Tag: Jalen Slawson

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.

Catching up with the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA draft workouts

Boston is likely looking for players who’d be able to help right away, or a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player.

As the 2023 NBA draft draws ever closer, the Boston Celtics have kept themselves very busy working out prospective targets for the top of the 2023 draft’s second round, with a pick owed them from either the Portland Trail Blazers (35th overall) or the Houston Rockets (33rd overall), pending the outcome of complicated protections which will be determined the night of the draft lottery.

The Celtics are looking for players who would be able to help a little depth-wise right away, or perhaps a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player with the extra slot having been added in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Let’s take a look at the prospects we know the team has worked out (thanks to Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor) that we have not already covered on the Celtics Wire (see our previous articles on wing Landers Nolley II, big man Oscar Tshiebwe, and center Isaiah Miranda).

Jalen Slawson in OKC for Thunder pre-draft visit

Jalen Slawson is currently being projected as a possible second-round pick.

The 2023 NBA draft combined is scheduled to take place soon from May 15 to May 21, which means the draft season is right around the corner.

It looks like the Oklahoma City Thunder are underway with draft evaluations as they have begun conducting pre-draft visits.

Furman forward Jalen Slawson worked out for the Thunder on Wednesday, per his school. The 23-year-old senior averaged 15.6 points on 55.6% shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 36 games last season. He also shot 39.4% from 3 on 2.9 attempts.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward spent five seasons with Furman. He is currently projected as a possible second-round pick. The Thunder currently owns two second-round draft picks in the 2023 NBA draft.

The 2023 NBA draft is scheduled to happen on Thursday, June 22.

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Furman senior Jalen Slawson attended pre-draft workout with Grizzlies

Slawson was named the SoCon Player of the Year after averaging 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks.

Former Furman forward Jalen Slawson on Tuesday was among the prospects that participated in a pre-draft workout with the Memphis Grizzlies, the school announced.

Slawson, who was named the SoCon Player of the Year, averaged 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks on 39.4% shooting from 3-point range as a fifth-year senior. He became the 12th player in program history to earn that award.

His workout with the Grizzlies was his second in the pre-draft process. The school previously announced that Slawson had worked out with the Boston Celtics on April 26. The 23-year-old will have additional visits.

Slawson is considered a potential second-round pick after a great career with the Paladins. He can work inside the paint and stretch the floor after extending his shooting range throughout his college career. He can also protect the paint and switch onto smaller players.

He should be a prospect to watch in the coming weeks as a player that can rise up draft boards. He will also have the opportunity to improve his draft stock either in the combine or G League Elite Camp this month in Chicago, Illinois.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projections for every pick post-March Madness

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the NCAA Tournament.

The NBA pre-draft process is in full swing as prospects around the world prepare to transition to the next level.

Teams around the league will begin hosting private workouts in the coming weeks as they finalize their draft boards. There will be various pro days on the radar and, of course, the draft combine and G League Elite Camp next month in Chicago, Illinois.

Underclassmen have until April 23 to declare for the draft. Several notable players have already decided to return to school, including Kyle Filipowski, Harrison Ingram, Baylor Scheierman and Kel’el Ware. Others are still mulling over their decisions.

Related: Key dates for NBA draft, combine, lottery and deadlines

With players still in the process of making decisions, some prospects were excluded from this mock draft because they are projected to return to school next season. However, most players projected to be drafted have already announced their decisions.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the NCAA Tournament. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of April 14. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and 76ers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.

Furman’s Jalen Slawson wrote an eerily prescient message on his shoe ahead of Virginia upset

Jalen Slawson’s shoe said it all for Furman.

Furman senior forward Jalen Slawson has become one of the best stories of the 2023 NCAA tournament so far.

After the Paladins stunned Virginia in the first round of this year’s tournament, Slawson’s performance catapulted him to fans across the country.

He even sparked a viral moments that’s sure to be remembered for the rest of March Madness.

Slawson’s afternoon seemed to be predicted by his shoe. On it, he wrote an inspiring message to himself that likely helped fuel Furman’s big upset.

The message read: “You ain’t come this far to only come this far.”

Now that’s the kind of rallying cry to propel you to an NCAA tournament upset.

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We bet that Slawson keeps that message on his basketball sneaker for the rest of Furman’s run in the tournament.

The round of 32 is up next for the Paladins, and if Slawson’s shoe is any hint, the team isn’t ready to turn back now after such a monumental victory.

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Jalen Slawson is already the breakout star of March Madness after upset win over Virginia

Jalen Slawson went on a personal 9-0 run against Virginia!

After an incredible performance by Jalen Slawson, No. 13 seed Furman began March Madness with a massive upset over No. 4 seed Virginia.

Slawson finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block during the game. Especially after his teammate and Furman leading scorer Mike Bothwell fouled out, Slawson looked like the best player on the court throughout the game.

The fifth-year senior, who couldn’t believe Virginia’s crucial turnover, showcased his remarkable athleticism with a monster dunk during the first half of the victory.

It was one of many highlights from the forward, who was recently named the 2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year.

But this wasn’t just a random, fluky performance. In fact, as we noted last offseason, the 6-foot-7 forward is one of the most versatile prospects in the nation.

He has reached impressive thresholds for efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring, and defensive playmaking. His shot chart shows he is one of the best finishers in this draft class:

(via CBB Analytics)

Slawson was his conference leader in effective field goal percentage and was one of the leaders in free throw rate as well.

But he is also an impressive shooter he proved as much when he shockingly went on a personal 9-0 run against Virginia during the second half:

Slawson was one of just eight players in the nation to record at least 35 dunks and 3-pointers in 2022-23.

He is also one of just eight players since 2008 to record more than 100 dunks and 3-pointers while in college. But no other player was able to do so with a higher true shooting percentage than Slawson.

As he continues playing into the second round of March Madness, he can continue to improve his draft stock.

While he is one of the oldest prospects eligible to hear his name called in the 2023 NBA Draft, it is worth considering using a draft pick on Slawson for his unique two-way potential.

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The biggest snubs to not get invited to the 2022 NBA combine or G League Elite Camp in Chicago

The NBA draft starts to take shape once the combine begins in Chicago, and we’re now less than a week away from those events kicking off.

The NBA draft starts to take shape once the combine begins in Chicago, and we’re now less than a week away from that event kicking off.

For the fourth year in a row, the process will begin with the G League Elite Camp. Forty-four prospects were invited to that camp, which takes place between May 16 and May 17. Then, a select few of those players will advance to the official NBA combine, where they will join the 78 players who were invited to those events, which will occur between May 18 and May 22.

These prospects are all competing for one of the 58 spots in the NBA draft. Based on their performance at the combine, some may opt to wait another year until they turn pro. Others, however, won’t even get a chance to show out at the combine.

NBA teams vote on which players should receive invitations to the combine, so if a player was not invited to either the G League Elite Camp or the NBA draft combine, it’s a pretty good sign of their draft stock right now.

Based on my intel and research, I’ve listed a few of the most notable players who will not be in Chicago. I did not include Michigan’s Caleb Houstan and Iowa’s Kris Murray, as both players reportedly rejected their invitations.

My list also excludes overseas players (e.g. Yannick Nzosa, Ibou Badji, Giordano Bortolani, Ziga Samar, Malcolm Cazalon, Gui Santos, Fedor Zugic, Mario Nakic, Yoan Makoundou, Carlos Alocen, Karlo Matkovic, and Danko Brankovic). Although some of those players are in a draftable range, many are still in the midst of the season.

Otherwise, the following players caught my attention as the biggest snubs: