body-control aspect
exceptionally well to create angles and find his way around bigs, both on the ground and when already in the air. If you cut him
off and he must pick up his dribble within 8 or so feet, he has a developing batch of step-through moves and pivots to use his
strides and strength to get to the basket. He’s also a sharp cutter. Goes decisively and gets downhill quickly, particularly when
cutting from the baseline. Seems to really time them well for when the help and the double-teams come and will get above the
rim to finish here. Made 64.2 percent of his attempts at the rim in half-court settings, a very high percentage for a wing creator.
Finishes with both hands.
Whitmore’s handle is quite good, particularly when trying to get to his stepback. Has a large bag of tricks. Good change of
pace that is also mixed with all sorts of nasty crossovers. Seems to have real rhythm, with the ability to decelerate and quickly
accelerate into new moves. Doesn’t pick up his dribble. He’s patient and willing to see what develops then attack it. If you make
one mistake defensively in terms of your weight distribution, there isn’t much room for error because Whitmore can get around
you or go through you.
He also has a nasty stepback game off the bounce. Made 19 3s off the dribble this past season, and some of those reps left
evaluators with their jaws on the floor in terms of his ability to create that necessary separation from his man then load into a
perfect-looking pull-up. Will string together multiple moves out on the perimeter including quick-succession crossovers to get
his man off-balance leaning to Whitmore’s right, then will drill a stepback to his left. Loves the hop step after completing these
moves to get his rhythm and balance toward the rim.
I buy the jumper long term. He didn’t take a ton of catch-and-shoot 3s because his role was more attack-oriented at Villanova,
but he made 40 percent of his looks there and has real touch. Makes tend to be very pure. Might struggle a bit early on from the
NBA line. There’s a lot of wrist involved with the shot. Takes them off the hop, which is good, but can occasionally have a slight
pause at the top of his mechanics. A bit of a slower release. When the rhythm is clean, the shot looks clean. It’s all about repping
it out so that those reps become the norm off the catch. Will be easy to work through long term, but all of this might limit him
to being more of a spot-up 3-point shooter as opposed to a movement catch-and-shoot threat – especially early. But he can hit
relocation 3s when someone closes him out heavily, combining the pull-up flashes with the catch-and-shoot threat.
I also think Whitmore has some real on-ball defensive upside. Has quick, strong, disruptive hands. Averaged 1.4 steals. His
intersection of quickness and power gives him real switchability in cross-matches and scramble situations. Really hard to go
through him when he gets his chest squared up to the ballhandler. Has the length to contest shots. I think he’ll have some
success switching one through four in the NBA in terms of his tools. Can also three-quarter the post while maintaining his
spot, using his length to contest entry passes. As an on-ball defender, it will all be about effort for Whitmore. This past season at
Villanova, he had some rough moments, but it was mostly positive. Has all the tools to be great at it if he wants to be.
WEAKNESSES
Whitmore has all the physical tools to be an NBA All-Star. But his overall feel for the game left scouts wanting more this past
season. Teams aren’t sure what to do with him in this respect. Had a lot of poor moments from a winning perspective and
missed a lot of reads that might frustrate more established players when it comes to playing with him early in his career. Played
what looked like selfish basketball a bit too often for Villanova.
All of this starts on the offensive end as a passer. Whitmore will come into the NBA with a historically low assist rate for a high-
usage wing. And that showcases itself on tape. He is the consummate ball stopper. There are seemingly no quick-read actions
with Whitmore. He’s a guy who stops, surveys the action, then makes his move. But he’ll also overdribble and dance on the
outside. Doesn’t take advantage of the defense rotating unless it’s his drive. Rarely keeps the ball moving in the chain along the
perimeter with a quick reversal. It doesn’t seem like he has vision beyond his own tunnel vision. Misses a lot of easy looks for his
teammates. And we’re not talking complex reads where he must be looking at the back side. There were a ton of easy, same-side
kickout chances Whitmore just did not take.
A lot of this results in some wild shot selection. Whitmore had a lot of unfortunate drives this past season where he recklessly
attacked the rim and took an off-balance shot while his open teammates looked on around the perimeter on in the dunker spot.
Plays well off two feet, which should theoretically lead to more balanced attempts, but they don’t. Defenders can collapse on
him all the time right now knowing the ball likely isn’t going to come back out when Whitmore drives. Got his shot blocked way
more often than you’d expect, and because defenders were really loading up the paint against him, he played much more below
the rim at times than he could.
Whitmore’s shot prep could use some work. Shooting an open 3 isn’t always his first choice, and some of the decision-making
questions written about above also show up here. Sometimes he’ll pause to survey before taking the shot instead of shooting in
rhythm. Sometimes he’ll jab step into a 3 when he doesn’t really need to.
Given how much Whitmore likes to drive and attack, it’s also notable that, right now, Whitmore has zero way to beat defenses as
a midrange scorer. He’s always trying to either get to his stepback 3 or all the way to the rim. But even when he does try to settle
into a midrange game, you see how his jumper isn’t exactly perfect in regard to making it work long term from that area of the
court. Squares himself off too much toward the rim. He has that pause at the top, which means the release is a bit slow. Can allow
for easier contests even when he gets that separation. His footwork in this area needs some real improvement. Has to be cleaner
and must make some mechanical tweaks to be able to be successful in this range.
I thought Whitmore’s defense away from the basketball at Villanova was a bit messy. Didn’t think his communication with his
teammates was always on point. Seemed to struggle in exchanges, either switches or just when to stop helping and recover back
to his man. Thought his closeouts were messy. Got driven by being out on his front foot a bit too often. Gambled way too often to
get steals and pushed himself out of position. Technically, he’s terrific when he gets his chest squared to his man but could have
done a better job of doing that as opposed to giving up driving lanes. Again, this is attention-to-detail stuff and probably related
to him missing time early. He will be as good as he wants to be on defense. But there are real flaws he’ll need to improve to reach
that potential.
SUMMARY
Whitmore is a pure upside play. If you buy into the flashes he showed at Villanova and think he has potential to be a 25-point-
per-game scorer, you should take him in the top five, passing and decision-making be damned. His athletic upside is elite
even by NBA standards. I think he’s going to put even the best athletes in the world behind the eight ball when it comes to his
explosiveness and power combination. He’ll excel in transition, and the opened-up driving lanes of the NBA court should favor
him even more when he has better shooters and floor spacers around him. Look at the way the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin
thrived in that regard this past season. Ultimately, I do tend to fall into this camp when it comes to Whitmore. If I’m drafting in
the top five, I am doing so to find the player who can make a real difference for me moving up the standings. If Whitmore hits, he
can be that. But the way he plays currently is a real flaw, and you’ll need to do some real work to fix that over the course of the
next couple of seasons. I’m a buyer on the talent because of the way he can collapse defenses. But it’s all on Whitmore to decide
that he wants to be a part of winning basketball teams that move the ball and play unselfishly.
04. Brandon Miller

W/F | Alabama | Birthdate: Nov. 22, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-8 | 200 LBS | Hometown: Antioch, Tenn.
2022-23 Alabama NCAA (SEC) 20 37 18.8 8.2 2.1 2.2 0.9 0.9 43.0 38.4 85.9
BACKGROUND
Parents are Darrell and Yolanda. Darrell was a tight end at Alabama. Brandon’s brother, Darrell Jr., also played college hoops
and played overseas briefly. His sister, Britany, plays basketball at Cumberland University. Because of his dad, Brandon grew up
rooting for Alabama. Miller played football and baseball growing up as well and was quite excellent at baseball before choosing
to focus on basketball in high school. Attended Cane Ridge High School in Antioch. Emerged on the recruiting scene very early
and was almost immediately a five-star recruit in his class. Was considered a top-15 recruit by the time he was a sophomore. By
the time his junior season rolled around, he was the best player in Tennessee and won the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year
award. Repeated as a senior when he averaged 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Considered a lot of different options,
including Kansas and Tennessee State, as his cousin Penny Collins is the coach at TSU. Also considered the professional route,
with both G League Ignite and NBL in Australia making real overtures. Ultimately chose Alabama. Became very clear from re-
ports from scouts who had attended practice that Miller was going to be a standout, one-and-done player. From his first game in
Tuscaloosa, it was clear Miller would be an elite player. Was a consensus second-team All-American and a finalist for the Wood-
en Award for national player of the year. Won SEC Player of the Year and led Alabama to the regular-season title in the league.
Won SEC tournament MVP while leading the Tide to a title. Alabama was the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Miller
struggled in the tourney, and the team lost in the Sweet 16 to San Diego State. Ultimately, Miller declared for the 2023 NBA Draft
and signed with an agent. He was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
During Miller’s lone season at Alabama, police said in court that Miller delivered then-Alabama teammate Darius Miles a hand-
gun used in the January fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris. Miller and his attorney have insisted that Miller was
unaware the gun was in the vehicle. Miles and 20-year-old Michael Lynn Davis were arrested and indicted on capital murder
charges. Miller was not arrested or charged. NBA teams at the top of the draft are doing their own intel-gathering, and the intel
regarding Miller before the incident was considered to be positive. If no additional information is found before the draft, it is not
expected to impact where Miller is selected.
STRENGTHS
Great size for a floor-spacing wing at 6-foot-9 in shoes. Harder than you think to find legitimate wings who are great shooters
and can defend in space at that height. Very few of them come through. Also, a very fluid athlete. Moves his feet well laterally.
Miller was also one of the most productive players in all of college basketball this past season as the centerpiece of one of the
best teams in the country. Consistently impacts the game across the court. He is an aggressive, tough rebounder who does a
good job of crashing the defensive glass and starting the break on his own. Will grab-and-go on the break and get to the rim. Also,
an aggressive offensive rebounder who is a regular threat for putbacks.
Miller is an elite shooter. There’s no other way to put it. Clearly has elite touch and can get them up at extremely high volume
due to his elite shot prep. Few had better shot prep in college basketball this past season outside of the pure shooting specialists.
Miller has his body turned toward the rim on the catch almost every time, off movement or off spot-ups, and is ready to fire. Uses
both a one-two step or shots off the hop to get into his shot. Very quick gather and release. Has a bit of a ball dip, but it doesn’t
really impact the quickness of the release. Also has a bit of a lower release point, which allows him to speed things up, and at his
height, the lower release point off the catch doesn’t really impact his ability to get shots off at volume.
Because of that ability to gather quickly off the hop and that height with his release point, Miller has elite potential as a floor-
spacing weapon in the NBA. Made 39.8 percent of his absurd 201 attempts off the catch, per Synergy. Terrific coming off a variety
of different actions. Alabama used him off dribble handoffs where he flattened out behind the screener and fired. The Tide used
him in corner drift actions where he planted off the hop and fired. Also can fire off pull-ups with ease and is a legitimate self-
creator off pull-ups from behind the 3-point line if he gets to his stepback. Per Synergy, Miller made 32.9 percent of his pull-up
3s this past season, a good number for a 20-year-old given that he was taking over two of them per game. Will walk into them in
transition, making him a guy you must pick up as soon as he crosses half court. Has some real flaws as a self-creator that we’ll
get to below, but there is a lot of room for growth.
Miller is a very comfortable, if loose, ballhandler who has control over the basketball out of ball screens even if he can’t quite
get anywhere completely effectively yet for reasons we’ll explore. Knows how to string out defenders in space and create
mismatches for himself and teammates. Again, can create those stepback opportunities in these circumstances with ease if
he gets a big switched out onto him. Didn’t get to showcase this a ton at Alabama due to the team’s style of play, but Miller was
known more for his game as a midrange player in high school. He has a lower release point on his catch-and-shoot 3-point
jumper, but Miller can raise his release point as necessary in certain settings to be able to get his jumper up over the top of
defenders. Moreover though, I also think he’s a sharp passer. Showcased his IQ as a point forward more at lower levels but clearly
sees the court well and finds interesting passing angles. Knows how to read the back side of defenses. Even showcased a couple
of flashes of being able to manipulate players with pass-fakes from a standstill before hitting a teammate in a different spot.
Miller is also a steady defensive player for his size. He’s not a lights-out defender or a stopper, but he’s reliable and should
translate well schematically to the NBA. Alabama used him on guards regularly, and he was relatively effective in terms of
switchability. He’s not the quickest guy in the world, but he’s big and fluid enough to flip his hips well in space and try to cut off
a different angle if the man beats him. Off the ball, Miller does a good job of constantly being in the right position and using his
size and length effectively. He stays on-balance and closes out well to shooters. Doesn’t really miss rotations often. He’s locked
in and engaged in the way you’d want him to be. Does not project anywhere near All-Defense level but has potential to be a cog
in solid defensive teams.
WEAKNESSES
The critical concern here is strength in Miller’s lower half and torso. Miller struggles to maintain his position and advantages
with regularity because of these concerns. In my view, he’s not overly explosive because of these factors. Not really an effective
leaper and doesn’t have much of a first step.
In general, the big question for Miller as a potential top-five pick is that he really struggles to separate from his man. He’s good
at stringing them out and getting what should be a positional mismatch. He plays with real bend through his lower half, which
allows him to out-leverage guys despite his height. But he doesn’t seem to have the speed or strength to take advantage of those
opportunities yet. He’s also not particularly shifty like a primary creator such as a Jayson Tatum. His contact balance is not
great. Namely, I think his footwork needs quite a bit of work on these drives. Doesn’t have the best first step. Really struggles to
maintain his momentum due to his strength and often ends up taking some extra steps that give defenders from the weak side
more time to react. This is fixable with work in the offseason and continued weight training. But if the strength never comes, he
might not be able to hold onto the advantages he gets on the court.
It’s also worth noting that Miller’s midrange game, even in the small moments he was allowed to utilize it, didn’t really pop at
Alabama. Made just seven of 24 pull-up midrange shots, per Synergy. Also made just 32.4 percent of his floaters. Will need a bit
more evidence that it will pop in the same way in the NBA that it did in high school.
His finishing got better throughout the season, but there is significant room for growth. This is a significant weakness area that
may cap his upside without improvement. He smokes more layups than you’d like to see. Gets contested quite regularly on his
shots there. Can’t really slow down with a deceleration step because he doesn’t have the strength to hold guys on his hip or keep
them where he wants them. That mixed with his lack of explosiveness upward results in a lot of wilder shots at the basket that
don’t quite work as well as you’d want them to. We also don’t really have an idea what his feel looks like as a cutter. Rarely was
asked to cut to the basket at Alabama. Had opportunities at times but just didn’t take them. Only five such shots this past season,
which is a remarkably low number for someone with this kind of shooting gravity.
Miller’s take-off point tends to be way farther away from the rim than you’d hope to see, and he doesn’t absorb contact well
right now. Comfortable driving left and occasionally willing to take shots with his left hand at the rim, but the touch level is not
as strong. That results in a lot of attempts where he tries to load up off two feet and go up with his right hand from the left side
of the basket with both hands on the ball. Miller’s overall percentages are egregiously bad, especially considering he played in
arguably the most well-spaced offense in college basketball. He made just 39.3 percent of his half-court opportunities at the rim,
including about 38 percent of his attempts on layups. Only had two dunks in the half court. The big question is whether Miller
can pressure the rim at all.
SUMMARY
It’s hard to look past Miller’s combination of size, shooting, defensively capable play and production. Guys who are this big and
versatile do not last long on draft night, especially when they have clearly displayed elite touch. It’s exceptionally difficult to
find players like this, and when you do find them and they work out in the NBA, they’re worth their weight in gold. Even if some
of the handle and playmaking ability doesn’t quite come to fruition, Miller is kind of a no-fail prospect in today’s league. The
worst-case scenario is that he’s a 6-foot-9 shooter with wing athleticism and fluidity who makes 38 percent-plus from 3 and plays
solid defense. My bet is that Miller turns into a high-level starter in the NBA. And if some of the on-ball creation comes along as
he gets stronger and can hold guys off and maintain his contact balance as he drives to the rim, there is All-Star upside.
Ultimately, Miller will go somewhere in the top five and potentially No. 2 overall. Does he have the star power some others
beneath him have? I think he certainly has that upside, which is why he’s in this tier. But I think others in this class are more
likely bets. While Miller’s high floor probably gives him a higher expected value than someone like Amen Thompson, at the top
of the draft, teams should be drafting for star upside. And while I see Miller certainly in the same tier as these other guys, I have
him at No. 4 because I worry about his intersection of strength and athleticism comparatively to others in this class.
05. Amen Thompson

G | Overtime Elite | Birthdate: Jan. 30, 2003 (Age: 20) | 6-6 | 215 LBS |
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
2022-23 Overtime Overtime 20 15 16.4 5.9 5.9 3.2 0.9 2.3 56.6 25.0 65.6
Elite Elite
BACKGROUND
Twin brother of fellow 2023 prospect Ausar Thompson. Parents are Maya and Troy. Troy played basketball when he was younger.
Thompson also has an older brother, Troy Jr., who was a multi-year starter at Prairie View A&M. They also have an uncle, Mark,
who was a 400-meter hurdle competitor for Jamaica at the 1992 Olympics. The family is originally from Oakland, Calif., which
is where the twins grew up. Troy Sr. took a very active role in developing them as basketball players from an early age, and they
focused on the sport prior to reaching their teens. Amen is more the point guard, whereas Ausar is more the true wing. They
developed clear talent and were offered scholarships to play at Pine Crest School, a strong academic high school in Florida that
would also give them the opportunity to compete against better competition. The twins were terrific in their years at Pine Crest,
growing to 6-foot-7 with shoes and leading the school to a 4A division state title. The twins were looking to up their level of com-
petition to the prep school level and had decided to transfer before they were offered deals from Overtime Elite, a start-up league
for high school prospects who wanted to get paid to play. The twins signed with OTE and had a terrific first season as they nar-
rowed their focus even further onto basketball. Amen made first-team All-OTE this past season and teamed up with Ausar to win
the OTE title in each of the last two seasons. They will be the first players drafted from Overtime Elite. They’re high-character,
very intelligent and well-regarded as workers.
STRENGTHS
Amen is the elite of the elite athletically. Will enter the NBA as one of the five most explosive, twitchiest players in the league.
Has elite leaping ability. Explodes off the ground like he’s on a trampoline and has real reactivity. First step is terrific. Has great
open court speed that allows him to beat other players down the floor. Really plays well in transition and drives play out on the
break with his ability to rebound and push. Quickens the tempo of the game through his sheer presence. Superb body control
and balance. Has the rare ability to be explosive, yet also hang in the air and look like he’s floating, like a Zach LaVine. Has all
the tools there. Also has a great frame for a guard at 6-foot-6 without shoes, a 7-foot wingspan, and an 8-foot-7 1/2 standing reach.
His motor generally runs hot too. Can be relied upon to play hard consistently.
Thompson’s best skill is his passing. Head is always up looking for teammates as soon as he gets the ball. He’s an elite playmaker
off the dribble and maintains that ability to play fast with the ball in his hands. Terrific live-dribble passer and has a case as the
best in this class. Awesome at drawing scrambling defenders toward him in transition with his aggressive willingness to push
tempo. Throws some wild ones out of ball screens that are highly impressive. Hits one-handed cross-corner skip passes with
either hand regularly. Throws wraparounds to rollers and finds little seams through which to throw difficult passes. You can see
his eyes regularly reading weakside and help defenders and manipulating them, which is a great sign at such a young age. He
looks both in toward the rim and out toward the 3-point line. Can patiently wait for the defender to vacate the area before hitting
the read. Very versatile passer who throws almost everything on a line. Can put real velocity on the ball from crazy angles, which
is a difficult thing to do for many playmakers. Has an incredible array of different passes that he can execute.
Unsurprisingly, Thompson also creates a ton of pressure on the rim. His Overtime Elite team drew up a lot of interesting sets for
him to showcase his intelligence as an off-ball cutter, timing his runs to the rim well and finishing with high-level lobs. But he
can also get the basket when acting as an on-ball creator. If you get him in space, he can get his man off-balance with a lightning
quick crossover combination that allows him to get back to his right hand and get downhill quickly. Once he’s downhill, he uses
his stride length exceedingly well to get all the way to the rim. Good footwork to slither and snake his way around defenders.
Once he’s there, he gets fouled a ton because of how tough it is for guys to maintain their position against his athleticism. Teams
will run a ton of very high ball screens to get him in space and allow him to attack. It’s going to be hard to stay in front of him.
He goes from slow to fast well with hesitation moves because of how quickly he accelerates. Has a rare pace at which he plays
due to his explosive steps and stride length, as well as his galloping style with hops and skips while also keeping the play alive
with his handle.
Finishes well at the rim. Makes a high percentage of shots at OTE, not just because of how above the rim he is but also because
of his creativity. Made about 74 percent of his shots at the rim in total but also made a strong 59.2 percent in half-court settings
in 25 games tracked this past season, per Synergy. There are some minor flaws we’ll talk about, but he projects to be a high-level
finisher. Has strong little Euro step moves, and his stride length with his explosiveness helps him get all the way to the basket.
Makes them from a variety of angles and with a variety of different little flourishes such as off finger rolls and mini-hook shots.
Because of his hang time, he can really change the angle on rim protectors midair and force them into awkward positions. That
results in fouls or contests that end up not really impacting him.
Thompson is also a terrific defensive playmaker. Has a chance to be an All-Defense guy purely due to athleticism, effort and
anticipation if he can clean up the flaws. As an on-ball defender, he plays extremely tight to his man and is disruptive, albeit
high and upright, which we’ll talk about later. He always plays hard and at 100 miles per hour on this end. He slows teams
down when trying to initiate sets. Can pressure full court but can also switch and play on bigger players because of his height
and aggressiveness. Will occasionally get moved because he’s not overly strong right now, but his willingness to fight and
battle allows him to be impactful. Moreover, he’s a turnover-forcing machine. Constantly poking and trying to force steals.
Aggressively gets his hands into dangerous spots.
Unsurprisingly, he’s also effective as an off-ball defender because of this – even if he’s a significant gambler. Forces aggressive,
havoc-inducing decisions for the offense. Will just rip the ball away from offensive players on digs or will attack a passing lane
and get home often with his strong anticipation. Can’t throw any lazy passes cross-court when he’s on the weak side. One of
the best shot-blocking guards I’ve evaluated. A constant threat from the weak side as a rotational rim defender because of his
athleticism. He’s one of those defenders whose presence you have to constantly be aware of. And because he’s so athletic and
such a force in transition, he uses all of these skills to turn defense into offense at a high level. It’s not all positive on defense, but
he has tremendous upside.
WEAKNESSES
The critical question here is shooting. Amen has not had a ton of success in that regard thus far. Per Synergy, he’s made just
28.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past season. I don’t really like anything mechanically either. He’s rarely ready and
prepped off the catch to fire, if only because, for the most part, he wants to attack off the bounce more often. Shooting is a
second decision for him. Really brings his momentum forward on the shot as opposed to being straight up and down. It’s
also just not fluid in any way. Very stiff. For an athlete who is the opposite of box-y and square toward the rim, the jumper is
completely squared up in his lower half. Additionally, I don’t love the fact that he shoots it from in front of his face. He has kind
of a low release point but then a high finish. Follow-through often falls away toward the right side. Unsurprisingly given all these
mechanical issues, there isn’t any consistency in terms of his misses or the arc (sometimes it’s flat, sometimes it’s very high).
All these issues exist when he’s taking pull-ups. Made just 28.6 percent of his pull-up jumpers this past season, per Synergy. I
think his rhythm is a bit better, but his form is still a bit square, and the gather isn’t that fluid. I think this jumper is a rewrite,
and it’s hard to buy into him being a shooter at some point. The worry here is that a lacking jumper would allow defenses to go
under screens all the time and just dare him to shoot while trying to cut off his driving angles and bog down the offense. When
he doesn’t have the ball, he would really struggle to not be a liability in terms of defenders sagging entirely off him into the paint
to clutter things for his teammates. And arguably, the biggest problem is that he doesn’t really have a way to beat defenses with
any sort of in-between game. Russell Westbrook could at least stop and pop on-balance for a midrange jumper. Thompson hasn’t
displayed any of that to this point.
In general, Amen has some offensive craft questions. Think it’ll probably take a bit of time for him (and Ausar) to develop due
to a lack of reps in the half court against high-level, set defenses. His handle can get a bit loose, and he can overdribble a bit. It
could be a function of playing in Overtime Elite, but he dominates the ball and completely drives transition play. In the half
court, he can be a bit muted. He has some ball-control turnovers. He gets up in the air to make things happen as a jump passer.
While that can be to his advantage, he sometimes gets caught in no-man’s land. His decision-making as a finisher could use
some work, and I think he can often take off for the rim with his final step a bit too far away from the basket, which leads to some
more difficult attempts. Also has this weird tendency to try to put some English on the ball as a finisher as opposed to making
the simple play, leading to some rim-outs. He is very right-hand-dominant as a finisher. Higher-level defenders can play off that
tendency a bit more than you’d like to see. Most of his issues seem to be correctable at the basket, but it will be a process.
The flaws defensively are real but entirely fixable. On the ball, as mentioned above, Thompson plays very high and upright. He
gets driven by more often than you’d think, as smaller guards can get lower than him at the point of attack and out-leverage him
with their strides. He also ends up getting clipped on screens more often than you’d like to see. Does at times show real potential
to get skinny over the top of them but still hasn’t quite figured out how to consistently not get hit. In recovery, he can be a
monster threat from behind to contest but takes weird angles and at times goes for the big block. Thompson is also a riverboat
gambler on defense. Loves to play as a roamer out top and on the back line. His goal is to make action plays happen and get out
in transition. If he doesn’t get home, it’ll sometimes result in sloppy closeouts and overaggressive pursuit angles that force the
defense behind him to scramble. Can occasionally lose his man as well. Needs to focus on staying more solid on his assignment.
All of this, of course, could also be a function of playing OTE-level competition, where he and Ausar were far and away the top
players and could really get away with everything because of their recovery athleticism.
SUMMARY
Thompson has all the physical tools you could ask for in an NBA prospect. He will enter the league as a top-1 percent athlete.
He has great creativity and has grown up as a point guard, which gives him a tremendous sense of how to read the floor. He’s
aggressive and plays with an extremely switched-on motor. His athleticism and willingness to push the pace in transition alone
will allow him to be tremendously productive. His ceiling is All-NBA if everything breaks right. But his floor is probably a bit
lower than you’d think too. The shooting is a genuine flaw that will be difficult to fix. The other flaws are substantive within his
game and could cause him issues in the half court. Thompson is a bet on your developmental team if you’re selecting him in
the top five. He has all the upside you could ask for, and he’s willing to work. Both Thompsons are terrific competitors and are
willing to put in the time and effort when it comes to getting better. I think I would bet on Amen to figure out everything else
outside of the shooting. Where you slot him will depend almost entirely upon your philosophy on how essential shooting is for
lead creators who can pressure the rim and make passing reads at an elite level. There is a case for him as high as No. 2 in the
class purely due to his athletic tools, his ability to pressure the rim and incredible feel for the game as a passer.
Tier 3
3 High-Leverage
Starters
06. Jarace Walker

F | Houston | Birthdate: Sept. 4, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-7 | 245 LBS | Hometown: New Freedom, Pa.
2022-23 Houston NCAA (AAC) 19 36 11.2 6.8 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.0 46.5 34.7 66.3
BACKGROUND
Parents are Horace and Marcia. Comes from an athletic family. Has three siblings Jaden, Natichia and Sherelle. Sherelle is a
former volleyball standout at UMBC, and his sister Jaden is a basketball player at St. Joseph’s. Hard to overemphasize how much
of a youth standout Jarace was. He was a known player nationally by the time he was in middle school. Could have stayed home
in Pennsylvania but decided at the start of his high school career to attend powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Walker
was already at about 6-foot-7, 220 pounds by the start of his sophomore year in high school. He earned freshman All-American
honors in his first year at IMG and was a useful player throughout his early career on loaded rosters that included Mark Williams,
Jaden Springer, Moussa Diabaté, Jett Howard and Zach Edey. Team also added George in his senior year. Walker played as more
of an initiator and passer as a point forward early on. Missed most of his junior season due to a right foot injury and returned
for his senior season, where he showcased his all-around game again. Averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists while
playing an exceptionally difficult national schedule, leading IMG to the national semifinals before it fell to Sunrise Christian.
Walker earned McDonald’s All-American honors and was invited to the Nike Hoop Summit. He was a consensus five-star recruit
and was in the top 15 of his class. He committed to Houston at the start of his senior year and gave the team its best recruiting
class in recent school history next to Terrance Arceneaux. Walker chose Houston over Alabama and Auburn, but Houston was
the clear favorite throughout the process. His freshman season at Houston went about as well as it possibly could have. He won
AAC Freshman of the Year and was named second-team All-AAC. Helped lead Houston to an AAC regular-season title and a No.
1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Houston lost in the Sweet 16 to Miami. Walker decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft follow-
ing the season and hired an agent. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Walker has strong physical measurements for an NBA player. He comes in near 6-foot-7 without shoes with a 7-foot-2 1/2
wingspan. He’s nearly 250 pounds and was about as strong a freshman as you’ll find in the country. That size allows him to
cover a lot of ground. He has big, strong hands that allow him to cause issues on the glass and as a defender. Moves well if you
think he’s a four/five hybrid, which allows him to eat up a ton of space across the court with his length. Also, for someone with
this body type with such a thick chest and torso, he can be light on his feet. Just plays hard. Motor is constantly running. He’s
aggressive and plays with the level of desire and physicality you want to see in a versatile big man.
That translates best on defense right now. Walker has a case as one of the more disruptive and versatile defenders in this class.
He is an interesting weapon in on-ball actions as a big defender. He uses his strength and quickness combination well, getting
his chest in front of his man. Because he’s so strong, college guys really couldn’t go through him. Also does a really underrated
job of using his length and hands to get into offensive players’ airways to disrupt what they’re trying to do. If you try to pull up
for a jump shot, there’s a real chance he’s going to swat you with his timing and length on the ball. He’s awesome on an island
against wings and good against guards. Swallows up smaller players with his length. You can’t go through him and can’t go
around him.
More than that, Walker showed real versatility in defending ball screens as the big. The Cougars used him in several different
ways depending on the opponent. Sometimes they’d blitz. Sometimes they’d hard hedge and recover. Sometimes they’d play
more at the level of the screen. When he’s the big defender in a drop, he does a really good job of playing cat-and-mouse to
disrupt the action. Other times, they’ll just switch. In those switch scenarios, he’s showcased real ability to stay in front of his
man, not allowing him to turn the corner. A great example is when Houston played Alabama early in the season, and he caused
all sorts of problems for the Tide’s Brandon Miller by using his strength to really stick on him.
I think Walker’s better off the ball. He is smart reading the play and anticipating what defenders are trying to do. Gets a lot
of deflections on the weak side and forces the occasional steal. Makes the loud help-side rim protection from the weak side
regularly. Will make smart, timely rotations across the play to protect the weak side of the rim and use his immense length
to go straight up and down if he doesn’t have an angle into a swat. Will also make random strongside rotations to recover to
help a teammate if that player gets beat and seems to have that true sense of timing that allows you to be successful in these
circumstances. Closes out well. Seems to understand he can use his length to be able to impact shooters without having to leave
his feet. A terrific scramble and recovery player. Has an immense amount of potential role versatility on the defensive end. You
can use him potentially as a stopper or as a free safety-style defender on the opposing team’s worst player and utilize him to help
all over the place with his length and anticipation. A true defensive playmaker and chess piece.
Offensively, Walker is best right now with his ability to move the ball to his teammates within the run of play as a passer and
playmaker. He’s not a guy who’s going to break you down off the bounce but does a great job of recognizing four-on-threes and
three-on-twos to find his open man. Processes the game super well. Makes passes on the move out of short rolls, which I think is
where this skill probably will be best utilized at the next level, with Walker playmaking out of ball screens as the roll man. Loves
to hit the high-low read to the dunker spot when the help steps up to him. But also makes sharp reads out of the dunker spot
when defenders collapse down on him and can also make live-dribble reads off closeouts to the open man. Wouldn’t say he’s the
best ballhandler in the world, but he’s comfortable enough with the ball to put it between his legs or to patiently probe dribble to
draw defenders toward him. Not necessarily manipulating defenders, but he just reads and anticipates what’s happening around
him super well. Only averaged 1.8 assists per game this past season, but his overall usage wasn’t high, and many of his passes
ended up being hockey assists.
Walker has a lot of work to do as a scorer, but there are positive moments. He loves his floater game. He took 50 floaters this past
season, per Synergy. Most of his positive work as a scorer comes with his off-ball movement. Smart cutter. Good at relocating
around his teammates in spot-up situations to either shoot or drive. Recognizes when to attack off rolls to score and when to roll
all the way to the rim and recognizes in dribble handoffs when the play opens for him to keep the ball and drive himself. Also
had ridiculous stepback flashes this past season where it’s easy to get excited about him as a potential pull-up threat with his
high release point, but those were few and far between.
WEAKNESSES
How high you are on Walker probably depends on what you think of him positionally. If you think he has enough quickness and
athleticism to handle some play on the wing defensively in addition to handling occasional small-ball big duties, you probably
love him. If you think he’s more of a big, you might be a bit lower. There aren’t many players quite like him within this archetype
or many players who look like him physically in the NBA. You strangely expect Walker to impose his physicality more often.
For instance, one of the physical comparables you could make is Jarred Vanderbilt, and in college, Vanderbilt was a historically
relevant rebounder within the last two decades on a per-possession basis.
The big question with Walker is how he scores at the next level. Everything is a bit inefficient right now. Let’s start with the
shooting. Has really shown a ton of growth in this area over the last two years and seems to have some touch. There is potential
here. But it’s hard to feel extremely confident in some of the mechanical issues, and he doesn’t seem wildly confident given his
lack of volume from 3. The good is that he has really improved his shot prep. If there is a shot that could come available out of
spot-ups, his feet are always set, he’s on-balance and looking to take them off the hop. But the load time takes too long right now.
Would get contested on closeouts a bit too easily when those shooting windows close at the next level. Additionally, as he brings
the ball up, he has a bit of a hitch as he brings the ball to his shooting pocket. Walker made 34.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot
3s per Synergy, a not-terrible number but not consistent enough. Needs to prove that he can make them consistently. Loves to
settle for midrange jumpers too. Will need to extend that range back out more comfortably to the 3-point line. Took 41 midrange
pull-up jumpers last year, which was about 30 percent of his half-court jumper attempts. Made just 29 percent of these shots, per
Synergy. Also only made 34 percent of his floaters this past season. Not sure this is a valuable piece for him moving forward.
As mentioned above, he’s OK making one or two moves, and there is some body control here that allows him to Euro step around
one guy when he has space. He attacks closeouts to playmake for his teammates. There are genuine building blocks for this to be
a real improvement area moving forward. But his driving to attack and score needs quite a bit of work in the half court. He has a
few too many player control fouls. Doesn’t really generate pressure on the rim with his drives. Goes away from contact. It’s wild
that a player this big and physically imposing averaged 2.2 free throws per game. He doesn’t use his power to its potential. For
the most part, he’s settling for his 8-foot floater.
Generally, Walker doesn’t finish well enough. The floater and its footwork look OK, but he doesn’t make a ton of those. Doesn’t
get to the rim enough. Don’t think his footwork is all that good in terms of deceleration steps, and he doesn’t look all that
balanced or comfortable trying to finish around opponents. Made 62.3 percent of his shots at the basket at Houston but only got
there about 1.5 times per game in half-court settings, per Synergy. Even a lot of his impressive finishes come from strange off-
balance angles. Much like with the shooting, the flashes as a creator are super interesting but are a bit too few and far between,
especially for someone who is legit wing-sized in the NBA.
I love Walker as an overall defender, but right now, I think he’s more of a big defender and an interesting pick-and-roll defender
than a wing stopper. I don’t know how comfortable I would feel with him fighting through on-ball actions being run by big lead
ballhandlers, such as Jayson Tatum and Kawhi Leonard. His foot speed is good for a big but not elite wing-level. He also doesn’t
really navigate screens well because of how wide he is, so if he’s going to be a defense-first player, he’s probably best off in help
circumstances or in more isolation-heavy matchups.
SUMMARY
Walker is a fascinating player. It’s easy to imagine his role as a havoc-inducing defensive four who blocks shots on the weak
side and plays switchable defense. That especially all comes together in an interesting package of skills if Walker becomes a
consistent shooter, given his playmaking ability as a passer. But if the shooting isn’t there, it does become a bit trickier to make
him work as a four given that he’s also not all that impactful as a half-court driver and finisher right now. He might end up being
more of a small-ball, switchy big man, which is relatively OK, but it probably does limit his upside a touch given that he’s not
elite at finishing possessions as a rebounder, and he isn’t quite as elite as a primary rim protector. There are a few more tweener
risks with Walker than what I think has been displayed. Still, if it works, and Walker becomes capable as a switchable four who
can hit shots, his upside as a winning player is enormous due to how he processes the game so quickly as a passer. I don’t see
Walker as an All-Star, but he might be someone who helps a winning team in a big way, just as he did with Houston.
07. Taylor Hendricks

W/F | UCF | Birthdate: Nov. 22, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-8 | 215 LBS |
2022-23 UCF NCAA (AAC) 19 34 15.1 7.0 1.4 1.4 1.7 0.9 47.8 39.4 78.2
BACKGROUND
Mother is Danielle. Brother Tyler also plays on UCF. Also has another brother, Jamal. Hendricks emerged quickly as a high-lev-
el player when young, going to play at NSU University School when it was loaded with elite talent such as Scottie Barnes, Jett
Howard and Vernon Carey as a freshman. Hendricks won a state title there, then transferred after his sophomore year to Calvary
Christian and became an integral player on another state champion team. That summer, he played for Each 1 Teach 1 on the
Nike EYBL circuit, where he was considered essentially the third-best prospect on the team behind Brice Sensabaugh and Dil-
lon Mitchell. Played his senior season at Calvary Christian and won another state title, this time picking up the Broward County
Player of the Year award and emerging as one of the fastest-rising recruits in the country. He ended up being ranked in the top
70 as a consensus recruit, a solid four-star player. He committed to UCF over offers from nearly every in-state school, including
Miami (Fla.), Florida and Florida State, as well as LSU. He wasn’t seen as a one-and-done entering the season, but scouts quickly
got their eyes on him after standout performances against Florida State, Santa Clara and Oklahoma State. Played a combination
of the four and five at UCF this past season and had tremendous success. Won nine AAC Freshman of the Week awards (most in
the conference) and finished behind Houston’s Jarace Walker for Freshman of the Year within the league. Earned All-Freshman
honors in the league, as well as second-team All-AAC honors. Declared for 2023 NBA Draft and was consistently considered a
potential lottery pick throughout the process. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Hendricks is a good athlete with a strong frame that should play well long term in the NBA. He’s 6-foot-8 without shoes with a
7-foot-1 wingspan and a build that should continue to fill out. Very vertical athlete and explosive. Can really rise off two feet to
either swat shots or throw down massive dunks. Mostly a two-foot leaper as opposed to a guy who can also go off one right now.
But he’s also quite fluid in how he moves laterally. Good hip flexibility. Runs the court extremely well and has plus hand-eye
coordination. Very effective crashing the offensive glass. Puts all these skills to good use and ends up putting down some put-
back dunks as well as getting some tip-outs for teammates.
Hendricks’ best traits right now come on the defensive side. A real weakside rim protector, and his sense of timing at that end is
tremendous. He times his leap with when the scorer takes off incredibly well. Goes up mostly off two feet and is ready to meet
his man at the rim with strong hands and a balanced center of gravity. Has awesome anticipation for when his services are
needed to clean up messes. Very clean footwork and good reactivity. Just goes up to get it. Rotates from both the weak side and
from above the foul line when necessary. Always seems to be on time with a huge recovery block. Goes up with terrific verticality.
Doesn’t foul. Good rim protector even when he doesn’t block the shot. He was the king of the chase-down block this past season
in college hoops. His highlights there rate with some of the best I’ve seen.
He played a lot of five for UCF and was a very switchable one through five at the college level. I’m a bit skeptical that he’ll be
able to manage bigger, post-centric fives at the next level, but I buy him as a legitimate one through four switch defender. He
can just straight up switch ball screens. Managed lead guards well. Has really good feet. Very fluid mover. Stands a bit upright at
times, but it doesn’t really impact how well he moves and can change direction because he can also bend and flip his hips with
ease. Gets his chest in front of his man. Love how he uses his length to bother opposing players. Contests every shot. But is also
enormous for how quickly he moves, allowing him to just envelop his man in his chest and length. Superb recovery speed even
when he gets beat because of his length. Covers an immense amount of ground to contest from behind. Gets blocks this way too.
Deals well with guys who are around his size on the block.
Offensively, Hendricks is at his best right now as a shooter. Terrific catch-and-shoot numbers this past season. Made 40.9
percent on over 130 catch-and-shoot 3s. The mechanics are easy and basic in the best way. High release point allows him to
shoot over the top of his defender with ease. Reliable over tight closeouts. Really good shot prep where he’s always squared up
with his body in alignment with the basket. Takes them off a one-two step or off the hop, plus has some versatility in terms of
how he takes them. Best as a spot-up threat right now but has clear room for growth in terms of some movement. Made eight
pick-and-pop 3s at a high percentage this past season. Hit three off screens. Made 10 out in transition. Does have a bit of sway
to his shot in terms of landing zone and can get a touch inconsistent. But Hendricks projects to make shots off the catch in
the NBA.
Can occasionally use the threat of his shot to attack closeouts and get to the rim. Throws down some dunks this way. Reads the
play well as a cutter and dunker-spot threat to finish. If he’s being fed to finish, he’s a good finisher. Issues do arise when he tries
to create his own shot at the rim, as we’ll explain below. But he’s explosive and powerful on assisted shots at the rim. In total, he
made 58 percent of his half-court shots at the rim, a solid number for a big.
WEAKNESSES
The main concern is that, for a potential top-10 pick, Hendricks is limited in terms of what he can do off the bounce right now.
He’s not really a shot creator for himself. Can dribble in a straight line and cover ground with his length but doesn’t have much
in the way of change of pace. Can occasionally throw out a nice crossover, but everything is downhill. If it’s not, the odds are it’s
going to be wild. His handle is quite loose and can get ripped. It’s out away from his body far too often. Even attacking closeouts,
he doesn’t look totally fluid unless he’s being fully decisive. Has a long way to go if he’s going to be a shot creator, although the
shooting gives him a chance if he can tighten things up.
He has some weird finishing issues right now in terms of touch at the rim. Made just 44.7 of his layup attempts at UCF. Looks
really sped up after he puts the ball on the deck and is trying to beat everyone to spots. Brings the ball down too low, and it
comes out incredibly flat without any soft release on these attempts at the rim. His release point on layups is seemingly lower
than on his shot. He’s a bit of a contact avoider right now because of his lack of strength compared to other interior players. And
if he does get bumped, he doesn’t have the strength to power through it and get to a solid finishing angle. He’s also very much
just a right-hand finisher at this stage.
Shot creation off the bounce was hit or miss. Made some occasional pull-up 3s but still only shot 28 percent on those attempts.
Outside of 17 feet, made just 11 of 42 jump shots. The mechanics look solid. But he did make 10 of 17 floaters as his counter
attacking the midrange. Hendricks obviously has real touch and will likely improve as a scorer inside the arc. But everything
here looks out of control in some respect. The polish is lacking, probably in part because he hasn’t been asked to do a ton of
this before.
Given how loose things can be for him as a creator, Hendricks isn’t really a passer or playmaker for others. He doesn’t really
look to make those plays for his teammates on his drives even when he does collapse the defense. But he also struggles to draw
significant help defenders because he struggles to beat his own man off the bounce. Only averaged 1.4 assists per game. Needs to
make some real strides and grow as a playmaker. Even from a standstill, he doesn’t always seem to read the run of play well.
Hendricks’ poor defensive rebounding will likely resign him more toward playing the four as opposed to sliding into the small-
ball five in spurts like he did at UCF. Really struggles to end possessions. Can’t anchor at all on the interior. More of a crasher
as opposed to someone who gets a body on players. Doesn’t box out all that often. Even when he does, he can sometimes get
leveraged and driven out of the play due to his long limbs and higher center of gravity. Could stand to be more engaged even
when he’s going to play the four. Only averaged about four defensive rebounds per game this past season despite being asked to
play a real role there. UCF was a bad defensive rebounding team, and he played an integral part of that.
SUMMARY
I love Hendricks going to a team that is well-situated in terms of shot creation and thus could allow him to come along more
slowly in that respect. He’s a ways off from being able to impact the game as a ballhandler or creator, but Hendricks possesses
the kind of 3-and-D game that could be a real difference-maker to teams that need those skills. And almost every team with an
established hierarchy of stars needs those skills. Hendricks is 6-foot-9 in shoes, he’s long and switchable, and he defends the
rim well from the weak side. He has potential to be an awesome pick-and-roll defender due to his versatility, and his length will
take up a larger portion of the court than the normal run-of-the-mill wing prospect. The number of players 6-foot-9 or taller who
enter the league as plus defenders and plus shooters is extremely minimal. It’s Jabari Smith Jr., Franz Wagner, Trey Murphy III
and Jaren Jackson Jr. since 2018. That’s why Hendricks is going to hear his name called in the lottery. It’s hard to see how this
skill set fails, even with his faults. He does the three most important things a role player in the NBA can do: He shoots it well off
the catch, he defends well in space and he plays well within help defensive concepts. Throw in that he’s still a teenager with real
upside, and you shouldn’t be surprised if he hears his name called in the top 10.
08. Anthony Black

G/W | Arkansas | Birthdate: Jan. 20, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 210 LBS |
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
2022-23 Arkansas NCAA (SEC) 19 36 12.8 5.1 3.9 3.0 0.6 2.1 45.3 30.1 70.5
BACKGROUND
Parents are Terry and Jennifer. Both were high-level Division I athletes. Terry played basketball at Baylor in the early 2000s,
earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2001 as a physical, undersized forward. Jennifer played soccer for both Texas and Baylor.
Jennifer’s partner for the last four years is David Peavy, father of TCU wing Micah Peavy and head coach at Duncanville High
School, where Black transferred to for his final year of high school basketball. That transfer became the subject of controversy
and many court rulings throughout the state of Texas, as the state’s executive committee for high school basketball decided to
rule Black ineligible to play under transfer rules despite the multi-year pre-existing relationship between Jennifer Black and
Peavy – whom Anthony refers to as his stepfather – and despite multiple court rulings in favor of Black allowing him to play. He
led Duncanville to a state championship in those 15 games he was on the court – a title that has since been stripped. He earned
McDonald’s All-American honors, becoming a Nike Hoop Summit invitee and earning five-star status as a prospect. Prior to that,
Black played at Coppell High School, where he was an all-area pick within the Dallas area. He also played football and was an
exceedingly good player. As a junior, he had 45 catches, 673 yards and eight touchdowns, earning Division I offers. Decided to
focus on basketball for his senior year. He had offers from schools all over the country and decided on Arkansas over Gonzaga,
Oklahoma State and the G League Ignite. Was quite good for Arkansas, especially early in the season when the team had a sem-
blance of spacing due to the presence of Trevon Brazile. But once Brazile went down with a torn ACL, the team’s space evapo-
rated and it became hard for Black. Still, he earned All-Freshman honors in the SEC and was noted as a very strong contributor
toward Arkansas playing winning basketball. The Razorbacks struggled throughout the year due to players going in and out of
the lineup due to injury but still made the NCAA Tournament. They made a run toward the Sweet 16 with Black performing well.
Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Came in at 6-foot-5 3/4 without shoes at the combine with a strong 210-pound frame. His 8-foot-6 1/2 standing reach gives him
elite size for someone who plays point guard. Has superb lateral quickness and a good first step. On the ground, he makes things
happen quickly. In the air, he’s a good vertical athlete. Can really leap off two feet. Had some impressive dunks on baseline
drives and baseline cuts this past season. He’s a legitimate NBA-level athlete despite not getting as much credit for that as he
should. Beyond the athleticism, Black is maybe the best processor of basketball in this draft class. His basketball IQ is through
the roof, and it helps him with his overall reactivity.
Black’s a superb defender in large part because of those skills. Does a terrific job at the point of attack. It’s not all that surprising
given his tools, but he also has good lateral footwork on that end. He slides to keep opposing players in front of his chest,
then uses his body and doesn’t allow them to go through him. Beyond that, he’ll also push into opposing players’ space and
really disrupt what they’re trying to do. His length is also very disruptive, and he gets pokes and deflections against smaller
ballhandlers. He always has active, outstretched hands. Great at contesting shots because of it and even occasionally blocking
shots on-ball. To top it off, I love the way he fights through screen actions. Can get over the top or go underneath and quickly get
back into the play. He stays low but also knows how to get skinny to get through screens and blow them up, as well as how to trail
and recover using his length as a real disruptive force. He gets his hands in there on dribble handoffs to try to force turnovers.
Averaged 2.1 steals per game, and those steals regularly led to pick-six opportunities for easy buckets the other way. It also helps
that he’s strong and switchable and should have no problem defending one through three at the next level.
He’s also good as an off-ball defender and is active and disruptive as a force across the board. He has this impressive skill where
he feels like he can kind of bait ballhandlers into doing what he wants them to do in help. He’ll hard stunt onto ballhandlers
and recover quickly, speeding them up into making bad decisions. His sense of timing and willingness to dig into ballhandlers’
dribble from corners is strong. He has great anticipation on lazy passes and makes some impressive rotations. His sense of
anticipation when scrambling to help off his man to put out a fire is strong. Can fly around and help all over the place. He is also
good at locking and trailing on off-ball screens, staying attached and bothering opposing players as they look to receive passes
with his length. I think he’s a positive NBA defender from day one.
Offensively, Black’s game is all about pressuring defenses in transition, pushing tempo and processing the game at an
exceedingly high level as a passer. This seems to be where that aggressive football mentality comes into play. He’s constantly
looking to attack defenders and find ways to put the defense on their heels. He’ll grab-and-go on the break and immediately
push either via his own dribble or a quick outlet pass up the court. Even in the half court, if he catches and sees a driving angle,
he’s immediately taking up as much space as he can, attacking and trying to make something happen. He wants to get two feet
into the paint and force defenders into rotation so that he can make a read. He’ll put pressure on the rim when he wants to, but
he also has a real sense of pace. He knows when to decelerate and when to push deeper into the paint. Gets to the rim about
three times per game in the half court, a great number given how spatially challenged Arkansas was. Finishes at a solid rate
when he gets there. Made 53.8 percent of his shots at the basket, per Synergy, a very strong number given how many of these
shots were heavily contested due to collapsing defenses.
Passing is Black’s best skill. He’s terrific at reading where defenders are going and how they step up to him or rotate around and
finding the open man. Anticipates where to put the ball before he catches the ball himself. Has a constant awareness of where
opposing defenders are in help. Dishes out faster ball reversals than anyone else in the class, with touch passes before he puts
the ball on the deck himself and early hit-aheads. Black plays like one of those guys who doesn’t care if he gets credit for the
box-score stat. He’s reactive, but he’ll also open passing lanes with manipulative eye movement and try to create open angles
that way. He’ll recognize where the help is and have a plan off one dribble to force a defender toward him, then hit the pass to
the open man from a variety of angles.
Black’s also great out of ball screens. Because he’s so big and strong, he knows how to keep his man on his hip and lock him away.
Again, he does all this very quickly. Hits cross-corner skips, hits lobs. Has every pass in the book. He’ll make early reads, and
as soon as he sees a passing lane and his teammate has an angle to score – particularly to cutters and rollers – he’ll hit it and let
that person do the work. Will drive and hit wraparounds to guys in the dunker spot or the roller. Black averaged 3.9 assists per
game this past season, but his assist numbers don’t tell the story of how good he is as a passer and playmaker. Arkansas was a
mess offensively and left a lot of passes on the table for him. The wide-open NBA will be a boon for his game. He’ll immediately
be valuable in this regard. Arkansas beat its opponents by 10 points per 100 possessions when Black was on the court versus
virtually tying them when he was off the court, with the offense making up the lion’s share of that impact.
WEAKNESSES
It’s all about the jump shot with Black. The significant question here is whether he’ll be able to hit any shots. Mechanically, there
is a lot to work on. Everything is extremely slow, and he takes a lot of time to get his feet up under him and load into the jumper
both off the catch and off the bounce. Off the dribble, has a bit of a hitch into loading up after getting his feet under him. Doesn’t
seem to get a lot of weight transfer from his lower half. His rhythm seems completely off. Misses are all over the place. Teams are
willing to go way under his ball screens and dribble handoffs all the time, knowing he can’t really hurt them. That became a real
issue in the second half of Arkansas’ season due to Nick Smith’s absence and Brazile’s season-ending injury. Black had no space
to drive as teams just clogged the paint, and he couldn’t do anything to stop anyone.
He is a bit better off the catch. The numbers aren’t disastrous, as he hit 32.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot looks at Arkansas, per
Synergy. If he can take them off the hop and not have to take that little hitched mini-shuffle step he takes into a shot typically,
the rhythm and release looks much cleaner. This presents a building block. But his jumper off the dribble was quite poor. Made
just 30 percent of them overall, per Synergy, including just 24.2 percent of his pull-up 3s.
I don’t love Black’s handle if we’re comparing it to other lead guards across the league. Sometimes he really struggles to separate
by changing direction or pace. Knows how to play at pace out of ball screens and can keep guys on his hip with his size but
struggles to go slow too fast to get defenders off balance once they recover or stay in front of him. Doesn’t really break them
down off the bounce. Not a crazy amount of shiftiness. Needs that angle and that first step. Good defenders can really keep their
chest in front of him unless he’s already coming downhill off a screen or in transition. He’s so anticipatory that he typically can
get that angle with quick decision-making, but he won’t have it if he’s playing as a primary creator.
All of this leads to questions about how exactly Black will score at the next level. If he struggles to shoot it and doesn’t really
separate at a super high level, can he find angles in the half court to create offense? Especially if he’s playing point guard? That’s
a real question. He’ll score by pushing in transition and finding creases to drive after advantages are created for him, making
him possibly better suited for more of a secondary creator role as opposed to a primary option. However, secondary creators
often play off the ball, which means shooting becomes an even more important skill. Finding the right role and the right offense
for him will be critical.
SUMMARY
Black is the kind of player I tend to love and sometimes tend to overrate. I love bigger guards who have real athleticism and
can process the game well when playing at full speed. These types of players who can clearly think about the game at an
exceptionally high level tend to be able to figure it out when it comes down to it. That’s my bet on Black. I think he’ll figure it
out. He has a fast brain, and he is athletic enough to make things happen out on the court. He must be able to at least continue
to show growth as a shooter, though. There have been enough flashes with him off the catch to where I think he has potential to
make it work. And if that skill translates, he should be able to really make an impact as the kind of big secondary initiator and
creator whom every team is looking for next to a high-end perimeter star. A bet on him shooting is worth a mid-lottery pick to
me, because if the shooting translates, he’s going to be a very impactful player. And he’ll be the kind of player who might impact
winning at the highest levels of the league.
09. Ausar Thompson

W | Overtime Elite | Birthdate: Jan. 30, 2003 (Age: 20) | 6-6 | 195 LBS |
2022-23 Overtime Overtime 20 15 16.3 7.1 6.1 3.3 1.1 2.4 48.1 29.8 66.2
Elite Elite
BACKGROUND
Twin brother of fellow 2023 prospect Amen Thompson. Parents are Maya and Troy. Troy played basketball when he was young-
er. Thompson also has an older brother, Troy Jr., who was a multi-year starter at Prairie View A&M. They also have an uncle,
Mark, who was a 400-meter hurdle competitor for Jamaica at the 1992 Olympics. The family is originally from Oakland, Calif.,
which is where the twins grew up. Troy Sr. took a very active role in developing them as basketball players from an early age, and
they focused on the sport prior to reaching their teens. Amen is more the point guard, whereas Ausar is more the true wing. They
developed clear talent and were offered scholarships to play at Pine Crest School, a strong academic high school in Florida that
would also give them the opportunity to compete against better competition. The twins were terrific in their years at Pine Crest,
growing to 6-foot-6 and leading the school to a 4A division state title. The twins were looking to up their level of competition to
the prep school level and had decided to transfer before they were offered deals from Overtime Elite, a start-up league for high
school prospects who wanted to get paid to play. The twins signed with OTE and had a terrific first season as they narrowed their
focus even further onto basketball. Ausar won the league’s MVP award in both 2022 and 2023 and led his team with Amen to the
league’s title in each season. They will be the first players drafted from Overtime Elite. They’re high-character, very intelligent
and well-regarded as workers.
STRENGTHS
Thompson, very similarly to his brother, is an elite athlete. Whereas Amen is a top-1 percent athlete, Ausar is more of a top 5
percent athlete. Great quickness and speed. Covers ground very quickly with long strides. Much like Amen, a very easy leaper
who gets off the ground quickly and with extreme height. Can leap off one foot or two feet and gets head at rim level no matter
what. Plays hard and has a terrific motor. Really see this often as an offensive rebounder, where he crashes the glass and is a
highlight waiting to happen going for putbacks and out in transition.
Has some wing creation skills as a scorer getting to the rim, although there are concerns. Very patient and polished. He’s poised
and rarely tries to force the issue in a negative way. Decisive straight-line driver who uses those long strides and his fast first step
to get to the rim. Has the ability to accelerate and explode to the rim or decelerate and let guys go by. Has very polished footwork
and does a great job of going from slow to fast out of hesitations. Doesn’t quite have the twitch of Amen but uses his craft to
create advantages.
Off the ball, he’s a sharp cutter and mover. Constantly looking to 45 cut and get to the rim without the ball. Good baseline cutter.
Athleticism makes him a real threat because of how quickly he can beat his man. Attacks the glass very hard and creates second
chance opportunities with his putback quick-leaping ability. Once he gets to the rim, I love him as a finisher. His touch and
creativity are terrific. Has a bevy of finger rolls, touch floaters and little running hook shots to finish around and over the top
of defenders. Has a lot of little feints and fakes to get guys in the air, then uses his length to finish with both hands. Made 65.4
percent at the rim in total.
Thompson is a very good passer and plays unselfishly. Might be his best skill. Moves the ball on a line, keeps it rolling within
the flow of the offense. Great transition passer who hits the outlet man or hit-ahead pass regularly. But more than that, I really
like the way he attacks in the half court. Hits passes all over the court. Recognizes help defenders quickly and makes incisive,
aggressive reads without being a gambler. Terrific lob passer, particularly out of ball screens. Great at collapsing the defense and
drawing help, then reading the court and hitting the open man. Does a solid job of manipulating defenders out of ball screens,
particularly on the back side. Makes quick reads and does so off a live dribble or when he’s on the move off an action. Recognizes
advantages and hits them quickly.
Good defensive upside given his athleticism and intelligence. Better than Amen as a one-on-one on-ball defender. Very
switchable. Has great mechanics in terms of sliding and sticking in front of his man. Does a good job navigating screens.
Absorbs contact well on the ground. Has extremely high upside as an on-ball defender at the next level because of that mix of
motor, aggressiveness and athleticism. A very fluid mover. Also good in recovery if he gets beat. Takes good angles. Effective
weakside player who can gamble and get home to create home run opportunities. Solid shot blocker at the rim. Not quite the
driver in transition that Amen is in terms of going defense to offense, but he is overall a steadier defender who does a better job
of rotating around and staying within scheme.
WEAKNESSES
The key with Ausar is the shooting. It’s not quite there yet. He has a better shot than Amen, and it is smoother and softer out of
his hand. Sometimes he doesn’t get himself all the way squared up, and it can result in him getting inconsistent engagement
in his lower half. Struggles to shoot it on the move. Shot prep isn’t awesome. Seems to have lived his life up to this point getting
the ball and driving from the wing because he’s had an athletic advantage on everyone. Needs to have a lot of time and be really
set to make them. Very square to the rim. Shoots the ball from far out in front of his face. But I do think the shot looks a bit more
fluid than Amen’s, and his follow-through looks clean.
Mechanically, the twins have continued to make tweaks throughout the career as they work through this deficiency. The shot
has changed drastically from where it was two years ago. Looks cleaner. Good footwork to get to his stepback. But the results
haven’t been consistent enough. Ausar made just 33.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past season, a non-disastrous
number but one he’ll need to improve upon. He also made just 30.4 percent of his pull-up jumper attempts, per Synergy.
Thompson is great in a straight line, but if you cut him off, he can struggle to make the adjustment. Doesn’t quite flip his hips
and change direction that well. Not the kind of guy who’s going to string together multiple moves in a row to get a paint touch.
Think he doesn’t quite have as much control over the ball as Amen, and the handle is a bit looser. Unless he’s going in a straight
line, I don’t think he quite gets as much out of his explosiveness as he could. This is a real improvement area for Ausar moving
forward as he tries to develop his game. It should come in time as he gets more comfortable. This inability to separate led to
Thompson struggling a bit more at the rim for this level than you’d think in half-court settings. In 24 games tracked by Synergy,
Thompson made just 51.1 percent of his shots at the basket, a number that isn’t particularly good given his age and talent
compared to competition.
Defensively, he has a few of the same concerns Amen does, but Ausar is a bit more polished. Plays similarly upright, particularly
when closing out onto offensive players. He allows a lot more blow-bys than you’d think given his athleticism and needs to sit
down a bit more. Additionally, he’s not quite the pure riverboat gambler that Amen is but has some of those tendencies. If he
gets beat, he will go for the poke sometimes, particularly off closeouts. Will try to jump passing lanes a bit too aggressively.
SUMMARY
In my opinion, the shooting question is much more important for Ausar than it is for Amen. Because Ausar figures to be playing
off the ball much more often, he’ll be asked to space the floor and not allow his man to sag off him and shrink the floor in a
significant way. If he can’t shoot, there’s a chance it’s hard for him to start in the NBA. That’s why his floor is a bit lower than
Amen’s, in my view. Having said that, if he does shoot it – and again, both twins are extremely high-level workers – the ceiling
for Ausar is extremely high. It would open his game entirely on offense because it would allow him to be that secondary creator
who plays out of ball screens on the second side but also can attack off the catch off kickouts to continue to bend defenses. His
driving game would open because he’d be able to attack more often in straight lines. His passing is terrific for a secondary
creator at 6-foot-7. His defense has real upside that is probably just below All-Defense caliber. All that leads to a legitimate All-
Star ceiling. The player he most reminds me of is Andre Iguodala right now. It’s all going to come down to how much you trust
the human beings involved and how confident you feel in how the ball comes out of his hands even if the mechanics are a work
in progress. If you’re a believer, you might have Ausar as high as No. 4 on your board. If you’re not, it’s reasonable to have him
somewhere more in the middle of the first round. I’m much more on the believer side because I believe in him to figure out an
answer on the jumper. But there is some risk.
Tier 4
4 Starter/All-Star
Tool Swings
10. Dereck Lively II

C | Duke | Birthdate: Feb. 12, 2004 (Age: 19) | 7-1 | 230 LBS | Hometown: Philadelphia
2022-23 Duke NCAA (ACC) 19 31 16.8 5.2 1.4 2.1 0.3 0.7 40.3 27.4 83.1
BACKGROUND
Parents are Dereck and Kathy Drysdale. Kathy played for Penn State from 1988 to 1992 and became a 1,000-point scorer on some
of the best teams in school history, including the first to be ranked No. 1 in the country. She has been working on the business
side in sports for years, first for the 76ers and now for Penn State in marketing. Dereck Sr. passed away when Dereck was young,
and Kathy battled cancer. Lively emerged as a terrific prospect early, being seen as a strong four-star prospect by the end of his
sophomore season. However, it was the summer after his junior season when Lively truly became one of the elite prospects in his
class. He led Team Final to the Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship that summer by dominating the paint, blocking four shots
per game and playing exceptionally hard every single game. Skyrocketed to the top of the consensus recruiting rankings follow-
ing that showing and stayed near the top throughout his senior year. Averaged 14 points, 14 rebounds and nearly five blocks as
a senior at Westtown High School and was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. He was named to the
McDonald’s All-American roster as well as to the Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic. Recruiting services considered
him a consensus top-five recruit in the country, and he committed to Duke before his senior season over Penn State and Michi-
gan. The season didn’t start out perfectly for Lively, as he started with a preseason calf injury that held him out of valuable time
to get acclimated to his team. It took him a while to get going. But once he did, he soared. Lively earned All-Defense honors in
the ACC and made the All-Freshman team. By the end of the year, was arguably the best defensive player in the country. Helped
Duke go on an awesome late season run, including an incredibly dominant first round NCAA Tournament victory against Oral
Roberts that he spearheaded on defense. Lost in the second round to Tennessee. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft after
the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Had a particularly standout pre-draft process, including a pro day that
left scouts extremely interested with him.
STRENGTHS
It all starts with the size, which is immense even by NBA center standards. Lively is in the 7-foot-1 ballpark with a 7-foot-6
wingspan, which will be among the longest in the league. We didn’t get combine measurements to confirm that, but he looks
giant out there. Has strong mobility and good lateral agility for his size. Solid explosiveness as a leaper. Not wildly impressive
but enough to take full advantage of his length when high-pointing the basketball as a rebounder and rim runner. Beyond that,
plays with a high-end motor. Works hard constantly. Never have to worry about him not trying to contest a shot or running the
floor as hard as he can to open lanes for his teammates.
The length comes into play best on the defensive end. By the end of the season, Lively was the best rim protector in college
basketball and probably the most impactful overall defensive force. Over his last 18 games, he averaged three blocks in just 25
minutes per game. He completely shut down the paint to obscene levels for the Blue Devils. Per Pivot Analysis, when Lively was
on the court in ACC play, the team was 8.2 points per 100 possessions better on defense than when he was off the court. The Blue
Devils won Lively minutes by nearly 12 points per 100 possessions versus by only 3.3 points when he was off the court. From
Jan. 28 onward, Duke won its minutes with Lively by nearly 18 points per 100 possessions, and its possessions with Lively, Kyle
Filipowski and Tyrese Proctor by 22 points per 100 possessions. They were dominant in those situations. Opponents only shot
45.6 percent at the rim with Lively on the court in those situations versus 54.2 percent when he was off the court.
Lively uses his length well around the rim. Extends his arms high. Has some mechanical flaws we’ll talk about below, but he
contests almost everything if he’s within the area of the rim. Good as a help-side player. Has solid instincts and anticipation.
Does a good job of knowing where he needs to be and how he needs to rotate. Also good in ball screens. Mobile and versatile in
coverages. Duke played hedging schemes, flatter at the level schemes and drop schemes with Lively this past season, and he was
solid across the board in space with some issues we’ll get to. Knows how to play the gap between the roller and the guard just by
playing as big as possible in drop coverage. It’s genuinely hard to find teenagers this versatile in these settings, and Lively ticks
all the boxes. Does a good job of walling up both ballhandlers and post players. Can get moved on the block but generally does a
good job of staying in front and contesting.
Offensively, he’s a superb lob threat every single time down the court. Runs the court out in transition to beat his man to the
basket. Really good over large spaces. Has good hands when the ball is above his chest. Catches the ball and dunks fluidly on
lobs with ease. Also has immense upside as a rim runner out of ball screens. Duke didn’t utilize him this way until the back half
of the season, but he was useful once Proctor got acclimated to college hoops as a ball screen distributor. Having said that, right
now, Lively is a bit better out of the dunker spot. Largely a two-foot leaper. Good at high pointing the ball on lobs and finishes
at a high percentage. Being in the dunker spot also allows him to impact the offensive glass. He’s energetic and attacks the glass
with his length well. He doesn’t quit on the ball. Averaged over two rebounds on the offensive end in 20 minutes per game.
WEAKNESSES
Strength will be a factor for Lively early. His overall core strength could be improved. This will come with time as he gets
older, but he’ll need to fight through that adversity early. Also, while I think his overall ball screen defense is solid enough, I
do think his change of direction skill is not necessarily all that great. He has high hips, so it can be hard for him to turn different
ways. Does have a frame that he should grow into well as he gets older to add the strength necessary for his rim protection to
hit its potential.
He’s an extremely limited player on offense. Doesn’t have any ability off the bounce at this stage of his development. Can’t create
his own shot in any way. Will need everything created for him. Does open some driving lanes with his willingness to consistently
rim run, which helps. And he finishes when a shot around the rim is created for him. But I don’t think I even feel comfortable
with him dribbling the ball right now around any sort of traffic. Will need to really work on his ball control to become valuable
as a dribble-handoff threat. Don’t feel great about him as a short-roll outlet player who can dribble and maintain the advantage
for offenses in a four-on-three situation while defenses recover. Hasn’t showcased the ability to catch in the 15-foot-area, dribble
once or twice and finish. Doesn’t turn the ball over but does end up kicking it back out to restart the offense regularly. Needs to
become way more comfortable with the ball to not be a liability when he’s not involved in the primary action. Only averaged five
points and one assist this past season.
I don’t really love the mechanics on Lively’s shot. This has long been an area that gave Lively more upside than that typical rim-
running five, but it hasn’t quite materialized to this point. Hasn’t ever made them at a high percentage despite a willingness to
take them. Has a multi-motion jumper that sometimes includes a pull back toward his forehead after getting the ball into his
shooting pocket. Doesn’t have a consistent release point. Sometimes he releases the ball too early; other times, he releases it too
late while he’s on the way down. Made just two of his 13 3-point attempts this past season. With Team Final in 2021, he made just
31 percent from 3. There’s a chance he develops into a player who can hit a trailer 3 from the top of the key or corner catch-and-
shoot 3s, but it’s going to take a lot of work. It’s a legitimate area of potential growth.
Lively will have some mechanical flaws to work on defensively. In space, he is good in screens but not awesome when
scrambling around after the initial screen defensive action. Think he is prone to being driven and attacked when he has to close
back out to shooters who pick-and-pop him (or when he’s scrambling in help). Comes out onto shooters a bit high. Additionally,
as a rim protector, it would be impossible to ignore his fouling. It improved throughout the season, but Lively had issues staying
on the court. Averaged 5.5 fouls per 40 minutes. If you go into Lively’s body as a driver, he tends to bring his arms forward more
often than he should.
SUMMARY
Lively has an immense number of tools that should make him an impactful NBA player. He’ll have elite size and length among
centers. He moves well enough to be versatile defensively in different coverages. And his rim protection should be legitimate. He
has strong anticipation around the basket, and he has strong timing for going up to swat shots. He’s just very limited on offense,
and it’ll be incumbent upon him to work through that. Even more than the jumper, where Lively needs to improve is with his
overall comfort making passing reads. If the jumper comes along, great. There is some real potential for that to happen, and if
it does, he’ll be exceptionally valuable. But more than that, Lively needs to become a more fluid player and quicker processor
of the game on that end of the court. But he’s such a strong defensive prospect with such good defensive tape late in the season
that I think he’s worth a top-20 pick, and I have a lottery grade on him due to his upside on that end. If the offense comes along
at all, he has a chance to be a top-10 center in the league. Even if it doesn’t, I buy him as a starter just through the defense and
rim running. To me, that’s worth a lottery pick.
11. Kobe Bufkin

