Wembanyama is considered a generational prospect that has surpassed the hype of LeBron James coming out of high school. An explosive 6-foot-7, 230-pound power athlete on the wing, Cam Whitmore should have NBA scouts salivating over him all season. In addition, we have our first mock draft with projections from KOC, plus a team needs section where Michael Pina analyzes the biggest decisions facing each team before the trade deadline and the draft. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and defend multiple positions. Smiths shooting and playmaking upside will keep him glued to draft boards, but his defense and sporadic efficiency are concerning when one considers his air-light 165-pound frame. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. A breakout junior year led to scouts visiting Williams, who averaged 18.0 points and 4.2 assists on 51.8 percent shooting and 40.6 percent from three. That likely caused quite a few players to slip between the cracks and end up at lower levels than they should have. His offensive contributions are similarly sourced: easy finishes around the rim resulting from hustle and explosive athleticism. Those comparisons are, of course, mostly surface-level (quite literally). Scoot Henderson is the current favorite to follow Wembanyama on draft night. Just over one-third of all players currently projected to be picked can be classified as big men, which is a significant number but might not ultimately hold up. If he can continue to grow as a passer, great. Adem Bona (Prolific Prep, C, UCLA commit). The 18-year-old, 7ft 4ins sensation has been unstoppable so far for Metropolitan 92, as recently as Thursday where he put 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks up for his team. But Wembanyama possesses an unheard of combination of 7'9" wingspan, mobility and perimeter skill, including speciality shot-making around the post and three-point range. His 3-point numbers have skyrocketed and hes showcasing never-before-seen versatility as a scorer, which should interest NBA teams in search of more offensive punch. For the exam classes, candidates will be grouped such that those Covid-19 positive and negative will write examinations in separate rooms. NBA bans high school drafting The list has stopped growing however, as basketball players can no longer be drafted from high school. Missed evaluation opportunities have forced teams to dig even deeper into the college ranks to the mid- and low-major schools (as well as non-Division I programs, potentially), where more NBA prospects are still certain to emerge. Terrence Shannons main appeal, still, is rooted in defense: at 6-foot-7, hes equal parts versatile and hard-edged. Hes statistically a very poor 3-point shooter, but his touch closer to the rim is a positive indicator long-term. A strongly built 6-foot-4 guard, George will need to get better at elevating teammates in the long run, but there are flashes of legitimate passing upside to complement his impressive shot-making. A 6'11" big with enough ball-handling, shooting and passing skill to play the 4, Filipowski will fill in for projected top-three pick Paolo Banchero. "Explosive and smart backcourts are cool to me.". The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, posting updates in January and May. 2- Chicago Bulls: Scoot Henderson. Henderson hasn't played since November, after spending three weeks in concussion protocol. He plays with confidence and energy. 8. And how could this year's draft affect the future of the league? For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. All of which will be on show this June as the 2022/23 NBA season comes to an end. A bulky 6-foot-6 guard with feather-soft touch and advanced playmaking instincts, Jalen Hood-Schifino should hover around draft boards all season. 5. But he is a prospect worth monitoring for his scoring instincts and defensive tools as a 6'7' wing. 1. Theres plenty of room for bigs like that in todays game. The 19-year-old point guard has showcased himself as the perfect clutch player, with silky ballhandling skills. Positional 6'7" size, shot-making flashes, off-ball athletic plays and defensive playmaking have helped Thompson look like Overtime's top prospect. The opportunity for Wembanyama to be closer to home in Paris and still play in the competitive EuroCup league will likely be attractive. The Pistons go with the obvious top prospect, one who fits well with Cade and Ivey. If Washington's pick finishes between 1-14, Oklahoma City will instead receive Washington's 2024 first-rounder, protected for picks 1-12. 