Victor Wembanyama
C
France
• 7’4″
/ 210 lbs
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LeBron James said he is “like an alien.” Stephen Curry thinks he is “like a cheat code.” I think he’s the “clear No. 1 in this class and it is not close.” You can quote me on that one. The 7-foot-4 center/forward/guard/unicorn might be the best prospect basketball has ever seen.
Scoot Henderson
PG
G League Ignite
• 6’2″
/ 195 lbs
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Brandon Miller’s rise this season combined with Henderson’s stagnated development as a shooter makes this a tougher pick than it might’ve seemed a few months ago, but Henderson’s still a gamble I’d take with joy. He’s a fiery, swaggy competitor who has elite handles, major athletic pop and a creative mind that perfectly fits the NBA point guard position.
Alabama
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 200 lbs
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Off the court, NBA teams are likely to have questions about Miller after he was connected to, and on the scene of, a fatal shooting during the season. On the court, though, 6-9 forwards who have the scoring and creation ability Miller has don’t slip out of the top five.
Villanova
• Fr
• 6’7″
/ 232 lbs
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Villanova had its worst season by win percentage in more than a decade in 2022-23, largely keeping Whitmore’s star power hidden beneath the radar. I like him as much as any of the non Wemby/Henderson players in this class, though, and the combination of his powerful athleticism and shot-making at the wing position makes him very appealing.
Amen Thompson
SF
Overtime Elite
• 6’6″
/ 190 lbs
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Both Thompson twins might be top-10 picks in this class but I slightly favor Amen over his brother, Ausar, because of his playmaking and ability to make advanced reads. He’s an elite athlete who could be the initiator for an NBA offense, and players with that profile at 6-6 are very, very valuable.
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’4″
/ 185 lbs
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The efficiency with which George produced at Baylor as a freshman leaves a little to be desired but the 19-year-old combo guard has the shot-making to be one of the best pure scorers in this class. Lots of promise here with his playmaking, too, and though he was turnover-prone, there’s room for him in time to grow into one of the best guards in this class.
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’4″
/ 193 lbs
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Kentucky guards underwhelming in college and becoming stars in the NBA has been something of a regular occurrence, and Wallace profiles as someone who can keep that tradition alive. He didn’t dominate as a freshman but he showed off a ton of versatility on offense while routinely making highlight reel plays as a difference-maker on the defensive side of the floor.
Ausar Thompson
SF
Overtime Elite
• 6’6″
/ 190 lbs
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Thompson had a big season with OTE this past year and has the physical tools and makeup that NBA teams so desperately crave at the wing spot. He’s a big athlete like his twin brother, Amen, and brings polish and pizazz to the position as someone with big upside.
Houston
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 240 lbs
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This feels like the absolute floor for Walker, one of the most physically ready prospects in this draft class. He plays with relentless energy on both ends and projects cleanly as a do-it-all power forward who can stretch the floor.
Arkansas
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 185 lbs
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A nagging knee injury cost Smith Jr. real exposure to showcase himself on a big stage this season as he played in less than half of Arkansas’ games, only to return and struggle down the stretch. But the No. 1 recruit from the 2022 class, an immensely talented scorer and slasher, is still someone I’d be giddy to gamble on in this range.
Arkansas
• Fr
• 6’7″
/ 198 lbs
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If Black makes it to No. 11 on draft night, then I think you’d have to take him here regardless of roster situation. He’s a connector-type prospect with a big frame who plays selflessly. Defends multiple positions, extremely savvy, does a little of everything that affects winning.
Kansas
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 205 lbs
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Dick missed 14 of his 20 shot attempts in his final two games vs. ranked opponents to end the season, a gripe I hear constantly from KU fans. But in the NBA he will demand less attention and his skill set as a result should shine. If he’s a third or fourth option who is asked only to play in transition and knock down 3-pointers I think he can be among the best in that role in this class.
Connecticut
• Soph
• 6’5″
/ 195 lbs
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Hawkins shined for UConn in its run to the national championship with his stellar sharpshooting on full display. He hit nearly 40% from 3-point range on the season and rated in the 97th percentile this season as a spot-up shooter, according to Synergy data. His off-ball movement and shooting ability in various situations makes him a really exciting wing prospect.
Iowa
• Jr
• 6’8″
/ 220 lbs
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The younger brother of 2022 lottery pick Keegan Murray, Kris Murray had a breakout season for Iowa averaging north of 20 points per game while showing off range as a 3-point shooter. He’s a combo forward who brings versatility, polish and size to a position that NBA teams prioritize versatility, polish and size.
