Category: 2023 NBA Draft

Projected top-three pick Scoot Henderson to only work out with Hornets, Trail Blazers

Henderson worked out with the Trail Blazers over the weekend and will only visit one more team ahead of the draft.

Scoot Henderson, formerly of the G League Ignite, worked out with the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday and will only visit with one more team ahead of the NBA draft.

The workout with the Trail Blazers was the first for Henderson, who is projected to be a top-three pick. The Trail Blazers have the third selection in the draft and are viewed as a potential landing spot for Henderson.

The other possibility is the Charlotte Hornets with the second pick.

Henderson has been the consensus No. 2 player throughout the year and will visit with the Hornets at some point. However, Brandon Miller of Alabama is also said to be in play to be the second player off the board.

With Victor Wembanyama locked in as the top pick, and the emergence of Miller, Henderson believes he will land with either the Hornets or Trail Blazers and said he has arranged to meet with only them.

Henderson averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals on 44.4% shooting from the field in 25 games this past season with the Ignite. He registered 12 20-point games and was one of four players to record at least 20 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds in a game.

The prevailing thought was Henderson proved himself to be the second pick this year given his blend of skill and athleticism. He proved a strong scorer throughout the year in the G League while also getting others involved as the lead ballhandler.

He believes he can step in immediately and contribute at a high level.

I think I can impact winning anywhere I go just bringing my talent. Being a guard dynamic and being able to open the floor in many ways and being able to pass it with my vision so I think I can impact winning.

The 6-foot-2 guard has been working vigorously throughout the pre-draft process to improve his overall game. He is also working on his communication on the court to continue to be a floor general at the next level.

He often played with a high level of confidence in two seasons with the Ignite and is showcasing that ability in his workouts. He wants to show teams who he is and the type of person he is off the court.

“I just want to show my personality, who I am on the court and off the court,” Henderson said. “I just try to bring that spark to anywhere I go and bring myself there and just stay present.”

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Projected first-rounder Brice Sensabaugh now cleared for team workouts

Sensabaugh suffered a knee injury in March that sidelined him at the end of the Buckeyes’ season.

Former Ohio State forward Brice Sensabaugh was recently cleared to begin working out with teams ahead of the NBA draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Sensabaugh suffered a knee injury in March that sidelined him for the final two games of the Buckeyes’ season. He eventually required surgery to address the injury, which prevented him from participating in workouts to this point in the pre-draft process.

He is back on the court and went through various drills at his pro day last week. He will likely begin ramping up his visits with teams with the draft approaching in less than three weeks.

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Sensabaugh was named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen team after averaging 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 40.5% shooting from 3-point range. He finished eighth in the conference in scoring and 13th in the country in offensive box plus-minus (plus-7.8).

The 6-foot-6 Sensabaugh ranked fourth in the country in usage rate (34) and emerged as a strong scorer during his lone season in college. He can work from all three levels and boasts great size to play at the next level at 235 pounds.

He is most commonly projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick. He will have the opportunity to improve his stock now that he has gained clearance to participate in team workouts.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: 58 projections after the early entry withdrawal deadline

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline.

The NBA pre-draft process crossed another important checkpoint on the schedule with the early entry withdrawal deadline coming and going this week.

Prospects had the opportunity to test the waters and meet with teams to gain feedback on their potential draft stock. To maintain their remaining college eligibility, they had to withdraw from consideration by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The deadline saw several potential second-round picks withdraw from the draft and return to school. With name, image and likeness playing a prevalent role in college basketball, players were likely swayed to stay one more year to work on their games and capitalize financially.

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The 2024 draft is also projected to be weaker than in past years, which also may have played a role in some players opting against turning pro. They likely believe they will have a greater chance of being a first-round pick next year.

With several players off the board, teams can prioritize workouts and interviews with those individuals remaining in the draft. As a result, players’ stock will continue to fluctuate with less than three weeks to go until the draft.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline. Team needs were taken into consideration for these picks.

