The 2023 NBA Draft Combine is scheduled for Monday, May 15th through Sunday, May 21st, so here’s our list of five players to watch for this year. This event will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The multi-day show occurs annually prior to the June NBA Draft.
In the group, college basketball players are interviewed and compete in 5-on-5 drills, strength programs, shooting drills, and other athletic tests. Seventy-eight potential candidates are invited to attend. However, prospective fixture Victor Wimpanyama is not expected to appear. The 2023 NBA draft is Thursday, June 22nd.
Amin Thompson | Extra Elite | Protect
First, Amen Thompson (+600) has the third shortest odds of being selected third overall in the 2023 NBA draft, according to several NBA betting sites. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound guard played high school basketball at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was rated a five-star recruit.
Thompson kicked off his freshman year signing with the Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional basketball league for players ages 16 to 20. In the 2021-22 season, Thompson played for Team OTE, one of three teams in the league. He averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
Moreover, the guard then played with the overtime team in the Basketball Tournament in July 2022. In the 2022–23 OTE season, Thompson was selected by captain Osar Thompson with the first pick in the league draft to play with the City Reapers. He is expected to impress scouts in this year’s NBA draft.
In January, Thompson earned his first OTE Player of the Week award after recording 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a 101-90 win over Cold Hearts.
At the end of the regular season, he was named to the All-OTE First Team. The City Reapers went on to win the 2023 Overtime Elite Championship.
Emony Bates | Eastern Michigan | straight ahead
Next, Emoni Bates is a top 50 prospect ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. In his 2021-22 freshman season with Memphis, the forward averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 23.4 minutes per game in 18 games. The Michigan native then transferred to Eastern Michigan for the 2022-23 sophomore season.
Last season, Bates posted career highs of 19.2 points, 5.8 boards, 1.4 assists and 33.8 minutes in 30 games. In the same way, he hit career bests of 40.5% from the field and 33% from outside the arc. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in usage percentage (31.1%).
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report wrote, “Bates will need the right role that values his shooting versatility, is not demanding on playmaking and can hide his defensive limitations”. “It’s easier to buy him if you think he’s a 6’9 shot-maker than the highest-scoring option.”
Jaras Walker | Houston | straight ahead
In addition, Jarace Walker (+1400) has the fourth shortest odds of getting third overall in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward made 35 of the 36 games he played for Houston last season.
Walker averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest. Not to mention that the winger shot 46.5% from the ground and 34.7% from outside the arc.
The Maryland-born prospect led the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in plus/minus box (4.4) and defensive rating (87.1). His defensive skill level was duly noted.
In the same vein, Walker won the AAC Freshman of the Year award. He also played high school basketball for Susquehannock (Glen Rock, Pennsylvania) and IMG Academy (Brandon, Florida), where he was a five-star recruit.
Ossar Thompson | Extra Elite | Guard / forward
Moreover, Ausar Thompson (+1400) has the fifth best odds of being selected third overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Thompson attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just like his twin brother, Amen.
During his junior year, he averaged 22.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Likewise, Thompson signed with the Overtime Elite in 2021, joining the Elite squad for the 2021–22 season.
Just as important, he won the inaugural OTE Championship and was named the inaugural Finals MVP with the Elite Team after averaging 17 points and ten rebounds per game.
For the 2022-23 OTE season, Ausar joined the City Reapers. At the end of the regular season, he was named Most Valuable Player. Of course, Ausar was selected to the All-OTE First Team as well.
Therefore, Thompson is a two-time OTE Champion and OTE Finals MVP winner.
Amari Bailey | UCLA | Protect
Finally, Amari Bailey is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard. Bailey made 28 appearances and played in 30 games for UCLA in the 2022-23 season. He averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 boards, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 26.9 minutes per game.
The guard also shot 49.5% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range. Besides his scoring abilities, the perimeter guard defense astonished scouts.
Bailey was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. In UCLA’s opener in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship, Bailey scored 26 points in the Bruins’ 80-69 victory over Colorado. That’s why he’s among the 78 invited to participate in this year’s NBA Draft Combine.
Although born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bailey went on to play high school basketball for Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, California. He won the California Mr. Basketball in 2021.