Indiana
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 213 lbs
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NBA teams are always on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends at Indiana to push for a potential lottery spot in this year’s draft. Great frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent but the tools here are undeniable.
UCF
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 210 lbs
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Hendricks has been a meteoric riser this season launching from off the radar to in the mix as a potential top-10 pick in the class. He projects as a stretch big who can excel as the roll man and has excellent shooting touch inside and out.
Duke
• Fr
• 6’7″
/ 220 lbs
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Whitehead had a topsy-turvy season at Duke and didn’t quite live up to expectations as a five-star, consensus top-five recruit, in part because of injuries and in part because of inconsistencies. But there’s enough pedigree and production here to like in this range given how well he shot the ball, and there should be hope that his pre-injury burst returns as he gets further removed from them.
Duke
• Fr
• 7’1″
/ 230 lbs
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The stats above don’t do justice to how impactful Lively was at the end of the season for Duke and how impactful he can be as an NBA player. He’s an above-the-rim threat on both ends of the floor who can be a game-changer defensively protecting the basket.
South Carolina
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 210 lbs
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I’m not ranking Jackson this high on the Big Board but I won’t be surprised if he goes higher than expected and jumps into this range. The former No. 1 overall recruit in his class reclassified and is one of the youngest players in the class. NBA teams love youth with room to grow, and Jackson presents an intriguing developmental case.
Indiana
• Jr
• 6’9″
/ 245 lbs
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Big men who don’t shoot 3-pointers don’t pop off the page as definite first-rounders, and yet Jackson-Davis by most measures appears to be an anomaly. He’s a dominant interior scorer and rebounder who shows great touch and makes great plays as a passer. You can funnel some of your offense through him. A nice bet on someone who isn’t Domantas Sabonis but has lots of Domantas Sabonis-like traits.
Ohio State
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 235 lbs
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As a four-star prospect ranked 85th in his class, Sensabaugh wasn’t even on the one-and-done radar entering the season. But his production with Ohio State is tough to ignore. Uses his big frame well and smashed in his role as a rotation piece hitting 40.5% of his 3-pointers on the year.
Leonard Miller
SF
G League Ignite
• 6’9″
/ 195 lbs
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Miller tested the NBA Draft waters and had some first-round buzz before ultimately withdrawing and committing to the G League Ignite. Now he’s built upon that momentum as a scorer and rebounder who, while still a tad raw, has the physical tools and size to warrant mid-to-late lottery consideration.
Michigan
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 215 lbs
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This is a bit of a plunge from where I last had Howard — which was late lottery — but I’m still very much in on him as a top-30 player in this class. Really good shooter with an excellent frame who has touch on floaters, in the mid-range and from beyond the 3-point line.
Rayan Rupert
PG
France
• 6’6″
/ 192 lbs
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Rupert is a toolsy prospect with a great frame and a defensive baseline that presents promise, but he remains very raw in terms of what he can bring to the table on the offensive end. If his shot comes around there’s a lot to like, but there’s not much right now that suggests he can be an NBA player anytime soon. Definitely a developmental prospect.
Michigan
• Soph
• 6’4″
/ 195 lbs
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A second-year player for Michigan, Bufkin blossomed into a bona fide first-round talent this past season. He has a nice combination of scoring and creation that might make him an appealing two-way guard in the league.
Xavier
• Jr
• 6’6″
/ 205 lbs
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One of my favorite prospects in this class. Jones is one of those players who can fade in and out of games, then you look up and he has 10 points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Impacts winning in a variety of ways.
Kansas
• Jr
• 6’8″
/ 225 lbs
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Wilson was the best player in the best league last season, making a leap to stardom at Kansas. He’s made steady improvements as a shooter over the years and has always been an excellent rebounder at his size and position. Teams may be scared off by his age — he’s a four-year player — but the developmental trajectory he’s on has me buying his NBA stock.
UCLA
• Sr
• 6’7″
/ 225 lbs
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Another four-year player who may be overlooked by teams looking for youth. Jaquez doesn’t wow with athleticism, but he’s a smooth operator who has the smarts and skill to stick as a role player.
NC State
• Soph
• 6’4″
/ 165 lbs
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Smith is a twitchy athlete who I thought was a first-round talent a year ago before withdrawing and returning to NC State. He basically held steady production-wise but his improvement as a passer and decision-maker has unlocked even more upside for him.
UCLA
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 185 lbs
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After Peyton Watson was snagged in the first round last year after an underwhelming one-and-done season at UCLA, I find it highly unlikely Bailey and his five-star pedigree slip further in this draft. He was admittedly streaky, but he flashed some scoring punch down the stretch for the Bruins and has nice flash as an athlete that could make him a slasher/scorer type in the league.