With work comes discovery. We’re just a few days away from the 2023 NBA Draft and in working on my now complete NBA Draft Guide, I found the talent in this draft to be deeper than I had originally thought.
Similar to last season, there is a presumed “Big 3” at the top of this year’s draft with Alabama’s Brandon Miller, the G-League’s Scoot Henderson, and of course, the French once in a lifetime prospect Victor Wembanyama. However, despite this draft likely being known as “the Wemby draft” for the rest of history, the class has some real solid depth especially on the wings.
Here, you’ll get a condensed version of the guide breaking down my top 30 prospects in the draft. Here’s my 11-20.
For the full guide, click here.
11. Jordan Hawkins (SG, UConn): 6’5”/185 lbs.
Stats: 16.2 PPG/3.8 RPG/1.3 APG/40.9% FG/38.8% 3P/0.7 SPG/0.5 BPG/88.7% FT
NCAA Champion, NCAA All-Tourney, NCAA All-Region, All-Big East, Big East All-Freshman.
Incredible shooter and shot-maker. One of the smoothest strokes in the entire draft with a lightning quick release. Phenomenal in the catch and shoot. Can create his own shot fairly well without much space.
Finds ways to put the ball in the basket. Above average athleticism which helps him create space and finish at the rim with explosiveness. Great transition player both as a finisher and a shooter. Shows flashes of brilliance as a 3-level scorer.
Has a great feel for the game on both sides of the ball. Plays solid on-ball defense, but great off-ball defense. Plays with a sense of urgency on every play. Has a winner’s mentality. Played huge in big games. Potential diamond in the rough.
He won’t run your offense as a primary ball-handler. Really a poor passer so he likely won’t flourish in the pick and roll. In order for him to develop into a primary scorer, he’ll need to work on his fluidity with the basketball when not attempting to score.
Player Comparison: Buddy Hield
12. Anthony Black (PG, Arkansas): 6’7”/200 lbs.
Stats: 12.8 PPG/5.1 RPG/3.9 APG/45.3% FG/30.1% 3P/2.1 SPG/0.6 BPG/70.5% FT
SEC All-Freshman.
Fantastic playmaker as a passer despite the low assist numbers. Has a high basketball IQ and doesn’t make many mistakes for a young player. He excels in the pick and roll game and can blow by defenders with his athleticism.
He can really finish in traffic with touch and explosiveness. Can elevate and dunk over defenders without proper space. Really good transition player both as a passer and attacker at the basket.
Has some versatility as a defender. Can pick your pocket with the best in the draft. Has a suddenness to his defensive ability and works well through screens. Has great defensive awareness and does well as an off-ball defender.
He might be able to shoot down the line, but his jumpshot is really clunky. Some view him as more of a combo guard because his handles are not top tier. Not much of a shot creator for himself. He’ll likely find himself in a role that doesn’t focus on his scoring.
Player Comparison: Josh Giddey
13. Gradey Dick (SG, Kansas): 6’8”/205 lbs.
Stats: 14.1 PPG/5.1 RPG/1.7 APG/44.2% FG/40.3% 3P/1.4 SPG/0.3 BPG/85.4% FT
All-Big 12, Big 12 All-Freshman.
A gifted shooter with long arms and a quick release. Has immense offensive upside off the dribble and in spot-up situations. Does not need to sit in the corner and wait for the ball. Does a great job moving off the ball.
A real solid athlete that can leap and throw it down. He’s a fantastic transition player who gets out on the break and finishes in traffic. Plays with a ton of effort, but doesn’t play wild. Has great body control.
Really crafty at the rim and as a driver. Has a wide scoring arsenal that will translate to the NBA with his combination of size and athleticism. A solid ball-handler that doesn’t turn the ball over too much.
Despite his effort on the defensive side, he struggles in that area. He has a thin frame and isn’t laterally quick so he loses often on defense. He could improve in that area, but it could take him a while to fill out and reach that point.
Player Comparison: Reggie Miller
14. Keyonte George (SG, Baylor): 6’4”/185 lbs.
Stats: 15.3 PPG/4.2 RPG/2.8 APG/37.6% FG/33.8% 3P/1.1 SPG/0.2 BPG/79.3% FT
All-Big 12, Big 12 All-Freshman, Big 12 ROY.
This dude can flat out create offense. He’s a gifted shooter from all over the floor. His efficiency numbers were not up to par with what he can produce, but he can stroke it and he’s creative in finding ways to get shots up.
A real solid ball-handler that can create space and muster up his own shot. Offense doesn’t need to be created for him. Can float it up and finish at the rim. He’s one of the better all-around scorers in the draft.
A decent passer that plays smart most of the time. He’s a willing defender despite not having top-flight athleticism. Does a great job fighting through screens with his big body even though his lateral quickness is not amazing.
He will struggle on defense against faster guards and will require help and that likely won’t change. Often times when he drives and tries to outlet pass, he throws the ball away. Needs to take better care of the basketball sometimes.
Player Comparison: Desmond Bane
15. Rayan Rupert (SG, France): 6’6”/193 lbs.
Stats: 6.6 PPG/2.5 RPG/1.0 APG/36.4% FG/25.0% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.2 BPG/70.3% FT
Played for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL last season.
He’s a special defender at every level. He uses his size and lateral quickness to disrupt, and create turnovers. Pokes the ball out with the best in the draft. One of the best at turning defense into offense. One of the best perimeter defenders I’ve seen.
A well-rounded offensive skillset as both a scorer and a facilitator. He’s not ready yet, but his offensive upside is very good. A very good ball-handler for his size who can weave through defenses to create space inside.
