HOU$TON
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2025 NBA Draft Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
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I wonder if that’s a mental toughness thing.
My dad used to always say some players aren’t mentally tough wherein when they start the game rough. They will play like **** the whole game .
Tatum comes to mind when he starts *** he’s gonna be trash the whole game
My dad used to always say some players aren’t mentally tough wherein when they start the game rough. They will play like **** the whole game .
Tatum comes to mind when he starts *** he’s gonna be trash the whole game
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That’s what I’m most impressed about Brandon Miller. It is mental toughness. To tune out real life problems.
He’s a psycho. Kobe and KG type of psycho. These type of dudes usually go on to become great.
He’s a psycho. Kobe and KG type of psycho. These type of dudes usually go on to become great.
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Proctor was nasty today.
Curious if he jumps this year or waits for the chance to go higher in 2024.
Curious if he jumps this year or waits for the chance to go higher in 2024.
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36 minutes and zero points not even a shot attempt for lively. Damb
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HOU$TON
formerly convertibleburt
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Both nick smith and Anthony black have been very underwhelming
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Ricky council iv will be a draft steal this year 
Jordan Walsh elite glue guy
Jordan Walsh elite glue guy
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2023 NBA draft: How top prospects fared in the NCAA tournament
A wild first NCAA tournament weekend is in the books. Several NBA prospects likely played their last games in college while several projected lottery picks advanced to this week's Sweet 16.
The matchups will continue to become even more compelling now as scouts get to watch prospects playing against tougher competition in some of the biggest games of their careers to this point.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony was glued to the action all weekend. Givony's updated top 100 can be found here along with a new stock watch below providing the latest evaluations on Alabama's Brandon Miller, Houston's Jarace Walker, Baylor's Keyonte George and more.
Brandon Miller | 6-foot-9 | SG/SF | Alabama | Age: 20.3 | Top 100: No. 3
Miller didn't have a great weekend by his standards, shooting 5-for-22 from the field in two games and not getting his first basket until 53 minutes into the NCAA tournament, but lived to see another day as Alabama took care of business with two blowouts over Maryland and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. He was held out of practice on Friday with a groin injury and likely wasn't operating at 100% all weekend, but said he never had any doubt about his availability for either game.
Even when not at his best, Miller showed what makes him potentially the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft with the outstanding mix he brings of size, shot-making, passing, defensive versatility, feel for the game and competitiveness, as he was able to contribute in all facets even when the ball wasn't going through the basket for him. He makes all the right reads and the game is easy for his teammates with the way he passes ahead, moves the ball out of double teams and drives with his head up looking to dish off. The intensity he's playing with defensively by denying off the ball, recovering to the rim to protect the basket, and the hustle he shows getting back in transition and crashing the glass bodes well for his outlook.
Jarace Walker | 6-7 | PF | Houston | Age: 19.5 | Top 100: No. 6
Walker showed against Auburn what makes him arguably the most versatile defender in this NBA draft class. The freshman had six blocks and helped erase a 10-point halftime deficit thanks to an exceptional display of mobility, intensity, quickness getting off his feet and defensive instincts.
Beyond the blocks, Walker's ability to hold his ground against big men in the post while switching onto guards and smothering the perimeter or sliding his feet to draw charges was just as impressive. He's far from perfect in terms of technique, but Walker's quickness, length, intensity and explosiveness in getting off his feet make him an absolute game-changer at the college level.
Walker had some nice moments offensively, stepping into an NBA range 3-pointer off an inbounds pass, playing bully ball from the mid-post and helping break Auburn's press by delivering a nifty bounce pass for a layup. He's not the most skilled ball-handler and has some questions to answer about his shooting (35% from 3, 64% FT), but shows enough flashes offensively and reportedly has a fantastic work ethic, leading teams to believe he'll continue to improve.
Walker helped to solidify his candidacy as a potential top-5 pick during an opening NCAA tournament weekend where most of his peers in the lottery struggled or weren't playing.
Keyonte George | 6-4 | PG/SG | Baylor | Age: 19.3 | Top 100: No. 8
George didn't have a great NCAA tournament weekend, shooting a combined 3-for-19 from the field and bowing out in the round of 32 with a loss to Creighton on Sunday. His effectiveness and efficiency really ebbed and flowed over the last two months and his questionable shot selection and defensive lapses caused him to spend more time on the bench than you would expect this last weekend.
George wasn't a great fit on either end of the floor with Baylor's undersized scoring guards -- Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer -- as each of them need the ball to be effective, live off a steady diet of difficult shots and lack length in a backcourt that struggled to get stops all season. George made some progress defensively this season and even had some moments against the Bluejays by stepping in for a charge and forcing opponents into tough pull-ups. But his inability to navigate screens, propensity for flying on every fake and lapses off the ball made it tough for George as he failed to get stops for Baylor in an up-tempo game featuring impressive shot-making from Creighton's guards.
George's scoring instincts and ability to hit pull-up jumpers and make pocket passes out of pick and roll give him a high floor as a strongly built 6-4 combo guard. He didn't do enough late in the season to solidify himself in mid-lottery conversations but still has an obvious niche he can fill as a bucket-getter with upside to grow into.
Cason Wallace | 6-3 | PG | Kentucky | Age: 19.3 | Top 100: No. 9
Kentucky's season ended in disappointment in a hard-fought loss to Kansas State, but it's hard to blame their star freshman point guard. Wallace had 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Wallace was a perfect 7-for-7 (15 points) in the second half, coming up repeatedly with big baskets and almost always making the right play passing ahead, driving and dishing and looking under control. He was unlucky to see his teammates go 3-for-19 from 3, with at least six open 3-point looks created by Wallace that weren't converted, a major reason Kentucky lost.
Wallace's shot creation and aggressiveness left something to be desired at times this season, but he was able to get inside the paint against Kansas State in transition and out of pick and roll, hitting tough floaters and layups through contact going both left or right. He committed four turnovers in the first 10 minutes, partially a product of trying to navigate Kentucky's lack of spacing, but played a pretty clean game otherwise.
His defense, long-considered his calling card, was vividly evident on Sunday, as he came up with two pick-six steals for layups, fought over screens aggressively and had some big-time rebounds in traffic while putting his body on the line.
Wallace will be disappointed not to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament and there are some holes that can be nitpicked in his game with his lack of scoring production and his occasional struggles with efficiency. However, Wallace had a strong freshman year that will serve him well developmentally after being forced to shoulder a huge offensive load under extreme pressure for much of the season and now looks like a strong top-10 prospect.
Gradey **** | 6-7 | SG/SF | Kansas | Age: 19.0 | Top 100: No. 11
After an outstanding opening-round performance against No. 16 seed Howard (19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists), ****'s impact was far more muted in a disappointing upset loss to No. 8 seed Arkansas, scoring seven points on 3-for-9 shooting.
He showed good activity and smarts crashing the glass and competing defensively, but showed his strength, length and experience limitations on several occasions, especially guarding the smaller Davonte Davis on switches and being unable to keep him off his stronger left hand. **** has been solid on that end this season but wasn't able to break free for open shots and provide the coveted shot-making ability that makes him such an appealing NBA prospect, being hounded on and off the ball by Arkansas' defense and struggling to attack closeouts effectively.
****'s freshman season was overwhelmingly positive as he hit 40% of his 3-pointers and was able to show enough competence in other areas to not project as just a one-dimensional specialist in the NBA. His size, high skill level, feel for the game, competitiveness and youth at 19 years old gives **** a very high floor in the modern game and there are reasons to believe he'll continue to develop his offensive versatility long-term.
Jalen Hood-Schifino | 6-5 | PG | Indiana | Age: 19.7 | Top 100: No. 14
Hood-Schifino showed what intrigues NBA scouts with his terrific size, live-dribble passing and shot-making, but had a poor showing overall on Sunday. In what's likely his last game for Indiana, Hood-Schifino was 8-for-22 from the field with three assists and three turnovers in a blowout loss to Miami. Hood-Schifino started off the game ice-cold from the perimeter, got beat repeatedly off the dribble and had sloppy turnovers, forcing the Hoosiers to play catch-up. He hit three difficult pull-up 3s at one key juncture to try and keep Indiana in the game, but couldn't get enough stops due to some off-ball lapses and turnovers at key moments.
This was still a successful season for Hood-Schifino, who stepped into a key role as Indiana's lone ball-handler outside of center Trayce Jackson-Davis due to starting point guard Xavier Johnson's broken foot, giving him plenty of freedom and confidence to show off his significant talent as a passer and off the dribble shooter. NBA teams are still getting a handle on how quickly the home run hitter will be able to contribute to winning in a more compact role and how long it might take to get him to play with better consistency, but there's little doubt that Hood-Schifino's upside is one of the highest of any guard in this year's draft.
Jordan Hawkins | 6-5 | SG | UConn | Age: 20.8 | Top 100: No. 20
Hawkins was quiet in the first halves of both contests UConn won last weekend, going scoreless in 21 total minutes. But the shooting guard showed how quickly his shot-making can turn a game by scoring a combined 25 points in 26 minutes (7-for-8 from 3) in second halves versus Iona and Saint Mary's.
Hawkins' game revolves heavily around his jumper, but the way he can manufacture looks by running off screens, pulling up off the dribble or hitting tough stepbacks makes him someone defenses need to account for. His defensive lapses, average ball-handling ability and tendency to disappear for stretches might put somewhat of a ceiling on how high he hears his name called, but every NBA team is looking for instant offense in Hawkins' mold and he can continue to help his standing in a prospect-laden matchup next weekend against Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black and Arkansas in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Dereck Lively II | 7-2 | Center | Duke | Age: 19.0 | Top 100: No. 22
Lively scored just four points in 65 minutes of NCAA tournament action, failing to attempt a single shot against Tennessee. That's partially due to his limitations offensively as well as Duke's own struggles with ball movement versus a stout Vols defense.
Sporting the lowest usage percentage (11.6%) of any collegiate player in our top 100, with what would be the lowest usage rate of a draft pick in the past 20-plus years, Lively doesn't have much to offer outside of being spoonfed for dunks at just 5.2 ppg.
He does bring exceptional mobility covering ground on the perimeter and instincts as a rim-protector with his 7-3 1/2 wingspan and 9-4 standing reach. He's the No. 1 shot-blocker among projected draft picks by a wide margin and has improved his ability to show or switch on ball-screens, giving him a ready-made role in the NBA with room to grow as his frame fills out. Lively is a project offensively and will need to improve his strength and physicality to hold his own on both ends of the floor. But he is only 19 years old, has improved all season and has the type of upside a patient team could certainly be interested in developing should he enter the draft.
Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6-9 | PF/C | Indiana | Age: 23.0 | Top 100: No. 30
Jackson-Davis finished his All-American season with another gaudy stat line of 23 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in Indiana's loss to Miami, posting similar numbers in the first round against Kent State with five assists for good measure. There is no bigger mismatch in college with Jackson-Davis' ability to push off the defensive glass, pass out of short rolls, and slither around and score over defenders in the post with exquisite footwork and body control. His lack of physicality proved to be an issue at times on the interior and he still has some things to prove as a pick-and-roll defender with his inconsistent intensity level. But it's hard to find a big man with better basketball instincts and there certainly wasn't a more consistently versatile college player in terms of the various ways he fills up the stat sheet.
As a 6-9 center with no shooting range, Jackson-Davis' fit in the modern NBA is still somewhat peculiar. Teams who value skill and feel for the game will be attracted to Jackson-Davis' productivity and the considerable improvement he's shown over the past year, giving him a case to be drafted in the first round.
Terquavion Smith | 6-4 | SG | North Carolina State | Age: 20.2 | Top 100: No. 31
Smith scored 32 points on 27 field goal attempts in a narrow opening-round loss to Creighton, coming up especially huge in the second half and putting his versatile arsenal of scoring on full display.
Smith's relentlessness attacking the rim (nine free throw attempts) and willingness to repeatedly go straight into the chest of 7-foot Big East defensive player of the year Ryan Kalkbrenner was a welcome sign for NBA scouts after a heavy pull-up jumper (65-for-209, 31%, per Synergy) sophomore season. His outside shot wasn't falling (1-for-5 from 3) -- something that was a bit of a theme this season (34% from 3) -- but his shot-making ability isn't as much a question (187 3s in 66 games) as his shot-selection, decision making and efficiency (50% true shooting percentage).
Smith even dialed up the defensive intensity, something that was lacking at points this season, coming up with a monster two-handed block on a weakside rotation and stepping in for a charge.
Bucket-getters in Smith's mold who can create shots in large volume by changing speeds, hitting touch shots inside the arc and pulling up from well beyond the NBA 3-point line are in vogue in the modern game, giving him a clear niche he can point to. He'll likely need to have another strong showing at the NBA draft combine to solidify his standing as a first-round pick, but the fact that he was able to lead NC State back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years while winning All-ACC honors helps his cause.
Marcus Sasser | 6-3 | PG/SG | Houston | Age: 22.4 | Top 100: No. 33
Sasser, battling a groin injury, gutted out one of his best performances of the season relative to the stakes, hitting 5-for-9 3s for Houston en route to 22 points against Auburn. Sasser's shot-making ability was on full display, hitting a difficult transition pull-up 3, two snatchback 3s out of isolation to punish the switching big man, and then icing the game with a tough corner 3 off movement.
Sasser looked somewhat hobbled pushing in the open court and especially staying in front of the lightning-quick Wendell Green, but that was to be expected considering his injury. How healthy he's able to get in the coming days as Houston takes on Miami and then the winner of Xavier/Texas should they advance will be huge for its Final Four chances, as a strong performance will surely help his cause for first-round pick consideration on draft night.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 6-6 | SF | UCLA | Age: 22.0 | Top 100: No. 34
Jaquez took care of business in leading UCLA to a third consecutive Sweet 16, doing all the little things that make him a winning player.
He made a pair of 3-pointers, moved the ball intelligently, went to work creating his own shot in the high, mid or low post, and made big plays defensively -- all things we've become accustomed to seeing in his four years with the Bruins.
Nothing he does is particularly aesthetically pleasing or looks certain to seamlessly translate to what his role will be in the NBA, but it's difficult not to appreciate the tremendous feel for the game, competitiveness and versatility Jaquez offers.
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 6-7 | SG/SF | Illinois | Age: 22.6 | Top 100: No. 36
Shannon finished his season -- and likely his college career -- on a positive note, getting anywhere he wanted on the floor against a stout Arkansas defense and showing glimpses of what he could look like with NBA spacing. Shannon's ability to change gears in the open court, operating out of pick and roll, getting inside the paint and initiating contact at the rim was extremely impressive, helping him draw 13 free throw attempts in the game, something he's done all season. He also made some strong reads in finding teammates off a live dribble for open 3s, but his teammates missed wide-open shots and led to him finishing with zero assists.
Shannon air-balled a pull-up 3 and missed a wide-open corner-3 badly, reminding teams of his biggest weakness as an NBA prospect and an area he'll have to considerably improve to carve out a real niche at the next level. But Shannon is a legitimate shot-creator with passing, finishing and foul-drawing capacity as well as a solid perimeter defender, giving him upside to grow into at 6-7 with outstanding explosiveness. He potentially has a case for first-round consideration with a strong pre-draft process.
Amari Bailey | 6-4 | PG/SG | UCLA | Age: 19.4 | Top 100: No. 43
Bailey entered the season as a projected first-rounder, but saw his stock fall as his adjustment to college basketball was far from seamless, struggling with decision-making, shot selection and his average physical tools as a finisher and one-on-one defender. He looked reluctant to take open jumpers due to his unconventional shooting mechanics, hit less than 70% of his free throw attempts and posted more turnovers than assists on the season.
Lately, Bailey has looked a lot more like the top-five high school recruit he was billed as than the second-round flier most NBA teams viewed him as. He's averaging 17 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on sparkling efficiency (67% true shooting percentage) over his last five games, including two excellent NCAA tournament showings last weekend. He's playing with much more confidence, showing his excellent ball-handling ability, shiftiness changing speeds and getting in the paint, ability to pass off a live dribble and improved defense. There are still major question marks about his jump shot, but Bailey is doing a good job of rebuilding his stock and putting himself back in the picture as a potential first-round pick depending on how he continues to play and in the pre-draft process should he declare.
Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | PF | Illinois | Age: 21.2 | Top 100: No. 49
Hawkins had a roller coaster game against Arkansas -- exactly as he has all season -- showing his virtues as an NBA prospect along with his shortcomings. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, pushed the ball off the defensive glass, made a gorgeous over-the-shoulder skip pass and demonstrated his defensive versatility by jumping passing lanes, protecting the rim and covering ground trapping and sliding his feet against smaller players on the perimeter. Hawkins also committed six turnovers, passed up an open 3 to dribble into a tough stepback, was a feast or famine decision maker and got outmuscled on the glass and in the post.
NBA teams are looking for versatile 6-10 two-way players who can do all the things Hawkins does well when he's operating at his best, but he's still far away from being consistent. Hawkins will have a case for being drafted in the second round but the 21-year-old junior would be wise to think about returning to school and becoming less of a theoretical prospect next year in a weaker 2024 draft class.
Zach Edey | 7-4 | C | Purdue | Age: 20.8 | Top 100: No. 52
The likely consensus National Player of the Year saw his season end in disappointment for a third straight year with No. 1 seed Purdue losing to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson after previously falling to No. 15 St. Peter's (2022) and No. 13 North Texas (2021).
Edey produced offensively (21 points, 15 rebounds) but struggled to move his feet and cover ground against the smallest team in college basketball, getting scored on repeatedly when forced to close out on the perimeter or defend on an island. While Edey will likely never face a team whose biggest player stands 6-7 at the professional level, the way he lumbered up and down the floor after setting screens on the perimeter was a stark reminder of his limitations as an NBA prospect. Edey also failed to attempt a shot in the final 8 1/2 minutes against the Knights despite his massive size advantage.
Edey's historic production and the way he thoroughly dominated in college shouldn't be forgotten in the disappointment of how his season ended. There's still likely a place for a Boban Marjanovic-style player on an NBA team that can come off the bench in short spurts to change the rhythm of a regular season game. The fact that Edey is only 20 years old might actually be a reason for him to think about returning to college next season and trying his luck in the much weaker 2024 draft class, especially if he can find a way to add some range to his jumper and become more agile and flexible with the way he covers ground defensively.
Reece Beekman | 6-3 | PG | Virginia | Age: 21.4 | Top 100: No. 57
The ACC defensive player of the year had a decent showing against Furman (14 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, two steals) but was unable to notch his first victory in the NCAA tournament in his third season. Beekman's jumper abandoned him over his last 13 games as he went 5-for-28 (18%) from 3.
That's clearly an issue projecting to the NBA as Beekman is not a high-level creator inside the arc (43% from 2) due to his average explosiveness and off-the-dribble shooting. He looked fairly passive at times against Furman's zone defense.
Beekman's strong feel for the game and outstanding defensive versatility and instincts give him a good chance to carve out an NBA career, but the disappointing ending to his season both individually and on a team level suggests that returning to Virginia for his senior year is likely in his best interest.
Olivier Nkamhoua | 6-8 | PF | Tennessee | Age: 22.8 | Top 100: NR
Nkamhoua's 23-point second-half explosion against Duke was perhaps the most important and unlikely performance of the weekend, one that is certain to open up NBA eyeballs heading into the pre-draft process. The chiseled 6-8 senior from Finland was a non-factor offensively for much of the season but made big shots all over the floor in giving the Vols crucial offensive production to defeat Duke and help coach Rick Barnes advance to just his second Sweet 16 appearance in the last 15 years.
