2023 NBA Mock Draft: Alabama’s Brandon Miller strikes as much as No. 3 behind Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson

LeBron James mentioned he’s “like an alien.” Stephen Curry thinks he’s “like a cheat code.” I believe he is the “clear No. 1 on this class and it isn’t shut.” You’ll be able to quote me on that one. The 7-foot-4 middle/ahead/guard/unicorn is likely to be the perfect prospect basketball has ever seen.

Brandon Miller’s rise this season mixed with Henderson’s stagnated growth as a shooter makes this a harder decide than it would’ve appeared a couple of months in the past, however Henderson’s nonetheless a big gamble I might take with pleasure. He is a fiery, swaggy competitor who has elite handles, main athletic pop and a inventive thoughts that completely suits the NBA level guard place.

Off the court docket, NBA groups are prone to have questions on Miller after he was related to, and on the scene of, a deadly taking pictures throughout the season. On the court docket, although, 6-9 forwards who’ve the scoring and creation potential Miller has do not slip out of the highest 5.

Villanova had its worst season by win proportion in additional than a decade in 2022-23, largely protecting Whitmore’s star energy hidden beneath the radar. I like him as a lot as any of the non Wemby/Henderson gamers on this class, although, and the mixture of his highly effective athleticism and shot-making on the wing place makes him very interesting.

Each Thompson twins is likely to be top-10 picks on this class however I barely favor Amen over his brother, Ausar, due to his playmaking and talent to make superior reads. He is an elite athlete who might be the initiator for an NBA offense, and gamers with that profile at 6-6 are very, very beneficial.

The effectivity with which George produced at Baylor as a freshman leaves a little bit to be desired however the 19-year-old combo guard has the shot-making to be among the best pure scorers on this class. A lot of promise right here along with his playmaking, too, and although he was turnover-prone, there’s room for him in time to develop into among the best guards on this class.

Kentucky guards underwhelming in faculty and changing into stars within the NBA has been one thing of an everyday incidence, and Wallace profiles as somebody who can hold that custom alive. He did not dominate as a freshman however he confirmed off a ton of versatility on offense whereas routinely making spotlight reel performs as a difference-maker on the defensive aspect of the ground.

Thompson had a giant season with OTE this previous yr and has the bodily instruments and make-up that NBA groups so desperately crave on the wing spot. He is a giant athlete like his twin brother, Amen, and brings polish and pizazz to the place as somebody with huge upside.

This appears like absolutely the ground for Walker, some of the bodily prepared prospects on this draft class. He performs with relentless vitality on each ends and initiatives cleanly as a do-it-all energy ahead who can stretch the ground.

A nagging knee harm price Smith Jr. actual publicity to showcase himself on a giant stage this season as he performed in lower than half of Arkansas’ video games, solely to return and wrestle down the stretch. However the No. 1 recruit from the 2022 class, an immensely proficient scorer and slasher, remains to be somebody I might be giddy to gamble on on this vary.

If Black makes it to No. 11 on draft night time, then I believe you’d need to take him right here no matter roster scenario. He is a connector-type prospect with a giant body who performs selflessly. Defends a number of positions, extraordinarily savvy, does a little bit of every part that impacts profitable.

Dick missed 14 of his 20 shot makes an attempt in his remaining two video games vs. ranked opponents to finish the season, a gripe I hear always from KU followers. However within the NBA he’ll demand much less consideration and his ability set consequently ought to shine. If he is a 3rd or fourth possibility who’s requested solely to play in transition and knock down 3-pointers I believe he might be among the many finest in that position on this class.

Hawkins shined for UConn in its run to the nationwide championship along with his stellar sharpshooting on full show. He hit almost 40% from 3-point vary on the season and rated within the 97th percentile this season as a spot-up shooter, in line with Synergy knowledge. His off-ball motion and taking pictures potential in numerous conditions makes him a extremely thrilling wing prospect.

The youthful brother of 2022 lottery decide Keegan Murray, Kris Murray had a breakout season for Iowa averaging north of 20 factors per recreation whereas displaying off vary as a 3-point shooter. He is a combo ahead who brings versatility, polish and measurement to a place that NBA groups prioritize versatility, polish and measurement.