G | Michigan | Birthdate: Sept. 21, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-4 | 185 LBS |
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
2021-22 Michigan NCAA (Big Ten) 18 28 3.0 1.1 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.4 38.0 22.2 77.3
BACKGROUND
Parents are Kimberly and Michael. Michael played at Grand Rapids Community College. Bufkin has always played up a year in
age and is very young for a sophomore. He’s younger than Jett Howard, Amen and Ausar Thompson, Brandon Miller and Jarace
Walker. Played at Grand Rapids Christian High School and emerged immediately as a high-level player in the state of Michigan.
As a sophomore, he made second-team All-State after averaging 20 points and seven rebounds. As a junior, he led his team to a
20-2 record and was in his section’s title game before COVID-19 canceled the tournament. In 2021, Bufkin played five games of
the shortened season and was dominant before breaking his wrist and missing the rest of the season. Was named first-team all-
state as a junior and senior despite that injury. Was also named a McDonald’s All-American that season, a somewhat surprising
selection. Was also a Jordan Brand Classic honoree. Bufkin ended up as a consensus four-star and top-50 recruit by most recruit-
ing services. Bufkin committed to Michigan the summer before his senior season as the first in-state recruit of the Juwan How-
ard era. He chose the Wolverines over Michigan State, Ohio State and LSU. Bufkin’s first season at Michigan was a bit hit or miss,
averaging just 10 minutes and three points per game having just turned 18 years old in the fall before the season. But he broke
out and lived up to his potential as a post-hype sophomore following the departure of both of Michigan’s starting guards. For the
first part of the season, Bufkin was kind of in Jett Howard’s shadow as a draft prospect. But over the second half, he became the
prospect scouts liked more at Michigan. Earned third team All-Big-Ten honors this past season. Declared for the draft and was
considered a first-round pick entering the process. Impressed throughout and slid up the board. Was invited to the 2023 NBA
Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Bufkin has an interesting build for a combo guard in the NBA. He’s over 6-foot-4 without shoes and came in with a 6-foot-7 1/4
wingspan and an awesome 8-foot-6 1/2 standing reach for a combo guard. Extremely fluid hips with real shiftiness both on the
perimeter and at the rim. Also is a real vertical athlete. Not quite elite but gets up more than people think. Showed real growth
throughout the season. Over his final 12 games, averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 52 percent from
the field, 45 percent from 3 and 89 percent from the line. Really started to figure out college basketball in terms of pace and
spacing. His feel for the game is quite high. Has a very strong all-around offensive game. Knows how to make an impact on that
end both on and off the ball. He’s a sharp cutter who finds open spaces on baseline and 45 cuts.
Not a ton of wasted motion in his game. Makes quick decisions. If he has an open shot, he’ll take it. Attacks driving lanes quickly.
Tries to quickly get downhill if he can both when he’s playing on and off ball. Plays in straight lines. Michigan ran a ton of
dribble-handoff actions to try to get him the ball on the move toward his left, where he was allowed to quickly get into the paint.
Wants to attack closeouts in a straight line to get to the rim. Out of ball screens, he will quickly try to split hedges and blitzes to
get into the paint. Can hit a quick hesitation dribble to change speeds to stop a big defender in his tracks, then blow by. I love the
pace at which he plays. Always under control. Very few turnovers for such a young player.
Bufkin is an elite finisher for a guard. Made 67 percent of his shots at the rim in half-court settings this past season, including 64
percent of his layups. Has outstanding touch. It all starts with his sequencing in terms of his footwork around the basket. When
he drives right, he loves the inside hand finish where he always seems to get all the way to the rim effectively. Can also go inside
hand with his right when driving left. Avoids rim protectors and gets all the way to the rim with strong angles. Also good at
initiating contact in smart ways despite his lack of frame. Uses his body to shield the ball away from rim protectors and creates
that opening. Can adjust in midair to change the angle on rotating defenders and has an impressive array of little floaters.
Bufkin can also make solid pick-and-roll reads. Played more as a combo this past season than as a true point guard, so the
full-season numbers aren’t outstanding. And he’s still developing his overall craft in terms of drawing defenders by driving
deep into the paint and holding his spot. But he sees the court well and does a good job of manipulating opposing players with
his eyes to open passing lanes. He’s good already but has significant upside as he gets stronger. Technically, he’s very good in
terms of his ability to throw live-dribble passes, and he throws them with either hand. Comfortable driving left or right and
being a one-handed live-ball passer. Always seems to have his eyes on the help defender and low man who is supposed to be in
position. As soon as that man makes his choice, he goes. Throws awesome cross-corner and cross-wing looks off whip passes
with real velocity.
Bufkin pairs all of this with real shooting potential both off the catch and the bounce. Made his pull-up 3s this past season at a
32.3 percent clip and showed real growth over the second half of the season. Most comfortable trying to get to his right to get
to that stepback but showcased some ability going to his left as well. Has a nice high release point and really elevates into the
jumper, making him useful in both the midrange and from 3. Good at stringing out his man in drop coverage and stopping him
with those hesitation dribbles, then stepping back and firing on-balance. Real shot versatility. Can spin into them from the
midrange or gather into them off a between-the-legs dribble. Won’t be a day one skill at the NBA level but will develop into being
a good pull-up player.
Bufkin also makes his jumper off the catch. Hit 37 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past season on about three per game,
per Synergy. The high release point helps him here. Hard to contest his shot. Much more comfortable taking them off a one-
two step but has a strong shot prep in spot-up situations. Always aligned and ready to catch and fire. I think there is also some
space for him to make shots off complex movement actions, even if it’s not quite there yet. Hit seven of his 20 attempts this past
season from 3 off either screens or dribble handoffs. Michigan also ran a lot of curl actions for him into the midrange where
he’d rise and fire, and he made 12 of those 19 attempts. Will note a couple things he needs to clean up below, but I buy Bufkin
as a shooter.
Bufkin is also a sharp defender. He’s one of only eight high-major draft prospects this year to average at least 1.2 steals and half
of a block per game this past season. Has very good hand-eye coordination and uses his length well to be impactful. Consistently
uses every bit of his length by keeping his arms outstretched. Creates steals. Good on the ball against guards due to his pressure.
Have to always be aware of his hands. But he also uses his quickness well. Stays in front of his man and uses that length to
contest jumpers. Blocks several jumpers that way. Plays down in his stance and is constantly engaged and active. Fights through
screens at a reasonable level for someone still growing into his body because he understands angles and how to navigate around
them. Solid in recovery because he uses every bit of that length.
I also think he’s a sharp off-ball defender. Good in rotation. Always available. Was a big reason Michigan’s defense improved
drastically in the second half of the season, as the Wolverines went from outside of the top 100 nationally to the second-best
defense in Big Ten play, per KenPom. Great in scramble and in transition situations. Ridiculous shot blocker for a young guard,
especially in recovery out on the break.
WEAKNESSES
Bufkin is a good athlete but not a great one. He’s much more functional and fluid as opposed to truly explosive. Doesn’t have an
elite first step. Also, his strength is a bit of a concern right now. Doesn’t have that real intersection of power and explosiveness
that you like to see from a potential top-half-of-the-first-round pick. That lack of strength kind of permeates his game.
His handle is OK for a teenage combo guard but needs to take a few steps forward. Has to get stronger on the ball and be able to
keep his dribble alive. Can get bothered by teams that really try to get into his body with aggressive, physical on-ball defense. For
instance, Rutgers gave him some problems with how it blitzes and really plays with intensity on the ball. While he’s good against
drop coverage, Bufkin can struggle to string guys out and force mismatches against more aggressive schemes. Because of this, he
can sometimes pre-ordain his reads as a passer, which is when he gets in trouble, or he can sometimes keep his head down and
take a contested midrange pull-up while focusing on his dribble. I think continuing to get stronger within his frame will help
him in this respect, but this is probably the thing that would stop him from being a true instant impact player as a combo guard.
I like that Bufkin consistently plays in straight lines and with real decisiveness, but I worry about his ability to create his own
shot at times without that primary advantage. Sometimes you want a guy who can dance to create his own shot. Bufkin doesn’t
have that right now. I love his pace out of ball screens, and he showcases some real shiftiness through his hips there. But I
wouldn’t say Bufkin is a player who has a “bag” in the traditional sense that you expect to see out of a combo guard. Doesn’t
string together a ton of moves to be able to get his man off-balance to attack. Might not be the late-shot-clock creator you want
out of a potential starter at the combo guard spot. This is probably the swing skill for his true upside outcomes. If Bufkin can
become a legitimate shot creator who can get players off-balance with a wider variety of tricks, then he could really be impactful
on both ends.
Bufkin’s defense also is not immune when it comes to these strength-based issues. While I think he does a good job of navigating
screens, he struggles when he gets clipped now. Tough for him to get unstuck from those moments because of that lack of
strength. He also can be a little too hoppy on that end. Instead of staying grounded and sliding, he will jump into closeouts or
into ice actions. If a guy can time his drive with one of Bufkin’s hops, he can really beat him in a straight line, which occasionally
forced issues for Michigan. Overall, he’s a good defender for a teenager but will need to clean up some mechanical issues like
that one.
SUMMARY
Bufkin is one of the guys on whom I will be highest compared to consensus this year. I love how well-rounded his game is and
how many of his attributes figure to translate. I buy him as a shooter, and I really buy his feel for the game on offense. His
passing is improving as he continues to gain experience. He knows how to play direct basketball off quick decisions. There isn’t
a ton of fluff there. And while sometimes you would like to see a bit of fluff in terms of his ability to dance and create a shot, I
think his ability to play a different cadence and his hip flexibility gives him some upside to develop those gifts once he gets
stronger and can hold his ground on the ball against aggressive defenders a bit. With his long arms and stronger shoulders, he
has the kind of frame that should be able to add some weight and improve some of the strength-based issues that cause him
problems now. Mix that with his touch, his elite finishing, the high release point on his pull-up and his willingness to be an
aggressive defender, and I think he profiles nicely as a difference-making guard long term. He has the size to not be hunted if
the strength comes along defensively. And his ability to play both on and off the ball will allow him to play with stars at a high
level. Bufkin has starter upside long term. And if he can develop a bit more game off the bounce to separate from his man, there
is even a bit more upside beyond that in the highest-end potential outcomes. I’m comfortable putting my chips in on Bufkin as
one of my guys.
12. Bilal Coulibaly

W | Metropolitans 92 | Birthdate: July 26, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-6 | 220 LBS |
Hometown: Saint-Cloud, France
2022-23 Metropoli- French League 18 35 6.0 3.0 1.0 1.1 0.2 0.9 53.8 36.0 62.7
tans 92
*stats as of June 13
BACKGROUND
Thought to be more along the lines of a 2024 NBA Draft pick at the start of the season by scouts, Coulibaly emerged quickly over
the course of the French season and became Metropolitans’ second potential first-round pick along with Victor Wembanyama.
Classic late bloomer. Started to play basketball at around 10 years old but has been a very slow developmental story. Started his
career at a Courbevoie Sport Basket about 10 kilometers outside of downtown Paris. Moved to Levallois Sporting Club in 2019,
which eventually merged its basketball side with Paris Basket and became Metropolitans. Was quite small at this point, well
under 6-foot. Then COVID-19 hit. The next time Coulibaly was seen playing any sort of competitive basketball, he’d grown about
8 inches over the previous 18 or so months and jumped up to about 6-foot-3 by the summer of 2021. Eventually got up to his
current 6-foot-6 mark over the course of the next season. Started playing professionally for Metropolitans’ Espoirs team, the un-
der-21 French league. Was quite good, averaging 12 points per game as a 17-year-old. Was considered one of the top prospects in
the league athletically due to his absurd length and how quickly he was developing. Played for France’s U18 team as an underage
player at the 2022 European Championships, averaging about seven points per game and providing defensive versatility. Was
chosen to play on the U18 Select Team that played Bronny James and a California-based club team on a tour of Europe by the
American team. In a game televised by ESPN, Coulibaly truly broke out once and for all, scoring 25 points and popping off the
screen in an enormous way athletically. Was decided that he’d move up and play for the Metropolitans 92 senior team while also
playing for the Espoirs team early in the season. Completely and utterly dominated the youth league as he slowly was integrated
into the Metropolitans rotation. By January, he was done playing youth league games and was fully incorporated. Was a full-time
starter and difference-maker on a great professional team next to Wembanyama by mid-April and has continued to start and
play heavy minutes in the playoffs. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft and speed up the process after this
rapid development.
STRENGTHS
Coulibaly has completely ridiculous tools for an NBA wing. We don’t have official measurements, but he’s something in the
ballpark of 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan that immediately stands out upon watching him play. Also possesses a very strong
intersection of explosiveness and fluidity. One of those guys who has that ability to seemingly hang in the air forever. More
graceful than powerful — and doesn’t initiate bumps — but he absorbs contact well. Can really rise as a leaper off one foot on
the break or two feet. Can get up high when he needs to or can be a long leaper with a take-off point far away from the rim.
Really good lateral quickness. Very fluid through his hips. Wouldn’t quite say he’s a top 5 percent athlete by NBA standards, but
he’s a top-10 percent one who is incredibly functional in how it bears itself out on the court. Has clearly shown the ability this
past season to understand his role and play within it while also playing hard every single game. Motor is solid, and he plays
with aggressiveness.
He has an absurd upside on the defensive end, and he’s already a difference-maker in France as an 18-year-old. His role right
now is to be an X-factor defender who uses his motor and energy to frustrate opponents. The length and fluidity he has on
that end are ridiculous. Already extremely switchable across the one through three spots and will likely be able to guard fours
soon with ease given his frame. A monster at the point of attack because of his intersection of quickness and length. Crawls up
into ballhandlers’ space. Stays in front of the ball and is extremely disruptive due to how he can use his hands while staying far
enough away from the ballhandler to cut off angles. Gets around screens well in drop-coverage situations. A monster in recovery
because of that length. Can always contest from behind.
Coulibaly’s off-ball defensive repertoire is a bit all over the map as we’ll discuss below, but you still always have to be aware of
where he is on the court because of his length. Jumps passing lanes extremely well. French passers still haven’t quite adjusted
to how quickly he can cover ground and are often somehow deceived by his ability to get his hand in there for a deflection.
Averaged an absurd 2.6 steals in the Espoirs league this year but also has averaged nearly a steal per game in just 18 minutes in
the top French league. Additionally, uses his length and aggression effectively on digs and random blitzes to cause opposing
ballhandlers issues.
Offensively, he’s best out on the break right now. Can play at high speeds particularly in transition, where his stride length
really allows him to get downhill in a hurry before defenders can adjust. That’s his best offensive role right now. He runs the
floor exceptionally well and makes himself an option, or even at times leads the break on his own after rebounds or steals. Can
make the simple, smart passing read when he has open space, and can do so off a live dribble. Good at finding the hit-ahead and
spotting his man at the rim. A very unselfish player. He plays the right way and tries to find open teammates both in the half
court and on the break. But he’s typically filling lanes and using his length and athleticism to finish. Covers ground so fast.
He keeps it simple in the half court on offense. As we’ll explain below, that is intentional. Largely, Coulibaly is best in these
settings as a cutter. Has a good sense of timing from the baseline and knows how to find open seams and areas. Also sharp,
though, as a 45-cutter from the wing on drives or getting downhill from the top of the key. Understands how to move without the
ball. Crashes the glass well, averaging about one offensive rebound per game. Has a ton of impressive putbacks this year.
Role is not quite as limited if you watch Coulibaly play at levels more commensurate with his age as opposed to being a role
player on a contender in France with Metropolitans. Handle is a bit loose, but he occasionally can run the offense and make
reads. Moreover, in that setting, he was essentially a walking paint touch due to his length and athleticism. Has real burst with
his ability to drive past defenders. I don’t think he’d be anywhere near able to bring this from day one in the NBA, but you can
see the outlines of real upside as a creator as he gets stronger and grows into his frame as a late bloomer.
There is also some real shooting upside. Wouldn’t say Coulibaly is all that impactful as a floor spacer due to volume, but he has
made 40 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this year. Not the most comfortable shooter at this stage but makes them when he’s
open. Mechanics are clean. Good release at the top with good rotation on the ball. Soft release. Very high release as well, using
his length. Could bode well for him shooting over closeouts long term.
WEAKNESSES
The easiest way to say it is that Coulibaly is a project. He has every single tool to be great, but it’s clear that he is a good deal of
time away from realizing his upside. His game is so raw and unrefined, and that is true on both ends even with how effective
he is on defense. He’s just very limited across the board right now on the offensive end. He’s useful for Metropolitans and
deserves to have the role he does. But also, he’s the classic player where you can make a three-minute highlight clip of him
where he looks like a budding superstar, but the full-game tape is more underwhelming at this stage because he’s in such a
nascent stage of his development.
Let’s start on offense. To call Coulibaly limited at this point would be an understatement. As of June 3, he had taken just 78 field
goal attempts in half-court settings, per Synergy. That’s a remarkably low 2.6 per game and just 5.1 per 36 minutes. That’s one
of the lowest numbers I’ve seen for a potential first-round pick. That’s nearly invisible on offense. For reference, Isaac Okoro
attempted 5.8 half-court shots per 36 minutes for the Cleveland Cavaliers this past season. Coulibaly goes through stretches
where he’s just not involved at all. As an off-ball player, he isn’t really a floor spacer who opposing teams are worried about
contesting with heavy closeouts. Because shooting isn’t always his first instinct, his shot prep isn’t always there. Doesn’t always
look ready to fire. Typically has to take an extra split second to find the seams of the ball. Takes him a while to load into the
shot, which diminishes the volume with which he can attempt 3s. Mostly just taking wide open ones. Despite that cutting ability,
averages under one shot per game at the rim in half-court settings.
Largely, this ineffectual nature in the half court on offense also has to do with how raw Coulibaly is as a ballhandler. Very loose
with the ball. Can make plays in transition and the open court but is nowhere near being able to do that in the NBA yet. Not
comfortable putting the ball on the deck going forward against set defenses at the professional level. Doesn’t seem to navigate
traffic well. Even at the Espoirs level, he’s not really breaking players down off the dribble necessarily with craft, more just
using his immense physical tools to get through and by people with hesitations and changes of pace. Lived at the foul line there
because of how hard it was to stay in front of him at that age. Doesn’t seem wildly comfortable with his left hand as a handler or
as a finisher. Very right-hand dominant right now. Doesn’t have a ton of pull-up game at this point. Has a bit of a lower release
point on his pull-up, and really leaps into the air on it. Will take some midrange pull-ups at the youth level, but they don’t
seem to be all that efficient at this point. Has some work to do there to clean this up mechanically. As a passer, I think he’s still
learning how to read the back side of defenders. Good at reading what’s right in front of him. Still a work in progress from a feel
perspective in terms of reading the second and third levels. This is a potential improvement area that could get better as he ages
and could happen relatively quickly if the handle tightens.
While I think Coulibaly is a very useful, valuable defensive player for Metropolitans due to his on-ball prowess and length, there
are some real holes in his off-ball defense right now. Think he’s generally just a bit slow to react rotationally everywhere. Again,
this is his first professional year, so that wouldn’t be a surprise. Has all the tools to figure this out as he gets more experience. But
he can be a bit of a gambler right now and get beaten on the back end with his over aggression. Don’t think he has that natural
anticipation yet you’d like to see from what is ostensibly a defense-first prospect. His closeouts aren’t as good as you’d expect
for someone who is this long and this graceful an athlete. Seems to sometimes sink into the play a little bit after ball-watching,
resulting in long-distance closeouts that are hard for even him to get out to. Can make some impressive weakside rim rotations
but is not quite as impactful there as you’d think either. .
SUMMARY
Coulibaly is one of the most interesting mixes of immense upside and raw, unrefined polish to enter the NBA Draft in a long
time. There are so many pieces of Coulibaly’s game that make you want to buy in. His athletic tools are incredible and are
exactly what every single team across the league is looking for. He plays hard and plays unselfishly. In open spaces, it’s clear that
if he can tighten up his handle, his downhill speed and potential is real. He is willing to understand his role and play with a high
motor, doing whatever it takes to get on the floor and help the team. Defensively, it’s not an exaggeration to say that his physical
gifts give him genuine upside to become an All-Defense player. His jump shot is far from broken. He clearly has natural touch.
But he also doesn’t do enough on the court right now either. He’s an incredibly low-volume offensive player. His handle is going
to really take some time to develop for it to be functional in the NBA. His jumper, while far from broken, is probably a multi-
year project in terms of getting him confident enough from NBA range at the speed that will be necessary for him to get it off at
volume. And even on defense, he’s still kind of a step slow when he’s away from the ball. His role is so limited because it’s hard to
gauge what his NBA floor is, even with the knowledge that he dominated the youth level there.
I don’t think there is a prospect in this draft with a wider gap between what his floor and his ceiling is. He has all the tools to be
an All-Star, and we all want to buy into players reaching their fullest potential. But because he is such a late bloomer physically
and is just starting down this road, I’m not sure we have enough evidence on how strong his feel for the game is or what his
overall potential is as a creator. Coulibaly is the epitome of a player where you will see what you want to see. If you want to see
the best in prospects and value the best flashes, you’re going to love him. If you nitpick players’ weaknesses, he has a lot of them,
and you’re probably going to be less interested. What I’m most worried about is a team drafting him and not willing to be patient
and ride out what will undeniably be a long-term project. If a team is willing to go slow like Metropolitans did this year and give
him a couple of years to figure things out, the return could be immense. But if they try to rush things or get impatient, Coulibaly
might get lost given how much of his skill and feel-based parts of the game he still must develop. Your guess is as good as mine
on where Coulibaly’s career ends. But he’s undeniably worth making an informed bet on with a top-20 pick to find out, and I
wouldn’t begrudge anyone taking him late in the lottery.
13. Leonard Miller

F | G League Ignite | Birthdate: Nov. 26, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-9 | 215 LBS |
Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
2022-23 Ignite G League 19 38 16.9 10.1 1.6 1.9 0.8 1.0 53.7 30.4 79.2
BACKGROUND
Mother is Carline. Youngest of four brothers, including Emanuel, who plays at TCU and is a future NBA Draft prospect in his
own right. Miller grew up in the Toronto suburbs with his family. Really picked up basketball when he was a teenager and started
training heavily. Traveled on buses for multiple hours per day to get to his first prep school. Moved around a lot to try to find the
right spot for him to keep developing. He started at Thornlea, and then moved to continue his training at Wasatch Academy in
Utah. Miller was around 6-foot-6 and then started growing over the course of the next year to about 6-foot-9 or so. Did not play a
lot for a Wasatch team loaded with upperclassmen. Transferred down to Florida and went to Victory Rock but suffered a broken
right wrist that required surgery. Decided to do a post-graduate year at Fort Erie Prep back in Canada where he played for long-
time family friend Charles Hantoumakos. It was there that Miller finally broke out and thrived. He was dominant and picked up
scholarship offers around the country. Was invited to Nike Hoop Summit that year and impressed evaluators. Decided to declare
for the 2022 NBA Draft but ended up withdrawing to get more experience. Decided instead to commit to the G League Ignite,
where Miller thrived again after some adjustment. By the end of the season, he was one of the best players on a nightly basis as a
ballhandling big forward who could lead the break and live at the rim. Was automatically eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft and was
invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Miller is a very high-level mixture of competitive, intellectually curious and hard-work-
ing. Every reason to believe he will get the most out of his ceiling long term.
STRENGTHS
Miller has a terrific intersection of skill level and size. Measured 6-foot-9 1/2 without shoes with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a strong
215-pound frame. Elite size for a player who can handle the ball, make plays and get out on the break. Strange blend of athletic
traits. Constantly lives on the edge of being off-balance where it looks like his body is moving in different directions at the same
time. However, he’s clearly confident and comfortable within his own movements, which means he’s able to get to his spots.
Great body control and takes bumps well, displaying the fact that his balance is quite good despite how it seems. Very strong.
Tops that off by playing hard all the time. Aggressive player who uses his athleticism to make an impact all over the court both
as a leaper and on the ground. Seems to get off the floor quickly as a leaper. Quick reactions. All of this leads to him being a very
real mismatch threat in a lot of different situations.
He particularly excels out on the break. Tremendous grab-and-go player out in transition. Averaged over 10 rebounds per game
this past season in the G League, many of which started instant offense down the floor. Very long strides. Covers ground quickly.
Kind of a freight train out in space. Uses that ability to understand space and how to maneuver within it well. Changes direction
well and acts as a heat-seeking missile to try to find the man at the basket’s body. Will initiate contact to create that little bit of
space, maintain that balance and power up through contact. Miller’s strength is ridiculous for his size. He’s incredibly strong
and physical, and the strength looks like it will continue to get better as he ages.
It’s hard to overemphasize how terrific Miller’s finishing acumen is. He has superb touch. Because of his ball skills, he’s very
versatile in the actions in which he can be used. Has an enormous bag of tricks on the interior. Great hand-eye coordination and
can finish above the rim when rolling out of ball screens and rim running as a cutter. Can also leap off two feet out of the dunker
spot and finish. Made 66.7 percent of his shots at the rim in total and 61.3 in half-court settings. Given some of the degree of
difficulty on some of those, impressive numbers. Really good instincts for when to time his cut out of the dunker spot, and when
to time his roll because of his ability to put the ball on the deck out of short-roll scenarios. But more importantly, can also attack
in straight lines in the half court. Will get the ball in the mid-post and try to attack in a straight line. Can still go through contact
and get all the way to the rim with his Euro steps or deceleration techniques. But where the mismatch situations really come
in is when he’s matched up against a big on the perimeter. He’s good at getting his hips lower than them and driving by with a
smart first step, then getting all the way to the rim. Not wildly explosive but very good at finding those angles.
The blend of physical traits allows Miller to be a terrific finisher. Those weird movements allow him to throw off rim protectors
and avoid contact, creating finishing angles others can’t really find. Loves to Euro step or crossover and get back to his right
hand. Can change direction without having to change speed with his handle at his size. Makes them with either hand as well.
Has that rare blend of touch at the basket. Throws up some ridiculous, different shots at the rim that go in. Despite being a lefty,
he can get to the right-handed floater and knock them down.
I buy him as a passer and playmaker at his size in a secondary role long term even with the warts right now. Ignite used him
occasionally in some ball screen opportunities as a ballhandler, and I liked his vision as a playmaker. Hit some smart cross-
corner passes. Numbers don’t jump off the page because Miller wasn’t typically asked to be utilized in a playmaking role. But
his tape at lower levels really showcased high-level passing vision. Very good at the jump pass, drawing defenders toward him
then quickly reacting to who is coming. He averaged only 1.6 assists per game, but much like the rest of the season, he showed
tremendous growth in the second half. Over his last 15 games, he averaged 2.5 assists per game versus 1.5 turnovers.
There are also some real defensive tools I buy into long term. I think he will be a plus on-ball defender in the NBA. Miller plays
very hard and never gives up on plays. When he has an assignment, he excels at it. Think the growth he showed on that end this
past season in terms of tools and technique was strong. Defended multiple position types. Can deal with players from the wing
up to the center position. Can slide and stay in front of wings, but because he’s so strong, you also can’t go through his chest as
a driver by lowering his shoulder. Walls up and stays in front of his man. Does so with his arms very high in the air. Can defend
men on the block. Plus, he uses that immense length with an 8-foot-10 1/2 standing reach to be able to contest shots. Had some
moments of navigating off-ball actions well just by being willing to fight. Has shown some upside with weakside rim rotations.
Averaged about one steal and one block per game.
WEAKNESSES
Miller is extremely raw and does not have a ton of high-level basketball experience. Plays almost entirely reactively right now
because he still doesn’t know 100 percent what he’s doing on the court at times. Miller is kind of the ultimate test case for a
question that NBA evaluators have different opinions on. Does a lack of experience mean a player still has upside to grow into as
he gains it? Or does it mean he’s lost a lot of important reps that he can’t get back?
Another big question with Miller is the jumper. Made just 32.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-point jumpers this past season,
per Synergy. Many of them were entirely unguarded opportunities as teams played off him, daring him to shoot. He had a lot
of mechanical flaws despite that real touch mentioned above regarding his finishing at the rim. His shot prep was very square
to the basket, meaning it seemed like his elbow wasn’t always aligned and he was kind of turning in midair. Has a really bad
base. Release was inconsistent in terms of rhythm and tempo. Sometimes he’d really speed it up. Sometimes it was slow and
methodical. Landing area was always different from shot to shot. Also had a lot of off-hand interaction in the shot, which led
to right/left misses. Very inconsistent misses overall. Did not look like something he had a lot of faith in from one shot to the
next. Having seen him in pre-draft workouts, Miller’s jumper has improved in terms of rhythm, landing in the same space and
with off-hand placement. He has upside in this respect because he has elite touch. But until he proves it in-game when guys are
closing out on him, it’s impossible to trust.
Miller can be a bit turnover-prone. Improved his overall intensity as the season went on, understanding what it takes to be
constantly always engaged. Gets loose with his handle because of it. Was a bit casual early in the season, probably the result of
his lack of experience and previous ability to dominate lower levels with ease. Got ripped with way too much ease. But also has
occasional processing problems too. Picks up his dribble absent-mindedly a bit too easily. Seems to still be a bit mechanical and
not quite as fluid as you want to see someone you hope develops into being a point forward. He is kind of indecisive. Again, this
improved throughout the season, which offers real upside hope long term. But he needs to showcase it over a longer stretch in
real games.
Defensively, Miller is hit or miss, especially away from the ball. Way too inconsistent. Really bad closeouts. That might be the
biggest part of his defensive issues. Closes out very high and has bad feet. Legit ends up getting dropped by players attacking
his heavy closeouts somewhat regularly. But even more than that, he gets attacked every time and gives up easy attacks and rim
pressure. Probably won’t be able to play in the NBA until he fixes this. Still misses rotations more often than you’d like.
Again, a lot of this comes down to experience. Miller seems to react late on those rotations to close out, which means he’s
closing out heavily and putting himself in bad spots. A lot of the issues come down to being put in spots where he has to be
overaggressive. He bites on pump fakes and pushes out onto his rotations too often. But he also misses on a lot of seeming
communication errors where he seems to be the one who wasn’t totally sure on the coverage, and it results in an easy layup. Will
switch when he shouldn’t or play too high at the level and miss his gaps.
SUMMARY
Miller is going to be an incredibly polarizing prospect. He was last cycle as well. The only difference is that this time evaluators
are forced into making a decision on him as opposed to being able to kick the can down the road. The other key difference is
that Miller has displayed success against elite competition after his last month and a half in the G League. Miller does stuff you
can’t really teach. He’s a big ballhandler who hits the glass and can really attack and cover ground quickly with long strides but
also decelerate and change direction with the ball. His athleticism is a rare blend. He’s an elite finisher with incredible touch
around the basket – the touch that kind of gives you hope long term that an elite shooting coach will be able to fix it. There’s
some passing ability here. There’s some defensive upside here. It’s all just in the form of an entirely unshaped diamond who may
never reach its full form because he’s starting from such a deficit in terms of experience.
Miller had never played a level above the Ontario Scholastic League prior to this past season. He didn’t get to play AAU
basketball against high-level athletes who can match him. Before he played at Nike Hoop Summit and the combine last year,
he’d never even consistently played in games against Division I-level talent. For him to figure out the G League within a year
is remarkable when put in that context. But even with that terrific play, he still has a lot of warts that will be taken advantage
of to a greater degree in the NBA. I just hope Miller goes to a positive developmental situation that will be willing to take their
time and teach him. The intel is pristine. He is a sponge who wants to learn. If you’re willing to be patient, you could end up
with a steal. To answer the question posed above regarding a lack of experience meaning lost reps or upside, I think the answer
depends on the person. With Miller, I tend to buy that there is real upside here because I buy the human being involved. Miller
is intellectually curious and wants to be great at basketball. I’ll buy that he can pick up the time he’s lost already because I think
he’ll put in the extra time to do so.
14. Cason Wallace

G | Kentucky | Birthdate: Nov. 7, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-3 | 195 LBS | Hometown: Dallas
2022-23 Kentucky NCAA (SEC) 19 32 11.7 3.7 4.3 2.1 0.5 2.0 44.6 34.6 75.7
BACKGROUND
Parents are Kimberly and Mike. Brother is Keaton Wallace, a three-time All-Conference USA player at UTSA who plays profes-
sionally in the G League. Cason has always been considered a high-level character person throughout his early basketball career.
Quickly emerged in the Dallas area as an elite player. Went to Richardson High School, the same high school as his brother, and
stayed there for all four years. Won freshman of the year in the area, then won his district’s defensive player of the year award as
a sophomore. At that point, started to emerge on the national level as an elite prospect. Achieved four-star status that summer as
a recruit, then five-star status midway through his junior year. Played in high school with Rylan Griffen, an interesting prospect
at Alabama. Carried Richardson to a state tournament appearance for the second time ever as a junior, then led the school to a
top-five national ranking as a senior before the team was upset in the Texas state playoffs. Was named All-Peach Jam before his
senior season on the Nike EYBL circuit and truly emerged as one of the best players in his 2022 recruiting class that summer.
Named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior season. Earned McDonald’s All-American and Nike Hoop Summit
honors. Committed to Kentucky early in his senior year over offers from Tennessee, Texas and UTSA. Was good for Kentucky as
a freshman, earning All-Freshman honors in the SEC. He also should have earned All-Defense honors but didn’t. Struggled with
injuries at times throughout the year. Dealt with an ankle injury late in the season, in addition to a knee contusion and some
back spasms. NBA teams are eager to learn more about his overall frame and some of the injuries he dealt with. Kentucky ended
up losing to Kansas State in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Wallace chose to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft with an
agent. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
A terrific functional athlete with incredible anticipation. Great length with a legitimate plus-six wingspan that came in at nearly
6-foot-9. His 8-foot-5 standing reach will allow him to be switchable one through three when combined with his functional
strength. Just extremely strong for a guard this size, especially through his lower half and core. Moreover though, plays with an
elite motor. Never stops playing hard. Constantly aggressive. It’s probably a bit reductive, but Wallace just knows how to play. He
has an exceptionally high basketball IQ and knows how to make winning plays that help teams both on and off the ball.
That motor comes through best on defense. Wallace is a potential All-Defense guard in the NBA. There is not an aspect of
defensive play in which he is not elite. I love his team defense most of all. His anticipation and rotational instincts are elite. He’s
never out of position and is disruptive in how he attacks the ball. Averaged two steals per game and consistently used his active
hands to get large numbers of deflections. Elite at locking and trailing his man around screens and does a great job of getting
skinny over ball screens and frustrating his opponent. He consistently blows up dribble-handoff actions by getting his hands
and body in between the big and ballhandler. Creates live-ball turnover plays leading to transition offense regularly.
On the ball, Wallace is terrific. He plays bigger than his size at 6-foot-3 with shoes, largely because of his combination of
quickness and strength. His lateral foot speed is very good, which allows him to stay in front of opposing players. But moreover,
he’s extremely strong through his lower body and chest, which means it’s harder for bigger guys to body him up and power
through him. He probably won’t be able to stand his ground against the elite power guards in the NBA like Luka Dončić, but
he will be able to have some success against bigger wings who are in the 6-foot-7, 220-pound range. His hand-eye coordination
causes all sorts of disruptive moments, and his hands are quite strong when he gets a piece of the ball and goes for a steal. I
completely buy him as a difference-making defensive guard, and I think he’ll be that early in his career.
Offensively, Wallace has some intriguing skills that fit well within a team concept. Essentially a combo guard at this point. The
thing that will translate fastest will be his shooting. Wallace has developed into a good shooter over the years, hitting about 35
from 3. Made 35 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. His volume isn’t particularly strong, but there is nothing in his
mechanics to indicate issues in increasing that volume as he moves up levels. Extremely good directly off the catch. He takes
his shots off the catch directly off the hop, loading up quickly and firing before the defense can get a strong contest. Given how
quickly the shooting windows close in the NBA, this is a critical skill that will allow him to generate shots. He also knows how to
move without the ball. Great at relocating around his teammates into open spaces. because he can handle the ball, he also can
attack closeouts with ease and keep defenses in rotation.
We’ll talk a bit about some concerns below, but Wallace is a comfortable ballhandler. Doesn’t get a ton of shots at the rim, but
when he gets there, he makes them count. Made about 60 percent of his attempts at the rim in half-court settings this past
season, a remarkably high number for a player on a team with egregiously bad spacing. Absorbs contact well and maintains
his balance and touch. Also made quite a few interesting floaters and runners. Made 39 percent of those, but they show real
potential as a midrange weapon. Wallace is also comfortable pulling up in the midrange. Per Synergy, took 57 such shots and
made them at a 43.9 percent clip, an extremely good number for a teenage creator. Good at using a quick little inside-out dribble
to force a defender back, then stop and pop. Can make them going both directions too. Critical skill for him is how this translates
in addition to his long-distance jumper.
As an offensive player, he’s almost unselfish to a fault at times. Passes up good shots regularly in the vein of trying to attack off
the bounce to collapse defenders to make kickout passes. Wallace is a terrific processor of the game and regularly hits passing
reads. Knows how to read the defense. Consistently will make the smart hit-ahead or extra pass to start or maintain the flow of
the offense. Good at hitting cross-corner kickouts. Very accurate passer as well. Ball always seems to find its way to the shooting
pocket. Averaged 4.3 assists per game and did so without necessarily being the primary point guard all the time for Kentucky. I
buy him entirely as one of those guys who might not necessarily put up awesome counting stats but will probably help his team
just through his presence on the court with his ability to dribble, pass, shoot and defend.
WEAKNESSES
Wallace is not overly big at just 6-foot-2 1/2 without shoes. While his balance and quickness make him overall a positive athlete
in the way that it bears itself out on the court, he does have some real explosiveness questions that end up causing some issues
that we’ll discuss. He’s not all that explosive as a leaper, and his first step isn’t awesome. A lot of his missed shots at the rim end
up being these weird underhand floaters where he tries to loft it up over a big. Doesn’t seem to have incredible hip flexibility,
particularly when he’s on the ball. There is a question as to whether he might end up a bit stuck between positions in the NBA on
offense. He’s not quite good enough with the ball yet to be a point guard, but he’s also not all that explosive of a scorer.
Kentucky does not run a ton of pick-and-roll, and Wallace wasn’t really asked to be a playmaker and creator in NBA-like
situations as a lead guard. Didn’t have NBA-like spacing and didn’t really have a rim runner next to him often. Was also more of
a scorer than a passer or playmaker in high school. Don’t think he’s necessarily the most natural live-dribble passer. Most of his
assists on drive-and-kicks come with two hands on the ball as opposed to those one-handed whip passes the best creators can
make before passing windows close. Wallace has the unselfishness to develop this skill, and he sees the court well enough. He
also has the hand strength to become a better one-handed live-dribble passer. But I’d like to see him do it before putting him at
the lead guard spot regularly unless he’s playing next to a dominant on-ball wing or bigger creator.
While I like Wallace’s scoring instincts, I also worry about Wallace as a self-creating scorer. I don’t think he separates all that well
from his man. His handle is tight, and he rarely turns it over from ballhandling, but I don’t find it to be all that creative. Becomes
a bit robotic when trying to string together three or four moves together in a chain. Would like to see more hip flexibility to
change direction, but I’m not quite sure it’s there based on the college tape. There isn’t a ton of shiftiness. Doesn’t exactly have
a bag of crossovers. I think that’s why, in general, his shot volume off pull-ups is not all that high. He also doesn’t seem to have
the acceleration to blow by bigs or the shiftiness to get to his stepback against them. I worry you might just be able to switch his
screens without any recourse.
SUMMARY
Wallace is one of those players I buy making it work as a high-end starter/rotation player at the next level. He’s great on defense,
and he’s great in the ways that translate to just about any scheme. He’s switchable because he plays bigger than his size, but
he’s also able to fight through screens, dribble handoffs and off-ball actions. His awareness and anticipation are elite skills that
translate to any winning situation. He can also knock down shots at a high level, and he makes strong passing reads. These are
all the skills NBA teams look for when trying to spot a complementary player who will thrive next to stars. You just wish, for
Wallace’s skill set, that he was more in the 6-foot-6 range as opposed to just under 6-foot-3. While he plays bigger than his size,
he is going to have some limitations against star level players on the wing. If the increased spacing of the NBA allows for Wallace
to separate from his defender a bit more, he has some real upside to become a difference-making starter on great playoff teams.
If not, he’ll settle in perfectly as a good complementary player.
15. Jalen Hood-Schifino

G/W | Indiana | Birthdate: June 19, 2003 (Age: 20) | 6-4 | 215 LBS | Hometown: Pittsburgh
2022-23 Indiana NCAA (Big Ten) 19 32 13.5 4.1 3.7 3.4 0.3 1.0 41.7 33.3 77.6
BACKGROUND
Parents are Angel and Glenn. Hood-Schifino was born in Pittsburgh and lived there until he was in middle school, when the
family moved to Charlotte. He quickly became a sought-after prospect as a high school player, largely due to his frame and affin-
ity for playing on both ends of the court. He was well-traveled. He started his high school career at Northside Christian Academy
in Charlotte, then moved to Combine Academy in Lincolnton, N.C. During that season, he committed to Pitt under coach Jeff
Capel III but decided to go through a more robust recruiting process after blowing up as an elite recruit in the summer between
his sophomore and junior seasons. Transferred following that year to his final landing spot, Florida powerhouse Montverde
Academy. Was consistently among the best players at Montverde, playing with fellow terrific recruits such as Dariq Whitehead,
Malik Reneau and Dillon Mitchell. The previous year, he played with draft picks Jalen Duren and Caleb Houstan. Came off the
bench as a junior but played a critical role. Started at point guard as a senior and was integral to the team’s success. During both
seasons, the team won the GEICO national tournament. Because of all the talent around him, Hood-Schifino’s impact on the
game has always gone a bit underrated. He was passed over for the McDonald’s All-American game and Nike Hoop Summit,
although he was a Jordan Brand Classic invitee. Many schools didn’t think he was a point guard. Ultimately, Hood-Schifino was
considered a consensus top-30 recruit and was a borderline five-star player. He committed to Indiana over Florida, Memphis,
Texas and Tennessee and chose Indiana in part because the Hoosiers saw him as a point guard. After Xavier Johnson’s inju-
ry, Hood-Schifino got his chance to play point and thrived. He won the Big Ten Conference Rookie of the Year award and was
named third-team All-Big Ten. He helped lead Indiana to a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament, where the Hoosiers even-
tually lost in the second round to Miami. Hood-Schifino declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season, as he was considered
one of the bigger risers of the college basketball campaign. He was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Hood-Schifino has terrific size for whatever role he ends up playing, be it at point or on the wing as a secondary ballhandler.
He’s a strong, physical 6-foot-4 without shoes with a great plus-six wingspan and a 215-pound frame. The key to Hood-Schifino’s
game is his versatility and overall feel. There are very few holes in what he brings to the table, and he’s smart enough as a
processor to think things through on the court.
Offensively, it all starts out of ball screens. Hood-Schifino is a tremendous pick-and-roll player who thrives taking a screen and
making plays. Plays with a terrific tempo and pace, plus has great feel for how to take (or reject) screens. Changes gears well and
has high-level footwork to get separation. Knows how to snake dribble and get his man onto his hip but can also hit the brakes
with hang dribbles and hesitations to get free from bigs in drop or guards recovering. Goes slow to fast well. Has a bit more burst
here than initially meets the eye. Love the way he strings out bigs and forces them to engage with him. Handles ball pressure
well by making early passing reads. Very poised for the most part.
As a scorer, Hood-Schifino loves to try to get into the midrange. Loves the elbow jumper and loves to get to his right and pull-up.
Was good at taking a screen or a dribble handoff from Trayce Jackson-Davis in the middle of the floor, getting downhill to his
right, then stopping and popping. If you play drop coverage against him, it’s going to be a struggle. He’s one of those guys who
doesn’t really need to be aligned with his feet toward the rim when rising but can align himself in midair to get a clean, balanced
look. Also, good going to his left. Tends to get a bit more penetration to the right than the left, so his percentages are a bit worse
from the left side of the floor. In total, Hood-Schifino made 42.3 percent of his midrange pull-up jumpers this past season, per
Synergy, a very good number for a teenager. From the middle, he has a potential floater game too, which could help with some
of his issues at the rim. Can take them off one foot or two. Made 41 percent of those, per Synergy. But he can also pull up from 3
at times. He typically takes a couple of those per game and shows real potential because he’s always on balance. If guys go under,
he’s unafraid to stop behind the 3-point line and go for it. It’s not the most polished skill, but he can be very good in time. He
took nearly two of those per game and made them at a 37 percent clip, per Synergy. He has a well-rounded skill set as a scorer out
of screening actions, and it’s easy to buy him as a high-level scorer in these situations as he gets older.
He also pairs this with strong feel as a passer. Averaged 4.4 assists per game. Hood-Schifino’s terrific at finding his teammates
once he gets into the middle of the court. Always has his head up and is ready to find teammates as soon as he comes off the
screen. Legitimately can manipulate defenders with his vision and with his driving as he takes up space to engage defenders.
That ability to play at pace, slow down and draw defenders toward him or keep them hostage on his back and hip works wonders.
Consistently reads the backside help defenders to find open targets. In terms of execution, he can hit live-dribble kickouts
with either hand and the cross-corner pass to wide-open 3-point shooters. Finds smart angles on jump stops to hit open spot-
up shooters, like a Villanova-style guard such as Jalen Brunson. Also had great chemistry with Jackson-Davis as a roller, often
finding him on sharp little pocket passes. Their synergy together this past season was the lifeblood of Indiana’s offense.
Hood-Schifino pairs a terrific offensive ball screen game with being an awesome defender. Great pressure on the ball at the point
of attack. Gets into defenders’ space and has terrific lateral ability to stay in front of his man. Very technically sound. Drops his
hips well to cut off angles. Then, when someone tries to body him up, he has real strength through his chest that doesn’t allow
people to push him backward. Plus, he has really good hands to disrupt what the opposing man wants to do. Gets in there and
causes issues. Against screens, he’s sharp at getting through them. Does a great job getting skinny and over the top then fights
back to get attached in recovery. Will be excellent in a drop-coverage scheme, using his strength to get around screens and using
his length in recovery.
Great attention to detail off the ball too. Hood-Schifino stays very attached getting through off-ball screening actions. Great
rotationally and always knows where to be. Seems to communicate well within switches when they become necessary. Slid up
and down the lineup occasionally depending on who was on the court with him, although Indiana generally played much bigger
this past season due to its size across the wing positions. Hood-Schifino should have no problems against offensive players one
through three.
WEAKNESSES
Athletically, Hood-Schifino isn’t all that impressive. Will be a below-average athlete by the standards of an NBA guard in terms
of explosiveness. Has the functional stuff like lateral quickness and hip flexibility. Doesn’t have an awesome first step. Not a
powerful leaper. He generally needs a ball screen to get any sort of penetration. Has great footwork out of ball screens but can’t
really break down defenders in isolation situations. Doesn’t have a particularly shifty handle. Ball can get a little bit loose in his
hands and end up farther away from his body than you’d like to see. Doesn’t have great shake. Will limit him a bit as a scorer and
will likely be more of a secondary ballhandler because of it. Hood-Schifino is very unlikely to be an end-of-shot-clock weapon
in the NBA and likely will not be a primary scoring option. But he could be a legitimate bigger point guard if the passing and
playmaking continues developing.
Outside of that pull-up game, there are real questions about how he scores at the next level. That starts with the shooting, and
it’s why there are some questions about his off-ball potential. Hood-Schifino made just 30.4 percent from 3 off the catch this past
season. His shot prep isn’t awesome, likely due to playing mostly on the ball throughout his life. Really needs to be stationary
and spotting up. Off any sort of movement, he struggles to set himself and maintain balance. Has a bit of a pause off the one-two
to load into the shot. Never takes them off the hop. Mechanically, he has a significant ball dip. A lot of misses to the left or right.
Doesn’t look all that comfortable. Needs to spend the offseason really becoming more comfortable getting into rhythm and flow
as a shooter off the catch given that he’ll have to play off the ball more often. Clearly has touch given his pull-up game, so there is
a shooting base to work with.
Hood-Schifino also really struggles to score at the rim and doesn’t get there often, in part due to that lack of first step. Only
got 1.5 shots per game at the rim in half-court settings, per Synergy. But it’s also partly because of his lack of leaping ability as
a finisher when he gets there. He made just 46 percent at the rim this past season in half-court settings, per Synergy, one of
the worst marks among potential first-round picks this year. He put up a lot of wild ones at the basket. Generally, doesn’t use
his frame to its utmost advantage. Doesn’t really try to attack rim protectors’ bodies and instead tries to throw up wild touch
finishes with finger rolls. The open space of the NBA might help him, but he will really need to work on his craft here.
Struggles with turnovers a bit more than you’d think for someone who has solid feel for the game. Can be flat-out inaccurate as
a passer at times and throws some wild ones you don’t like to see. These are largely born out of aggressiveness, but he can be a
bit over-the-top with it. A lot of mistimed lobs or balls thrown at players’ feet accidentally. He has great vision but needs to focus
on completing the job in terms of skill level. I think his handle could stand to tighten up a bit. Heavy pressure on-ball defenders
might give him trouble. Averaged 3.4 turnovers per game, which was way too high for his usage level.
SUMMARY
The question with Hood-Schifino is the offensive role. Will he be good enough as a midrange/3-point pull-up scorer to keep
defenses honest to open passing lanes? And if he’s not, can he improve as a shooter off the catch enough to become an off-
ball player? If he can do any of that, he’s immediately a valuable role player in today’s NBA because of how well he projects
on defense. If he can just knock down a spot 3 consistently, that would be enough given his defense, passing and playmaking
ability. Hood-Schifino has a lot of potential avenues he could go down to become a valuable rotation player, but it might be a bit
rough early while he tries to find that role due to his scoring inefficiency and lack of explosiveness. I’m a believer in his game
eventually translating, because guys who are 6-foot-6 lead guards with solid basketball IQ and terrific defense tend to have a lot
of outs. And if Hood-Schifino does become a real spot-up 3-point shooter paired with continuing to improve as a pull-up ball
screen weapon when mixed with his passing, then he has real starter potential for a long while. Given how well developed his
pull-up game is already, I think it’s a worthwhile investment. He’ll take some development, but I’m a buyer in him figuring it out.
That’s why I have him in my top 15.
16. Gradey Dick

W | Kansas | Birthdate: Nov. 29, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Wichita, Kan.
2022-23 Kansas NCAA (Big 12) 19 36 14.1 5.1 1.7 1.3 0.3 1.4 44.2 40.3 85.4
BACKGROUND
Parents are Bart and Carmen. Carmen played basketball at Iowa State and was the school’s female athlete of the year in 1989. She
went on to play basketball professionally. Bart played football at Fort Hayes State, a Division II school. Gradey has three older
siblings and is the youngest. Sister, Kelsey, was a rower at Kansas. Both brothers, Riley and Brodey, went to Kansas. Gradey is one
of those guys who is good at everything he’s done athletically. He won the Kansas City Chiefs Punt, Pass and Kick competition
twice as a kid. Was an all-league baseball player as a freshman in 2019 before focusing on basketball. And was good at basketball
immediately. Gradey’s mother was the person who developed him most. Was an all-league selection as a high school freshman
at Wichita Collegiate before winning all-state honors and Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas as a sophomore. Transferred to
Midwest powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy as a junior and played with 2022 NBA Draft picks Kendall Brown and Kennedy
Chandler. Won a gold medal in the 3x3 U18 World Cup for the United States team that. Was among the most decorated players
in college basketball as a senior. Won the Gatorade National Player of the Year award on his way to being named a McDonald’s
All-American and a Nike Hoop Summit participant for Team USA. Was a consensus five-star recruit who committed to Kansas in
his junior year of high school. Picked the Jayhawks over Iowa State and Baylor, but Kansas was always seen as the clear favorite.
Throughout high school, Dick volunteered to a lot of different causes, including the Special Olympics, food pantries and shelters
for homeless people. Was strong from the first game with the Jayhawks. He earned All-Freshman honors in the Big 12, in addi-
tion to being named second-team All-Big 12. Helped Kansas to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament along with Jalen Wilson
and Kevin McCullar. Team was eliminated in the second round by Arkansas. Dick declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following the
season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Great size for a floor spacer at 6-foot-6 1/4 without shoes. Bigger than these types of players normally are. An underrated athlete.
Won’t be an above-average athlete in the NBA but does have more pop than he gets credit for. Has some real question marks that
we’ll address below, but he does play a very fluid game athletically. Great hand-eye coordination.
Dick is terrific shooter. He brings more to the table, but that’s where everything starts. His entire offensive game is predicated
upon how big of a weapon he is off the catch. Has an exceptionally smooth release and pristine mechanics that will translate
well to any level. Balance is perfect on every shot. Almost perfect shot prep. Great weight transfer from his lower half to upper
half. His release point is very high, which makes it harder to contest than the typical 6-8 shooter in shoes. On top of that, can
get the ball off quickly. Doesn’t need to dip the ball off the catch to fire it from 3. All of this makes him very hard to close out on
effectively. Made 37 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past season on great volume, taking about six per game.
Moreover, Dick’s a versatile shooter. He hits shots off legitimate actions and off different footwork. Will hit them off the hop
or on a one-two step. There isn’t a moment where he has the ball in his hands that he’s not capable of stopping and firing from
3 if you don’t stay attached to him. Can go behind a dribble handoff and make one, as well as get balanced quickly off the hop
coming off a flare screen. Lethal in transition, where he will stop and fire from 25 feet. Has great instincts for finding open
shots. Moves extremely well without the ball. Will hit them off one-dribble relocations or off relocating offensive rebounds. I
think there’s a case that he’s a better pull-up shooter than a catch-and-shoot guy off those one- or two-dribble relocations
or movements. Hit 53.5 percent of his 3s off the dribble this past season, per Synergy, most of which were in those kinds of
settings. Knows how to space to help create lanes for his teammates. Understands the gravity of his floor spacing and how to best
weaponize it.
Additionally, he’s a sharp cutter. Has potential to be one of those guys who’s just constantly in motion on offense and was
utilized that way at Kansas. Knows how to take advantage of defenders overplaying him and cut backdoor. Sets up defenders,
then counters with quick moves. His sense of timing is superb on plays like this. Once he catches, he’s a terrific finisher. Shields
the ball from defenders well and knows how to contort and adjust his body in midair to create angles to finish at the rim. Again,
showcases great balance and focuses well on the rim in these circumstances. That tremendous touch translates here too. Made
58.7 percent of his half-court opportunities at the basket, per Synergy, a good number for a floor spacer who largely will be
getting cutting opportunities or chances off hard closeouts.
Not going to self-create much but does use the threat of the shot to attack closeouts and put pressure on defenders. Again, can
finish at the rim in these circumstances. Will hit one- or two-dribble pull-ups from both midrange or from behind the 3-point
line. If he gets an advantage on an out-of-control close, he’s going to take it. Must be so solid and consistent, or he will beat you.
Also shines as a passer here. Really knows how to read defenders and find his open teammates on the move on his drives. Eyes
flash both to cutters toward the rim and for kickouts to the 3-point line. Really high feel for the game and knows how to either
make the one-touch quick read or how to draw defenders toward him to make the kickout to the open man. Only averaged 1.7
assists per game, but he knows how to move the ball within the construct of the offense. Per Pivot Analysis, Kansas scored 115.3
points per 100 possessions with Dick on the court and outscored its opponent by nearly 15 points. When he was off the court,
Kansas only scored 98.6 points per 100 possessions and lost by six points per 100. No other player on Kansas saw greater than a
five-point differential in terms of improving the team’s offense.
WEAKNESSES
Dick doesn’t have overly long arms. His 8-foot-5 standing reach is not as big as his height would indicate. He is an underrated
athlete and better in this regard than some traditional floor spacers he’ll be compared to such as Duncan Robinson, Kevin
Huerter and Max Strus. But he’s not an above-average athlete on the wing in the NBA, and where he lacks right now is in the
strength department. The intersection of average-ish athleticism, below-average length and below-average strength will be a
real problem he has to fix at the next level.
A lot of these issues result in real defensive worries for scouts. Dick has moments when he’s OK, and he got better throughout
his freshman season at using angles and being aware of his help-side responsibilities. He is competitive and wants to be able to
handle his workload on this end. His hands are good, and he has good anticipation for getting into passing lanes. He took a lot
of charges by getting himself into solid spots. Still, he has a real chance to be a player who gets hunted in the NBA defensively by
bigger on-ball creators.
He’s not strong enough right now to hold up in those situations on an island. Players go through his chest and power him to
the rim even when he has good position. His feet are OK, and he generally does a good job of getting in the way against college
competition, but bigger NBA wings have potential to cause him a lot of issues by putting their shoulder into him and using
deceleration steps. Despite being 6-foot-8, he doesn’t get his length in the way all that often and seems to give quite a bit of extra
space to compensate for his average lateral quickness so that he doesn’t get blown by. Additionally, he struggles to fight through
screens right now. Gets clipped often. Recovers fine when he gets beat in isolation but doesn’t seem to have as much recovery
ability in ball screen situations. There also seem to be a lot of breakdowns involving him in actions when communication is
involved and an exchange has to take place. With Dick’s size and fluid feet, I think he has potential to fix up some of these
worries as he gets stronger. But he will likely struggle on an NBA court early.
Dick does not really project as a shot creator off the bounce in terms of creating his own advantages. Seems to be a two-dribbles-
and-pass guy right now. It doesn’t project to be his role necessarily, and he’ll be successful on offense with or without it. But it
would be helpful for him if he could run second-side ball screens or create an advantage on his own off the bounce to collapse
defenders as opposed to someone else needing to create the advantage for him by collapsing the defense and getting him into
a good spot where he has a defender closing out on him. To do this, he’d need to do some real work on his handle in terms of
changing directions and speed. It would be a surprise to see him reach the level where he is a second-side option as a creator.
That limits his upside a bit unless he essentially turns into Klay Thompson as an off-ball weapon in the right offense.
SUMMARY
Dick seems like one of the safest bets we’ve seen in a while to be a genuinely good floor spacer in the NBA. His shooting
mechanics, basketball IQ and overall comfort level as a player who can score without needing the ball in his hands constantly
projects extremely well toward the NBA, regardless of situation. He can play in a ball-movement-heavy scheme or in a
heliocentric scheme where one player dominates the ball. Guys like this who can create their offense simply by moving without
the ball and finding dead spaces in the defense are often worth their weight in gold on offense if they can convert 3s. Even if he’s
not the one making shots, he has to be guarded, which opens space for everyone else. The defense must improve. There are signs
he could get to an adequate level in time, but there are significant flaws that could crater his game on that end if things don’t
go right. The offensive game has potential to be so positive in how it impacts his team that he has to be taken somewhere in the
top 20. If the defense breaks right, he could be seen as something of a steal if he ends up being near the end of the lottery. Being
able to hold his own on defense would make him a starter in the NBA. But there are some improvement areas he needs to work
through before he reaches that level.
Tier 5
5 Rotation Players
& Upside Swings
17. Kris Murray

W/F | Iowa | Birthdate: Aug. 19, 2000 (Age: 22) | 6-8 | 215 LBS | Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2020-21 Iowa NCAA (Big Ten) 20 13 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 23.1 0.1 100
2021-22 Iowa NCAA (Big Ten) 21 35 9.7 4.3 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 47.9 38.7 64.5
2022-23 Iowa NCAA (Big Ten) 22 29 20.2 7.9 2.0 1.5 1.2 1.0 47.6 33.5 72.9
BACKGROUND
Parents are Michelle and Kenyon. Kenyon was an extremely high-level player, winning Mr. Basketball in Michigan before becom-
ing a four-year starter at Iowa in the 1990s. Kris’ twin brother is Keegan Murray, who made the NBA All-Rookie Team this past
season after being the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Physically, the only difference between the two on the court is that Kris
is a lefty and Keegan is a righty. Kris is named after Kenyon’s former teammate at Iowa, Chris Street, who died in a car accident
in 1993. Much like his brother, Kris was a late bloomer. He averaged nearly 20 points and six rebounds in his senior season at
Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids and earned second-team All-State honors. But Kris didn’t receive anything beyond low-ma-
jor offers, so he decided to do a post-graduate year at DME Academy in Daytona, Fla. Played well enough there to earn an offer to
attend Iowa with his brother. While Keegan developed into a terrific sixth man and then a National Player of the Year candidate,
Kris took a bit of a longer trajectory. He was a pure bench player as a sophomore, getting limited minutes while he adjusted to
college. As a sophomore, he shared the team’s Most Improved Player award and took real strides while developing into a strong
bench option. Declared for the 2022 NBA Draft but decided to return. Then he took an enormous leap as a junior, much like Kee-
gan did the season before. Kris led Iowa back to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Auburn in the first round. Murray was
a first-team All-Big Ten selection who was about as productive a player as you’ll find in college basketball. Declared for the 2023
NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Murray has terrific size for the wing position at 6-foot-7 3/4 without shoes, 215 pounds. Has a near 7-foot wingspan and a terrific
8-foot-10 standing reach that will allow him to play either the three or four with ease. He has a strong intersection of power and
athleticism for his size, and he’s capable of covering ground quickly and finishing through contact at a high level. Plays with
long strides that allow him to get the rim faster than you expect. Good leaper. Has a strong frame and plays with a low center of
gravity and consistently works hard. Solid on the glass on both ends because of that motor, strength and size. Has some grab-
and-go game where he’ll attack if he sees a mismatch and can get all the way to the bucket.
The idea here is similar to his brother, although Kris’ overall upside is lower than Keegan’s. The main similarity between the two
of them is that they just don’t make mistakes. They stay within themselves and know their own games. The goal here is a bigger
3-and-D wing/forward. Murray hit 33.5 percent from 3 this past season. He has very simple mechanics, and it all starts with his
shot prep. Murray is ready to catch and fire immediately upon receiving the ball, with a good base, ready to step into the shot.
Great lower-half engagement and has a very clean release. Has a good chance to shoot off spot-ups long term, although I have
some questions we’ll explore later in terms of its consistency.
Murray uses the threat of the shot to be an effective driver off the catch. Everything is very direct. If someone closes out heavily,
he’ll put the ball into his left hand and get all the way to the rim using those long strides. Very good in a straight line because of
it. Loves to go to the Euro step move at the rim. But he also can drive with his right hand and get back to his left with a quick spin.
Spin is effective because he gets lower than most players, which gives him power and leverage. He turns some of them into post-
ups, which were effective this past season. Don’t see the post-up being a big part of his NBA repertoire, but it showcased how
impressive Murray’s overall touch inside of 8 feet is. Made 59.1 percent of the shots he attempted this past season out of post-ups,
a great number for a wing.
In total, one of the best finishers at the rim in this class. Made 66.1 percent of his total attempts at the rim, per Synergy, but
also made 63.3 percent of his half-court attempts. That’s an awesome number for a bigger wing. Gets to the rim faster than you
expect. He’s a quick jumper who elevates rapidly and has good touch at the rim when he gets there. Throws up some awesome
left-handed finishes high off the glass. Does a great job using his frame to protect the ball and give himself a clean pathway at the
rim. Initiates contact with his shoulder to create separation from his defender. Also seems to find at least one bucket per game
off a smart cut. Has a good understanding of dead areas in the defense and finding the right timing to beat rim protectors to the
basket.
Murray does a great job of bodying up against wings and forwards defensively. That on-ball defense is an area in which Kris is
ahead of Keegan right now. Kris is not necessarily a contact initiator, but he stays in front using his body and keeps his chest in
front. Slides his feet well. Good flexibility to drop his hips and recover when necessary. It’s very hard to go through him in those
situations because of how strong he is. He’s awesome contesting shots because of his length. Does a good job on threes and fours
but also defends guards well for his size in space. Has switchability and won’t be someone opposing teams can target in the
playoffs. Uses his length exceedingly well.
I also think Kris’ team defense is solid. Fights through off-ball actions at a high level. Exceedingly good at getting around screens
for someone his size, which isn’t all that normal. Constantly in position rotationally. Very available as a weakside rim protector.
Blocked 1.2 shots per game, a mix of which were on-ball as a primary defender and rotating across the play from the weak side at
the basket. Also think he’s sharp at digs and good at jumping passing lanes. Averaged one steal per game. I buy Murray entirely
on defense and think he’s going to be impactful and effective. He won’t be an All-Defense guy, but he will help you.
WEAKNESSES
Murray has real size and strength and moves fluidly but doesn’t quite get as much out of his athleticism offensively as Keegan
did. Plays very square to the rim. Allows him to maintain his balance and center of gravity, which is good, but he doesn’t change
directions that well. He isn’t quite as twitchy as Keegan and doesn’t have as much explosiveness or an awesome first step.
Smoother and plays with power but needs to get a head of steam to rise.
The shooting is not quite as versatile as Keegan’s was last year either (let alone what Keegan has developed into with the Kings).
I’m a bit worried about Kris’ shooting. Everything for Kris is a bit slower. Instead of taking shots off the hop, he’s largely one-two
stepping into them and really taking a minute to gather and load. Can take them off the hop but doesn’t do it as often. Extremely
square to the basket. Might be a bit of an adjustment to the next level in this regard with how quickly shooting windows close. I
think he’s likely to be more of a spot-up guy. But he needs to prove the shot will fall. Made only 33.5 percent of his catch-and-
shoot 3s this past season. That’s not an ideal number for someone who will be relied upon to hit them, especially given that he’s
not making them off much movement. This is probably the swing skill that will determine Murray’s value.
Murray is not really a shot creator for himself and is not all that effective in ball screens. Has a very ineffective pull-up game, in
large part because of how squared off he plays. Made just 30 percent of his pull-up jumpers, per Synergy. Has very little shake
with the ball. He’s not going to break down guys off the bounce at a high level in isolation. Doesn’t turn it over and stays within
himself but is limited in attacking off the bounce. Doesn’t really have the ability right now to realign himself in midair and tends
to play off one foot as opposed to two feet. Pull-ups look a bit off balance and mechanical. Has some bad misses in these settings.
He’s not an awesome passer either. Made more high-level ones this past season than Keegan did the year before, particularly
from a standstill. This won’t necessarily be his role, but when he was centralized this past season, he did tend to miss open
players to take contested shots. Again, part of this is what he was responsible for at Iowa as the primary scorer. But he will need
to keep improving his vision and willingness to make passes, particularly on the move when attacking closeouts. Needs to keep
his eyes up as opposed to on the rim.
SUMMARY
Murray projects as a solid rotation player in the NBA, the kind of guy who could give teams real lineup flexibility depending on
what they’re trying to do. He can play the three or four at 6-foot-8, which will allow teams to shift between playing big or playing
smaller. He’s just a bit more limited than his brother Keegan as a shot creator, which makes him more likely to be something
in the ballpark of a sixth or seventh man with starter upside as opposed to Keegan, who was a starter long term who had top-
50 player upside. Kris is a bit stiffer through the hips and doesn’t have a great handle, and his overall load-up and footwork
take a split second longer to get into, which means he may be less of a movement shooter than Keegan. The shooting is the big
differentiator here. Keegan was a good one with real projectability and off-movement potential; Kris is a stiffer shooter who is
more inconsistent and will likely be confined to spot-ups. The swing skill is how much that shooting from a standstill develops.
If he can knock them down at a 38 percent clip, he can be a potential fifth starter. If he can’t, he’ll be more of a rotation player.
But Murray seems like a safe bet in that regard, which is why I have him in the top 20. Finding guys this big who can defend in
space and have potential to shoot isn’t all that easy.
18. Jordan Hawkins

W | Connecticut | Birthdate: April 29, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-4 | 185 LBS |
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Md.
2021-22 Connecticut NCAA 19 27 5.8 2.0 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.3 35.3 33.3 82.1
(Big East)
2022-23 Connecticut NCAA (Big 20 37 16.2 3.8 1.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 40.9 38.8 88.7
East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Jasmine and Craig. Has three sisters. Grew up in Gaithersburg, Md., near Washington D.C. Tough player with a quiet
confidence about him. Broke his wrist in eighth grade and played through it without realizing it. Emerged quickly into one of
the best players in the DMV area, averaging over 20 points per game as a sophomore at Gaithersburg High School. Transferred
to DeMatha Catholic for his junior and senior seasons and joined Team Durant. Teamed up with fellow elite area prospects in
Hunter Dickinson and Earl Timberlake at DeMatha and won the Washington Catholic League championship under legendary
coach Mike Jones. In 2021, Hawkins emerged into the primary option and thrived, leading DeMatha to an 11-0 record in the
shortened 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hawkins won the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year award and
was seen as a borderline top-50 recruit in the country and a clear four-star recruit. Before his senior season, he committed to
Connecticut over offers from a bevy of schools including Texas, Xavier, Louisville, Maryland, Seton Hall and others. Arrived
at Connecticut and immediately became a solid role player due to his athleticism and shooting ability. Made the Big East’s
All-Freshman team but suffered a concussion near the end of the season and had to miss the NCAA Tournament. Suffered a
second concussion early in his sophomore season and missed a couple of games but stepped in and thrived for one of the best
teams in the country. Was a huge part of Connecticut’s rise to No. 1 early in the season with his shooting. Ended up making first-
team All-Big East, then continued his terrific run through the NCAA Tournament. Was Connecticut’s second-best player during
its title run, making the NCAA Tournament All-Region team in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, followed by the NCAA All-Tourna-
ment team as the Huskies won the national championship. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was
invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Hawkins has good size for a floor spacer at 6-foot-4 1/4 without shoes. Has an 8-foot-5 1/2 standing reach that will be fine for the
role he projects to play. Plays with real speed and athleticism. Quick and light on his feet. Moves fluidly and smoothly on the
court but also has some underrated explosiveness. Prefers to leap off two feet but can jump off one foot or two feet around the
rim and rise for a quick dunk. Strong hang time, which helps him in multiple respects. Good first step. Sprints out in transition
to find open shots with real speed. Has fluid, shifty hips. A very functional athlete who moves like an NBA athlete out on
the court.
With Hawkins, the key skill is shooting. Has a case as the best shooter in the draft class. Projects not just as a terrific floor spacer
but as a real off-ball shot creator due to his ability to fly off movement. He is a high-volume shooter who consistently makes
them out of difficult sets, something that is hard to find in a prospect. The shot looks perfect from a standstill. Has great balance
and very little wasted movement. A quiet shot with no additional movements. Everything is in perfect alignment. This is why
he made 47.1 percent of his 3s off spot-ups this past season. If you give him a chance to set his feet and load into it, you should
expect the ball is going in. Takes them off the hop and sets into it perfectly. Speeds up the release when he needs to. Prefers to
dip the ball to get into rhythm but has shown the ability to not need the dip to get the shot off quickly.
Even more than that, it’s the movement shooting. Hawkins’ perfect mechanics from a standstill are why it translates running
off actions. In transition, he finds the line and sets his feet quickly to be ready for hit-ahead passes. Very good at finding empty
spaces in the defense. Hawkins is terrific at flying off pindowns and baseline screens, setting his feet, getting his base under
him and firing from distance. Knows when to flare off the screener and knows when to go around them depending on where
his defender is. Can plant with his left foot and one-two step into a shot going right or can take them off the hop fading to his
left. Even more importantly, can make shots off movement where his momentum takes him away from the hoop. All these
skills allow him to project as the kind of player who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to create offense. He’s a threat all over the
court who must be accounted for, and the attention you have to give him running off movement and multi-faceted actions will
open space for his teammates. Hit 42.4 percent of his 3s off screens this past season, an absurd number. Finished second in the
country in points per game off screens too.
Improved drastically as a player attacking off the dribble in straight lines this past season. Uses the threat of his jumper well to
gain an advantage, then gets to the rim to finish. If you close out too heavily, he at least can beat you off the bounce now and get
inside the 3-point line. If the defender is attached, he’ll curl off the screen and get into the midrange for a potential shot. There
are concerns that we’ll talk about below, but he isn’t just a one-dimensional gunner anymore. He can use the relocation dribble
to get an open midrange shot or the open 3 and knock down his look. Occasionally, he’ll get all the way to the rim and score if he
sees a big driving lane that he can cover ground within quickly. Will also attack out in transition if he gets a hit-ahead or grabs
and goes, attempting to get downhill. Will tuck the ball to protect it and Euro step around defenders. He’s shifty and seems to be
growing every single time out. Even throws the occasionally creative live-dribble pass with his off hand.
Defensively, Hawkins could be OK. He has good feet and plays with real effort. His lateral quickness is strong. He defends well
at the point of attack and does a good job of navigating screens both on and off the ball. Recovers and gets back into plays in
drop-coverage scenarios. Can at times get beat because he doesn’t drop his hips to try and cut off an angle but is good at turning
and running to get back into the play and contest the shot. Also solid within scheme as a team defender. I wouldn’t say he’s
impactful in this regard, but he’s reliable. Because he’s light on his feet, his closeouts are solid. Goes out with his hands high but
also is ready to slide to cut off an angle on an attempted drive. Rotationally, he’s in the right spots and is active on this end.
WEAKNESSES
Hawkins has a very thin frame that may struggle to add weight and strength, a real factor that could hold him back in terms
of being impactful in a few ways. He also may have the kind of frame for which there could be diminishing returns by adding
weight. Can he maintain his shiftiness around screens and lightness on his feet if he gets up to 200 pounds? NBA teams will
need trainers to provide insight on this.
While the defense is active and aggressive, he does get bullied into the paint regularly. Doesn’t really have any strength through
his chest or torso, which means guards can really get into his body and push him backward. Guards can back him down into the
paint a bit too easily right now. Against bigger wings at the next level, he’d currently be a liability that would force help. See him
as more of a defender on ones and twos and on guys who fly around screens off the ball. Will struggle if he gets stuck on a bigger
player on an island. Desperately needs to get stronger to hold up better in these matchups. Otherwise, he’ll be a magnet for the
best on-ball creators in the league. This is a serious, significant issue that may hold him back and stop him from reaching his
ceiling. He needs to be able to stay on the court defensively strength-wise.
Also, while I buy Hawkins’ craft giving him some upside as a finisher, the results weren’t great this past season. Made 47.6
percent at the rim in half-court settings this past season, per Synergy, a below-average mark even for a wing who largely
attacks as a driver off closeouts. When he gets to the rim, he really gets his center of gravity knocked off by any sort of contact.
Additionally, he also doesn’t create a ton of clean looks at the basket as a cutter. Great off-ball mover and has a real, innate sense
of space around him. But he typically does so moving away from the basket as opposed to moving toward it. Could really help
his value to start pressuring the rim off back cuts, especially when defenders overplay him and try to deny him the ball.
Hawkins has really improved off the dribble, and I think he has some room for growth there, but it’s not quite a real part of his
game. Not an awesome pull-up shooter. Made just 31 percent of his pull-up 3s and 34.7 percent of his pull-up midrange jumpers.
He’s not someone at this point who can beat his man in isolation off the bounce, largely because he doesn’t have enough control
over the ball in terms of being able to string together multiple moves. Additionally, can get knocked off his line as a driver
through contact. Can really arrest his momentum and stop him from getting downhill. At his best using longer strides in a
straight line to decisively cover ground quickly before someone contacts him. And while he throws some impressive live-dribble
passes from time to time when he has an advantage, it’s often difficult for him to maintain that advantage. Wouldn’t say he is a
particularly aggressive playmaker for his teammates. Because he’s not that physically strong, it’s hard for him to change gears,
bring defenders toward him, try to draw help and slow down. If he slows down, his advantage goes away because he can’t keep
guys on his hip. All of this could result in Hawkins being more of a perimeter-based floor spacer as opposed to a well-rounded
offensive weapon.
SUMMARY
Hawkins has a very real case as the best shooter in the 2023 NBA Draft. His jumper is entirely projectable to the next level, not
only in terms of making spot-ups but also creating shots from 3 at volume with his off-ball movement. These players who can
do this are worth their weight in gold. He’s going to make life for stars around him easier. On top of it, he works defensively, and
he has some upside as a shot creator. But to maximize that, and to really become an impact playoff player, he will have to get
stronger, and that will come down to how much weight and strength his frame allows him to add. He has a wiry frame that could
cause him some issues in terms of keeping weight and strength on long term. If he gets to a truly functional level of strength,
there are some interesting ceiling outcomes that go beyond the typical off-ball floor spacer. If he doesn’t though, there could be
playoff matchups where it’s tougher to get him on the court because stronger wings hunt him in mismatches. He’s worth taking
in the first round if a team already has its superstar creator in place, because Hawkins can immediately step in and help create
space for that player.
19. Brice Sensabaugh

W | Ohio State | Birthdate: Oct. 30, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 235 LBS | Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
2022-23 Ohio State NCAA (Big Ten) 19 33 16.3 5.4 1.2 2.0 0.4 0.5 48.0 40.5 83.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Keisa and Bryant. The Sensabaugh family is loaded with athletes. Chose Ohio State in part because he has several
family members in the Columbus area, including his grandfather. Also has an uncle who played college basketball at Eastern
Kentucky. Brice had a choppy career in high school filled with ups and downs, which led to him being under-ranked. Attended
Lake Highland Prep in Orlando and was his team’s leading scorer as a sophomore, but he tore his meniscus in the final game
of that season. Played very little summer basketball and then decided to get it repaired with surgery, which held him out of his
entire COVID-19 shortened junior season. Play with Each 1 Teach 1 on the AAU circuit in the summer and exploded as a recruit.
Went from an unranked player to a four-star recruit quickly, with offers all over the country. Continued to assert himself as one
of the best players in the class, winning the Florida Mr. Basketball award as a senior, as well as the Gatorade Player of the Year
award. Led his team to the state semifinals. However, he was only seen as a top-75 recruit in the 2021 class, largely because of
his late emergence. Chose Ohio State over Alabama, Georgia Tech and Florida. Quickly became clear Sensabaugh wasn’t just
under-ranked; he was a potential one-and-done player. Was arguably the best combination of high volume and efficiency this
past season among the freshman class. It just didn’t lead to many wins as Ohio State struggled, particularly on defense. The team
went 16-19 and finished outside of the top 100 in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. Sensabaugh struggled a bit late in
the season with a knee injury. Given his history of knee injuries, NBA teams have been eager throughout the pre-draft process to
learn more about any potential long-term concerns. At the end of the season, Sensabaugh made the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
He decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft and was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Sensabaugh has an interesting build at 6-foot-6. Looks more like a large football player than a basketball player at 235 pounds.
However, he possesses traits that translate strongly to the basketball court. He isn’t an explosive vertical athlete, but he gets off
the ground quickly, and his body control is terrific. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that he is physically strong and rarely gets
knocked off his line as a driver. He’s a functional athlete by NBA standards, although not an outright above average one.
The primary skill here is Sensabaugh’s shot making. He is a terrific shooter and scorer and was one of the most prolific scorers
in the country this past season, averaging over 16 points while shooting terrific marks across the court. He’s a genuine potential
three-level scoring threat, which is very difficult to find. Sensabaugh hit 40.5 percent from 3 this past season on nearly five
attempts per game, with pristine mechanics that look translatable to success long term. Can take them off the hop or the one-
two step and has very clean rhythm coming up from his lower half to create strong weight transfer to his upper half. It’s a quiet
shot without much extra movement and more of a set shot without a ton of elevation. There’s a very slight pause at the load
point, but his touch is elite, and the shot works for him. Made a ridiculous 44.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past
season, per Synergy, and made about the same percentage guarded tightly as he did when unguarded.
Once the threat of his shot is established, he’ll attack off the bounce. He’s best out of spot-ups because of that right now. A
dangerous triple-threat player. Loves the right-foot jab step into a left-hand pound-dribble stepback to find the 3-point line. Has
real relocation ability off the bounce on pull-ups. But he can also isolate defenders that he’ll string out into space too. He can
string moves together one after another against mismatches due to his body control and power combination. Guys largely will
just bounce off him. If you don’t square your chest to his body, he will displace you as a ballhandler. He often doesn’t need to
dance to get his separation. He’ll just put his shoulder into someone and move them to create space for a little fadeaway.
His handle is tight and has suddenness to it because of how well he decelerates athletically. It allowed him to get to his spots
with greater ease than you’d expect from freshmen. Capable of getting a midrange jumper with reasonable efficiency at almost
any time. He’ll go with crossovers into between-the-legs moves with ease, with the ability to gather into stepbacks with real
balance. Will spin directly into shots in fadeaways from 8 to 15 feet. His footwork is terrific. Because he’s so smart about playing
off two feet and playing on-balance, Sensabaugh is a constant threat to pull-up from the midrange. His ball pickup is clean, and
he can get into it from any angle. He’ll fade to his right or left, turning or spinning over either shoulder. Can rise wrong-footed
and align himself midair. Some shots look DeMar DeRozan-esque purely in terms of aesthetics. Scored more points off midrange
jumpers within 17 feet per game than all but one high-major player in the country. Overall, he made 52.6 percent of his nearly
100 pull-up midrange jumpers this past season, a wild number for a teenager and among the best I’ve seen in a decade of doing
this job.
WEAKNESSES
Sensabaugh’s lack of explosion is a hindrance. More than anything, it impacts him as a finisher. He’s a below-the-rim player
mostly. Despite his power, he had just a 53.1 true shooting percentage in his attempts at the rim in the half court this past season,
a below-average number that must improve. He also doesn’t get to the rim that often. You can make a case that the Big Ten
makes that harder because the league is filled with giants, but his lack of burst also feeds into this. He tends to live off a diet
of short floaters and jumpers in the paint. His touch is good enough to make a high percentage of those shots, but those are
inherently more inefficient shots than buckets at the rim for good players. Needs to work through his final step footwork to find
angles to get around rim protectors at the basket to create easier shots.
Sensabaugh is one of the worst team defenders in this draft class, and his overall awareness and understanding of defensive
schemes is a real problem. Largely, that is because he is an egregious ball watcher. He doesn’t get where he needs to be because
he seems to fall asleep. Loses track of his man way too often, to the point that it became a bit difficult to keep him on the court
in important moments for the Buckeyes. Gets back cut regularly. As a weakside defender, he often gets caught in no-man’s land
where he’s sunk too deep into the lane and gets hit with a kickout, which forces a heavy closeout. Again, with how much he
struggles to change direction, this is an issue. Leads to a lot of out-of-control closeouts. The good news is that he seems to have
good timing on digs to the ball, but he probably helps same side a bit too often and puts himself out of position.
He struggles with any sort of advanced exchange on or off the ball. Freshmen typically struggle here, but Sensabaugh’s issues
were a bit more commonplace than you see normally for such a skilled player. On the ball, he doesn’t get enough out of his tools.
Generally has very poor technique. Rarely squares his chest up to drivers and gets powered through more often than someone as
strong as him should. Gets caught on a lot of screens because he’s very square and heavy. You also see his lack of explosiveness
on defense too. If Sensabaugh has to change directions at all, he struggles. Not all that impactful in recovery because of this.
Finally, Sensabaugh shows some flashes as a passer, but they’re often counteracted by off-target reads that result in turnovers.
Sensabaugh posted a one to two assist-to-turnover ratio that won’t be good enough in the NBA. He throws some wild ones at
times. Because scoring seems to be his first, second and third plan, he often doesn’t seem to read the court simultaneously to
find his teammates while hunting for his shots. While he’s a terrific shot creator in the midrange, he does often take difficult
shots at the expense of passing up open 3-point opportunities in kickouts to teammates. He needs to see the floor a bit better
and use his vision more often.
SUMMARY
Sensabaugh is one of the toughest players to evaluate in this year’s class. On one hand, he does the most important thing a
player can do in the NBA at a hyper-elite level, and that is get buckets. He gets them in a variety of ways from a ton of different
angles. On top of that, he has elite touch and is a terrific catch-and-shoot player, giving him a higher floor as an offensive player.
His upside is that of top-three scoring option at some point. The problem is that, to reach that ceiling, he’ll need to be able to
stay on the court defensively. He needs to get lighter on his feet and needs to continue fixing his defensive technique on the
ball while also continuing to improve his instincts and rotational awareness off it. There is a lot of work to be done there, and
it’s not just going to be a one-season project. If you believe there is some potential to thin out his frame and add that necessary
quickness, it’s possible you’ll have Sensabaugh a bit higher on your board. If you think you can teach him to defend, he should
be a top-12 pick. The downside is that he’s a solid bench wing you have to hide defensively but who shoots and can occasionally
create shots. The upside is top-three scorer on a good team. This is purely a philosophy pick. If you value bucket getters and
think you can teach them everything else, then you value Sensabaugh. If you value higher IQ players with defensive intangibles,
you probably will look elsewhere.
20. Dariq Whitehead

W | Duke | Birthdate: Aug. 1, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-6 | 220 LBS | Hometown: Newark, N.J.
2022-23 Duke NCAA (ACC) 18 28 8.3 2.4 1.0 1.4 0.2 0.8 42.1 42.9 79.3
BACKGROUND
Parents are Derrick and Quadira. Has four siblings, including a brother, Tahir, who played in the NFL for eight years. Also had an
uncle, Willie, who played in the NFL. Hard to overemphasize how impressive Whitehead’s prep career was. Arguably the most
accomplished player in the country in his class. Was identified very early as a prospect. Was invited to the USA Basketball junior
national team minicamp in 2018 before his freshman season at Montverde Academy, the prestigious high school he attended for
all his high school career. Was invited to USA Basketball’s junior national team minicamp again after his freshman season. Was
on the loaded high school teams with Cade Cunningham, Moses Moody, Precious Achiuwa, Caleb Houstan and Scottie Barnes
as a freshman and a sophomore. As a junior, he emerged more while playing next to guys like Houstan, Jalen Duren, Jalen
Hood-Schifino, DaRon Holmes II and Ryan Nembhard. With that team as a junior, he helped lead the team to the GEICO Nation-
al Championship. As a senior, he became the best player on the team, averaging 16 points next to Reneau, Dillon Mitchell and
Kwame Evans and more. Again, he led the team to the GEICO National Championship and was handsomely decorated for his
results. Won the Naismith High School Player of the Year, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida, Sports Illustrated’s Player
of the Year and Mr. Basketball USA awards. He was named to the McDonald’s All-American team, the Nike Hoop Summit USA
roster and the Jordan Brand Classic. Also won the McDonald’s All-American Game MVP award, scoring 13 points, grabbing seven
rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Was a five-star recruit and a consensus top-three player in the class in rankings. Com-
mitted to Duke in August before his senior season, choosing the Blue Devils over Florida State, Kansas and professional options.
Injured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in August. Because of that, he missed a large portion of the preseason and the
first three games of Duke’s season. He returned but didn’t quite look like himself athletically. In January, he suffered a lower leg
strain that looked worse than it was and missed another four games. Just wasn’t as impactful as anticipated. In June, he had an-
other surgery to repair that fifth metatarsal injury that did not heal properly the first time. Teams are desperate to find out more
information about Whitehead’s injury and how much it held him back this past season – as well as the long-term projection on
how it will heal. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft with all this information and was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Whitehead has a great frame at nearly 6-foot-6 without shoes with a 6-foot-10 1/4 wingspan and a strong 220-pound body. Has
a solid 6-foot-9 wingspan. Difficult to gauge his athleticism after the foot injury. In high school, he showed some real vertical
pop off one foot. I thought he got off the ground quickly more than elite in terms of vertical height. Sometimes, that can be
more valuable. Not a wild athlete, but a good one who looked about 20 pounds lighter but still combined some real power and
force with that bit of pop. Was also extremely aggressive in high school. He looked like a different player at Duke than he was
at Montverde in terms of burst and explosiveness. Was a legit isolation creator there, and he just didn’t have that pop this
past season.
Whitehead is a terrific shooter, and there’s every reason to buy him as a catch-and-shoot threat. Made nearly 43 percent from 3
this past season, including a 45.3 percent mark off the catch. Takes them directly off the hop with great shot prep. Always ready
to fire. Looks a bit weird in that he has a bit of an extra loop in the motion between his ball dip and his shooter’s pocket and a
very slight pause at the top but is excellent at getting the ball back into his perfect shooter’s pocket with great elbow alignment
and has a very clean release and follow-through. In part, that’s because he has a very slight turn to the left in his hips as he fires.
It’s not necessarily exactly how you would “teach” a shot, but it’s also a shot that has no real mechanical holes because of how
good his balance is and how he gets himself into alignment. He’s also very good as a lateral mover into shots. Does a great job
of sliding around the perimeter and keeping his shot prep in alignment. Relocates super well. Does a great job of drifting into
places behind the 3-point line with his ballhandlers and drivers, opening easier passing angles for kickout 3s. Sees when his
defenders turn their head and creates separation from them by sliding along the 3-point line. That he did this with a foot injury
that didn’t heal properly throughout the season is even more impressive.
I think Whitehead’s pull-up game is also effective. He made 36 percent of his pull-up 3s this past season, an exceedingly strong
number for an 18-year-old. Showcased some ability to beat defenders who went under dribble handoffs and pick-and-rolls with
3s. Showcased some potential to hit side-step, stepback 3s. High release point and follow-through creates a high trajectory that
allows him to shoot over the top of late closeouts. His balance really shows up on his pull-up drives. Made about 40 percent of
his pull-up 2-pointers. Has the ability to stop and pop on drives as well as the ability to spin into them. In high school, he also
elevated into little push shots and paint pull-ups, increasing an already high release point. Was more ground-bound this past
season, so it all comes down to your evaluation on the foot and if you think you can get that athleticism back. The upside for him
to be a very high-level two-level scorer as a shooter from 3 and from the midrange is there if you think he will recover well from
the injury.
Whitehead was a solid on-ball defender when matched up with guys who were a similar size on an island one-on-one. Great
technique sliding to stay in front of guys in these circumstances. Very hard to blow through his core and chest. Very strong if he
beats these guys to the spot. Good at keeping his hands high and making sure he contests shots and makes them tough. Has his
defensive warts, and we’ll talk about some of his quickness issues below, but given that he was playing below 100 percent, he
seems to have real potential at least on the ball against players where he can be physical.
WEAKNESSES
Whitehead looked like a below-average athlete this past season. He looked much heavier in college than he did in high school,
on top of having the foot injury. There are real contextual factors as to why that is. But the tape is the tape at Duke, and he
struggled to vertically explode this past season. Had zero first step or burst and not shake. Everything was in a straight line. He
also wasn’t an impactful rebounder despite size and strength. He has genuine excuses for that being the case, but that doesn’t
change that these issues existed. Teams will need to figure out how realistic it is following this injury that he can get back to the
levels we saw in high school, where Whitehead was a good athlete but far from an elite one by NBA standards.
Whitehead really struggled to finish in the paint at Duke. He smoked a lot of layups in a way that makes you think he was
adjusting to not having as much lift off the ground, especially given that he is a player who has real touch. Also, he had no
upward explosion, which meant that everything was a layup. Was a significant load leaper too. Didn’t see an impressive one-
foot finish with strong footwork sequencing to create an open angle. Almost always tried to load up off two feet. Needs to really
work on his footwork around the rim. Creates some moments where it seems like he’s out of control. Made for a lot of difficult
attempts at the basket because he couldn’t separate or create strong angles to the basket around rim protectors. Attempted just
one shot at the basket per game in the half court this past season. The numbers were dreadful. Made just 43.8 percent of his
shots at the rim, per Synergy. Only got to the line once per game and had 29 free-throw attempts in 577 minutes.
He also was generally too focused on scoring. Seemed to never have his eyes up on drives looking to make passing reads for his
teammates. Had a couple of decent cross-court skips and threw a couple of interesting pocket passes, but I wouldn’t say there
was much impressive in this respect. Due to his lack of burst, he was very rarely collapsing defenders. Didn’t feel like any of his
assists came from him manipulating defenders in help. Had 27 assists versus 39 turnovers this past season. Was a bit better in
high school but wouldn’t say passing and making reads was a strength for him when creating in isolation and forcing help.
While I buy Whitehead as a shooter and see no reason he won’t be a strong NBA shooter off the catch, he did make just five of 20
shots from behind NBA 3-point line distance. Also, we didn’t see him coming off many screening actions at Duke to prove that
he can be a movement shooter in any other circumstance beyond relocations behind the 3-point line. He went 3-of-13 off screens
this past season, per Synergy. He probably has the skill to do it, but again, he wasn’t all that shifty and struggled to separate from
defenders with any sort of speed.
I didn’t love his overall defensive impact at Duke. While he was solid on-ball against wings and fours, guards could really blow
by him. Anything that needed some twitch, Whitehead really struggled. Guys with quick first steps could blow by him before he
could get his first stride off or open his hips to cut off the player. I thought his closeouts were very poor because of the change of
direction required. He also really struggled to get through screens. It felt like he got clipped on nearly every on-ball screen. Was
the king of the peel switch where he got beat and had to call out for the big to take over responsibility for his man entirely.
His team defense left a lot to be desired as well. Really struggled a lot to chase in off-ball screening actions. That was probably
the worst part of his defensive tape. He was kind of a magnet for contact on these screens. This results in a lot of scramble
closeouts that are difficult to recover from. Or, he simply wouldn’t get around them and it would lead to a wide-open shot. How
much of this had to do with reduced twitch due to the foot injury? Again, an impossible question for teams to answer based off
the information that they currently possess. Also felt like he was a bit late rotationally at Duke, and there seemed to be a lot of
defensive breakdowns when Whitehead and a teammate had to communicate through an action. I’m a little more willing to
chalk that issue up to being a freshman who also didn’t get a full preseason not necessarily having a lot of synergy or defensive
chemistry with teammates.
SUMMARY
In every single regard, Whitehead is a bet. What he put on tape this past season in totality does not resemble that of a first-
round pick. He was a great shooter but was largely deficient in every other aspect of the game. He was a below-average
defender, rebounder and passer. He struggled to separate from his man. However, you can point to his foot injury and the
late season lower leg injury as contextual factors that hindered him from having any chance to succeed. There is a legitimate
case for throwing out the entire 2022-23 season and going back to dive into the high school tape to try to better determine who
Whitehead is as a player, even though he was facing worse competition. Whitehead is a player for whom scouts will be working
with incomplete information. There isn’t really any way to know for sure exactly how much athleticism Whitehead will be able
to regain following this second foot surgery. On top of that, I’m not sure we know for sure what Whitehead looks like as a player
even if you do add his previous levels of athleticism. The team that selects Whitehead will be betting on his foot getting back
to 100 percent, allowing him to get back to his high school levels of twitch. Medical staffs and team trainers will undeniably be
involved in the process, letting decision-makers know how they feel about him. The best you can do is gather all the information
and make an informed decision. The good news for Whitehead is that teams always need shooting and size on the wing. And a
big input into that informed bet that teams make will be, “If Whitehead hits, what can he become?” And in his case, the value
of the role he’d play will always be high if he can get to a reasonable level athletically on defense. I think that’s worth a late-
first-round flier. But I am working with less information on his medicals than teams are. And that means the range of potential
outcomes for Whitehead both on draft night and as a long-term NBA player is about as wide as possible.
21. Noah Clowney

F/C | Alabama | Birthdate: July 14, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-10 | 210 LBS |
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
2022-23 Alabama NCAA (SEC) 18 36 9.8 7.9 0.8 1.3 0.9 0.6 48.6 28.3 64.9
BACKGROUND
Parents are Sonya Clowney and Larry Byrd. Noah was consistently under the radar throughout high school, in large part be-
cause of the team he played on. Went to Dorman High School in Spartanburg, a power within the state. The school won four
straight state titles, and Clowney was on those teams earlier in his high school career. But he was often stuck behind high-level
older players such as Clemson big P.J. Hall and James Madison three-year starter Justin Amadi. Another teammate, Myles Tate,
went to Butler, and multiple other teammates went to USC Upstate. He didn’t really break out until his junior season, but he
was always seen as a high-upside player. Went to the NBPA Top 100 Camp in the summer of 2021 and was recognized as one of
the best players in attendance. Started to get high-major offers during his junior year but really started to get that kind of notice
after that season. Was not ranked on recruiting rankings until that summer. As a senior, he averaged 17.5 points, 10 rebounds
and two blocks and was named the top recruit in the state of South Carolina. Eventually was considered a solid four-star recruit,
ranked in the top 80 of his class. Decided to commit to Alabama over schools such as Indiana, Florida and Virginia Tech. Was
considered more of a longer-term project but immediately emerged as a clear difference-maker as a young player. Was terrific on
Alabama’s trip to Europe and stood out as a potential starter. Started every game for Alabama this past season and was named to
the SEC All-Freshman team. Intel is that Clowney has a very professional mindset in terms of knowing the scouting report and
thinking intelligently about the game. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA
Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Great size and length for a combo big man at about 6-foot-10 in shoes with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan. We didn’t get official
measurements at the combine, but he’s clearly very tall and very long. Pairs that with strong athletic tools for a big. Good leaper.
Gets off the ground quickly. Light on his feet and quick. Runs the floor and covers ground very quickly because of how fluid he
is. Also seems to have great hand-eye coordination for his size. Plays with a strong motor. Very aggressive on the glass and tends
to find the ball. Hits the offensive glass at a strong level for someone who also spent a reasonable amount of time spotting from 3.
Played the entire season at 18 years old, so he’s quite good for his age.
The defensive end is where Clowney figures to provide most of his value long term. He has some twitch and is fluid enough
to play in space sometimes. I think Clowney is most impressive as a potential switch defender right now. Has real potential to
be switchable in ball screens, which could make him incredibly valuable in high-leverage situations. Uses his length to really
impact plays. Contests shots at a very high level on the perimeter. Has some mechanical and potential hip flexibility issues that
we’ll get into later but is impactful. Scrambles around and uses his length to cover a lot of ground. Gets around screens well. As
a help-side defender, he showcases some upside as a rim protector. Not necessarily a great shot blocker yet but rotates and uses
his length to impact the play. Seems to have solid defensive anticipation.
Offensively, the idea is that Clowney can be a potential floor spacer and rim runner. But while his jumper looks very clean
visually and could be fine long term, it has not been consistent yet as we’ll explain below. However, the rim-running piece is
very strong already. In transition, he can attack the rim and put the ball on the court a couple of times when he has some space.
He’s good in the dunker spot and as a cutter. When spacing from beyond the 3-point line, he seems to be a good 45-cutter who
hits the gaps hard and explodes to the rim. Really good at timing his cuts and opening himself up toward his ballhandlers in the
dunker spot.
Clowney makes his shots at the rim. Hit 69 percent at the basket overall this past season, including making 65 percent of
his layups, which showcases good touch. Really good leaper off two feet. Also a strong pick-and-roll player. Tends to use his
quickness to his advantage in these circumstances. Slips a ton of screens and can put the ball on the floor once to get to the
rim. Made 70 percent of his rim runs out of screens. Because of that hand-eye coordination, I think he catches the ball very well,
especially above his head, but also is fine below his waist. Can also play well in dribble handoffs because of how fluid he is in
terms of his mobility. I really buy him in these settings as someone who can be impactful if he improves as a screener.
WEAKNESSES
Clowney has a great long-term potential frame but doesn’t have a ton of strength right now. Hinders him in terms of reaching his
ceiling as a rim protector. Guys can kind of go through him at the rim. He had four or five fouls in 10 games, in part because guys
can go into his body, where he’ll then bring his arms down a bit. He also has a few lateral issues in terms of hip flexibility. He
has kind of high hips that allow him to get leveraged more often than you’d hope. Very fluid athlete but has some deficiencies to
work on.
The lateral issues with his hips can hinder him on the perimeter on defense. Very hoppy. Dancing guards can get him to
overcommit one way and push him out of position. Struggles to open his hips a bit when trying to contain dribble penetration.
Kind of opens up his body and doesn’t turn well. Can get the corner turned on him a bit more regularly than you’d hope for from
someone who is ostensibly a switchable defense-first prospect. His overall closeout technique sees him on his front foot a bit too
often, allowing him to get driven. He gets blown by more than his reputation would have you believe. He also can get powered
through on drives by guys willing to put their shoulder into him. Has a lot to clean up technically but really needs to work
through some hip flexibility concerns.
Clowney has potential as a 3-and-D forward, but it’s only potential right now. Has a clean shot at the top with good alignment.
Form is projectable. Confident shooter. Can have a release without a real ball dip. But only shot 29.1 percent on catch-and-shoot
3s this past season. Went just 6-of-22 from behind the NBA 3-point line. Better from the corners than from above the break,
where he only made 25 percent from 3. Still, only made 33 percent from corners, per Synergy. Needs to have his feet set and have
things balanced. Requires some real time to get his body in alignment. Because of this, he does not have a ton of shot versatility
now. Only made four pick-and-pop 3s. Sometimes, his rhythm gets a bit out of whack when trying to speed things up. A lot of
bad left/right misses. Bit of a body twist at times.
Not at all a shot creator. Can put the ball on the deck as a roller and in transition, which could give him some upside in this
respect. But right now, he’s not effective doing it. Can’t attack closeouts. Very wild and sometimes gets out of control, plus
doesn’t seem to use his potential stride length to its fullest extent. Can get knocked off his driving line. Also not a particularly
strong passer or playmaker. Didn’t throw many successful passes to teammates this past season, and I’m not sure I saw any that
came while he was on the move. Dished out only 0.8 assists per game versus 1.3 turnovers. He’s a very limited offensive player
right now, and it’s kind of hard to figure out what exactly his role would look like on that end given the lack of shooting, passing
and ballhandling. Plays much more like a big than a potential perimeter player.
SUMMARY
I think I’m probably going to end up a bit lower than the consensus on Clowney in large part because I’m worried about the
offensive role as well as some of the specific athletic movement-based issues that could plague his best role. Offensively,
Clowney needs to iron out his jumper, become a better passer and playmaker and improve his ballhandling if he wants to
legitimately play as a four. He also needs to be able to improve his hip flexibility and lateral quickness to be able to consistently
guard the perimeter. All these issues make me believe that he is more likely to play as a five than a four long term. But he also
needs to really improve his overall strength level to handle significant minutes at that position. Right now, he’s something of
a classic four/five tweener in the modern NBA. Having said that, Clowney is 18 years old and one of the younger players in the
draft. I think he’s probably entering a year early and will be a significant project to undertake, but his length, fluidity athletically
and potential make him worthy of a late-first-round grade.
22. Nick Smith Jr.

G | Arkansas | Birthdate: April 18, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-4 | 185 LBS |
Hometown: Jacksonville, Ark.
BACKGROUND
Parents are Nick Sr. and Candace. Has two younger siblings. Grew up in Arkansas with his family and was terrific throughout his
high school career, establishing himself as an elite prospect in the 2022 recruiting class by the time he was a sophomore. Attend-
ed Sylvan Hills High School through his junior season and quickly racked up accolades. Was the state underclassman of the year
as a sophomore, then won the state’s player of the year award as a junior. Was considered a strong four-star recruit through his
sophomore year, then blew up into a borderline five-star as a junior. During the summer prior to his senior year, he exploded on
the Nike EYBL circuit playing for Brad Beal Elite, earning first-team All-EYBL honors and emerging into a consensus five-star
player entering his senior year. Prior to that year, he decided to transfer to North Little Rock High School, and it was unclear if
he would be allowed to play due to an eligibility investigation following allegations of recruiting violations. Eventually, Smith
was cleared and again won the state player of the year award while leading North Little Rock to the state championship. He was
named a McDonald’s All-American and was a Nike Hoop Summit invitee and a Jordan Brand Classic participant. Throughout
those weeks, he played extremely well in front of NBA evaluators and scouts and ended up being named a consensus top-three
player in the 2022 recruiting class. Before his senior season, he committed to Arkansas over a bevy of options that included Au-
burn and Alabama. But Smith’s freshman season was not the coronation it was expected to be. He missed a few games early with
a knee injury, when the goal was to be very cautious. He returned in late November after the team’s Maui Invitational run and
played five games before shutting it down again and trying to get 100 percent healthy before returning. After many public ques-
tions regarding whether he’d return to action, Smith came back and played starting Feb. 11 and was hit or miss in terms of effec-
tiveness. Averaged 13 points on a disastrous efficiency level over those 11 games. Did not make the SEC All-Freshman team. The
Razorbacks upset Kansas in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament to reach the Sweet 16, with Smith only playing 16 minutes
and scoring zero points. Smith decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft as an early entrant. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft
Combine.
STRENGTHS
At 6-foot-5 with legitimate length, Smith has the kind of measurements you look for in a scoring guard. He plays with real speed
and has terrific balance.
The primary skill for Smith is his scoring ability. He’s attack-oriented and aggressive always. Tries to attack out on the break in
early offense. Wants to get downhill and push the pace, particularly with his right hand. Covers ground very quickly with long
strides but has real deceleration ability to stop and pop on balance. Has a very crafty handle that we got to see way more of in
high school than we did at Arkansas. Why? First, the knee injury seemed to sap some of Smith’s burst. Second, Arkansas had no
space in the midrange for him to really try to shake guys. But that shake with some behind-the-back dribbles, some change-of-
pace hesitations and quick crossovers was there. There was more suddenness to his game.
Smith mixes that ability to separate with some real touch. His primary offensive weapon this past season was a runner that
he can get to from a variety of different angles. Will sometimes shoot a weird turning running jumper. Other times, it’ll be a
solid, balanced two-foot jump stop into a floater. Can realign himself in midair and get a solid look from the midrange regularly.
There’s every reason to believe Smith should be an impactful scorer. But he also loves to try to pull-up from the midrange. He
took a ton of his shots from that level and should feel solid about his ability to make those shots.
Moreover, there’s every reason to believe he can be a good jump shooter off the catch. Made 35.5 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s
this past season, with a hurt knee for part of the year. Tremendous shot prep. Does all his work before the catch. Takes them off
the hop or off a one-two step. Has great rhythm off the catch. Always ready to fire. Always square to the basket. There’s a bit of a
dip, but he can really speed up his release if necessary. Everything is very clean. Did not get a chance to take a ton of 3s from 25
feet and beyond but only made two of those 14 attempts. I’m not sure he’s a 43 percent 3-point shooter, but I think he’s at least a
high 30s guy off the catch with real upside beyond that. Should make shots with his touch and shot prep once he’s 100 percent
healthy and gets stronger.
I love the way he moves off the ball to try to find his way into good offensive opportunities. I think his ability to be an off-ball
scorer is huge. Does a great job of moving off screens to find separation. Can curl into the paint to get to that floater or can
flare out beyond the 3-point line to fire from distance. Really sharp at flying around dribble handoffs to use that ability to get
downhill. But also, he really works off the ball.
Showcased some positive moments as an on-ball defender due to his quickness and aggressiveness. Knows how to use his length
to get into people’s space. Very willing. Fought through screens at a solid level for a freshman. Knows how to get skinny around
and over them. Needs to get stronger, as we’ll talk about below, but there is some room for growth here even if his overall defense
was a real negative this past season.
WEAKNESSES
While Smith does have a frame that should allow him to put on some weight, he is quite slight now and will struggle to hold up
physically in a lot of different circumstances. Strength issues permeate his game. Additionally, he’s only a good athlete, not a
great one by NBA standards. The strength/athleticism intersection is a negative by NBA standards right now. He doesn’t anchor
his spot well. Not a strong rebounder.
The shot chart for Smith is an issue. It’s difficult to make a living with his shot diet and selection. Does not get to the rim at all.
Took 76 attempts from the midrange area versus only 57 shots in the restricted area, both in full-court and half-court settings.
Took 55 floaters versus 27 shots within 3 feet of the rim. It’s exceptionally hard to be efficient this way. You can say this was
because of Arkansas’ lack of spacing, and I do think there is a case that he was very hampered by it. Arkansas frequently played
with no 3-point shooters at volume around Smith, which made it difficult for him to find space. But even out in transition, Smith
seemed to settle for floater-type and pull-up midrange shots too frequently. Needs to improve his footwork driving into the lane
to create better angles toward the rim and needs to get stronger to better deal with physicality when guys load up against him.
His take-off point is very far from the rim. Can’t absorb contact. Loses his center of gravity and balance when he hits bodies at
the rim. This is the biggest reason Smith shot 37 percent from the field this past season. Only took about 17 percent of his shots
total at the rim.
Even beyond whether he can find easier shots, Smith’s shot selection is an issue. He doesn’t seem to pass and make plays well for
his teammates. He’s a constant over-penetrating player, putting himself into a crowd without a plan. Again, Arkansas’ spacing
made this tough, and he won’t see that kind of spacing again. But the aggressiveness referenced in the strengths section can
work against him at times, which leads to turnovers or difficult shots because he puts himself in a box of multiple defenders. His
passing is quite poor at this point. As a ballhandler, I don’t think he handles situations where he gets blitzed out of ball screens
with two guys well yet. He tries to be aggressive, but I don’t think he’s quite getting to that second and third level in terms of
reading where the help and back-line defenders will rotate. Doesn’t seem to see the court well yet. Needs to drastically improve
his understanding of where defenders are and how they will play him.
Defensively, Smith was poor this past season. There is some upside as referenced above, and he was in and out of the lineup. It
didn’t feel like he had continuity with his guys. But this is why he struggled to get minutes at times in the NCAA Tournament.
His fundamentals and mechanics are some of the worst I’ve ever evaluated. Some of the aggression stuff that gives him upside
is his undoing here. Very high in his stance. Extremely active feet that over-pursue and get too happy. Extremely bad on
closeouts right now. Jumps all the time on pump fakes. Very easy to drive him. Takes himself out of plays by not being under
control. Doesn’t position his body properly or seem to know where his help is and where to try to feed guys. There were a lot of
miscommunication errors. Loses his man regularly off-ball and gets caught ball watching. Tends to get a late start with off-ball
screening actions because of it and ends up trailing way behind in plays trying to recover.
On the ball, he has a total lack of switchability. Can’t hold his ground on the block if he gets backed into the paint. Because he’s
overactive with his feet, his center of gravity ends up being poor and it’s easy for stronger players to out-leverage him and get
lower, giving him no chance to recover once they get him on his hip. Smith is in no way ready to play in the NBA defensively.
He will not receive playing time next year until he improves his fundamentals and his understanding of defensive schemes and
structures. He can’t just improvise and needs to play with more poise. He has upside because he seems willing, but he will be
a project.
SUMMARY
Smith is a total bet on high school tape versus college tape. His college tape is not that of a first-round pick. He had solid
stretches, such as the six games leading into the NCAA Tournament when he averaged 19.5 points per game. But his team went
2-4 during that run, and he had a 50.3 true shooting percentage. There is still so much Smith needs to improve upon. He won’t
be playable on an NBA court until he becomes passable on defense in terms of his fundamentals. Offensively, he needs to keep
improving as a driver and overall decision-maker who works through his reads better. In the NBA, he can’t do what he did in
high school, which was dance around and get easy opportunities by getting defenders off-balance. He couldn’t even do it at
Arkansas, even if there was a real contextual argument that he had no space to do so. In general, I tend to be lower on players
of this type, despite respecting all the many skills Smith brings to the table as a technical ballhandler and creator for himself.
But whereas the successful guys in this vein like Tyler Herro and Jordan Poole had real feel for the game as passers even if their
first inclination is to shoot, Smith doesn’t seem to present that all the time. Smith falls outside of the lottery for me, but he has
enough offensive game off the bounce and showed enough in high school to where I can’t completely sell him as a first-round
pick based on how disastrous the Arkansas situation was in terms of spacing.
23. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

W | UCLA | Birthdate: Feb. 18, 2001 (Age: 22) | 6-6 | 225 LBS | Hometown: Camarillo, Calif.
2019-20 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 18 31 8.9 4.8 1.4 1.5 0.4 1.4 45.4 31.3 76.1
2020-21 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 19 32 12.3 6.1 1.7 1.4 0.7 1.2 48.5 39.4 65.5
2021-22 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 20 34 13.9 5.7 2.3 1.4 0.3 1.1 47.2 27.6 76.1
2022-23 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 21 37 17.8 8.2 2.4 1.8 0.6 1.5 48.2 31.7 77.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Jaime Sr. and Angela. Comes from an extremely athletic family. Both of his parents played basketball at Concordia
University in Irvine, Calif. Has a younger sister, Gabriela, who was the McDonald’s All-American game MVP in 2022 and plays
basketball at UCLA. Also has a younger brother, Marcos, a three-star recruit as a defensive end in the class of 2023. Jaime Jr.
was an elite high school athlete for four years at Camarillo High School. Played baseball and basketball but emerged quickly as a
terrific prospect in hoops. Averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds as a freshman, then averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds as a soph-
omore before suffering an ankle injury that held him out. Was an All-Area player for the Los Angeles Times as a junior and was
All-State as a senior in California. Averaged an absurd 32 points and 12 rebounds per game. Scored the second-most points in a
single season in Ventura County history as a senior. Was an underrated prospect, though, largely because he doesn’t necessarily
have the traditional traits that evaluators look for. Was a consensus four-star recruit and top-100 player. Chose UCLA over Stan-
ford and a few other high-major schools in the spring of his junior year. Played for the Mexico National Team in the year before
his freshman season at UCLA. Stayed committed to the Bruins despite the Steve Alford-led staff that recruited him getting fired.
Was an immediate culture setter and leader at UCLA from day one and was starting by the time Pac-12 play rolled around. As a
sophomore, he broke out into an All-Pac-12 player. Made second-team All-Pac-12 as well as the All-Defense team. UCLA made
the NCAA Tournament, with a surprise run to the Final Four. He averaged 15 points and six rebounds during the run. The next
season, Jaquez struggled through ankle injuries but still was good enough to make first-team All-Pac-12 and the league’s All-De-
fense team and carry UCLA to the Sweet 16. As a senior, Jaquez had his best season and became a national star. Carried UCLA
to a Pac-12 title on his way to being a consensus second-team All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year. He was a finalist for
national player of the year, again leading UCLA to a Sweet 16 berth. Can’t be overemphasized how essential he was as a leader
in the transition of the program to the Mick Cronin era. Elite character. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was
invited to 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Jacquez has Good size and strength at 6-foot-6 without shoes to with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Plays with force and a lower center
of gravity. Moves people around on the court. Will have enough strength to hang in the NBA. Has some sneaky bounce when he
can really load up. Beyond that, he plays with a real toughness and a hard-nosed mentality. He dives on the ground for balls and
leads by example in terms of his effort and energy.
Offensively, his role in the NBA likely won’t be what his role was at UCLA. The Bruins tended to try to get him the ball at the
elbow or wing, where he could try to create his own shot out of isolation or ball screens. Has a crafty, nasty handle mixed with
terrific footwork that really gets defenders off-balance and has real shake even when handling in a phone booth. Great shoulder
feints. Covers a lot of ground on his crossovers to separate. But he also knows how to play with pace out of ball screens and
engage the big defender. Played about as well off his pivot foot as anyone did in college basketball this past season. Loves the
spin move when he feels the slightest bit of contact after his man gets his chest in front of you. Also loves to counter with the
fake spin fadeaway jumper from the midrange area, which he consistently knocked down. Probably his favorite move. Has
immense comfort with such shots. Then, he’ll counter off that with a fake-spin fadeaway pump fake into a step-through. Has
all sorts of nasty moves to be able to get where he wants in the middle of the offensive zone. Made 41 percent of his midrange
jumpers, a strong number given how many of them were self-created in half-court settings.
Jaquez can also get past you driving with smart footwork and bodywork to get all the way to the rim. Understands when he has
a mismatch either in terms of strength or quickness and takes advantage. Likely won’t have a ton of these in the NBA unless
he gets cross-matched onto a big or a guard, but he’s good at knowing what tools to use. Not afraid to put his shoulder into
somebody and move them, just as he’s not afraid to quickly dance to get to a spot. Sees a post mismatch and demands the ball,
calling for it and using his footwork to get a clean opportunity. Loved the left block. Can go face up or can get to a step-through
series here with his pivots. Wants to get back to his right hand. Got to the rim a ton at UCLA. Almost half of his half-court
attempts came at the basket, per Synergy. Had a slick little hook shot on the block that he’d get to regularly. Made 56.4 percent
of his shots at the rim in half court, per Synergy. That number doesn’t look awesome on its face, but under half of his overall rim
attempts were assisted.
Smart passer and playmaker. Understands how to draw defenders toward him then dish out kickouts. Can do this both on his
pivots within his footwork series or when downhill. Also showcases some potential as a roller in short-roll settings due to all this
skill as a passer and with the ball. A smart processor of the game with good spatial awareness. Knows how to come off screens.
Good timing as a cutter. Really understands how to space the court, when he has a mismatch and when the defense is bent in his
favor. It’s probably a bit simplistic in some way, but Jaquez is just a hooper.
I think Jaquez is an outstanding team defender who flies across the court and is constantly in position to disrupt what the
opposition wants to do. He seems to really go into games understanding the scouting report. Has great hands. His anticipation
is awesome. Great in the gaps. Knows seemingly when to go for steals and when to stay home. Ended up with 1.5 steals per game
this past season. Timely rotator around the court. Knows his role and where he’s supposed to be. Smart weakside rotator at the
basket. Not a significant shot blocker but makes himself available to at least be present and will go up and try to contest. Also
seems to be an excellent communicator out there. Constantly pointing and calling out coverages for his teammates. Overall, I
would bet on Jaquez being a net positive on defense even if I have some athletic concerns.
WEAKNESSES
Jaquez isn’t a great athlete. And generally, his first step or stride can be a bit slow. Doesn’t have a ton of pop. That’s why he has to
be a bit of a dancer with the ball on the perimeter when he decides to attack. Seems to be very square as an athlete. Doesn’t have
a ton of hip flexibility, which can hinder him because it allows guys to turn the corner on him a bit more easily than you’d hope.
Much more of a power athlete than a graceful one.
I think there is a real question about what his on-ball defense will look like in the NBA. He might really struggle in switch
scenarios. Quick guards can cause him some real issues because of that lack of first stride and inability to really drop his hips
when sliding. Can get crossed up by quicker guards or at times will get blown by in space. You also see all of this when he closes
out onto shooters from any sort of distance. Really has to get out there with his effort to contest, then his hips cause him issues
in terms of staying in front of his man with his chest. Can defend up the lineup by getting his chest in front of drivers, but that’s
likely to be his home. And it might make him a bit easier to hunt out of ball screens. Needs to work on quickening his feet and
trying to open his hips.
His jumper looks clean off the catch, but it doesn’t fall from beyond the 3-point line at a high enough level right now. The shot is
OK if he’s wide open and can really get his rhythm by getting into it off the hop. Made 35 percent of his overall catch-and-shoot
3s this past season, per Synergy, but in total, he shot just 31.7 percent from distance. He was a 32.8 percent 3-point shooter for
his career at UCLA. This is the swing skill for Jaquez. He needs to be able to knock down 3s off the catch. I think his rhythm and
weight transfer is a little off. It seems like he shoots the ball on the way up sometimes if a player is closing out hard on him. He
has some low-trajectory misses that also indicate weird weight transfer. I think he has enough touch to where he can improve
this. But it needs to come sooner rather than later.
Jaquez also is a bit of a catcher and holder of the basketball. Has a great feel for the game and is a smart passer who sees the
floor well. But he’s also a classic surveyor of the court in the way someone like Malcolm Brogdon is, and it can slow down the
offense at times. If he’s placed into more of a role player capacity, he won’t have the time to do this and will need to move it
along more quickly. I think he can do this, and it was a function of his role at UCLA. But he needs to quicken up his process as
a decision-maker.
SUMMARY
I tend to bet on feel over athletic gifts, and Jaquez has some gifts in terms of feel for the game that I buy into. On top of that,
it’s impossible not to be impressed with the way he went about turning around the UCLA program in his first year. The intel
on Jaquez is superb, and he’s the kind of person you want to buy into. Having said that, it’s impossible not to worry about his
athletic gifts. He has a concerning blend of lacking quickness and stiff hips that tend to lead to real on-ball defensive issues in
the NBA – even if his off-ball and team capabilities are top notch. It will come down to Jaquez turning into a real shooter, in
my view. He has every capability to be able to do it and has real touch. He isn’t a disaster off the catch right now when he has
time. He just needs to iron out his rhythm and get more comfortable when he’s rushed. For that reason, I have a late-first, early-
second-round grade on him. I want to buy in due to his feel and skill level, and my bet is he figures it out and becomes a role
player for a while. But I just can’t quite buy in all the way.
24. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

W | Marquette | Birthdate: July 3, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-7 | 210 LBS | Hometown: Montreal
2020-21 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 18 22 2.5 1.9 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.2 34.6 16.7 68.2
2021-22 Marquette NCAA 19 32 6.6 3.3 0.9 0.9 0.1 0.9 46.1 31.7 82.0
(Big East)
2022-23 Marquette NCAA 20 36 12.5 4.7 0.7 1.4 0.1 0.9 51.2 33.9 73.5
(Big East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Gaetan and Guylaine. They were both college basketball players at Concordia University in Montreal. Guylaine
played for the Canadian National Team in 1997. Olivier-Maxence goes by the nickname “O-Max.” He has a sister, Cassandre, who
committed to Notre Dame this past season and immediately entered the rotation as a guard. Grew up in Montreal in a very close-
knit, competitive family. Played in the Metropolitan Basketball League and was an immediate standout as an elite player within
his age group in Canada. Decided to move to Illinois to attend Lake Forest Academy, which he attended for two years. Won MVP
of the 2019 BioSteel Canadian All-Star game. Went to a Basketball Without Borders camp in Colombia in 2019 and again was an
attendee at the Basketball Without Borders camp during All-Star Weekend in Chicago in 2020. Prosper was considered a strong
performer in attendance at that event. Transferred to the Latin American NBA Academy to finish out his final collegiate season
prior to that event, where he was teammates with friend Bennedict Mathurin. Was originally a class of 2021 recruit but commit-
ted to Clemson in August 2019 and decided to reclassify to the class of 2020. Was considered a consensus top-100 prospect in the
class and a solid four-star recruit as a power forward. Attended Clemson for his first season but, playing behind All-ACC per-
former Aamir Simms along with fellow 2023 NBA Draft prospects PJ Hall and Hunter Tyson, Prosper only played 213 total min-
utes and decided to transfer following the season after he fell out of the rotation. Chose Marquette to play for incoming coach
Shaka Smart. Worked his way into being a low-usage starter for the Golden Eagles as a sophomore in his first season, with Mar-
quette earning its way into the NCAA Tournament as a surprise No. 9 seed after being projected near the bottom of the Big East
in the preseason. Returned for his junior season and finally had the expected breakout. Prosper was among the best two-way
players in the Big East, helping anchor Marquette’s defense from the wing in addition to adding 12 points per game. Decided to
declare for the draft following the season while maintaining his collegiate eligibility. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine
and was one of the top performers there. Chose to stay in the draft after this performance. Considered a high-character player.
Very intelligent and a willing worker.
STRENGTHS
Prosper has enormous measurements for a bigger wing. Came in at nearly 6-foot-7 without shoes at the combine with a massive
7-foot-1 wingspan. These are the exact kind of measurements teams look for in the wing position, as opposed to guys more in the
6-foot-5 range. Also helps that Prosper is a good athlete. Has some vertical pop as a leaper and is a very fluid mover for his size
laterally. He elevates quickly and covers ground very quickly with his long strides.
Those tools are best utilized on defense right now. Slides his feet exceedingly fluidly for a player with these measurements,
which allows him to be a real defensive stopper on the wing. Very switchable across the positional spectrum, with the capability
of playing one through four due to this size and quickness. Has tremendous defensive fundamentals. Stays low in his stance
and keeps his arms high or outstretched to disrupt the opposing team. It didn’t matter the assignment, he was great. Managed
well against a physical, athletic wing like Cam Whitmore and didn’t let him get to the rim. Defended a crafty bigger guard like
Colby Jones and held him in check, making him inefficient. Also did a great job against slippery off-ball wing Jordan Hawkins,
shutting him down while chasing him around a variety of screening actions.
Great at using his length and strength to wall up. Absorbs contact well. Really tough to go through him. That results in
opponents trying to shoot over the top of him, which is a win for his team because his length allows him to contest jumpers
and make them exceedingly difficult. But he also really manages screens well. Marquette played versatile coverages this past
season, and Prosper thrived in them. He is excellent for a bigger body at locking and trailing off the ball or fighting over the top
on the ball if necessary, using his length to contest from behind in a big way. Knows the exact routes to take to avoid contact
while staying attached. All of this makes him an intriguing chess piece at that end. You can play Prosper as a stopper on the ball.
You can switch ball screens with him. You can play in drop and have him chase and recover over the top. He’s going to be quite
valuable on that end.
Offensively, Prosper is probably best right now without the ball out in transition and as a cutter. Gets up and down the floor very
quickly due to those long strides, using his frame to get downhill. Gets off the ground quickly more than being a particularly
high jumper in the run of play even though he posted a 40 1/2-inch vertical leap at the combine. More importantly, though, he
can go up to finish off one foot or two for a big-time dunk. Overall, made 65.2 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, a
strong number. Doesn’t necessarily have a tremendous amount of craft at the basket, but in the half court, he did show that if
you give him a driving lane, he will finish above the rim. Seems to be a player who will translate better in that regard in the open
spaces of the league. Also, knows how to time his cuts and find open areas to create an opportunity for dump-offs from guards.
Clearly was drilled well by Marquette’s coaching staff on when to cut off Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro.
Prosper generally was a threat as a spot-up player this past season to either shoot or attack a heavy closeout. Not an awesome
shooter, as we’ll break down below. Hit just 33.9 percent overall. But he’s always ready to fire with great shot prep, and scouts
who saw him in the pre-draft process noted real improvement in this regard in the spring, something that shouldn’t be
surprising given that his trajectory went positively from 17 percent as a freshman to 32 percent as a sophomore to 34 percent as
a junior. Smart at finding little lanes baseline or driving middle. Knows how to draw contact and get to the foul line. Good with
little up fakes around the rim then flying into contact.
WEAKNESSES
Athletically, Prosper is more of a long, fluid athlete, not a particularly quick-twitch one. First step isn’t awesome. Doesn’t really
beat guys off the bounce. For a player who tested with a 40 1/2-inch vertical leap, he doesn’t seem to get elevated that high in
half court. Overall, he’s a good athlete, but I wouldn’t say he can access that 40-inch mark functionally within games regularly.
But mostly, the big questions come on offense and are largely feel-based. That is the No. 1 worry scouts bring up with Prosper.
Things generally do look a bit mechanical with him out there. Not in a horrific way, but it can seem like the gears are turning a
bit more than you’d like to see.
Prosper is not at all a self-creator right now. He grew up playing a bit of point guard, and his handle isn’t terrible. But it’s a bit
more robotic than you’d like to see and is best utilized in straight lines. Not an awesome passer at this point. Regularly misses
reads. Dished out just 0.7 assists per game. Ends up getting caught and just kind of pivoting in the paint to try to find an angle for
a layup or floater. Needs to get better at recognizing where the help is coming from and hitting that read quickly as opposed to
getting caught and stopping in the paint. In that vein, I don’t love his footwork. I think he’s a bit hesitant and doesn’t decisively
access his ability to get past guys who close out on him heavily. Seems like it takes him an extra split second to get his first step
down on the court after he chooses to drive because he’s trying to decide how to attack. Needs to make those reads a bit more
natural on how to attack his opponent and hit his teammates.
Prosper also needs to become a more natural shooter. Hit just 33.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s. It’s all fixable. His
release point is a bit inconsistent still and ends up resulting in some differing shot trajectories. Also has a bit of extra off-hand
interaction and sometimes a bit of thumb. Needs to work on hand placement and ironing things out. Scouts have noted that he
has shot it better in pre-draft, but that is small sample and not in the run of play. I would bet on him shooting it in catch-and-
shoot situations. Having said that, he might be purely a spot-up shooter and is a ways away from being able to make anything off
movement. Really struggles if he’s not already prepped and ready to fire. Seems like there are a few too many moving parts in
those settings. Has really gotten his shot prep down to a pat off a one-two step, but if the prep isn’t there, things get a bit haywire.
Has enough touch, however, to shoot long term.
SUMMARY
I’m probably going to end up higher on Prosper than most evaluators just because I completely buy the tools and defense.
Prosper is an awesome defensive player who profiles exceptionally well toward playing important playoff minutes because of
his switchability and potential to take on extremely difficult assignments. It all comes down to the shooting. If Prosper can
consistently hit 35 percent-plus from 3, he’ll provide enough value to be a long-term NBA rotation player who helps teams win in
high-leverage moments. These are the players teams are constantly looking for and rarely find. If any of his on-ball ballhandling
creation comes along, it’s just icing on the cake. Prosper should make a ton of money if he continues down the road of ironing
out the shot. I have a first-round grade on him and think he should go somewhere in the top 25.
25. Jett Howard

W | Michigan | Birthdate: Sept. 14, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-7 | 215 LBS | Hometown: Miami
BACKGROUND
Parents are Jenine and Juwan. Juwan was Jett’s head coach at Michigan and member of the legendary Fab Five team at
Michigan as a player who went on to a 19-year NBA career while making one All-NBA team and winning two championships.
Unsurprisingly, Jett has a few brothers who are excellent players too. Juwan Jr. played Division I hoops at Detroit Mercy, made
two All-Horizon League teams and went on to play professionally overseas. Josh was a starter at Brown in the Ivy League. Jace
was Jett’s teammate at Michigan as a backup wing. Also has a sister, Starr, who played lacrosse at Clemson and William & Mary.
Jett was identified relatively early as a very interesting prospect. He started his high school career at Florida powerhouse
University School in 2018 and was a valuable rotation player for a state title team. Was immediately a 40 percent 3-point shooter
playing for a terrific team in high school. Transferred to IMG Academy for his final two years. Numbers didn’t look outrageous
there, but he was playing on a loaded team with guys like Jarace Walker, Moussa Diabaté, Jaden Bradley and Keyonte George.
They made the national semifinals in both of his seasons. Was named to Jordan Brand Classic and participated at the Iverson
Classic. Was named co-MVP of the Iverson Classic along with George. Jett was seen as a top-50 recruit in the country and was a
clear four-star guy. He seemed to legitimately consider other schools within his recruitment. His finalist list included NC State,
Tennessee and Georgetown before deciding to play for his father at Michigan, which seems to have been a very good choice.
For a large portion of the season, Howard was Michigan’s top perimeter option, and he started out extremely hot. Averaged 15.5
points and shot 39 percent from 3 in his first 16 games. But over his last 13 games, he averaged just 12.6 points and shot drastical-
ly worse as Big Ten play heated up. Suffered a right ankle injury that forced him to miss a couple of games in late February, but
his drop in production started before then. Came back for Michigan’s final three regular-season games, including a loss in the
Big Ten tournament to Rutgers. The Wolverines were one of the most disappointing teams in the country this past season. Alas,
Howard declared for the 2023 NBA Draft fully. He was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Howard did not measure at the combine. But he has great size for what his role will be in the NBA. Will be in the 6-foot-6 to
6-foot-7 range or so without shoes. On top of that, Howard’s offensive game looks tailor made for the right NBA system that
knows how to use him. The shooting is the base skill the rest of his game is built around. Made 40 percent from 3 as a freshman
in high school, 37 percent as a sophomore, 43.9 percent as a junior and 41.7 percent as a senior (the last two years, according
to Synergy). It’s hard to find players this big with this kind of extensive track record of making shots at an elite level from that
young of an age.
From a scouting perspective, that lines up. Everything with Howard’s shot is pristine and pure. It’s a beautiful one-motion
jumper with perfect rhythm and weight transfer off the catch. Shot prep is perfect. He’s always lined up with his feet set and
ready to fire quickly off the catch. Has his base underneath him and can take them both off the hop or off the one-two step. Very
quick release. Gets them off in a rapid way that will be immediately translatable to NBA success. Balance is superb and has a
very high release point. Also is starting to develop the ability to not have to dip the ball before shooting, another critical skill
with how quickly NBA defenders close out. All of this makes him a very serious weapon coming off off-ball screening actions.
Michigan ran him in a ton of zoom dribble-handoff actions, flare screens and pindowns. He’s adept in all these situations. Flies
around and is excellent at getting his feet set quickly and firing with balance. Made 39 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past
season, per Synergy, a terrific number given the volume he took and the degree of difficulty on some of them.
Has real comfort with putting the ball on the ground and knocking down shots. If opposing teams run him off the line, he can
hit one-dribble pull-ups from the midrange or relocation one-dribble 3s. Will stop and pop from a variety of different footwork
– can plant first with his right then step in with his left or can just hop into a pull-up 3. Makes it hard for defenders to get his
timing down when trying to contest and allows him to get cleaner looks. Can also hit stepbacks going to both his right or his left
off a quick move. More importantly, Howard has become a legitimate weapon out of ball screens and dribble handoffs as a self-
creating shooter. Legitimate multi-level scorer from 3 and from the midrange. If you go under his ball screen or catch him flying
up for a dribble handoff, it’s curtains. He’ll rise and fire. Michigan did a great job of getting him the ball going downhill toward
his right off those zoom actions. The Wolverines optimized his strengths and minimized his weaknesses in that way. Even if
he doesn’t get separation, he still has that release point to shoot over the top often. Can also realign his body in midair off spin
moves or fadeaways. Has a burgeoning little runner/floater game and a real variety of ways to rise both from the midrange and
from 3. Overall, made 52.9 percent of his midrange pull-ups this past season, per Synergy, which is a ridiculous number given
how many of them were contested.
He’s also a solid passer. Not great but solid. Sees the court extremely well in ball screen and dribble-handoff actions. Really good
at getting downhill, drawing the big defender or help defender toward him and finding the roll man or the man in the dunker
spot. Will occasionally look outward and find kickouts. Draws the weakside defender and can hit the chest pass kickout. Finds
that corner man regularly by getting to the middle of the floor. It’s also worth noting that he’s good at understanding how the
attention he gets as a shooter opens things for his teammates. Makes quick reads that way too. He processes the game super well
and makes the right play.
WEAKNESSES
Howard does not have a ton of length. Can play a bit smaller than his listed height. Also, Howard is going to be a below-average
athlete by NBA standards. Not all that explosive. Does not have a great first step or average lateral quickness for the wing
position. Not all that vertical as a leaper. Extremely poor rebounder for his size. Does not seem to be willing to get into the tough
areas of the court often enough. Michigan was better without Howard on the court this past season – and it wasn’t by a little. Per
Pivot Analysis, Michigan beat its opponents by about 3.3 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court but beat them by
10.4 points per 100 when he was off it. In large part, that was due to his poor defensive play.
Where Howard’s athletic concerns come up most is on defense. Don’t think he’s a good on-ball defender right now and is in
no way a disruptive player. Gets blown by going to the rim more often than you’d like to see. Guys with a solid first step can
drive him. Doesn’t use his frame all that physically, and I think his mechanics are generally poor. Struggles to cut off angles
and doesn’t get his chest in front of his man. He plays high, and I think he has a bit of a higher center of gravity, which allows
opposing wings and guards to get better leverage than him. Playing high also creates issues in ball screen coverages when he’s
defending a guard. If he gets clipped on a screen, it’s hard for him to get his momentum going again and hard to play through
that contact. He was something of a magnet for opposing teams looking for parts of Michigan to attack this past season,
particularly in ball screens with Hunter Dickinson. Think Howard needs to do a much better job of getting stronger and playing
stronger through his lower half. Needs to play lower and sit in a defensive stance more often.
There is also something of a switchability concern right now for someone who is his size. While you might think you can just
hide Howard on bigger guys as opposed to playing on smaller players, Howard also doesn’t seem to do all that well on even
bigger wings. Got taken down onto the block a bit more often than you would expect for someone who is this size because he
doesn’t seem to have a ton of strength through his core or lower half. Doesn’t really hold his ground all that well. Guys who can
get lower than him can move him. Doesn’t play all that physically. Because he can’t get around screens, can’t stay in front of
quicker players and struggles to body up against bigger players, I’m just not sure who he guards effectively right now.
I also don’t think his off-ball defense is all that impactful. He sinks too far in, then when his man gets a kickout pass behind the
3-point line, he closes out very upright and allows himself to be driven by with ease. He’s not impactful using any sort of length
in passing lanes and doesn’t really rotate around and protect the weak side of the rim impactfully. He doesn’t “miss” rotations,
but he also doesn’t really bother opponents with his presence either. He also has a tendency in his rotations to be a bit hoppy. He
takes a hop step into his movements on that end instead of strides, and defenders recognize it and play off them when he’s in-
between steps – particularly on his closeouts. In general, his defensive movements and mechanics need an overhaul.
That lack of burst also impacts him offensively. Michigan did a superb job of accentuating Howard’s strengths in this regard
while minimizing his weaknesses, particularly on offense by getting him the ball on the move more often to allow him to get into
the paint, as opposed to asking him to do so from a standstill. Juwan Howard is a terrific offensive coach and figured out how
to optimize Jett’s skill set. If Jett doesn’t get on the move before starting his initial action, it’s hard for him to separate from his
man. This is why he generally does not put much pressure on the rim in half-court settings. Only took one shot at the rim out of
half-court actions per game, per Synergy, an extremely low number. He took only 2.6 free throws per game and did not get all
the way to the rim. This is where we see the lack of lower body strength and the fact that he doesn’t play with a ton of bend rear
its head again. Gets knocked off his line way too easily, and it completely stops his momentum as a driver. Howard only made
31.8 percent of his 3-point attempts from 25 feet or farther this past season, per Synergy, meaning there might be a touch of an
adjustment for him to the NBA line.
SUMMARY
Howard’s evaluation comes down to how much improvement you think you can make in his defensive mechanics and what
kind of scheme you plan on running. If you don’t believe he can improve in either respect, he has the potential to be more of
a rotation player who spaces the floor at a high level but struggles to find anyone to guard and doesn’t impact the box score
outside of scoring. If you do believe in his defense improving, he has a real chance to be an impactful starter. His versatile
shooting off movement and off pull-ups gives him an extremely high ceiling as an offensive player, especially when mixed with
the fact that he can pass and playmake a bit on the move. More than anything, scheme will be tremendously important for
Howard. If you put him into a scheme with a lot of high ball screens for a heliocentric offensive player where his teammates
stand around spacing the floor, he’s probably not going to get the most out of his game. If you play more of a ball movement,
off-ball movement, dribble handoff style with creative offensive actions, he has potential to be useful because of his ability to
shoot on the move, handle the ball once he gets it going downhill and make solid passing reads. The idea here is that he can be
an impactful player in the vein of a Kevin Huerter, someone who has turned into an extremely valuable piece for the Kings. But
to reach that level, he must improve defensively. I think I’m just a little bit lower on him than consensus because of that.
26. Keyonte George