He was an inefficient shooter last season, but he has a clean stroke and should be viewed as a potential knockdown shooter. He needs to develop his ability to create his own shot, but he has all the physical tools to be able to do so.
He has a thin frame and needs to fill out. With that said, he naturally settles for pull-ups instead of driving because he doesn’t absorb contact very well. If he doesn’t improve as a shooter, it limits his upside tremendously.
Player Comparison: Andre Iguodala
16. Maxwell Lewis (SF, Pepperdine): 6’7”/195 lbs.
Stats: 17.1 PPG/5.7 RPG/2.8 APG/46.8% FG/34.8% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.8 BPG/78.7% FT
All-WCC, WCC All-Freshman.
Fell in love with his ability to score the basketball. He’s a mechanically sound shooter who will only get better as he develops. Shows upside to create his own shot. A bit raw as a ball-handler, but can definitely stroke it from all over the floor.
An exciting athlete that explodes to the rim. Has good length and verticality which bodes well for him playing above the rim. Has nice tough around the basket and slips past defenders easily.
Can give you some defensive upside, but not a polished defender. Has good lateral quickness and can get up to contest shots. Has a great motor and should improve defensively as a rookie with a decreased offensive workload.
You worry about his consistency at the next level on the defensive end. Can sometimes get caught sleeping. Plays with high intensity on offense, but needs to improve his ball-handling to capitalize on his upside.
Player Comparison: R.J. Barrett
17. Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG, Indiana): 6’6”/213 lbs.
Stats: 13.5 PPG/4.1 RPG/3.7 APG/41.7% FG/33.3% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.3 BPG/77.6% FT
All-Big 10, Big 10 All-Freshman, Big 10 ROY.
A real gifted passer. His assist numbers at Indiana were not incredible, but he sees the floor really well and has a knack for finding the open man. A drive and kick expert. Does well recognizing help-defense and finding the loose man.
Has an ironclad mid-range game. Really good off the dribble shooting from inside the arc. He could be a real shooting threat if he can effectively extend his range beyond the three-point line.
A solid defender who provides some sneaky versatility. He has great size for his position and a thicker frame so he shouldn’t get bullied too often. He’s very handsy and likes to get in the way of passes. Could be a consistent disruptor at the next level.
His shooting is hit or miss. If he doesn’t extend to beyond the arc, his upside will be limited. He also isn’t a tight ball-handler so he could be prone to turnovers early. Not a crazy athlete so he won’t win in transition as often as he did in college.
Player Comparison: Spencer Dinwiddie
18. Gregory ‘GG’ Jackson (PF, South Carolina): 6’9”/215 lbs.
Stats: 15.4 PPG/5.9 RPG/0.8 APG/38.4% FG/32.4% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.8 BPG/67.7% FT
SEC All-Freshman.
Incredibly high upside as an athlete and two-way player. He’s the former top-ranked 2023 high school prospect. His combination of athleticism and versatility is among the best in the draft. His body is NBA ready.
A wide scoring repertoire with his shooting and finishing ability. Moves quickly for a player his size. Outstanding in the catch and shoot despite low efficiency numbers. Has a nice handle for his size and shows glimpses of creating his own shot.
Plays with a ton of effort on both ends. Uses his body to win underneath on the offensive side. A very active defender vocally and athletically. Really aggressive transition player. Not afraid to go coast-to-coast.
He’s a raw prospect and it may take him a year or two to see some real time. Has to refine his game as far as shot selection and decision making is concerned. Could be seen as a bit of a tweener. Not a very good passer.
Player Comparison: Josh Smith
19. Nick Smith Jr. (SG, Arkansas): 6’5”/185 lbs.
Stats: 12.5 PPG/1.6 RPG/1.7 APG/37.6% FG/33.8% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.1 BPG/74.0% FT
Played 17 games at Arkansas last season.
Really high upside as a scorer. That’s how he’ll make his living in the NBA. A good all-around offensive game to pair with solid athleticism and great length. He doesn’t jump out of the gym, but he can fly down the floor and win in transition.
An outstanding finisher at the rim when not bumped too heavily. He has a special knack for finding ways to put the ball in the basket when driving. As he fills out, he should do better absorbing contact.
I love his upside as a shooter. Wasn’t crazy efficient last season, but he has good form and can easily find soft spots in the defense. Has a nice handle that should help him get by defenders without tremendous burst.
He plays with a high motor defensively, but he’ll definitely get bullied early in his career. He needs to bulk up or it could be a problem down the line. His shot selection was not great last season. Needs to learn when to give the ball up better.
Player Comparison: Jamal Crawford
20. Kobe Bufkin (SG, Michigan): 6’4”/175 lbs.
Stats: 14.0 PPG/4.5 RPG/2.9 APG/48.2% FG/35.5% 3P/1.3 SPG/0.7 BPG/84.9% FT
All-Big 10.
One of the best finishers in the entire draft. His ability to control his body and finish with craft and finesse at the rim is among the best in the class. Can contort his body and manipulate timing like a seasoned veteran when getting to the rim.
A solid left-handed stroke that has some upside. He isn’t a proven shooter, but his form is good and if he can quicken his release a bit, he should be a threat from outside. Does a great job finding space slipping off defenders.
A decent playmaker and defender. He won’t break any records in assists, but the ball doesn’t stick to his hands. Does a good job on defense sitting in the chair and laterally moving to keep his man in front.
He’s a thin player that needs to bulk up or he’ll get bullied. Not the best decision maker as a passer or shot creator. He can create his own shot pretty well, but he needs help improving his shot selection. Just needs to take better overall care of the basketball.
Player Comparison: Jordan Poole
