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. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 1. We've watched the class' best prospects grow up in high school, AAU, USA Basketball and FIBA events, as well as other all-star settings in the past two years, and will continue that process this summer and fall. 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. History says prospects who are projected top 10 don't return to school. He has a real chance to enter the first-round conversation, if he hasnt already. Jordan Walsh (Link Academy, SF, Arkansas commit). 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Similarly, they are also deemed eligible if they have played for a team outside the US under a professional contract. Just prior to the start of the college hoops season, here's version 1.0 of my mock draft. defender as well. Top prospects are being found in rural parts of the U.S. or obscure places around the globe, in many cases moving on to top-notch American prep schools where they usually compete against other top prospects year-round in grassroots and high school competition. There are obvious and valid concerns about his potential to hold up defensively in the NBA he doesnt move very well in space but he can still wall off the paint, inhale rebounds, and contribute with surprising skill on the offensive end. Though Ingram looked like a one-and-done prospect earlier in the year, he hit a wall over the past month, and scouts still need more convincing. And how could this year's draft affect the future of the league? Wings also make up a good part of the intrigue with this group, especially near the top of the draft. Those questions are justified, but his ambidextrous finishing, polished footwork, and multi-faceted skill set make me generally optimistic about his potential to carve out a lane. The 6-foot-10, 170-pound Eastern Michigan forward . Your default site has been set for 7 days, Sky Sports' 2023 NBA Draft Explained: Trades, first-round picks and lottery winnings, Victor Wembanyama is the overwhelming favourite to be number one draft pick in June, Man Utd takeover: Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe bids through to next stage, Merse: If Arsenal win next three, they win title | Arteta: Our most-emotional moment, Papers: Man City to step up chase for RB Leipzig's Gvardiol, Arsenal's young gems pass their toughest resilience test yet, Salah: Beating Fowler's Liverpool PL goal record will be 'really special', Transfer Centre LIVE! 10. Hes putting up numbers, albeit one has to remember the context of those numbers (its Eastern Michigan). The Pistons go with the obvious top prospect, one who fits well with Cade and Ivey. While Henderson and Nick Smith project as primary ball handlers down the road, they must refine their decision-making and ability to create for others. The teams that did qualify for the playoffs become the next 16 picks, from numbers 15 to 30, and they pick in reverse order, so that the team to have won the league that season, gets the 30th pick. At 7-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Zach Edey occupies quite a lot of space on both sides of the ball. Ja Morant Net Worth is $80 Million US Dollars. The lottery is conducted using numbered ping-pong balls which are then randomly selected by the machine. 6. Hes an excellent perimeter defender at 6-foot-3, possessing the length and physicality needed to stonewall ball-handlers at the point of attack. NBA teams will need to give Keyontae Johnson the paramount medical all-clear, but years after collapsing mid-game in 2020, the former Florida Gator is back to full strength and then some for his new team. 5. He can also guard multiple positions. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Golden State), Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | PF/C | Age: 22.3, Jamarion Sharp | Western Kentucky | C | Age: 20.8. Keyonte George . A talented floor spacer and shot-blocker at the 4 spot, TaylorHendricks has been one of the biggest risers so far this college season. Way-too-early 2023 NBA Mock Draft 1) San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, France) First, there's no surprise who tops our NBA Mock Draft. He has a funky release on his jumper, and it's tough to call him a shooter at 27.3 percent from three. Portland's first-rounder is owned by Chicago if Portland's pick falls between 15 and 30 in 2023. Specializing in drafts with top players on the NBA horizon, player profiles, scouting reports, rankings and prospective international recruits. Of course, there are also early entries, players who declare themselves eligible without having completed four years in college first. Ja Morant became the first player in . His track record as a shooter is much stronger than the current numbers suggest, so theres reason for optimism on that front. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. He can be something of an erratic decision-maker on both sides of the ball, but the tools are all there. 