G | Baylor | Birthdate: Nov. 8, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-4 | 185 LBS | Hometown: Lewisville, Texas
2022-23 Baylor NCAA (Big 12) 19 33 15.3 4.2 2.8 2.9 0.2 1.1 37.6 33.8 79.3
BACKGROUND
Mother is Kristen. Lived with mother in high school, and they have a very close relationship. Keyonte has a younger stepbrother
and stepsister. Grew up in Dallas suburb Lewisville amid an explosion of talent in his age group. Close friends with Anthony
Black. Cason Wallace is also a Dallas native from this draft class. Started out his high school career at Lewisville, where he imme-
diately emerged as an elite prospect. Was his conference’s offensive player of the year as a freshman, averaging over 20 points.
As a sophomore, Keyonte averaged 24 points per game and was the league’s MVP in addition to earning all-state honors. Moved
to iSchool of Lewisville as a transfer for his junior season, where he continued to play exceedingly well, averaging 24 points
against a national schedule. That summer, he played AAU basketball in his 17U year with Arizona State guard Austin Nunez and
(sometimes) Auburn big Yohan Traore for Southern Assault on the Adidas circuit and was among the best players in all of sum-
mer basketball. Went to play for Team USA in the 3x3 U18 World Cup, where he won MVP while leading his team to a gold medal
in Hungary. Decided to transfer for his senior season, this time to IMG Academy to face even more difficult competition. Played
with players such as Jarace Walker, Jett Howard, Jaden Bradley and others. Team fell in the semifinals of the GEICO nationals
event to Sunrise Christian Academy. George was considered a five-star prospect all throughout high school and was among the
most highly sought-after recruits in the country. Finished as a consensus top-10 recruit. He committed to Baylor before his se-
nior season at IMG, choosing the Bears over Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kentucky. Had a solid, if inefficient, year at Bay-
lor. Played a bit off the ball to start the year, then moved onto the ball a bit more as it progressed. Was extremely productive on a
counting-stats basis. Won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award and made second-team All-Big 12. Baylor was a No. 3 seed in the
NCAA Tournament, but the team was eliminated early by Creighton. He declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season.
Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
George did not measure at the combine but has good strength for a combo guard at 6-foot-4. Has room to grow on his frame but
already has terrific contact balance and core strength. Doesn’t get knocked off his line on drives. Has very strong shoulders that
make his frame look bigger than it is and likely portends to being able to get even stronger.
His game is predicated upon getting buckets, and he can do it in a variety of ways. He’s most impressive right now as a pull-up
scorer, largely because of the way he can create space to get that shot off. He plays in between cadences on his dribble well. Gets
a lot of defenders off-balance because he has his base under him and the ability to pull up from a wide variety of angles and
footwork. Also has an extremely clean ball pick-up off the dribble to load into his shot. Has terrific feel for the way a defender is
leaning and how a defender’s weight is distributed – then knows how to play off that and can execute with his handle. Has a lot
of different little moves to separate. Loves the inside-out and hesitation dribbles to change pace. Will hit a variety of crossovers
into stepbacks and side-step pull-ups from 3.
He can read defenders and counter the plan to shoot a stepback into a drive with a crossover. A very high-level technician with
the ball in his hands. His balance is superb off the dribble. Rarely seems to get himself off that center of gravity even when
contorting and twisting. That comes down to footwork, and George’s footwork is very good. Has a variety of Euro steps he can
break out on both sides of the court. Also knows how to use his strides. Can cover ground quickly with long strides or merely use
shorter ones. Has a terrific, quick spin move that can get him all the way to the rim.
The 3-point shooting numbers don’t look great on the surface, but he has a terrific history of knocking down 3s at lower levels,
and his shot distribution this past season was quite difficult with the large number of pull-ups. He took a lot of tough ones. Hit
35.4 percent of his pull-up 3s taking nearly three of them per game, which is an extremely high number for a teenager playing
college basketball in the best defensive league in the country. I feel good about his shot long term. Off the catch, can take them
both off a one-two step in or off the hop already. Has great rhythm and weight transfer through his lower half. Very simple one-
motion mechanics that allow him to get the shot up quickly.
WEAKNESSES
George won’t be undersized given that he’s strong throughout his frame, but he’s also not above average in terms of what the
role is going to be. On top of it, he’s not all that explosive. Threw down a couple impressive dunks this past season, but that
was largely when he was rising off two feet after really loading up with a good runway in transition. Not a particularly powerful
leaper off one foot. And his first step isn’t awesome. Very reliant on getting guys off balance with his handle.
Struggles to separate from his man quickly and decisively. Has to dance to do it despite playing in an offense at Baylor that was
about as well-spaced as any. Had issues when opposing teams would guard him with bigger, longer defenders or would blitz him
in ball screens. Doesn’t handle ball pressure from bigger bodies as well as you’d like to see. Will obviously be faced with those
types of players more often in the NBA. And even then, it results in a lot of difficult shots, particularly off stepbacks. Was much
better from 3 than from the midrange in these scenarios. Made 35.4 percent of his pull-up 3s versus only 29.8 percent from the
midrange, per Synergy. Additionally, he also attempted just two shots per game at the rim in half-court settings, many of which
were contested. I worry about him a bit as a finisher too. Had zero dunks in the half court this past season, per Synergy, again
speaking to his general lack of vertical pop. Made 50.7 percent of his shots at the rim in total. That’s not a disastrous number, but
it’s not a great one either. Might really struggle around the rim against bigger bodies.
Because of this lack of ability to separate mixed with his shot-happy game, decision-making can be a concern. Don’t love his
passing. Posted a negative assist-to-turnover ratio and hoisted some wild shots that led to marked inefficiency. Ends up putting
himself in some very disadvantageous positions by over-penetrating. Tends to speed himself up a bit and leave his feet before
diagnosing exactly what he wants to do, which can cause issues. He also can be a bit of an inaccurate passer. Has vision but
doesn’t always execute it well to hit rollers or kickouts in their shooting pockets. Often has some wild pass turnovers. There
seem to be a lot of predetermined choices in his tape as opposed to reading and reacting to what the defense presents. Panics
and doesn’t know where to go with it sometimes when he gets blitzed. One of the more turnover-prone players in the class for all
those reasons. He has a concerning combination of bad shot selection and being turnover prone. I’m just not sure how well he
reads the defense and knows where the help is. There are a lot of negative plays in his tape, especially over the back half of the
year when he averaged just 13.1 points while shooting 35.4 percent from the field in his last 17 games.
Defensively, George is all over the map. Sometimes he’s good, but it was often a struggle. It seemed at times like when it wouldn’t
go well for him on offense, it would lead to him being less engaged on defense. Would say his defense was more negative than
positive. Had some positive on-ball moments against combo guards and smaller wings. Against quicker guards, there were more
times where he got driven by than you’d like to see. Has a chance to be a real problem when he’s forced to defend in oceans of
space at the next level. Might be able to get him on an island in switch scenarios against better players and cause issues for him.
Several teams, including Kansas, really decided to attack him as an on-ball defender. I’m also not sure how switchable he’ll be
onto bigger wings. Those guys might really be able to shoot over the top of him even though he’ll try to body them up with his
chest. Might be very limited in who he can handle on the ball in the NBA.
George also is a poor off-ball defender right now. Gets caught napping a lot. Misses rotations on X-outs and closeouts. Very off-
balance and gets driven on those closeouts regularly. Sometimes, he gets caught between gambling for a steal and closing out
solidly. A lot of the time, it’s because he’s watching the ball and ends up reacting late to what’s happening. Gets backdoor cut a
bit more than you’d like to see. Needs to improve his awareness and lock in a bit more. Could struggle a bit early on with smart
cutters and guys who don’t stop moving.
SUMMARY
George is a tough evaluation. Some scouts are enamored with his shot-creation upside mixed with his likelihood to shoot it.
Others have real worries about his lack of burst and overall inefficiency. Having real shake, the ability to play in between steps
and rhythms to create shots and then being able to consistently knock down both pull-ups and open catch-and-shoot 3s is a
lot to be excited about from a skill perspective. Guys who can dribble, pass and shoot are good bets. But there is also a real feel
element that is important. And guys who have a bit of a deficiency in terms of feel for the game plus have a concerning lack of
athletic burst can struggle. It’s worth noting that at his pro day, George looked to be in better shape than he had previously. But
to be honest, I liked Jaden Hardy quite a bit more in the 2022 NBA Draft than I like George in the 2023 NBA Draft as a similarly
skilled combo guard who relies upon handle and shake to break defenders down. I thought Hardy had better handle and better
feel as a passer. He handled heavy ball pressure better and was more capable as an attacker. I ranked Hardy at No. 20 on my
board last year and thus have George lower. The upside here is essentially what George can be as a pull-up scorer. But he has
such a long way to go as a passer and defender that I think I’d rather just make other bets in this class.
27. Colby Jones

W | Xavier | Birthdate: May 28, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-5 | 200 LBS | Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
2020-21 Xavier NCAA 18 15 7.7 4.8 2.9 1.7 0.3 1.3 46.4 33.3 75.7
(Big East)
2021-22 Xavier NCAA 19 35 11.6 7.3 3.2 2.0 0.5 1.5 48.3 29.2 68.0
(Big East)
2022-23 Xavier NCAA 20 36 15.0 5.7 4.4 2.3 0.6 1.3 50.9 37.8 65.3
(Big East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Lesley and Chad. Colby comes from a basketball family. Father played basketball at UAB. His brother, C.J., played at
Arkansas and Middle Tennessee. Also has three other brothers. Jones started his high school career at Pinson Valley High School
in Alabama and was terrific quickly. Averaged 24 points per game as a sophomore and was named All-Birmingham. Jones then
transferred to Mountain Brook High School to play with five-star recruit Trendon Watford under current Samford University
head coach Bucky McMillan, who was coming off having won the National High School Boys Basketball Coach of the Year award
by the National High School Coaches Association. Jones was tremendous, helping to lead the team to its third straight state
championship while being named All-State. As a senior, he blossomed into a star. Coming into the year, he won the Nike EYBL
Breakout Player award. Then he won the Alabama Player of the Year award in his classification and helped lead Mountain Brook
to the state finals while averaging 25 points and eight rebounds. Ended up being ranked as a solid four-star prospect within the
top 150 of the 2020 recruiting class. He committed to Xavier over Alabama, UAB and Georgia. As a freshman, Jones was an im-
mediately valuable player, earning a starting role for Travis Steele and making the Big East All-Freshman team. As a sophomore,
he blossomed into a solid double-figure scorer who impacted the game across the court and saved his best for last as he won the
NIT MVP award for the Musketeers. As a junior, Jones truly morphed into a potential first-round pick, earning second-team All-
Big East and All-Big East Tournament honors as he helped lead Xavier to the Sweet 16 under new coach Sean Miller. Decided to
declare for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Jones has a good, sturdy frame for an NBA wing who has some ball skills. Comes in at nearly 6-foot-5 without shoes and with
a strong 200-pound build that makes him difficult to move. Big standing reach for a guard at 8-foot-7. Functional athlete
with a good intersection of strength and quickness. Beyond that, he has an extremely well-rounded game that profiles well
toward being an NBA role player. Smart player with high basketball IQ. Plays with a high motor and hits the glass hard for a
backcourt player. Really good in transition because of his ability to play in passing lanes to force steals and grab rebounds. Good
ballhandler for his size. Plays with real poise and polish and has great pace to his handle. Not all that shifty, but he’s comfortable
collapsing defenders in ball screens and dribble handoffs.
It’s worth starting with Jones’ passing. He’s a smart creator who handled initiation duties about half of the time for Xavier.
Reads the court well both in the run of play and out of ball screens. Plays unselfishly. Always on balance. Loves the hit-ahead
pass and finds cutters early toward the basket. Makes the quick decision. I love the way he reads the court out of ball screens in
half-court settings. Good at finding rollers and opening angles to do so both on lobs and pocket passes. Puts good touch on those
passes but will also hit the cross-corner skip pass by reading help defenders. Draws defenders toward him and finds the open
man. Has a real chance to be a second-side creator in the NBA.
He’s also a sharp scorer. Uses his frame incredibly well to shield the ball and open driving angles. Think he’s a good finisher
when he gets there. Made 62.2 percent of his shot attempts at the rim last season, including 66 percent of his shots in half-court
settings. Really good at using his length extension to get close to the rim and open angles, particularly on finger rolls. Can go
tight to the rim or throw it up high. More importantly, he has a great floater to give him a real midrange game. Does a great job at
playing with pace and using his frame to hold defenders away from that ball. Great at holding defenders onto his hip then going
up for it. Had the best floater in high-major college hoops. Averaged 2.4 points per game in that shot, more than any other high-
major player in the country. He also shot 55 percent on those shots on over 70 of them. Counters into them on spins. Legitimate
two-level scorer.
Jones is a good on-ball defender. Not quite all-league worthy, but he’s tough. Has good lateral quickness and can stay in front of
his man. Dealt well with players one through three and managed fours well in college switch situations too. Gets around screens
reasonably well because of his technique. Always low and in a good defensive stance. Xavier typically had him chasing over the
top in drop coverage, and he did a great job of using his length to stay in the play. Great at getting his frame and chest in front of
defenders and absorbing that contact to stop the drive in its tracks. It’s tough to go through him and was hard to get all the way
to the basket when he was your primary defender.
I also think he’s a sharp team defender. Has really good hands and is generally a disruptive player. Keeps them high and active
in the play. Averaged 1.3 steals per game. Doesn’t miss rotations and closes out on balance to shooters. Good communication on
switches. Given his frame, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he fared well at the college level in those situations where he got
cross-matched either in transition or when he had to peel off his own man. Particularly thought he did OK on the block against
Kyle Filipowski and Duke. Fights through screening actions both on and off the ball. Locks and trails well. Doesn’t quit on plays.
Always an impactful player with late contests because of that desire to stay in the action.
WEAKNESSES
Jones is not a particularly explosive athlete. Does not have a particularly good first step. Not the most agile athlete and not a ton
of shake. Doesn’t have a ton of hops. A bit boxy and square as an athlete.
Jones has real potential to shoot, but he hasn’t been the most willing or consistent shooter over the course of his career. Made
37.8 percent from 3 this past season, including 43 percent on his catch-and-shoot 3s. Still, he only took about three 3s per game.
And in 2021-22, he made 32.3 percent off the catch from 3. The year before, he was 34.6 percent off the catch. He was a career
34.4 percent shooter from 3 in college on just 2.5 attempts per game. It’s just not his first instinct. Has a very simple shot that
I think looks clean. Shot prep has really improved off the catch. He’s ready to fire when he gets it. But he needs that extra split
second to set his feet and brings the ball up from the left side of his body. Doesn’t take a ton off the hop. The shot looks good,
and he’s clearly improved simplifying it. But most of his 3s came from right behind the college line, and we’re working with a
limited sample of shots of him being good at it. There’s a real chance Jones has fixed this issue, but teams went into the pre-draft
process wanting to learn more there.
Jones is not really a shot creator for himself outside of 15 feet. Doesn’t have a great pull-up jumper. Went 0-of-10 on pull-ups in
his first two years. This past season, he made just 27 percent of about 1.5 pull-up jumpers per game. Because of that lack of burst,
he does not create much separation. Doesn’t have a ton of shake as a ballhandler. Not an isolation threat. When he had to do it,
it often resulted in a ton of contested jumpers and fadeaways. Also does not look nearly as smooth pulling up from behind the
3-point line, likely because he doesn’t have as much time to set himself and get himself into alignment. Not as clean and smooth.
Will be a real issue as teams will go under all his ball screens. Has kind of a low release point. Could limit his ability as a second-
side creator even with the passing and the game from inside 15 feet.
If Jones struggles to shoot it and doesn’t have an awesome pull-up game, can he be a strong offensive threat in the NBA? Will
teams be willing to continue to guard him given that he’s not a particularly explosive athlete and takes an extra split second to
load into his shot, and they can close out and recover onto him as a driver?
SUMMARY
The case for Jones revolves around his size and how well-rounded he is. He’s 6-foot-6 and can handle the ball as a secondary
creator. He is a real passer and playmaker and reads the game quickly. He’s unselfish and not about himself on the court. He
has counters and touch as a scorer on floaters with some craft at the basket. More importantly, he’s a really good defender, not
quite a potential All-NBA defender, but one who will be strong, quick and switchable on a variety of different matchups. He’s
also sharp as a team defender, even if there are some random gambles from time to time. It all comes down to him being able to
knock down 38 percent of his 3s on about five or so per game. If he can do that, he’s going to be a valuable role player for winning
teams. And there is reason to believe he can do that. He made 42 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past season. The touch
on his floater is tremendous. There are real signs Jones has the tools necessary to become that kind of player. He’s a solid late-
first-round grade for me. Jones might not be an All-Star, but he’s a reasonable bet to tick a lot of boxes that teams typically want
to be filled.
28. Ben Sheppard

W | Belmont | Birthdate: July 16, 2001 (Age: 21) | 6-5 | 195 LBS | Hometown: Atlanta
2019-20 Belmont NCAA (OVC) 18 32 2.9 2.2 0.6 0.8 0.1 0.4 38.6 27.9 66.7
2020-21 Belmont NCAA (OVC) 19 27 10.5 4.4 2.2 1.4 0.1 1.0 47.3 32.8 68.9
2021-22 Belmont NCAA (OVC) 20 33 16.2 3.9 1.6 1.3 0.2 1.2 49.6 37.1 71.9
2022-23 Belmont NCAA (OVC) 21 32 18.8 5.2 2.9 2.2 0.2 1.4 47.5 41.5 68.4
BACKGROUND
Parents are David and Susan. Loves to go fishing. Sheppard is a classic late bloomer physically. Was a 6-foot-1 combo guard head-
ing into his junior season then shot up into the 6-foot-4 range. Eventually got up to about 6-foot-5 before getting to Belmont.
Change in height completely changed his game. As a junior, Sheppard emerged into one of the most underrated prospects in
the southeast. Played for Greater Atlanta Christian School, winning All-State honors as a junior while leading the team to a state
title and winning the MVP of the championship game. Was again named an All-State performer as a senior in 2019. Was an un-
ranked recruit because of that late growth spurt. Sheppard was recruited by a lot of mid-major schools but ultimately decided
on Belmont before his senior season, choosing the Bruins over Radford. Committed to legendary coach Rick Byrd, but Byrd
retired before Sheppard got to play for him. Instead, he played for former Byrd assistant Casey Alexander. Was a role player off
the bench at Belmont as a freshman, playing limited minutes but seeing time in most games. Emerged as a legitimate starter
as a sophomore for an OVC regular-season champion, known more for his defensive prowess and willingness to take on tough
assignments. Really broke out, though, as a junior. Earned first-team All-OVC honors while leading the team in scoring. Team
finished second in OVC. Team then moved to the Missouri Valley, where Sheppard continued his breakout against much better
competition. He earned first-team All-MVC as well as All-Defense honors in the league, becoming one of the more well-rounded
two-way players in all of college basketball. Had an extra season of eligibility but decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft while
forgoing that eligibility. Earned a 2023 NBA Draft Combine invite as one of the more under-the-radar players in attendance.
STRENGTHS
Sheppard has solid size for a 3-and-D wing at 6-foot-5 without shoes and a near 6-foot-8 wingspan. He generally seems to know
how to play and has high-end feel.
Sheppard has improved as a shooter every year and become a legitimate weapon from distance. Hit 40.4 percent on catch-and-
shoot opportunities from 3. The shot looks funky, but it’s easy to see why it works. Very simple shot with no wasted movement
that is out of alignment. Great shot prep from 3. Always squared up to the hoop and ready to fire. Can take them off the hop or a
one-two step. Pretty quick release. Just has kind of a low shooting pocket. Natural hip turn toward the left. Has to generate a lot
of power using his lower half and kind of lands a bit in front of his take-off point but has a beautiful follow-through.
Sheppard moves well without the ball behind the 3-point line. Moves exceedingly well off screening actions like most Belmont
players. Made an absurd 48.7 percent of his 3s off screens, per Synergy. He’s good at getting his body squared to the rim even
running away from the rim with a quick release, a very tough shot. Knows how to come off them to get as open as possible. Can
make them going to his right or to his left. Very high IQ and has strong understanding of floor spacing. Knows how to relocate
into open areas, and really knows how to time those relocations well to separate from his defender. In perpetual motion, both
off screens and relocating.
Sheppard also has a little bit more off the bounce than he gets credit for. Best when getting run off the line and getting to the
rim. But can also operate in ball screens. Good passer and playmaker from his time growing up as a lead guard. A lot of the
reads in Belmont’s offense are pre-ordained, but Sheppard makes smart off-script reads. Seems to understand how to draw and
manipulate defenders, then make plays. Will draw defenders to him and then make real reads with quickness. Finds cross-
corner kickouts and dump-offs to the dunker spot. Passes well off a live dribble. Finds cutters on the move off cuts. Makes quick
reads. Moves the ball along quickly. Averaged 2.9 assists versus only 2.2 turnovers per game.
Smart, sharp defensive player. Took on the toughest assignments for Belmont on the wing this past season. Good anticipation.
Hits passing lanes hard. Solid one-on-one defender. Really sharp on digs. Has great feel for when someone uncomfortable has
the ball and when he can go attack their dribble with a double. Smart rotationally and always on time. Good hands that seem to
be disruptive against ballhandlers.
WEAKNESSES
I worry quite a bit about Sheppard’s athleticism. Not all that explosive. Doesn’t have a ton of twitch. He has long strides that
cover ground in open spaces, but I don’t think he’s all that quick. No real bounce in half-court settings vertically. He also doesn’t
have any real strength right now and doesn’t play with a ton of force or explosiveness. That’s a tricky combo for a 3-and-D guy. I
also worry a bit about his hip flexibility.
This leads into my biggest question mark. Can Sheppard guard NBA-level athletes? He gets beat off the bounce way more than
you’d expect in a straight line. Fast guards give him an issue as well as wings and forwards who can get lower than him and
power past him. Speaking of getting lower, I think Sheppard generally struggles with his defensive stance. Seems to play very
high. Doesn’t really get into a stance all the time. Tends more often to just bend over at the hips. Given this, and despite him
being skinny, doesn’t fight through screens well. Takes weird angles when getting through them. Moreover, the lack of strength
causes real issues. Has some questions regarding if he can hold his ground when a stronger wing puts his shoulder into him.
The lack of athleticism causes some real issues in terms of Sheppard’s handle. Not a potential isolation creator at all. Doesn’t
separate from opposing players. Doesn’t have a ton of burst in terms of first step. Also has some real finishing concerns. Made
53.6 percent of his shots at the rim. Seems to have a very far take-off point from the rim, while also not being a vertical athlete.
Doesn’t elevate at all. Bad both off the dribble and off cuts. Goes off one foot but struggles to get all the way to the rim. Doesn’t
navigate bodies around the rim well. Then will try to load up off two feet off cuts, and still doesn’t quite elevate all that high.
In general, I don’t think Sheppard plays all that well through contact right now. This is the main overall issue. His momentum
as a driver gets stopped when he attacks the rim if he gets bumped. Struggles to go up through contact at the basket. Doesn’t
absorb contact right now all that well on either end. Having said that, Sheppard is a late bloomer physically. Does he have some
room to grow and fill out in this regard? He’s not quite as twitchy as other past late bloomers physically like Trey Murphy III and
Jalen Williams.
SUMMARY
Sheppard has enough skill to be a useful NBA player. He can knock down shots, he has real ball skills and his defensive instincts
are valuable. It all comes down to the kind of strength Sheppard can add in the coming years. If he can get strong enough to play
through physical contact on both ends of the floor, he’s the exact kind of player NBA teams look for. His basketball IQ is strong,
and he seems like he’ll be a great teammate who has earned everything he’s gotten at this point of his career. Now he needs to
prove he won’t get moved around all the time when players decide to attack him or when he tries to get to the rim as a driver. I
have him as a first-round grade because his shooting and feel combination is exactly what NBA teams are looking for from their
role players.
29. Andre Jackson

W | Connecticut | Birthdate: Nov. 13, 2001 (Age: 21) | 6-6 | 200 LBS |
Hometown: Amsterdam, N.Y.
(Big East)
(Big East)
(Big East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Tricia and Andre Sr. Both of his parents played basketball in college at the community college level. Has two younger
siblings. Played at Albany Academy and was wildly successful. Has essentially always been a winner and played winning basket-
ball. Jackson led his school to three straight state title games in New York from 2017 to 2019, winning in 2017 and 2019. Was con-
sidered a borderline three-star/four-star recruit until the summer before his senior season, where he played with City Rocks AAU
team on the Nike EYBL circuit and played exceedingly well at Peach Jam. That blew him up into a genuinely high-end recruit.
His senior season tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but his team was again ranked as the
No. 1 team in the state in his classification. He was a do-it-all wing who averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three
steals in his senior season while shooting an absurd 68 percent from the field. Was named his classification’s player of the year in
the state in 2020. Ultimately finished his collegiate career as a top-50 player in the country and a solid four-star recruit, per re-
cruiting services. Committed to Connecticut in the fall of his senior season after Dan Hurley made him the top priority following
his hire. Chose UConn over Iowa, UCLA and Syracuse. Was a bench player early in his freshman season but broke his left wrist in
December and ended up missing nearly two months of action. Immediately entered the starting lineup as a sophomore, though.
Emerged into an important piece as a sophomore, becoming a defensive stopper and well-rounded ball mover for the Huskies.
But became more than that as a junior. Emerged into a critical piece as team co-captain along with Adama Sanogo. Was one
of the clear leaders on the team and is noted as a high character player. Was an essential player on a team that went on to win
the NCAA National Championship in one of the most dominant Tournament runs in history, winning every game by at least 13
points. Jackson declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after this past season while maintaining his eligibility. Was invited to the 2023
NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Jackson has a great frame for an NBA wing at nearly 6-foot-6 without shoes with a 6-foot-9 3/4 wingspan. One of the best athletes
in the 2023 NBA Draft class and will enter the NBA as a top-5 percent athlete in a league full of ridiculous ones. Has everything
teams look for from that perspective. He is remarkably explosive vertically, has tremendous body control and strong hang time.
Monster dunker. On the ground, he has a good first step and elite lateral quickness. Great hip flexibility and shiftiness. On top of
it, he never seems to tire. He’s able to go 100 percent for full games with ridiculous aerobic capacity. It allows him to play with an
unbelievable motor that never stops running. He never stops moving on either end of the court and is the epitome of a positive
energy giver for his team. Constantly tries to get on the ground for loose balls. Attempts to recover everything. Leads in that way
by example for everyone else.
Has elite feel for the game. One of those guys who just knows where to be all the time and knows how to make winning plays.
That can’t be emphasized enough. Best role comes on defense where he can be a genuine plus. Connecticut used him as a
stopper on a wide variety of players this past season. Guarded scoring guards, point-of-attack players, and true wings all
effectively. It’s hard to beat him one-on-one because of how quick he is, how long he is, and how disciplined his fundamentals
are. Has very fluid hips and is light on his feet, which allows him to be very reactive to stepbacks and tough moves from
ballhandlers. Moves his feet incredibly smoothly. Fights through screens well. Gets skinny to get over the top of them. Takes
good, tight angles around them both on and off ball. Stays attached and locked onto his man’s hip. In one-on-one settings,
strong through his core and chest, allowing him to wall up against opposing ballhandlers as they drive while also keeping his
hands high, contesting everything. Absorbs contact super well while also being able to stay in front. Great verticality principles.
Jackson also is a terrific team defender. Closeouts are elite because of how much ground he can cover and how light he is on his
feet. Allows him to contest shots at a high level and then also drop his hips to recover onto drives. And then, if he or any of his
teammates get beat, has ridiculous recovery tools because of his length and leaping to get scramble and get back into the play.
Impactful for a wing rotating from the weak side. Knows how to use his athleticism in a monster way. Has some spike blocks at
times. But more than that, because his vertical leap is so high, he’s impactful when using verticality and getting his arms up into
the play.
On offense, his best skill is his ability to move without the ball and pass. He’s an unbelievable cutter. He has a great sense of
timing and great spatial awareness, understanding exactly how to space the floor for his teammates despite his lack of shooting.
Baseline cuts for lobs and dump-offs. 45 cuts and downhill sprints off post-ups to use his leaping ability to attack the rim. Team
used him in the dunker spot as well. Also understands what his teammates need as a mover without the basketball. If he sees
the defense has two on the ball above the break, he’ll flash to the foul line extended area to give an outlet option. He vacates
areas to open driving lanes. Also an excellent screener. Loves the drop off pass into a screen for his man to give him some space.
Extremely sharp.
If he receives the ball, he processes the game at an exceptionally high level. Quick decision-maker and playmaker. Knows how to
keep advantageous situations and maintain advantages. Part of the reason for that is he can do everything at full speed. Sprints
out on the break and just flings and sprays that thing out to shooters everywhere. Great hit-ahead passer early in transition.
Excellent passer in the flow of the offense. Knows where his teammates are before he receives the ball and seems to also have
a great understanding of how defenses will rotate around him after he catches it. Seems almost automatic with how quick he
is as a decision-maker. Super-fast reversals that allow his team to keep the marginal advantage they already have. Also a good
pick-and-roll passer and playmaker both as a handler and as a screener. Think he’s sharp at finding his roll man quickly out
of screens. Teams often tried to blitz him because of his handle, and he reacted quickly. If they didn’t, it’s clear he’s out there
manipulating defenses as he’s covering ground, reading the low man and attacking. Throws live-dribble, one-handed passes
with ease from both sides. Hits cross-corner kickouts, has great touch on his lobs. Averaged 4.7 assists versus only two turnovers,
which is absurd given his usage rate.
As a scorer right now, he’s best out in transition where he can use his athletic tools to their fullest potential. Can grab-and-go off
the glass and handle the ball, allowing him to attack the rim with ferocity. Because he is so fast, he can zoom past guys down the
court with his long strides and explosive steps. If you don’t get a body in front of him, he’s throwing down. Also has this same
incredible leaping ability as a cutter. Had 30 dunks this past season. Overall, made 67.1 percent of his shots at the rim, including
70.7 percent in half court.
WEAKNESSES
The weakness here is simple and direct: It’s going to be difficult for Jackson to score in the half court in the NBA. Averaged just
9.2 points per 40 minutes in college, which is a historically low number for an upper-class wing who is considered draftable.
Jackson is a poor shooter right now. He’s inconsistent, and the mechanics aren’t great. Made just 15 of his 59 catch-and-shoot
3s this past season, good for 25.4 percent, per Synergy. Doesn’t look comfortable or clean with his jumper. Everything here is
a total rewrite and needs to be fixed from the ground up. His shot prep is poor because, when he catches, he seems to rarely
be in a comfortable shooting position. Never his first option. Inconsistent shooting base where his feet look to be too narrow
at times. Really takes him a second to load up into it. Loads up with his right arm flared out beyond the side of his body, then
kind of catapults the ball up. Takes him a minute to find a comfortable spot for his hands on the ball. Tries to get himself into
rhythm, but there just isn’t much there. Kind of a low release point where the ball is in front of his face. Ends up being a very flat
trajectory. On the plus side, there’s not much to keep here, which means a shooting coach can go to town on it without worrying
about taking anything away. On the downside, there is so much work to be done that it’s a multi-year fix, and it’s hard to truly
buy it ever being a weapon.
Jackson also doesn’t have any game off the bounce as a scorer in the half court. Given his jumper, he can’t be a pull-up
threat. Even if he could, I don’t really think his handle is quite functional enough at this point to be able to get into stepbacks
consistently. Comfortable handling the ball, but not exactly a guy who can break you down in isolation. Has no in-between
game as a jump shooter. Doesn’t even take or make midrange jumpers. Did try to implement a little floater to middling success.
Can get into it from a variety of ways, including jump stops and off one foot. But the ball comes out of his hand flat. Made just
36 percent of these shots. Don’t think this is an effective counter at this point, but it’s at least a developmental skill that can
be improved.
All this leads to a simple question: What do you do with him on offense to get the most out of the positive skills? As a ballhandler,
because of the lack of shooting and scoring ability, teams just started going under his screens. As a floor spacer and off-ball
player, teams just stopped closing out on him entirely, which gummed up the works on offense. If you put him in the dunker
spot, you can hide a big on him there for help at the rim. Even when he’s spacing beyond the 3-point line, you can do that
anyway. You need to be creative and find different ways to use him. Will probably lead to fewer teams being interested in him
because of it.
SUMMARY
I love Jackson. He was one of my two favorite players in college basketball last season because it’s clear he thinks the game at
an exceptional level. His ability to play at high speed and process everything that’s happening around him is not normal. His
reactivity and quick decision-making are superb. His movement without the ball is terrific. He’s an elite athlete with terrific,
functional traits that will impact the game at an extremely high level because he also plays with a never-ending motor. He’ll
defend across the positional spectrum and will provide terrific team defense. But in today’s NBA, you must be able to do
something on offense to score. Otherwise, teams will leave you alone, and there will be poor impacts on your team. And yet,
Connecticut still scored 124.3 points per 100 possessions when Jackson was on the court versus 114.3 when he was off it, per
Pivot Analysis, because of the way he’s able to move without the ball, push tempo and make plays for his teammates. So, where
does that leave us? At the end of the day, I’m just willing to bet on Jackson. I think he and a smart coaching staff figure out how
to use his elite basketball IQ and athleticism to their advantage. It’s also heartening that a lot of the best teams in the league have
players like this on their roster and utilize real offensive movement to make them effective. Think about the Warriors with Gary
Payton II or Denver with Bruce Brown. Brown’s level of impact is probably unattainable unless Jackson improves drastically in
terms of his shot, but Payton is doable. Jackson is a similarly elite athlete to Payton – not a small feat – and is similarly a genius-
level processor of the game at speed. Not every team is going to be interested in Jackson. It’s going to take someone creative. But
if you’re willing to put in the work, Jackson can be an impactful non-shooter.
30. Kobe Brown

F | Missouri | Birthdate: Jan. 1, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-7 | 250 LBS | Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
2019-20 Missouri NCAA (SEC) 20 30 5.8 3.7 0.5 1.3 0.4 1.0 40.1 25.3 74.4
BACKGROUND
Parents are Greg and Sheryll. Has a younger brother, Kaleb, who was also on the Missouri basketball team. Their father coached
them at Lee High School in Huntsville. Kobe emerged early in high school as someone considered a four-star recruit due to his
size and perimeter skill but ultimately ended up being a consensus three-star recruit despite tremendous success in high school.
Averaged about 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as a junior and was a first-team All-State player who won the Class
5A Player of the Year award. As a senior, he carried his team to an even more ridiculous degree, averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds
and eight assists despite an enormous physical frame that made him a physical outlier. Brown was again named an All-State
selection and was a finalist for player of the year in a bigger classification. Only ended up as something in the ballpark of a top-
250 player in the 2019 recruiting class, though. Originally committed to Texas A&M under Billy Kennedy as a junior but decided
to decommit before his senior season. Chose Missouri to play for Cuonzo Martin. Was essentially a four-year starter at Missouri.
Missed out on the All-Freshman team, but it was clear the Tigers had an important player for their program. Started all 26 games
for the Tigers as a sophomore, helping the team make the NCAA Tournament. Broke out as a junior and earned second-team
All-SEC honors as a physical presence on both ends of the floor with passing and playmaking abilities. Emerged as an NBA Draft
prospect as a senior, making first-team All-SEC under new coach Dennis Gates. Brown took a large leap as a shooter and contin-
ued his ascent into being the top option on the scouting report. Missouri made the NCAA Tournament again and beat Utah State
before being upset by Princeton. Brown could have returned for a fifth year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but decided to de-
clare for the 2023 NBA Draft. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Brown is an exemplary character player and elite-level
student. Won the SEC’s Scholar-Athlete of the year award in 2023 after three straight years on the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll
and was named a second-team Academic All-American this year.
STRENGTHS
Brown is one of the more interesting, theoretically well-rounded players in the class due to his ability to dribble/pass/shoot at
his size. Brown came in at nearly 6-foot-7 without shoes at the combine but possesses an enormous near 7-foot-1 wingspan that
should allow him to play the four relatively easily. He has functional strength with his 250-pound frame that allows him to move
people around. That strength is foundational to his game but expanded his skill set as a senior. Plays with real balance and has a
tremendous feel for the game. Always off two feet. Good in transition. Loves the hit-ahead home-run passes to start the break to
get easy buckets.
Brown took a big leap this past season as a shooter. He hit 45.5 percent of his 3-point attempts this past season, although he
did it on just 112 attempts after three consecutive seasons shooting about 25 percent from 3. He made 46.2 percent of his catch-
and-shoot 3s, per Synergy, which is a ridiculous number. I tend not to buy these drastic leaps on relatively low volume, but
the mechanics look clean now. Does a great job with his shot prep getting himself into a rhythm off the hop. Very quiet lower
half where he rises and lands in the same spot every time. Because of that quiet lower half, he showed some real potential off
movement in certain situations. Had some awesome pick-and-pop moments this past season where his momentum was going
all the way away from the basket, and he was able to stop on a dime, rise and get his body into alignment all in one movement.
Really sharp as a relocator. He has a significant ball dip, but he gets through the shot quickly with a quick release. Even his
misses this past season seemed like they just rimmed out. If you’re going to bet on one of these major shooting spike players,
Brown is a good candidate to choose.
I really like Brown’s overall feel on offense playing his inside-out game. He’s one of those players who does a little bit of
everything and processes the game extremely well. Missouri used him in a variety of different situations. Per Synergy, he had
at least 30 and no more than 83 possessions as a post player, out of spot-ups, as a pick-and-roll ballhandler and as a roller, as a
cutter, out of isolations and grabbing offensive rebounds. That versatility is appealing to NBA teams. A lot of post-ups that I’m
skeptical about being part of his game. But he moves well without the ball. Missouri played a well-spaced five-out offense for
the first time in his career this past season, and it suited him well. The team ran him in the dunker spot and used him in a lot
of preordained cuts toward the basket. Uses his strength to go through contact and his length to get up and dunk around the
rim off two feet. Made 62 percent of his half-court shots at the rim. Was more effective as a pick-and-pop player than as a roller.
Effective driver in a straight line. Not the world’s shiftiest ballhandler or anything, but he keeps the ball tight to his body and low
to the ground. Effective off pivots and spins. Had some high-degree-of-difficulty, below-the-rim touch finishes around bigger
players.
Off those drives, I also like Brown as a passer. Again, that quick processing speed leads to quick decisions to keep the offense
flowing. A lot of his passes were from a standstill either on the block or from the high post, but he also makes reads that are
translatable because he can do them on the move and out of a variety of situations. He’ll hit drive-and-kick passes from creative
angles off heavy closeouts. He is smart with his ball reversals up from the corner to the wing quickly. Understands how help
defenses play on the weak side when he gets to the middle of the court. Great anticipation. Averaged 2.5 assists versus only 1.6
turnovers. Limits turnovers because of that tight handle and that general comfort level against the help side.
Finally, I think Brown is a solid defender in a team concept. Has some warts and limitations we’ll talk about below, but he’s
sharp in terms of his rotations and his overall choices in where to position himself and how to defend his opposition. Generally
available as a weakside rim protector using his size. More than anything, he seems to really do a good job of going into games
knowing the scouting report and executing it. Not overly quick, but he’s reactive and anticipates what the opposition wants to
do well. Can body up on the block. Understands how to use his length to disrupt passing lanes and has a good understanding of
when he should gamble to go for a steal. Averaged 1.5 steals per game this past season. Can body up against bigger players and
use his frame to really wall up. He should manage well against fours on the ball and could even potentially slide up as a small-
ball five on occasion.
WEAKNESSES
Brown has some vertical pop athletically, but that’s really it. Doesn’t have much else in terms of explosiveness. Has somewhat
heavy feet. Because he’s so thick through his chest and torso, he ends up not having a ton of shiftiness or hip flexibility. Very stiff
through that area. Would be much stiffer than most players to play on the wing in the NBA.
There aren’t a ton of dead-set problems with Brown’s game because of his ability to dribble, pass and shoot at his size. But
scouts don’t totally know what to make of Brown’s shooting spike yet. The track record for fourth-year players who make
this kind of shooting leap is not particularly good. Brown has done great work with the shot but does have one concerning
mechanical characteristic that gives teams pause: He has an elbow flare on the jumper, where his elbow doesn’t seem to be
totally underneath the basketball when he shoots. If he’d been a 40 percent 3-point shooter throughout, this would be fine. But
because the previous track record is what it is, teams worry about what Brown’s exact level of shooting is. Is he a Grant Williams
type where he can be a 40 percent guy in time? Or is he more of a 35 percent guy? A wide range of outcomes remain on Brown as
a shooter.
If the shooting doesn’t come along, what is the offensive value? He’s a good ballhandler in a straight line for his size, but he’s
not quite shifty enough on the ball to be an on-ball creator. As a pull-up shooter, it might be hard for him because he struggles
to separate from his man and then doesn’t elevate all that high into his jumper. He’s a good passer but doesn’t bend the defense
on his own. The catch-and-shoot jumper needs to be there for the offensive game to make sense. If it’s not, he’s probably just an
undersized big.
Finally, I’m a bit worried about Brown on defense as an on-ball defender. The hope would be to have him as a switch defender,
but that lack of hip flexibility mixed with his heavy feet give him some real downside out on the perimeter. I think he struggled
to contain drives against guards. His closeouts are on time, but because his feet aren’t always quick, he gets driven a bit more
often than you’d like to see. Wonder if there is some world where he can get down more into the 240-pound range and add a bit
of lightness on his feet to cover up for some of these concerns. Likely wouldn’t lose much in terms of the parts of his game that
translate well to the NBA in terms of his processing speed and shooting potential. But it might add a bit in terms of athleticism
that would be instrumental for him long term.
SUMMARY
Brown is one of the guys who really stood out to me in terms of skill the more I watched him. There’s so much more to his game
than you’d think when watching a typical 6-foot-7, 250-pound big man. He’s an incredible processor of the game who makes
quick decisions, and the shooting-mechanic adjustments he’s made over the last year have clearly worked wonders in terms
of turning him into a real potential shooter in the NBA. He’s a smart defender who was active and valuable on that end in the
SEC. And there is a real case for long-term upside if he can add a bit of quickness over the next few years. To me, it all comes
down to the shooting. If Brown proves he can be a consistent shooter from distance, he might play in the NBA for the next
eight to 10 years as a valuable rotation player. Every NBA team is looking for bigger guys with length who can dribble, pass and
shoot. Brown can do that. There’s a world where you can see him playing both as a wing four man and a small-ball five given his
strength. He is a valuable rotation player as long as he shoots. That bet is worth a late first-rounder; at the latest, an early
second-rounder.
31. Marcus Sasser

G | Houston | Birthdate: Sept. 21, 2000 (Age: 22) | 6-1 | 195 LBS | Hometown: Dallas
2019-20 Houston NCAA (AAC) 19 30 8.1 2.4 1.7 1.0 0.1 0.6 36.3 35.2 75.8
2020-21 Houston NCAA (AAC) 20 29 13.7 2.6 2.2 1.2 0.0 1.4 38.0 33.5 85.2
2021-22 Houston NCAA (AAC) 21 12 17.7 2.8 2.6 2.2 0.1 2.2 43.7 43.7 74.4
2022-23 Houston NCAA (AAC) 22 36 16.8 2.8 3.1 1.6 0.2 1.6 43.8 38.4 84.8
BACKGROUND
Parents are Marcus Sr. and Monique. Marcus Sr. played college basketball. Marcus’ uncles are Jason and Jeryl. Jeryl was a first-
round pick of the Orlando Magic in 2001, having won the WAC Player of the Year award at SMU. Older brother Jason was the 41st
overall pick in 1996 and played two seasons in the NBA after winning the Southwest Conference Player of the Year at Texas Tech
in 1996. Jason was Marcus’ high school basketball coach at Red Oak High School. Marcus was a terrific guard in Texas over his
final two seasons at Red Oak. In his senior season, he really emerged as one of the state’s best guards. Earned All-State honors
and was the Most Valuable Player in Ellis County. Still, he was seen as a clear three-star recruit who was ranked outside of the
top 300 in his class in 2019. Chose to attend Houston over offers from Colorado State and SMU. Emerged as an important player
quickly in his first year under coach Kelvin Sampson. Started the second half of the year and earned All-Freshman honors in the
American Athletic Conference. As a sophomore, he developed into an all-league player. Started all but one game on a team that
made the school’s first Final Four in nearly 40 years as the Cougars went 28-4. Sasser made second-team All-AAC. During his
junior season, Sasser started out on fire and looked to have taken a genuine leap. However, he suffered a toe injury after 11 games
and missed the rest of the season. He was well enough to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft, where he was able to participate in the
pre-draft process. He was one of the most impressive players throughout that cycle and had a real chance to be picked in the top
45 had he decided to stay in the draft. Decided to return to Houston for one last ride, and it was a successful one. Led Houston to
a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and was as decorated as almost any player in college basketball. He won the AAC Player of
the Year award and was named a consensus first-team All-American. Houston fell in the Sweet 16 to Miami in the NCAA Tourna-
ment, but Sasser secured his place in program history. Decided to declare for the draft for good after the season. Was invited to
the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Has a solid build for a lead guard. Measured 6-foot-1 1/4 without shoes at the combine with a 6-foot-7 wingspan. Because of
that length, has an 8-foot-3 standing reach. Plays with real strength. Powerful, compact frame. Uses his strength and quickness
functionally on the court in a way that allows him to be impactful on both ends despite his lack of size. A high-motor, high-
energy guy. Embodies a lot of what the Houston program under Sampson has been about. All sorts of toughness and a great
mentality.
My favorite side of the court for Sasser is defense. He is one of the most dogged on-ball defenders in the class and defends point
guards as well as anybody at the point of attack. Crawls into your space. Uses that quickness to keep in front of you. Tough to get
around him. And it’s tough to blow through him physically because he’s so good at getting his chest and strong base in front of
you and absorbing contact. Then, he uses his length exceptionally well. Contests pull-ups well by extending his arms. But uses
that length to get his hands into opposing players’ handle to disrupt them and force turnovers. Consistently forces steals against
players with weaker handles. Averaged 1.8 steals per game over the last two years.
Also a very strong team defender and one of the best in the class at fighting through screens. Willing battler. Very active. Gets
skinny and gets over the top of them. But also has the quickness and length to go underneath and get back into the play when
that’s the scout and contest from behind. Additionally, he’s sharp on closeouts. Keeps his hands high to not allow clean looks but
maintains real balance and quickness to be able to cut off potential drives. Projects well as a scramble defender covering large
swaths of space in the NBA.
Offensively, it’s easy to buy him as a scorer reliant upon his pull-up. Has a sick handle mixed with being a terrific shooter who
has reliably made 3s throughout his career. Made about 37 percent of over 700 attempts, with many of those being extremely
high degree of difficulty. You go under the ball screen? He’s firing. But he’s also not just a pick-and-roll creator and can do it in
isolation too. Very quick handle that allows him to get in and out of his moves to separate from his man. Can string together a
lot of them in a row to get that space. A lot of crossovers and stepbacks in his bag. Loves to get to his left. Very quick ball pick-up
and release. Loves the shoulder hesitation crossover into that stepback left. Can go to his right and shoot, though, and has a
real midrange game too. Can hit those pull-ups moving forward out of ball screens but can stop and pop for a quick little floater.
Takes one or two of those floaters per game and makes them at a 47.4 percent clip, per Synergy. Loves to Euro step into them,
plant off his left foot and really float it up high in the air. Has range on them out to about 16 feet.
Sasser also is a superb catch-and-shoot scorer. Consistently has made more than 40 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s and has
very clean mechanics. Took it to a new level this past season, making an absurd 45.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per
Synergy. Makes them both off the hop and off a one-two step, depending on where he is. Weight transfer is terrific, and he has
great rhythm through the jumper. Wasn’t responsible for shooting them off screens but did have the ability to relocate off ball
and slide into the corners behind the 3-point line while keeping his body square to the hoop. Shot prep is terrific. Having said
that, he has a deep ball dip to get into rhythm that could cause him issues transitioning to being a movement shooter when
windows close more quickly. Still, it’s hard to call his catch-and-shoot ability anything other than a huge positive. He profiles
exceedingly well as it refers to playing as a point guard next to star players due to his shooting and defense combination.
WEAKNESSES
While Sasser has a strong, physical frame and all sorts of toughness, he is undersized for certain defensive schemes. It’s difficult
to play 6-foot-2 guards in switch schemes. Also, he won’t be a wild athlete by NBA standards at the lead guard position. More
functional than wildly explosive. Not all that vertical as an athlete.
In that vein, he doesn’t pressure the rim all that much, which will likely make the shot diet tough. Only averaged about 1.5 shots
at the rim per game in the half court. Very much a perimeter-oriented player. Two-level scorer from the midrange and from 3.
After making just 44 percent of his 2-point shots in his first three years, he was right around that 50 percent mark for his final
season. When he gets to the rim, he only makes about 54 percent of them, per Synergy, which is a marked improvement from his
early career. Doesn’t use his length to its utmost potential at the basket. A lot of high-arching shots over the top of and around
defenders. I’m somewhat questionable how that will translate against even bigger, longer defenders.
Improved in this regard as a fourth-year player but can certainly be someone who slows down the floor of the offense. Can be
a bit of a dancer with the ball on the perimeter, often without necessarily gaining a lot of ground. Still more of a creator going
backward for his pull-up consistently as opposed to getting penetration and forcing help defenders. Also takes an awful lot of
difficult shots that can tank his percentages and is something of a ball stopper. That can result in him being more of a scoring
guard as opposed to a well-rounded offensive threat who also breaks down defenders and makes high-level passing reads.
He’s not the highest-level playmaker. Doesn’t turn it over a ton but also isn’t out there making a ton of advanced reads. He
struggles to slow down and play off two feet. Not really a player who changes gears in the paint to try to draw defenders toward
him. Mostly going full speed. Because of that, he tends to be better at making the easy pass and the early pass. If he sees a same-
side kickout coming right off a ball screen or a quick pocket pass on a slip, he can make those. But he isn’t someone who typically
hits the corner skip pass or drives particularly deep and finds the open man. Would really be helped by being able to slow down a
little bit as opposed to the constant aggression.
SUMMARY
Sasser has a real trio of skills that will give him a strong chance to stick in the NBA. He’s a terrific defender who should excel in
a drop-coverage scheme. He’s a great ballhandler whose game could be opened to an even greater level by the increased space
within driving lanes. And he’s a terrific shooter who should be able to space the floor for stars. On top of that, Sasser is tough in
the way that you want to buy into when it comes to smaller guards in an NBA that is getting bigger across the perimeter. But he’s
going to have to change his game a bit to make it. He can’t be as much of a ball stopper. He must embrace playing a role in the
NBA as opposed to overdribbling, and he has to make quicker decisions. He can’t dance around the perimeter with the ball.
The goal for Sasser should be to become the next era’s Patrick Beverley. Make spot 3s, hit the occasional pull-up, continue to
develop as a passer and be an elite defensive pest at the point of attack. Because he’s such an elite shooter off the catch, he
probably has more upside than Beverley did, all due respect to Beverley. If he embraces doing those things, Sasser will stick
and should be a useful player. I have a late-first, early-second round grade on him and think he’s a worthwhile investment as a
guaranteed contract.
32. Sidy Cissoko

W | G League Ignite | Birthdate: April 2, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 225 LBS |
Hometown: Saint-Maurice, France
2022-23 Ignite G League 18 28 12.8 2.8 3.6 1.9 1.0 1.1 45.5 30.4 64.5
BACKGROUND
Father is Yaya Cissokho, who played for Senegal men’s basketball team at the 1980 Olympics. Sidy also has a brother, Boukhary,
who is a professional player. Sidy was born in the suburbs of Paris and emerged quickly in France as an interesting player at
lower levels. Wasn’t always bigger and grew up playing point guard. However, he left France at 13 years old to turn pro and move
to Spain, being signed by ACB team Baskonia. He went through the youth development team for the next few years, playing
well and continuing to emerge as a prospect to watch. In 2021, he began to get called up for the senior club. Continued to train
with them but mostly played games during the 2021-22 season with the team’s sister club, Iraurgi SB. Averaged over 10 points as
a 17-year-old playing professionally. Was named as a World Team roster player for Nike Hoop Summit in 2022 and had an all-
around impact on the game and impressed in practice week. Played that summer for France in the FIBA U18 European Champi-
onships, continuing to perform well. In July 2022, he signed with the G League Ignite and became the first European prospect to
play for them. Had a solid season and participated in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend, as well as the Next Up
Game. Finished the season strongly, averaging 15 points and 4.3 assists over his last 13 games. Was automatically eligible for the
2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Cissoko has a phenomenal frame for the NBA. Comes in at nearly 6-foot-6 without shoes and with a near-6-foot-10 wingspan
and a terrific physical build that looks like it will only get stronger in time. Has an 8-foot-8 standing reach. Great physical
measurements. Very strong already as a teenager. Great lower half strength in addition to core strength. Fluid as a leaper. Gets
off the ground quickly. Can jump off one or two feet. Tries to finish above the rim when he gets an opportunity.
Has some real gifts on the ball as a creator. Loves to grab-and-go on the break to lead the offense. Covers ground quickly. As
mentioned above, he grew up as a point guard and has retained some ball skills. Very good at using his frame and getting
downhill. Very long strides when he wants to use them. Best right now in open spaces as opposed to in half-court tightened
quarters because of that downhill ground coverage. A monster out in transition who looks like a freight train with how
aggressively he attacks. Good at pinpointing angles for himself and understanding how to get from Point A to Point B in the
fastest, fewest steps possible. Not afraid of contact and really initiates when necessary and tries to power up through. If you give
him an open runway, he takes it.
Has some ability to beat his man in the half court, but it’s not his strong suit right now. He’s a bit loose with his handle as
we’ll talk about below, but he has some creativity off the bounce that should allow him to grow into his skill set a bit. Can hit
crossovers at a high level and plays with strong pace out of ball screens. Has some nice hesitation moves and a nasty little hang
dribble move, and he is comfortable keeping his dribble live in the midrange area. It allows him to be an effective passer. Dished
out over three assists per game with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. Like many European players, he’s very
comfortable making reads out of ball screens. Does a good job of reading the backside defender and seeing which direction the
help is coming from. Built good chemistry with Eric Mika this past season. But also has some real passing chops to the cross
corner on kickouts. If he sees that low man sink too deep in the paint, he’ll shoot the ball out to the corner quickly. Also uses his
length to open angles for wraparounds, pocket passes and bullet passes to the corner.
I really like Cissoko on defense and think his on-ball capabilities were quite high even playing up a level in competition in the G
League from his previous lower levels in Europe. He’s exactly what teams look for due to his size and strength. Very switchable.
Can manage all wings and can slide up and deal with bigger bodies that try to post him. Not afraid to put his body in there and
absorb contact. Plays with real physicality on defense. Really good at sliding his feet and staying in front of guards and wings.
Gets his chest in front of guys and uses that solid base to stay in front. Hard to go through him already. Doesn’t really get pushed
backward. Stays big and extends his arms out both while on the ground and when contesting to minimize passing angles and
make life tough for his opponent. Blocked one shot per game this past season, and most of those were defending on the ball and
just staying big when guys try to shoot over the top of him.
Cissoko also shows some real instinct away from the ball rotationally and in help. Makes his presence known on the weak side
with how big he constantly stays in his stance. Great mechanics. Swallows guys up with his length and his ability stay vertical
due to the strength in his chest. Timely and sharp in the way he gets across in help. Really good anticipation on his opponents.
Understands what they’re trying to do and where they’re trying to go. Really good in scramble situations when he is the last
resort. Has high upside on defense due to his tools and understanding of concepts already.
WEAKNESSES
Cissoko is a good athlete but not an incredibly functional athlete all the time. He is a bit square as an athlete and doesn’t seem
to have a ton of hip flexibility. Can be a bit stiff in that way. Additionally, he doesn’t seem to have a particularly strong first step
with the ball or a quick first stride defensively at this stage. You see this pop up a bit defensively. I’m high on him on that end,
but he can at times get beaten by smaller, quicker players who can get lower than him and beat him with a quick first step. Often
ends up having to turn his hips and get back into plays in recovery because of that lack of initial burst. But he’s so long that he
often covers that ground and gets back into the play.
Shooting will probably be Cissoko’s swing skill. Right now, it’s not awesome. Made just 33.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s
this past season, with many of those being very open. Has extremely inconsistent misses and a bit of a slower release, with a
release point a bit out in front of his face and a follow-through with a flipper motion that doesn’t get full extension. Ball dip
is quite deep to get into rhythm. Release ends up being kind of inconsistent because of it. Sometimes it can come out a touch
flatter; sometimes it’s a bit higher. Think it’s a bit cleaner off a one-two step. Don’t think his balance and center of gravity is
always right because his foot placement is not quite shoulder width apart. Overall, it’s a bit robotic right now. When he really
gets time to load up, he can make them. And overall, while slow, the mechanics look projectable from a standstill when he’s open
in the corners.
Moreover, he’s really not a pull-up threat right now because of how long it takes him to get into rhythm with his shot. Really
doesn’t seem to have the balance or touch. Shot seems to come out with inconsistent trajectory, which hinders the touch level.
Because of that lack of first step, everything is contested. A lot more airballs than you’d expect on these shots. Natural fade on
the shot. He took 73 shots off the bounce and made just 23.3 percent of them. Not a threat from 3 or from midrange, and he’s not
really a guy who elevates to finish in the half court. Great transition finisher once he gets downhill but not quite downhill
enough creating his own momentum because he lacks that great first step. Made just 37.2 percent of his layups in half-court
settings. Doesn’t elevate at the basket through contact and doesn’t have touch off movement.
Cissoko also is overly physical as a defender and can really get into foul trouble at times. Had at least five fouls in 13 of his 43
games this past season and had four in seven additional games. I have some real worries about him really having to body up
on everybody defensively as opposed to using his length and quickness to stay in front. The aggressiveness is good, but it can
get the better of him. Very handsy. Loves to pick up in the backcourt and pick up silly fouls there. Needs to really improve his
overall discipline.
SUMMARY
Cissoko has many skills that translate toward him being a terrific role player. He’s a sharp passer and processor of the game. He
understands the game out of ball screens and can act as a secondary guy for your primary backcourt option. Defensively, he’s
tough and physical on the ball with real switchability, plus off the ball he’s smart as a scrambler and help rotational wing. Those
are all things NBA teams love to look for. Ultimately, it’s all about whether Cissoko can be any kind of scoring threat. I don’t
love him as an on-ball scorer and think he has a long way to go if he’s ever going to reach a reasonable level there, which means
the swing skill is his catch-and-shoot ability. Cissoko is on a positive trajectory after shooting about 24 percent on catch-and-
shoot 3s in Spain in 2021-22. But just because he’s on a positive trajectory doesn’t mean it’s a positive. If Cissoko shoots, he’ll be
valuable as a rotational wing who has some starter upside. If he doesn’t, he might be more of a part-time rotation guy in a couple
of years.
33. Julian Phillips

W | Tennessee | Birthdate: Nov. 5, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-7 | 195 LBS | Hometown: Blythewood, S.C.
2022-23 Tennessee NCAA (SEC) 19 32 8.3 4.7 1.4 1.3 0.5 0.6 41.1 23.9 82.2
BACKGROUND
Parents are Chamberlain and Kim, both of whom were in the U.S. Army. Julian was born in Texas but moved to South Carolina
when his parents were stationed at Fort Jackson, an Army training facility. Started his career at Blythewood High School, where
he was recognized before his junior year as a solid four-star prospect after playing well on the AAU circuit. Went on to have
an enormous junior year, where he was named an all-state player in South Carolina. Phillips had another strong summer and
achieved five-star status. For his senior year, he transferred to Link Academy in Missouri, a program that has quickly become a
college basketball powerhouse. Played with 2023 NBA Draft prospect Jordan Walsh, potential 2024 NBA Draft prospects Tarris
Reed and Omaha Biliew, as well as several other high-major players. Phillips helped lead Link to the GEICO National Champion-
ship, where it lost to Montverde. He finished the season as a consensus top-20 player in his class and was originally committed to
play at LSU. However, after Will Wade was fired, Phillips opened his recruitment, making him among the last players to commit.
In May after his senior season ended, Phillips chose Tennessee over Auburn. He had a strong start to the season, where Phillips
was named to the Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament team. However, as the season went on, his offensive role and game dried up
a bit. Still, he was a starter for most of the season – outside of a minor hip flexor injury – due to his defensive play. Was named
to the All-Freshman team in the SEC because of that side of the floor. Tennessee ended up going to the Sweet 16 before falling.
Phillips decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season and also decided to enter the transfer portal if he had decided
to return to college. However, he decided to stay in the draft.
STRENGTHS
Phillips has great size for the wing position at nearly 6-foot-7 without shoes and a 6-foot-11 1/2 wingspan. He mixes that with
tremendous athleticism even by NBA wing standards. Had a 42-inch vertical leap at the combine that doesn’t always show up on
tape but does occasionally in flashes. Also has great lateral footspeed and quickness for his size. Runs the court very well. Has
great stride length to get out in transition and cover ground quickly.
Phillips is an awesome defender, particularly on the ball. I thought he was the most consistent defensive player on one of the
best defensive teams in college basketball this past season at Tennessee. Slides his feet and uses his length extremely well.
Swallows up opposing players. Walls up on drives well. Forces tough shots over length. Does a great job keeping his hands
extended out to cut off angles and then also using his hands to disrupt opposing ballhandlers as they try to get by him. Always
going for strips as guys bring the ball up and going for little swipes on the perimeter. Somehow does all this while also avoiding
fouls because he’s good at using those little disruptive swipes while also retreating his momentum backward. Has superb
switchability too. Will have no issues defending one through four at the NBA level as he continues to get stronger. Has extremely
high-level defensive upside in the vein of a Dorian Finney-Smith.
I generally like Phillips as a team defender. Solid in scramble situations because his balance is very good. Excellent on his
closeouts. Uses his length to contest the shots but also stays ready to cut off drives. Think he’s good at rotating across the play at
the basket and contesting using his length, but just doesn’t have the strength to totally hold up there yet. Doesn’t even try to use
verticality. He more so just tries to swat at it. That’s why he blocks a few shots. Should be good at it when he adds 15 or so pounds
throughout the next few years. Also think he manages communication and switches well off the ball. Gets through screening
actions well for a bigger player. Got backdoor cut occasionally, but I think he’s generally available and engaged.
Right now, Phillips is best as a transition player and mover without the ball with some potential to shoot it long term. Tennessee
ran him often off curls at the top of the key to get him going downhill toward the basket. Phillips is sharp at finding little
backdoor cuts to the basket. Also finds smart 45 cuts off drives and when Tennessee would run its post offense. Has some
interesting footwork as a straight-line driver off closeouts. Good pump fake. Can jab step right then put the ball on the deck and
crossover left all in one motion. Has some issues as a finisher, but a lot of them tend to be due to strength-based issues more
than anything.
Finally, Phillips was a good shooter in high school. Has made some mechanical adjustments that I don’t love, but he clearly has
touch. Hit 82.2 percent from the line. In the summer before his senior year on the Adidas AAU circuit, per Synergy, he hit 38.9
percent from 3. In 20 tracked games at Link Academy as a senior, per Synergy, he hit 36 percent from 3.
WEAKNESSES
Strength is the biggest issue with Phillips’ game overall right now physically. Gets pushed around a bit more easily on defense
than you’d hope. You can go through his chest a bit even if he’s long and walls up well. Once this gets better – and his frame is
strong enough to where it should – he should become a more effective overall player as a driver, finisher and defender.
The critical question is: What is his offensive role? Can he consistently make shots? Phillips made just 23.9 percent from 3 at
Tennessee and didn’t look all that comfortable taking it. Feels like he is very squared off as a shooter now. In high school, he
looked to have a tighter base and his hip at more of an angle, which allowed his elbow to come up more in alignment with his hip
and the rim. The shot just looked cleaner. Now, he has a wider base with his chest quite square to the basket. Doesn’t seem like
he knew how the ball would look when it would come out of his hand. Had some wildly high-arching shots and some extremely
flat shots. Release point was changing. It was a strange shot given how good it was in high school. Has some exceptionally off
misses. Needs to desperately work on his mechanics over the next couple of years to find a shot that works for him. The thing is,
though, that there are no unfixable mechanical flaws in his shot.
Phillips has no real game off the bounce right now. Only took 11 pull-up attempts the entire season at Tennessee. Base seems
like it gets even wider on those attempts. Could be a real improvement area down the road, but he’s not there yet with the funky
mechanics. Doesn’t have any shiftiness off the bounce and is a straight-line-only guy right now. Doesn’t have a ton of shake
with crossovers. They’re a bit loose when he does. Also not a great passer. Doesn’t collapse defenses as a ballhandler or anything,
which is why he ends up only averaging about 1.4 assists per game. He generally doesn’t make poor decisions but doesn’t really
pressure the defense in these situations either.
Phillips was a poor finisher for Tennessee. Made just 54.7 percent of his shots at the basket overall but was only at 45 percent in
half-court settings. He struggled with his touch through contact. Felt like his take-off point was also quite far from the rim.
He can finish with his left hand, which is good. But he takes a lot of low-angle finger rolls that float in the air. Doesn’t quite get
as much out of his length or ability to extend as you might hope to see. I think there is some real potential for him here as he
gets stronger.
SUMMARY
Phillips is such an interesting bet because the defense is terrific already, and at lower levels, the offense has shown the exact
skill set that he needs to be successful. Phillips clearly has real touch. He made about 37 percent from 3 in 2021-22, combining
his AAU and high school stats. And yet, his offensive performance at Tennessee was so disastrous that it’s hard to buy him as a
real shooter. And this wasn’t really a situation where you can blame an archaic collegiate offense. Phillips simply missed a lot of
open looks and missed them badly in many cases. It comes down to believing that you can fix the shot and put some strength on
Phillips’ frame. If you believe in your ability to do that as an organization, then you take him either late in the first round or early
in the second. If you don’t, then you have him probably in the two-way bucket as an intriguing high-upside defensive flier. The
range of outcomes both in Phillips’ career and on draft night will be wide.
34. Rayan Rupert