Pacers to host projected lottery pick Cam Whitmore for solo workout

The visit with the Pacers will be a solo session, instead of a regular group setting of six prospects.

Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore, a projected lottery pick, will participate in a private workout with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, the team announced.

The visit with the Pacers is the first known workout for Whitmore and will be a solo session instead of a regular group setting of six prospects. It will enable the team to get a closer look at Whitmore in a more controlled environment on the court.

The Pacers have three first-round draft picks (Nos. 7, 26 and 29) and could target Whitmore in the lottery. He is the highest-ranked player they have brought in at this stage of the pre-draft process.

Whitmore, who was named the Big East Freshman of the Year, averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals on 34.3% shooting from 3-point range. He finished sixth in the conference in defensive rebound percentage (20.3) and eighth in steal percentage (3.2).

The 6-foot-7 forward established himself as one of the top college prospects with his athleticism and ability to penetrate into the paint and finish with power. He can score from seemingly all over the court.

With so many picks, the Pacers have brought in a wide range of prospects they could consider on draft night. Whitmore will be the latest to visit Indianapolis on Thursday.

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Player of the Year Zach Edey will return to Purdue, withdraw from draft

Edey was the Player of the Year and a consensus All-American last season after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

Purdue center Zach Edey announced Wednesday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to the Boilermakers for his senior year.

Edey was the Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American last season after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks on 60.7% shooting from the field. He became the first player in history to record 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a season.

The 7-foot-4 Edey became the second player to lead the conference in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage. He is one of nine players to accomplish that feat in a major conference and the first since Blake Griffin in 2009.

Edey initially declared for the draft on April 18 while retaining his college eligibility. He met with teams to gain feedback on his draft stock and opted to come back after testing the process over the past month and a half.

He was most commonly projected to be a late second-round pick this year. The decision to stay in school will enable him to work on his game and improve his draft positioning ahead of 2024, which is thought to be a weaker class.

With Edey back, the Boilermakers project to be one of the top teams in the country entering the preseason and a likely favorite in the NCAA Tournament.

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All-American Oscar Tshiebwe to leave Kentucky, stay in NBA draft

Tshiebwe announced that he will remain in the NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Kentucky All-American Oscar Tshiebwe announced Wednesday on social media that he will remain in the 2023 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Tshiebwe declared for the draft on April 7 with the option to return to school. He had one year left of eligibility to utilize due to the extra year players received because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was said to be open to playing a fifth year.

The 6-foot-9 forward used the process to gain feedback from teams on his draft stock to form his decision. He has worked out with at least six teams and was among the prospects that competed in the draft combine in Chicago, Illinois.

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Tshiebwe will leave college with a decorated resume.

He was the men’s college player of the year in 2022 and a two-time consensus All-American with the Wildcats. He twice led the country in rebounding (2022, 2023) and ranks sixth on the all-time list at Kentucky after only two years (952 rebounds).

Tshiebwe was a consensus second-team All-American last season after averaging 16.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals and one block. He ranked second in total rebound percentage (23.6) and 15th in win shares (6.6).

The 23-year-old, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, isn’t projected to be drafted, but he will likely be a two-way contract candidate because teams have the option to sign a third player starting next season as part of the new CBA.

He had until 11:59 p.m. EDT to withdraw from the draft.

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Tennessee transfer Julian Phillips to stay in draft, forgo college eligibility

After a strong showing at the combine, Phillips will remain in the draft ahead of the early entry withdrawal deadline.

Former Tennessee forward Julian Phillips on Wednesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will remain in the 2023 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Phillips was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 41.1% shooting from the field in 32 games. He scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high 25 points on Nov. 24 versus USC.

The 6-foot-8 forward originally left the option open to return to school when he declared for the draft. However, after a strong showing at the combine, the projected second-round pick was expected to stay in the draft and leave school.

Phillips entered the season with high expectations and was projected to be a potential first-round pick. He didn’t quite perform to that level on the court and is considered a mid-to-late second-round pick after an inconsistent year.

The 19-year-old also opted to enter the transfer portal after declaring for the draft and was said to be weighing his options for next season. He received positive feedback from teams throughout the pre-draft process and will turn pro.

He had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw from the draft.

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Adem Bona to withdraw from draft, return to UCLA for sophomore year

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was considered a potential second-round pick in the draft.

UCLA forward Adem Bona on Wednesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his sophomore year.

Bona, who was born in Nigeria, was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 67.5% shooting from the field. He ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage and fourth in blocks.

The 6-foot-10 Bona was among the players invited to the draft combine in May in Chicago, Illinois. He did not participate in on-court testing after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered in the conference tournament.

He is expected to make a full recovery by October.

Bona opted to return, in part, because of his injury. He was viewed as a potential second-round pick this year but didn’t have the opportunity to improve his stock in team workouts or at the combine. He will spend next season working on his game with the goal of becoming a first-round pick.

He had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw from the draft.

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Projected lottery picks Amen and Ausar Thompson reflect on first draft workout

Amen and Ausar Thompson, formerly of Overtime Elite, participated in their first pre-draft workout with the Trail Blazers.

Projected lottery picks Amen and Ausar Thompson, formerly of Overtime Elite, participated in their first pre-draft workout on Tuesday with the Portland Trail Blazers.

They spent two years with the Overtime Elite after signing in May 2021 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Amen is most commonly projected to be the fourth player selected on June 22 while Ausar is slated to go in the 6-8 range.

The upstart professional league helped put the Thompson twins on the radar and offered them some structure after they opted against playing at the collegiate level.

They explained how their first workout went.

“Today was fun,” Amen said. “Working with these pro trainers, it was a good day. I expected it to be a little bit rough, a little bit of conditioning. I feel like I prepared for that, so it wasn’t too bad.”

Said Ausar: “I was kind of nervous going into it but once you get into it, basketball is basketball. I learned to just go hard, push yourself the whole time and always stay positive.”

Of the two, Amen is viewed more as a point guard and Ausar plays more off the ball and on the wing. Each has elite athleticism, which has allowed the duo to dazzle in the open court. Both can score from virtually all over the court and project to have high ceilings at the next level.

Amen offered his take on their scouting report.

I would say I’m on the ball a little bit more, I’m more of a facilitator. He is more of a scorer but he can facilitate, too, and I can go score. But I feel like we were both on the ball very similarly.

Both offer tremendous upside on the defensive end of the court.

Though they elected against competing in on-court drills and scrimmages at the draft combine, both measured in barefoot at 6 feet, 5.75 inches. Ausar weighed in slightly heavier, 218.2 pounds to Amen’s 214.2 pounds, but both have 7-foot wingspans.

They are viewed as raw prospects and have perhaps as high of a ceiling as any player in the draft. They ooze potential on both ends of the court and should be high picks.

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Grant Nelson to transfer from NDSU after testing pre-draft process

Nelson was considered a potential second-round pick but will ultimately return to college to improve his draft stock next year.

Junior Grant Nelson will reportedly withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and transfer from North Dakota State University, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium.

Nelson declared for the draft as an early entrant prospect while also entering the transfer portal. He was focused on the pre-draft process and was among the players invited to compete in the draft combine earlier this month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 6-foot-11 forward was considered a potential second-round pick but will return to college in order to improve his draft stock next year. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in two scrimmage games at the combine.

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Nelson, who was named to the All-Summit League first team, averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks on 52.1% shooting from the field this past season. He led the conference in rebounding and field-goal percentage and was third in blocked shots (50).

He emerged as a tremendous scorer with the Bison. He can work from all over the court and has the ability to handle the ball in transition and get to the basket. He threw down a number of highlight-reel dunks given his burst and power in the paint.

Nelson has reportedly heard from several programs, including Arkansas, Gonzaga, Houston, Kentucky, Miami and UCF. The opportunity to transfer to a major conference should ensure his draft stock rises over the next season as he is expected to be the top target in the portal.

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