For example, so far, we have already seen some standout showings from several prospects selected outside the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Although it doesn’t mean these players are destined for continued dominance during their professional careers, there are other conclusions we can make.
Early in the Las Vegas-based tournament, some of the top players include second-round picks like Minnesota Timberwolves forward Leonard Miller. We took a deep dive to explain what we have seen from Miller, as well as a few other notable second-round picks, thus far.
This story used AI-Powered statistics provided by the Stats Perform database.
“The biggest question mark is whether he can improve his perimeter shooting,” notes H/H.
The Boston Celtics have been projected to select a UConn wing in the 2023 NBA draft in a new aggregate mock put together by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. In his latest offering, Boston takes 6-foot-6 Connecticut junior Andre Jackson, Jr. with the No. 35 pick owed them by the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Jackson Jr.’s stock is as high as it’s been in the aggregate mock draft poll,” wrote Scotto. “He’s a versatile player who can facilitate and rebound and is an athletic defender who can guard three positions while filling up a box score across the board and impacting winning.”
“The biggest question mark is whether he can improve his perimeter shooting,” the H/H analyst keenly points out.
“After the first few games here, Coach told me I was going to have to face up to the pressure, ignore it, go out and play my game,” said Eddie. https://t.co/mNAlHe8Tl2
Jackson was the do-it-all glue guy who helped keep the Huskies afloat all the way to the NCAA title with his well-rounded, fundamental-rich toolkit.
Former University of Connecticut wing Andre Jackson shared that he has worked out with the Boston Celtics on Friday ahead of the 2023 NBA draft, to the likely delight of the subset of New Englanders who root for both ball clubs. Speaking at a media availability session for a workout he had with the Indiana Pacers, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard also revealed that he has worked out with that club and the Brooklyn Nets.
Nearly 22, Jackson was the do-it-all glue guy who helped keep the Huskies afloat all the way to the NCAA title with his well-rounded, fundamental-rich toolkit.
An excellent distributor with good court vision and an excellent rebounder for his size 6.2 per game last season with UConn), the New Yorker is an excellent defender with a high motor and above-average athleticism with explosive leaping ability.
Celtics Lab 190: Boston snatches victory from the jaws of defeat in Game 6 with Greg Brueck-Cassoli https://t.co/C2ffhAE1I2
The big knock on his game is his 3-point shooting, just 28.1% from deep with Connecticut in 2022-23. A mixture of problems with his form and confidence suggests that may never be a key part of his game at the next level.
But, Jackson would likely be able to help Boston’s wing depth almost immediately should he be available when the Celtics draft in the second round.
Could the consensus National Player of the Year return to school?
The deadline to apply to become an early-entry candidate for the 2023 NBA Draft has passed, and several prospects soon have tough decisions to make.
Some of the most notable players in college basketball, like Purdue’s Zach Edey and UConn’s Andre Jackson Jr., declared for the draft while retaining their collegiate eligibility.
NBA draft prospects will have a more clear picture of their potential trajectory after the G League Elite Camp (May 13-14) and the NBA Draft Combine (May 15-21) in Chicago.
Once players have considered their feedback from the pre-draft process, all those who are “testing the waters” for the 2023 NBA Draft have until May 31 to withdraw from the early entry list if they wish to play in the NCAA next season.
They can also wait until June 12 to fully withdraw from the draft if they wish to play outside the NCAA (e.g. NBG League Ignite, Overtime Elite, or for an international team) while retaining their eligibility for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Below are the most interesting prospects who have decisions to make that could highly impact both the 2023 NBA Draft and the 2023-23 NCAA men’s college basketball season.
UConn’s Andre Jackson may have raised some eyebrows with this answer.
Before facing Miami in the Final Four of the NCAA men’s tournament, UConn’s Andre Jackson Jr. said something very surprising.
Jackson, who has played very well for the Huskies in the postseason, is one of the most intriguing NBA draft prospects who will play in the Final Four. He recently showed that he has an interesting perspective on the game and that he isn’t afraid to stray from the norm.
When he and other players in the Final Four were asked by Bleacher Report who they thought should win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, the 21-year-old junior confidently said L.A. Clippers guard Russell Westbrook.