W | New Zealand Breakers | Birthdate: May 31, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 195 LBS |
Hometown: Strasbourg, France
2022-23 New Zealand Australian 18 28 5.9 2.1 0.9 1.1 0.2 0.7 35.0 23.4 70.9
Breakers NBL
BACKGROUND
Parents are Thierry and Elham. Thierry, a former professional player in France, was a powerful four who was also a member of
the French national team from 2001-04. Thierry passed away due to a heart attack in 2013 when Rayan was eight. Rayan also
has an older sister, Iliana, who was selected 12th in the 2021 WNBA Draft as a 6-foot-4 stretch four. Both Iliana and Rayan wear
No. 12 to honor their father, who also wore No. 12. Rayan has a classic developmental story in France. He was discovered early,
likely in part because of his lineage and the success of his older sister. From there, he went to INSEP Academy, the French insti-
tute for sports where many of the best basketball players within the country go to develop their games. He started to play for the
academy’s highest-level team in 2019, next to former and future potential draft picks such as Ousmane Dieng, Ismaël Kamagate,
Daniel Batcho, Adama Bal and Yohan Traore. The next year, he also played a couple of games next to Victor Wembanyama, who
joined the high-level prospects for four games. Rupert stayed at INSEP for three years, where he largely played a lot of minutes
as a lead guard. Had a bit of a growth spurt throughout his time there to get up to his current 6-foot-7 height. Rupert had options
across the board on where his next step would be for 2021-22, but he decided to follow in the footsteps of his former INSEP team-
mate Dieng and head to the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL in its Next Stars program. Rupert played well, although
he missed two months in the middle of the season due to a left wrist injury. Came back to play for the Breakers in the latter part
of the season, earning minutes with his tenacious defensive ability. Was excellent on that end this past season and was the first
Next Star to truly get high-leverage minutes on a winning team. Noted as a very high-character player by those in the NBL and
around the Breakers. Loves to work on his game. Very competitive. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. At-
tended the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Hard to overemphasize how elite his physical frame is for the role he’ll play. Rupert is 6-foot-6 without shoes with a 7-foot-2
wingspan, a length measurement that dwarfs that of most wings. Has an 8-foot-10 standing reach that is closer to that of a four
than a wing. Rupert also really knows how to use that length. He has long limbs, so he utilizes long strides and gets his hands
involved in plays most players can’t. He also plays really hard. Has an aggressive mindset on the defensive end. You can trust
him, as the Breakers already have. Outside of LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey, Rupert is probably the most impressive Next Star the
NBL has seen in terms of readiness to play as a teenager in a professional league. He looks like he belongs on a good team.
That length is best utilized on the defensive end right now. He’s exceptionally disruptive. He has quick hands and can get his
arms into an opposing player’s dribble while still maintaining legal guarding position a bit further away from the offensive
player’s body. Having grown up as a lead guard, I think he has an innate understanding of guarding at the point of attack. It
always makes him a threatening on-ball defender. Pressures ballhandlers in the backcourt before they cross half court. He fights
through screens at a high level and gets his hands into dribble-handoff exchanges to get deflections other players can’t get. He
understands angles well and uses that length to stay in front of opposing players. Uses that strong lateral quickness to stop
opposing guards and wings from getting paint touches. That mix of quickness and size/length is going to allow him to guard one
through three effectively, even early in his NBA career.
That length also makes him a terrific off-ball havoc creator. He has great anticipation for such a young age and really gets
his arms into passing lanes well, in addition to forcing turnovers on little digs onto drivers and post players. He does get a
bit overaggressive at times, but his recovery play is strong. Uses his length to get back into plays in scramble situations and
generally plays light on his feet. Rotates well around the court. Also creates a lot of transition opportunities and drives play out
there through his deflections and steals. All of this leads to a world where it’s possible, if he adds real physical strength in the
next five years – and can stay on the court offensively – he could turn into an All-Defense-caliber player in his prime.
With the Breakers, he largely played off the ball and out of spot-up opportunities offensively. His role in their half-court offense
was to camp out in the corners. Got a lot of cross-corner kickouts that ended with long closeouts from defenders where he
could choose to fire from 3 or drive. You can see his comfort level handling the ball here. If he gets a heavy closeout, he’s very
comfortable putting the ball on the deck and getting to the midrange area and taking push shots or floaters. Additionally, he
shows occasional flashes in ball screens. Has some passing ability from that past as a lead guard but needs to keep working
through his reads. Generally, a quick processor who knows how to play. Think he’s a sharp cutter and finishes well off those
situations.
WEAKNESSES
While Rupert has a terrific frame and strong lateral, side-to-side quickness, I don’t love his explosiveness. Don’t think he’s an
above-average jumper by NBA wing standards. Also doesn’t have a great first step. He’s more of a fluid athlete than an explosive
one. Body is filling out still, at 190 pounds. Will fill out in time but might take a year or two before he can truly deal with the
physicality of the NBA.
Rupert has limitations offensively. The big one is the shooting. Can Rupert become a reliable shooter? He has what looks to be a
projectable shot moving forward. He uses that length well on the shot, possessing a very high release point that is hard to bother.
Much better from the corners than everywhere else. Made 32.4 percent from the corners, which is much better than anywhere
else on the court. But has real issues with his base. Think his feet are a bit wild pre-shot. Doesn’t always consistently have his
feet in the same spot. Sometimes feet are narrow. Sometimes feet are wide. Ended up seeming like he missed a lot of them short,
which points to him not getting enough of his legs into the shot. Also looks a bit robotic with how he brings the ball up into his
shooting pocket. Needs to speed it up too. Made 25.5 percent off the catch from 3 this past season, per Synergy, which isn’t good
enough to keep him on the floor. Sydney basically didn’t guard him in the NBL Finals, which led to him getting benched. Needs
to improve here tremendously or else he might not stick.
Can operate in ball screens but is not any sort of isolation creator. Doesn’t have a ton of technical craft off the bounce at
this point. Loose handle. Not a ton of suddenness. Doesn’t have much in the way of change of direction or rapid change of
pace, although he does shift gears well. Also, does not really get to the rim out of these self-creation situations. Most of his
rim attempts come off cuts or in transition. As a driver out of spot-ups or pick-and-roll ballhandler, he tends to be more of a
midrange player who tries to pull-up from 15 feet or drive to get his floater within 6 feet. Made just 19.4 percent of his pull-ups,
per Synergy, and just 26.7 percent of his floaters. Has potential to grow into some skill but likely will never be a consistent on-ball
creator who pressures the paint or hits pull-up 3s at a high level.
On offense, he needs to continue to round out the little intricacies of his game. Knows what he’s looking at coming off ball
screens as a passer but isn’t always the best passer on the move when he attacks off spot-ups. Doesn’t really turn it over but is
still working to read where the help is coming from on defense. In time, I think these aspects end up being fixed as he gains
more experience and game-speed professional reps. But they could lead to things being slow early.
SUMMARY
Rupert’s length gives him an awful lot to be excited about as a long-term investment. He has a terrific frame and tremendous
upside on defense due to his physical tools and lateral quickness. He’s a former point guard who is at least comfortable handling
the ball and making plays, which should allow him to continue to build on those skills to the level he needs them in the NBA. He
is your patented 3-and-D type prospect if the shooting comes through. But his season as shooter was not good enough to instill
a whole lot of confidence on that piece of his game coming through. It’d be ambitious to expect him to turn into a 15-point-per-
game scorer or to provide much offensive value in the first three years of his career. But he’s likely going to be a very difficult
problem for offenses when he’s defending due to his rotational instincts, motor and on-ball potential. If all his skills hit, you
can squint and see a starter down the road. But that requires you to really have a plan for how to work through his issues with
his shooting base. If you’re going to make a developmental bet as an NBA team, I get buying into Rupert. I just can’t really do
it before the end of the first, and I’d probably prefer it more in the early second round given how much work is required on the
offensive end.
35. Maxwell Lewis

W | Pepperdine | Birthdate: July 27, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-6 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Las Vegas
2021-22 Pepperdine NCAA (WCC) 19 21 11.0 3.2 1.2 2.2 0.5 1.1 42.2 36.3 80.4
2022-23 Pepperdine NCAA (WCC) 20 31 17.1 5.7 2.8 3.3 0.8 0.8 46.8 34.8 78.7
BACKGROUND
Parents are Robert and Jennifer. Comes from an athletic family. Two of his brothers played college football, one of them at Iowa
State. Has a sister who ran track at UNLV. Interesting pathway that resulted in him being a bit underrated coming out of high
school. Hit a growth spurt that saw him outgrow his siblings, and he decided to jump into basketball fully in his teens. Started
at Somerset Academy in his hometown then transferred to Edward Clark High School in Las Vegas. Had to play junior varsity at
Clark as a sophomore because of a rule regarding transfers within the state of Nevada. After that year, he decided to transfer to
Compass Prep in Arizona, a basketball power within the state. With that transfer, he decided to move from the Class of 2020 to
the Class of 2021 as a recruit to get the extra year of development back. After playing for Dream Vision on the Adidas circuit and
performing well, he had a solid season playing at Compass Prep, averaging 15 points per game for a team that played a loaded
schedule. Lewis then transferred for a fourth time, choosing national hoops power Hillcrest Prep, also in Arizona. However, prior
to that season in 2020, he decided to graduate from Compass Prep and instead attend Chameleon BX, a training program whose
goal was to prepare players for the NBA Draft. MarJon Beauchamp also similarly decided to do this. However, COVID-19 caused
issues in the Bay Area, with players in the program becoming unable to find gyms to work out in. So, he left that program quickly
and played late in the AAU circuit, again for Dream Vision. As an athletic shooter who is 6-7, Lewis quickly got offers again. He
ended up as a top-150 recruit in the class who was a three-/four-star recruit depending on the service you prefer. He had offers
from Utah, Arizona State and other high-major programs but instead decided to attend Pepperdine and signed in September
2021. Lewis had to sit out the first six games of the year while the NCAA investigated his eligibility and ultimately concluded he
was able to play. Lewis earned All-Freshman WCC honors and quickly emerged as a high-upside player. Returned for his soph-
omore year and blossomed early. Averaged 20.1 points, six rebounds and three assists on 52 percent from the field, 42 percent
from 3 and 86 percent from the line in his first 17 games. But he only played three top-70 teams in that time, per KenPom, and av-
eraged 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and nearly four turnovers in those games. In his final 14 games, he averaged just 13.4
points, turned the ball over 3.6 times and shot just 39.6 percent from the field and 22.4 percent from 3. Was only a second-team
All-WCC player. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Lewis is a superb athlete with terrific length. He’s 6-foot-6 1/4 without shoes and has a 7-foot wingspan and has a terrific 8-foot-8 1/4
standing reach for a wing. On top of that, he’s a twitchy athlete. Has a great first step and can blow by his man in a straight line.
Also is a terrific leaper. Has vertical pop and can throw down highlight-reel dunks. Moreover, he also has good balance and good
speed. Allows him to get his center of gravity and quickly plant to fire from 3 off the hop. An enormous threat in transition. Has
that light-on-his-feet, floating leaping style that really allows him to look graceful in the air. Has some recovery ability with
his length and athleticism on defense that allows him to gamble for steals and create transition chances, encompassing what I
would call his only positive traits on that end of the court.
Really interesting offensive skill set that largely has to do with his scoring ability. The skill that will translate most is his shooting,
particularly off the catch. Lewis is a good shooter, having made 35.4 percent from 3 in college. If he’s open directly off the catch,
it’s curtains. The ball is almost certainly going in. Two things really help here. He has terrific touch and good shot prep. Can take
them off the hop or off the one-two step, depending on how much time he has. Gets them off quickly. Seems to do a really good
job of finding open space to spot up. Loves the corners. In total, Lewis made 44.1 percent of his shots directly off the catch this
past season, per Synergy. Only issue was that he took under two per game.
Lewis showcased some potential as a scorer off the bounce. I wouldn’t call it actualized yet, but the upside exists. Doesn’t quite
have as much craft as Jalen Williams did at Santa Clara last year in the WCC and is a bit more mechanical in his movements
(we’ll talk about that momentarily). But he is athletic with a good first step, is a legitimate shooter who knows how to use that
threat to get space with a jab step and has real skill shooting over the top of defenders. Loves to step back to the left on that side-
step shot. Can hit that quick straight-line drive as a self-creator into a pull-up from the midrange at a high level. Pepperdine also
got him in the mid-post a fair amount, where he could back down a defender or just shoot over the top of a smaller man. Has a
bit of a higher release seemingly off the bounce than off the catch, which allows him to be a bit more effective in these settings.
Has good footwork, but I’m a bit skeptical of this translating to the next level any time soon. He did finish 57.3 percent of his
attempts at the rim, a solid number in half-court settings, per Synergy.
For Pepperdine’s flaws, the coaching staff did find a lot of creative ways to get him the ball. They used him in dribble handoffs
where he’d flatten out behind them as a screener and fire from behind. Think he’s also a sharp off-ball mover. Cuts into open
areas on the back side in non-preordained reads or set actions. But in those set actions, Pepperdine did a good job of finding him
some impressive lobs at the rim where he could really rise and take advantage of his vertical athleticism edge on the rest of the
league. Ran quick give-and-gos in Pepperdine’s offense.
WEAKNESSES
I think Lewis’ lack of strength and bulk really showcases itself at times in ways that could cause issues. Has a thin frame that
doesn’t look like it’ll add weight at a high level without potentially taking something away from his explosiveness. Ends up
impacting his game in a few different ways. Will really need to add some physical strength over the next three years to get the
most out of his game in the NBA. While he was incredibly productive and coaches in the WCC were very impressed with the
talent, they thought he didn’t impact the game as much as he could have and process the game as quickly as he should beyond
his scoring. Floor game desperately needs improvement.
Defensively, I’m worried about Lewis at the next level. Has some moments when his athleticism and length plays up, but he does
not make an impact on that end over large swaths of the game. Has some bizarre moments where he disengages a bit both on
and off the ball. Hops around a lot. Allows on-ball scorers to be able to time his hops and attack his lack of momentum. Doesn’t
seem to know how to navigate screens at a high level. Has the kind of frame that would allow him to get skinny around them
but doesn’t seem to have a great understanding of how to approach them. He hops a lot on the ball as opposed to consistently
sliding. Also tends to fall for pump fakes. He’s not in any way, shape or form a disruptive defender now.
Off the ball, Lewis is a very consistent ball-watcher and riverboat gambler. Gets hit falling asleep on backdoor cuts all the time.
Teams started to play off this too. They knew he was going to try to jump passing lanes, so they prepped their players to cut
immediately backdoor when they saw him go. But on top of it, he also didn’t get home that often when he shot passing lanes.
Averaged under steal per game, a remarkably low number for someone this long and athletic playing at the WCC level. Not the
most consistent with his rotations. Will miss help and scramble rotations a bit too often. Overall, Pepperdine was a bit of a mess
on defense, so you don’t want to penalize him too much. Lorenzo Romar-coached teams tend to be a mess on that end. But he
certainly played his part in it.
Worry about how Lewis’ game as a scorer off the bounce translates. Does not pressure the basket in the half court as a driver.
Most of his shots at the rim are in transition, in those post-up possessions mentioned in the strengths section, or on off-ball cuts.
Settles for jumpers, but more than that just does not get away from his man, really. Does not have a creative handle at all. Largely
is reliant on shooting contested shots over length. That resulted in some disastrous numbers off the bounce this past season.
On pull-up attempts, Lewis made just 33 percent of his overall looks, including just 28 percent from 3, per Synergy. Doesn’t play
well out of ball screens. Don’t think he handles double-teams all that well in the midrange. Think his handle is a bit loose. The
combination of his loose handle and inability to process out of collapsed defenses when he drives resulted in him turning the
ball over 3.3 times per game. Given that his craft isn’t always consistent, will that look as clean against longer, athletic players in
the NBA? How sustainable is this, given that a big part of his upside is based on shot creation?
Finally, as mentioned above, I wouldn’t really call Lewis a plus passer. Negative assist-to-turnover ratio. Telegraphs reads that
lead to turnovers. Will leap and get in the air before deciding and doesn’t really process the game fast enough to where he can
make those reads on the fly. Can’t throw live-dribble passes. Often has to gather before making his pass, which means passing
windows can close before he gets the ball to the man. Tends to be a very turnover-prone player for how often he has the ball in
his hands. Has gotten better at seeing the reads but still does miss open teammates in favor of shooting himself. Shot selection is
bad. Needs to improve his execution and overall attention to detail on the court.
SUMMARY
With Lewis, you’re betting on him being a terrific shooter with awesome tools. There are worse bets to make than a 6-6 wing
with real length and athleticism, especially one who missed a year of his development. Having said that, the tape wasn’t pretty
this past season. Even in the early part of the season when he was killing it, the tape still left a lot to be desired in terms of his
defense and impact on winning. Pepperdine was not an untalented team. Including Lewis, there were four genuine high-major
talents on the roster. In a lot of ways, he’s the epitome of a guy you can sell yourself on with highlights and the 1,000-foot view of
his profile, but the full games tell a different story. He has to improve defensively across the board and must improve his ability
to make quicker reads. He has to improve his handle and decision-making. It would also help him to get stronger. If he does
those things, he has a chance to be an impact player. But there is so much he has clean up. If he had been a lights-out pull-up
shooter this past season, I think I’d be more interested. But that part of his game wasn’t as efficient as some of the difficult shot-
making clips give you hope for in terms of what he can become. I just can’t quite get to a first-round grade level on him even with
all his immense tools. There are too many parts of his game that make him a project.
36. Gregory “G.G.” Jackson

F | South Carolina | Birthdate: Dec. 17, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-8 | 215 LBS |
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
2022-23 South NCAA (SEC) 18 32 15.4 5.9 0.8 2.7 0.8 0.8 38.4 32.4 67.7
Carolina
BACKGROUND
Parents are Gregory and LaKeysha. Father is a pastor. Also has a sister who attends South Carolina. Jackson has long been
considered one of the best prospects in his class, which was originally the class of 2023. Went to Ridge View High School in
Columbia and was immediately a terrific player in his age group. As a sophomore, he led Ridge View to a state title. Then as a
junior, he led the school to another state title and won the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award. After his junior season end-
ed, he committed to North Carolina as one of the top recruits in the class. Played for Team CP3 on the Nike EYBL circuit. Was
named MVP of the NBPA Top-100 Camp. Won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2022 FIBA Americas Championships, finish-
ing third on the team in scoring and tops in rebounding as an underage player. Was considered at that point the top recruit in
the class of 2023. At the end of the AAU season, he decided to reclassify to the 2022 recruiting class. Instead of attending North
Carolina, he stayed home to attend South Carolina. He began the season at 17 years old and was one of the youngest players
in the country. From a basketball development perspective, the decision was not the best one. Jackson made the nine-person
All-Freshman team in the SEC because he put up counting numbers, but he was one of the least efficient players in all of col-
lege basketball. In large part, the players around him were not SEC-quality, and he ended up having an enormous burden on
his shoulders in terms of production. He was not successful, and the team struggled to an 11-21 record, including a 4-14 mark in
the league. Throughout the season, Jackson also displayed some immature moments, including complaining about late-game
touches from the coaching staff on Instagram Live. He had poor body language throughout the year. NBA teams picked up on
all of this and had real questions that Jackson needed to answer throughout the pre-draft process. He declared for the 2023 NBA
Draft even with all of this said. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
A fluid athlete for being 6-foot-8 1/4 without shoes. Plays with great balance and has real shiftiness. Has a very good frame that
looks like it’ll project well toward adding strength and physicality while maintaining what makes him intriguing. Has some
vertical pop when he has time and space to jump, such as when he’s in the dunker spot with a free runway toward the rim or out
in transition. Also an intriguing long leaper in that he covers a lot of ground after leaving his feet with his stride length.
The skill Jackson showcased most this past season was his ability to create shots. He displayed increased ability out of isolations
and ball screens, capable at his size of attacking defenders. His handle is more refined than most 18-year-olds you see at that
size. He can string out defenders in ball screens, and his goal is to use his size to attack mismatches in those circumstances. That
balance shows up here, as he has a deep bag of tricks for someone his size to be able separate from his man and has real shake.
He’ll try to get to the rim but often he ends up creating some sort of midrange or 3-point pull-up jumper. About 22 percent of
Jackson’s overall half-court shot attempts were pull-up jumpers in the midrange, which is a wild number for a teenager at this
level. That’s not necessarily a good thing, but it shows how he can get that shot regularly.
Mechanically, the jumper looks great long term even if the results are poor. He gets terrific elevation on the shot and has a very
high release point. He can get into it from a variety of footwork from several different situations. Takes them off the hop or off a
one-two step. Likes to drive to his right and get to his baseline stepback fadeaway or cross over and dance to get to a stepback to
his left at the baseline. For his age, he has a very advanced ability to read the way his man is leaning and make a play. He’ll hit
reverse pivots into midrange jumpers. His fadeaway consistently looks on-balance even if the shot doesn’t always fall. Can spin
over either shoulder for a fadeaway after backing down his man. When he does get to the rim, he uses his length and extension
on step-through moves impressively. He has the kind of game that, aesthetically, looks like it should translate as he improves
his shooting consistency.
WEAKNESSES
Jackson isn’t overly long and isn’t all that explosive when in a crowd. Has just an 8-foot-10 standing reach that isn’t particularly
big for a four. Can really rise when he gets some time and space, but he isn’t exactly a quick-twitch athlete. Doesn’t have an
awesome first step, which is why he has to rely on being a technician away from the rim. As a leaper, he’s much better loading up
off two feet as opposed to one but can be above the rim off one.
His shooting consistency even on open looks was not ideal. I buy him as a shooter long term, but he made just 35.6 percent of his
unguarded half-court catch-and-shoot attempts this past season. His shot selection is horrible. There’s no way to sugarcoat that.
Pulling up from midrange for about 22 percent of your shots is not a good thing. Most of those shots end up being contested.
In total, he made just 30 percent of his pull-up jumpers this past season, including just a 36.1 effective field goal percentage
according to Synergy. On top of that, he regularly floats around the perimeter. Instead of using his size to be able to get all the
way to the rim, he settles. He takes some absurd early shot-clock attempts that just aren’t good enough.
When he gets to the rim, though, he’s not a great finisher. Made just 48.9 percent of his half-court attempts at the rim, a
disastrous number for a player who is 6-foot-9. Made just 42.6 percent of his layups. This is the place where you see him get a
bit off-balance from time to time. He takes a lot of leaning finger rolls going away from contact. Takes off too far from the rim
consistently. Seems not to have adjusted there to playing against bigger, longer players and takes a lot of tough shots here.
All of this reverts to his decision-making and how he seems to read – or not read – the floor. Jackson made very few high-level
passing reads this past season. Most of the time he got the ball, he was going to rise for a shot, no matter how contested it was.
There were so many moments where he had open teammates, and instead of hitting them for an easy shot he instead tried to
throw up a wild one. Was the epitome of a tunnel-visioned player. Even when he did see the reads out of doubles, he threw wild
passes that didn’t hit the target often enough. Averaged a remarkably low 0.8 assists per game in 32 minutes versus 2.7 turnovers.
Even the good passes, it felt like most of them came from a standstill on the block as opposed to live movement plays. I’m not
sure I can remember a shot-creator prospect with a 1:3 assist-to-turnover ratio like this. Desperately, drastically needs to work on
his feel on the offensive end of the court. He needs to get rid of the 10 or so horrible plays he’d make per game. Can’t just be all
about him at the NBA level, or he’ll fail. This is, by far, the place he has the most work to do.
Defensively, Jackson is nowhere near ready to make an impact at the NBA level. On the ball, he has the length and balance to be
a good defender but was consistently poor. He got driven by a ton of smaller guys this past season. Doesn’t seem to have great
hip flexibility in terms of his lateral defensive movements to try to cut off angles. Also, would regularly get driven backward and
hit on pull-up attempts. He really struggled to get through screens for multiple reasons. His angles getting around them were
terrible, and then if he got too far back, he’d just quit on the play.
Doesn’t seem to have great awareness of what’s happening around him off the ball and when he’s a team defender. Consistent
ball-watcher. Got back cut often. Didn’t have the best rotational instincts in scramble situations. Didn’t rotate to cover the weak
side of the rim enough. He didn’t even seem to know the scouting report in a lot of moments, such as when he went way under
multiple Brandon Miller off-ball screens when the Gamecocks played Alabama. Again, Jackson is 18, so you need to give him
some benefit of the doubt. But he’ll be starting from a real low point in terms of defensive feel. But beyond feel, a big part of
Jackson’s struggles on defense were just effort and engagement. Especially in the back half of the season, Jackson’s effort level
was abysmal. He wasn’t nearly active enough, and there were lapses all over the place because of it. Maybe getting Jackson out
of South Carolina and into a professional structure will bring more out of him defensively.
SUMMARY
Jackson is all about how strongly you value the ability to create shots. Jackson can get his own shot and is one of the more
polished players I’ve seen in that regard playing at the college level at his age. He’s creative with his footwork and handle
and has real shiftiness and change of pace. There is a lot to like there. I think, long term, he will make shots. But everything
else right now is at such a deficit that Jackson is about as much of a project as one will find in the draft. Teams will need to be
exceptionally patient with him. He will not be a positive NBA player until at least Year 3, and I think he should spend most of, if
not his entire, rookie season in the G League working on what he needs to improve. On top of that, a big concern here is the lack
of explosiveness with his first step and lateral quickness. Can he get to the rim enough to be efficient? Does he have the upside to
separate consistently to where all his shots are not contested opportunities?
The other big question is maturity. Jackson did not deal well with adversity this past season, between his poor body language
on the court, his separation from his teammates at times in huddles and his Instagram Live outburst questioning the coaching
staff. Is Jackson mature enough to overcome the adversity that will come from playing against grown men? He went through
real struggles playing against less talented competition than professionals. If you value shot creation above all and you think
Jackson’s upside as a shooter is high enough, you can see a world where Jackson has high upside if the issue was simply getting
him out of the South Carolina environment. If you think Jackson’s feel for the game just isn’t high enough and he’s still multiple
years away from being mature enough to overcome his issues as a player, then you probably shouldn’t take him. I rank players
based off what I think their value will be to the organization that drafts them. Much like I felt about Talen Horton-Tucker, I
don’t think Jackson will bring much return on investment for that first team. But also, like Horton-Tucker, I think Jackson will
probably become something valuable in the future. It’s just likely to take a couple of stops to get there.
Tier 6
6 Second-Round
Guarantee Swings
37. Jalen Wilson

W | Kansas | Birthdate: Nov. 4, 2000 (Age: 22) | 6-6 | 230 LBS | Hometown: Denton, Texas
2019-20 Kansas NCAA (Big 12) 19 2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2020-21 Kansas NCAA (Big 12) 20 29 11.8 7.9 2.0 1.9 0.3 0.4 41.4 33.3 63.0
2021-22 Kansas NCAA (Big 12) 21 37 11.1 7.4 1.8 1.3 0.4 0.9 46.1 26.3 72.2
2022-23 Kansas NCAA (Big 12) 22 36 20.1 8.3 2.2 2.3 0.5 0.9 43.0 33.7 79.9
BACKGROUND
Parents are Derale and Lisa. Has two younger brothers. Both of his parents were hoopers. His mother was a high-level high
school player on the road to a Division I scholarship but tore her ACL and ended up playing community college. Father played
at TCU then played professionally. Jalen was considered a high-level player for his age group during his first two years in high
school, but really blew up in the summer before his junior year. Achieved four-star status on the recruiting circuits. Attended
John H. Guyer High School in Denton and was a four-year starter. Really emerged onto the national scene during that junior
year, when he earned all-state honors and led his team to a 32-5 record. Then, as a senior, Wilson once again led his team to a
remarkable 38-2 mark before falling for the second straight year in the regional title game in the state tournament. Again, earned
all-state honors. Wilson was considered in the ballpark of a top-50 recruit in the 2019 recruiting class and stayed solid with that
four-star status. Committed to Michigan before his senior season, but decided to decommit after John Beilein was hired by the
Cleveland Cavaliers. Was essentially the last top-50 player to commit in the 2019 recruiting class because of this and chose Kan-
sas. Looked poised for a role as a freshman but broke his ankle in the second game of the season and took a medical redshirt
year. Then, in his redshirt freshman season, emerged early as a standout player for the Jayhawks. Started for most of the season,
averaging 12 points and earning All-Freshman honors in the Big 12. Declared for the draft but returned to school. As a sopho-
more, Wilson helped Kansas to a national championship along with first-round picks Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji. He was
named third-team All-Big 12 and averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament. Declared for the draft again as
a sophomore and received an NBA Draft Combine invite. Ultimately, decided to return to school again. That was the right call,
because Wilson broke out as a fourth-year junior. Was the Big 12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. He was a final-
ist for National Player of the Year. Carried Kansas to a No. 1 seed before the team fell to Arkansas in the second round. Wilson
declared again for the draft, this time as a full participant. Was again invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Wilson has an interesting blend of size and physical strength at over 6-foot-6 without shoes and nearly 6-foot-8 in them.
Has an enormous physical frame with huge shoulders. Has great body control. Very fluid for his strength level. Plays with
real confidence. Completely fearless on the court. Because of that, when he gets moving downhill, it’s difficult to stop his
momentum. More than happy to initiate contact and create separation with physical play by putting his shoulder into someone.
Goes up through contact and isn’t bothered by it. Drew a ton of fouls this past season. Averaged 5.5 free-throw attempts per
game and took the second-most free throws in the Big 12.
Wilson was the epitome of a high-degree-of-difficulty shot maker this past season. To be that, you must be someone who can
create those shots. This past season, he did. Think the key skill here is his handle. He has a real feel for how to get free for a
bucket. A very confident, comfortable ballhandler for his size. Has a real bag of tricks as a perimeter driver. Can cross guys,
freeze them with inside-out dribbles and attack with between-the-legs dribbles. And he plays at very sharp, quick cadences
that allow him to change speeds. Can pull up quickly off all those moves when he drives his defender backward. Wilson is
comfortable playing out of ball screens at the top, coming off pindowns from the corners or just isolating from the wing and
elbow-extended area. A versatile offensive creator, and one who can be a bit unpredictable in his approach because of how many
ways he can attack you. He’ll also play well off spins and pivots because of how much body control he has. Constantly seems to
be in complete control of his movements. Never seems off-balance. Really knows how to read his defender’s balance and attack
when he just slightly gets off his center.
As a scorer, Wilson seems to generally have real touch even if the percentages don’t always tell the story because of how tough
the shots are. Has a bevy of little floaters and hooks around the rim. Comfortable shooting from all three levels. Nearly two-
thirds of his catch-and-shoot attempts were guarded this past season because of how tightly defenders played him. But Wilson
also took over 60 3-point attempts off the catch that were unguarded, per Synergy, and made them at a 40.3 percent clip. He also
made 43.2 percent of his pull-up 3s this past season. That, in addition to the touch finishes inside and the near-80 percent mark
from the line, should give some real hope for Wilson to be a player who exceeds his collegiate shooting percentages in the NBA.
Shoots a very high-arching ball with a high release and follow-through that comes off his hand softly.
Interestingly, Wilson took a real leap out of ball screens this past season. His footwork was quite strong, and his feel for how
defenders played him in drop was terrific. He’s attack-oriented but patient. Knows how to navigate bodies in the lane. Can snake
those actions well to find openings and get all the way to the rim. But, if someone goes under that screen, he’s very comfortable
just stopping and popping from behind the 3-point line. Can play off two feet on-balance or put his foot down and drive. One of
the more interesting parts of his game is his passing. He clearly has real vision and understands where the help is coming from.
Played with much more of a scoring mentality this past season but showcased some real flashes as a playmaker. Threw some
awesome cross-corner kickouts off drives and is excellent at finding backdoor baseline cutters. Really knows how to read the low
man on the backside. Knows how to manipulate defenders at pace but can also make live-dribble plays at full speed with either
hand. I also really like him leading the break and reading advantage situations at speed. He averaged 2.2 assists per game, but as
his role changes in the NBA, I think there is some upside for Wilson to be a bit better than that as he shifts into being more of a
lower usage guy.
Defensively, Wilson displays real upside to be switchable. Wilson played the four for Kansas this past season, and Bill Self used
him to switch most screening actions when he was involved as the roll defender. I think he generally did OK when strung out,
although we’ll talk about some concerns below. Tends to play very physically and gets his chest into players, using his strength
to try to slow down opposing drivers. It’s hard to go through him because of how physically well-proportioned he is, leading to
a lot of pull-up jumpers against him. Thought he did a reasonable job of containing. Away from the ball, he’s generally available
in rotation and makes the right reads. Does a good job as the low man on the opposite side reading the guard’s decision. Also
rebounds well for his position.
WEAKNESSES
Wilson has a concerning blend of traits including a lack of length and a lack of true foot speed. Has just a 6-foot-8 wingspan and
pairs it with a near 8-foot-4 standing reach, a very low number for a wing. He also isn’t overly quick. Very balanced but wouldn’t
say he has a great first step or a quick first stride on defense. Also, not a particularly vertical athlete. Has two dunks in the last
three years. Isn’t a very explosive player in general, even though he’s capable of playing at speed.
The big thing that gets pointed to with Wilson is the shot. His numbers from 3 weren’t great. Made just 34 percent this past
season on six attempts per game. Needs to prove he can consistently knock them down at an above-average clip. The reason the
shot is so important is because of his finishing at the rim. Wilson self-created nearly all of his looks, so you wouldn’t expect to
see a high percentage there. But his is particularly low. Made just 47.7 percent at the basket this past season in half-court settings,
in large part due to that lack of lift and lack of length. Almost all of his attempts are quite difficult. But it’s unlikely it will get
easier for him as he gets to the NBA and needs to finish over longer players.
The big question is how Wilson adjusts to a different role allocation in the NBA. Even in 2021-22 when he played more of a role
on the Kansas title team, he didn’t shoot or pass wildly well and played closer to a big than to an NBA wing role. This past season,
he took a ton of midrange jumpers he likely won’t be asked to take in the NBA unless he gets phenomenal at them. He’s not there
yet. It’s hard to visualize exactly what Wilson does on offense at the next level if the shooting doesn’t totally translate. If it does,
things get easy.
While Wilson was generally a solid defensive player at Kansas, he wasn’t particularly impactful. He wasn’t all that disruptive
in passing lanes. He wasn’t a turnover-forcing machine. He wasn’t necessarily a stopper on the ball despite being useful and
switchable. Wasn’t impactful rotating to protect the rim when he needed to because of his lack of length. In general, his tools
don’t really translate particularly well to doing anything other than being an on-ball stopper type against bigger wings due to his
foot speed and size concerns. That role has value. But him proving that he can scale down in size and play against guards will
go a long way toward him being able to stay on the court. He has a chance to do that, but he needs to keep improving his overall
footwork and foot speed. Also, he needs to do a better job of not getting caught on screens away from the ball and end up trailing
the play.
SUMMARY
Wilson’s profile is fascinating. In a lot of ways, he doesn’t exactly scream NBA role player. He’s not an awesome shooter. He’s
an average defender. He didn’t pass or make a ton of plays for his teammates this past season. But when I watch his game,
he reminds me a lot of some of the good role players who have recently exceeded their draft value as they scale down into a
different role. Think of guys like Caleb Martin and Dillon Brooks, both of whom were primary options in college and don’t
exactly have immense measurables but figured it out in the NBA as impactful players who did whatever it takes to work. I think
Wilson will just do whatever it takes and become an NBA rotation player. There is some downside here if the shooting doesn’t
come along quite as much as you’d hope. But there is real upside to being comfortable handling the ball at the level Wilson can,
even for role players in today’s NBA. There’s upside to being this big and strong while also being able to do things at speed and
make plays as a passer. I just kind of think Wilson knows how to hoop and will figure it out, even if there is a learning curve.
38. Amari Bailey

G | UCLA | Birthdate: Feb. 17, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-3 | 190 LBS | Hometown: Chicago
2022-23 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 18 30 11.2 3.8 2.2 2.4 0.3 1.1 49.5 38.9 69.8
BACKGROUND
Mother is Johanna Leia, an influencer with a large public profile. Father is Aaron Bailey, who was a former wide receiver for the
Indianapolis Colts. Amari has one sister. Was raised by his mother in a single parent household and was featured in a Lifetime
show called “Bringing Up Ballers” about up-and-coming players in the Chicago area in 2017. After emerging as an elite player in
that area, he and his mother moved to the Los Angeles area. He enrolled at Sierra Canyon School, one of the most high-profile
high school programs in the country. Played with an immense number of elite teammates over the years, including Brandon
Boston Jr., Ziaire Williams, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cassius Stanley, Christian Koloko and Bronny James. Bailey emerged quickly there
as an elite player on a national scale. Was widely ranked as a top-five player in the class by the time he was a sophomore with
Boston and Williams. Was an All-CIF Open Division player as a sophomore. Really emerged into a truly critical top piece on the
Sierra Canyon roster as a junior. Averaged 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior in the shortened season. As a se-
nior, averaged 18 points, six rebounds and three assists on a better team after missing the early portion of the season with a foot
injury. Team lost in the CIF Open Division regional title game to fellow power Centennial High School. Unsurprisingly, as one of
the highest profile players in the country, Bailey was named a McDonald’s All-American as well as the Jordan Brand Classic. Was
named California Mr. Basketball in 2021. Originally, while still in Chicago, he committed to DePaul as an eighth grader. Decided
as a freshman instead to commit to UCLA, but then decommitted to open his recruitment after Steve Alford was fired. However,
after Mick Cronin was hired, he recommitted. Was a consensus five-star recruit in the class and top-10 player. Played at UCLA
as a freshman and was an immediate starter. Played reasonably well early on but suffered another foot injury in the non-confer-
ence season after Oscar Tshiebwe landed on his foot in December. He missed seven games before returning in Pac-12 play in late
January. In those final 17 games of the season, Bailey averaged 12.5 points, four rebounds and two assists on 51 percent from the
field, 41 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line. Was especially terrific after Jaylen Clark got hurt, averaging 17.3 points, five
rebounds and three assists while shooting 56/47/82 shooting splits. Was named to the Pac-12’s All-Freshman team as well as the
Pac-12 All-Tournament team. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season and was one of the standouts at the
2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Bailey has good size for a combo guard. Came in at 6-foot-3 ¼ without shoes with a 6-foot-7 wingspan and an enormous 8-foot-7
½ standing reach. Fluid athlete that consistently plays hard. Was a strong fit at UCLA under Cronin because of that. Constantly a
threat to get out in transition. Scored a ton of buckets just by running the floor hard and being available for his teammates or by
leading the break off a steal.
I think Bailey’s scoring ability off the dribble is interesting. Good finisher on the interior. Made 61.6 percent of his shots at the
rim in total this past season. Half-court finishing wasn’t quite as strong, but he has some ability to get into reverses and knows
how to navigate the lane and use bodies to his advantage. Has some real potential as a pull-up threat both out of ball screens and
as an off-ball scorer, particularly from midrange. Made about 40 percent of his midrange jumpers, which is enough to make you
believe there is real upside long term. Again, you really see that ability to constantly be on two feet, playing on-balance, help
him. Because he’s doing that, he’s a constant threat to go up into his shot from what is essentially a live-dribble triple threat. In
general, I think there is real potential in Bailey’s overall jump shot off the catch. Again, good touch here. When he is prepped and
ready to fire, it looks clean despite a funky-looking mechanical shot. Does a really good job of getting his elbow into alignment
with the rim even though there is sometimes a bit of extra action at the top. Made 38 percent of his limited 3-point attempts this
past season off the catch.
I also like Bailey’s passing ability quite a bit out of ball screens. He’s not incredible at it bu plays unselfishly. Reads defenders
reasonably well, and he’s good at finding live-dribble angles with his left hand. Didn’t get a ton of ball screen reps necessarily
at UCLA, but showcased real upside in the moments he did when he made relatively quick decisions to hit targets. Also dished
out 14 assists versus only five turnovers in two NBA Draft Combine games, reminding people of the skill set he showcased prior
to his time with the Bruins. That ability to extend plays is valuable here. Needs to keep improving his overall vision, but there is
real potential here when it comes to Bailey blending both his passing and scoring games together.
I’m a fairly big fan of Bailey’s defense for a freshman because of his effort level. That size plays up substantially on the perimeter,
and he plays hard. Very aggressive and tough. High motor. Really active and aggressive with his hand play. Always keeps his
hands high and always keeps his arms outstretched. Good at sliding his feet and using his quickness to stay in front of his
man. Because of that effort level, good at staying in front of his man, and always stays attached and tries to ride his man’s hip to
disrupt and contest. Effort level around screens is good. Fights to recover back into the play. Closeouts are good. There are some
flaws in his defensive skill set, but I think I buy him as a valuable on-ball defender across at least the two guard positions.
WEAKNESSES
Bailey’s not a particularly explosive athlete. Good lateral athlete, but not all that quick of a first step. Not a particularly explosive
leaper. Can get up in transition, just not wildly functional as a half-court leaper. Finishing is OK, not great in that setting due
to lack of explosion. Don’t think he’s a wildly shifty athlete either. Really gets by with craftiness and angles more than true
creativity. Because of that, can sometimes struggle to separate from his man. Really needs a ball screen or to be attacking a
closeout to get that advantage. Will struggle to score out of isolation. Seems to end up stuck in the 10-to-16-foot range too often
where he gets cut off.
Also, generally think that lack of burst can sometimes result in Bailey getting stuck. Doesn’t have a particularly tight handle.
Think he can get loose with the ball. Because of that, sometimes ends up picking up his dribble. Easy way to slow him down
this past season was to put two on the ball. He’d typically pick it up or he’d try to escape and overdribble. That tends to lead to
turnovers for him. This is by far the biggest concern, given Bailey’s lack of athletic tools. He must really tighten up his ability to
dribble the ball. If he doesn’t, it will be difficult for him to be a lead guard, especially given that tendency to overdribble a bit. He
had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio this past season, dishing out 2.2 assists versus 2.4 turnovers. The 2.4 turnovers, given his
overall usage in the offense throughout the season, was quite a high number. Just generally can get a bit loose with his passes
and playmakers after the over-dribbling moments if he gets cut off.
Bailey’s not a particularly confident shooter right now. Took only 1.8 3s per game. Just seems like a player who generally grew
up playing on the ball mostly and is still adjusting to playing a bit more often off the ball. Shot prep still needs some work. When
he gets his feet under him and ready to fire with a one-two step, he’s a clean and solid shooter because of his natural touch but
doesn’t often do that. His first instinct seems to be to attack and drive. Needs that first instinct off the ball to be to fire from 3 if
he’s open. Because he’s not all that confident as a shooter seemingly, I worry about there being too many easy ways to defend
him right now. Can you just go under his screens? As mentioned previously, handle isn’t strong enough to manage when teams
put two on the ball. Because he’s not all that explosive, can you just switch against him with a big on him? Feels like he needs to
find counters for specific matchups that aren’t just drop coverage.
As a team defender, there are worries. While he’s willing and a fighter on that end, seems to get stuck too often. Gets clipped by
a ton of screens. While he’s always a willing fighter, I think he needs to work on getting around them better. Takes weird angles.
Can gamble off the ball. Got home reasonably often when trying to jump passing lanes, averaging 1.1 steals but still needs to
make some strides there. Seemed to have a few more miscommunication moments in exchanges than other UCLA defenders.
Again, I think I’d bet on him being a good defender. But he could stand to clean some things up rotationally. Might take a year to
get up to speed there.
SUMMARY
I want to really like Bailey. He took a leap late in the season in terms of production and efficiency once he got more opportunities
with Clark out of the lineup. He performed well at the combine when outside of the shackles of the poorly spaced UCLA offense.
I buy his shooting touch. I also really like the fact that he plays at his own tempo and speed within the midrange. On top of
that, he’s a solid defensive player on the ball. I just worry that his handle isn’t good enough for the role he’ll need to play, and
his instinct is to overdribble and try to make things happen on his own. I think Bailey would have been very well-served to
have returned to UCLA and continued to improve his craft in that area. To improve his comfort level as a passer and playmaker
consistently as well as improve his ability to play off a live dribble without overdribbling consistently. I think the odds are that
he might be one of the 30 most talented players in the class. I just think that it’s going to take real time and developmental
resources that very few teams are probably going to be willing to expend. It only takes one, though. And I do think that the
team that drafts Bailey has a real chance to end up with a steal a few years down the line if they’re patient. I have a second-
round grade on him because I think there is some real developmental time necessary. But I’m intrigued enough to give him a
guaranteed deal as a top-40 player.
39. Trayce Jackson-Davis

C | Indiana | Birthdate: Feb. 22, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-8 | 240 LBS | Hometown: Greenwood, Ind.
BACKGROUND
Parents are Dale Davis and Karla Jackson. Father, Dale, is a former NBA player most notable for his time with the Indiana Pac-
ers. Dale played over 1,200 career games in the NBA, starting nearly 1,000, as a tough 6-foot-11 center who focused largely on
defensive play and rebounding. Trayce was raised, though, largely by Karla and stepfather, Raymond. Raymond played college
football at Washington State and played professionally outside of the NFL for a couple of years. He’s now a chief of police in
Indiana. Trayce’s brother is Tayven Jackson, a quarterback for Tennessee. Trayce also has a sister, Caida Davis, that played col-
lege basketball at Wagner. Trayce started to emerge as a good prospect in high school, going from 6-foot-3 when he was around
13 years old to 6-foot-8 by the time he was playing high school basketball. Really emerged following his sophomore season as
a legitimate high-major recruit. Then, during his junior high school season, he reached borderline four/five-star status. Went
to Center Grove High School in Indiana. He continued that ascent during the summer between his junior and senior seasons,
dominated his senior high school season, and ultimately was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2019. He also won the Indiana
Gatorade Player of the Year Award, with the selection committee noting his volunteer work in high school at the Wheeler Mis-
sion Center, a social services organization that helps homeless people in Indiana. Jackson-Davis was invited to the McDonald’s
All-American game and was seen as a top-30 consensus player in his recruiting class. He had offers from around the country, but
it came down to Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA. He ultimately chose to stay home and attend Indiana in the fall of his senior
season. As a freshman, he was an immediate starter for Archie Miller and made third-team All-Big Ten that season while also
being named to the All-Freshman team. Became the team’s primary offensive option as a sophomore and took another leap and
was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. He also received a few third-team
All-American honors. Miller was fired in between his sophomore and junior seasons, but Jackson-Davis decided to return to play
for new coach Mike Woodson. During his junior season, Jackson-Davis led Indiana back to the NCAA Tournament while getting
even better as an overall player. The counting numbers stayed the same, but he emerged as a stronger defensive player and pass-
er under Woodson. The individual accolades weren’t quite as strong, but his performance was better. He brought it all together
as a senior. Jackson-Davis was one of the most productive players in the country, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game
while dishing out four assists. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named first-team All-Defense in the Big Ten and
a consensus first-team All-American. He led Indiana to a terrific season and a No. 4 seed before the Hoosiers were eliminated by
Miami in the NCAA Tournament. Decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA
Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Jackson-Davis is a great vertical athlete for the big position. Legitimate leaper without a running start. Has real pop. Also has
good hands. Catches everything in his range, both above and below his waist. Ridiculous one-handed catch radius above his
head. Very strong hands that allow him to maintain possession of the ball in traffic. Runs the floor well. Beats his man down
the court. Really good motor. Consistently plays hard and makes himself available on offense. Tries to be in the right spots on
defense. Given all those things, he is a good rebounder who can be counted on to end possessions.
This won’t exactly translate wildly well to the next level, but it’s important to start with Jackson-Davis’ best skill: He’s a terrific
post scorer. His handle and footspeed are very strong. Loves quick spin moves and drop steps from the left side of the court
going baseline. He has excellent feel for how a defender is playing him. Also possesses great contact balance, allowing him to
maintain his position after he catches and to finish through contact. Effective out of face-up situations. Wants to get back to his
left but is effective when he does so.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis took a huge leap as a pick-and-roll big as a senior. He’s a capable finisher, having hit 68.9 percent at
the rim as a junior and 63.1 percent of his shots at the rim in the half court as a senior. He gets off the ground quickly with that
leaping pop, allowing him to beat rim protectors to the basket. Constant threat to catch a lob. But also doesn’t have to dunk
everything. Like the way he’ll use the basket to protect the ball. Moreover, he can really put the ball on the deck and finish. He’s a
comfortable ballhandler in the midrange area. Has a face-up game. Effective in dribble handoffs. Just very comfortable with the
ball. Additionally, I really like the developments he made as a senior as a playmaker and passer. Straight up can lead the break
now and make reads at high speed. Very good from the middle of the floor, which could translate well to short-roll situations.
Makes quick reads and quick decisions when called for to find cutters but can also patiently let things develop to find kickouts
after defenders rotate. Again, just straight up is a playmaker for his teammates now. Good at putting the ball on the floor once
to draw defenders toward him, then kicking out. This is the most translatable situation he’ll be placed into. He averaged four
assists per game as a senior and is a genuine playmaker from the middle of the court. I buy him as a pick-and-roll center.
I think Jackson-Davis is, overall, a plus defender. He’s constantly available as a weakside rim protector. Made All-Defense in the
Big Ten multiple seasons, largely based off high block numbers. Finished second in block rate in the Big Ten as a junior and as a
senior. Rotates well and stays in position there. Extremely active and tries to contest everything. Tries to swat everything away.
Leaping ability helps compensate for his lack of size. Does a good job of using his physical strength to hold his ground.
Jackson-Davis has turned into a solid team defender too. Good positionally in pick-and-roll coverage. Indiana mostly ran a drop,
and he’s good at being active within the gap. Good at baiting guards to try to go around him, then swatting them. Can play closer
to the level too. Think he does a fairly good job of sticking with wings in space when isolated against them. He slides his feet well
and sticks in front and is good at using his chest to absorb contact with his 240-pound frame. I have some defensive concerns,
but I think Jackson-Davis is a smart defender with some mobility who has upside.
WEAKNESSES
Jackson-Davis is undersized for the center position. He’s 6-foot-8 1/4 without shoes and doesn’t have elite length. Has just an
8-foot-10 standing reach. Despite his power and athleticism, can occasionally get powered through by bigger opponents. Had
issues, for instance, with Oumar Ballo at Arizona pinning him high up the court and establishing position. Very real chance
Jackson-Davis could struggle with NBA-level size and length from centers on defense as a primary post defender and may not
get quite as much out of his rebounding. Think that his size and length will profile better at the four spot than the five. That
makes him much more of a tweener than some of the other bigs in the class.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis is effective but limited. Particularly, he is extremely left hand dominant as a finisher. Wants to try to
get back to the left with everything. Indiana largely keeps him on the left side of the floor because of it. Almost always going to
drive left or try to create a lane to drive left. Loves the Euro step into a lefty finish. Tries to get the ball into his left hand to make
passes every time even off a live dribble. Even when driving from the right side of the floor, attempts inside-hand finishes. Needs
to improve his right hand. Has to be more comfortable using it.
The dream of Jackson-Davis extending his range is not all that likely to occur. Despite continued reports throughout his career
of it being an offseason emphasis, Jackson-Davis took just three 3-pointers in his collegiate career, making none. He also never
hit at least 70 percent from the foul line, which really acts as our only possible indicator of his potential touch from outside of 10
feet. He made just three of his 12 attempts outside of 12 feet as a junior, four of his 23 attempts outside of 12 feet as a sophomore
and three of his eight attempts outside of 12 feet as a freshman. As a senior, he was his least effective in this regard, making zero
of his six attempts outside of 12 feet. There just isn’t really anything you can point to on tape that says he can shoot, which will
limit his role offensively.
SUMMARY
Jackson-Davis is one of the most productive players leaving college basketball, one of the many bigs to dominate college
hoops. But he is a bit undersized while also having a relatively concerning lack of length and skill set to slide down positionally.
Jackson-Davis will require the right fit and the right team situation to make it work. I think he’d be best in a ball-movement-
heavy scheme with a point guard who often gets trapped, allowing him to utilize his passing and playmaking ability regularly.
The Golden State Warriors come to mind as the perfect team for Jackson-Davis. Maybe he could be a fascinating long-term
replacement for Kevon Looney? But it needs to be a team like that. And you’d hope they’re willing to run versatile ball screen
coverages, given Jackson-Davis mobility and ability to help from the weak side. I have him as an intriguing second-round pick
who could work his way into becoming a good rotational big because of how improved his skill level has become over the last
two years, even without the jumper.
40. James Nnaji

C | Barcelona | Birthdate: Aug. 14, 2004 (Age: 18) | 6-11 | 250 LBS |
Hometown: Makurdi, Nigeria
2021-22 Barcelona Europe (ACB + 17 24 2.1 1.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.0 76.7 0.0 30.7
EuroLeague)
2022-23 Barcelona Europe (ACB + 18 42 3.9 2.4 0.3 0.8 0.6 0.2 68.6 0.0 47.3
EuroLeague)
BACKGROUND
Incredible story and journey in terms of how he was found. Nnaji didn’t pick up basketball until he was 12 years old. Grew up in
Nigeria and helped his mother work. Continued to do that and was only able to train a couple of times per week. Participated in
Giants of Africa, an organization run by Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri. Then, he made a social media
post about himself and got noticed by an academy in Hungary that allowed him to train there. Performed well enough there to
get signed by European agents, who made a highlight reel they sent around to bigger clubs in Europe. Barcelona came calling,
and Nnaji signed there in 2020. He played within Barca’s second team and youth teams in his first year before continuing to
develop and progress. Played at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in 2021 and was named to the All-Tournament team.
Rapidly got better to the point that he made his debut with the senior team as a 17-year-old in 2021-22. He played 13 EuroLeague
games and 12 ACB games, showcasing real athleticism and potential in the flashes he’d get on the court. In 2022-23, blossomed
a bit more into a part-time role for one of the best teams outside of the NBA. Didn’t receive consistent playing time but started a
few Spanish league games and popped in a few moments in front of scouts that came out to see him. Still seen as quite raw but
declared for the 2023 NBA Draft as an international early entrant.
STRENGTHS
Nnaji has eye-popping tools. He’s 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and an enormous standing reach. Will have very legitimate
measurements even by the giant standard of NBA centers. Has a chiseled, enormous frame that should also play well at
that level. Comes in at around 250 pounds already and uses that frame to play physically and aggressively. Also has real
explosiveness and athleticism. Real pop for his size as a vertical leaper. Gets off the ground quickly. Also moves well laterally
for his size. Plays hard with a high motor. Crashes the glass constantly, particularly on the offensive end. Creates second
opportunities for his teammates. Physical, and puts a body on his man all the time.
Unsurprisingly, given Nnaji’s relative inexperience, those tools best showcase as an interior defensive presence right now. He
has been a terrific per-possession shot blocker in the ACB over his two seasons there, ranking in the top-10 in terms of blocks
per minute. Averaged 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes. Covers ground with his length incredibly quickly as an interior weakside rotator.
Again, gets off the ground quickly. Seems to have great timing and instincts, then also has a terrific second jump that allows
him to contest and rebound in the same play. Very good both as a primary rim protector against drivers and as that secondary
rim protector contesting at the basket. Also does a good job staying vertical and as big as possible for a young player who is
inexperienced. Doesn’t foul as a rim protector regularly.
I think Nnaji’s also effective in drop coverage on defense. Keeps his feet active. Stays big and does a good job keeping both
the roller and the ballhandler in front of him. Slides and keeps his chest in front of guys. If he gets the corner turned on him,
has incredibly quick reaction and recovery skills. Also, not terrible in space for a player who is this big. Don’t know that I’d
necessarily call him “switchable,” and generally has a lot of technique issues. But he can hold his own for the most part when he
gets strung out on an island athletically. Has a lot of technique flaws to work through in terms of his slides and I think that some
of the craftier guards might be able to get him with pump fakes and hesitation moves, but projects well in terms of movement
skills to hold his own away from the rim if he can keep improving, even if I’m doubtful he’ll be an impact guy there.
Offensively, Nnaji’s game is very simple. He is a rim runner. Good in the dunker spot. If you let him gather off two feet in that
area, he is throwing the ball down with authority. Terrific in ball screens. Has a case as the best lob threat in this class outside
of Wembanyama. Rolls hard to the rim constantly and has a good sense of how and when to time his rolls to be able to find the
open passing angle. Just has an enormous catch radius because of his wingspan and leaping ability. Can out high-point the ball
against almost anyone. Knows when to slip or when to hold the screen and gets downhill. If he slips the screen, you better get a
body on him because if you don’t, it’s hard to stop him. Made 78.9 percent at the basket this past season, and 82 percent in the
half court. Also doesn’t have terrible touch around the basket. Made 72 percent of his layups around the basket as well, but most
of them come right at rim. Comfortable using his left hand which showcases some potential for growth, although not quite great
at it yet.
WEAKNESSES
Nnaji is an extremely raw player in several respects. Essentially, there’s zero potential to shoot from outside of 8 or so feet at
the NBA level. No post game at all to speak of right now because of that lack of innate feel he possesses and doesn’t tend to
have great touch when he must put together footwork and shooting at the same time. You can also see that in some short-roll
scenarios, where he’s asked to try to put the ball on the deck. Unless he has a wide-open driving lane where he can dribble once
and finish, it’s tough for him. On top of it, he takes zero jump shots. Literally did not take a jumper this past season. Made just
46.3 percent from the free-throw line. He drastically needs to improve, or he’ll be a hack candidate.
Not a great passer or ballhandler. Does not have control over the ball when putting it on the deck. Not sure how great I feel about
running actions with him away from the rim like dribble handoffs. One of those guys that always seems completely sped up
when he catches the ball, again probably because he doesn’t have a ton of experience. A lot of ball control and footwork-based
turnovers. Will travel. Doesn’t have the natural muscle memory from having done moves like this from when he was young.
Looks like his body can’t keep up with his mind. Then, as a passer, just doesn’t seem to keep his eyes up to make plays for his
teammates. Has to stay concentrated on the ball. Dished out 13 assists in 43 games this past season. Wouldn’t be all that useful
in short-roll settings right now if teams blitz ballhandlers in ball screens.
I mentioned those defensive issues above, and Nnaji does generally need to improve technically. Very poor in this area right now.
Think he can be aggressive anticipating that offensive players will go around screens as opposed to rejecting them, which makes
him a prime candidate to get driven straight up off rejected screens. Will be very foul prone because of how he uses his hands on
the perimeter. Very much a hand-check player to stay in front of guards. Has those very active feet but can be a bit hoppy, which
allows smarter guards to be creative against him. Just needs to keep working on his instincts and staying into his defensive
stance for longer periods.
SUMMARY
Nnaji has immense athletic tools and has all sorts of potential. He’s a real rim protector and is a terrific catch-and-finish
athlete, with a huge catch radius and the ability to high-point the basketball. He’s also not a bad mover in space, and with some
technical improvements, he could have a chance to hold his own out there. The issue, as mentioned, is his rawness. In a skill-
oriented NBA, he has a long way to go to hit baseline levels on some of these skill sets required to get on the court. Having said
that, unlike some positions with players who have a limited statistical credentials or on-court success, there is a track record of
centers with plus positional size, length and athleticism figuring it out and making it when being picked beyond pick No. 25. At
the top end, you have Rudy Gobert. Guys like Mitchell Robinson and Clint Capela are great success stories who became high-end
starters. Daniel Gafford and Hassan Whiteside are great examples. There are real players here you can point to as comparables to
Nnaji who have become difference-makers. There are obviously several examples in the other direction, but the success rate is
real. Nnaji is a bit rawer than those players, but a patient team might get a steal.
41. Jordan Walsh

W | Arkansas | Birthdate: March 3, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 215 LBS | Hometown: Desoto, Texas
BACKGROUND
Parents are John and Sandra. Has a little brother, Joshua. From the time Jordan was young, he has dealt with alopecia, a condi-
tion where the immune system attacks hair follicles on his body. He works with organizations that raise awareness regarding the
condition and takes pride in being a role model to younger children managing alopecia. He and his family grew up in Desoto,
which is a city unto itself in Dallas County. Emerged quickly as a high-level player. Helped lead Faith and Family Academy in
Dallas to a state championship as a freshman. The team was in the state semifinals as a sophomore before the tournament got
canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Took a real leap as a junior, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and over two
blocks with two steals per game. He was named an all-state honoree. Played well that summer for Drive Nation on the EYBL
circuit and started to move up in recruiting rankings. Became a consensus top-100 player in the class. Decided to transfer to
basketball power Link Academy, where he was a leader on one of the best teams in the country. Achieved five-star status that
winter and led Link to the finals of the GEICO national title, where they lost to Montverde Academy. Was named a McDonald’s
All-American and was invited to the Jordan Brand Classic. Was a consensus top-20 player in the class. In the fall before his senior
season, Walsh chose to commit to Arkansas over Texas, joining an elite recruiting class that already included Nick Smith and
would eventually add Anthony Black. Had a solid season at Arkansas, providing his typical energy and aggression. Was in and
out of the starting lineup for an inconsistent Arkansas team that eventually did make the Sweet 16. Walsh ultimately decided to
enter the 2023 NBA Draft after the season while maintaining his eligibility. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine, where
he measured extremely well. Decided to stay in.
STRENGTHS
It’s hard to overemphasize how awesome Walsh’s frame is. He came in at 6-foot-6 without shoes with a near 7-foot-2 wingspan
and an absurd 8-foot-11 standing reach. Essentially has ideal measurements for an NBA wing and should have no issues playing
up and down the positional spectrum. Has a constant motor and level of aggression that he plays with. Plays hard all the time.
Has real strength as well. Well-proportioned frame that allows him to absorb contact. A very good vertical athlete. Has some real
pop. Also has good lateral quickness and ability to slide.
Walsh has as much long-term defensive upside as any player in this class. Just awesome across the board on that end. As
switchable as anyone in the class due to those measurements and his overall athleticism. Can play in any scheme in on-ball
actions. You can switch him, and he’ll be able to manage fives long term because of his standing reach. Or, you can have him
play in drop and fight over the top because of how aggressive he is and how well his length plays up in recovery. Fights around
screens well. Continues to try to get back into plays. Projects to be very comfortable two through five long term and will probably
be fine against all but the shiftiest, most athletic guards. It’s very rare, but Walsh has a non-zero chance to be one of the few true
players who can guard one through five. On the ball, he’s exceptionally good on opposing wings. Extremely disruptive with his
length. Has the strength and willingness to absorb contact to wall up and cut off driving angles. Will be a real difference-maker
on this end.
Walsh is also a good team defender. His awareness off the ball is quite good. Sharp with his rotations. Great closeouts. Comes
in high with both hands often to contest while maintaining his balance to cut off drives. Length is a significant impediment for
shooters, especially if he knows you’re going up with it and can really leap to contest. Arkansas used him somewhat regularly for
surprise blitzes and double-teams as a roamer, especially against teams in the SEC who couldn’t shoot well. Uses that length to
get into gaps and dig into drivers’ handle. Jumps passing lanes occasionally. Averaged 1.1 steals per game. Does occasionally
freewheel a bit and get beaten, but for the most part he’s just extremely disruptive on this end. Will be impactful as an NBA
defender if the offense allows him to get on the court.
Walsh’s offensive game is based on getting out into transition and using his blend of feel for the game and athleticism. Can
cover ground quickly in open spaces as a ballhandler and does a good job filling gaps. More than that, though, he’s largely most
effective as an off-ball mover and cutter in the half court. Just one of those guys who seems to understand where to move to
create openings for himself or his teammates. Always trying to set screens to free his teammates and get them a bit of space.
Good at timing his cuts to the basket both as a baseline cutter and a 45-cutter. Even though it doesn’t show up in the stats, Walsh
is a quick processor of things out there. Makes extra passes. Keeps things moving. Arkansas was nine points better per 100
possessions when he was on the court this past season versus when he was off, best on the team. He has a long way to go on that
end, but if the skill level ever comes along, he will be useful because of how quickly he’s able to react to things.
WEAKNESSES
As with many potential role players, the big question for Walsh is his offensive role. What exactly does it look like? Can he shoot
it long term? If he can’t, how else can he impact the game? Can he be anything resembling a pull-up threat or a driver to pressure
defenders? Is skill good enough to make an impact? Walsh is a functional athlete but doesn’t have a ton of shiftiness through his
hips and doesn’t tend to transition that athletic explosiveness and frame combination into actual power. More of a long strider
than someone who has real first step burst.
These issues impact him in a couple of ways. First, Walsh is not all that effective as a ballhandler in half-court settings yet. Not
really a shot creator off the bounce at all. Doesn’t really have a ton of change of pace or change of direction. Can occasionally
utilize straight-line drives effectively, but that lack of initial burst can be a problem. Also, not quite as impactful a finisher as
you’d hope for someone with his talent for cutting. Only made 45.1 percent of his layup attempts in half court at the basket,
and 52.3 percent overall. For someone with a near-9-foot standing reach, these aren’t great metrics. His sequencing in terms
of footwork on his drives isn’t great and allows his momentum to be slowed down. Take-off point is very far away from the rim.
Wants to pivot and spin a lot of the time around guys because he can’t separate from them. Think he’s a bit slower and robotic
here. Walsh is at his best attacking closeouts off a pump fake. He tends get a bit tunnel-visioned on these drives. Has showcased
real passing ability at prior levels, but last season at Arkansas, I did not think he was a particularly effective playmaker for his
teammates. Unsurprisingly struggles to collapse the defense, but also didn’t always see his man there.
I think the swing skill for Walsh, though, is the jumper. The good news is that he looks confident shooting to the point that you
can kind of buy that eventually the shots will start going in. Takes them off the hop. All looks right in terms of shot prep. Just
doesn’t fall often enough right now. Made just 28 percent this past season overall from 3, including just 25.8 percent of his catch-
and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. Don’t think his base is always consistent. Sometimes has a significant sway to his shot in the lower
half. Sometimes, it’s more set. Doesn’t always land similarly. It also comes out of his hand a bit hard. Has a lot of right-to-left
misses, as well. The shot does look fixable on some level, but it is concerning that the ball comes out hard and the misses aren’t
all that consistent. Has a bit of a waving follow through that doesn’t look complete and just hangs there.
SUMMARY
The idea of Walsh on defense is tantalizing. He has the exact kind of measurements that you’re looking for on that end in terms
of a versatile, switchable weapon who can be utilized in a variety of situations as a potential switchable stopper. I also have a real
affinity for guys like this in terms of his feel for the game. He just understands how to move and how to use space offensively.
I’m just quite worried about his overall skill level right now and think he’s probably a multi-year project to develop it. How
many teams are going to be patient with him? Someone will go for it because his tools, motor and feel are good enough, and his
defensive impact is excellent. I just worry he might be more of a second-draft player where the first team that gets him doesn’t
end up deriving a lot of value because they have to spend so much time working through developing his shooting, ballhandling
and finishing skills. I think he would have been better off staying in school and developing these skills, especially given that the
draft in 2024 is quite poor. He probably would have given himself a bit easier of a pathway toward making it.
42. Brandin Podziemski

G/W | Santa Clara | Birthdate: Feb. 25, 2003 (Age: 20) | 6-4 | 205 LBS |
Hometown: Greenfield, Wis.
2021-22 Illinois NCAA (Big Ten) 19 16 1.4 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1 42.1 23.1 75.0
2022-23 Santa Clara NCAA (WCC) 20 32 19.9 8.8 3.7 2.3 0.5 1.8 48.3 43.8 77.1
BACKGROUND
Parents are John and Barb. Has one younger sister. Brandin wasn’t really a high-level basketball player early in high school by
NBA standards because he didn’t come to the sport until later in middle school. Wasn’t seen as a prospect as a freshman, but
immediately made his mark as a sophomore at St. John’s Northwestern. Won his conference’s player of the year award in all
three seasons of high school and was all-state in all three years. Averaged 22 points per game as a sophomore then 27 points per
game as a junior. As a senior, Podziemski became a genuinely impactful national recruit. Averaged 35 points and 10 rebounds
while winning the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball award in addition to the Gatorade Player of the Year. Became the first player to
score 2,000 points in Wisconsin state history in just three seasons of basketball. Was a four-star recruit and a borderline top-100
prospect in the country. Committed to Illinois out of high school over Kentucky, Wake Forest, Miami and Vanderbilt as one of
the later recruits to decide. Really struggled to make an impact as a freshman, though. Played only 69 minutes as he struggled to
adjust defensively to college basketball. Decided to transfer following the season. Chose Santa Clara, and immediately broke out
as one of the best mid-major players in the country. He was dominant offensively and as a rebounder for a guard. Won the WCC
Newcomer of the Year award, was first-team All-WCC and won co-Player of the Year in the league. Was a phenomenal hit for an
underrated Santa Clara team that finished third in the WCC. Podziemski declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following a successful
season, maintaining his eligibility for college. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Impressed overall throughout the
pre-draft process.
STRENGTHS
Podziemski was a superb scorer this past season. Largely, it’s because he has elite touch and hand-eye coordination. He’s a
ridiculous shooter, has a nose for the basketball and plays with a high motor. Terrific rebounder for a guard.
One of the best catch-and-shoot scorers in the country. Hard to overemphasize how pure the shot looks. Podziemski drills them
at a ridiculously high clip, and so many of them hit nothing but net. Hit 44 percent from 3 off the catch. This is where he’ll make
his biggest impact in the NBA. Statistically, also drilled 3s from NBA range at a high level, making 46 percent of his attempts
from beyond 25 feet (although bizarrely only made five of his 16 attempts from beyond 27). Really good shot prep. Very quiet
shot. Doesn’t have a ton of elevation on it. Also made quite a few off some interesting movement sets. Made a few off screening
actions, but I thought he was a bit more interesting off dribble handoffs. Flattens out behind them and fires. Rarely takes them
off the hop, but can make them from multiple different footwork, planting with either his right or his left foot first. Loves the no-
dribble jab-step 3 to create that little bit of separation.
Podziemski uses the threat of his jumper off the catch well to knock down shots off the dribble. Hit 41.8 percent of his 3s off the
dribble, which is a wild number. Finished top 15 in the country in made pull-up 3s per game. Has a great sense of when he has
the perfect enough window to fire. Great at relocating off shot-fakes. Again, will flatten out right behind screens and fire as soon
as he sees the smallest amount of space. Hit 36 percent from 3 off ball screens, making 15 such shots, per Synergy. Will also use
the threat of this skill to drive inside the 3-point line and pull-up from the midrange. Not quite as good here as he is from 3 but
does have the floater counter he can get to. He’s incredibly crafty with his footwork and spin moves to get into these shots. Made
45 percent of his floaters this past season, per Synergy, and he averaged more points off floaters this past season than all but 16
other players this past season. Hits them off jump-stops, runners, normal footwork or wrong footwork. Great touch on these
high-arching shots.
While Podziemski is best as a scorer now, I think he passes well off his drives by using the threat of his scoring ability to draw
attention. Throws live-dribble passes with both hands in a way that is fun. Santa Clara loved running empty-side ball screens,
where Podziemski would make quick reads to his roll man if it came available. Just consistently finds unique and strange angles
into passes, in part because of that ability to live-dribble passes with either hand. Throws weird angle underhand lobs and
pocket passes. Throws wild wrap-around passes and shovels. Just a creative pick-and-roll passer. Averaged 3.7 assists. His game
just flows well into itself. The catch-and-shoot flows into the game off the bounce which flows into the passing. It just really
works.
WEAKNESSES
Size is a real question. Podziemski came in below 6-foot-4 without shoes and does not have any length to speak of with a 6-foot-5
1/2 wingspan. Only has an 8-foot 1/2 standing reach, a number more commensurate with point guards. Has the size of a combo-
guard, not a wing. Will teams see him that way? Real question here is athleticism. Has zero lift as a leaper. No vertical pop. Very
ground-bound player. Doesn’t really elevate into the shot or floater. Doesn’t elevate around the rim. Then, does not have any real
burst on the ground. Doesn’t have a strong first step. Also doesn’t seem to have much hip flexibility or shiftiness. He’s crafty with
his footwork but not shifty through his core. Plays very square to the rim, which helps him with his shot prep but not always
with his driving game.
These athletic deficiencies come up in many different parts of his game. Let’s start on defense, because I think that’s where
I’m most worried about Podziemski. Not a very good on-ball defender. Intersection of lack of size and lack of speed makes him
almost a tweener on that end. Not fast enough to guard good perimeter players. But not big and long enough to guard wings.
Struggles to stay in front of faster guards. Really poor at containing guards in any tangible way. Then struggles to body up
against guys. Exceedingly poor closing out to shooters and containing penetration because it involves having to stop and restart
his momentum. Gives up a ton of drives that way. Then, doesn’t really have the length or vertical ability to really contest shots.
The very low standing reach metric shows up here on tape. Think he’s going to be a magnet for switches in the NBA. Teams
will try to get their primary creator switched onto Podziemski and attack him. How he holds up in these settings will be the
determining factor on if he can stick in the NBA.
Offensively, Podziemski’s athletic concerns also really pop up. He really struggles to separate from his man in any way. Had
to dance with the ball a lot. As mentioned above, has no shiftiness on a live dribble. Everything is either a stop into a pivot, or
a straight line downhill, and that’s if he can get to a straight line. Often ends up taking rounded driving angles in screens and
isolation. Gets sped up if he gets pressured tightly. Also, somewhat predictable. Much better driving to his left than his right.
Very easy to cut him off by sliding in front of him. Very easy to recover on him around screens. Ends up picking up his dribble in
the midrange way more than you’d expect. Even in college, ends up taking a ton of tough shots. Solid in hostage dribbles to keep
guys on his hip, but if you are long and can navigate screens, you can get back into him. Tends to get by with crafty footwork as
opposed to change of pace. Against bigger, longer defenders, I’m not convinced that this will work stylistically.
I also don’t love him as a finisher. Has some craft with his touch because of the floaters. But doesn’t get all the way there often.
Took only two shots per rim in the half court. Then, also was average as a finisher. Made 53.9 percent at the rim, per Synergy, in
half-court settings. Not a terrible number, but not an ideal one given that the WCC was the country’s top offensive and worst
defensive conference, allowing the highest 2-point percentage of any league in the country this past season. Very little vertical
pop, which means he can’t get there.
Production-wise, Podziemski did struggle much more against good teams than he did against average or bad teams. In six games
against what KenPom defines as Tier A teams, Podziemski had a below-average 53.5 true shooting percentage. His defensive
rebounding rate dropped by 25 percent, as did his assist rate. Particularly, really struggled from 2-point range, which makes
sense given the tape. Should be concerned about this drop-off in production against better teams and how it projects to the
NBA?
SUMMARY
Truly, it’s all about how badly you think the athletic deficiencies will hold back Podziemski on the defensive end. I buy him
completely as an elite shooter from distance. But can he prove that he can guard anybody? His instincts on that end aren’t
bad, but tools matter in the NBA on defense when you’re going up against 6-foot-6-plus primary creators with great length
that are elite athletes. Someone like Austin Reaves, who has turned into a reasonable NBA defender, had much more fluid hips.
Podziemski needs to try to find a way to get more athletic, in my view. Otherwise, he’s going to get hunted on the defensive end
almost every time down the court in the NBA. He’s also almost wholly going to be a perimeter player in the NBA. The best-case
comparison here is someone like Luke Kennard if you really buy into the touch and overall hooper feel. But even Kennard, I
think, was a silkier athlete with a quicker shot release. Podziemski has an elite NBA skill in his shooting and touch, which is
something many other prospects in this class just cannot say. But I also think he has some real deficiencies he needs to fix to stay
on the NBA court and take advantage of those skills.
Tier 7
7 Priority
Two-Ways
43. Ricky Council IV

