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 21-30.
For the full guide, click here.
21. Bilal Coulibaly (SF, France): 6’7”/200 lbs.
Stats: 5.0 PPG/3.1 RPG/0.8 APG/53.2% FG/45.2% 3P/0.8 SPG/0.2 BPG/59.5% FT
Played for Metropolitans 92 in Betclic Elite League last season.
A world-class finisher at the rim. Some of the best body control in the draft. Plays above the rim and finishes with explosiveness. Outstanding athlete with great speed and stride for his size. Excels in transition as both a passer and a finisher. Wemby’s teammate.
A really smart defensive player that can lock guys down. Knows where to be and when. Sensational help defender. Uses every bit of his length to not only contain his man on the perimeter, but contest shots at every level.
Has some upside as a shooter given his improvement year-to-year. Clearly still and area of development for him, but he has a good enough stroke to keep growing in that area. Could maybe create his own shot down the line.
He needs help when the game slows down. Plays aggressively downhill, but struggles at times in a half-court offense. If his shooting doesn’t develop a little more, he could be limited as an offensive threat.
Player Comparison: OG Anunoby
22. Marcus Sasser (PG, Houston): 6’1”/190 lbs.
Stats: 16.8 PPG/2.8 RPG/3.1 APG/43.8% FG/38.4% 3P/1.6 SPG/0.2 BPG/84.8% FT
Consensus All-American, NCAA All-Region, AAC POY, 2x All-AAC, AAC All-Freshman.
Important to note his value for the top team in college basketball this past season. The Cougars struggled mightily offensively without Sasser on the floor despite having Jamal Shead and Jarace Walker. Sasser was the engine of that offense. Provides value.
He can flat out shoot the basketball. Endless range from beyond the arc. Great at hitting shots 1-on-1 off the dribble and phenomenal in the catch and shoot. Smart player who knows where to be and when. Finds soft spots in the offense to create.
He’s a nasty defender with a bulldog mentality. Plays with a fire under his rear end when it comes to attacking shooters and fighting through screens. Has great lateral quickness and keeps his man in front despite lacking elite athleticism.
He’s very undersized for a guy who isn’t a true point guard. He’s an average passer at best and often gets stuck with the ball in his hands if the play isn’t there already for him to make. May struggle finishing at the rim without blow-by speed and great hops.
Player Comparison: Fred VanVleet
23. Jett Howard (SF, Michigan): 6’8”/215 lbs.
Stats: 14.2 PPG/2.8 RPG/2.0 APG/41.4% FG/36.8% 3P/0.4 SPG/0.7 BPG/80.0% FT
All-Big 10, Big 10 All-Freshman.
A big time shooter from all over the floor. Has a smooth release and can hit difficult shots in the faces of defenders and off the dribble. Lacks top tier athleticism, but can still create his own shot. He’ll make his living as a shooter.
Has a big NBA body that’s hard to move. Fits the profile of a good pick and pop player. Can finish through contact fairly well. Provides some positional versatility as you can likely play him at 2-4.
Solid playmaker despite low assist numbers. Can be both the screener and the ball-handler in pick and roll situations. Plays with a ton of effort. Son of a 19-year NBA veteran so he has a leg up with familiarity.
He’s not a terrible defender, but his lack of speed and quickness will hurt him against faster players. High basketball IQ on offense, but not on defense. Too often gets lost and leaves his man wide open due to a lack of understanding his assignment.
Player Comparison: Cam Johnson
24. Dereck Lively (C, Duke): 7’1”/230 lbs.
Stats: 5.2 PPG/5.4 RPG/1.1 APG/65.8% FG/15.4% 3P/0.5 SPG/2.4 BPG/60.0% FT
All-ACC Tourney, ACC All-Defense, ACC All-Freshman.
One of the better shot-blockers in the class. He was a force on the inside at Duke last year defensively. He has a 7’8” wingspan and he uses it well. Good spring for a tall guy. He runs the floor well and moves well laterally. Tons of defensive upside.
Has really nice touch around the rim despite not being a reliable scorer last year. He’s great in transition and can really throw it down when needed. Excellent pick and roll receiver. The ball rarely gets dislodged from his hands.
He fits the profile of a center who can stand at the top of the key and facilitate. He isn’t much of a threat from outside, but he does deliver passes on time and on target. Solid court vision despite low assist numbers.
You’re banking on upside quite a bit. He underwhelmed last season after being highly recruited. Needs to get more physical and aggressive down low. Should have pulled down more rebounds. The defense will come. The offense may not.
Player Comparison: Joakim Noah
25. Leonard Miller (PF, G-League Ignite): 6’10”/210 lbs.
Stats: 18.0 PPG/11.0 RPG/1.6 APG/55.4% FG/32.7% 3P/0.9 SPG/0.8 BPG/79.2% FT
Played for the G-League Ignite last season.
Probably the most notable player that opted out of last year’s draft to improve his stock for this year and it worked. Grew an inch or two and filled out his frame. He’ll go into the NBA ready to play with a well-rounded game.
Developed into more of a power forward rather than a wing with his size and strength. An outstanding rebounder who plays aggressive underneath the basket. Also has a nice lefty mid-range game that could extend to beyond the arc. Most of his offense is inside.
Great transition player. Turns defense into offense. Makes sure he gets out on the break quickly. He’s an explosive finisher who doesn’t shy away from contact. His basketball IQ has improved dramatically since last year on both ends.
He’s another player that needs to get more consistent behind the three-point line. He shows nice form, but struggles to consistently hit shots. He’s not the best defender for his size and athleticism. Needs to closeout quicker on shooters.