Most of his teammates and opponents predicted frontrunners like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Other past winners like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were mentioned as well.
Westbrook, who was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2017, has missed three consecutive All-Star games. He had trouble finding his role in the rotation for the Lakers and his teammates reportedly looked at him as a “vampire” in the locker room.
Westbrook’s fall from league MVP to NBA journeyman is sad to watch, but it makes sense why Jackson is a fan. At the peak of his powers, Westbrook was one of the most athletic players in the game and he is currently the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles.
UConn’s Dan Hurley has described Jackson as the “best athlete” he has ever coached. He has approached recording a triple-double in all four games that UConn has played during the tournament, notching 8 points with 9 rebounds and 10 assists in the Elite Eight.
Here is a fun stat to further illustrate the comparison: Jackson’s assist percentage (36.8), defensive rebound percentage (13.7), and true shooting percentage (53.4) in the tournament are all nearly identical to Westbrook’s assist percentage (39.1), defensive rebound percentage (13.7), and his true shooting percentage (55.2) on the Clippers.
Jackson is also averaging nearly as many assists in a transition offense (1.3) this season as Westbrook (1.5) in 2022-23, per Synergy. According to Hoop-Math, the UConn junior also assists on approximately as many 3-pointers per 40 minutes (2.7) as Westbrook (2.5) does as well.
Lots of comparisons between the Clippers adjustments to teams sagging off Russell Westbrook and Dan Hurley / UConn adjustments to teams sagging off Andre Jackson. Andre attacking the offensive glass with a full head of steam is a PROBLEM! #UConnhttps://t.co/3p9Nm4xqWV
Defenders also guard Jackson relatively similarly to how they currently defend Westbrook, sagging off when both are on the perimeter. More than 60.0 percent of Jackson’s jump shots are uncontested, according to our AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform.
Jackson, however, has maintained a low usage rate while in college which lowers the risk of his team getting hurt by his scoring inefficiency.
Maybe a low-usage version of Westbrook isn’t exactly an unfair player comparison for Jackson, and perhaps the choice isn’t so shocking after all.
UConn’s Jordan Hawkins is a ready-to-play movement shooter perfect for the NBA.
This is a fascinating Final Four in the NCAA men’s tournament, especially because we may only have one first-round draft pick playing in either game.
Between the two matchups, UConn vs. Miami is the game to watch if you want to see likely future NBA players. Even if there aren’t many players selected in the first round, there are several who could find their way onto your favorite pro team.
Before the two games have their tipoffs in Houston on Saturday, these are the top NBA draft prospects you should keep your eyes peeled for whenever they are on the court.
NOTE: UConn’s Donovan Clingan would also make this list if he decides to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.
The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Here’s who the Thunder draft in ESPN’s latest 2023 NBA mock draft.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s surprising success has caused fans to shift from focusing on the draft to the standings.
Despite that, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony published his latest 2023 mock draft this past Saturday and included a couple of Thunder selections.
As a quick reminder, the Thunder own draft swap rights to the LA Clippers’ first-round pick, which means they get to keep the higher of the two first-round picks (theirs or LA’s).
In this exercise, the Thunder kept their own pick at No. 6 because the Clippers’ pick landed at No. 23.
The Thunder also own their own second-round pick.
Let’s take a look at who Givony has the Thunder taking with their two draft picks in this mock draft.
See which legends of defense made the cut in our all-time Iowa Hawkeyes football roster.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich history with some of the game’s titans suiting up in the black and gold. Hawkeyes Wire is taking a look back at Iowa’s finest offensive playmakers, defensive standouts, specialists and coaches from its entire history.
Now, it’s time to take a glance at the Hawkeyes’ defensive history. Which defensive linemen have frustrated opposing quarterbacks? Who are the Iowa linebackers that have snuffed out the opponents’ running game? In the secondary, which ball Hawks find their way onto the all-time list?
Here’s a look at our Iowa Hawkeyes all-time defensive players two-deep.
In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from ESPN, NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, Basketball News and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.
Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.