Barnes did it by loosening up his playbook and giving players such as Nkamhoua the freedom to step into open jumpers with confidence, be it from beyond the 3-point line when dared or off the bounce inside the arc. He was just 15-for-48 (31%) from 3 in 34 games prior but was able to make 3-for-4 to keep Duke at bay, while also providing timely contributions as a cutter crashing the glass, attacking closeouts, bringing physicality defensively and moving the ball intelligently.
Nkamhoua may never score 27 points again in the NCAA tournament but the solid playmaking he offers along with the mobility he brings switching on the perimeter, getting in a deep agile stance, sliding his feet and locking up smaller players is certainly intriguing in today's NBA. If he can continue to make strides with his jumper, something teams will want to study in the pre-draft process, he could certainly be someone who ends up playing NBA minutes.
Drew Pember | 6-10 | PF | UNC-Asheville | Age: 22.7 | Top 100: NR
Pember, the Big South player of the year and defensive player of the year, had a fantastic season, leading the conference in scoring, rebounds and blocks. He came up flat against UCLA, though, committing six turnovers, grabbing just two rebounds and looking overwhelmed by the Bruins' physicality and intensity. Pember's ability to make 3-pointers (38% from 3), block shots and live at the free throw line (9.4 free throw attempts per game) is intriguing at 6-10, but his physical profile with his narrow frame, poor length and lack of toughness was always an issue projecting to the NBA.
He doesn't appear to be a quick enough decision-maker or high-level passer to overcome his flaws from what we saw against UCLA along with games against Arkansas and North Carolina where he similarly struggled. Pember will try to prove otherwise during the pre-draft process starting with April's Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, although he does have another year of college eligibility.
A wild first NCAA tournament weekend is in the books. Several NBA prospects likely played their last games in college while several projected lottery picks advanced to this week's Sweet 16.
The matchups will continue to become even more compelling now as scouts get to watch prospects playing against tougher competition in some of the biggest games of their careers to this point.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony was glued to the action all weekend. Givony's updated top 100 can be found here along with a new stock watch below providing the latest evaluations on Alabama's Brandon Miller, Houston's Jarace Walker, Baylor's Keyonte George and more.
Brandon Miller | 6-foot-9 | SG/SF | Alabama | Age: 20.3 | Top 100: No. 3
Miller didn't have a great weekend by his standards, shooting 5-for-22 from the field in two games and not getting his first basket until 53 minutes into the NCAA tournament, but lived to see another day as Alabama took care of business with two blowouts over Maryland and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. He was held out of practice on Friday with a groin injury and likely wasn't operating at 100% all weekend, but said he never had any doubt about his availability for either game.
Even when not at his best, Miller showed what makes him potentially the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft with the outstanding mix he brings of size, shot-making, passing, defensive versatility, feel for the game and competitiveness, as he was able to contribute in all facets even when the ball wasn't going through the basket for him. He makes all the right reads and the game is easy for his teammates with the way he passes ahead, moves the ball out of double teams and drives with his head up looking to dish off. The intensity he's playing with defensively by denying off the ball, recovering to the rim to protect the basket, and the hustle he shows getting back in transition and crashing the glass bodes well for his outlook.
Jarace Walker | 6-7 | PF | Houston | Age: 19.5 | Top 100: No. 6
Walker showed against Auburn what makes him arguably the most versatile defender in this NBA draft class. The freshman had six blocks and helped erase a 10-point halftime deficit thanks to an exceptional display of mobility, intensity, quickness getting off his feet and defensive instincts.
Beyond the blocks, Walker's ability to hold his ground against big men in the post while switching onto guards and smothering the perimeter or sliding his feet to draw charges was just as impressive. He's far from perfect in terms of technique, but Walker's quickness, length, intensity and explosiveness in getting off his feet make him an absolute game-changer at the college level.
Walker had some nice moments offensively, stepping into an NBA range 3-pointer off an inbounds pass, playing bully ball from the mid-post and helping break Auburn's press by delivering a nifty bounce pass for a layup. He's not the most skilled ball-handler and has some questions to answer about his shooting (35% from 3, 64% FT), but shows enough flashes offensively and reportedly has a fantastic work ethic, leading teams to believe he'll continue to improve.
Walker helped to solidify his candidacy as a potential top-5 pick during an opening NCAA tournament weekend where most of his peers in the lottery struggled or weren't playing.
Keyonte George | 6-4 | PG/SG | Baylor | Age: 19.3 | Top 100: No. 8
George didn't have a great NCAA tournament weekend, shooting a combined 3-for-19 from the field and bowing out in the round of 32 with a loss to Creighton on Sunday. His effectiveness and efficiency really ebbed and flowed over the last two months and his questionable shot selection and defensive lapses caused him to spend more time on the bench than you would expect this last weekend.
George wasn't a great fit on either end of the floor with Baylor's undersized scoring guards -- Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer -- as each of them need the ball to be effective, live off a steady diet of difficult shots and lack length in a backcourt that struggled to get stops all season. George made some progress defensively this season and even had some moments against the Bluejays by stepping in for a charge and forcing opponents into tough pull-ups. But his inability to navigate screens, propensity for flying on every fake and lapses off the ball made it tough for George as he failed to get stops for Baylor in an up-tempo game featuring impressive shot-making from Creighton's guards.
George's scoring instincts and ability to hit pull-up jumpers and make pocket passes out of pick and roll give him a high floor as a strongly built 6-4 combo guard. He didn't do enough late in the season to solidify himself in mid-lottery conversations but still has an obvious niche he can fill as a bucket-getter with upside to grow into.
Cason Wallace | 6-3 | PG | Kentucky | Age: 19.3 | Top 100: No. 9
Kentucky's season ended in disappointment in a hard-fought loss to Kansas State, but it's hard to blame their star freshman point guard. Wallace had 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Wallace was a perfect 7-for-7 (15 points) in the second half, coming up repeatedly with big baskets and almost always making the right play passing ahead, driving and dishing and looking under control. He was unlucky to see his teammates go 3-for-19 from 3, with at least six open 3-point looks created by Wallace that weren't converted, a major reason Kentucky lost.
Wallace's shot creation and aggressiveness left something to be desired at times this season, but he was able to get inside the paint against Kansas State in transition and out of pick and roll, hitting tough floaters and layups through contact going both left or right. He committed four turnovers in the first 10 minutes, partially a product of trying to navigate Kentucky's lack of spacing, but played a pretty clean game otherwise.
His defense, long-considered his calling card, was vividly evident on Sunday, as he came up with two pick-six steals for layups, fought over screens aggressively and had some big-time rebounds in traffic while putting his body on the line.
