We've watched the class' best prospects grow up in high school, AAU, USA Basketball . Thompson's identity revolves around explosiveness, playmaking and defensive versatility. And he still has room to improve his shooting. 3. Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, PF/C, 2004) Wembanyama is being seen by scouts in a different way than any recent pre-draft prospect . 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Victor Wembanyama ahead of Scoot Improved shooting and fewer defensive lapses could help Rollins generate legitimate NBA interest. Bates has still showcased high-level shot-making for a 6'9" wing. 2023 NBA Draft Trades Blazers get Knicks 1st, lottery protected (Josh Hart trade) Knicks get Mavs 1st, top 10 protected (KP trade) Knicks get Pistons 1st, top 18 protected Knicks get Wizards 1st, top 14 protected Hornets get Nuggets 1st, top 14 protected (via Knicks) Jazz get Timberwolves 1st, unprotected (Gobert trade) He defends smart and hard, with enough 3-point shooting and off-ball scoring upside to complement teammates on that side of the ball too. 1 to Orlando. Though only 160 pounds, his athletic ability and shooting confidence are starting to look enticing for an instant-offense microwave role. . Nick Smith Jr. and Ausar Thompson are also players to keep an eye on. Victor Wembanyama, generously listed at 7-foot-5 and 220 pounds over at ESPN, will be the No.1 overall pick in 2023. One of the countrys top defensive guards, Reece Beekmans steadfast offensive improvement most notably from 3-point range is edging him into early riser territory. 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. 2023 NBA Mock Draft: Victor Wembanyama's Year | GiveMeSport 2023 NBA draft: Why the top 5 picks, led by Victor Wembanyama and Scoot He checks a lot of the important physical boxes and should draw first-round consideration accordingly. As mentioned before, teams have been known to swap prospective players for more experienced, proven figures, to bring about wins, or fuel a playoff run. Hes more of a wing than Amen, but Ausar profiles as a better defender and a perfectly impressive slasher with room to expand his abilities as a shot-creator. Even if he shows limited creation or scoring at the rim, NBA teams could see the right off-ball skill set and intangibles for a role player. 28th on the ESPN 100 For 2023 senior class. For the seventh year in a row, were featuring Kevin OConnors Big Board, in which he extensively breaks down each of the top prospects strengths, weaknesses, and closest NBA comparisons. He skipped his final exam to prepare for the NBA draft and still [] If Dallas' pick finishes between 1-10, New York will instead receive Dallas' 2024 first-rounder, protected for picks 1-10. 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. His main challenge is proving to NBA teams that he can shoot. 2023 NBA draft: Why the top 5 picks, led by Victor Wembanyama - Yahoo! NFL Draft 2023: Todd McShay breaks down top QB prospects beyond Alabama She is a senior at Sierra Canyon High School and is currently ranked in. On draft night, Charlotte scored a protected top-14 protected first-rounder from Denver via Oklahoma City and New York in a three-way trade. Henderson quickly became Ignite's biggest draw, despite scouts visiting mainly for 2022-eligible prospects Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels and MarJon Beauchamp. Looking more comfortable the second half of the season, Cleveland still needs to show he can make an open three. An explosive 6-foot-7, 230-pound power athlete on the wing, Cam Whitmore should have NBA scouts salivating over him all season. Bronny James is only focused on impressing scouts in high school and mulling his college options right now, but NBA teams are already gearing up to make a run at the star prospect in the near future. This is not the first time that Miller has been connected to the Raptors, as many believed that Toronto could use their. 6. He projects as possibly the best rim protector in the draft behind Wembanyama. If he can progress as a shooter, its hard to imagine he wont stick around in the NBA. For the exam classes, candidates will be grouped such that those Covid-19 positive and negative will write examinations in separate rooms. 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. Dillon Mitchell (Texas) - Small forward/power forward, 6-foot-7, 200 pounds. The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, . All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Prior to this, the draft would be held at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Hes everything the league currently values length, dynamic shooting, defensive versatility, scalable offense plugged into the most absurd physical frame one could think of. 10. 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. With Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and the rest of the 2022 class off to the NBA, it's time to shift our full attention to next year's group. 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. 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. With versatile defense and Swiss Army Knife potential offensively, Jones profiles as the quintessential modern role player if the 3-point shot is here to stay. Traore could be in good position to produce next year, assuming Tari Eason leaves LSU for the 2022 draft. Traore's perimeter-skill development has been noteworthy from an NBA scouting standpoint. The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm will be held on May 16, 2023. We went through the names you'll need to know once the 2022 class is drafted. He can shoot, pass, handle the rock, and finish above the rim a lot of teams will salivate over his offensive potential. Amari Bailey (Sierra Canyon, SG, UCLA commit). Stroud going off the board back-to-back in the top two. Matthew Cleveland (Florida State, SF, Freshman). At 6'8", Minott has stood out with his transition and off-ball scoring and defensive instincts. Big men emerge early as prospects for obvious reasons, but the bar for being playable in today's NBA has never been higher, which means that showcasing their defensive versatility, playmaking ability and skill level on the perimeter will be important to separate from the crowd. James will graduate from high school in 2023 and enroll in college for the following season. His 3-point shot is falling, but the volume remains low. 2023 NBA Draft Big Board | Way Too Early! Those comparisons are, of course, mostly surface-level (quite literally). But he is a prospect worth monitoring for his scoring instincts and defensive tools as a 6'7' wing. He doesnt have much on-ball juice yet, but Hendricks fluid athleticism and impressive instincts on defense should have scouts hooked. Wembanyama went for 22 points, eight boards and eight blocks in the finals against 2022 potential No. The NBA and the NBPA prohibits the drafting of high school players beginning in 2005. NBA high school draftees - Wikipedia 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. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. He needs to work on his body, but at his size, he possesses unusual shooting and movement fluidity. 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. 8. 2023 Top Basketball . At 6-foot-8, hes built like a linebacker and has the tools necessary to potentially guard any frontcourt position. The shots arent falling yet at Duke, but Tyrese Proctor should appeal to NBA teams with his sharp playmaking acumen and defensive toughness. With more minutes in 2022-23, there will be breakout expectations for the 6'8" wing whose positional/defensive tools, face-up flashes and passing remain interesting. Walker immediately stands out for his chiseled 6'6", 220-pound frame. To claim eligibility, it's also necessary to have completed four years of college in the US, or four years passed since their graduation. Jordan Walsh runs the risk of getting overshadowed by the sheer volume of talent on the Arkansas roster. If he can show consistent touch around the rim and start adding range to his scoring arsenal, watch out. He can be something of an erratic decision-maker on both sides of the ball, but the tools are all there. . The G League Ignite guard has been toward the top of several draft boards ahead of the 2023 Draft. Depending on where you end up, you could get the pick of the best prospective players from a new generation and completely transform the trajectory of your franchise. Scouts will be drawn to his ability to grab-and-go, stretch the floor, attack from the arc and dish over the top, though he'll still produce plenty around the basket with his strength to finish through contact and rebound.