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. The NBA draft is an annual event in which teams select players from their American colleges as well as international professional leagues to join their rosters. Find out by returning here often. A physically imposing center with rim-rocking power and impressive shot-blocking instincts, James Nnaji has honed his skill set with one of the best teams in Europe Barcelona. Dariq Whitehead (Duke) Shooting guard/small forward, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds. Copy of Good Afternoon, Michigan Football REPLAY 2/28: First four in for recruiting . No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. NBA Sophomore Watch By Michael Quinn. Teams will still wait for the combine, individual workouts, and medical examinations before making their final decisions on draft night. 2023 Mock Draft; 2024 Mock Draft; Consensus Mock Draft; My Mock Drafts; Create Your Own Mock Draft; Actual Drafts; . Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite, PG, 2004). Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Jaime Jaquez Jr. projects as a rock-solid role player. He has more than doubled his 3-point attempts compared to last season and hes hitting a lot of them. The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, . Hes a smart, well-rounded lead guard who doesnt make a ton of mistakes. During a breakout summer and senior year, Smith showcased the most complete skill package among 2023 draft-eligible guards. Running back remains a vital commodity for offenses even as we've seen fewer and fewer of them taken with premium draft picks. Most offer quite a bit of multipositional defensive versatility with varying degrees of perimeter shooting, shot creation and plenty of physical and long-term upside to tap into, but productivity, consistency and showing growth in terms of their feel for the game and skill level over the course of the year will be important to keep their stock high. Hes one of the most dominant players in college basketball and is going to earn some looks at the next level. If Washington's pick finishes between 1-14, Oklahoma City will instead receive Washington's 2024 first-rounder, protected for picks 1-12. By Ricky O'Donnell Dec. Something of an oddball prospect, Andre Jacksons draft case is built almost entirely beyond the box score. Traore could be in good position to produce next year, assuming Tari Eason leaves LSU for the 2022 draft. The potential for defensive versatility offered by Arthur Kaluma should keep him firmly on the NBA radar. Scoot Henderson is the current favorite to follow Wembanyama on draft night. Viewed by international scouts as the top prospect outside the U.S. since 16 years old, the 7'2" French big is now playing in Euroleague and the Jeep Elite (France's top division) after averaging 14.0 points and 4.7 blocks in just 22.5 minutes at last summer's U19 World Cup. 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. Ja Morant earns over $11 Million in salary annually. Bills-Bengals preview, Chargers collapse and more, 3 reasons Daniel Jones should be the Giants QB of the future, most unique prospect in modern NBA history. Get all the latest news around the 2023 NBA Draft with Draftcast on ESPN. He's evolved into a 6'10" power forward with comfortable three-point range and the ability to attack bigs off the dribble. You'll get exclusive content every month and be a key part of the NBA Draft Room community. He's a smooth, 6'4" shot-creator and scorer (19.2 points) with playmaking potential (3.7 assists) and enough shot-making range (1.4 3PT) and touch (80.7 percent FT) to buy his three-point development. Scoot Henderson : G--4 . The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, . Regardless, scouts may still have a tough time resisting the way he earns easy baskets, defends wings or bigs, blocks shots, crashes the glass and impacts games without needing plays run for him. At 6'8", Minott has stood out with his transition and off-ball scoring and defensive instincts. Best styles from 2022 NBA Draft, Pair of NBA Academy alums realize basketball dream, All-Access: 2022 Draft picks get their NBA call, All-Access: Behind the scenes at 2022 NBA Draft, Ultimate Highlight: Sights & sounds from Draft night, Pistons among big winners of 2022 NBA Draft, How Paolo Banchero found out he was the No.1 pick. Miller, 19, will be old for a freshman, but with 6'8" size and explosive athleticism for finishing and defending, he'll crack the NBA radar by flashing enough scoring and shot-making touch. . Henderson quickly became Ignite's biggest draw, despite scouts visiting mainly for 2022-eligible prospects Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels and MarJon Beauchamp. And, over time, he should learn how to channel his freneticism more efficiently. 1. He slings some beautiful dimes, no doubt aided by his high vantage point. His floater and in-between game are well-developed, and while he wont create much for others, Howard profiles as an excellent complementary talent with room to grow. Jabari, Chet or Paolo: Which rookie will have immediate NBA success? 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. Still, Henderson has shown across the G-League this year that he is every bit as tantalising as Wembanyama, in all the niche ways. If he can make the 3-point shot a regular staple of his game, Walker will have very few glaring weaknesses at the next level. This comes down to professionalism of the club and players involved, though rules are always evolving to include new policies and terms. Early January is usually the month in which NBA prospects aim to get the attention of teams before the draft. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman is the most tantalizing prospect to come into the NBA Draft since LeBron James came out of high school. Dereck Lively II is next in a long line of physically imposing centers from Duke. All Wembanyama games will stream on the NBA App. The NBA and the NBPA prohibits the drafting of high school players beginning in 2005. Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown, SG/SF, Freshman). He projects as possibly the best rim protector in the draft behind Wembanyama. He will set massive screens, roll hard to the rim, and do the things you expect of a quality role-playing big, but hes still in the early stages of development as far as decision-making is concerned. 7. On defense, he has the potential to guard 4-5 positions on any given night. His ability to shoot on the move, combined with excellent feel and vision spearheading the offense, makes Smith one of the drafts most bankable lead playmakers. The opportunity for Wembanyama to be closer to home in Paris and still play in the competitive EuroCup league will likely be attractive. There are some restrictions. High School Players; International Players; Search Players; Articles; News; Blogs; Forum; BLACK LIVES MATTER. UFC 285 live results and analysis: Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Morant to miss two games after video with gun, Las Vegas prepared to give A's 'better opportunity', Richardson sets QB mark for vertical, broad jump, Curry, Iguodala probable to return vs. Lakers, Sources: Suns hiring Pistons' Bartelstein as CEO, Mbappe breaks PSG's all-time scoring record, Bruins stroll past Kane, Rangers, win 10th in row, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick. Where this group is very strong is with towering big men, as three 7-footers make up the top 11 prospects, and eight overall 7-footers are currently projected to be drafted. If Portland misses the playoffs as expected, Chicago will instead receive Portland's 2024 first-rounder, again lottery-protected. An experienced collegiate wing in one of the nations top programs, Julian Strawther should continue to draw attention all year thanks to his combination of size and shooting on the wing. Chicago's first-rounder is owned by Orlando if Chicago's pick falls between 5 and 30 in 2023. Sam Vecenie. "I have C.J. Height: 6'0" Weight: 180 lb. Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, PF/C, 2004) Wembanyama is being seen by scouts in a different way than any recent pre-draft prospect . Assuming Mark Williams heads for the draft, Lively will immediately replace his easy baskets and rim protection at Duke. Wembanyama went for 22 points, eight boards and eight blocks in the finals against 2022 potential No. To NYK (via LAC) if NYK 15-30 in 2023 or to POR (via LAC to NYK) if NYK 1-14 in 2023; More favorable of WAS and MEM (via MEM to OKC to WAS; via BRK to DET) Golden State Warriors. It seems to come so easy that he may have a tendency to be casual with his handle. 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. Of course, a lot will still change between now and then. First, let's look at the updated 2023 mock, followed by some top storylines for next year's class. To put it in perspective: In the past 10 years, there have been only six non-college players selected in the top five total. 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. And over the course of the season, a handful young players who aren't ready to go pro have flashed glimpses of pro potential. Denver's first-rounder is owned by Oklahoma City if Denver's pick falls between 15 and 30 in 2023. Nick Smith Jr. and Ausar Thompson are also players to keep an eye on. Houston owns Milwaukee's first-rounder, which is unprotected. Despite wavering efficiency, Jalen Wilson has handled an increased workload with aplomb in his senior season. G League Ignite and Paris Basket are said to be the main candidates for his signature. Cason Wallace will look to keep the momentum going. The NBA is a 3-and-D league and Hendricks fits the bill. The same can be said for the other guards in the first round who are mostly scoring-oriented, such as Baylor-bound Keyonte George, NC State sophomore Terquavion Smith, blue-collar Kentucky guard Cason Wallace, UCLA combo Amari Bailey and Houston senior bucket-getter Marcus Sasser. He doesnt have much on-ball juice yet, but Hendricks fluid athleticism and impressive instincts on defense should have scouts hooked. A top prospect for the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama would make his senior national team debut as France attempts to seal a World Cup berth. Note: Potential breakout returners only includes players who were not included in our latest mock draft. Positional 6'7" size, shot-making flashes, off-ball athletic plays and defensive playmaking have helped Thompson look like Overtime's top prospect. He needs to iron out his 3-point stroke and become far less turnover-prone. Box scores don't reflect his impact for the Wildcats, a projected No. Not every executive agrees that selecting a big man at No. At 6'6", he possesses the tools and skill versatility to play either guard spot in the pros after grading in the 87th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and 96th percentile out of spot-ups, per Synergy Sports. 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.