Wallace will be disappointed not to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament and there are some holes that can be nitpicked in his game with his lack of scoring production and his occasional struggles with efficiency. However, Wallace had a strong freshman year that will serve him well developmentally after being forced to shoulder a huge offensive load under extreme pressure for much of the season and now looks like a strong top-10 prospect.
Gradey **** | 6-7 | SG/SF | Kansas | Age: 19.0 | Top 100: No. 11
After an outstanding opening-round performance against No. 16 seed Howard (19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists), ****'s impact was far more muted in a disappointing upset loss to No. 8 seed Arkansas, scoring seven points on 3-for-9 shooting.
He showed good activity and smarts crashing the glass and competing defensively, but showed his strength, length and experience limitations on several occasions, especially guarding the smaller Davonte Davis on switches and being unable to keep him off his stronger left hand. **** has been solid on that end this season but wasn't able to break free for open shots and provide the coveted shot-making ability that makes him such an appealing NBA prospect, being hounded on and off the ball by Arkansas' defense and struggling to attack closeouts effectively.
****'s freshman season was overwhelmingly positive as he hit 40% of his 3-pointers and was able to show enough competence in other areas to not project as just a one-dimensional specialist in the NBA. His size, high skill level, feel for the game, competitiveness and youth at 19 years old gives **** a very high floor in the modern game and there are reasons to believe he'll continue to develop his offensive versatility long-term.
Jalen Hood-Schifino | 6-5 | PG | Indiana | Age: 19.7 | Top 100: No. 14
Hood-Schifino showed what intrigues NBA scouts with his terrific size, live-dribble passing and shot-making, but had a poor showing overall on Sunday. In what's likely his last game for Indiana, Hood-Schifino was 8-for-22 from the field with three assists and three turnovers in a blowout loss to Miami. Hood-Schifino started off the game ice-cold from the perimeter, got beat repeatedly off the dribble and had sloppy turnovers, forcing the Hoosiers to play catch-up. He hit three difficult pull-up 3s at one key juncture to try and keep Indiana in the game, but couldn't get enough stops due to some off-ball lapses and turnovers at key moments.
This was still a successful season for Hood-Schifino, who stepped into a key role as Indiana's lone ball-handler outside of center Trayce Jackson-Davis due to starting point guard Xavier Johnson's broken foot, giving him plenty of freedom and confidence to show off his significant talent as a passer and off the dribble shooter. NBA teams are still getting a handle on how quickly the home run hitter will be able to contribute to winning in a more compact role and how long it might take to get him to play with better consistency, but there's little doubt that Hood-Schifino's upside is one of the highest of any guard in this year's draft.
Jordan Hawkins | 6-5 | SG | UConn | Age: 20.8 | Top 100: No. 20
Hawkins was quiet in the first halves of both contests UConn won last weekend, going scoreless in 21 total minutes. But the shooting guard showed how quickly his shot-making can turn a game by scoring a combined 25 points in 26 minutes (7-for-8 from 3) in second halves versus Iona and Saint Mary's.
Hawkins' game revolves heavily around his jumper, but the way he can manufacture looks by running off screens, pulling up off the dribble or hitting tough stepbacks makes him someone defenses need to account for. His defensive lapses, average ball-handling ability and tendency to disappear for stretches might put somewhat of a ceiling on how high he hears his name called, but every NBA team is looking for instant offense in Hawkins' mold and he can continue to help his standing in a prospect-laden matchup next weekend against Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black and Arkansas in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Dereck Lively II | 7-2 | Center | Duke | Age: 19.0 | Top 100: No. 22
Lively scored just four points in 65 minutes of NCAA tournament action, failing to attempt a single shot against Tennessee. That's partially due to his limitations offensively as well as Duke's own struggles with ball movement versus a stout Vols defense.
Sporting the lowest usage percentage (11.6%) of any collegiate player in our top 100, with what would be the lowest usage rate of a draft pick in the past 20-plus years, Lively doesn't have much to offer outside of being spoonfed for dunks at just 5.2 ppg.
He does bring exceptional mobility covering ground on the perimeter and instincts as a rim-protector with his 7-3 1/2 wingspan and 9-4 standing reach. He's the No. 1 shot-blocker among projected draft picks by a wide margin and has improved his ability to show or switch on ball-screens, giving him a ready-made role in the NBA with room to grow as his frame fills out. Lively is a project offensively and will need to improve his strength and physicality to hold his own on both ends of the floor. But he is only 19 years old, has improved all season and has the type of upside a patient team could certainly be interested in developing should he enter the draft.
Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6-9 | PF/C | Indiana | Age: 23.0 | Top 100: No. 30
Jackson-Davis finished his All-American season with another gaudy stat line of 23 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in Indiana's loss to Miami, posting similar numbers in the first round against Kent State with five assists for good measure. There is no bigger mismatch in college with Jackson-Davis' ability to push off the defensive glass, pass out of short rolls, and slither around and score over defenders in the post with exquisite footwork and body control. His lack of physicality proved to be an issue at times on the interior and he still has some things to prove as a pick-and-roll defender with his inconsistent intensity level. But it's hard to find a big man with better basketball instincts and there certainly wasn't a more consistently versatile college player in terms of the various ways he fills up the stat sheet.
As a 6-9 center with no shooting range, Jackson-Davis' fit in the modern NBA is still somewhat peculiar. Teams who value skill and feel for the game will be attracted to Jackson-Davis' productivity and the considerable improvement he's shown over the past year, giving him a case to be drafted in the first round.
Terquavion Smith | 6-4 | SG | North Carolina State | Age: 20.2 | Top 100: No. 31
Smith scored 32 points on 27 field goal attempts in a narrow opening-round loss to Creighton, coming up especially huge in the second half and putting his versatile arsenal of scoring on full display.
Smith's relentlessness attacking the rim (nine free throw attempts) and willingness to repeatedly go straight into the chest of 7-foot Big East defensive player of the year Ryan Kalkbrenner was a welcome sign for NBA scouts after a heavy pull-up jumper (65-for-209, 31%, per Synergy) sophomore season. His outside shot wasn't falling (1-for-5 from 3) -- something that was a bit of a theme this season (34% from 3) -- but his shot-making ability isn't as much a question (187 3s in 66 games) as his shot-selection, decision making and efficiency (50% true shooting percentage).
Smith even dialed up the defensive intensity, something that was lacking at points this season, coming up with a monster two-handed block on a weakside rotation and stepping in for a charge.
Bucket-getters in Smith's mold who can create shots in large volume by changing speeds, hitting touch shots inside the arc and pulling up from well beyond the NBA 3-point line are in vogue in the modern game, giving him a clear niche he can point to. He'll likely need to have another strong showing at the NBA draft combine to solidify his standing as a first-round pick, but the fact that he was able to lead NC State back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years while winning All-ACC honors helps his cause.