Player Comparison: Al Harrington
26. Noah Clowney (C, Alabama): 6’10”/210 lbs.
Stats: 9.8 PPG/7.9 RPG/0.8 APG/48.6% FG/28.3% 3P/0.6 SPG/0.9 BPG/64.9% FT
SEC All-Freshman.
Really good athlete with great lateral mobility. Long wingspan and has a nice second jump. Can guard almost every position and can hold his own down low, especially when he fills out. Can be a combo big on both ends. Aggressive rebounder.
He’s a dream pick-and-roll player. Finishes at the rim with explosiveness and can be deceptive underneath the basket. Doesn’t just hoist up shots. He’s patient and waits for space to become available.
Has a shot to become a solid three-point shooter. The efficiency numbers have to get better, but he has nice form and has shown the ability to perform well in the catch and shoot game. Can put the ball on the deck and use that to his advantage.
He still profiles pretty thin so he needs to bulk up if he’s going to play center in the NBA. His shot definitely needs refining. Doesn’t create his own shot. Could get bullied early in his career as he is not a refined post player.
Player Comparison: Christian Wood
27. Sidy Cissoko (SG, G-League Ignite): 6’7”/224 lbs.
Stats: 12.8 PPG/2.8 RPG/3.6 APG/45.5% FG/30.4% 3P/1.1 SPG/1.0 BPG/64.5% FT
Played for the G-league Ignite last season. Originally from France.
A relentless finisher at the rim. Supreme athlete with great burst off the dribble. Plays above the rim 100% of the time. Plays with a certain aggressiveness where he wants to dunk on you whenever possible.
Very nifty passer. Assist numbers were not high, but he’s very precise and quick with his passes. Can be extremely deceptive as a ball distributor. Has phenomenal upside as a drive and kick specialist.
A very active defender with great hands and a nose for the ball. He’s committed to making significant plays on that end. Plays with an insane motor. As soon as the ball touches his hands defensively, he’s ready to burst into transition.
He needs to become a more consistent shooter. He improved this past season in that department, but often times, he’ll pass up open looks to drive to the basket. Also, despite his passing ability, he isn’t considered a primary ball-handler.
Player Comparison: Evan Turner
28. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (SF, UCLA): 6’6”/220 lbs.
Stats: 17.8 PPG/8.2 RPG/2.4 APG/48.1% FG/31.7% 3P/1.5 SPG/0.6 BPG/77.0% FT
Consensus All-American, NCAA All-Region, PAC-12 POY, 3x All-PAC-12, 2x All-PAC-12 Tourney, 2x PAC-12 All-Defense.
Not very many college players can take over games at that stage. This guy could. He isn’t a technically gifted scorer, but he finds ways to get the ball cleanly in the basket. Some of the cleanest footwork and deception I’ve ever seen in a prospect.
Tons of upside as an offensive player. Plays with significant physicality on both ends. Absorbs contact really well and has nice touch around the rim. Smart player that finds open looks on the perimeter. Great at hitting shots on the move.
One of the better all-around defensive players in college basketball the past several years. Can guard multiple positions. Doesn’t block many shots, but he has a nose for the basketball and creates turnovers like a guard. Doesn’t overcrowd.
He’s an average athlete and may struggle against guys that are less talented but are athletically superior. He’s a very basic ball-handler. If his shooting doesn’t improve, it will heavily limit his overall upside as a player.
Player Comparison: Kevin McHale
29. Brice Sensabaugh (SF, Ohio State): 6’6”/235 lbs.
Stats: 16.3 PPG/5.4 RPG/1.2 APG/48.0% FG/40.5% 3P/0.5 SPG/0.4 BPG/83.0% FT
Big 10 All-Freshman.
Really efficient shooter from all over the floor. He’ll thrive in the NBA if his role is to shoot often. Can excel in the catch and shoot game as well as shooting off the dribble. Great at quickly going into a shot without being off-time.
Has a versatile offensive game from outside the paint. Likes to post guys up and use his body to back defenders down. Also good at moving off the ball and finding soft spots in the defense. Smart player who knows when to cut.
Has the upside of a facilitator. Did not move the ball well last season, but showed flashes of being able to consistently get his teammates involved. The ball can stick to his hands, but he has good court vision if he can tap into it.
Not a great athlete partly due to two meniscus injuries in high school. He’ll struggle on defense early in his career and maybe throughout his time in the league. His upside looks to be that of a scoring wing that has occasional nights where he fills it up.
Player Comparison: T.J. Warren
30. Kris Murray (PF, Iowa): 6’8”/215 lbs.
Stats: 20.2 PPG/7.9 RPG/2.0 APG/47.6% FG/33.5% 3P/1.0 SPG/1.2 BPG/72.9% FT
All-Big 10.
A very well-rounded and skilled scorer that can hit shots from all over the floor. Was one of the better scorers in the country this past season. Smooth left-handed stroke that thrives in the catch and shoot game.
Can put the ball on the deck and get to the rim. Lacks athleticism, but handles the ball fairly well and has nice touch around the basket. Absorbs contact well. Even when settling for pull-up jumpers, he hits them with consistency. Real solid post player.
Does well in the pick and roll on both ends. Provides solid versatile defense guarding multiple positions. He isn’t very laterally quick, but he has a wide base and long strides helping him cover ground. Should develop into a good 3-and-D player.
Nowhere near the same upside as Keegan. Not very athletic. He’ll make his living in the half-court rather than in transition. He isn’t much of a shot creator either so most of the offense he gets will need to be created for him.
Player Comparison: Paul Millsap