Since our last update, the players who have improved the most spots are Ismael Kamagate (Paris), Moussa Diabate (Michigan), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona), Hugo Besson (New Zealand), Efe Abogidi (Washington State), Iverson Molinar (Mississippi State), Justin Lewis (Marquette), Max Christie (Michigan State), EJ Liddell (Ohio State), and Ochai Agbaji (Kansas).
The most notable prospects making their debut on our rankings are Trevor Keels (Duke), Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite), Keon Ellis (Alabama), Christian Koloko (Arizona), Wendell Moore (Duke), Blake Wesley (Notre Dame), Josh Minott (Memphis), Zach Edey (Purdue), and Johnny Davis (Wisconsin).
Some of the top prospects who did not make the cut this time included Hunter Sallis (Gonzaga), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennesse), Kobe Bufkin (Michigan), Mouhamed Gueye (Washington State), Jahvon Quinerly (Albama), Adam Flagler (Baylor), Jaylin Williams (Auburn), Matthieu Gauzin (Le Mans), Isaiah Wong (Miami), Marcus Williams (Texas A&M), and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).
Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.
HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
Now that the rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game have been announced and the Hoophall Classic is complete, top prospects are emerging as future stars in the league.
This list does not include any of the top international prospects who will likely be selected in 2020 like Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon. It also does not mention any of the top returning players in the nation as it will be unclear who will opt to play in the NBA and it is still tough to predict at this point.
Instead, it offers an introduction to the current high school seniors and the international
All statistics are updated through February 3, 2020 and are pulled from D1Circuit.com, MaxPreps and RealGM unless stated otherwise.
1. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (Committed)
Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Cade Cunningham is currently the anchor for Montverde Academy, which is being called the best high school team of all-time. They are currently ranked as the top school in the nation. The point forward is so good that an NBA scout recently told Yahoo’s Krysten Peek he would likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft if he were eligible. That indicates he might already be the best player who is not currently in the league. For proof: Cunningham averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament. With his size and his playmaking ability, he is already showing flashes of becoming a future franchise cornerstone.
2. Jalen Green, Uncommitted
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-5, 17 years old, Prolific Prep (California)
Jalen Green is an incredibly explosive athlete who has improved as a shooter over the past few years as well. The scorer has become a more consistent and reliable option on the floor, offering an attacking mentality that will continue to develop as his competition continues. One of his crowning achievements thus far: He took home tournament MVP during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He averaged 7.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes during this competition, showing he is a fearless shooter. His natural stroke from the free-throw line shows that his three-point percentage will likely increase within time, too.
3. Evan Mobley, USC (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Big, 7-foot-0, 18 years old, Rancho Christian (California)
Evan Mobley was 2019’s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles all of the rankings on recruiting sites like 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big brags a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination. He has recently been listed as a small forward, however, which Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo says “points to the dissonance” between his current identity and the best eventual fit in the NBA for someone his size. Still, there is arguably more to like about Mobley’s potential than that of 2020 projected lottery big man James Wiseman.
4. Scottie Barnes, Florida State (Committed)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Forward, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Scottie Barnes currently plays alongside Cunningham at Montverde Academy and has a lot to offer as he continues to develop. He is a stat-sheet stuffer capable of putting up impressive lines for points and rebounds as well as assists. Like Cunningham, he has a point-forward mentality which is elevated by the fact that he is also measured with an incredible 9-foot-1 standing reach. Barnes can be a plug-and-play option for almost any team on both offense and defense in the NCAA and eventually in the NBA. That was an especially attractive trait for him for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. He assisted on 16.8 percent of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense’s primary playmaker.
5. Ziaire Williams, Uncommitted
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Wing, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Sierra Canyon (California)
Ziaire Williams is currently playing high school basketball at the high-profile Sierra Canyon. While he had to sit out the first few months of his senior year because of transfer rules, he has been a force to be reckoned with already. But that was no surprise for those who have followed the prospect. Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included the aforementioned 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points as well as rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The prospect has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important as he continues his growth. The Stepien’s Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class. It will be fascinating to monitor his collegiate decision as he is the highest-rated recruit without an NCAA commitment yet.