Marcus Sasser | 6-3 | PG/SG | Houston | Age: 22.4 | Top 100: No. 33
Sasser, battling a groin injury, gutted out one of his best performances of the season relative to the stakes, hitting 5-for-9 3s for Houston en route to 22 points against Auburn. Sasser's shot-making ability was on full display, hitting a difficult transition pull-up 3, two snatchback 3s out of isolation to punish the switching big man, and then icing the game with a tough corner 3 off movement.
Sasser looked somewhat hobbled pushing in the open court and especially staying in front of the lightning-quick Wendell Green, but that was to be expected considering his injury. How healthy he's able to get in the coming days as Houston takes on Miami and then the winner of Xavier/Texas should they advance will be huge for its Final Four chances, as a strong performance will surely help his cause for first-round pick consideration on draft night.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 6-6 | SF | UCLA | Age: 22.0 | Top 100: No. 34
Jaquez took care of business in leading UCLA to a third consecutive Sweet 16, doing all the little things that make him a winning player.
He made a pair of 3-pointers, moved the ball intelligently, went to work creating his own shot in the high, mid or low post, and made big plays defensively -- all things we've become accustomed to seeing in his four years with the Bruins.
Nothing he does is particularly aesthetically pleasing or looks certain to seamlessly translate to what his role will be in the NBA, but it's difficult not to appreciate the tremendous feel for the game, competitiveness and versatility Jaquez offers.
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 6-7 | SG/SF | Illinois | Age: 22.6 | Top 100: No. 36
Shannon finished his season -- and likely his college career -- on a positive note, getting anywhere he wanted on the floor against a stout Arkansas defense and showing glimpses of what he could look like with NBA spacing. Shannon's ability to change gears in the open court, operating out of pick and roll, getting inside the paint and initiating contact at the rim was extremely impressive, helping him draw 13 free throw attempts in the game, something he's done all season. He also made some strong reads in finding teammates off a live dribble for open 3s, but his teammates missed wide-open shots and led to him finishing with zero assists.
Shannon air-balled a pull-up 3 and missed a wide-open corner-3 badly, reminding teams of his biggest weakness as an NBA prospect and an area he'll have to considerably improve to carve out a real niche at the next level. But Shannon is a legitimate shot-creator with passing, finishing and foul-drawing capacity as well as a solid perimeter defender, giving him upside to grow into at 6-7 with outstanding explosiveness. He potentially has a case for first-round consideration with a strong pre-draft process.
Amari Bailey | 6-4 | PG/SG | UCLA | Age: 19.4 | Top 100: No. 43
Bailey entered the season as a projected first-rounder, but saw his stock fall as his adjustment to college basketball was far from seamless, struggling with decision-making, shot selection and his average physical tools as a finisher and one-on-one defender. He looked reluctant to take open jumpers due to his unconventional shooting mechanics, hit less than 70% of his free throw attempts and posted more turnovers than assists on the season.
Lately, Bailey has looked a lot more like the top-five high school recruit he was billed as than the second-round flier most NBA teams viewed him as. He's averaging 17 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on sparkling efficiency (67% true shooting percentage) over his last five games, including two excellent NCAA tournament showings last weekend. He's playing with much more confidence, showing his excellent ball-handling ability, shiftiness changing speeds and getting in the paint, ability to pass off a live dribble and improved defense. There are still major question marks about his jump shot, but Bailey is doing a good job of rebuilding his stock and putting himself back in the picture as a potential first-round pick depending on how he continues to play and in the pre-draft process should he declare.
Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | PF | Illinois | Age: 21.2 | Top 100: No. 49
Hawkins had a roller coaster game against Arkansas -- exactly as he has all season -- showing his virtues as an NBA prospect along with his shortcomings. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, pushed the ball off the defensive glass, made a gorgeous over-the-shoulder skip pass and demonstrated his defensive versatility by jumping passing lanes, protecting the rim and covering ground trapping and sliding his feet against smaller players on the perimeter. Hawkins also committed six turnovers, passed up an open 3 to dribble into a tough stepback, was a feast or famine decision maker and got outmuscled on the glass and in the post.
NBA teams are looking for versatile 6-10 two-way players who can do all the things Hawkins does well when he's operating at his best, but he's still far away from being consistent. Hawkins will have a case for being drafted in the second round but the 21-year-old junior would be wise to think about returning to school and becoming less of a theoretical prospect next year in a weaker 2024 draft class.
Zach Edey | 7-4 | C | Purdue | Age: 20.8 | Top 100: No. 52
The likely consensus National Player of the Year saw his season end in disappointment for a third straight year with No. 1 seed Purdue losing to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson after previously falling to No. 15 St. Peter's (2022) and No. 13 North Texas (2021).
Edey produced offensively (21 points, 15 rebounds) but struggled to move his feet and cover ground against the smallest team in college basketball, getting scored on repeatedly when forced to close out on the perimeter or defend on an island. While Edey will likely never face a team whose biggest player stands 6-7 at the professional level, the way he lumbered up and down the floor after setting screens on the perimeter was a stark reminder of his limitations as an NBA prospect. Edey also failed to attempt a shot in the final 8 1/2 minutes against the Knights despite his massive size advantage.
Edey's historic production and the way he thoroughly dominated in college shouldn't be forgotten in the disappointment of how his season ended. There's still likely a place for a Boban Marjanovic-style player on an NBA team that can come off the bench in short spurts to change the rhythm of a regular season game. The fact that Edey is only 20 years old might actually be a reason for him to think about returning to college next season and trying his luck in the much weaker 2024 draft class, especially if he can find a way to add some range to his jumper and become more agile and flexible with the way he covers ground defensively.
Reece Beekman | 6-3 | PG | Virginia | Age: 21.4 | Top 100: No. 57
The ACC defensive player of the year had a decent showing against Furman (14 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, two steals) but was unable to notch his first victory in the NCAA tournament in his third season. Beekman's jumper abandoned him over his last 13 games as he went 5-for-28 (18%) from 3.
That's clearly an issue projecting to the NBA as Beekman is not a high-level creator inside the arc (43% from 2) due to his average explosiveness and off-the-dribble shooting. He looked fairly passive at times against Furman's zone defense.
Beekman's strong feel for the game and outstanding defensive versatility and instincts give him a good chance to carve out an NBA career, but the disappointing ending to his season both individually and on a team level suggests that returning to Virginia for his senior year is likely in his best interest.