NBA groups are all the time on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed sufficient on each ends at Indiana to push for a possible lottery spot on this yr’s draft. Nice body, actually good defensively, and is aware of assault and make performs off the bounce. His shot must turn out to be extra developmentally constant however the instruments listed below are simple.

Hendricks has been a meteoric riser this season launching from off the radar to within the combine as a possible top-10 decide within the class. He initiatives as a stretch huge who can excel because the roll man and has wonderful taking pictures contact inside and outside.

Whitehead had a topsy-turvy season at Duke and did not fairly stay as much as expectations as a five-star, consensus top-five recruit, partially due to accidents and partially due to inconsistencies. However there’s sufficient pedigree and manufacturing right here to love on this vary given how properly he shot the ball, and there ought to be hope that his pre-injury burst returns as he will get additional faraway from them.

The stats above do not do justice to how impactful Full of life was on the finish of the season for Duke and the way impactful he might be as an NBA participant. He is an above-the-rim risk on each ends of the ground who is usually a game-changer defensively defending the basket.

I am not rating Jackson this excessive on the Large Board however I will not be shocked if he goes greater than anticipated and jumps into this vary. The previous No. 1 total recruit in his class reclassified and is among the youngest gamers within the class. NBA groups love youth with room to develop, and Jackson presents an intriguing developmental case.

Large males who do not shoot 3-pointers do not pop off the web page as particular first-rounders, and but Jackson-Davis by most measures seems to be an anomaly. He is a dominant inside scorer and rebounder who exhibits nice contact and makes nice performs as a passer. You’ll be able to funnel a few of your offense by way of him. A pleasant guess on somebody who is not Domantas Sabonis however has plenty of Domantas Sabonis-like traits.

As a four-star prospect ranked eighty fifth in his class, Sensabaugh wasn’t even on the one-and-done radar getting into the season. However his manufacturing with Ohio State is hard to disregard. Makes use of his huge body properly and smashed in his position as a rotation piece hitting 40.5% of his 3-pointers on the yr.

Miller examined the NBA Draft waters and had some first-round buzz earlier than finally withdrawing and committing to the G League Ignite. Now he is constructed upon that momentum as a scorer and rebounder who, whereas nonetheless a tad uncooked, has the bodily instruments and measurement to warrant mid-to-late lottery consideration.

It is a little bit of a plunge from the place I final had Howard — which was late lottery — however I am nonetheless very a lot in on him as a top-30 participant on this class. Actually good shooter with a superb body who has contact on floaters, within the mid-range and from past the 3-point line.

Rupert is a toolsy prospect with an excellent body and a defensive baseline that presents promise, however he stays very uncooked when it comes to what he can carry to the desk on the offensive finish. If his shot comes round there’s loads to love, however there’s not a lot proper now that means he might be an NBA participant anytime quickly. Undoubtedly a developmental prospect.

A second-year participant for Michigan, Bufkin blossomed right into a bona fide first-round expertise this previous season. He has a pleasant mixture of scoring and creation which may make him an interesting two-way guard within the league.

Certainly one of my favourite prospects on this class. Jones is a kind of gamers who can fade out and in of video games, then you definitely search for and he has 10 factors, seven assists and eight rebounds. Impacts profitable in a wide range of methods.

Wilson was the perfect participant in the perfect league final season, making a leap to stardom at Kansas. He is made regular enhancements as a shooter through the years and has all the time been a superb rebounder at his measurement and place. Groups could also be scared off by his age — he is a four-year participant — however the developmental trajectory he is on has me shopping for his NBA inventory.

One other four-year participant who could also be missed by groups on the lookout for youth. Jaquez would not wow with athleticism, however he is a easy operator who has the smarts and ability to stay as a task participant.

Smith is a twitchy athlete who I assumed was a first-round expertise a yr in the past earlier than withdrawing and returning to NC State. He mainly held regular production-wise however his enchancment as a passer and decision-maker has unlocked much more upside for him.

After Peyton Watson was snagged within the first spherical final yr after an underwhelming one-and-done season at UCLA, I discover it extremely unlikely Bailey and his five-star pedigree slip additional on this draft. He was admittedly streaky, however he flashed some scoring punch down the stretch for the Bruins and has good flash as an athlete that might make him a slasher/scorer sort within the league.