W | Arkansas | Birthdate: Aug. 3, 2001 (Age: 21) | 6-5 | 210 LBS | Hometown: Durham, N.C.
2020-21 Wichita NCAA (AAC) 19 21 7.1 3.4 1.0 1.1 0.1 0.3 42.1 44.4 63.6
State
2021-22 Wichita NCAA (AAC) 20 28 12.0 5.4 1.6 2.1 0.5 1.1 43.7 30.6 84.9
State
BACKGROUND
Parents are Rick and Ruth. All his older siblings played college basketball. Older sister, Rhianna, played at UNC-Greensboro.
His brother Ricky Council II played at Providence and UMBC. Other brother Ricky Council III played at Northeastern Oklahoma
A&M. Was a solid prospect noted for his athleticism. Played at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability in Durham, N.C.
Wasn’t a particularly notable prospect really until his senior year when he broke out. Punctuated by a bunch of crazy dunks,
Council made third-team all-state in North Carolina while averaging 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Still was not con-
sidered a particularly high-level recruit, though. Was a three-star prospect but was not ranked among the top 300 players in the
country according to the 247Sports composite ranking. Committed to Wichita State over Appalachian State and Rice. Committed
when Gregg Marshall was coach but never played a game for him after Marshall resigned before the season. Isaac Brown took
over as coach, and Council had a solid freshman season coming off the bench. He averaged seven points and was a useful rota-
tion player for an NCAA Tournament team. He was named to the All-Freshman team in the AAC. Came back for his sophomore
year and emerged even further. Was named the Sixth Man of the Year in the AAC after averaging 12 points per game. Decided
after the season to transfer and chose Arkansas over Alabama, Georgia Tech and others. Was part of an enormous transfer class
that included Trevon Brazile, Makhi and Makhel Mitchell and Jalen Graham. Council ended up being the most important out
of all of them. He carried the scoring load for the Razorbacks for a large swath of the season, averaging 16 points. Was named
second-team All-SEC along with Anthony Black and helped lead a messy Arkansas roster that dealt with injuries to the Sweet 16.
Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
It all starts with athleticism for Council. At 6-foot-5 without shoes with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and an 8-foot-7 standing reach,
Council will have ideal measurements for the NBA. He’s also a ridiculously explosive athlete. Tested just fine at the combine but
knows how to access his athleticism on the court. Plays at speed and flies out in transition to try to create easy baskets. High-
level sprinting speed. Can take flight and throw down some monster dunks on the break. Had 36 dunks this past season, so he
averaged one per game. The big key here is that he can rise powerfully off one foot at full speed. Doesn’t need to slow down or
load up to access his vertical leap. Had some ridiculous ones – both in transition and in the half court – where he’d be driving
left, plant with his left foot and go up and throw down a reverse in the half court over guys. Has real first-step burst and can go
slow to fast.
This gives Council a ton of upside as a driver in the NBA. Was exceedingly good at it this past season for Arkansas. Uses long
strides to get all the way to the rim and gets up quickly because of that ability to rise off one foot with ease. Has a solid array of
counters getting to the basket, including spin moves and crossovers. He’s also really strong, and it’s hard to knock him off his
driving line. Strong sequences of footwork including Euro steps and step-through moves at real speed or while decelerating.
Great mix of being slithery around bodies while also being athletic and physical. Has awesome contact balance when he’s
bumped and maintains his touch around the basket through contact. Makes them with both hands. As a leaper, he has real hang
time and can adjust his finishing angle midair. Creative in how he tries to maneuver around bigs with feints while moving the
ball around in the air. Hang time and lack of fear as a driver allows him to draw fouls. He took 6.1 free throws per game this past
season. All told, Council made 55.7 percent of his attempts at the rim in half-court settings at Arkansas, a ridiculous number for
someone who took this many difficult shots and worked within the confines of an ill-spaced team.
The rest of his scoring package is interesting. Knows how to find buckets off cuts. Smart at finding little angles backdoor or off
45 cuts. Obviously, he’s a real rim runner in those circumstances and can rise for huge dunks. Has a real burgeoning midrange
game and the ability to break down players off the bounce. Creative handler. Mechanically, I like his footwork getting into
his pull-up. Think he’s sudden in his moves then can stay on balance as well as rise from a variety of different spots. Made 50
percent of the 16 floaters he took this past season with an interesting little two-foot jump-stop leaner aspect to it. Loves to get
into his midrange game. Really rises into the jumper and has a high release point. Very comfortable in those areas. Seems to
trust his jumper more. Will rise out of hesitations and inside-out dribbles regularly. Can stop from a variety of different footwork
and realign his body in midair as necessary because of that hang time and body control. Half the time, it feels like his left foot is
in front of his right foot, and he has to turn his hips in midair to get his body into a better spot. This ability bodes well for him as
a bench creator if he can improve as a shooter. More on that below.
I also think Council has some real defensive upside and thought he was aggressive and energetic as an on-ball defender
throughout the season. Really tries to use his athleticism and length to bother the opposition. Fights through screens and battles
to get his way back into plays. Very disruptive with his hands and his length. He was arguably the best on-ball defender in the
2023 NBA Draft Combine scrimmages. Has some off-ball issues that we’ll get into, but he can be a positive defensive player in the
NBA if things break right.
WEAKNESSES
The big question here is simply shooting. Council needs to prove that he can make shots at an effective level to play in the NBA.
There are some other concerns, but the rest of his game works well enough if he can shoot. Shooting for Council is one of the
bigger swing skills in this draft class.
Council has never really been all that impactful as a 3-point shooter. This past season was no different. He made just 30.3
percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities, which is nowhere near good enough. Starts with his shot prep. It seems
like shooting directly off the catch isn’t exactly his first option a lot of the time. Seems quite stiff throughout the catch-and-shoot
jumper. Sometimes, he takes them off the hop to get into rhythm. Other times, off a one-two step. Has a two-motion jumper that
doesn’t look all that consistent in terms of release point. Doesn’t seem like he gets much of his lower half into the shot. Has kind
of a looping motion to get up to the top of his shot from left to right before getting it to his shooting pocket. Seems like there is a
good amount of off-hand interaction too. Wrist flick sometimes flares out to the right instead of straight toward the rim. Misses
right and left inconsistently. Has a lot of work to do. Seems like he has some touch after making 81 percent of his foul shots the
last two years, but it’ll take a couple of years to figure it out.
For such a comfortable pull-up shooter, Council isn’t awesome at them right now. Made just 30.7 percent of his pull-up jumpers
this past season. Loves to take midrange jumpers but made his 107 attempts at just a 34.6 percent clip, per Synergy. Also has no
pull-up game beyond the 3-point line, having made 20.9 percent from 3 on such shots. In the midrange, it seems like the issue
is more of a shot selection one as he takes a ton of exceptionally difficult ones. I think his jumper looks much cleaner from pull-
up settings than off the catch. Goes straight up into the shooting pocket and seems to get better rhythm, but it’s still a bit stiff.
Needs to get into his jumper better. Right now, Council is a scorer who doesn’t shoot it well enough to be impactful. That’s the
main issue projecting his game moving forward.
Council also could stand to be a bit better as a passer and playmaker, though he shows real upside in this regard. Arkansas
played him at point in a couple of games this past season out of necessity, and he showed he could occasionally play as a
distributor for his teammates. Had seven assists against Fordham and LSU. Can make live-dribble reads with both hands when
he wants to. But, for the most part, when he’s in that scoring mindset, the ball is going up. Shot selection ends up being quite
poor. Takes a lot of tough ones. I don’t think he mixes scoring and passing well enough right now, based on what the defense
presents him. It feels like more of a predetermined thing for him going into each possession. Averaged 2.3 assists this past
season, but more than half of his assists came in nine of the 36 games he played. Had one or zero assists in 15 of his games.
Council got better throughout the season defensively, but he still isn’t quite there yet in off-ball reads. He will occasionally miss
some rotations and take strange angles out to help scenarios. Hard to tell how much of this was a continuity-based thing with
this being his first year at Arkansas and the team having a lot of injuries with variable lineups night to night. I’d bet on Council
turning into a good defender, but he has some issues to clean up.
SUMMARY
Council in many ways is one of the easiest evaluations in the class. If you believe in him being able to shoot it, you probably
like him quite a bit and should consider him near the top of the second round. If you don’t think he can shoot and is unlikely to
ever shoot it, he’s probably more of a two-way. If you’re like me, and you’re somewhere in the middle, you split the difference. I
think Council clearly has real touch, having been a high-level free-throw shooter and acrobatic finisher. But I also think this is
probably a multi-year process involving fixing his mechanics, so really, it depends on how long you think that process takes. If
you think he can do it within the first two years of his career, I’d draft him in the top 40. If you think it’s more likely to be beyond
that, he’s more of a two-way guy you prioritize selecting in the 50s. I’ve split the difference and placed him in the 40s here. I
think the driving ability and defensive potential is too interesting to totally pass up.
44. Omari Moore

G/W | San Jose State | Birthdate: Sept. 18, 2000 (Age: 22) | 6-5 | 190 LBS |
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
2019-20 San Jose NCAA (Moun- 19 31 4.9 2.3 1.8 1.5 0.5 1.0 50.4 23.5 73.5
State tain West)
2020-21 San Jose NCAA (Mountain 20 21 7.4 5.3 3.2 2.3 1.0 1.5 45.5 25.0 45.0
State West)
State West)
State West)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Brenton and Dana. Brenton played a couple of years of Division I basketball at Portland, where he was a starter in
the frontcourt. Also has two siblings. Moore is the epitome of a late bloomer and an incredible story. He graduated from Pasade-
na High School in 2018 after averaging seven points and five rebounds per game. He had zero offers from colleges … anywhere.
Forget Division I offers. Moore didn’t have an NAIA offer. Decided to do a post-graduate year at Middlebrooks Academy in Los
Angeles and blossomed. He averaged 20 points and six assists per game and was clearly interesting as a prospect. But he wasn’t
reeling in a ton of offers. Eventually, San Jose State came calling and Moore snatched up the scholarship offer on the spot. Was a
valuable player for a bad team from day one. Started 20 games as a freshman and every game as a sophomore. However, the team
only won 12 games combined in those two seasons, and Jean Prioleau was fired. Moore could have transferred but decided to
stay under new coach Tim Miles and blossomed. As a junior, the team still only won eight games, but he averaged 13 points, five
rebounds and nearly five assists, and you could see the makings of an interesting player. He completely bloomed as a senior. The
team won 21 games for the first time in over 40 years, and Moore was the reason why. He won Mountain West Player of the Year,
carrying a team that had one winning record since 1987 to its most successful season in modern history. Moore declared
for the draft after the season, deciding to turn pro instead of using his extra year of eligibility. He was invited to the 2023 NBA
Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Moore has great size for a lead guard if he can figure it out in the NBA as a creator, but he also has good size for a wing. Measured
at 6-foot-5 without shoes at the combine with a near 6-foot-10 wingspan. Also has enormous hands that allow him to control
the ball both as a ballhandler and passer. A very functional athlete. Very fluid hips. Has more vertical pop than his testing
would indicate because he can leap off one foot and get up quickly. Had some nasty half-court dunks. Quick twitch with a solid
first step and long strides that cover ground. Also played well in both of his big prospect matchups this past season. Destroyed
Brandin Podziemski in a win over Santa Clara. His team got destroyed by Arkansas, but he looked better than both Anthony
Black and Nick Smith Jr. in that game. It stood out in the tape.
Moore became a legitimate pull-up threat this past season as a shooter. Was one of the better high-volume pull-up shooters in
the country. Among the 112 players to take at least 150 pull-up jumpers this past season, Moore had the 25th-best efficiency and
made the 11th-most 3s, virtually tied with guys such as Adam Flagler and Marcus Sasser, who are known as pull-up shooters.
Hit nearly 35 percent of them on a wild shot diet. Hunts 3s behind ball screens. Awesome pull-up shooter. Has real shake with
hesitations getting to his stepback. Can string together multiple moves to try to get loose, everything from a behind-the-back
dribble into a crossover to an inside-out into a hesitation straight into a pound dribble followed by a spin move. He’s very
slippery because of how quickly he can change directions. But he’s also awesome at changing paces. Really loves hang dribbles
and will gallop into them before either choosing to pull-up or blow by his man. Loves the pound dribble into the stepback to the
left. Makes decisions hard for defenders.
Plays off the threat of his shot as a driver. Very slick driver. Has a loose but nasty crossover with quick hips. Takes screens and
gets downhill quickly. If you overplay him one way, he’ll spin back and try to finish that way. Good finisher at the rim with good
length extension and smooth finger rolls. Knows how to use his frame to protect the ball and keep defenders away. Made about
57 percent of his shots at the rim in half-court settings, a good number for someone who self-creates almost all his looks there.
Loves to drive right and spin left to finish with his left. Can make shots with both his left and right hands. Knows how to take ball
screens too while maintaining his advantage. Plays the two-man game well with quick passes and knows how to find the right
angle from screeners to get penetration.
I think he reads help defense well as a passer. Had almost a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio while averaging nearly five assists per
game. Was good as a live-dribble passer at hitting cross-corner kickouts depending on how the defender played his drive in help.
Can whip the ball out there with one hand with real speed. Good at hitting the roller on one-handed dump-offs. Has good touch
on lobs to the dunker spot or to rollers. Also good at making early reads and throwing quick passes to shooters. San Jose State
loved running quick-hitting screening actions where a shooter would fly up to the wing and fire. Moore was timely and generally
did a good job of delivering the ball into the shooter’s pocket.
Defensively, I think Moore is solid right now. He’s active and engaged on the ball. Used his length disruptively against opposing
ballhandlers when he could. Has some flexibility positionally, although he’ll need to get stronger.
WEAKNESSES
As noted, Moore is not particularly strong right now. Very skinny build. Knows how to use his frame to keep his advantage but
doesn’t always capably do it because guys can bump him and stop his momentum.
The biggest piece of Moore’s game that needs to improve is his play off the ball. Moore completely dominated the ball for San
Jose State this past season, but when he was asked to play off the ball, he was a bit less effective. I think this is why he struggled
at the combine. He played much more off the ball and didn’t get many on-ball reps, which is an indictment of the event. The
main issue is that Moore is not a particularly good shooter off the catch right now. Made just 27.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot
3s this past season, which needs to jump if he’s going to play in the NBA. Mechanics and shot prep aren’t consistent. Doesn’t
have a consistent form. But you’ll see moments like in overtime of the game against Nevada, where he’ll drill a catch-and-shoot
3 without dipping the ball at all, and it makes you wonder if there is significant upside here as he improves.
The defense is OK right now. I’m a little worried about him scaling up the lineup at 190 pounds. He can get pushed around a bit,
even as he’s active and aggressive on the ball. Can he deal with real NBA wings? Right now, I think probably not. But can he put
on weight and have a chance to do that? Maybe. I don’t think he’s quite as disruptive off the ball as you’d hope either. He was
much better defensively in the earlier years of his career in this regard, when he wasn’t responsible for an entire team’s offensive
production. He blocked over a shot and had over one steal per game in each of his sophomore and junior seasons. As a senior, he
was a bit more laissez-faire on that end, and his tape was not awesome. It’s possible that as he scales down offensively, he scales
back up on defense.
SUMMARY
Moore is the exact kind of dribble-pass-shoot player with wing size on whom I love betting. He has NBA size and length. He’s a
terrific player. He’s a late bloomer, and he’s productive. He needs to become a better off-ball player to make an NBA impact, but
here’s the thing I keep coming back to: Do you understand how good you must be as an on-ball player to lift San Jose State to 21
wins? You have to be insanely good. This team had not won 20 games in 40 years. Moore did that. I ended up with a top two-way
grade on Moore. The team I want Moore to go to is Miami. I want the Heat to buy a pick and draft Moore in the second round. He
needs to get stronger and into peak physical condition, and he needs to improve his jumper and iron out the consistency of it.
They’re the team that has had the most success with improving those skills with older players like Moore in the past. Regardless,
I think Moore is worth a real investment from an NBA team. It might take a couple years, but I think he’s going to be useful.
45. Colin Castleton

C | Florida | Birthdate: May 25, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-11 | 235 LBS | Hometown: Deland, Fla.
2020-21 Florida NCAA (SEC) 21 24 12.4 6.4 1.1 1.0 2.3 0.5 59.7 00.0 78.1
2021-22 Florida NCAA (SEC) 22 28 16.2 9.0 1.5 2.2 2.2 0.9 54.6 00.0 70.3
2022-23 Florida NCAA (SEC) 23 26 16.0 7.7 2.7 2.5 3.0 0.9 50.0 13.3 72.9
BACKGROUND
Parents are Karen and Steven Bapp. Steven is his stepfather who raised him. Karen worked for the Department of Defense, and
Steven is a former colonel in the U.S. Army. Has four siblings. Castleton was always tall and quickly emerged into a high-major
level prospect. Played at Father Lopez Catholic in Daytona, Fla., where he was a standout from the time he was a sophomore. He
was considered an interesting floor-spacing five as a prospect when he was in high school who scored, rebounded and protected
the rim. Was All-Daytona Beach and All-Orlando Area as a sophomore and junior. As a senior, Castleton averaged 24 points, 12
rebounds and six blocks and was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Florida. Was a four-star prospect from the moment he emerged
on the scene. He ended up ranking just outside of the consensus top 100 out of high school. Committed to Michigan in the Class
of 2018, largely due to his relationship with John Beilein. Castleton played sparingly as a freshman behind Jon Teske and small-
ball lineups behind Ignas Brazdeikis and Isaiah Livers as the team’s eighth man. Beilein left after his freshman year, but Castle-
ton stayed another year at Michigan under Juwan Howard. Again ended up stuck behind Teske at the center position. Decided
to transfer following the season and chose Florida over a large group of suitors. Received a waiver to play immediately under the
NCAA’s old transfer rules and was an impact player from the jump. He made second-team All-SEC next to future first-round pick
Tre Mann and two-way player Scottie Lewis. As a fourth-year senior, he emerged as Florida’s best player, leading the Gators to
the NCAA Tournament and making the second round. Despite coach Mike White leaving for Georgia, Castleton returned to
Florida for his fifth year, largely due to a torn labrum in his shoulder that would have held him out of pre-draft workouts. Was
terrific throughout the season as one of the more important players to his team in the country. Was first-team All-SEC while
doubling as one of the best defensive players in the conference. In the middle of the team’s chase toward the 2023 NCAA Tourna-
ment, Castleton broke his hand on Feb. 15 and missed the rest of the season. The injury is not considered serious long term. He
is automatically eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft and was invited to the 2023 G League Elite Camp. Despite being one of the most
impressive players in attendance, he bizarrely did not receive a call-up to the NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Castleton has legit NBA center size at 6-foot-10 1/2 without shoes with a 7-foot-3 1/2 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 1/2 standing reach.
Possesses uncommon mobility for someone this size. Slides his feet exceedingly well. Very fluid in his movements. Also plays
hard with real passion. Constantly plays with motor and intensity. Not afraid to let his opponent know when he’s playing well.
As much as anything, Castleton is a versatile defensive prospect who fits where the NBA is going. His rim protection is very
good, not quite elite. He consistently has averaged somewhere between a 7.5 and 9 percent block rate, numbers that are good
for the top 50 nationally. Does a great job contesting shots. Really sharp rotationally. Rarely not in the right spot. But more than
that, he’s all over the place as a help defender. Very efficient in his movements and keeps his arms outstretched to take up space
and cut off passing lanes. Stronger than he looks, as he’s a solid 235 pounds. There is every reason to buy him as a useful rim
protector even in the NBA.
I also love Castleton in ball screen coverages. He’s very versatile. Love that he can switch out onto guards and use his mobility
and length to be able to contain guards occasionally. And he’s superb in drop coverage. Plays the cat-and-mouse game between
the guard and the big super well. Knows exactly how to play in the gap and defend two and how to use his length to cover a lot
of space. Stronger than he looks and holds his ground well as a rim protector when baiting the guard into driving into his length.
NBA teams will get a lot of value out of being able to utilize him in different ways, and this versatility also opens him up to a
wider swath of teams than you’d expect for a true big prospect. Not going to be limited based off scheme.
Offensively, I really like Castleton’s ability to put the ball on the deck. Initiated a ton of actions for Florida this past season and
did so out of dribble handoffs and rejected handoffs into drives. Very comfortable for a center at making live-dribble plays
as long as he can keep it relatively simple. Just a fluid player. This also leads to him getting to the foul line a lot. Averaged six
free throws per game this past season. Has a nice array of floaters and hook shots displaying his natural touch. Because of that
handle, he’s versatile in how you can play him. He can play out of the dunker spot or out of ball screens. You can short roll him
or pick-and-pop him. He can roll all the way to the rim and finish. Figures to work well in an NBA scheme.
I liked the improvements Castleton made as a passer this past season. Averaged 2.7 assists per game. Awesome at finding cutters
flying toward the rim. Can even occasionally lead the break and find open players as they run the floor. Was good at reading
doubles on the block and finding the open man and was patient enough to let the help commit before making those choices.
WEAKNESSES
Castleton carries his weight well but has something of a thin frame that can allow him to be moved around. Additionally, I think
he could stand to be more physical and use the strength he has. Also, a bit older already, which means that you probably don’t
have as much frame upside here. Will probably fill out a bit more, but not much more. And if you do try to bulk him up, you
might lose some of the movement skills that make him so special in his versatility.
Can be a touch robotic in his moves. Loves the face-up, right-hand drive into the spin over his left shoulder and seems to pre-
ordain that read a bit too often. Almost always tries to spin left shoulder even when he has an open shot. Settles way too often
for little floaters or push shots, which leads to more inefficiency than you’d expect to see. Saw a significant drop-off in field goal
percentage as a senior, largely due to a change in offensive role, scheme and responsibility. Was asked to self-create far more
often, and he’s probably not good enough to do that at the NBA level. Still, shot just 59 percent at the rim this past season in
large part because he doesn’t really have a ton of dunks in his repertoire. Only dunked the ball 13 times all year, a low number for
someone with his standing reach.
I think Castleton’s swing skill is his ability to become a floor spacer. Right now, he’s not confident enough as a shooter. As
mentioned above, he was seen in his high school career as a stretch five. But over his career, his percentages from the line have
gone down, and he hasn’t been willing enough to shoot. Doesn’t just turn down open 3s, but also turns down open midrange
looks and other shots he’ll need to take. Made just two 3s in his career. I think there is some real upside with it. He has soft touch,
and the mechanics look clean. At some point, he should be able to stretch his range out to 3. Will unequivocally need this skill if
he’s to stick in the NBA. Right now, I don’t think you could just put him on an NBA floor and expect him to make shots.
SUMMARY
Castleton represents an intriguing bet for an NBA team looking for a versatile, defensive center prospect with potential to shoot
from distance and put the ball on the floor. He’s terrific as a defender in ball screens, and teams that run versatile coverage
looks will undeniably have interest in bringing him in because he’s capable of holding up in switch schemes, drop schemes and
blitz-and-recovery schemes. Ultimately, everything is going to come down to what he can bring to the table offensively. I think
his best way to eventually reach NBA level is to work on his shot and continue developing what was seen when he was younger
as a legitimate potential skill. He has clear touch having always hit a good clip from the foul line, and he took a few 3s this past
season that looked steady. He’s never going to be a high-volume 3-point gunner, but if he can add the threat of a jumper, it would
make life much easier for him out of ball screens and likely open the court a bit more for him to find openings as a passer and
driver. I see Castleton as intriguing of a big-man two-way candidate as exists in this class. If someone wanted to give him a guar-
antee, I don’t think I’d hate the choice. The combination of skill level and defensive aptitude isn’t the easiest thing in thworld to
find, and it translates well toward the NBA in a way that some other, higher-profile center prospects don’t.
46. Julian Strawther

W | Gonzaga | Birthdate: April 18, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-7 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Las Vegas
2020-21 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 18 25 3.4 1.2 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.2 51.7 32.1 69.6
2021-22 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 19 32 11.8 5.4 1.0 0.8 0.2 0.5 49.8 36.5 70.5
2022-23 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 20 37 15.2 6.2 1.3 1.5 0.4 0.8 46.9 40.8 77.6
BACKGROUND
Parents are Lourdes and Lee. His mother, Lourdes, died when Julian was nine years old. Lourdes was of Puerto Rican descent,
and Julian plays for the Puerto Rican national team. Has two sisters, Paige and Paris. Paris played college basketball for UNLV
and was a three-year starter. Like his sister, Julian starred at Liberty High School in Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, Nev., and
was a dominant player in the region. Was a first-team all-state player in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Left high
school as a top-10 scorer in state history in his classification. In the summer before his senior season, he played in the U19 World
Cup for Puerto Rico and led the team to a surprising sixth-place finish with wins over Argentina and Canada. Was considered a
four-star recruit coming out of high school and a consensus top-75 player in the class. Committed to Gonzaga in the spring of his
junior season, selecting the Bulldogs over UNLV, Marquette and Florida. Was the second-highest rated recruit in the class be-
hind Jalen Suggs and was one of the five highest-rated recruits in school history to that point. Attended Gonzaga for three years.
Played in a rotational role as a freshman behind first-round pick Corey Kispert. The Zags were undefeated that season until
the national championship game, losing to Baylor and finishing as the national runner-up. Moved into the starting lineup as a
sophomore and was the team’s fourth option behind All-American Drew Timme and NBA players Chet Holmgren and Andrew
Nembhard. He declared for the 2022 NBA Draft but decided to return to school after being invited to the NBA Draft Combine. As
a junior, he moved into a more primary role alongside Timme, and like many Gonzaga players, he blossomed in his third season.
He averaged 15 points and was named first-team All-WCC. He was a finalist for the Julius Erving award as the national small
forward of the year. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft following the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Strawther has solid measurements for a wing floor spacer. Came in at 6-foot-6 without shoes with a 6-foot-9 1/4 wingspan and an
8-foot-9 standing reach that will position him well for success at the three at the next level.
With Strawther, it’s all about the shooting and his overall touch. He is a very high-level shot maker, particularly off the catch.
Made 40.8 percent of his 3s this past season and 38.4 percent over his career. More importantly, he also displayed real NBA range
on his 3-point jumper. Made 42.1 percent of his 95 3-point attempts from beyond 25 feet, per Synergy. Even made 36.4 percent
of his 22 attempts beyond 27 feet. His jumper will translate. Everything here is mechanically pristine. Very pure jumper. His
shot prep is superb. He’s always ready to catch and fire out of spot-up situations with a lightning quick gather and release that
typically comes off the hop. Hop helps him get into rhythm. Always in perfect alignment to the rim. Gets the ball up quickly
even with a ball dip. The shot is so quiet. Very little wasted motion. Bit of a low release point, but it helps him get the ball out
more quickly. Consistent release point. High follow through. Would be stunned if he doesn’t shoot a high percentage from 3 off
the catch in the NBA. Has all the tools and production that portends it.
Beyond that, Strawther also moves well off the ball. Flies off screening actions at a high level to where he is an effective
movement shooter. Understands how to come off a lot of different screens. Because he’s so comfortable off the hop, he’s terrific
at getting his body into alignment coming off a variety of different actions beyond the 3-point line. Terrific coming off pindowns.
A monster at flying off hammer actions toward the corner. Can make them going to his left, to his right or when his momentum
is pulling him backward off middle screening actions. Will fire off ghost screen actions. Also, he always finds the 3-point line in
transition. Will be a weapon there as most Gonzaga shooting wings tend to be.
He’s also underrated as a driver. He’s an advantage driver when opponents close out too heavily on his jumper. Comfortable
putting it on the deck in straight lines when he has that slight edge. The shot of choice on these actions tends to be the floater,
and he has the best floater in this draft class. Only seven players in college basketball scored more points per game off floaters
this past season, per Synergy. Has tremendous touch on them. Made 56.2 percent of his 89 runner attempts. Among the 226
players in the country to take at least 40 floaters this past season, Strawther’s percentage was sixth best. The big key here is the
quick release. Has a high release point on it. Typically, looks like a leaning runner type shot. Can make them from a variety of
footwork, including either foot in front because of how good he is at finding his balance and realigning in midair.
WEAKNESSES
Strawther is not an awesome athlete. Doesn’t have a ton of juice there by NBA standards. Not a superb leaper. Doesn’t have a ton
of speed. Laterally, he’s very square and doesn’t have a ton of flexibility. Typically gets by through being decisive and making
quick decisions, along with having a lightning quick release on the jumper. Not weak but also won’t have a strength advantage in
the NBA. Needs to maximize whatever he can from his frame because he will be disadvantaged in this respect.
The big issues from his lack of athleticism come on defense. Does not have a ton of lateral quickness. Because of it, he has to
try to be overaggressive at times to try to overcompensate. Gets caught on pump fakes and driven by in a straight line regularly.
Plays very high on his stance, which means he struggles to change direction if he gets caught in a bit of space and someone can
change speed and direction. Doesn’t deal with screens well either. Has a chance to be a magnet for opposing teams in those
settings against high-level creators. Guys even at the mid-major level regularly rejected screens against him and consistently got
penetration into the paint. He also got stuck and caught on screens regularly.
Strawther also really struggles with off-ball defense. He seems to lose that necessary focus for a split second regularly. Has a
real tendency to lose his man. A lot of shooters are great at chasing other shooters off the ball. Strawther is not. Really struggles
to get around off-ball screening actions. Gets clipped on screens often. Got cut backdoor for the rim regularly. Gets caught ball
watching. Don’t think he’s super reliable for teams as a backside defender or a scramble player. Again, because he doesn’t have a
ton of speed, he tends to overcompensate in help by going too deep into the lane.
Offensively, Strawther is limited to being a high-level shooter and straight-line driver. Does not have a ton of shake off the
bounce right now and is not a crazy ballhandler. Can’t create in isolations. Not really a ball screen creator. Also doesn’t drive a
lot of play at the basket even off closeouts. It’s fine because his floater game is so strong, and that acts as his rim pressure, but if
that falls off in the NBA at all, he has problems. He only took 60 half-court field goal attempts and made them at a 51 percent clip
because he doesn’t really have that elevation.
Strawther also is not a high-level playmaker for his teammates. Only averaged 1.3 assists this past season. It’s because of how
limited he is off the bounce for the most part. He’s good in straight lines but can’t really create and maintain advantages for
prolonged stretches. If he gets contacted as a driver, his momentum tends to die, leading to his man recovering back into the
play easily. Having said that, he also doesn’t really have many moments of high-level vision. Everything is very simple. Had a
negative assist-to-turnover ratio this past season despite not being a particularly turnover-prone player.
SUMMARY
I completely buy Strawther translating as a shooter at the next level. He’s a legit 40 percent guy. He has real touch and NBA
range on the jumper. His shot prep is superb. The mechanics are perfect. And he has the kind of quick release you tend to need
when morphing into a floor spacer at that level given how quickly shooting windows close. It all comes down to his defense.
Strawther has the size and length to at least become a passable NBA defender. But he needs to be consistently locked in on that
end and get the most of his physical tools. He needs to maximize his body and quickness to be able to at least have a chance to
stay in front. If you buy Strawther really being willing to work hard on that end of the court, he can stick as a rotational floor
spacer. It is hard to find 6-foot-7 guys who can shoot like this. Now, it’s all on him to be willing to defend and take the leaps
necessary to become an NBA player long term.
47. Seth Lundy

W | Penn State | Birthdate: April 2, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-4 | 215 LBS |
Hometown: Paulsboro, N.J.
2019-20 Penn State NCAA (Big Ten) 20 31 5.3 2.7 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 39.4 39.1 75.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Gerald and Martina. Grew up in a big family with six older brothers and sisters. Seth’s the youngest. One brother,
Xavier, played college basketball at Rider University. Grew up just over the New Jersey border in Paulsboro, which is about 25
minutes away from Philadelphia. Attended Roman Catholic High School in the Philadelphia, big-time sports high school in
the area that became a bit of a feeder to Penn State over the last decade, including former Nittany Lions Tony Carr and Lamar
Stevens. Was one of the best players in school history. Played in the Catholic League, one of the more competitive high-school
environments in the country and became a three-time All-League pick. He won first-team all-state honors twice, and the team
won the 2018 state title in the highest Pennsylvania classification. Was considered a solid three-star recruit in the class of 2019.
Committed to Penn State over Virginia Tech, Marquette and Louisville. Earned his way into the starting lineup by about mid-
season, and the team was on the pathway to make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade before
the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Continued along as a strong starter in his second and third seasons, playing essentially for three
separate head coaches in that time after the coach that recruited him, Pat Chambers, resigned following an investigation into
his prior conduct. In the third season, Micah Shrewsberry was hired, and the former NBA assistant unlocked Lundy a bit. During
Lundy’s senior season, he took an enormous leap as a shooter and became one of the best knockdown guys in the country. Was
only honorable All-Big Ten but earned All-Big Ten Tournament honors with his and Penn State’s play in the event. Decided after
the season to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft and go all-in. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine, where he measured and
played quite well.
STRENGTHS
Lundy has interesting measurements for the wing position. Comes in a little over 6-foot-5 in shoes with a 6-foot-10 wingspan,
meaning he has superb length. Ended up with an 8-foot-8 standing reach that slots in perfectly for the three position in the NBA.
A good athlete who plays hard and has real physicality. Some vertical pop. Great functional strength for the wing position in
the NBA. Huge shoulders. The motor is a real factor too. Lundy seemed to have a real flair for the moment this past season and
seemed to really step up in important spots. Plays a fearless brand of basketball, which is likely a big part of why he was able to
step into the combine setting and do well.
The critical skill Lundy brings to the table is his ability to shoot. He was a lethal catch-and-shoot player this past season, hitting
41 percent of his nearly 200 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. Very reliable off the catch. Has good shot prep off spot-ups. Ready
to catch and fire. Most of the time it’s a quick one-two step into the shot with his momentum going forward toward the rim. But
he also will occasionally hop into it. Really elevates into the jumper, plus has a super-high release point. This allows him to shoot
over tight contests and make difficult 3s. It’s a very clean shot, and the Nittany Lions weaponized him a bit off movement this
past season. He’d run off all sorts of pindowns and baseline actions with momentum going away from the rim, and he’d be able
to stop and fire. Made a few directly off dribble handoffs. Excellent at re-aligning his body in midair and getting himself and
his elbow toward the rim. Probably won’t be elite at generating looks off the catch, but I do buy him knocking down shots from
NBA range.
Most of his possessions come out of spot-up situations or off screens, but like a lot of the older prospects who enter the NBA
and emerge into surprisingly useful players, Lundy has showcased some intriguing potential as a shot creator. Won’t be the
meat-and-potatoes of his game but could be a value-add. Had some reasonable moments in isolation as a necessary shot creator
but wouldn’t expect that in the NBA. Does show some real potential to attack after heavy closeouts, though. He’s comfortable
handling the ball, and even had a few moments breaking guys down with some legitimate crossovers and shifty moves. Hit 43.5
percent of his pull-ups this past season including 36.5 percent of his pull-up 3s. Showed some ability to hit a midrange jumper.
Would need to make some developments here as we’ll talk about in the weaknesses section, but this is a developable skill.
On defense, Lundy was a positive on-ball defender at Penn State. Uses his frame and his length to really impact and disrupt
what opposing ballhandlers want to do. Consistently took on the toughest assignments on the opposing team for Penn State,
and generally was good at handling those matchups. Really can wall up and force guys to try to go through his chest, where
he’s quite strong. If he gets beat, goes for late strips to try to recover. He’s just one of those dudes who fights for it. It’s kind of
simplistic, and we’ll talk about some of his concerns on this end in the next section, but his physicality, motor and length are a
real bonus. Does his best work on wings and forwards at the three and four. Consistently is at least in the right spots as an overall
off-ball and team defender.
WEAKNESSES
Lundy has some pop and explosiveness at times, but there are some reasonable worries about how his overall athleticism will
translate to the NBA. He’s very boxy as an athlete, which shows up in a few ways on defense. Doesn’t have particularly flexible or
fluid hips. Doesn’t have much of a first step or anything. At 6-foot-4 without shoes, he’s a bit undersized for a hybrid three/four
wing role, which is what he’s probably best suited toward athletically and in terms of overall offensive skill set.
On that offensive end, Lundy’s overall feel for the game is not particularly strong. Does not seem to locate or find passing reads
regularly, even on his drives where he forces help from a second man. Can be a player who holds the ball for an extra split second
longer than you’d like. Only averaged 0.9 assists per game this past season. Doesn’t make mistakes really but has also just never
displayed much in the way of reading the court and making passing reads for his teammates. Additionally, while I think his
handle shows some room for growth in terms of creativity and in the way that he can change speeds a bit off crossovers, I also
think his handle can get a bit loose right now. Doesn’t have a great first step, so really would need to tighten that handle up and
use his length to keep it low to the ground to separate consistently.
Did not pressure the rim a ton at Penn State. Averaged fewer than two shots per game in half-court settings. Most of those were
off cuts, but even then, I wouldn’t necessarily call Lundy a particularly instinctive cutter that finds open areas regularly. A lot of
his baskets off cuts came off preordained loops from the perimeter. Occasionally had an impressive backdoor cut to get into the
dunker spot off a post-up or drive. Made 56.9 percent of his shots at the rim but wouldn’t say that’s a wildly impressive number
given how few of them are self-created. A below-the-rim player in half-court settings unless he has a full head of steam. Would
really help him a lot to add to his game as an instinctive cutter and passer.
Defensively, I think Lundy has some flaws that could end up being real problem spots. Much like with his offensive game,
wouldn’t necessarily call him a particularly positive off-ball defender. He’s not bad and gets into the right spots, but he doesn’t
really use his length in a particularly disruptive way. Doesn’t jump a ton of passing lanes. Wouldn’t say that he uses his length
all that well when rotating over from the weak side when trying to contest at the rim. More than that, what worries me is his
ability to get through any sort of screening action, both on and off the ball. That inflexibility through his hips often results in
him getting caught at the mesh point. Just seems to get stuck on them a little too long. Gets caught trailing his man often when
he’s trying to get through them off the ball. He fights to recover to get back into plays, but those little split seconds where he gets
caught can be catastrophic in the NBA. On the ball, he gets beat by guards a bit more often than you’d like to see from a potential
3-and-D wing. Don’t love what his overall switchability would look like in the NBA in terms of guarding ones and twos. Going to
be best against guys he can get physical with.
SUMMARY
Lundy is the kind of player I really want to buy into, given the importance of shooting in today’s NBA. Being able to knock
down shots is essential. He’s also a hard worker on defense with real length and tools. He has experience taking on difficult
assignments and making life harder for good players. I also think he has the makings of being able to attack closeouts and take
on the occasional mismatch off the bounce. But he’s still a bit of a developmental player in a lot of respects due to his feel for
the game. The fact that he’s never shown real ability to make consistent passing reads is a worry. His overall physical profile is
a bit stiff, upright and boxy and also begs questions on the defensive end in terms of switchability. I see him as a two-way guy,
but he’d be one of my top priorities on the two-way market, and I’d be willing to draft him with a later pick to lock him in on
such a deal.
48. Adama Sanogo

C | Connecticut | Birthdate: Feb. 12, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-7 | 260 LBS | Hometown: Bamako, Mali
(Big East)
(Big East)
(Big East)
BACKGROUND
Parents are Cheickne and Awa. Has five siblings, and his family still lives overseas. Like many players who come overseas and
live without their family, Sanogo is a very cultured, mature person who now speaks four different languages. Played soccer when
he was young. Picked up basketball as a teenager after it was clear he was going to keep growing and get tall. After a year, moved
to the United States to attend Our Savior New American School in New York City to keep playing and progressing. Played there
but then transferred before the 2019-20 season to The Patrick School in New Jersey. Largely emerged on the Nike EYBL circuit
playing for NY Rens, where his motor stood out to college coaches even as his skill level was clearly progressing. Averaged a
double-double in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. Was originally a member of the 2021 recruiting class, but ultimately
decided to reclassify, and announced that decision during his commitment. Chose Connecticut over Seton Hall and Nebraska.
Was considered a solid four-star recruit, and a top-100 recruit in the class. Ended up becoming a difference-maker in his fresh-
man season. Was a starter very early in the season. Was quite good and ended up making the All-Freshman team in the Big East.
Then broke out in a big way during the conference tournament and made the All-Tournament team in the Big East to help them
make the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Continued that jump as a sophomore. Was one of the best players in the Big East,
winning first-team All-Big East honors and turning into the second-leading scorer on the team. Again led team to NCAA Tour-
nament, but team lost in the first round again. Became one of the best players in the country as a junior. Led the team in scoring.
Did not make an All-American team but would have been reasonable. Made first-team All-Big East again and made the All-Tour-
nament team in Big East play. Then, Connecticut went on its dominant NCAA Tournament run on Sanogo’s shoulders. Won the
Most Outstanding Player award for the NCAA Tournament as the Huskies won the title. Decided following the tournament that
he was going to go pro, given that there wasn’t much left to accomplish. Declared without maintaining eligibility. Was invited to
the 2023 NBA Draft Combine and played well.
STRENGTHS
Sanogo has insane length. Not overly big as we’ll discuss later but has a near-7-foot-3 wingspan. Not the most explosive athlete,
but he’s underrated in a few respects. First, Sanogo has incredible footwork and balance. Moves his feet exceedingly fluidly.
Has elite coordination for a player with this body type. Extremely strong. Moves guys around with his physical, 260-pound
frame. Motor never stops running. Plays hard all the time. Runs the floor hard. Just felt like he straight up wore opponents down.
Constant level of aggression on the glass. Averaged three offensive rebounds per game over the last two years. Knows how to
carve out his space on the interior and then use his length for tap outs and to grab the ball. Great hands. Catches everything in
his area.
Best on offense right now. Sanogo is elite around the basket. Despite being a below-the-rim finisher, Sanogo’s numbers stack up
with anyone in the class because he has arguably the best interior touch of any big to come through the draft process in at least
five years. He shot 75.6 percent at the basket this past season. Among all 893 players to take at least 150 shots at the rim this past
season, Sanogo was 14th-best and second among all high-major players. However, if you limit to just attempts on layups, Sanogo
pops as historically relevant. He scored 8.6 points per game on layups, which was 17th nationally. However, he made those shots
at a 74.8 percent clip, which is the best mark for any medium-to-high volume, high-major player in college basketball in the last
six years. He is an outlier in terms of touch.
Sanogo is a ridiculously talented scorer for a big-bodied big. That terrific balance shows up here. Constantly has his center of
gravity. Never rushed. Only about 11 percent of his attempts at the rim were dunks, and he still was that good. Posted up on a lot
of his attempts and made 58.5 percent of those shots. Good footwork on his drop steps. Great at sealing his man high up the lane.
Has a ton of little head fakes and movements to confuse his guy. Knows how to read his man’s momentum and use his shoulders
to create separation at the perfect time for a touch finish. Has a wide array of little floaters and mini-hooks. Also good in ball
screens. Knows how to time his rolls. Comfortable short-rolling or popping because of his comfort handling and shooting. Can
catch far away from the rim and go up to finish.
More perimeter skill than you would think just looking at him. Again, largely because of that body control and coordination,
Sanogo’s a better driver than he gets credit for. Comfortable putting the ball on the deck. Can pick and pop or catch above the
3-point line and put the ball on the deck a couple of times in a straight line to beat his man to the rim off a heavy closeout. Good
pump fake. Has a similar effect to his Malian compatriot Joel Embiid where he seemingly looks like he’s moving in slow motion
but is so balanced, so strong and has such long strides that he covers ground, maintains his advantage through contact and gets
to the basket. Also shouldn’t come as a surprise that Sanogo has displayed some real potential to make 3s given his touch levels.
Has kind of funky mechanics with a super low load point and a follow through that veers off to the right. Total set shot where
his legs kind of fling forward. But the ball comes out of his hand incredibly softly with deft touch. Made 39.2 percent of his 51
catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts this past season. There is some real potential for him to become a big-bodied floor spacer in
pick-and-pops and spot-ups in the NBA with further work on this skill set. Also, not an awesome passer but can handle some
high-lows and read defenses out of doubles.
Sanogo has real defensive flaws, but the tape was good within Connecticut’s scheme. The Huskies ran a hedge and recover
scheme with him, where essentially they were putting two players on the ball and then forcing Sanogo to recover back onto the
roller. He moves his feet reasonably well in these settings, works hard to recover back and really communicates well in screen
settings. He’ll need to find the right fit and the right coach that’s willing to run more of a flat ball screen coverage scheme but has
potential to be OK if he does. Probably won’t be a plus. But might not be a stark negative, which would allow a coach to get his
incredible play-finishing offensive ability on the court.
WEAKNESSES
Sanogo will be undersized for the center position at just 6-foot-7 1/4 without shoes. Has a 9-foot 1/2 standing reach, so he does
reach the threshold to manage as a small-ball center effectively. But he just hits the baseline and will be small compared to
others. All about athleticism. Has no explosiveness at all. Very little lift. Significant load leaper. Really must go up off two feet to
get any sort of bounce. Doesn’t have a ton of vertical pop. Affects him in a few ways and could end up affecting his finishing a bit.
Has elite touch, but will he be impacted to a greater extent by bigger, longer centers? He also doesn’t have a ton of explosiveness
horizontally or laterally. Moves better than you think because his footwork and balance is incredibly good but doesn’t have that
burst in either direction. Not a great first step as a driver.
The big area of concern for Sanogo comes around the rim on defense. Can he control the paint at his size? Was good as a post
defender due to his strength and how early he does his work positionally. Can occasionally rotate over across the play and
swat a shot from the weak side. But he’s just a bit small. Doesn’t feel like he impacts shots at the basket in the way that you’d
hope. Guys can elevate over him a bit even with his length because of his lack of lift. Did block only 0.8 shots per game this past
season, although the limited blocks were, in part, scheme based. Blocked nearly two per game as a sophomore. Still, I don’t see
Sanogo as a wildly anticipatory defender inside, plus he has the size issue. Additionally, you also probably need to pair him with
a legitimate defensive rebounder at the four. Felt he was a bit below average at controlling the defensive glass because of that
lack of size. Could be exacerbated at NBA level. In general, I think you probably can’t have him play in a drop-coverage scheme
because he’s not big enough.
While I think Sanogo’s a bit mobile in ball screen defense and got quite good at hedging and recovering in Connecticut’s scheme,
I’m a little bit worried about what he looks like in space when strung out against better perimeter players in the NBA. Was just
OK in those settings in college. Managed it and made it work. But he’s a very handsy defender. Had 10 games with at least four
fouls this past season and did seem to get into foul trouble more often than you’d like to see. With the larger half-court setting
in the NBA, it might be easier to string him out and get him in those mismatch settings. Additionally, will probably be scheme-
locked into such a scheme. I’m skeptical he’ll be able to switch against NBA-level talent. But he also can’t play in drop. That
means he’ll need to find a scheme where a coach is willing to play in a flatter ball screen coverage in the NBA where he contains
and recovers to the big, and that could limit his overall marketplace. Will need to be so good on offense that it forces teams to
adjust defensively.
While Sanogo showed passing flashes this past season, Sanogo certainly misses some at times. Not a great passer on the move.
Much better in the high post from a standstill or when he got doubled on the block. Averaged just 1.3 assists per game versus 1.9
turnovers. I think he’s just a lot more comfortable going up for the shot than he is making a passing read. Think he’s still working
through his overall vision and seeing where defenders come from. Will be a big part of his potential development as a short-roll
player, something that his ballhandling comfort gives him potential to do.
SUMMARY
I’ve gone back and forth a lot on Sanogo. In the end, I think I’m higher on him than most evaluators both in the public sector and
on the team side for a simple reason: Within the NBA Draft, we’re all on the lookout for elite traits that could lead to someone
exceeding expectation. Is there something a player does that makes him an incredible marginal value compared to where he
is picked? In Sanogo’s case, I think his combination of touch, coordination and balance is truly special. He’s undersized. He’s
not explosive. He isn’t an awesome rim protector, and there are some real, tangible worries about how he’ll handle NBA-caliber
players in space on defense because of that lack of burst. But his touch is historically good for a player his size on the interior,
and he’s already started to expand that out beyond the 3-point line. He’s shown that it translates to NBA-style settings, such as
delayed rolls, short rolls and perimeter drives after pick-and-pops because he’s a capable ballhandler for a big. It’s almost like
if Montrezl Harrell had Joel Embiid’s weird combination of strength, touch and balance for his size. Harrell has been limited
throughout the course of his career to a backup role, and Sanogo is probably the same. But I think he ends up sticking in the
league as a valuable scorer. He’ll need to find the right defensive scheme early, or else, he might end up off to an overseas career.
But I’d take a shot on him and give him a real two-way.
49. Hunter Tyson

W/F | Clemson | Birthdate: June 13, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-8 | 210 LBS | Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
2018-19 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 18 31 1.6 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.1 25.4 23.4 66.7
2019-20 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 12 31 5.5 3.0 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.5 44.5 32.1 70.7
2020-21 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 20 19 7.5 4.2 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.5 46.5 43.1 77.1
2021-22 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 21 25 10.0 5.5 1.3 1.0 0.3 0.8 46.6 34.7 78.6
2022-23 Clemson NCAA (ACC) 22 34 15.3 9.6 1.5 1.0 0.1 0.9 47.9 40.6 83.8
BACKGROUND
Parents are Jonathan and Torri. Father played basketball at Wingate in North Carolina and was the principal at Hunter’s high
school. Tyson was one of the more decorated players in his age group in North Carolina before getting to Clemson. Looked like
a potential high-major recruit from his freshman season, and eventually reached all-state status by his junior season. Attended
Piedmont High School, became its all-time leading scorer and was a top-25 all-time scorer in North Carolina state high school
history. Again made all-state as a senior and was well-regarded as a potential recruit. He was a three-star kid that was ranked in
the top-250 nationally, and chose Clemson over Michigan, Davidson, Tennessee and Wake Forest. Tyson was extremely skinny
early in his career and needed the time in college to add weight to his frame and become able to deal with bumps. Entered the
Clemson rotation early and was a solid bench player for his first two years. Was a part-time starter as a junior but suffered a facial
fracture and missed five games. Eventually emerged as a fourth-year player, finally scoring double figures. Broke his collarbone
and missed eight games late in the season. However, he put his extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic to the
best use imaginable. Tyson averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds and earned first-team All-ACC honors. He ultimately missed the
NCAA Tournament with Clemson but was still very good. From there, he earned a Portsmouth Invitational berth, and played
well there. Was invited to the G League Elite Camp and earned his way into a 2023 NBA Draft Combine invite by playing well
there. Tyson was also a four-time All-Academic performer in the ACC and won the Skip Prosser Award, which is given out each
year to the top scholar-athlete in the ACC.
STRENGTHS
Tyson has phenomenal size for an NBA floor spacer. At nearly 6-foot-9 in shoes with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Tyson is big enough
to play the four with an 8-foot-9 standing reach. He’s also a good rebounder who really gets in there and battles, so you would
probably be able to buy him in such a role. He really moves well for his size. Very fluid athlete. Everything makes sense within
his kinetic chain of motions. Not a burner or anything but moves like an actual wing as opposed to a big, which is huge. Unafraid
of anything and plays with a real energy and aggressiveness. Has a swagger. Plays like he expects to be successful and talks.
I buy Tyson as a shooter. Almost fully. He was a 40.5 percent 3-point shooter this past season and took about 40 percent of his 3s
from NBA range, per Synergy. He made those NBA range shots from beyond 25 feet at 37.3 percent. Has perfect shot prep. Always
ready with his hands in his shooting pocket and his feet set to fire. Gets them off quickly out of spot-up situations. Took about
six 3s per game, so he gets them off at volume. Also makes them off screening actions and movement. Per Synergy, made 48.5
percent of his 3s in such settings this past season, which is a terrific number. Has a high release point that bodes well toward
him being able to continue getting his 3-point shot off at volume in the NBA. Can even move and relocate and put the ball on the
ground once with a dribble before firing from 3. Has a lot of potential to be a very real NBA floor spacer because of the way his
actual shooting skill set works.
A sharp mover without the basketball. More than anything, that’s what stands out on the tape. He moves very fluidly for his size
and flies around out there off different screening actions and within different style cuts. Clemson essentially played him as a
forward who was away from the basket most of the time, and he was very effective in this capacity. Really knows how to pick his
spots and find open areas at the rim. Takes advantage of his chances when he gets to the basket. Made a ridiculous 73.5 percent
of his attempts at the basket this past season, per Synergy, including 69.6 percent of his looks in half-court settings. A little
springier than you’d expect. Gets off the ground quickly if he can load up off two.
It’s easy to say this, but Tyson is just one of those dudes who really knows how to play. It’s very easy to envision him playing an
off-ball role in the NBA and being someone coaches love having around.
WEAKNESSES
Tyson is a very fluid, coordinated athlete but not an explosive one. Has very little in the way of first step quickness. Doesn’t
have any burst. Only has a 6-foot-9 3/4 wingspan. He’s big for the role he’ll be asked to play, so he’ll probably be fine. But might
struggle to contest fives in any sort of cross-matching circumstance. Also doesn’t have a great first stride laterally.
Tyson is, in a lot of ways, the classic limited floor spacer prospect in that his limitations are the ones typically associated with
the role. Let’s start on defense because I think that’s the most worrisome area. He showed real growth on that end this past
season and is not a total liability. He fights and was switchable in the ACC. Still, that lack of first stride quickness could make
him have some issues in switch scenarios against quicker guards. Also, while Tyson has gotten stronger, I’m a little worried
about him getting bullied by stronger NBA wings who can push through his chest on drives and explode up through him. He
needs to find a position to guard effectively. Will it be improving his footwork a bit more and guarding threes? Will it be getting
stronger and managing fours? And can he prove he can hold up on an island against guards?
That lack of explosiveness also shows up with his driving ability. Tyson is comfortable putting the ball on the deck, but he just
can’t quite get anywhere all that far because it’s too easy for good athletes to recover back onto him. Took very few layups that
he self-created off his dribble because he often got beaten to a spot. In college, it was fine, and he’d just get onto the block and
shoot over the top of guys. Won’t be able to do that as impactfully in the NBA. Because he can’t collapse defenses, he’s not really
someone who hurts teams with passing. Not a bad decision-maker at all, but he’s a bit limited in how he can attack defenses.
Only got to the rim 1.5 times per game in half-court settings. And only averaged 1.5 assists per game this past season.
SUMMARY
Tyson is one of my favorite two-way bets this year because of how well I think his shooting will translate to higher-level
basketball. He moves exceptionally well off the ball, has great shot prep and is always ready to fire. He has a beautiful high
release point, and he plays with an immense amount of confidence. On top of that, he’s bigger than most of these shooter types
who realistically have a chance to play on the wing athletically. Tyson will need to prove he can stay on the court defensively and
prove he’s not just a good shooter but a potentially elite one by continuing to work on quickening his release a bit. But there is a
lot to buy into as a potentially useful rotation player.
50. Jordan Miller

W | Miami (FL) | Birthdate: Jan. 23, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-5 | 190 LBS |
Hometown: Middleburg, Va.
2018-19 George NCAA 19 17 10.4 7.1 0.6 1.1 0.8 0.8 61.2 33.3 61.7
Mason (Atlantic 10)
2019-20 George NCAA 20 32 12.7 5.3 1.4 1.8 0.2 1.1 44.8 33.0 70.1
Mason (Atlantic 10)
2020-21 George NCAA 21 20 15.8 6.1 2.0 1.9 0.4 1.0 46.3 33.3 77.5
Mason (Atlantic 10)
2021-22 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 22 36 10.0 5.9 1.1 0.9 0.6 1.8 56.1 29.2 70.6
2022-23 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 23 37 15.3 6.2 2.7 1.3 0.4 1.2 54.5 35.2 78.4
BACKGROUND
Parents are Jeffery and Donna. Has three older brothers, one of whom played low-level college basketball. Miller was quite a
good player in the Virginia area but wasn’t really considered all that impressive as a prospect. Went to Loudoun Valley High
School and set the school’s all-time scoring record. Also competed on the track-and-field team. Emerged in a big way as a junior,
leading his team to a 30-1 record and a state championship, scoring 26 points in the final. Unsurprisingly, was named all-state
and won his classification’s player of the year award. Was every bit as good as a senior, again earning all-state honors and lead-
ing his team to the state semifinals. Still, was not considered a high-level recruit as he was something in the ballpark of 6-foot-3
and only about 165 pounds. Was firmly a mid-major player at that point, with offers from places such as Radford, Towson and
High Point. Ended up choosing George Mason. Played at George Mason for three seasons, growing every year into stardom. The
original plan was to redshirt Miller for his first season, but the team ended up burning the redshirt midway through the year. He
averaged 10 points and seven rebounds and shot 61 percent from the field. Started every game but one from the time he began
playing. Moved into a bigger role as a sophomore and again was terrific, averaging nearly 13 points. Truly came into his own as
a junior, averaging nearly 16 points and making the All-Atlantic-10 third team. However, George Mason hovered around .500 in
each of those seasons and decided to make a coaching change, firing Dave Paulsen. Miller chose to enter the transfer portal and
was scooped up by Miami. Was again a solid, efficient starter for the Hurricanes, averaging double figures and shooting over
56 percent from the field. Helped lead the team to the Elite Eight, where it lost to eventual national champion Kansas. Decided
to use the extra season every player got due to COVID-19 and made the most of it. Miller averaged 15 points per game and made
second-team All-ACC. He developed as a passer and continued to be his efficient self on the interior. Made 3s at a higher clip
than ever before. He helped Miami go on a massive run toward the Final Four, including being named to the All-Region team
after what was quite literally a perfect game in the Elite Eight against Texas where he went 7-of-7 from the field and 13-of-13
from the foul line to score 27 points. Team eventually lost to Connecticut in the Final Four. Miller is an automatically eligible
senior for the 2023 NBA Draft. He was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine where he was one of the most productive players
at the camp.
STRENGTHS
Miller’s tools are awesome for a wing. He’s nearly 6-foot-5 without shoes but measures out with a 6-foot-11 3/4 wingspan and
an 8-foot-7 1/2 standing reach. Very smooth athlete. Not wildly explosive but maintains body control at full speed in a way that
is difficult to manage for defenders. Can rise and finish above the rim if he gets a runway. It’s hard to have anything other than
an immense appreciation for how he goes about his game. Few players are better at picking their spots than Miller and making
the most of the opportunities presented to them. He goes about his business and gets stuff done and is a high-IQ player. Miami
played up-tempo, and Miller generally did a really good job of grabbing and going on the break to try to create quick offense.
Good rebounder. Averaged over six per game in his last year at Miami. Does a good job of judging the ball off the rim and using
his length to extend upward to grab it. Will lead the break or outlet it and fill gaps to go and try to finish. He’s also aggressive
crashing the offensive glass.
Miller is one of the best wing finishers in the draft class. Made an absurd 64 percent of his shots at the basket in half-court
settings this past season on high volume. Uses his length to its fullest extent, getting all the way to the basket and extending to
finish, typically with his dominant left hand. Always wants to get back to his left but can finish with his right. Mostly below the
rim in half-court settings but has a wide array of little tricks to throw the timing off for bigs. Has great touch around the rim.
More than anything, he’s a superb cutter and finisher at the rim. Averaged nearly four points per game off cuts, which was top
20 in the entire country in 2022-23. Understands exactly when the defense turns its back on the baseline and cuts behind to find
open areas. Great at timing his cuts for right when his defender commits to help, and dives toward the rim.
Miller’s also impactful as a driver. Has a low handle with quick crossovers that allow him to get downhill and use his length
extension to finish around bigs. Everything is in a straight line after that initial move. Recognizes mismatches on the perimeter
well and understands when he can exploit them. For someone who doesn’t have an immense first step, Miller does a great job
of getting downhill and attacking. Once he gets an angle, he’s trying to get to the rim. Has a quick, balanced spin move. Can get
around guys using it and can pivot around players and utilize a nice little floater occasionally to finish from the midrange. Made
48.1 percent of such attempts per game, per Synergy. Also, will occasionally throw up a little lefty mini-hook shot.
I think Miller is generally a sharp passer and playmaker. A few teams play zone in the ACC, and Miller tended to be the player
Miami would utilize in the middle. Really good high-low passer down to his big. Really sharp bounce passes that are on target.
He also can drive and kick on the move. Can really only throw live-dribble passes with his left hand but can throw those if he’s
using that side. Good transition passer. Averaged 2.7 assists per game versus only 1.3 turnovers. Not going to necessarily collapse
defenders and draw them to him or anything, but he’s a very reliable decision-maker.
Finally, I think Miller is a solid defensive player across the board. Wouldn’t say he has All-Defense upside, but he is reliable and
polished. He’s switchable onto a variety of different players because of his length and lateral agility. Being an incredibly fluid
athlete does wonders for him here. Does a great job sliding his feet to stay in front of players on the perimeter, and he’s a battler
against bigger post players at nearly 6-foot-6 in shoes. I think he’ll be able to manage at least two through four with potential
to deal with ones. Uses his length to contest and force tough shots. Keeps his arms up. Also, think he’s sharp in a team context.
Good closeouts. Knows when to pick his spots jumping passing lanes. Rotates well across the board. Knows how to use his length
when scrambling. Just really covers ground out there with his smooth feet and wingspan. Wouldn’t say he’s the most disruptive
player in the world or someone who really crawls into opponents’ space, but he’ll be reliable and useful on defense in the NBA.
WEAKNESSES
Miller has good length but isn’t overly strong. Physical defenders can stop his momentum on his drives and force him into
tough pivoting scenarios where he becomes a less effective scorer in the midrange area. I also worry a bit about how his physical
strength will hold up against bigger NBA wings on the defensive end. Can he consistently hold his spot on the court? Will players
be able to bully him into the spots they want? While he does a great job of doing his work ahead of time, it’s possible that guys
who outweigh him by 30 pounds and have ball skills can give him problems. Even around the basket where he’s remarkably
effective, Miller doesn’t exactly draw a ton of fouls or try to initiate contact.
The big question for Miller is the jumper. He got better as a shooter this past season and in total hit 35.2 percent of his 3s. Out
of spot-up situations, Miller hit 35.8 percent of his 3s, per Synergy. But overall, Miller made just 32.5 percent of his catch-and-
shoot 3s. If you take him out of just standing still and being prepped to fire, he struggles. Takes him an extra second to load into
the jumper, which gives opponents time to close out. Jumper mechanics don’t look terrible. Has a good release with his elbow
in strong alignment with the rim and underneath the ball. But it’s a pure set shot that takes a real second. And it’s not always
his go-to. Doesn’t always look the most comfortable with it. Took just 2.5 3s per game this past season for Miami. Much more
comfortable driving off those spot-up situations. Only took 10 3s from 25 feet and beyond, per Synergy, so it might be a bit of an
adjustment for him there on the NBA line. This is the swing skill. Miller needs to be able to shoot to space the floor. Otherwise,
teams will leave him alone, and it’ll be hard for him to get the most out of his impressive off-ball offensive game.
I don’t think Miller will ever be confused with a self-creator on offense. Doesn’t have a ton of shake to his handle. Knows his
limitations and doesn’t try to expand beyond what he can do. But he is a driver who recognizes when he has an advantage
and tries to just go. Can be a bit slithery as a driver with his footwork but is largely a straight-line driver. Has very little pull-up
game to speak of. Took just 29 pull-up attempts all season for Miami, most of which were in the midrange, where he made just
30 percent. Essentially, Miller is limited to being a spot-up driver, glass crasher, backdoor cutter, an occasional screener and a
transition player. You can’t really run him off screening actions to shoot, you can’t expect him to isolate and create or run ball
screens, and you shouldn’t expect him to collapse defenses and force help to take advantage of his passing. There are limitations
to his game right now.
SUMMARY
I think Miller is an awesome candidate for a two-way contract and is one of my priority players there. I love the idea of him being
a cutter, spot-up shooter and defender who just keeps things simple and plays the right way. But I’m worried enough about the
shooting that I don’t know how great I’d feel about him right now as a fully guaranteed roster player. If it takes him time to adjust
to the NBA line as a shooter, he turns 24 midway through next season and might not have a ton of time to figure it all out. I love
his length, and I love how direct his game is. He’s one of those guys who just gets stuff done out there, and I have an immense
appreciation for how he forces his will upon the game despite being relatively low usage. The fact that he doesn’t need the ball to
be productive is a huge plus. I just would like to see a bit more shooting evidence before I’d make a full commitment.
51. Jaylen Clark