Olivier Nkamhoua | 6-8 | PF | Tennessee | Age: 22.8 | Top 100: NR
Nkamhoua's 23-point second-half explosion against Duke was perhaps the most important and unlikely performance of the weekend, one that is certain to open up NBA eyeballs heading into the pre-draft process. The chiseled 6-8 senior from Finland was a non-factor offensively for much of the season but made big shots all over the floor in giving the Vols crucial offensive production to defeat Duke and help coach Rick Barnes advance to just his second Sweet 16 appearance in the last 15 years.
Barnes did it by loosening up his playbook and giving players such as Nkamhoua the freedom to step into open jumpers with confidence, be it from beyond the 3-point line when dared or off the bounce inside the arc. He was just 15-for-48 (31%) from 3 in 34 games prior but was able to make 3-for-4 to keep Duke at bay, while also providing timely contributions as a cutter crashing the glass, attacking closeouts, bringing physicality defensively and moving the ball intelligently.
Nkamhoua may never score 27 points again in the NCAA tournament but the solid playmaking he offers along with the mobility he brings switching on the perimeter, getting in a deep agile stance, sliding his feet and locking up smaller players is certainly intriguing in today's NBA. If he can continue to make strides with his jumper, something teams will want to study in the pre-draft process, he could certainly be someone who ends up playing NBA minutes.
Drew Pember | 6-10 | PF | UNC-Asheville | Age: 22.7 | Top 100: NR
Pember, the Big South player of the year and defensive player of the year, had a fantastic season, leading the conference in scoring, rebounds and blocks. He came up flat against UCLA, though, committing six turnovers, grabbing just two rebounds and looking overwhelmed by the Bruins' physicality and intensity. Pember's ability to make 3-pointers (38% from 3), block shots and live at the free throw line (9.4 free throw attempts per game) is intriguing at 6-10, but his physical profile with his narrow frame, poor length and lack of toughness was always an issue projecting to the NBA.
He doesn't appear to be a quick enough decision-maker or high-level passer to overcome his flaws from what we saw against UCLA along with games against Arkansas and North Carolina where he similarly struggled. Pember will try to prove otherwise during the pre-draft process starting with April's Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, although he does have another year of college eligibility.
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Prospect of the Week? Pfffffft. More like prospectzzzzz.
My final scouting sojourn of the college season took me to six first-round NCAA Tournament games this past week: four in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday and two in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday. I saw several potential draftees from courtside, so let’s talk about ’em.
I started Thursday in Orlando. It’s one of the more underrated stops on the circuit, honestly, with a pleasant downtown, reliable weather, a nice city park for a morning run and underrated Vietnamese food. All the city needs is an actual highway between downtown and the airport.
I also got the added thrill of the “media workroom” being on the old Magic practice court where my 2015 Grizzlies won the Orlando Summer League title. (RIP, Orlando Summer League; you walked so Vegas could run.) The Magic, incidentally, have moved into a gleaming new practice facility just up the street, and it may set the standard league-wide.
As for the basketball, I got a close-up look at several potential draftees: Virginia’s Reece Beekman; Furman’s Jalen Slawson; Tennessee’s Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips; Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, Dariq Whitehead, Dereck Lively II, Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski; San Diego State’s Matt Bradley; and Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas.
Of those, Lively was the most impactful by a wide margin. The freshman center dominated defensively in the Blue Devils’ win over Oral Roberts, as Duke held the Eagles scoreless for the first eight minutes en route to an opening-round rout.
Lively isn’t an offensive force; he mostly looks to pass, even out of offensive rebounds, and scored just 15.4 points per 100 possessions. True to form, he went scoreless in 36 minutes (!) in Duke’s second-round loss to Tennessee.
However, NBA spacing is a game-changer for otherwise limited centers who can rim run, such as Lively … especially since he’s shown he can and will pass out of his catches on the roll. Additionally, I’ve seen him warm up before games twice this season, and both times he looked comfortable making corner 3s, hinting at some role expansion at the next level. Between that and his defensive promise, it’s hard to see Lively going outside the top 20, even with the diminished value of centers in today’s NBA.
Thursday was also my first look at small forward Whitehead, who was injured when I saw the Blue Devils play at Georgia Tech earlier this season. Listed at 6-foot-7 but probably really 6-foot-6, Whitehead has a solid frame and a consistent shooting stroke; he made 42,.9 percent of his 3s this season and showed the ability to stride into them (or into long 2s) off the dribble in the win over Oral Roberts.
If there’s a question about him, it’s those words “off the dribble.” Whitehead is a good athlete but just didn’t get downhill that much; half of his shots were 3s, and he only shot 41.4 percent inside the arc. In two tournament games, he only took two shots in the paint. Is that because of his role on a talented Duke team, or is that a real limitation? Execs will want to see his work off the bounce in draft workouts and, if he participates, at the combine.
The Dukies have two players worth noting for the 2024 draft if, as suspected, they return to school. Let’s start with Mitchell: The freshman forward is a legit 6-8 after standing next to him courtside but has the outlines of an NBA forward’s game.
Right now, he’s all arms and legs flailing and thrashing, which hints at enormous upside but also the skill development challenge to make that happen. He needs to shoot more willingly and more often, with an elbow-out jumper that will take some remedial work, and his high handle can get away from him. In terms of size and athleticism, however, he belongs on an NBA court.
Then there is Proctor, who is probably a 2024 candidate after a slow start to his freshman season. The combo of 38.1 percent overall shooting and an anemic steal rate will send draft models scurrying for the hills. However, his flashes of pick-and-roll artistry this past weekend and legit NBA size at 6-5 hint at why the Aussie teen could get attention even in this year’s draft.
After Orlando, it was time to visit the revamped Legacy Arena in Birmingham, where I saw Houston rally to beat Auburn in one of the wackiest second halves you will ever see. I then watched Alabama dominate Maryland. (My TL;DR scouting report on Birmingham: An unserious breakfast city, but good coffee can be had, and I found a shockingly good Middle Eastern place. Also a lot of bars apparently, but this trip wasn’t set up for that type of entertainment.)
Alabama’s game featured forwards Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney, two players I recently wrote about after seeing them in the SEC Tournament, so I won’t repeat myself here. Suffice to say they both lived up to the billing as ‘Bama smoked the overmatched Terps.
However, seeing Houston gave me a great look at the Cougars’ Jarace Walker and Marcus Sasser, both likely first-round picks.
Sasser is a senior guard who pulled out of the draft last season despite having a strong combine that seemed likely to make him a late first- or early second-rounder. He was battling a groin injury in Birmingham but scored 22 points, showcasing deep shooting range that will be his best pro weapon. He’s at 38.8 percent for the season on pretty insane volume (14.4 attempts per 100 possessions) and is an 82.1 percent career foul shooter. You’d like to see him get a bit more air under his shot, but NBA range won’t be an issue.
