A smart connective passer who supplies the Kansas defense with frenzied activity, McCullar possesses strong role-player traits on both sides of the ball. Hes putting up numbers, albeit one has to remember the context of those numbers (its Eastern Michigan). Scouts will be focused on how much he strengthens his frame and cuts down on low-percentage shots and passes. He'll make standstill threes at Kentucky, though he's best when he's not forcing jumpers and instead using his tools and force attacking and finishing. Tickets are at a premium as French fans clamor for a look at teen sensation Victor Wembanyama before he enters the NBA draft. The main knock against him will be the lack of high-level competition at Overtime Elite, opposed to his peers who are facing collegiate or professional competition. He needs to trim the fat off his shot chart right now, but Hendersons explosive live-dribble playmaking makes it easy to believe in him as a lead initiator and future star point guard. At 6-foot-5, he has good size and physicality at the point of attack on defense. Hes a monster at the point of attack, frequently bottling up ball-handlers and converting turnovers into transition offense. A bulky 6-foot-6 guard with feather-soft touch and advanced playmaking instincts, Jalen Hood-Schifino should hover around draft boards all season. Listen. First Round: 2023 NBA Mock Draft 1- Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama. Charlotte Hornets (to Atlanta if 17-30), Anthony Black | Arkansas | SG | Age: 18.4, Terquavion Smith | NC State | SG | Age: 19.4, Cason Wallace | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.6, Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 18.6, Julian Phillips | Tennessee | SF | Age: 18.6, Leonard Miller | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 18.5, Jordan Walsh | Arkansas | SF/PF | Age: 18.3, Rayan Rupert | NZ Breakers | SG/SF | Age: 18.0, Brandon Miller | Alabama | SF | Age: 19.5, Chris Livingston | Kentucky | SF/PF | Age: 18.6, Sidy Cissoko | Undecided | SG/SF | Age: 18.2, J.J. Starling | Notre Dame | SG | Age: 18.2, Marcus Sasser | Houston | PG/SG | Age: 21.7, Ousmane Ndiaye | Undecided | PF/C | Age: 18.2, Nikola Djurisic | Mega Mozzart | SG/SF | Age: 18.3, Arthur Kaluma | Creighton | PF | Age: 20.3, Emoni Bates | Undecided | SG/SF | Age: 18.4, Julian Strawther | Gonzaga | SF | Age: 20.1, Andre Jackson | UConn | SG/SF | Age: 20.6, Harrison Ingram | Stanford | SF/PF | Age: 19.5, 39. Though only 160 pounds, his athletic ability and shooting confidence are starting to look enticing for an instant-offense microwave role. He profiles well as a two-way role player at the next level. 1. G League Ignite and Overtime Elite are other evaluation platforms that are becoming increasingly important in the NBA scouting world, as evidenced by the fact that only one of the top five projected 2023 picks will be attending college -- something that's never occurred in the history of the NBA draft. Who is No. We've watched the class' best prospects grow up in high school, AAU, USA Basketball . "He got better as the . Unfortunately, hes 6-foot-2 in shoes and will be unavoidably limited on the defensive end despite his impressive commitment to that side of the ball. He has excellent size on the wing at 6-foot-7, combined with comfort shooting on the move and the ability to attack downhill, using long and purposeful strides to keep the defense off-balance. On draft night, New York gained two protected first-round picks, both via Oklahoma City: a top-14 protected originally from Washington, and a top-18 protected originally from Detroit. Houston has first-round swap rights with Brooklyn. Hes an excellent movement shooter with what might be the first actually unguardable jumper. Advanced self-creation, shooting versatility, floater touch and. In nine NIBC games, he finished first in field-goal percentage and second in blocks, but it's flashes of face-up moves, improving touch and passing that elevate Walker into a lottery pick. Jalen Williams (Santa Clara, PG/SG, Junior). Holmgren brings unique skillset to young Thunder, Jabari Smith could fit in perfectly with Rockets, Mark Williams to LaMelo: Get ready to throw me lobs, Ivey overcome with emotion, shares moment with mother. Usually NBA fans tune into the NCAA men's. Bona should be a highlight machine at UCLA, just by tapping into his active mix of size, length, athleticism and motor. He has an excellent sense of when to move and cut and hes a talented finisher in the lane relative to your typical shooting specialist. Early January is usually the month in which NBA prospects aim to get the attention of teams before the draft. Henderson quickly became Ignite's biggest draw, despite scouts visiting mainly for 2022-eligible prospects Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels and MarJon Beauchamp. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball, Alonso says Aston 'living a dream,' eyes podium, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live'. Those comparisons are, of course, mostly surface-level (quite literally). All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. The perfect Florida State prospect lanky with ball skills and projectable defensive versatility NBA teams will no doubt monitor Millers progress as he works his way into game shape and a consistent role with the Seminoles. He has more work to do offensively, but Walkers impressive athleticism and potential as a downhill scorer shine through. The 6-foot-5 guard from Arkansas can absolutely obliterate defenses off the dribble, intermingling changes of speed and direction with advanced handles and feather-soft touch from everywhere on the court. Which non-quarterback group will define each top-25 team's season? Also, the abundance of young talent found throughout the 2022 crop caused several highly regarded talents to drop on draft night into the second round, or even go undrafted altogether. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. We went through the names you'll need to know once the 2022 class is drafted. At 6-foot-9, his combination of size and shot-making is not easy to find. He's evolved into a 6'10" power forward with comfortable three-point range and the ability to attack bigs off the dribble. Anthony Black (Duncanville SG/SF, Undecided). Check out our detailed scouting report on Amen Thompson here. At 7-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Zach Edey occupies quite a lot of space on both sides of the ball. Not every executive agrees that selecting a big man at No. NBADraft.net. Dariq Whitehead (Duke) Shooting guard/small forward, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds. Of course, there are also early entries, players who declare themselves eligible without having completed four years in college first. You can read last months installment of our big board here. Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut, SG, Freshman). Hawkins would need to make a major sophomore jump to draw 2023 NBA interest, but the flash plays of athletic finishes and shot-making still point to enticing long-term potential. The 6-foot-10, 170-pound Eastern Michigan forward . Players including the Thompson twins, Cameron Whitmore, Dillon Mitchell, Dariq Whitehead, Anthony Black, Jarace Walker, Julian Phillips, Gradey Dick and Leonard Miller make up half of the top 20 prospects currently forecast, and all currently project as wings. All Wembanyama games will stream on the NBA App. 8. Victor Wembanyama is a player we've all been penciling in at No. This is not the first time that Miller has been connected to the Raptors, as many believed that Toronto could use their. Playing against grown men in the Adriatic League, the teenage Nikola Durisic has proven his mettle on both sides of the ball. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Victor Wembanyama Highlights vs. Lithuania, What to expect from Scoot Henderson at NBA level, Wembanyama erupts for 31 in French League play, NBA G League Next Up Game: Team Luka 178, Team Scoot 162, Top prospect Henderson shows go-to moves on NBA TV, Ignite's Scoot Henderson serves up huge poster slam, Wembanyama drops 20 points, 8 rebounds in loss, Wembanyama scores 27, wins LNB All-Star Game MVP, 8 G League Ignite games to stream for free on NBA App, NBA App to stream all Wembanyama games for free, Draft Lottery: Odds, history and how it works, B/R: NBA comps for projected 2023 Lottery picks, B/R: 9 under-the-radar prospects for 2023, B/R: Updated Mock Draft at college season's midpoint, B/R: Updated Mock Draft after 1st impressions, B/R: New prospects emerging in latest Mock Draft, B/R: Ranking top 50 college basketball prospects, French prodigy Wembanyama thrills Paris crowd, Durant: 'Can't wait' to see Wembanyama in NBA, France picks Wembanyama for World Cup qualifying, From Carroll to Banchero, every top pick since 1980, All-Access: Behind scenes at 2021 NBA Draft, 2020 NBA Draft Prospects: All-Access Pass, Who wore it best? Bates' image took a hit this year, with questions arising over his athleticism around the basket and decision-making. Lincoln High School : 6' 9" 205: 3 . GG Jackson has been admirably productive as one of the youngest players in college basketball. Henderson's court vision is more advanced than Ivey's at the same stage, but he's 2 inches shorter and his struggles as a perimeter shooter (22% from 3) are something teams will want to study closely next year. Dereck Lively (Westtown, C, Duke commit). March 3, 2023 9:46 pm ET Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra revealed during the preseason that rookie Nikola Jovic hadn't yet graduated from high school, and the 19-year-old confirmed that. 3. 1. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February 23, 1996, and attended high school in Florida. The 6-foot-10 freshman, however, has been steadily climbing up draft boards on the strength of his multi-faceted defense and competent complementary skill set on offense. 