W | UCLA| Birthdate: Oct. 13, 2001 (Age: 21) | 6-4 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Riverside, Calif.
2020-21 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 19 31 2.5 2.4 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 50.0 20.0 75.0
2021-22 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 20 29 6.7 3.8 1.0 0.7 0.2 1.1 50.6 25.9 54.2
2022-23 UCLA NCAA (Pac-12) 21 30 13.0 6.0 1.9 1.2 0.3 2.6 48.1 32.9 69.8
BACKGROUND
Parents are Cornelius and Denita. Has two siblings. Father played basketball briefly in college. Jaylen played his first three
years for Centennial High School and for Compton Magic, arguably the biggest AAU program in Southern California. Really
emerged as a definite high-major recruit as a junior as he started to become a well-rounded player. Before his senior year, Clark
transferred to Etiwanda High School and truly became an elite defensive player. Was an All-CIF Southern Section player as a
junior and senior. Was second-team All-State as a senior and took a leap into being an exceptionally sought-after player. Was a
solid four-star recruit following this past season and a consensus top-100 player. Clark chose to commit to UCLA over USC and
Colorado, among others, in February of his senior year. Surprisingly emerged into a back-end rotation player as a freshman on a
loaded UCLA team due to his aggressive and defensive intensity. As a sophomore, he made the Pac-12 All-Defense team despite
starting only six games and playing only 18 minutes per night. As a junior, he truly broke out on a national stage and doubled
his production outputs to become arguably the best defensive player in the country. He won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the
Year award, in addition to being awarded the NABC’s and Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He also made
second-team All-Pac-12. However, Clark suffered an Achilles injury in mid-March and missed the rest of the season. He had
surgery to repair it at the conclusion of the season and will miss at least the next six months of basketball action. Declared for
the 2023 NBA Draft despite this injury while maintaining his eligibility. Was not able to compete in any pre-draft workouts at
the NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Clark is a very quick-twitch athlete at 6-foot-4. Has great length with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. Extremely quick. Great lateral
quickness and very fluid hips. Plays very fast. Gets out in transition and runs the court. Motor is incredible. Plays hard
constantly. Aggressive on the glass for a wing. Makes the one-percenter plays by diving on the ground and getting loose balls.
Has really high-level feel for the game and instincts. Knows how to play within a team construct. Does all the little things, and
only some of them show up in the stat sheet.
Clark has a very real case as the best perimeter defender in the class. Unbelievable on-ball defender. Footwork and feet are
unbelievably good. Slides well and is incredibly difficult to get around. Will straight up beat his man to his spot and take a ton of
charges. Everything is very smooth and clean when he slides. No missteps. Directs players to where he wants them to go. Even
guys with a fast first step can’t really get past him. Has perfect technique. Then, can get his chest in front of someone and accept
contact. Guys bounce backward off him more than you think. Hands are always high. Will annoy the opposing player by putting
his hand directly in his face. Contests incredibly well by staying tall and keeping large. Then will straight up rip guys and take
the ball from them. Very quick hands. Averaged 2.6 steals per game, which was sixth nationally and tops in the Pac-12.
Clark is a perfect team defender. Seems to have incredible anticipation. He has to spend a ton of time reading scouting reports,
but also has ridiculous reactivity. Almost seems to pre-rotate knowing what is coming. A preternaturally instinctive defensive
player. Stays big in passing lanes, which is a big part of how he ends up with all those steals. Gets around screens at an incredibly
effective level, both on and off the ball. Executes every technique, from locking and trailing off the ball to fighting over the
top off the ball. Navigates screens very well. Knows how to get through bodies without getting bumped. Stays skinny and gets
around technically well. Closes out incredibly well onto offensive players. Always on balance while simultaneously contesting.
Very light on his feet while also maintaining a strong core and chest. Never misses the right rotation. He’s unbelievable as a
scramble defender given his quickness and instincts. Good when he gets cross-matched and switched onto opposing players.
Offensively, Clark is improving. Has good instincts on that end. An impressive straight-line driver who can get downhill and
cover ground. Very crafty as a below-the-rim finisher with some creative moves. Can get inside-hand finishes or running hook
shots over defenders. If he gets cut off by the man in front of him, his main counter is to spin and get to a turnaround floater. He
finished top 100 nationally in terms of points per game that come from floaters. Great timing as a cutter. Knows how to move
without the ball. Will 45 cut you off post-ups or will try to find daylight in the dunker spot from the baseline. Has good spatial
awareness. Understands how to find those open spaces.
I also think Clark’s transition game is really underrated. Turns defense into offense with steals and rebounds. Finished in the top
100 nationally in transition points per game at 3.6 per game even though UCLA played at a below-average pace this past season.
Really aggressive in how he tries to take those opportunities, then fills gaps in lanes when he’s off-ball. Will be a great running
mate for an up-tempo guard who really likes to get out on the break or for a team that tries to push tempo consistently.
WEAKNESSES
Clark has awesome quickness and is a terrific lateral athlete, but I wouldn’t say he’s an overly explosive player. Doesn’t have a
ton of vertical pop. His first step is just fine in the half court. On top of that, while he’s strong and absorbs contact well, I don’t
think he necessarily initiates that contact. On top of that, with defense-first wings, you prefer them to be more in the 6-foot-7 to
6-foot-9 range in the NBA. Clark is in the 6-foot-5 range in shoes and plays more like a guard than a true wing. Can he guard up
the lineup and deal with bigger wings and fours?
The big question for Clark is the jumper. Made just 33 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers this past season. The year before,
he made only 26 percent of his catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy. Didn’t really get closed out on heavily there. Takes his
shots off the hop to get into rhythm and needs to be really squared up to the rim to have a chance for it to go in. Unfortunately,
that doesn’t always end up being the case. Ends up having some bad misses that go left and right. Not a lot of consistency. Takes
him a real second to load up, then the shot is a bit catapult-y. Gathers on left side of his body to load into the shot, and it’s very
loud. A ton of movement. Also looks very robotic there. Body just looks kind of twisted up which results in some weird
alignment-based issues that will need to get fixed. Don’t think this is a one-year process, especially when he’s expected to miss
time at the very least to start next season, along with all his offseason during his draft year.
Clark also does not have a particularly impressive handle, especially if he needs to play more as a guard. Doesn’t have a ton of
shake. As mentioned above, he doesn’t have an awesome first step. Because he doesn’t have that much explosiveness, his ability
to play at pace or change speeds isn’t really all that impactful. Ends up being a bit predictable in his attacks because of it. Also
not a particularly impressive passer or playmaker. Takes a lot of poor shots that get blocked or stripped as he’s going up in the
lane. Doesn’t drive and kick or make many impressive passes on the move. Only averaged 1.9 assists this past season. Developing
this skill would be a big differentiator for him as a role player that could help him get on the floor.
The jumper questions also extend to his game off the bounce. Doesn’t have a lot of it in terms of his pull-up jumper. Made just 27
percent of his pull-up jumpers. All the issues with the catch-and-shoot jumper extend down into this concern. Here’s the worry:
If Clark can’t shoot at all and struggles to make passing reads, what is the role? Can he be someone defenders have to guard? Can
defensive teams just hide their worst defenders on him without any sort of recourse? Or can they put help defenders on him and
leave him open?
SUMMARY
Clark is a prospect of extremes. The defense is elite. You could put him on an NBA court right now after about a month of
adjusting to his team’s scheme, and he’d be able to impact the game. He has a very strong case as the best perimeter defender in
this draft class, and he’s one of the better ones I’ve evaluated in the last few draft cycles. But the offense is a real worry outside of
running the court in transition. In his jumper’s current state, I’m worried teams won’t have to guard him when he’s spacing the
court. One idea I’ve heard from scouts is that he can be Gary Payton II or Bruce Brown by playing in short rolls almost as a small-
ball four and be effective, but both of those players grew up as point guards, are much more athletic than Clark and entered the
league with more developed passing skills. Where you draft Clark comes down to how confident you are in his jumper improving.
Do you have a plan to help him get better? If you do, he’s worth taking in the top 40. If you don’t, he’s a two-way grade. I think
the defense is so good that I’d take a top-50 flier in this class. And, of course, teams will need to make determinations on his
injury situation and how long it will take him to recover.
52. Adam Flagler

G | Baylor | Birthdate: Dec. 1, 1999 (Age: 23) | 6-1 | 195 LBS | Hometown: Duluth, Ga.
2018-19 Presbyterian NCAA 19 35 15.9 3.5 1.3 1.2 0.3 0.8 43.4 38.2 83.5
(Big South)
2019-20 Baylor NCAA (Big 12 20 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
*REDSHIRT*)
2020-21 Baylor NCAA (Big 12) 21 28 9.1 2.3 1.4 0.8 0.0 0.9 45.4 43.4 87.2
2021-22 Baylor NCAA (Big 12) 22 31 13.8 2.2 3.0 1.7 0.1 1.1 43.8 38.7 74.1
2022-23 Baylor NCAA (Big 12) 23 32 15.6 2.4 4.6 1.7 0.1 0.8 42.6 40.0 79.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Michael and Priscilla. Flagler’s older brothers, Duvaughn and Alex, were high-end athletes. Duvaughn played foot-
ball at Gardner-Webb and was an All-Big South wide receiver. Alex played Division II basketball and was all-state in high school.
Flagler is from the suburbs in Atlanta. Was an All-County player in Georgia at Duluth High School. Has long been an elite shoot-
er, as he set his high school’s record for 3-pointers. Was completely unranked out of high school. Decided on Presbyterian over
Nicholls State as his only Division I offers, as well as a few offers from lower levels. Was an immediately elite player within the
Big South. Won the Big South Freshman of the Year award while averaging almost 16 points per game. Bizarrely was not named
to the All-Big South team despite leading a top-five team in the league in scoring. Presbyterian coach Dustin Kerns left to be the
head coach at Appalachian State following the season, so Flagler entered the transfer portal. He chose Baylor over Butler, Seton
Hall and Appalachian State. He sat out his first season at Baylor due to archaic transfer rules that no longer exist. Immediately
entered Baylor’s rotation in 2020, though, and became a critical piece on the team’s run to the national title. As the team’s sixth
man, Flagler played smart, efficient basketball in the backcourt behind NBA draft picks Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler. Moved
to the starting lineup in 2021 and continued to play efficient basketball as the team’s starting two-guard. Led team in scoring
and won second-team All-Big 12 honors. Moved to become the team’s starting point guard as a senior. Took another step for-
ward. Was first-team All-Big 12 and was terrific leading the way for the No. 2 offense in the country, per KenPom. Made first-team
All-Academic Big 12 in 202, and second-team All-Academic Big 12 in 2022. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season and
decided to go through with staying in. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Flagler is a productive, intelligent player who is eminently reliable to shoot and make good decisions. More of an off-guard than
a point guard early in his career, although moved to the lead guard position as a senior and performed well. Just the model
of efficiency as a basketball player. Everything is smooth and polished. Built like a strong safety now. Has gotten extremely
functionally strong for the guard position.
Flagler is one of the best shooters in the class from any position. More of a scorer than a playmaker but has potential to morph
into a solid offensive weapon largely because his shot threat is constantly present. Good from any situation, but particularly off
the bounce and out of ball screens. It’s all predicated upon his pace and balance as a ballhandler. Not explosive but does a great
job of shifting gears and getting defenders off-balance. Just exceptionally patient and does a great job of reading which way the
defender is leaning. Keeps handle tight to body and can execute a variety of set-up moves to get into his stepback, including
a fairly quick crossover. Loves the hesitation dribble into a pull-up. Can get to his shot from a variety of different motions and
can take them both going to his left and right. Made 38.7 percent of his pull-up 3s as a senior, per Synergy, which is an absurd
number given that he was taking about four of them per game.
Flagler’s shot mechanics are pristine. There is no wasted movement here. Extremely quick release. Everything is off the hop,
so he’s clean off movement. He doesn’t need any time to load into his shot. Has legit range out to 28 feet. Does not hit the rim
on catch-and-shoots if his feet are set prior to the catch. Made 40.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot opportunities as a senior. If
you go under his screen, he’s going to quickly go up for the shot. Because Flagler’s mechanics are so clean, he can hit them off
movement or off any situation. Good at relocating off rebounds. Over the course of his career, he has taken 50 to 60 percent of
his shots from behind the 3-point line. But does have a reasonable floater game once he gets inside the paint. Very comfortable
from the midrange. Made 51.4 percent of his floaters this past season, per Synergy, an awesome number. Has exceptional touch.
Really improved as a passer and playmaker in his senior year, averaging 4.6 assists. super decision-maker. Does a great job of
keeping the offense in flow as a combo guard. Makes early reads at a high level. Always trying to keep the ball moving.
WEAKNESSES
Flagler doesn’t have great “measurable” numbers. He’s 6-foot-1 without shoes with a 6-foot-4 1/2 wingspan. Doesn’t have a
terrific first step and doesn’t test well by traditional metrics. Will be undersized for both the point guard and shooting guard
roles. Will need to win in other ways.
That bears itself out by the lack of pressure he puts on the rim. He takes two shots at the rim per game in half-court settings.
Doesn’t draw a ton of free throws. Doesn’t really rebound because he’s not long, strong or physical. A lot of Flagler’s assists came
from situations that weren’t a result of him breaking down defenders. He got a lot of them on inbounds passes, in transition
and on ball reversals to his teammates continuing the chain. He’s just largely a perimeter player. Doesn’t regularly break down
defenders to get into the paint, and, even when he does, it’s very easy to recover and affect him because of his lack of length and
burst. Once he gets there, he has touch and finishes reasonably well. But rarely lives there. In general, Flagler’s inability to break
down defenders is why I don’t really buy him as a point guard at the next level.
Flagler works hard within Baylor’s scheme defensively but does not project to be an impact defender at the next level. He’s a bit
too small. Willing to fight through screens. Generally, in the right position rotationally. But will have some physical questions at
the next level, especially if he has to play next to another point guard. Those lineups would likely be extremely small and open
gaps for opposing teams. Again, not overly long or quick. He does not project to disrupt or overly bother even guards at the next
level, let alone the wings that teams will try to get him mismatched onto.
SUMMARY
Flagler projects as a terrific pro because of his shooting acumen. He’s a bit undersized for the combo guard spot. He’s not overly
explosive or athletic. If Flagler is going to make it, two things will need to happen. First, he’ll need to show that he can handle
more of the lead guard spot in the NBA by hopefully putting a bit more pressure on the rim than he currently does. He took on
some of those responsibilities last year but needs to keep growing in that regard. Second, he’ll need to be a hyper-elite shooter.
Not just a good one. He needs to be one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s one of the few prospects who can reasonably
project as having that upside if you truly buy into his work ethic. His shot is almost perfect mechanically, and the results back
that up. Still, there is always a place professionally for someone who is this good as a shooter, and who makes decisions across
the court this well. Part of me wants to buy Flagler’s combination of IQ and intelligence, and I think it’s reasonable to give him a
shot on a two-way deal given how skill focused the current iteration of the NBA is. He’d be a priority two-way for me.
53. Terquavion Smith

G | NC State| Birthdate: Dec. 31, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-3 | 165 LBS | Hometown: Greenville, N.C.
2021-22 NC State NCAA (ACC) 19 32 16.3 4.1 2.1 1.7 0.5 1.3 39.8 36.9 69.8
2022-23 NC State NCAA (ACC) 20 34 17.9 3.6 4.1 2.2 0.4 1.4 38.0 33.6 70.1
BACKGROUND
Parents are Terrance and Shannon. Smith emerged as a high-level player in the state of North Carolina early on. Was an all-con-
ference player as a freshman, and then as a sophomore carried his high school, Farmville Central, to an undefeated 32-0 season
and a state championship. His junior season was shortened by the pandemic but his team was awarded the co-state champion-
ship after they made the title game and then the season was canceled. As a senior, he was awarded handsomely for an incredible
high school career. His team won the state title again, and Smith was the clear top player in the state based on the accolades. He
won the North Carolina Mr. Basketball award, as well as the Gatorade Player of the Year award in the state. In total, his team went
76-2 over his final three years of high school. He was considered a solid four-star recruit, and about a top-75 player in the class.
He chose N.C. State during his sophomore season, committing early and staying true to his word. Ultimately, he ended up with
the Wolfpack and was quite impactful immediately. He quickly entered the starting lineup and was remarkably productive. He
had a case as one of the best scoring freshmen in all of college basketball during his freshman season while playing for a rough
Wolfpack team. He earned All-Rookie team honors in the ACC and declared for the draft following the season. He went to the
combine and played exceedingly well during the five-on-five and was seen as a very likely top-35 pick. However, decided to re-
turn to school for a sophomore season at N.C. State. Had a good season again, leading the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament.
He made second-team All-ACC and decided to go all-in on the NBA Draft. Was invited to 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Quick, twitchy athlete. A very aggressive, attack-minded scorer. Plays with real speed and tries to fly around the court. Has great
hand-eye coordination and good length. Solid plus-four, 6-foot-7 wingspan. Uses those two skills to be excellent on digs to get
strip steals defensively. Good first step and has some pop off the ground vertically. Incredibly fluid hips and shifty on the ball.
That intersection of quickness and shiftiness is his best athletic trait. His balance is also ridiculous. Great at running the court in
transition and figures to play well in an up-tempo scheme. Great at running to the 3-point line and finding open shots. Can also
beat opposing players down the court.
All about the scoring with Smith. Superb shot creation. Everything is about getting to his stepback at this point. Legitimately
can break down defenders in isolation situations because of that quickness and hand-eye. Tight control over the ball with real
shiftiness. Has quick crossovers and can change paces very quickly with hesitations. Then, can rise and knock down shots from
a variety of different footwork and angles. That’s where the balance comes in. Can stop and pop from any spot on the court
within 25 feet. Tends to do his best work in pick-and-roll. He’s kind of a drop coverage killer because of those pull-ups. But
then if you catch him in a switch situation, he can attack and get to his stepback with ease. Loves to go between the legs into a
stepback from either side and from either handedness (can go right-to-left or left-to-right from either side). Excellent at reading
defenders and understanding when they’re on or off balance.
Legitimate catch-and-shoot scorer, as well. Made 39 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s last season on high volume. Almost
automatic if left open. Takes them off the hop with perfect balance typically but can one-two step into them if necessary. Ready
to fire every time he catches. He has perfect mechanics. Very quick gather and release that starts with that terrific shot prep.
Shot dip to get into rhythm often happens on the way down, which allows him to get the ball out of his hand quicker. Already
has legitimate range on it, as well. Hit 37 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s from beyond 25 feet. This is the part of his game that I
feel most confident will translate to a high level immediately.
Also thought that he got better as a distributor this past season. Would say he is a plus in that regard now for a combo guard. Not
good enough in this regard to play as a legitimate point, but drastically improved. Think he’s gotten better at passing within
the run of play. Will cut and make the right quick read from the middle of the floor or hit a smart reversal to the corner. Good
at drawing defenders and finding his open teammate at speed now. Seems to have gotten better at reading the low man in help,
both in and out of ball screens. Will hit cross-corner skips in addition to finding cutters who get behind defenders. Still has some
growth potential here once he gets onto a team that has a real rolling threat out of ball screens. Will also need to get stronger for
reasons we’ll mention in the next section.
WEAKNESSES
Came in with just an 8-foot-2 standing reach, which is on the small side even by combo guard standards. The significant
question regarding Smith is the same as last year. Smith is extremely light, coming into the 2023 NBA Draft Combine weighing
just 163 pounds. Can he add weight moving forward to be able to stick in the NBA? That brings significant strength questions
with it. Isn’t all that strong on the ball right now. Best way to slow him down now is to just blitz him, hedge him or put two on the
ball. Stops his willingness to attack. Doesn’t have any downhill ability once he gets a head of steam in the half court. He tries to
escape dribble in those circumstances. And, if he does, it results in overdribbling at times. You can crowd him a little more than
you’d like to see. Needs to be able to withstand his dribble in these moments.
Smith still struggles to finish at the rim in the half court. Got better in this regard after a disastrous freshman season that saw
him shoot an impossible low 33.9 percent at the rim in such settings. Still, only shot 51.6 percent at the rim this past season,
which is a below average number. Got better at drawing fouls, as well. But think his footwork still gets a bit funky around the
basket, even if he is coordinated enough to change the angle on rim protectors. Doesn’t go through contact well at all. Did
add the idea of a little floater/runner this past season, but it’s not all that effective yet. Made just 31.6 percent of those this past
season, per Synergy. Will need to find an answer here, and it must involve getting stronger.
Even beyond the weaknesses, there is a significant question: Is Smith a consistent enough shooter off the bounce to play this
combo guard role effectively? He made just 28.9 percent of his pull-up 3-pointers this past season. He’s extremely streaky at this
stage. In his final six games of the year, he shot just 28.9 percent from 3 overall. Shot 28.6 percent from 3 in seven games from
Dec. 30 to Jan. 24. Shot 28.6 percent from 3 in six games from Nov. 15 to Nov. 29. Just goes through these spells of missing shots,
mixed with spells of drilling shots at a high percentage. Needs to be more reliable. Does generally also take too many difficult
shots. Has gotten better at cutting the worst ones out of his game and hitting teammates, but it’s still there, especially on pull-up
3s. Plus, to be this type of player, he can’t just be a solid or streaky shooter. He needs to be a great shooter, probably bordering on
an elite shooter. He’s not there yet in terms of consistency and generally has been just a 70 percent free-throw shooter.
Finally, Smith got better on defense this past season in a real, tangible way. Whereas in 2021-22 he was a very distracted off-
ball defender, this past season he was much more engaged and active. He rotated properly for the most part. He made plays
on digs to get steals. Generally, he just played harder. But there are just extremely real concerns here in terms of his size and
strength. On the ball, he struggles to get through screens. If he gets clipped at all, it’s tough for him to get back. Also, will just
simply be a magnet for mismatches at the NBA level due to his lack of strength. Even smaller wings are going to be able to power
through him at this level of strength, let alone the bigger wing creators that will specifically hunt him and try to attack him.
The improvement was nice to see, and it at least gives him a chance if the physical development comes along. But that’s a non-
negotiable given that shorter 8-foot-2 standing reach. Needs to be able to anchor and hold his ground a bit better on drives.
SUMMARY
Smith has real gifts as a scorer, and NBA teams are always looking for shooting and scoring. But is Smith a good enough shooter
to overcome some of the flaws here in terms of his defense and overall strength? It’s hard to buy in, given that Smith came in
at 163 pounds at the combine this past season after, presumably, he spent the season trying to put on weight after being told
he needed to get stronger last year. I’m intrigued by the fact that Smith showed real, tangible growth this past season on the
defensive end and as a passer and playmaker. He’s a good player who is unselfish and clearly willing to put in the work. But it’s
exceptionally hard to be even 180 pounds in the NBA, and Smith is still substantially even below that threshold. As much as I
love his skill level and think there is a role for him as a bench scorer if he becomes an elite shooter – something he has genuine
touch to develop into – I just can’t quite get there on Smith as a bet worth making in the first 40 picks. I’d rather take fliers on
wings with real size and potential to defend. It’s been difficult for Bones Hyland to make a true NBA impact on winning as seen
by his trade from Denver this past spring after really struggling to defend at the NBA level. And Hyland was a better prospect
than Smith. I’m willing to take a flier on Smith in the mid-second, but he’s a two-way grade for me because of the shooting
inconsistency.
Tier 8
8 Two-Ways,
Stashes, Exhibit 10s
54. Nadir Hifi

G | Le Portel | Birthdate: July 16, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-2 | 180 LBS |
Hometown: Strasbourg, France
2021-22 Le Portel France 19 24 6.8 1.5 2.3 1.7 0.1 0.7 44.9 37.3 73.9
(Jeep Elite)
2022-23 Le Portel France 20 33 16.8 2.7 3.4 2.1 0.1 1.3 46.5 34.5 84.1
(Jeep Elite)
BACKGROUND
A French-Algerian point guard. Grew up in Strasbourg and played with their youth team, SIG Strasbourg, when he was young.
Has hopped around a bit recently. When he turned 16, he moved over to Lille’s basketball program, but only stayed there for
one year before moving back to Strasbourg. Was good with their youth team and had offers to play in the second division on
France. Instead, joined Le Portel in 2020. From then on, has been clearly one of the most impressive young scorers in the coun-
try. Led the Espoirs competition in scoring in 2020-21, averaging 21.1 points per game. Finally got his playing time in the top tier
of French basketball that season, appearing briefly in three games. The next season, started in the Espoirs competition again,
but focused more on being a passer and distributor while developing. Averaged 7.5 assists in the league that year in 16 games.
Moved up to Le Portel on a more full-time basis in late January. Started 16 games and became a more primary scoring option.
Truly broke out this past season, though. Averaged 16.8 points per game and was one of the more dynamic scoring guards in the
league. Finished seventh in the league in scoring while posting relatively efficient scoring metrics at just 20 years old. In 2017, he
played in a U16 FIBA Africas competition with Algeria, but will represent France in his senior national team career. Has essen-
tially been one of the breakout stars in Europe this past season and declared for the 2023 NBA Draft on the back of that.
STRENGTHS
Hifi is a very creative, intelligent scoring guard. Plays with real speed. Tries to beat his opponents down the floor and does so in
what is a relatively athletic European league in France. Constantly trying to pressure. First goal every time he gets the ball on
the break is to get a layup at the rim by zooming past the opposing team. Also, a good transition passer. Athletically, he has a
sort of compact frame that allows him to absorb contact incredibly well. A very well-balanced athlete. Has very good hand-eye
coordination too.
More than anything, the thing that impresses you most about Hifi is his finishing craft. One of the most impressive below-the-
rim finishers in this draft. Makes 64 percent of his shots at the rim in total, according to Synergy. Even in the half court, still
makes 58.4 percent. Some of the touch finishes he throws up are just ridiculous. Has feathery soft touch around the basket, and
the ability to softly elevate the ball over long rim protectors to score. Can truly finish with both hands equally well around the
rim, which allows him to get creative. Uses his surroundings to finish effectively. Knows how to use the basket as a shield on
reverses and knows how to tuck the ball in traffic before going up in a crowd. Can throw up a quick up-fake, then pivot and finish
to the other side. Loves the one-handed right-hand gather into a quick touch finger roll despite being a lefty. Can throw up lefty
floaters. Just has a million little tricks, all while maintaining his touch. Has great contact balance.
Hifi also has a slick perimeter game. Superb shooter when he’s open. Per Synergy, made 40 percent of his 125 catch-and-shoot
opportunities from 3 this past season, and it’s easy to buy that. Has great touch. Great rhythm through the shot. Also on pull-
ups, he can really generate those quickly, particularly from the midrange. Made 44.3 percent of his midrange jumpers this past
season, which is a very strong number for a guy this young. Takes an immense number of difficult shots from this range and still
makes them. Good on stepbacks to both his right and to his left. One of those players who can be wrong-footed but still realign
themselves in midair to score. Takes some wildly off-balance ones that just happen to go in.
Plays with sharp pace as a ballhandler. Has some very real shake. Think he uses his shoulders well to feint going one way before
driving the other. Has some slick hesitation moves. Totally unafraid of contact and often seeks it out. Draws fouls at a strong
level for a young player in a professional league. Crafty with how he does it too. A pro already at the dark art of drawing fouls.
He also makes some real sharp passing reads once he gets penetration. Only averaged 3.4 assists per game and is more geared
toward scoring but excels at hitting dump-offs to his teammates in the dunker spot and can also throw some wildly impressive
kickout passes. A very skilled offensive player. There isn’t another way to put it.
WEAKNESSES
The combination of size and athleticism here is a bit concerning. Hifi is probably somewhere in the 6-foot-2 range without shoes
and doesn’t seem to have much length. He plays with speed when he gets a head of steam, but sometimes can struggle a bit
to create separation without a ball screen just with his own handle. Also, not a particularly vertical athlete. Everything here is
below-the-rim. Had zero dunks this past season in France, for instance. Very rarely blocks a shot. Not much in the way of real
vertical pop there.
The weaknesses are somewhat real. A player with this profile can’t just be a good shooter; he probably needs to be an elite
shooter. Right now, Hifi is more of a good shooter. Made just 31 percent of his pull-up 3s this past season, per Synergy. That’s
the next part of his game. Can get a bit inconsistent there. Arc can kind of flatten out occasionally. There just isn’t really much
room for error here. Needs to be someone who can make his pull-ups across the board at a higher level for reasons we’ll get
into momentarily.
In general, Hifi can get a bit tunnel visioned toward scoring from time to time. His decision-making and shot selection need a
bit of work. Some of the shots he throws up are just wild. We’re talking double-teamed stepback fadeaways from the midrange.
Heavily contested drives to the rim when he has no chance of not getting swallowed up. His feel for being a hooper is very high.
But, sometimes, his feel for what good offense for his team is can be a bit off. While I don’t think he’s particularly turnover prone,
some of the passes he throws are truly decisions that where can’t even understand what he saw. Needs to get better with his
overall comfort level with pressure too.
While Hifi works very hard on defense and can be a pressure defender on the ball at times, I don’t think he’ll be all that effective
in the NBA defensively. Really does try to get up underneath opposing players and get into their space. Tries to be very
disruptive. Has a high motor on that end. Doesn’t really have the physical tools to do it due to his lack of length. Also, gets beat
a bit more often off the bounce than you’d like to see, in part due to that aggression. Also, he already can really get backed down
and pushed backward into the rim. A bit too easy to go through his chest. Guys with real speed beat him a bit more often than
you’d like to see. Then, guys with a good stepback game were able to drive him backward, and because of his lack of length, he
couldn’t recover to contest. Think he’d generally be a magnet for switches on that end of the court.
Don’t love his team defense either. Thought he was a bit inattentive off the ball. Thought he got back cut a bit too often and
thought he would occasionally ball watch when he was on the back side of the play. Does not get through screens well. If you’re
able to contact him and stop his momentum, it’s hard for him to fight back and get back into the play.
SUMMARY
Hifi kind of reminds me of Tyler Harvey a bit, a draft pick in the 50s who has gone on a successful career overseas. His jumper
even looks quite similar. But I think Hifi is ahead of where Harvey was as a player at this stage of their development, which I
think at least gives him a chance. He is a legitimate shooter and one of the best touch finishers I’ve evaluated in the last few
years. But he’ll need to go from being a good shooter to a truly elite one to have a chance. Given his athleticism and speed
combination, I think I would take a flier on him in the 50s as a stash pick and pick up what could be an interesting long-term
asset. Guys this young typically aren’t this successful in Europe in a professional environment, so Hifi is worthy of the
investment. But I think he’s still a couple of years off.
55. Jalen Pickett

G | Penn State| Birthdate: Oct. 22, 1999 (Age: 23) | 6-2 | 200 LBS | Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
2018-19 Siena NCAA (MAAC) 19 33 15.8 4.6 6.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 43.6 34.8 74.6
2019-20 Siena NCAA (MAAC) 20 29 15.1 4.6 6.0 1.8 1.1 1.0 45.8 37.4 68.9
2020-21 Siena NCAA (MAAC) 21 14 12.9 6.3 4.8 2.4 1.1 0.9 40.3 35.9 75.0
BACKGROUND
Pickett was an extremely high-level player in the state of New York. Played on the City Rocks AAU team with Isaiah Stewart. Led
Aquinas Institute to a state title in his junior season. As a senior, was again quite good but ended up having to do a post-gradu-
ate year for academic reasons. Went to SPIRE Academy in Ohio and was quite good there, impacting the game across the board.
Decided to go to Siena following that year and immediately broke out as a potential draft prospect. Pickett averaged 16 points,
five rebounds and seven assists. Got invited to the G League Elite Camp but didn’t play well. Returned to Siena, where he played
for two more years in relative obscurity even though he won the MAAC Player of the Year award as a sophomore. Was first-team
All-MAAC three times. He decided to transfer following his junior season and chose to go to Penn State under new coach Micah
Shrewsberry. Shrewsberry remade him, especially in his final year, by allowing him to essentially act as a post-up guard to initi-
ate the offense often in a style affectionately known as “booty ball.” Pickett sprayed the ball out to shooters all over the court and
averaged nearly 18 points, seven rebounds and 6.6 assists. Was named second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten as
he carried Penn State back to the NCAA Tournament, where the Nittany Lions won a game against Texas A&M before falling to
Texas. He is automatically eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Pickett is an incredibly smart, productive player with a remarkably high basketball IQ. Has a very rare game and style of play.
He’s essentially a power guard at 6-foot-2, but one where the name of the game is patience and poise. He’s not going through
players. But he’s not going around them either and has to use all sorts of little tricks to keep his advantage. Penn State devised
a scheme to take advantage of that, where he would play out of ball screens and drive, and if he didn’t have an advantage, he
would go down on the block and post players up.
Synergy has him tracked as having the most post-ups per game among any guard in the country this past season at 279 times.
That’s nearly eight per game. Pickett was excellent at finding open players off kickouts in these circumstances and has a wide
array of moves to score. Won’t be able to do this at the NBA level, so will have to thrive in ball-screen scenarios. He is smart
enough to make it work if he can consistently pressure the defense. What you see here is him using his hips and backside to keep
defenders on his side and carve out space as he drives to the rim. The epitome of a crafty driver. Love to pivot spin or live-dribble
spin or take a bounce into the middle of the court off a screen, utilize a hostage dribble hesitation, then try to drive or kick.
Really knows how to navigate tight quarters on the interior and how to use bodies to his advantage as little seals. There’s more to
his game than just booty ball out of screens.
Where Pickett made the most progress this past season, though, was as a shooter. This remains his biggest swing skill. This
past season, he made 38 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy, and made 36 percent of his pull-up 3s. The numbers
don’t blow the doors off the place, but they’re solid enough for him to potentially get guarded out there if they keep up. Also
gets to them from a variety of spots. Penn State used him as a shooter out of his own ball screens and as a pick-and-pop guy as a
screener. He’d flatten out behind dribble handoffs. He’d spot up or just straight isolate his man.
Pickett also is among the craftier finishers you’ll find in this draft. He made 63 percent of his shots at the rim in half-court
settings, which is an awesome number for a smaller guard who doesn’t necessarily rely on burst or athleticism. Has an immense
number of pump-fakes and hesitations to get defenders off their center of gravity and into the air. Uses his touch inside to score
on little floaters around the 5-foot range.
Pickett also is an effective live-dribble passer. Great at drawing defenders toward him and finding the open man. Of course,
what matters there is that ability to string out defenders with real craft. Really good in these situations out of ball screens.
Understands how to manipulate defenders. Averaged 6.6 assists per game and generally does it while minimizing turnovers.
WEAKNESSES
Pickett is a bit on the shorter end and isn’t a major athlete. Has just an 8-foot-2 1/2 standing reach. He is certainly on the stronger
end and is willing to fight. Has solid lateral quickness, but teams will try to take advantage of him as a smaller guard. But he’s
not really a high-level athlete. Doesn’t have a ton of burst in terms of first step. Doesn’t have much lift or vertical pop around
the basket. Uses his length well, as he has a 6-foot-7 wingspan but is still going to be on the smaller end for NBA players in a
positionless world. Has extremely small hands for his size, which ends up resulting in him needing to put two hands on the ball
to pass it regularly, eating up split-seconds that sometimes close passing windows.
How much of what Pickett does translates to the NBA? You can’t really turn ball screens into post-ups in the NBA. Most guards
are going to be able to stand him up on the block, and they won’t have to double. You can do it against smaller guards, but in the
NBA, Pickett is one of the smaller guards. I’m not convinced this style of play will be conducive to his game. Pickett needs to
show he can consistently separate from his man. Otherwise it’s going to be hard for him to create those passing angles and take
advantage of his playmaking ability. Guys will be able to just wall him up and make his life miserable. Even at the college level, it
felt like he ended up settling for a ton of tough midrange contested shots. Also felt like he ended up dominating the ball in a way
that led to not much ball movement from his team. Could be a bit more of a ball stopper in the NBA than you’d think given his
gaudy assist rate.
Additionally, Pickett has usually made shots in college, but he has a bit of a flat jumper that may be concerning as he looks to
move up levels toward the NBA 3-point line. Pickett made just 28.6 percent of his 3s beyond 25 feet last year, per Synergy. The
year before, it was just 29.7 percent. The year before that at Siena, it was just 29.6 percent. As a sophomore, it was just 30.6
percent. We have about 150 shots from NBA 3-point range in that sample, and Pickett was just under 30 percent in that four-year
run. He needs to prove the shooting will translate. Has a lot of misses short because he looks quite stiff.
SUMMARY
Pickett is a classic high-IQ, high-feel guard you want to believe in. He’s a super sharp player who knows how to get the most out
of his own capabilities. I just don’t know that I buy his shooting at quite a high enough level to believe he can consistently make
3s from behind the NBA line. Throughout his career, he has struck me as a player tailor-made to make a killing overseas but who
will likely struggle to make it in the NBA due to his inability to separate. I’d certainly be more than comfortable giving him a
two-way contract and giving myself some real depth. He is certainly third-lead guard caliber without taking a ton off the table.
But he needs to prove he can shoot and separate from his man before I’d want to give him a full deal.
56. Jalen Slawson

W/F | Furman | Birthdate: Oct. 22, 1999 (Age: 23) | 6-7 | 220 LBS |
Hometown: Summerville, S.C.
2018-19 Furman NCAA (SoCon) 19 26 0.7 1.5 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.5 36.4 16.7 25.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Tom and Karen. Tom Slawson is one of the best players in the history of The Citadel. He won two-time All-SoCon
honors at the school and averaged over 17 points per game as a senior. His cousin, RJ Slawson, played at South Carolina and
Jacksonville. Jalen was a terrific high school player in South Carolina, playing at Pinewood Prep. Was the third-leading scorer in
his high school’s history, and made the playoffs multiple times. He won the Summerville Area Player of the Year award after a
terrific season, and was a three-time all-state selection in the state of South Carolina. Beyond that, Slawson was also an awesome
football player who earned all-state honors there too. Slawson ended up a highly sought-after mid-major recruit in the south,
committing to Furman over schools like Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, Jacksonville and many others. He ended up
not getting a ton of high-major interest. Was a part of five-straight awesome teams at Furman. Played as a backup as a freshman
and just slowly but surely got better. Entered the starting lineup in his second year and was his typical do-it-all self. In his third
year, he started most of his team’s games and continued to take strides forward. Then, as a fourth-year player, Slawson really
blossomed. He won the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year award as he averaged over three steals plus blocks per game. Also
won first-team All-SoCon honors. Returned for his senior year and achieved just about everything he could. Won the SoCon
Player of the Year award and led Furman back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980. Furman won a game in the
NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1974 after upsetting Virginia. Slawson had 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in
the win. He is automatically eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft as a fifth-year senior with no further eligibility. Was invited to the
2023 NBA Draft Combine. Also, chose to play at the Portsmouth Invitational.
STRENGTHS
Slawson has great measurables for the wing position and the four spot in the NBA. Came into the combine at just under
6-foot-7, and has a 6-foot-11 3/4 wingspan. His 8-foot-10 standing reach should allow him slide down to the four. Good vertical
athlete. Has a bit more pop functionally than his raw testing numbers would indicate. Was a consistent dunking presence all
over the SoCon, posting 49 dunks on the season, per Synergy. Exceptionally functional athlete vertically because of his ability
to really jump off one foot. Doesn’t require any pre-jump load time to reach his highest point. Brings a real motor and is one of
those guys that seems to make energy-giving plays, be it as a dunker or as a defensive player. You can see that he used to play
football on the tape.
Slawson is best right now on defense, where his instincts and anticipation are superb. Great team defender. Excellent shot
blocker around the basket as a weakside help man. Great at rotating across the play and making his presence felt there. Has good
clean up instincts for when his teammates get beat. Very timely. Knows when and where he must be in a spot to use his length
and bounce. Reads the play early. Always on time closing out to his man. Knows when to go for steals to try to transition defense
to offense. Communicates well on the defensive end. Just a sharp player you can rely on.
Think Slawson’s also a good on-ball defender as a player who might be able to switch two through four at the NBA level. Could
straight up switch one through five in the SoCon, but I’m a little skeptical on that in the NBA for him. If he’s guarding wings, he
will try to disrupt them with his hands. Tends to be more of a physical defender. Have some concerns on that style, but it worked
in college. He slides his feet well and makes sure you can feel him and his chest. Stays in front of his guy and generally beats
wings to the spot. Hard to go through him. Has a low center of gravity. Seemed like he forced a ton of pull-ups. Again, in the
SoCon, generally dealt well with bigs that would try to post him. Furman had Slawson front the post mostly, and it worked. But
he clearly fights and is willing against post mismatches.
Offensively, Slawson is best right now as a passer and playmaker. Sometimes, he’d lead the break after grabbing a rebound. Other
times, Furman used him as a trailing point forward to initiate their offense and get sets going. He dished out 3.2 assists per game
after averaging 3.7 per game in 2021-22. Throws smart live-dribble passes on the break. Great touch when necessary, but also can
put some heat on the ball. Very comfortable handling the ball. Once they got into their sets, Slawson was tremendous at reading
45 cutters and baseline cutters from the top of the key. Hit a lot of those 45 cuts backdoor for buckets with bounce passes. But it
does go beyond that. Once Furman would have a 45-cutter come through the play, Slawson would use his eyes and ball fakes to
manipulate the defense and try to get defenders going one way or another. He’d then read what they were doing and make the
right play, often to corner kickouts. Just a good passer from the top of the key. Always surveying and seeing what’s going on. But
can also drive and kick. Always has his eyes up and ready to find open teammates.
Finally, like Slawson a lot as a general play finisher. Was an absurd finisher in the SoCon where nobody could match his
athleticism. Made 73.2 percent of his attempts at the rim overall in that league, per Synergy. And even made 70.2 percent of his
half-court attempts. Power leaper. You get him out on the break, and he’s flying high. But moreover, can really jump off one
foot. Will be an awesome transition partner for an NBA point guard. Can be a good short roll weapon who can pass and make
plays from the middle of the court or put the ball on the deck once and finish above the rim. But also, might be able to use him
out of spot-ups. Made 41.2 percent of his half-court catch-and-shoot 3s last season. Worth noting, he also made 51.2 percent of
his jumpers from beyond 25 feet, per Synergy. We’ll talk about some questions I have there, but the numbers were strong. Has a
clean release, at the very least. Good touch. Ball comes out soft. Additionally, can attack closeouts driving with his right hand.
Good straight-line driver. Loves this pump fake that somehow gets guys in the air. Has good touch finishing at the rim when
driving. Was a very versatile, pro-ready player at Furman.
WEAKNESSES
Slawson’s kind of a strange athlete. Hard to say exactly how functional his athleticism is on the ground. Very clearly has real
vertical pop. But doesn’t seem to have a great first step. Can’t tell quite how good his overall lateral quickness is. Does not look
to be all that flexible through his hips. Also, at Furman, was extremely effective as a small-ball big, which got the absolute most
out of his athleticism by taking advantage of full-scale mismatches. Also, given those weird athleticism traits, does all his on-ball
defensive game translate? Very real question. Can he stay in front of the quickest NBA guards? I’m skeptical, to be honest. Think
he may have some issues with blow-bys.
Just straight up does not use his left hand. To quote the great prophet Derek Zoolander, Slawson’s not an ambi-turner. He can’t
go left. About as single-hand dominant as any player I’ve seen in this year’s draft, which is very concerning. NBA teams will
really be able to exploit this after playing him a couple of times and getting used to it. Always trying to get it back to his right
hand to finish, even when straight line driving on the left side of the court. Does not seem that comfortable even dribbling with
his left hand at this stage. Can do it once or twice, but always wants to get it back to his right hand with a spin or with a crossover.
Tended to turn the ball over a lot in these spots, and he wasn’t exactly a turnover-free guy this past season, averaging 2.6 of them
per game. Even at that level, teams would just sit on the spin move. It could be a cratering issue for him. Needs to be able to go
both ways to get the most out of his driving skill.
Slawson’s shooting is also a bit of a concern for me. There was a fifth-year rise. In his first four years, Slawson made just 30
percent from 3. This past season, he made 39.4 percent. The jumper is very stiff and robotic. Doesn’t take any off the hop. Doesn’t
take any shots off the dribble. It’s a true set shot, and it tended to be most effective when he had a lot of time to load into it. It
takes him a real second to load into the shot. That was fine in the SoCon because he was spacing the floor against bigs at the five
often. Will it be the same in the NBA? Probably not. Shoots it off an elongated one-two step to get himself into alignment. These
shooting windows just close way too quickly in the NBA. Needs to speed up his release and get into the shot quicker. I don’t
know that I’m ready to call Slawson NBA-ready as a shooter.
Additionally, Slawson is not a shot creator. Doesn’t have any pull-up game. Attempted just six shots off the dribble in half-court
settings this past season, missing them all. Can drive to his right, but again, this whole house of cards falls apart if he can’t shoot
and teams can just sit on his right hand and force him left.
SUMMARY
Slawson is a guy I’m intrigued by on a two-way contract because I think that he just really knows how to play and plays
a significant position of value. He sort of reminds me of Xavier Cooks, a former player at Winthrop who went undrafted,
eventually wentjo on to win MVP in the Australian NBL, then got to live his NBA dream by signing a contract with the
Washington Wizards. It might take Slawson a minute to get to the NBA, but my guess is that his pathway would be easier due to
the advent of the two-way contract. He still has a lot of work to do on his shot and he needs to develop that left hand. But I like
Slawson’s instincts and I love how functional his athleticism is. This is a priority two-way player for me, even if the flaws can’t
quite get me to full-scale guarantee.
57. Drew Timme

F/C | Gonzaga | Birthdate: Sept. 9, 2000 (Age: 22) | 6-9 | 235 LBS |
Hometown: Richardson, Texas
2019-20 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 19 33 9.8 5.4 1.3 1.2 0.9 0.5 61.8 33.3 61.1
2020-21 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 20 32 19.0 7.0 2.3 1.8 0.7 0.7 65.5 28.6 69.6
2021-22 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 21 32 18.4 6.8 2.8 2.5 0.8 0.3 58.6 28.6 67.8
2022-23 Gonzaga NCAA (WCC) 22 37 21.2 7.5 3.2 2.6 1.0 0.6 61.6 16.7 63.2
BACKGROUND
Parents are Matt and Megan. Matt played basketball at SMU in the early 1990s and started as a senior in 1994-95 before playing
professionally in Europe. Megan played tennis at Stephen F. Austin. Younger brother, Walker, also plays basketball at McNeese
State and was a freshman this past season. Drew grew up in Richardson, located in the greater Dallas area. Went to J.J. Pearce
High School and was quickly noticed as a high-major prospect but didn’t really emerge into a consensus elite high school player
until his junior season. Timme was named second-team all-state and emerged over the summer with a standout Peach Jam on
the Nike EYBL circuit as a clear four-star, in some services a five-star recruit, due to his polish as a post player. In his senior sea-
son, Timme set the record for most points, rebounds, assists and blocks in school history. Had offers from around the country,
particularly in the South, but chose Gonzaga prior to his senior year, noting Gonzaga’s history of developing bigs. He imme-
diately stepped into a role as a freshman as a backup center behind All-American center Filip Petrušev, and by the end of the
season, Timme made a case that he was already better than the Serbian big with an awesome WCC Tournament. He made the
All-WCC Tournament team and the league’s All-Freshman team. Truly broke out as a sophomore after Petrušev felt the writing
on the wall and left to turn pro in Serbia. Timme was a second-team All-American as a sophomore and was a late-season finalist
for national player of the year. He won the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award as he led Gonzaga, along with Jalen
Suggs, to an undefeated regular season and a run to the NCAA championship game. He returned for his junior year and did it all
over again. He was named second-team All-American, WCC Player of the Year and won enough awards to fill an entire bookcase.
He and Chet Holmgren paired on the interior to lead Gonzaga to a 28-4 season, which ended with a Sweet 16 loss to Arkansas.
Very strongly considered going pro, but ultimately decided not to. Again was one of the most impressive players in college
basketball in 2022-23. Averaged over 21 points for the first time. Won the WCC Player of the Year again. Was a consensus first-
team All-American for the first time after two years of being second team. Was a finalist for all of the national player of the year
awards. Won the WCC Tournament MVP. And helped lead a relatively flawed Gonzaga team to an Elite Eight, where they lost
to eventual national champion Connecticut. Decided in the preseason that he was not going to return to Gonzaga and followed
through on that. Decided to turn pro and declare for the 2023 NBA Draft. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine again.
STRENGTHS
Timme is one of the most productive players in college basketball over the last two decades, and that matters for something.
Undersized for a center but has good length at 6-foot-9 without shoes with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. Has a 9-foot standing reach. The
key with Timme athletically is coordination. He has terrific hand-eye coordination, elite footwork and knows exactly how to use
his frame. He catches everything thrown to him. On top of that, he’s an energy-giver who plays with real emotion. He talks an
enormous amount of trash on the court and feels entirely confident at all times.
Above the post play, Timme’s elite NBA skill will be as a roll man. He’s a bit more multidimensional than what he gets credit for.
He sets hard screens when contact is necessary while also understanding when to slip and find the open area. Timme was one
of the best rollers in college basketball, particularly as a short-roll threat in Gonzaga’s ball screen continuity offense. He’s elite
at knowing exactly the space to roll into depending on how defenses play him. He’ll be an immediate threat for offenses in the
NBA that feature point guards who are terrific pull-up shooters and often end up getting two men placed on the ball. Smart point
guards will constantly be able to find him with pocket passes, as he can catch below his waist and fluidly make decisions and
attack-oriented moves. Once he gets the ball in that short-roll area, Timme is a reasonable midrange shooter, but more than that,
he is good at being able to put the ball on the ground once and find angles to finish inside. His footwork really shines here, as he
knows how to use his body to leverage opponents and his pivot to find angles to finish below the rim.
That skill level as a finisher is what will give Timme a real chance in the NBA. He made 69 percent of his attempts at the rim as a
junior, a ridiculous number for someone who isn’t reliant on an inordinate number of dunks athletically. Then this past season,
made 71.2 percent of his shots at the rim. He’ll catch out of ball screens and drive to finish, or he’ll find the soft spot around the
rim to get the ball and place it in the basket. But it’s more than that. He has counters for days and can make shots around the
rim with both hands. If you drop too deep defensively on his short roll, he’ll hit you with a floater that is quite effective. He made
that at a 54.5 percent clip this past season, per Synergy. If you switch, he’ll bury you on the block and hit you with mini-hook
shots with either hand, or quick little step-throughs. In college, he’s most known for his post-play, where that ability to use his
strength, understanding of leverage, and his footwork shines through. He has a wide variety of drop-steps and step-throughs
depending on how the defender plays him. He also loves to hit defenders with a quick spin move over his right shoulder to
get to a left-handed finish. On top of it, he is excellent at using the rim to shield the ball from his man to get a bit of space. His
effectiveness on the block is laughable. In post-up situations, he shot 57.4 percent as a junior (seventh nationally), 66.9 percent
as a sophomore (best nationally), and 59.7 percent as a freshman (10th nationally). As a senior, he shot 60.3 percent. His touch is
outstanding, and while he won’t be asked to post all that often in the NBA, his skills are translatable in other ways.
Timme’s IQ is tremendous, and he helped Gonzaga even beyond the scoring. He was the king of the post seal, clearing pathways
for his guards to find open lanes to the rim. Like a fullback in football, he always knows how to find the right angle to get past
his big man at the rim, then seal him off almost as a lead blocker so that he can’t help as a rim protector. Timme is also an
underrated passer. He can handle and draw defenders toward him before passing on the move to hit cutters at the rim. He
throws pinpoint high-low lobs, averaging three assists per game as a junior and senior. I buy Timme making it work on offense
in the NBA with or without the jumper.
WEAKNESSES
Timme’s physical tools remain the biggest question. He’s not overly explosive as a leaper, and he doesn’t move particularly well
laterally. He’s also undersized for the center position. This is a tough set of tools to crack in terms of finding a role defensively.
It’s hard, right now at least, to see Timme becoming a passable defender in today’s NBA.
Timme is not a particularly good rim protector by Gonzaga standards. The school has been among the best in the country for
years at developing bigs around the rim and teaching them the best mechanics for how to contest without fouling. Timme is
OK at it in terms of his principles of staying big and vertical without fouling when he’s in position and has some length. But
he doesn’t have the size or vertical pop to be able to be an impact player at dissuading opponents from attacking the basket.
Additionally, his instincts aren’t always top notch. He can regularly be a step late defensively at the basket and lets a few too
many layups go by him without contesting.
However, it’s also hard right now to see how Timme could make an impact at the four on defense. He’s not laterally quick.
Opposing teams regularly look to attack Timme in space on defense to get a mismatch. In drop coverage in ball screens, he can
get the corner turned on him and doesn’t have great recovery reactivity. When he gets strung out onto an island against guards,
it’s a bit easy to get him with a stepback jumper, an issue that will be exacerbated by facing better shooters in the NBA. He has
a better chance, long term, to focus on his footwork and to try to become smart with his angles as it pertains to becoming a
passable defensive player. He works and will have a chance at this. But it’ll take time.
We’d be remiss not to note the shot from distance, as well. While I do think Timme has a chance to be a floor-spacing big because
of his touch and midrange track record, he’s not there yet, and he’ll always be a bit limited in terms of his ability to make shots
off movement or running off actions created for him. He’ll likely be limited to open spot-up situations, pick-and-pops and trailer
3s. But he needs to get there consistently before even those will be an option full-time from behind the NBA line.
SUMMARY
In my heart of hearts, I think Timme has a place in the NBA due to how offensively skilled he is. The difference between
someone like him and, say, Luka Garza, is the diversity of his skill set on offense. He can put the ball on the floor and handle
it well. He makes decisions at a high level as a passer. He’s a versatile ball screen weapon who sets killer screens, has great feel
as a short-roll option and has a variety of ways to beat you once he has the ball. His offensive game is a better fit for the NBA
than it gets credit for being. The ideal point of comparison for him would be someone like a Nick Collison, another incredibly
productive college player who won NABC Player of the Year in 2003 before embarking on a 14-year NBA career with Seattle/
Oklahoma City. But the difference between Timme and Collison right now is that Collison worked his way into being a tough,
impactful defender in a way Timme still hasn’t quite reached. It also doesn’t hurt that Collison came along two decades ago,
prior to the NBA’s pace-and-space revolution. That’s the swing skill for Timme. If he can become a non-liability on defense, he
has the offensive talent to stick.
58. Tristan Vukčević

C | Partizan | Birthdate: March 11, 2003 (Age: 20) | 6-11 | 225 LBS | Hometown: Siena, Italy
2020-21 Real Madrid ACB + 18 15 3.7 1.9 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.3 43.6 47.6 70.6
EuroLeague
2021-22 Real Madrid ACB + 19 29 3.2 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 48.5 35.3 50.0
/Partizan EuroLeague +
Adriatic
2022-23 Partizan Adriatic + 20 34 5.6 2.5 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.4 53.8 37.7 81.6
EuroLeague
BACKGROUND
Parents are Dusan and Jade. Dusan is a former player for the Serbia and Montenegro national team who had a long career at the
highest levels in Europe. Tristan was born in Italy because Dusan was playing for Montepaschi Siena at that point, an Italian
league power in the 2000s. Vukčević’s mother is Swedish. Tristan, by nature of all of this, as well as the fact that his father had
gotten a Greek passport, is eligible to represent Serbia, Sweden, Greece and Italy at the international level. Vukčević grew up in
Italy, which is where Dusan spent most of the latter part of his career. They eventually moved to Greece, and Vukčević’ played
for Olympiacos’ youth team. He was quickly known as a long-term player to watch, and in 2018, he signed with Real Madrid.
Emerged quickly within Real’s system, playing with the U18 team in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. Was considered
among the more excited young players in attendance due to his size and skill level. Ended up making his debut with Real on
Oct. 11, 2020. Played limited minutes for the team over the course of the next season and a half. He decided to leave Madrid in
early January 2022 to sign with Serbian powerhouse Partizan. After receiving some limited playing time upon initially arriving,
Vukčević’ has become a solid rotational player this year in Adriatic League play, receiving about 15 minutes per game and scor-
ing 8.1 points in those settings while shooting 37 percent from 3. He hasn’t yet emerged into a EuroLeague player for the team as
it went on to the quarterfinals of the event before being eliminated in a tight series with Real Madrid. Vukčević came over to the
United States for the 2023 NBA Draft Combine and performed well at the event. He played one game and scored over 20 points,
showcasing his high-level shooting. He decided to stay in the 2023 NBA Draft after declaring and showcasing those skills in front
of hundreds of NBA personnel.
STRENGTHS
Vukčević‘s enormous. Came in at over 6-foot-11 without shoes and with a 9-foot-3 standing reach at the combine. Also has a
7-foot-2 1/2 wingspan. A very fluid athlete. Moves very well for a 7-footer. Has real speed and the ability to play with the ball in
transition a bit. Can occasionally lead the break. In general, I think Vukčević‘s feel for the game on the offensive end is solid.
Knows where to go and how to cut around his teammates. Knows how to sink into open areas to receive a kick out. Good at
finding his way into little angles as a rebounder.
Vukčević’s best skill is shooting. He’s a terrific floor spacer from the center position. He has hit 36.5 percent of his catch-and-
shoot 3s this past season for Partizan, per Synergy, and those shots take up over one-third of his overall shot volume. Has a
beautiful, deliberate shooting stroke. Just comes out of his hand so cleanly and purely. Heavy ball dip to get into rhythm, and
he stays in rhythm with his weight transfer throughout. Elbow is in perfect alignment with the rim, and he has something of a
shorter follow through with a little flick. Ball trajectory is perfect. Has even shown some ability to relocate and make them off
the catch or even off one dribble. There is every reason to buy him as a high-level shooter down the road. He’ll be a legit floor
spacer as a five.
Vukčević’ can also put the ball on the deck, though. Attacks closeouts well if you try to get out onto his shot too heavily,
especially for a big man. Will pump-fake and put the ball on the deck and drive in a straight line. Looks incredibly smooth and
polished in putting the ball on the court for his size, especially given these are half-court settings after he’s mostly spotting up in
the corners or on the wing. Handle can get a bit high but this is developable given the base he’s starting with. Also has generally
been an effective finisher. Vukčević’ has made 86.8 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which is a ridiculous number.
Has great touch at the basket off drives, then also will get up and finish above the rim on cuts.
WEAKNESSES
Athletically, there are some very real concerns with Vukčević’ in terms of his overall lateral agility and explosiveness. Doesn’t
slide his feet well laterally, and then doesn’t really change direction well. Doesn’t have a ton of vertical pop. Really has to load
up and doesn’t get particularly high off the ground. On top of that, I think Vukčević’ tends to have a bit of an aversion to contact.
Doesn’t seem to go up strong on his drives. Very rarely initiates contact and often shies away from it. He has taken just 45 free
throws in over 450 minutes.
All of this is leading to the real issues for Vukčević’, which come on defense. Partizan generally tried to use him as a hedge-and-
recover big. He doesn’t really move his feet well enough to succeed in this venture yet, and generally also isn’t clean enough
with his angles. Often ends up too far away from the big rolling to the rim and giving him a clean runway to the basket. Then he
also doesn’t have a ton of recovery speed. They would also occasionally switch with him on side pick-and-rolls particularly, and
those would end exceedingly poorly with him generally getting dusted on drives to the rim. His positioning and use of angles to
make up for his lack of footspeed is generally lacking. He doesn’t seem to feed his perimeter attacking guards toward the help
well enough yet.
Then, on top of it, Vukčević‘s overall team defense is quite bad. I don’t think he’s particularly good rotating within scheme.
Tends to make the wrong decision as the low man on the weak side a bit more often than you’d like to see. Just not all that
impactful as a rim protector in general right now either. Doesn’t always get all the way into position when rotating across the
play. Often ends up fouling and contacting with his chest. The aversion to contact issue also isn’t ideal here either. Then, to top
it all off, Vukčević‘s slow speed in transition can often lead to him needing to sprint back as fast as he can, and oftentimes he
still doesn’t get there. Leads to odd-man situations more often than you’d like to see. These are the growth areas for Vukčević’.
He needs to get stronger and more willing to absorb contact. Then, he also needs to work on his overall foot speed and lateral
quickness. Without these things, he’s barbecue chicken in today’s NBA.
Will also finally note that offensively, Vukčević’ is still developing as a passer for his teammates. He will occasionally make a
high-level read, but you can generally see that the gears seem to be turning a bit every time he drives and has the ball. Often just
results in him taking shots. Very few of his assists tend to be on the move. Has a way to go in terms of being able to see the court
and understand the help defense to find open teammates. If he can develop this with further experience, would be huge for his
overall offensive skill set. Also as mentioned, will need to tighten up his handle a bit if he’s going to be effective driving to
the rim.
SUMMARY
I’m not particularly high on Vukčević‘s chances on defense. It’s going to be tough for him on that end. He’s starting at such an
athletic deficiency that it’s hard to see him being able to make up for that given how fast and up-tempo the NBA level is. Having
said that, the offensive shooting gravity has potential to be genuinely valuable if he can find any answers on defense. It’s hard to
find legit 7-footers in shoes who can consistently make shots like this at his age. His touch is ridiculous, and he can put the ball
on the deck and attack. I think it’s unlikely Vukčević’ ends up in the NBA, but if a team has a stash pick that they need to use, I’d
at least understand taking the flier, letting him develop overseas in a great, advantageous spot, and seeing what comes of it in a
few years.
59. Isaiah Wong

G | Miami (FL) | Birthdate: Jan. 28, 2001 (Age: 22) | 6-3 | 180 LBS |
Hometown: Piscataway, N.J.
2019-20 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 19 31 7.7 3.0 1.0 1.7 0.4 0.5 41.6 37.3 82.9
2020-21 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 20 27 17.1 4.8 2.4 1.8 0.5 1.1 43.1 34.7 80.3
2021-22 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 21 37 15.3 4.3 2.0 1.4 0.3 0.9 45.2 30.2 74.8
2022-23 Miami (FL) NCAA (ACC) 22 37 16.2 4.3 3.2 2.1 0.4 1.4 44.5 38.4 84.5
BACKGROUND
Parents are LaChelle and Terrence. Has three brothers. Attended Notre Dame High School in New Jersey for his first two years,
during which he emerged as an interesting prospect as a shot creator. Decided to transfer for Monsignor Bonner for his junior
and senior seasons, and that’s where he truly blew up. Immediately averaged over 20 points per game and won MVP of the Phila-
delphia Catholic League. His team won the Catholic League title. He started to emerge as a high-major recruit over the latter part
of his junior season and over the summer before his senior season, where he played on the Under Armour circuit and was terrif-
ic. As a senior, again won Catholic League MVP and led Monsignor Bonner to the state finals. Was a consensus four-star recruit
and a top-100 player in the country. Committed to Miami in the fall before his senior season began, choosing the Hurricanes
over Clemson, Connecticut and Pittsburgh, among others. Was a starter by about midseason as a freshman, a spot he wouldn’t
relinquish over his four years. Was good as a freshman, averaging 14 points over those final 13 games as a starter. Continued to
play well as a second-year player, averaging his career-high point total of 17.1 points. Made third-team All-ACC. But Miami strug-
gled, going 4-15 in the ACC. Declared for the 2021 NBA Draft but found that there wasn’t a wild amount of interest. The team
started to have success around him in 2021-22, when he led Miami to the Elite Eight after a good turnaround season in the ACC.
He was again named third-team All-ACC and was huge in the first two NCAA Tournament games to get them to the second week-
end, scoring over 20 in both. Decided to return after he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, and that was the right call. He won ACC
Player of the Year and stepped up in huge spots throughout the season. He was on the All-ACC tournament team and also made
the All-Region team in the NCAA Tournament as the Hurricanes went all the way to the Final Four. Wong averaged 19 points
per game in the final four NCAA Tournament games and was huge in leading Miami to new program heights as the Hurricanes
played in their first Final Four before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut. Wong declared for the 2023 NBA Draft
and decided to stay in. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
The idea behind Wong is that he can be a dynamic scoring guard. That’s what he brings to the table. Athletically, he’s incredibly
shifty with the ball in his hands. Has some bounce and quickness mixed with tremendous balance and footwork. Good first step
and mixes it with ridiculous deceleration. Has a great handle that allows him to break down defenders. Plays with great bend
that allows him to get low into crossovers. A very creative player in terms of the way he attacks defenders. Also, plays with the
utmost confidence. Believes he’s the best scorer on the court in every game.
It all starts out on the break. Tries to push tempo as much as he can. Wants to attack and try to get out in transition to get early
buckets at the rim. Has a nasty full-speed spin move. But if that doesn’t happen, he has some of the craftiest, sickest moves to
get separation from his man, with the ability to mix hesitations and crossovers then string those together with any other kind
of move. Has hesitation moves that look like he’s about to pull up, then he’ll just blow by you. It all flows together well. He’s
become a lethal scorer from the midrange and from behind the 3-point line because of those skills. Can put it behind or between
his legs directly into stepbacks. If you play him against drop-coverage defenders, he’s going to be able to find a shot most of
the time. Has really good footwork. A lot of side-steps and stepbacks, including using long strides backward to create even
more separation. Even if you stop his first move and make him pick up his dribble, he’s pretty good with shot-fakes off pivots
to find space.
Moreover, he’s a strong pull-up shooter and constant threat to do so. Can get to that shot at any time. Has clean ball pickup.
Made 43 percent of his midrange jumpers this past season, per Synergy, a solid number versus the high degree of difficulty shots
he was taking. Can also get to his shot in isolation or out of screens if a defender goes under. Also effective as a pull-up 3-point
scorer. Made 36.5 percent of his 3s off the bounce this past season taking over two of them per game, which is an awesome
number. The jumper looks good off the bounce. He has a high release point. Ball gets out of his hand quickly. Has a bit of a
forward lean that then turns into a forward leap forward to push his moment forward. Also, made a high percentage of his shots
from NBA distance. Made 43.9 percent of his 41 3-point attempts from beyond 25 feet, which is a very strong number, albeit
small sample.
Pieces of the rest of Wong’s game are impressive, but I wouldn’t say there are other standout skills. He improved as a passer and
playmaker this past season for his teammates, but it’s certainly not his natural inclination. He works hard on defense and plays
with a good motor, but he has some size-based concerns that pop up on tape. He gets all the way to the rim and to the line quite a
bit, but as we’ll discuss, finishing isn’t a strong suit. There are caveats to the rest of his game outside of the scoring bag.
WEAKNESSES
Wong is quite small, especially if he’s not quite a point guard. He came in at 6-foot-2 1/2 without shoes at the combine with a
6-foot-7 wingspan, per Synergy. However, he has kind of a long neck, which eliminates a bit of functional height. Only had an
8-foot-1 1/2 standing reach, which was fourth smallest in attendance. He also is very skinny and doesn’t have a ton of power to
his game, and that impacts him in a few ways.
While Wong can get to the rim, I don’t think he’s all that capable as a finisher. The numbers just aren’t great. Good out in
transition when he has a full head of steam and is navigating one guy, but not all that effective in the half court. Made just 44.4
percent of his attempts at the rim in half-court settings. Essentially a below-the-rim driver as a finisher and often must find
weird contorting ways to get a shot up around the opposition. Makes some awesome, highlight-reel worthy shots, but I don’t
think his touch maintains through contact balance all that well. He also doesn’t really pair it with an effective runner right now
despite his touch as a shooter. Made just 23.8 percent of his floaters this past season, per Synergy. Needs to find a way to be more
effective at the basket as an NBA player, but it likely will be difficult given his lack of size and length.
He’s not the best catch-and-shoot player either. It’s a significant issue in terms of opening other avenues for him to find success.
He made just 29.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s in half-court settings this past season. Has a stiff-looking jumper that does
not look like it’ll translate from the jump. Takes an extra split second to load into the shot. Great at shooting them in transition
when he has time to load up and get the shot off. But in the half court, when someone is closing out at him quickly, it’s not as
effective. Needs to improve this piece of his game to have a chance, because it’s unlikely Wong will be the best player out on the
court for his team and thus will not have the ball in his hands as much.
Don’t think he’s an impactful defender and especially won’t be that at the NBA level. Miami was not a particularly good
defensive team this past season in large part because he and Nijel Pack often allowed a lot of perimeter penetration, particularly
off ball screens. I don’t think Wong navigates ball screens all that well. He’s willing and will try to fight, but he does not often
end up being able to get back into the play. If he gets contacted, it’s hard for him to get around it. On top of that, he does not in
any way project to be switchable. Will likely be locked into point guards and maybe smaller two guards. Because of that lack of
strength, he’ll really struggle to defend in the post and will be something of a magnet for switches where teams try to get their
best bigger wings locked onto him.
I’m also skeptical Wong can be a lead guard in the NBA. He makes some occasionally impressive passes, but he’s not wired to get
everyone involved. Good with drives and dump-offs to bigs when off-balance. Makes some high-speed reads and got better with
mixing passing with shooting. My guess, though, is that teams will need to have a primary initiator out there with him to get the
kind of ball movement you want.
SUMMARY
Wong has the kind of ball skills and athleticism that could make him a legitimate NBA bucket getter. I think he could probably
go on the floor in the NBA and score. The question is just what else he takes off the table. He needs to prove he can either defend
or initiate at a reasonable level to make it and be more than an end-of-the-bench option. It’s also a requirement for him to shoot
off the catch in half-court settings. I’m a bit worried he won’t be able to do any of that and will end up as a player who makes a lot
over in Europe. But as a two-way option who provides some depth for a team in need of scoring in the backcourt, I like the idea
of Wong being able to come in and provide cover. His handle and ability to separate from his man are special.
60. Chris Livingston

W | Kentucky | Birthdate: Oct. 15, 2003 (Age: 19) | 6-6 | 220 LBS | Hometown: Akron, Ohio
BACKGROUND
Mother is Julia. Has five siblings. Was about as highly touted as you can get as a freshman and sophomore high school basketball
player. Was a five-star prospect from the moment he hit high school. Developed very early physically and was dunking by the
time he hit seventh grade. Started his high-school career at Buchtel Community Learning Center in Akron, where he averaged
about 25 points and led the team to the state’s final four. Then went to Western Reserve Academy in Ohio as a sophomore, aver-
aged 32 points per game there, and was a sophomore All-American. Livingston then established himself as a presence with Team
USA. He played at the U16 FIBA Americas event in Brazil and was the best player in the tournament, winning the MVP award
as Team USA won the gold medal. Went back to Buchtel as a junior and dominated again, averaging 31 points and was named
the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. As a senior, transferred to prestigious Oak Hill Academy, and this time won the Virginia
Gatorade Player of the Year award as the best player in the state. Unsurprisingly, was a McDonald’s All-American and was also
named to the Jordan Brand Classic. Finished high school the way he started: as a consensus five-star player. But he slipped a
little bit in the rankings after a perception that he hadn’t improved a ton over the last couple of years. He was still a top-15 player
in the class. Committed to Kentucky in the fall before his senior season, choosing the Wildcats over Georgetown. Had a rough
freshman season at Kentucky. Looked largely overmatched for the first half of the year before settling in and playing well in the
second half. Only had seven double-figure scoring games. Was still named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Was a starter on a Ken-
tucky team that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After the season, Livingston decided to declare for the 2023
NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility. Decided to go through with the process. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Livingston has a great, powerful frame at 6-foot-6 without shoes and a 6-foot-11 wingspan. Has an 8-foot-8 standing reach that
will help him play up at the three and maybe even give him a chance to play the four. Has some powerful athleticism and vertical
pop in a real way. Can rise above the rim and finish at a real level when he gets a head of steam. Looks like an NBA player right
now, physically. Livingston seemed to understand his game and not go beyond his means. Was low usage this past season, but
it resulted in a game that didn’t have a ton of mistakes. That’s why, especially as the season went on, John Calipari was able to
have him out there over other options.
A big reason I think Livingston might be worth investing in as a project is because he plays hard. His motor doesn’t stop. He
works and tries to be impactful. That is particularly true on the defensive end. After some early struggles adjusting to college
basketball as a freshman, I thought Livingston really settled in on that end and became a useful cog. He’s a defensive battler on
the ball. He uses his length well and slides his feet to stay in front of his man. And, because he’s so big and physically long, he’s
disruptive. It’s hard to go through his chest. This should be what Livingston works to hang his hat on. Be the guy coaches can
call on to change the game on defense with your length and strength. He also rebounds well. Crashes the glass on both ends.
When Livingston gets into the jumper off the hop, it looks relatively clean. Made shots at higher levels in his career previously
off the catch, so there is a real chance Livingston can be a catch-and-shoot threat long term. We’ll talk about this below, but he
needs to be more capable of getting the shot off at volume. Made some interesting cuts into the dunker spot area this past season
when spotting up from the corners. That’s mostly what his role was though. It was very limited in that way, especially during
SEC play.
WEAKNESSES
Everything about Livingston’s game is theoretical from an NBA standpoint and largely revolves around him having a good
frame, good length, some vertical pop and some potential to shoot and defend. But all the potential upside he had when he was
young is based on a power advantage that he doesn’t really have anymore. If you’re interested in Livingston, you’re interested in
him as a potential 3-and-D guy.
Livingston shot just 30.5 percent from 3 this past season, and that number encompasses all catch-and-shoot jumpers. If he gets
time to really load into it to fire, he can make shots. He made his shots at Oak Hill, and I think he has real touch. The problem
right now is that he takes forever to load into the jumper. Really works to set his feet properly and has a long wind-up into the
shot. Needs to speed it up to be able to shoot off the catch in the NBA. He also needs to be able to speed it up to be able to shoot
at a higher volume. That was a problem in college when dealing with quick closeouts. This is essential for Livingston. If he
doesn’t have a catch-and-shoot jumper that he can consistently make, he won’t last long in the NBA. I think I would bet on him
to shoot long term in his career. The real question is how long it takes for it to become effective.
Livingston also has no pull-up game to speak of at this point. Took 23 shots off the dribble this past season, per Synergy, and
made just three of them. This has been an issue. At Oak Hill in 17 tracked games, per Synergy, he made just 25.5 percent of his
pull-ups. In 14 games tracked on the Adidas circuit the summer before, he made just 28 percent of his pull-ups. He’s never really
been able to find that shot in his repertoire, meaning he’s likely not going to be much of a shot creator at the next level. Also, as
a ballhandler, he doesn’t have much in the way of shiftiness. Can cover ground in a straight line in transition or when he has a
runway, but his handle isn’t all that tight right now. Don’t think his footwork is all that clean. Made 52.9 percent of his shots at
the rim in the half court, per Synergy. That’s a fine number. But he also only had six dunks in the half court, per Synergy, which
I think speaks to how his athleticism isn’t quite as functional without him really needing to load into it.
Livingston doesn’t have much feel as a passer or playmaker yet. Can’t collapse defenses because he isn’t all that strong of a
ballhandler or straight-line driver, which means he can’t really force help to come. Only averaged 1.3 assists per game this past
season. Was a bit better at Oak Hill as a passer, and he seemed to see the floor reasonably well in the games I watched at that
level. But, if you can’t force the help, can you make plays off the bounce? Maybe you can make a case that Kentucky’s floor was
so poorly spaced that he was always driving into help no matter what, but I’m not sure I agree wholeheartedly with that take
given how loose the handle and how stiff his movements in general seem to be.
While I am generally more of a fan of his defensive play than a critic, I do think he got lost a bit off the ball. It got better
throughout the season, but he wasn’t really a difference-maker in those respects either. Wasn’t consistently disruptive in passing
lanes despite his length. Wasn’t particularly disruptive to drivers rotating over to protect the rim if he was the low man. Missed
some things communication-wise. I think this will improve with experience, and I would bet on Livingston being fine on
defense eventually in a team construct. But it’s not totally there yet.
SUMMARY
Livingston has a long way to go as a player in terms of his skill set. The sell here is that he maybe didn’t get a chance to show as
much as he could have at Kentucky and thus is worth investing in. Given the track record of perimeter players in the NBA with
whom that has happened, I understand it. But I also think he has such a long way to go that it’s hard for me really think of him
as a priority guy in a two-way sense. Anybody who is this big, this long and has some athleticism with a real motor is worth
taking a strong look at. NBA wings who can shoot and defend are worth their weight in gold. But I don’t think Livingston would
be among the first 10 names to whom I gave two-way grades. It’s possible he could become one of the top-30 players in this
class way down the road. But I’d bet the first team who ends up with him doesn’t get to experience that value. I think he made a
mistake turning pro instead of going back to college, especially given that you can transfer once for free.
61. Sir’Jabari Rice

G/W | Texas | Birthdate: Dec. 28, 1998 (Age: 24) | 6-3 | 175 LBS | Hometown: Houston
2018-19 New Mexico NCAA (WAC) 20 31 3.4 2.2 1.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 32.6 15.7 86.3
State
State
State
State
2022-23 Texas NCAA (Big 12) 24 38 13.0 3.5 2.0 1.5 0.3 0.9 46.4 37.1 86.3
BACKGROUND
Something of a late comer to basketball. Rice grew up playing football and didn’t play organized hoops until midway through
high school. First attended New Mexico State after only getting two offers in the recruiting process: one from NMSU, and one
from UMass. Redshirted his first year at New Mexico State. Then, came in and was a solid rotational player in his first year. How-
ever, burst onto the scene in Year 2 and was immediately quite good. Won first-team All-WAC honors as a sophomore. Followed
it up winning second-team All-WAC honors in each of the next two seasons. Team won an NCAA Tournament game in his final
year at New Mexico State, beating Connecticut. Decided to hit the transfer portal after the season and decided to attend Texas.
Was awesome for the Longhorns this past season. Came off the bench for them all season but was one of their most important
players. Won the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award, as well as third-team All-Big 12 honors. Rice is automatically eligible as a
sixth-year college basketball senior. Was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational in the pre-draft process, winning MVP of the
event. He then won an invite from there to the G League Elite Camp and was promoted from that event to the 2023 NBA Draft
Combine. Very few players have helped themselves as much in the pre-draft process as Rice.
STRENGTHS
Rice is just a sharp scoring guard. Not really a combo at this point at 6-foot-3 without shoes, but he can really fill it up and get
buckets. Was consistently an awesome player over his college career in large part due to his confidence as a shooter. If you
leave him open, you should feel like the ball is going in. Rice hit 38.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past year. Hunts
them behind ball screens and dribble handoffs. Awesome at finding that little bit of space and separation in those spots. Also,
good in spot-ups. But, then off that, knows how to pick his spots as a driver. Has maybe the best pump fake in this year’s draft.
Really puts that thing up there and forces blow-bys on closeouts. That allows him to attack and get to the rim. Was an incredibly
efficient finisher in the moments he got an opportunity to do so. Took about two such shots per game but made them at a 67
percent clip. Good touch at the rim and good decision-maker on when to take them. That’s kind of the thing with Rice. For
someone who generally is out there hunting shots, he isn’t inefficient. He’s smart and picks his spots well. That also translates
on defense, where he plays with aggression and toughness. He’s skinny – we’ll get to that later – but he’s a worker. He fights on
that end. He’s more than willing to do the dirty work and get on the floor. He gets loose balls and uses his hands well to disrupt
what offensive players want to do. Willing to crash in and try to grab rebounds. Just plays a totally fearless brand of basketball.
Was probably Texas’ best all-around player this year, and the team was a top five in the country.
WEAKNESSES
Rice is incredibly skinny. Came into the combine at 172 pounds. He’s 6-foot-3 1/4 without shoes, which means he’ll be sub-6-
foot-5 in shoes. Does have an 8-foot-5 standing reach due to his 6-foot-9 wingspan but will be very undersized. Even though
he’s tough and tenacious, he just is going to get moved at that weight in the NBA. Will be hunted by bigger wing creators. Needs
desperately to add strength to be able to stick, and he’s already 24 years old. How much more will he be able to add to this frame?
The other question here is simply, “Is he good enough?” Is he a good enough shooter for what his role will have to be? Probably
needs to be closer to that 40 percent mark. Is he a good enough passer and playmaker with the ball in his hands? He’s unselfish
and smart but wouldn’t say he’s a particularly creative player outside of that sublime pump fake. He just makes the right
basketball decision for his team almost all of the time. That’s what makes him so valuable. On top of that, he’s probably running
out of time on some level. He turns 25 years old in December. I don’t think NBA teams will want to keep him for all that long if
they view him as more of a project physically. Probably has a bit of a limited runway because he came to basketball later. Needs
to be good within his first two years.
SUMMARY
Rice is a guy I want in my system for this coming year. He’s a winner. I don’t think it’s an accident that he’s been a part of four
teams that have won at least 25 games, including three that won at least 27. His ability to just make the right decision out there
while also knocking down shots is incredibly valuable. He knows when to attack and has a plan for how he goes about it. He just
needs to get stronger and keep improving as a shooter. He’s totally fearless out there in a way that I love. I think there is a non-
zero chance that, if he holds up on defense, he could realistically play minutes as soon as next season. Coaches are going to love
the way he thinks and clearly prepares well before games. He’s a clear two-way guy for me.
62. Mike Miles Jr.

G | TCU | Birthdate: Aug. 24, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-1 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Highland Hills, Texas
2020-21 TCU NCAA (Big 12) 18 25 13.6 3.5 3.1 2.6 0.2 1.0 41.3 36.0 82.7
2021-22 TCU NCAA (Big 12) 19 31 15.4 3.5 3.8 2.8 0.2 1.2 38.2 29.5 75.9
2022-23 TCU NCAA (Big 12) 20 27 17.9 2.7 2.7 2.6 0.3 1.2 49.7 36.2 74.9
BACKGROUND
Miles was an interesting prospect in the Texas area for a long time and ended up being a dominant high school player in the
state. Won the Dallas area player of the year award as well as the 5A Player of the Year award as a senior. Led Lancaster High
School to a 36-1 record. Played next to Cade Cunningham in AAU basketball. Was considered a four-star recruit and a borderline
top-100 player in the class. Stay in-state at TCU over other schools such as LSU, Oregon and Oklahoma State. Emerged quickly as
a freshman and averaged 14 points per game on his way to All-Freshman honors in the Big 12. Got better as a sophomore, leading
TCU to the NCAA Tournament and earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. The Horned Frogs even won a game before losing in
a tight, tough matchup in the second round to Arizona. Declared for the 2022 NBA Draft but changed course and decided to stay
in school. Again made second-team All-Big 12 and led the Horned Frogs to the NCAA Tournament. They again won a game, but
this time lost to Gonzaga in the second round in a tight game. Miles declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. He was invited to the 2023
NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Miles is a superbly creative player out in transition and with a ball screen. As valuable a creator out of these settings as there
was in college basketball this past season. Knows how to handle every situation. Can split them. Really sharp at finding pull-up
jumpers. Constantly plays off two feet and is always a threat to shoot. Because he plays off two feet and is always on-balance, he’s
good at shooting going right or going left. He’s also one of the best small finishers I’ve evaluated. Made a ridiculous 65.8 percent
of his shots at the rim this past season, per Synergy. He’s decisive and has terrific last-step acceleration to be able to get around
bigs and create an angle. Awesome touch. Absorbs contact well and has no issue managing a bump at the rim while maintaining
his touch. Once he gets there, he’s awesome at drawing fouls and forcing his way to the line. Initiates contact and took six
free throws per game this past season as a result. Think he’s a better passer in these settings than what he gets credit for. Has
showcased real ability to understand where the help is coming from and make smart reads to his teammates. Can make cross-
corner kickouts at full speed. Think he’s generally active in trying to find his teammates off rolls and cuts. Teams also seemed
to try to trap him to get the ball out of his hands, but he’s more than capable of stringing that out and finding the right man. Has
also become a genuine catch-and-shoot threat. Playing a bit more off the ball this past season, he was called upon to make catch-
and-shoot 3s and was successful. Made them at a 42.6 percent clip while taking over two of them per game. The shot looks a
touch funky, but it goes in. Will be a critical part of his translation. He’s also at least aggressive as an on-ball defender. Has more
of a chance than most 6-foot guards. He’s very strong and has quick feet, which allows him to beat guards to the spot then get his
chest in front of them. Maintains his position well because of that strength.
WEAKNESSES
At the end of the day, Miles is still a 6-foot-1 shooting guard with zero length. Had just a 6-foot 1/2 wingspan. Was effectively the
smallest player at the combine with an 8-foot flat standing reach. That’s going to be an issue as he moves up levels. He’s also not
wildly explosive athletically. He’s more of a scoring guard than a distributor, even though he’s improved as a passer over the last
couple of years. And, as a scoring guard, he’s not really that impactful as an actual pull-up shooter. He made just 28 percent of
his pull-ups this past season, which is a remarkably low number. Also only made them at a 33.1 percent clip the season before.
Unless he’s decisively trying to get to the bucket – something he can only do so often when the drive is there – I’m not sure I trust
him as a ball screen scorer quite yet. Right now, he’s very reliant on being able to get to the rim or to his floater when he’s on the
ball. How will that translate when he’s asked to go against bigger, longer players in the NBA? What if he’s more of a 55 percent
finisher at that level? Can he be efficient enough as a scorer to make it work? Additionally, can he improve a bit more as a passer?
Was better as a sophomore than a junior in this regard as he moved off the ball more often. But he needs to showcase that he
can continue to make further strides making reads out of ball screens. This is a legitimate potential growth area for him. He just
needs to mix his scoring and passing dynamic a bit better.
SUMMARY
It’s hard to be a very small guard in today’s NBA. The margin for error is essentially zero. These players need to be awesome
passers and decision-makers, in addition to being great shooters off the bounce and off the catch. They need to be physical and
able to hold their ground on defense. The difference between someone like Miles and someone like Fred VanVleet back in 2016 is
that VanVleet was one of the best passers and decision-makers in college basketball while also being a ridiculous shooter. Miles
needs to improve across the board in these avenues. I like his play out of ball screens a lot and think that, long term, he can be a
backup point guard. But I don’t think he’s quite there yet, which means he’s more of a two-way guy right now.
63. Mouhamed Gueye

C | Washington State | Birthdate: Nov. 9, 2002 (Age: 20) | 6-10 | 210 LBS |
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
2021-22 Washington NCAA (Pac-12) 19 35 7.4 5.2 0.5 1.0 0.9 0.8 49.1 28.0 49.3
State
2022-23 Washington NCAA (Pac-12) 20 33 14.3 8.4 1.9 2.3 0.8 0.8 48.8 27.5 67.4
State
BACKGROUND
Gueye has essentially only been playing organized basketball for four years. Grew up in Senegal and played soccer first, but
grew and was encouraged to play basketball given his height. Moved to the United States when he was 16 years old and attended
Prolific Prep. Gueye quickly became someone of interest to recruiters around the country due to his size, length and footwork.
Was considered a four-star recruit and a top-100 player in the country. Chose Washington State over offers across the country.
By the end of his first year at Washington State, Gueye looked like an interesting prospect. Averaged only seven points and five
rebounds but was selected to the Pac-12’s All-Freshman team. Declared for the 2022 NBA Draft process but decided not to go
through with it. Also, hit the transfer portal but stayed at Washington State and had a very strong sophomore season, earning
first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Decided to turn pro following the season and didn’t look back. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft
Combine but didn’t participate as he’s still recovering from injuries suffered during the season.
STRENGTHS
The idea on Gueye makes total sense. He’s a newcomer to basketball who is already so skilled and talented. He moves incredibly
well for a player his size. The offensive flashes as a shot maker are truly tantalizing. You can make a five-minute highlight
reel that makes him look like a lottery pick. Gueye measured at the combine at 6-foot-10 1/4 without shoes with a 7-foot-3 1/4
wingspan and a 9-foot-2 1/2 standing reach. Those are awesome measurements for an NBA center. He will face you up and either
shoot over the top or – at times – recognize his advantage and drive by you. He has some ball skills and can put it on the deck.
Loves to jab-step a defender back and shoot over him. Loves to put it on the ground once for a hang-dribble pull-up. Can freeze
defenders with quick between-the-legs dribbles. More than that, Gueye will make his way to the basket. Makes some tough shots.
Jumper looks very clean for a big. Extremely workable, nice high release point. Takes a lot of midrange shots. Also, has some
interesting flashes as a passer for someone clearly still coming to the game. Makes reads quickly. Many assists are preordained
reads on cuts within scheme, but he can execute them. Gueye also crushes the offensive glass. A ton of his buckets end up being
putbacks. Seventh among all draft prospects in points off putbacks per game but was only seventh because he was relatively
inefficient in terms of touch on them. Averaged 3.6 offensive rebounds per game.
WEAKNESSES
The problem for Gueye is that he doesn’t do a lot of the things NBA teams ask of modern centers as non-negotiables. He has all
the bells and whistles but doesn’t have the glue yet to stick it all together efficiently. That’s to be expected, given how young he
is within the game. But he is a significant project. That stands up most on defense. Gueye’s length and activity allow him to slide
down and guard wings at times, sliding his feet and using his length as an impediment. But his overall team defense needs a lot
of work. He’s often late rotating on the interior as a five and doesn’t contest as many shots as you’d hope. Despite that standing
reach, Gueye blocked about 0.7 shots per game. Very easy for stronger players to seal him high up the court and get strong
position on him on the interior because he has a high center of gravity. Even in space, if you can get lower than him and use your
leverage, you can get by him because he has those long legs and it takes an extra split second to get moving. Has said publicly
that he thinks of himself as a four and not a center, but I don’t agree. Don’t think he’s coordinated enough with his closeouts or
ability to scramble and guard in space. Not balanced at all with his closeout technique. Again, long legs hinder him here. Think
he’d really struggle against crafty, athletic NBA players in space. On top of it, Gueye’s offense is all flashes right now without
actual efficiency. Because he takes that heavy diet of midrange shots and tends to be more of a driver, he had just a 53.2 true
shooting percentage this past year. Made just 29.2 percent of his jumpers, per Synergy. Also, made just 59.5 percent of his shots
around the rim, a low number for a guy this big. Needs to get stronger while maintaining his ability to move his feet. Still, the
high hips are a concern because he’ll always have a bit of a high center of gravity.
SUMMARY
Gueye is an intriguing player due to his natural skill and growth trajectory. I’d be very interested in bringing him in on a two-
way. Some of his gifts are extremely difficult to teach, and, if you think you can coach him up on the intricacies of defense, he
has a chance to really figure some things out. The problem is that I just don’t think he is nearly developed enough to play in the
NBA right now and think it’s unlikely he’ll be ready by Year 2. He has such a long way to go on defense and his frame. I think it
probably would have made more sense for him to return to school to continue his development in low-stakes-but-competitive
environments that are likely a bit more suited to his current level. He’ll spend a good amount of time in the G League now, and
it’ll similarly allow him to continue to develop. It wouldn’t stun me if Gueye ends up turning into an interesting backup center
long term. I just think it’s probably not going to end up being for the team that picks him.
64. Mojave King

G | G League Ignite | Birthdate: June 11, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-4 | 200 LBS |
Hometown: Dunedin, New Zealand
2020-21 Cairns Australia NBL 19 30 6.2 2.4 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.3 38.7 33.0 69.0
2021-22 Adelaide Australia NBL 20 26 3.7 1.1 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.3 37.8 34.8 61.1
2022-23 Ignite G League 21 48 9.4 4.4 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.5 40.4 32.0 76.9
BACKGROUND
Has long been an intriguing prospect on the NBA’s radar. Father, Leonard, was a former pro player originally from Cleveland.
Mother, Tracey, played at Duquesne University. Has an older sister who played at Pacific, and his maternal grandfather was a
coach for 50 years in New Zealand. King grew up in Australia and quickly emerged as an important prospect. Went to the NBA
Global Academy and was one of the best players in his generation, along with Josh Giddey. Just hasn’t totally gone well so far.
Signed with the NBL Next Stars program in 2020 and played for Cairns but struggled. Went to Adelaide for the second year of
his Next Stars deal and struggled even more. After that season ended, went to play in the New Zealand NBL to regain some confi-
dence and played well. Got a G League Ignite contract for this past season and played reasonably well. Was a consistent presence
as an athletic shooter and automatically eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
The idea behind King is that he can be a 3-and-D floor-spacing combo guard who can knock down shots off the catch then
occasionally dive to the rim and score off cuts or a heavy closeout. Measured at 6-foot-3 3/4 without shoes at the combine with
a 6-foot-8 wingspan, so he has reasonable size for the two-guard spot. Posted a 42-inch vertical leap at the combine, which
stands up well with the tape. Showed some deft timing as a cutter this past season. Thought that was his best skill set. Found
his way to the rim effectively in those settings and finished well when he could really load off two feet. When he gets rolling as a
3-point shooter, can knock a few down in a hurry. The jumper looks like it should be clean long term. No real flaws with a high
release point. I’d bet on him shooting well eventually. Also thought King was useful on the defensive end this past season. Used
his length and quickness to cause issues for opposing guards at the one and two spots. Also thought his team defense was solid.
Was a good rotational player. Had a couple of impressive weakside blocks. His athleticism allows him to be valuable in scramble
situations and in recovery. I think he’s good on defense already, and this should be considered the building block of his game.
WEAKNESSES
Right now, King is a 6-foot-4 combo guard who isn’t a consistent shooter, creator or passer. That’s a hard way to live in the NBA.
King made just 31.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy, a number that is not nearly good enough for the limited role
he’d be asked to play. There’s upside here, as I think the shot will eventually fix itself. But right now, he’s not good enough. He’s
also never been a good enough pull-up shooter. King made just 29.5 percent of his pull-up jumpers and isn’t effective enough
to rely on them at any point moving forward. Doesn’t really have a floater or a way to score in the midrange. Made his floaters
at a 28 percent clip. Should be an impactful finisher but just isn’t. Made only 47.1 percent of his half-court attempts at the rim, a
below-average number despite his athleticism. Tends to be better when he can really load up and leap. Doesn’t really have great
touch through contact at the rim right now. Finally, he could stand to improve as a passer and playmaker for others. It’s not
something he’s ever really done at a high level off drive-and-kick opportunities. He’ll need to get stronger to become the kind of
defensive player he likely needs to be to stick.
SUMMARY
I think King makes a lot of sense on a two-way contract right now. He’s in the ballpark of 6-foot-5 in shoes, has a legitimate
8-foot-5 standing reach and should have the size to play at the two. He’s also already an impactful defensive player, and he’s
clearly an NBA-caliber athlete even if it’s not wildly functional because his hip flexibility could stand to be better, and he needs
to really load up to access his vertical leap. The swing skill is the jumper. If he ever becomes a 38 percent 3-point shooter beyond
the NBA 3-point line, he’ll have a chance to play in the NBA. The only question is how long it takes to get there. Can he become
a consistent 3-point shooter before NBA teams move onto different, younger players in the future? If he does, he has a chance to
stick. But, again, being a non-shooter, non-creator and non-passer is a tough way to stick as a guard in the NBA. He needs to tick
some of those boxes sooner rather than later.
65. Ąžuolas Tubelis

C | Arizona | Birthdate: March 22, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-9 | 235 LBS |
Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania
2020-21 Arizona NCAA (Pac-12) 18 26 12.2 7.1 1.2 2.3 0.6 0.6 49.8 31.0 69.2
2021-22 Arizona NCAA (Pac-12) 19 36 13.9 6.2 2.3 2.1 0.7 1.1 54.0 26.3 66.9
2022-23 Arizona NCAA (Pac-12) 20 35 19.8 9.1 2.0 2.4 0.7 1.1 57.0 31.3 76.4
BACKGROUND
Tubelis has been on the international scene as a high-level prospect for a while. Grew up in Lithuania and was always among
the best players in his age group. Played for the U16 team at the European Championships in 2016 as a 14-year-old. Has always
been great due to his size and skill level. Really emerged between 2018 and 2020 after successful appearances at multiple inter-
national tournaments as well as the Basketball Without Borders Camp at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. In 2019-20, he averaged 16
points and six rebounds playing in the professional Lithuanian league as an amateur. Was a top-10 scorer in the league. Decided
to go to college instead of turning pro. Chose Arizona and was joined by his brother on the team. Was excellent for three years for
Arizona. Was first-team All-Pac-12 as a sophomore under new coach Tommy Lloyd, whose scheme took his game to new heights.
Took another leap as a junior, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the field. Was dominant on
offense and was named first-team All-Pac-12 again as well as a second-team All-American. Arizona ended up being upset in the
first round, though, and Tubelis decided to turn pro. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Tubelis is one of the more skilled big men you will find. Runs the floor incredibly well and has phenomenal hands. Scored more
transition points than any other big in college basketball this past season. Was empowered to run the floor and just go. Has
great touch inside. Quick, decisive decision-maker with good body control. Made nearly 66 percent of his shots at the rim in
the half court, per Synergy. Was sharp in college at establishing his position early and quickly to open angles for his little left-
handed flip shots. Great at sealing his man off to create good angles. Only had four dunks in half-court settings this past season.
Always going to try to finish with the left hand, even from the right side of the court, but has phenomenal touch with it. Crashes
the offensive glass well. Also, think he has some real potential in short-roll settings as a big. Arizona utilized him like this
occasionally, and he showed some sharp passing ability. Can put the ball on the deck a couple of times to draw defenders toward
him then make a play. Had good high-low chemistry with Oumar Ballo. Overall, an effective offensive player with some upside
to go beyond that if his ability to shoot ever comes around in a substantial way. Rebounds well on both ends too.
WEAKNESSES
Tubelis measured a bit smaller than hoped for at 6-foot-8 3/4 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan. Beyond that, he doesn’t do a lot of
the things modern NBA big men are asked to do. Has significant defensive concerns. Has good hand-eye coordination, so
occasionally ripped some offensive players when Arizona would hard hedge him on middle ball screens. But there’s not much
else positive here. He’s a five by NBA standards but is not a real rim protector. Doesn’t have those natural instincts at this point.
Not a great shot blocker. Just OK as a weakside rotator in terms of contesting shots. Wasn’t awesome as a post defender. More
importantly, though, can’t guard on the perimeter. Doesn’t really have a chance when he’s pulled away from the rim in pick-and-
pop situations or when he’s isolated out on an island right now against guards and wings. Was blow-by city a lot of the time. Also,
I don’t find him to be an attentive off-ball defender most of the time. Gets hit with cuts a bit too easily. Offensively, he can be a
bit turnover prone as a passer and driver. Don’t love him as a driver if he must put the ball on the deck one or two times. Don’t
think he’s as efficient as a scorer or a perimeter driver because he’s not particularly above the rim and doesn’t really maintain
that touch at full speed. He’s also not a shooter at this point. Made just 32.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s. That’s enough to
say there is room for growth, but the ball comes out of his hand flat and a bit hard. He doesn’t really have any pull-up shooting
ability. Not much shot creation in the avenues NBA teams will ask of him, given they likely won’t post him as a somewhat
undersized big.
SUMMARY
I think Tubelis is likely to have a hard time in the NBA unless he really improves defensively. I thought he was often at the root
of a lot of Arizona’s defensive issues the last couple of years. He was extremely valuable and useful offensively. But defensively,
he was a bit too easily exploited in big moments. Tubelis needs to become a solid shooter and needs to become a much better
defender in space. I think the shooting is possible, but I’m worried about whether the space defense is given that his hips
don’t seem to be particularly flexible. The scoring ability and the hand-eye coordination shouldn’t be underrated though. The
worst-case scenario for Tubelis is he becomes one of the best players in EuroLeague over the next decade. But if he can become
just a bit more mobile with his footwork and a bit more polished as a shooter, significant money in the NBA could occur as an
offensively minded backup center.
66. Liam Robbins

C | Vanderbilt | Birthdate: July 12, 1999 (Age: 23) | 7-0 | 250 LBS |
Hometown: Davenport, Iowa
2018-19 Drake NCAA (Missouri 19 31 4.1 2.7 0.5 0.7 1.1 0.3 44.2 23.1 59.5
Valley)
2019-20 Drake NCAA (Missouri 20 34 14.1 7.1 0.8 1.7 2.9 0.6 49.9 24.4 69.4
Valley)
2020-21 Minnesota NCAA (Big Ten) 21 23 11.7 6.6 1.1 1.7 2.7 0.7 44.1 32.7 69.4
2021-22 Vanderbilt NCAA (SEC) 22 15 6.8 4.0 0.7 1.2 2.0 0.4 43.5 28.6 60.6
2022-23 Vanderbilt NCAA (SEC) 23 26 15.0 6.8 1.0 1.6 3.2 0.3 50.4 36.5 73.1
BACKGROUND
A late bloomer physically, Robbins was essentially a non-factor on his high school team for three years, then averaged nine
points per game as a senior. Reclassified to the following year and took another season at Sunrise Christian Academy, where he
lost about 50 pounds and got into shape. Ended up committing to Drake and was a backup for the first season before moving
into the starting lineup as a sophomore and earning interest from NBA teams. He averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and three
blocks and was named second-team All-MVC as well as to the Missouri Valley All-Defense team. Decided to transfer to Minneso-
ta to play for his uncle, assistant coach Ed Conroy. Had a solid season, but the coaching staff turned over, so he followed Conroy
to Vanderbilt. Robbins missed the final six games of his season at Minnesota with an ankle injury then missed the first 20 games
in his first year with Vanderbilt due to injury again. Decided to return for his senior season, and it finally all came together. Was
dominant on the interior for Vanderbilt, averaging 15 points, shooting 36 percent from 3 and blocking 3.2 shots per game. He
won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and was named first-team All-SEC as Vanderbilt made a late-season push toward
the tournament. Got even better during that run, as in his final 12 games, Robbins averaged 19.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8
blocks. But disaster struck, as Robbins got injured again, this time fracturing a bone in his lower leg. NBA teams are incredibly
interested to learn more about Robbins’ injury history. He did not attend the combine, as he is still recovering from the surgery.
STRENGTHS
The idea behind Robbins is very simple. He is enormous and has NBA center size as a 7-footer with length. More than that, he
has potential to be one of the rarest archetypes in the NBA: a 3-and-D center who can protect the rim. Let’s start with the latter,
because that’s essential. Robbins has been one of the best shot blockers in college basketball for four years. He’s a monster on
the interior. Superb as a drop-coverage defender. His positioning and use of angles is about as perfect as you want. Knows how
to accept and force even the quickest, most athletic drivers into spots they don’t want to end up in. Blocks shots directly out of
drop. Swatted 3.2 shots per game in total this past season, which tied for second nationally. Always available as a help defender
in the paint. Good short area quickness. Smooth sliding his feet. He also hit 39.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past
season, a very strong number for a center at any level. The volume is not wildly high, but he’s been growing as a shooter over the
course of his five years in college. He’s long had potential to do this, which makes you want to buy into it more. Also made five
pick-and-pop 3s, so that tape is there too. Excellent offensive rebounder. Solid defensive rebounder. Also was a useful finisher
at the basket, making 69.5 percent of his attempts at the rim, although Vanderbilt used him much more often to space the court.
Was also a magnet for fouls late in the season, especially, as he became more confident.
WEAKNESSES
The weaknesses here shouldn’t be that stunning. Robbins is a limited player. Doesn’t have much game off the bounce to speak
of and likely won’t be anything resembling a shot creator in the NBA. Not a great passer and will need to improve there, I think.
Don’t even think I’d trust him as a post-up threat in the NBA. Not an awesome rim runner. Doesn’t have that downhill speed you
hope for from bigs, which is why his volume around the rim was so low in half-court settings. He is almost purely going to be
a floor spacer in spot-up situations or a pick-and-pop guy, which means the shooting must translate. He needs to knock down
shots, and this past season was the first time he did it at an acceptable level. You must hope it continues. Additionally, he might
be more of a regular-season player as opposed to a potential playoff player. Isn’t all that awesome out in space against guards if
you can really stretch out the court. Could struggle to turn his hips and deal with those types of creators you see in the NBA.
SUMMARY
I think I’m buying Robbins a bit more than most because I value the things he brings to the table as a potential role player.
Precious few players have potential to be genuine rim protectors and 3-point shooters with NBA size at the center position.
Robbins might be able to do it, and there is proof of concept in his last 12 games this past season. Few players across college
basketball were playing better than Robbins was at that point. He was dominant inside on defense and great outside on offense
while also drawing fouls and carrying the offense. His drop-coverage angles and his fluid feet are superb. The injury history is
a real factor, and it’s why I couldn’t get him into my top 60. But Robbins is undeniably worth a flier on a two-way contract. NBA
teams should go for it and hope it works out.
67. Toumani Camara

F | Dayton | Birthdate: May 8, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-7 | 220 LBS | Hometown: Brussels, Belgium
2019-20 Georgia NCAA (SEC) 19 32 6.6 4.3 0.7 1.6 0.6 0.6 49.4 17.2 62.5
2020-21 Georgia NCAA (SEC) 20 25 12.8 7.7 1.6 2.4 1.1 1.2 48.6 26.3 62.1
2021-22 Dayton NCAA (A-10) 21 34 10.9 6.9 1.6 2.6 0.8 0.8 51.0 33.8 59.1
2022-23 Dayton NCAA (A-10) 22 34 13.0 8.6 1.7 2.1 0.8 1.2 54.6 36.3 66.9
BACKGROUND
Mother is Anne. Grew up in Belgium then moved to the United States in 2016 after he competed in the FIBA U16 European
Championships. Played high school basketball for four years in the United States. Attended Chaminade-Madonna College Pre-
paratory and became a dominant player by the time he was an upperclassman. Averaged a double-double both seasons and
earned all-state honors as a senior. Was a consensus four-star recruit who was right around the top 100 nationally in his recruit-
ing class. Originally attended Georgia, committing to the program over Dayton, Kansas State, Minnesota and others. Camara was
good for Georgia and started to be looked at as an interesting draft prospect as a sophomore after averaging 13 points and eight
rebounds. Chose to transfer following that sophomore season and quickly committed to Dayton, a school that recruited him out
of high school. Was an all-conference player immediately, earning second-team honors as a junior and then first-team All-Atlan-
tic-10 honors as a senior. Was among the best two-way players in the conference. Decided not to use his extra year of eligibility
following the pandemic and instead turned pro. Attended the Portsmouth Invitational, where he was one of the best players in
attendance. Based in large part off that performance, Camara was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Camara has essentially a perfect frame for a four in today’s NBA. He’s a powerful 6-foot-7 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan on a
physical 220 pounds. Has an 8-foot-11 standing reach that will allow him to play at the four easily. A well-rounded player who
looks the part and does a little bit of everything well. Camara is probably most interesting on defense, where he is a genuine
multi-positional player who can switch across a few different spots and really slide his feet while using his length to contest.
Solid switchability. Completely reliable as a help defender and generally does a good job of creating turnovers with his length,
averaging 1.2 steals per game. He’s a good rebounder on both ends of the court. On offense, he keeps things simple while being
productive. He runs the floor well. If he gets an open 3, he’ll take it, making 36.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this past
season. He finds smart cutting angles either from behind the 3-point line or by camping out in the dunker spot waiting for a
dump-off. He’s a good finisher at the rim, having made 64.6 percent of his half-court chances there this past season. He’s not
an incredible passer, but he’s unselfish and keeps it moving. He can set screens and roll to the rim, or he can pick-and-pop.
Camara is one of those guys who doesn’t need the ball all that often to find production, and that’s valuable in conjunction with
his defense.
WEAKNESSES
I’m not totally sure Camara has enough perimeter skill to play the four in today’s NBA. Was efficient when he got the ball in good
spots and is excellent at finding those areas. But he isn’t all that comfortable handling the ball either. Had a negative assist-
to-turnover ratio. Is essentially a straight-line driver without a ton of burst in terms of first step and with a very square frame.
Doesn’t seem to have great hip flexibility. More of a functional athlete than a truly explosive one. Dayton essentially used him as
a second big next to DaRon Holmes this past season. Also, Camara was a good shooter this past season, but this was the first year
he cracked the coveted 35 percent barrier, and he did it on only 80 attempts. There will be some real skeptics of just how good of
a shooter Camara truly is as he enters the NBA. He got better every single season of his collegiate career, so you have hope this is
real. He’ll need to prove it.
SUMMARY
It’s easy to sell yourself on a 6-foot-7 player without shoes who has a 7-foot wingspan and plays solid, switchable defense. In the
NBA today, there might be no easier player type to sell yourself on. Camara is certainly worth a two-way flier, given his frame,
defense and potential to shoot it. But I can’t quite get to guarantee level given that he is still a bit limited off the bounce, a bit
limited as a passer and a questionable shooter. If you’re looking to invest in a draft prospect who could help you sooner rather
than later if the shot comes through, Camara is a good one to take a flier on.
68. Darius McGhee

G | Liberty | Birthdate: June 2, 1999 (Age: 24) | 5-9 | 150 LBS | Hometown: Roxboro, N.C.
2018-19 Liberty NCAA (A-Sun) 19 36 7.8 2.7 1.1 0.5 0.3 0.9 38.4 31.9 90.9
BACKGROUND
Has been one of the best scorers in his age group since he was a junior in high school. He scored over 3,000 points in his high
school career, which is a truly absurd number – especially when considering he broke his arm as a sophomore. Led his team to
a state title and was an all-state selection. However, due to his size, was essentially a completely unranked recruit. Entered the
rotation at Liberty from day one, though. Became a starter in his second year but truly blossomed in his third. Went on to win
three straight Atlantic-Sun Player of the Year awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Took another significant leap in his fourth year,
averaging nearly 25 points to finish second nationally in scoring. In his fifth year, finished third nationally in scoring. Liberty
went 131-37 in his five years there, dominating the A-Sun and winning or tying for the regular season title every season. The guy
gets buckets and wins games. Was invited to Portsmouth Invitational but was not invited to either the NBA Draft Combine or
G League Elite Camp.
STRENGTHS
This is the easiest scouting report I will write all year. McGhee is a lightning quick bucket getter. That’s what he does. And the
way he does it is potentially translatable to the NBA. In my opinion, there is no better shooter eligible to be taken in the 2023
NBA Draft than McGhee. In his final three seasons at Liberty, he made 39.6 percent of his 3-point attempts on over 10 per game.
And there were some truly ridiculous attempts within there. A very high percentage of these are self-created pull-ups after
stringing together multiple moves to get free. But McGhee doesn’t just have NBA range; he has Stephen Curry range. Per Synergy,
McGhee hit 40 percent of his 65 attempts from beyond 28 feet last season and even hit 37.5 percent on the attempts he took
beyond 30 feet. Almost all of these are pull-up attempts, where McGhee displays one of the fastest ball pick-ups you will find
and a very fluid, balanced jumper. He made a ridiculous 45 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers too. If you leave him for even
a second, he is automatic. Shot an absurd 44.6 percent off off-ball screening actions last year from 3, per Synergy. Gets these
shots with a very crafty and extremely quick-twitch handle. Keeps the ball low to the ground and can cross guys up with ease.
He also generally makes good decisions with the ball. There are some questionable shots – undeniably a function of Liberty
needing him to just go for it – but you have every reason to buy into McGhee being able to get pull-up stepback jumpers both to
his right and to his left in the NBA.
WEAKNESSES
McGhee is 5-foot-9 without shoes and 150 pounds. He has a 7-foot-6 standing reach, per his measurements at the Portsmouth
Invitational. To say he has no chance to defend NBA players would be an understatement. He knows what to do on that end and
wants to play hard. He’s an aggressive ball hawk with his hands. But he’s just not going to be able to contest many shots. Even in
terms of off-ball defense, he doesn’t cover much court area because of how small he is. Additionally, he doesn’t really have much
of an in-between game. Doesn’t have a floater. Doesn’t really have a midrange pull-up game that was saw at Liberty in half-court
settings. Essentially, he’s bombing from deep or trying to get to the rim. Didn’t draw many fouls and only shot 49.6 percent at
the rim in half-court settings despite his touch. His passing ability is OK, not great. Wasn’t asked to do a ton of it, but we also
didn’t see a crazy number of advanced reads either. This is a bombs-away pull-up scorer and catch-and-shoot gunner who can
fly off all sorts of creative actions. That’s what you’re getting.
SUMMARY
When I get this deep into draft prospects, I’m looking for elite skills. And McGhee, at the very least, has something he can do that
other people can’t. I’m skeptical that he can stick on the court defensively in the NBA in a big way. There are significant concerns
on that front that can’t be glossed over. But he is the best available shooter in this draft, I think. And that counts for something,
especially when accounting for the fact that he can create them at an elite level. We’re starting to get into borderline two-way
range at this point. I think if I missed out on some of my higher value two-way targets, I’d be good with taking a flier early on
McGhee. It’s obviously speculative, but he does stuff as a scorer nobody else can in this draft from beyond the arc.
69. Emoni Bates

W | Eastern Michigan | Birthdate: Jan. 28, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-8 | 180 LBS |
Hometown: Ypsilanti, Mich.
2021-22 Memphis NCAA (AAC) 18 18 9.7 3.3 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.6 38.6 32.9 64.6
2022-23 Eastern NCAA (MAC) 19 30 19.2 5.8 1.4 2.5 0.5 0.7 40.5 33.0 78.2
Michigan
BACKGROUND
Parents are E.J. and Edith. E.J. played professionally for a few years overseas and coached Emoni throughout his career on his
AAU team. Was about as high-profile as a prospect can get throughout his high school career. Had some staggeringly impressive
performances on the AAU circuit for his age and was anointed as a potential No. 1 pick in the eyes of many. Was tracked relent-
lessly throughout high school and publicized heavily. Went to Lincoln High School to start his high school career, then attended
Ypsi Prep Academy, a school in Ypsilanti created by E.J. for his high school career. Played there for a year and was a finalist for
high school player of the year. After his junior season, made a very noteworthy decision to reclassify up to college. He commit-
ted to Michigan State earlier in his career but opened his recruitment in April before his first collegiate season. In August, he
decided to commit to Memphis and began attending the school. Went there for his first year, and things did not go well. He got
injured, but even before then, it was clear he wasn’t ready to play college basketball and make a consistent impact across the
court. Decided to transfer following the season. After a long process, committed to Eastern Michigan, his hometown college.
In September, Bates was arrested and charged with two felony gun charges after a traffic stop in Michigan. Those charges were
dropped in October. Played this past season at Eastern Michigan and scored a lot of points but left a lot to be desired in terms of
his overall game for evaluators. Declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after the season. Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Bates is an impressive shot creator at 6-foot-8 without shoes. He has real shiftiness throughout his hips and all sorts of creativity
in terms of mindset as a hooper. Has an innate understanding of the way defenders play him and of their balance. He can play
off that at a very high level and get to the spots he wants consistently. Has a nice bag of crossovers, hesitations, hang dribbles
and more. Once he gets that separation, he can fill it up. He is a terrific shooter. Bates only hit 30 percent from 3 on pull-ups
this past season, but that was probably higher than expected given the degree of difficulty on the shots. Bates also hit 37.6
percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s. He’s a legitimately high-level shooter with size. Also, has a solid floater game he can get to
in the midrange.
WEAKNESSES
Everything else. Bates has very short arms and no strength to speak of, which was an issue for him at Eastern Michigan. He
also is not a great athlete in terms of explosiveness. Has very little first step. Doesn’t have a ton of vertical pop. Doesn’t have
an efficient way to beat defenses as a scorer right now unless he’s just catching and firing from 3. Made just 45.8 percent of his
shots at the rim in half-court settings, a disastrous number for a draft prospect playing in the MAC. Took about three midrange
jumpers per game and made just 39 percent of them. Made just 34.2 percent of his half-court 3s this past season because the
degree of difficulty on them is impossibly high. That’s the real issue with his game. Bates does not really play all that well with
his teammates. He’s all about scoring himself and not about creating efficient offense. Despite his talent level and the fact that
he was playing in the MAC, Eastern Michigan was about 0.5 points per 100 possessions better offensively when he was off the
court versus when he was on the court. He just doesn’t move the needle on offense despite his talent for creating shots because
he puts up some of the worst, most difficult shots you’ll see. Doesn’t pass and make plays for his teammates. And all this pales in
comparison to his defensive ability, which is nonexistent right now. Is not nearly attentive enough off the ball to make an impact.
Needs to lock in and engage in that regard. On the ball, would be far too skinny to hold his ground in the NBA against other shot
creators. He would get hunted relentlessly due to his lack of strength. Bates’ feel for creating a shot is great; his feel for playing
winning basketball is quite poor.
SUMMARY
Bates is such an interesting shot creator and shooter at nearly 6-foot-10 in shoes that I would be willing to give him a two-way
contract if all the background intel came back clean. It is difficult to find shot creators this gifted. But he must totally change
his style of play to make it work. He needs to get better at playing without the ball in his hands. Make an impact when you’re
away from the ball. Become a good defender. Become a good mover without the ball. Understand what’s happening on the court
beyond just getting buckets. It’s asking a lot. He needs a lot of work. But there is a talented basketball player here for his age.
Hopefully he buys into showing it and doing the type of things that will get him on an NBA court.
70. Landers Nolley II

W | Cincinnati | Birthdate: March 5, 2000 (Age: 23) | 6-6 | 210 LBS | Hometown: Atlanta
2018-19 Virginia NCAA (ACC 18 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Tech *REDSHIRT*)
2019-20 Virginia NCAA (ACC) 19 32 15.5 5.8 2.4 2.7 0.3 0.8 37.0 31.6 78.0
Tech
2020-21 Memphis NCAA (AAC) 20 28 13.1 4.1 1.8 2.3 0.2 1.1 41.5 38.7 80.3
2021-22 Memphis NCAA (AAC) 21 29 9.8 3.9 2.8 2.0 0.3 0.9 38.0 33.6 79.5
2022-23 Cincinnati NCAA (AAC) 22 36 16.8 5.8 2.6 2.2 0.5 1.0 44.7 41.7 75.0
BACKGROUND
Parents are Chrisma and Landers Sr. Landers Sr. played at LSU in the mid-1990s. Was a very well-regarded high school player
who won a state title in Chicago before moving to the Atlanta area suburbs and leading his team to a state title there too. Earned
all-state honors and became the team’s all-time leading scorer. Was a four-star recruit and a consensus top-70 player in the
country. Decided to attend Virginia Tech to start his career but was ruled academically ineligible for the first season. Earned
All-Freshman honors in the ACC in his first season of eligibility after averaging 15 points but decided to transfer following the
season. Went to Memphis and played there for two years. Won NIT MVP in 2021 and was named first-team All-AAC. In 2022, with
an influx of high-end recruits, Nolley lost some of his usage and was not as effective. Decided to transfer following the season
and had his most well-rounded year at Cincinnati. Was named first-team All-AAC again and set himself up to turn pro. Was invit-
ed to the G League Elite Camp in 2023.
STRENGTHS
Nolley is a floor-spacing option, and he has tremendous size and measurables for that role. He’s over 6-foot-6 without shoes and
has real length with a 6-foot-11 wingspan. It’s hard to find guys who are this big who have this level of shooting success. More
importantly, Nolley can let it fly. He hit 42.7 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s this past season, which is an awesome number. He
did it from a variety of different situations too, including being able to fly off screens and knock down spot-up opportunities
when they come. Easy to buy him as a shooter. Also, added a bit more off the bounce this past season out of ball screens.
Cincinnati would occasionally use him there to create some offense and he was adequate handling the ball. It’s not something
he’ll be asked to do often in the NBA but might be able to attack closeouts and handle the ball in a pinch. Runs the court hard
and tries to find easy buckets in transition. I also thought Nolley showed marked improvement in his overall defensive effort this
past season. He was at least active on that end in a way he hadn’t been previously.
WEAKNESSES
Nolley is not particularly athletic compared to other wings. Would say someone like Hunter Tyson is a bit more athletic than
Nolley despite the height difference. Doesn’t have a ton of vertical explosiveness or pop. NBA teams have been tracking Nolley
for a while, and I don’t know that a single season of hard work will wipe out all their preconceived notions entering 2022-23 on
the defensive end. Was always a bit more inattentive on that end than he should have been. And never has quite gotten as much
out of his tools as he could have. Offensively, Nolley’s overall shot selection got much better this past season, but he’s still not a
particularly reliable decision-maker, and you don’t totally trust him as a driver. Made just 43.2 percent of his attempts at the rim
this past season in half-court settings, quite a poor number for an older player who has little physical development remaining.
Made only 39 percent of his layups and only got to the rim in half-court settings once per game. Not in any way a threat as an off-
ball cutter. Nolley has a chance to be essentially only a pure shooter and nothing else.
SUMMARY
Nolley is probably worth a flier if only because it’s hard to find shooters who are 6-foot-6 without shoes but have a plus-five
wingspan. Nolley didn’t just make shots this past season; he poured them in. He just might not be a good enough athlete to
make it work at the NBA level, particularly on the defensive end. NBA wings might have an easier time getting by him than they
should, even with the improvement. But, hey, shooters are in demand. I’d probably be willing to try out a two-way contract on
Nolley given that there are three of them now for each team and given how important it is to space the floor for your stars.
71. Charles Bediako

C | Alabama | Birthdate: March 10, 2002 (Age: 21) | 6-10 | 225 LBS |
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
2021-22 Alabama NCAA (SEC) 19 33 6.7 4.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 0.6 69.2 0.0 61.2
2022-23 Alabama NCAA (SEC) 20 37 6.4 6.0 0.6 0.8 1.8 0.6 65.9 0.0 35.5
BACKGROUND
Parents are Charles Sr. and Joyce. Has a brother, Jaden, who plays for Santa Clara as the team’s starting center. Charles was a
very high-level prospect in Canada competing at Ridley College in Ontario. For his junior season, transferred to an academy in
Ohio. For his senior season, switched down to IMG Academy to play against many of the country’s best. Was excellent at IMG
that season, dominating the interior. He was a consensus four-star recruit in his class and a top-40 player in the country. He
chose Alabama over schools like Duke, Ohio State, Michigan and others. Had two strong seasons at Alabama. In his first year, he
made the All-Freshman team in the SEC as the team’s starting center and made the All-Academic team. As a sophomore, started
every game and made the All-Defensive team in the SEC as one of the most dominant forces in the league on the interior. He also
made the All-Tournament team in helping to lead Alabama to the best regular season in the country and the No. 1 overall seed in
the NCAA Tournament. Was upset in the Sweet 16 by San Diego State. Bediako surprisingly declared for the draft and then even
more surprisingly decided to stay in. Was invited to the G League Elite Camp.
STRENGTHS
Bediako has legitimate size for the center position in the NBA, at 6-foot-10 without shoes with a 7-foot-3 1/4 wingspan and a
9-foot-3 1/2 standing reach. He used every bit of that size on the interior this past season to be maybe the most underrated
defensive player in college basketball. Was dominant in his minutes on the court for what was a top-three defense in college
basketball. When he was on the court, opposing teams shot just 40.9 percent in attempts at the rim, per Pivot Analysis. That
is a staggeringly low number. On top of it, the team only allowed 92.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the court versus
101.5 points per 100 with him off. He completely locked down the paint by being physical and contesting everything inside. He
made life exceptionally hard for opposing teams in the SEC. He’s constantly available rotationally and blocks several shots. He’s
great in drop coverage. He’s a terrific defensive prospect on the interior. He’s a killer defender in post-ups. Everything was built
around filtering people toward him and letting him deal with it all
WEAKNESSES
Bediako does not have any game right now on offense. Not overly reliable as a finisher or scorer. If he gets it at the rim, he
can finish. But he needs to have rolled all the way to the rim so it’s just a catch and finish. Bediako took 107 shots in half-court
settings this past season, per Synergy. One hundred of them came at the rim. On top of that, his touch can come and go. He
made just 52 percent of his layups this past season, per Synergy. If he’s dunking, it’s fine, but his hands aren’t always perfect. I
think he showed some interesting flashes as a passer in short-roll settings, but they were only flashes. Mostly, Bediako was in the
dunker spot, or he was rolling to the rim and trying to finish. And he was much better in the dunker spot than as a roller. Bediako
is a massive offensive liability by NBA standards right now. On top of it, he made just 35.5 percent of his free throws in 2022-23,
an egregious number that will need a lot of work. It’s hard to overemphasize how much of a project Bediako is on offense.
SUMMARY
I’d probably be willing to give a two-way flier to Bediako if only because he is genuinely that good on defense. He has enormous
size and length, and he was the anchor of a top-three defense in college basketball this past season. That is nothing to sneeze
at. It’s an impressive accomplishment. He’s so good on that end. But his offense is an adventure right now. It’s going to be a real
project to get him on the court right now on that end. But I think you give him another year, see where his offense sits at the end
of the 2023-24 season and make a decision on moving forward with him. It’s possible he could carry a second unit’s defense.
72. Oscar Tshiebwe

C | Kentucky | Birthdate: Nov. 27, 1999 (Age: 23) | 6-7 | 255 LBS |
Hometown: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
2019-20 West NCAA (Big 12) 20 31 11.2 9.3 0.4 1.7 1.0 0.7 55.2 0.0 70.8
Virginia
2020-21 West NCAA (Big 12) 21 10 8.5 7.8 0.7 1.2 0.4 0.4 52.3 0.0 60.7
Virginia
BACKGROUND
Parents are Mbuyi and Kaya Rosalie. Has five siblings. Grew up in Lubumbashi and played soccer when he was young. Eventu-
ally made his way toward basketball. Didn’t start playing until he was 14 years old. Moved to the United States in 2015. Eventu-
ally made his way to Kennedy Catholic High School in western Pennsylvania and led his team to a state title as a junior. Did the
same thing again as a senior, averaging 23 points and 18 rebounds. Tshiebwe was named the Pennsylvania player of the year, a
McDonald’s All-American and a Nike Hoop Summit invitee. Chose to attend West Virginia and was productive for his first year,
nearly averaging a double-double. Left West Virginia midway through his sophomore season for personal reasons and landed at
Kentucky. That worked well for him. He won the national player of the year award as a junior and became a first-team All-Amer-
ican, although Kentucky was upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by No. 15 seed Sa Peter’s. He again was named an
All-American as a senior. Kentucky ended up being a borderline top-25 team and lost in the second round to Kansas State. Led
the NCAA in rebounding each of those two seasons. Was dominant inside on the glass. Decided to turn pro following the season.
Was invited to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Tshiebwe is one of the best rebounders I’ve seen in college basketball. Extremely strong. Impossible to move him. His motor
never stops. He’s voracious and constantly hunting opportunities, particularly on the offensive glass. Averaged over five
offensive rebounds in each of the last two seasons. But he’s also great on the defensive glass, leading the NCAA in defensive
rebounding rate in 2022. He is an offense unto himself with how many second-chance opportunities he creates for his
teammates. Derives points and production through that alone. Averaged about 17 points per game over the last two seasons.
Experimented with a jumper this past season to mixed results (more on that later) to expand his game. Runs the court hard.
Anything that has to do with playing hard, you can count on Tshiebwe to do it.
WEAKNESSES
Anything that has to do with skill level or defense. Tshiebwe is quite a poor defensive player right now. He can’t guard in space
because he’s not laterally quick enough. He can’t really play drop coverage because he’s not big enough and you can turn the
corner on him. You can’t switch with him because he’ll get blown by against even wings. It just doesn’t really work to have
him out there. He constantly misses rotations defensively at the basket to try to get rebounds, and he doesn’t provide a real
impediment inside. On offense, he doesn’t really make high-level passing reads, and he doesn’t shoot it consistently. Tshiebwe
made just 36 percent of his jumpers, per Synergy. Essentially what you’re talking about here is a player who can’t shoot, can’t
pass and can’t defend. He also can’t really create his own shot off the dribble. Those are hard combinations to live by in the NBA,
where motor mostly gets outweighed by skill.
SUMMARY
I would love it if Tshiebwe could make it work in the NBA. His story is amazing, and it’s one of perseverance. But I’m very
skeptical. It’s going to be hard for him defensively where the court is even more spaced out. It’s going to be hard for him against
more athletic, bigger, stronger players. I buy that his motor is so strong that he will be able to rebound. He needs to prove he can
shoot and pass as well. I think those are his tickets to success in the NBA. If he can improve his skill level, he’ll give himself a
chance. Having said that, he’s more of an Exhibit 10-style contract guy to me.
73. Jaylen Martin

W | Overtime Elite | Birthdate: Jan. 28, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-5 | 210 LBS |
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
2022-23 Overtime Overtime 19 14.0 5.9 1.6 0.9 0.7 1.6 37.6 26.7 76.6 74.3
Elite Elite
BACKGROUND
Mother is Kimberly. Martin went to Florida State University School in Tallahassee and was considered a solid three-star prospect
in the 2022 recruiting class. He was a consensus top-200 recruit in the class, with offers from a mix of mid-majors and high-ma-
jors. Decided to turn pro early instead, though, and attended the Overtime Elite program. The first year was a bit of a mess for
Martin as he struggled to adjust. But he thrived by Year 2. Martin averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game while providing
real athleticism out on the court. Eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft and earned an invite to the G League Elite Camp, where he
turned a few heads with his athletic play.
STRENGTHS
Martin has a tremendous frame and athleticism for the role he’ll need to play on the wing in the NBA. Came in at 6-foot-5
without shoes at the G League Elite Camp with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and an 8-foot-5 standing reach. Right now, Martin is at
his best on the defensive end, using his length and plus-athleticism to just try to wreak havoc on everyone. He’s active and
aggressive on that end, seemingly trying to get his hands into everything. He plays hard constantly. He finds loose balls and
works to try get his hand into everything he can. He has a chance to be a good on-ball defender with his length and overall
quickness. Beyond that, Martin was also quite good this past season at running out in transition and trying to attack the basket.
He’s twitchy and can get creative in his sequences both off the bounce and in terms of his footwork. Loves to use the pump fake
to attack closeouts. Has a nasty Euro step and step-through combination. Has great balance and coordination in addition to
some real vertical pop and explosiveness throughout his moves. At the very least, his motor, size, length, coordination, fluidity
and explosiveness are all interesting for a potential NBA wing even if the skill level remains a work in progress.
WEAKNESSES
Martin is a real work in progress. His jumper is just nowhere near ready yet. He took six 3-pointers per game this past season and
made under 30 percent, which is not good. Jumper does not look all that clean right now. Elbow isn’t underneath the ball. Has
kind of an inward bend. It’s a very set shot right now. Seems like there is some real off-hand interaction. It’s not totally broken,
though. He just needs to work through continuing to get it to a place where he can be reliable on set shots. If any sort of contest
comes in, things look like they get kind of out of whack. He also doesn’t really provide much for his team right now as a passer
and needs to work through his overall feel for the game on offense. Again, this is a project that will need multiple years in the G
League given how young he is. But there’s at least a pathway to success.
SUMMARY
Martin needs much refinement, but you can at least see a world where five years down the line, the guy who is 6-foot-5 without
shoes, has a 6-foot-11 wingspan and has real explosiveness plus fluidity in and out of his moves can play in the NBA. Especially
if he’s going to be willing to make defense his calling card night in and night out. Martin needs to get as good as he can on the
defensive end of the court while also finding a home that will specialize in working on his jumper. If he does that, he’ll best
position himself for success. He’s probably more of an Exhibit 10 guy, but I wouldn’t have an NBA team buying in and going for
it on a two-way.
74. Tosan Evbuomwan

F | Princeton| Birthdate: Feb. 16, 2001 (Age: 22) | 6-7 | 215 LBS |
Hometown: Newcastle, England
2019-20 Princeton NCAA (Ivy) 19 26 3.9 1.8 0.9 1.0 0.3 0.5 52.6 26.7 51.6
BACKGROUND
Parents are Michelle and Isaac. Isaac is a doctor, and his mother was a pilot before she died of cancer when Tosan was younger.
Also, has a brother, Toju. Grew up in England playing soccer at an academy before he turned his attention to basketball. Attend-
ed Royal Grammar School in Newcastle and played basketball there and was noticed enough to go to a camp in England started
by Luol Deng. Got some good film to send to schools. Princeton visited and decided he was interesting enough in terms of his
physical tools and skill set to recruit him. He signed with Princeton and quickly entered the starting lineup as a low-usage play-
er with athleticism who played a rotational role. After the Ivy League suspended play for the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19
protocols, he took an enormous leap as a third-year player. He averaged 16 points, five rebounds and five assists and was the Ivy
League Player of the Year. Evbuomwan was just as good the next season, but this time traded the individual hardware for team
success. He led Princeton to a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where it upset Arizona and Missouri to reach the Sweet 16
before losing to Creighton. He decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft fully. From there, he was invited to the G League Elite
Camp, where he played well and earned an invite to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.
STRENGTHS
Evbuomwan has great size and length for the forward position in the NBA. He was 6-foot-7 1/4 at the combine without shoes
on and possesses a massive 7-foot-1 1/2 wingspan that gave him an 8-foot-9 standing reach. The best way to describe him is as
a point forward with real passing and playmaking ability from the high post. Princeton often ran him at the top of the key and
asked him to create offense by finding cutters. Excellent at spotting and timing those passes at a high level. Finds the open
man quickly and with touch. He’s also quite good at driving and drawing defenders toward him, then finding the open man
cutting toward the basket. Finds creative angles with pocket passes and by using his length to open bounce-pass opportunities.
Averaged five assists per game in the last two years. As a scorer, he loves to try to isolate and drive into the paint. Can use his
length to extend out past his man, then uses a variety of up-fakes to get defenders off-balance. He is constantly on-balance as
a player.
WEAKNESSES
Evbuomwan is not a plus athlete by NBA standards. Doesn’t have a great first step or vertical leap. Doesn’t have much burst or
twitch. Most of his drives are attempts to either extend with his length past the defense or involve him using his hip to turn and
try to post. Not a particularly efficient scorer in the half court at the rim, making just about 55 percent of his attempts at the
basket, per Synergy. He’s also not really a shooter. Went just 3-of-10 on midrange jumpers, per Synergy, and only took 34 3-point
attempts, making them at a 32.4 percent clip. Took 88 percent of his shots within 5 feet of the rim but only had six dunks on
those attempts. I’m just not sure how Evbuomwan scores in the NBA. I think there is a very good chance he’d not get guarded
at that level, which would also work to diminish his passing and playmaking game. Beyond that, he was a bit turnover prone
for the role he’ll be asked to play, giving the ball up nearly three times per game. Has a bit of a loose handle from a skill-level
perspective right now. A lot of his passes came from a standstill as opposed to at speed, and many are pre-ordained reads within
the Princeton offense. I worry a bit about him defensively at the next level despite his length. Not sure the foot speed will be
there to defend perimeter players.
SUMMARY
I tend to try to buy into strong passers and playmakers because it typically showcases real feel for the game. Evbuomwan just
doesn’t meet the athletic threshold for me, which is concerning. I don’t know that he can collapse defenses and find a way to
take advantage of his passing. Beyond that, I’m not sure why teams would worry about him more than 15 feet away from the rim.
He’s good with the ball, but how many teams will be willing to hand him the ball to let him play? I’m skeptical. I like the feel for
the game and the length, but I see him as an Exhibit 10 player.
75. Caleb McConnell

W | Rutgers| Birthdate: June 8, 1999 (Age: 24) | 6-6 | 200 LBS | Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
2018-19 Rutgers NCAA (Big Ten) 19 31 5.5 2.5 1.0 1.2 0.1 0.8 41.5 35.7 79.2
BACKGROUND
Parents are Bryant and Stefanie. McConnell is one of those guys who has been a winner everywhere he’s been. He played at Day-
ton Dunbar High School for three years, where he helped the school win a lot of games before transferring to SPIRE Institute in
Ohio, where he averaged 15 points and six rebounds as a senior. Was considered a solid three-star recruit as a senior and chose
Rutgers over West Virginia in addition to several other offers from mid-major schools. Became one of the most important guys
in recent Rutgers history. Was a starter by his second season and continually rose in importance until his fourth year, when
he truly broke out. He won the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year award and was dominant shutting down opposing wings
and guards. Helped lead Rutgers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 in his third season, then the team
repeated that in the fourth year. Chose to return for a super senior season and repeated as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the
Year, upping his production across the board. McConnell is in this draft as an auto-eligible player and was invited to the 2023 G
League Elite Camp.
STRENGTHS
McConnell has great size for the wing-stopper role. Came in at 6-foot-5 1/2 without shoes to go with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan.
The key here is the defense. McConnell has been one of the best one-on-one defensive stoppers in college basketball over the
last two years and truly embraced that role. His hands are incredible. He’s among the most disruptive players with his hand work
in college basketball, with great timing on digs and strip steals as guys go up with attempts both at the rim and on jumpers. He
also has tremendous lateral quickness and slides to stay in front of guys. Has very quick feet, and it’s hard to drive through him
because he walls up. Tough to go through his chest. Flies around and scrambles well off the ball. Great technique on closeouts.
Doesn’t miss rotations. Very detail-oriented while also maintaining that ability to disrupt. An elite player on the defensive end
who was worthy of every accolade. Offensively, I think he’s a sharp passer. Has some ball skills. Not a primary option but solid as
a driver and playmaker. Averaged 3.1 assists and is typically on time with his reads.
WEAKNESSES
McConnell would be a significant negative on the offensive end right now even with that passing ability. He’s comfortable with
the ball in his hands but I wouldn’t say he’s going to be able to create shots at the NBA level with real creativity off the bounce.
More importantly, he’s a total non-shooter at this point. Made just 20.3 percent from 3 this past season and has been under 30
percent in each of the last four years of his career at Rutgers. Will take them when he’s open, but you can’t exactly feel good
about them going in. Not much better off the catch or off the dribble. This is obviously the swing skill. If McConnell shoots the
ball, he will stick in the NBA given how good he is as a defender and his overall comfort level with the ball in his hands. If he
doesn’t, it will be tough for him to stick because he won’t get guards. Teams will feel very comfortable leaving him alone and not
paying attention to him.
SUMMARY
The equation for McConnell is quite simple: if he can shoot, he will stick. If he doesn’t shoot, it will be very hard. McConnell is
terrific as an on-ball defender, and he’s an excellent off-ball defender. He has some comfort with the ball. I think he’s a low-level
bet to shoot it. The shot does not look all that pretty. I don’t know that I buy his touch enough. But, if he can fix it in any way, he
probably plays in the NBA.
Copyright: June 14, 2023 | @svecenie | svecenie@TheAthletic.com
All scouting reports and rankings are the original views and analysis of Sam Vecenie and The Athletic.
Design by John Bradford & Luke Leissring, images via Getty Images
©2023 THE ATHLETIC MEDIA COMPANY

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’23 Draft

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Table of Contents CLICK ME!

Tier Vic: Victor Wembanyama 07

Tier 1: Projectable All-NBA Upside 12

Tier 2: Projectable All-Star Upside 16

Tier 3: High-Leverage Starters 25

Tier 4: Starter/All-Star Tool Swings 36

Tier 5: Rotation Players and Upside Swings 55

Tier 6: Second-Round Guarantee Swings 103

Tier 7: Priority Two-Ways 118

Tier 8: Two-Ways, Stashes, Exhibit 10s 144

Copyright: June 14, 2023 | @svecenie | svecenie@TheAthletic.com

Hope you enjoy!

2023 NBA Draft Big Board

2 Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite G 19 6-2 N/A 1

3 Cam Whitmore, Villanova W 18 6-6 6-9 2

4 Brandon Miller, Alabama W/F 20 6-8 N/A 2

5 Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite G 20 6-6 7-0 2

6 Jarace Walker, Houston F 19 6-7 7-3 3

7 Taylor Hendricks, UCF W/F 19 6-8 7-1 3

8 Anthony Black, Arkansas G/W 19 6-6 6-8 3

9 Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite W 20 6-6 7-0 3

10 Dereck Lively II, Duke C 19 7-1 N/A 4

11 Kobe Bufkin, Michigan G 19 6-4 6-8 4

12 Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92 W 18 6-6 N/A 4

13 Leonard Miller, G League Ignite F 19 6-9 7-2 4

14 Cason Wallace, Kentucky G 19 6-3 6-9 4

15 Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana G/W 20 6-4 6-10 4

16 Gradey Dick, Kansas W 19 6-6 6-9 4

17 Kris Murray, Iowa W/F 22 6-8 7-0 5

18 Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut W 21 6-4 6-7 5

19 Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State W 19 6-6 N/A 5

20 Dariq Whitehead, Duke W 18 6-6 6-10 5

21 Noah Clowney, Alabama F/C 18 6-10 N/A 5

22 Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas G 19 6-4 N/A 5

23 Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA W 22 6-6 6-10 5

24 Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette W 20 6-7 7-1 5

25 Jett Howard, Michigan W 19 6-7 N/A 5

26 Keyonte George, Baylor G 19 6-4 N/A 5

27 Colby Jones, Xavier W 21 6-5 6-8 5

28 Ben Sheppard, Belmont W 21 6-5 6-8 5

29 Andre Jackson, Connecticut W 21 6-6 6-10 5

30 Kobe Brown, Missouri F 23 6-7 7-1 5

31 Marcus Sasser, Houston G 22 6-1 6-7 5

RANK PLAYER, SCHOOL/TEAM POS. AGE HT. WING. TIER

33 Julian Phillips, Tennessee W 19 6-7 7-0 5

34 Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers W 19 6-6 7-2 5

35 Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine W 20 6-6 7-0 5

36 G.G. Jackson, South Carolina F 18 6-8 7-0 5

37 Jalen Wilson, Kansas W 22 6-6 6-8 6

38 Amari Bailey, UCLA G 19 6-3 6-7 6

39 Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana C 23 6-8 7-1 6

40 James Nnaji, Barcelona C 18 6-11 N/A 6

41 Jordan Walsh, Arkansas W 19 6-6 7-2 6

42 Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara G/W 20 6-4 6-6 6

43 Ricky Council IV, Arkansas W 21 6-5 6-9 7

44 Omari Moore, San Jose State G/W 22 6-5 6-10 7

45 Colin Castleton, Florida C 23 6-11 7-4 7

46 Julian Strawther, Gonzaga W 21 6-6 6-9 7

47 Seth Lundy, Penn State W 23 6-4 6-10 7

48 Adama Sanogo, Connecticut C 21 6-7 7-3 7

49 Hunter Tyson, Clemson W/F 23 6-8 6-10 7