19: 7'4 220 Pivot Metropolitan92 (France). Note: Potential breakout returners only includes players who were not included in our latest mock draft. A switchable 6-foot-8 forward who has already played important minutes for the loaded Blue Devils, Mark Mitchell is rapidly rising up draft boards. High School Players; International Players; Search Players; Articles; News . Re: 2023 NBA Draft Post #1590 by UnbelievablyRAW Sat Feb 25, 2023 8:09 pm The-Power wrote: As Whitmore at this point is all potential due to his physical profile (one of the best attributes has actually been his on-ball defense), and George struggles to separate himself as either an elite scorer or a very good playmaker (making him more boom-or-bust), I'm currently settling more and more . According to the terms of the agreement, a draftee must be at least 19 years old and within one year of. Marcus Sasser is a magnificent shooter with deep range on the move, pulling up, standing still, it doesnt really matter. The selection of NBA draft picks is one of the highlights of the calendar, with teams having spent the entirety of the season sculpting their rosters around it. Smith may be trending toward the 2022 draft after his latest play, with the 6'4" freshman averaging 23.8 points over his last five games. NBA Sophomore Watch By Michael Quinn. Looking more comfortable the second half of the season, Cleveland still needs to show he can make an open three. Back from his 16-game suspension to open the season, 6-foot-11 Baba Miller will finally be able to make his case to scouts. [23] RT @AdamFinkelstein: Kel'el Ware's high school evaluation has proven to be accurate this year at Oregon. 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. After starting the season slowly, hes beginning to absolutely wreck teams in the paint more in line with preseason expectations. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Raising his three-point percentage (30.6) will be important for scouts to get past his lack of explosion. He can also guard multiple positions. One of college basketballs most productive guards. You can read last months installment of our big board here. 1 option for Montverde. The team that wins gets the first pick, which was Paolo Banchero this year who plays for the Orlando Magic. October 27, 2022 FROM BLEACHER REPORT B/R: NBA. Teams will still wait for the combine, individual workouts, and medical examinations before making their final decisions on draft night. 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. 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. 1 pick Chet Holmgren. Hes the youngest player on the board and thus should be afforded some extra leniency by NBA decision-makers who see the obvious upside in a physical, fluid 6-foot-9 forward who can space the floor, create off the dribble, and defend multiple positions. He can shoot off movement, he can shoot spotting up, or he can attack closeouts. Sure, draft picks can be obtained, but they can also be traded, a pretty common practice which poses for much more excitement and thrill. His 3-point numbers have notably improved, both in terms of efficiency and volume, and he has all the intangibles NBA front offices covet. His limited athleticism is a mark against him, and he will have to work hard to shed the streaky label that preceded his arrival at Duke, but the base skill set is quite tantalizing. He needs to iron out his 3-point stroke and become far less turnover-prone. A 6'6" guard/wing, Sharpe possesses the type of athletic bounce, self-creation and shot-making suited for NBA scoring. . Terquavion Smith (North Carolina State, SG, Freshman). NCAA Power 16 Rankings Even Ivey is considered by most to be more of a combo guard after being utilized heavily in an off-the-ball role in his time at Purdue. He has to get more efficient and choose his spots more wisely, but he has the foundation of a gifted multi-faceted contributor. Gradey Dick (Sunrise Christian, SG/SF, Kansas commit). Emoni Bates was once a top recruit who felt destined for top-five pick status. Box scores don't reflect his impact for the Wildcats, a projected No. James will graduate from high school in 2023 and enroll in college for the following season. Cason Wallace will look to keep the momentum going. As of 2006, high school players are no longer allowed to go straight to the NBA, as the minimum draft eligibility was raised from . Though only 160 pounds, his athletic ability and shooting confidence are starting to look enticing for an instant-offense microwave role. For example, in 2018, the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks traded Luka Doncic (number three overall selection) and Trae Young (number five overall selection) on trade night. At 6-foot-9, his combination of size and shot-making is not easy to find. If Dallas' pick finishes between 1-10, New York will instead receive Dallas' 2024 first-rounder, protected for picks 1-10. On defense, thanks to his broad shoulders and impressive bulk, he can guard bigger wings or stick with guards at the point of attack. Despite his high center of gravity, hes more than capable of negotiating tight spaces off the bounce and fluidly moving into his pull-up jumper. If Denver misses the playoffs, Oklahoma City will instead receive Denver's 2024 first-rounder, again lottery-protected. Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite, SG/SF, 2003). Scouts will be focused on how much he strengthens his frame and cuts down on low-percentage shots and passes. But coach John Calipari has at least hinted about the idea of Sharpe coming back to lead the Wildcats. Currently leading Sierra Canyon in the state championships, Bailey has stood out over the years for his strong physical profile and athleticism, scoring instincts, playmaking versatility and feel for the game. This is not the first time that Miller has been connected to the Raptors, as many believed that Toronto could use their.