2023 Top Basketball . The recent legacy of Kentucky guards in the NBA is quite strong. Matthew Cleveland (Florida State, SF, Freshman). One that could include lowering the NBA Draft age to 18-years-old. Grizzlies vs. Spurs, 9 p.m. 1 option for Montverde. He doesnt explode off the screen and he needs to get his 3-point numbers back on track, but hes a gritty two-way player with scoring craft, a real eye for playmaking, and all the intangibles youd expect with an accomplished four-year player. And over the course of the season, a handful young players who aren't ready to go pro have flashed glimpses of pro potential. Note: Potential breakout returners only includes players who were not included in our latest mock draft. Were starting to get a clearer picture of who is, and isnt, generating buzz ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft next June. That said, he has a lot of learning to do on defense. 1 is an ideal use of a team's resources, in terms of the value they return in the modern game. Brooklyn owns Philadelphia's first-rounder, which is unprotected. But this won't be a normal draft cycle. The appeal to Butler and his NBA fit was on full display last Wednesday against Notre Dame, when the 7'1" freshman totaled four three-point makes and four blocks. You'll get exclusive content every month and be a key part of the NBA Draft Room community. There arent too many holes in Wembanyamas game. It seems to come so easy that he may have a tendency to be casual with his handle. He wont explode past defenders, but he has the skill, craft, and poise to get by just fine. Hes not a freak athlete, but Wallace plays with spirit and contributes in myriad ways offensively, from a bankable 3-point shot to nifty floaters and proficient passing. That said, Thompson possesses unique size and explosiveness for a lead ball-handler, and he might be the best passer on the board. He has vision operating out of the pick-and-roll and hes especially comfortable playmaking in transition. Youre reading Kevin O'Connors Big Board, featuring his top prospects in the 2023 NBA draft. He stands 7-foot-3 with a 7-9 wingspan, has an exceptionally high skill level and feel for the game, and possesses defensive player of the year-type instincts as a shot-blocker. 1 for the better part of three years, and for good reason. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. He projects as possibly the best rim protector in the draft behind Wembanyama. The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, . 28th on the ESPN 100 For 2023 senior class. That said, his decision-making can lag behind at times. Wembanyama has an incredible. His numbers have been consistent across this season in France. Our first mock draft of the 2023 cycle has projections by SportsLine that give the Rockets the early edge over the Thunder and Magic. It's a very unusual draft with four non-college players projected toward the top, since 2005 when the NBA prohibited players from jumping straight from high school. Now in the thick of the college basketball season, which NBA Draft prospects are rising and falling on our NBA Draft Big Board in the new year? 1 in the latest NBA Basketball Power Index? Thompson's identity revolves around explosiveness, playmaking and defensive versatility. Basketball is being taught and played at a high level across the globe, and prospects have never had more access to training and elite competition from a younger age than they currently do. The Pistons go with the obvious top prospect, one who fits well with Cade and Ivey. With passing skill/IQ, strong defensive tools and touch to work with (76.9 percent FT) for his long-range shooting development (10-of-47), Henderson offers enough three-level scoring, passing and two-way potential to generate No. Jaime Jaquez Jr. projects as a rock-solid role player. If youre curious about any aspect of this class, we have it covered. He's not super impressive physically or athletically, but he manages to compensate with crafty paint finishes and confident shot-making. Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown, SG/SF, Freshman). Dariq Whitehead (Montverde Academy, SG, Duke commit). That likely caused quite a few players to slip between the cracks and end up at lower levels than they should have. As of 2006, high school players are no longer allowed to go straight to the NBA, as the minimum draft eligibility was raised from . Nick Smith : G--5 . Hes a tremendous passer and versatile, high-I.Q. An impressive athlete at 6'6", he's added more self-creation and shot-making skill for half-court scoring to average 16.8 points in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference. His instincts around the rim, paired with a well-rounded approach to the offensive end, make it very easy to project him as a successful role player in the NBA.