Sasser also has a strong, NBA-ready frame, enough smarts to draw a three-shot foul on a Chris Paul-style rip move and a high steal rate that should help his projection in draft models. He measured just 6-1 1/4 in socks at the combine, but his strength should help offset that. One other small thing from sitting courtside: I liked how he talked to the officials. Respectful, didn’t push it, but got his point across. He may be slightly slept on at this point, and I’m going to have a firm first-round grade on him.
As for Walker, he showcased his athleticism with six blocked shots and 10 rebounds. The 6-8 freshman has all the outlines of a modern four, with decent-enough 3-point shooting (34.7 percent on decent volume), plus rebounding and secondary rim protection and the ability to switch onto the perimeter. That last skill was particularly notable in the second half, as the Cougars suffocated Auburn’s will, repeatedly switching Walker and fellow big man J’wan Roberts onto Auburn’s guards … something you don’t see many college teams try.
That skill set cements Walker as a lottery pick, but from there, it gets easier to pick at the nits. He doesn’t have one overwhelming offensive skill and probably translates more as a P.J. Washington type who does a little bit of everything. He can probably masquerade as a five in occasional junk-ball lineups but gives up too much size to do it very often. He’s a lottery pick who may be a rotation player from day one, but I’m more comfortable with him in the back half at this point.
My final scouting sojourn of the college season took me to six first-round NCAA Tournament games this past week: four in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday and two in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday. I saw several potential draftees from courtside, so let’s talk about ’em.
I started Thursday in Orlando. It’s one of the more underrated stops on the circuit, honestly, with a pleasant downtown, reliable weather, a nice city park for a morning run and underrated Vietnamese food. All the city needs is an actual highway between downtown and the airport.
I also got the added thrill of the “media workroom” being on the old Magic practice court where my 2015 Grizzlies won the Orlando Summer League title. (RIP, Orlando Summer League; you walked so Vegas could run.) The Magic, incidentally, have moved into a gleaming new practice facility just up the street, and it may set the standard league-wide.
As for the basketball, I got a close-up look at several potential draftees: Virginia’s Reece Beekman; Furman’s Jalen Slawson; Tennessee’s Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips; Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, Dariq Whitehead, Dereck Lively II, Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski; San Diego State’s Matt Bradley; and Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas.
Of those, Lively was the most impactful by a wide margin. The freshman center dominated defensively in the Blue Devils’ win over Oral Roberts, as Duke held the Eagles scoreless for the first eight minutes en route to an opening-round rout.
Lively isn’t an offensive force; he mostly looks to pass, even out of offensive rebounds, and scored just 15.4 points per 100 possessions. True to form, he went scoreless in 36 minutes (!) in Duke’s second-round loss to Tennessee.
However, NBA spacing is a game-changer for otherwise limited centers who can rim run, such as Lively … especially since he’s shown he can and will pass out of his catches on the roll. Additionally, I’ve seen him warm up before games twice this season, and both times he looked comfortable making corner 3s, hinting at some role expansion at the next level. Between that and his defensive promise, it’s hard to see Lively going outside the top 20, even with the diminished value of centers in today’s NBA.
Thursday was also my first look at small forward Whitehead, who was injured when I saw the Blue Devils play at Georgia Tech earlier this season. Listed at 6-foot-7 but probably really 6-foot-6, Whitehead has a solid frame and a consistent shooting stroke; he made 42,.9 percent of his 3s this season and showed the ability to stride into them (or into long 2s) off the dribble in the win over Oral Roberts.
If there’s a question about him, it’s those words “off the dribble.” Whitehead is a good athlete but just didn’t get downhill that much; half of his shots were 3s, and he only shot 41.4 percent inside the arc. In two tournament games, he only took two shots in the paint. Is that because of his role on a talented Duke team, or is that a real limitation? Execs will want to see his work off the bounce in draft workouts and, if he participates, at the combine.
The Dukies have two players worth noting for the 2024 draft if, as suspected, they return to school. Let’s start with Mitchell: The freshman forward is a legit 6-8 after standing next to him courtside but has the outlines of an NBA forward’s game.
Right now, he’s all arms and legs flailing and thrashing, which hints at enormous upside but also the skill development challenge to make that happen. He needs to shoot more willingly and more often, with an elbow-out jumper that will take some remedial work, and his high handle can get away from him. In terms of size and athleticism, however, he belongs on an NBA court.
Then there is Proctor, who is probably a 2024 candidate after a slow start to his freshman season. The combo of 38.1 percent overall shooting and an anemic steal rate will send draft models scurrying for the hills. However, his flashes of pick-and-roll artistry this past weekend and legit NBA size at 6-5 hint at why the Aussie teen could get attention even in this year’s draft.
After Orlando, it was time to visit the revamped Legacy Arena in Birmingham, where I saw Houston rally to beat Auburn in one of the wackiest second halves you will ever see. I then watched Alabama dominate Maryland. (My TL;DR scouting report on Birmingham: An unserious breakfast city, but good coffee can be had, and I found a shockingly good Middle Eastern place. Also a lot of bars apparently, but this trip wasn’t set up for that type of entertainment.)
Alabama’s game featured forwards Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney, two players I recently wrote about after seeing them in the SEC Tournament, so I won’t repeat myself here. Suffice to say they both lived up to the billing as ‘Bama smoked the overmatched Terps.
However, seeing Houston gave me a great look at the Cougars’ Jarace Walker and Marcus Sasser, both likely first-round picks.
Sasser is a senior guard who pulled out of the draft last season despite having a strong combine that seemed likely to make him a late first- or early second-rounder. He was battling a groin injury in Birmingham but scored 22 points, showcasing deep shooting range that will be his best pro weapon. He’s at 38.8 percent for the season on pretty insane volume (14.4 attempts per 100 possessions) and is an 82.1 percent career foul shooter. You’d like to see him get a bit more air under his shot, but NBA range won’t be an issue.
Sasser also has a strong, NBA-ready frame, enough smarts to draw a three-shot foul on a Chris Paul-style rip move and a high steal rate that should help his projection in draft models. He measured just 6-1 1/4 in socks at the combine, but his strength should help offset that. One other small thing from sitting courtside: I liked how he talked to the officials. Respectful, didn’t push it, but got his point across. He may be slightly slept on at this point, and I’m going to have a firm first-round grade on him.
As for Walker, he showcased his athleticism with six blocked shots and 10 rebounds. The 6-8 freshman has all the outlines of a modern four, with decent-enough 3-point shooting (34.7 percent on decent volume), plus rebounding and secondary rim protection and the ability to switch onto the perimeter. That last skill was particularly notable in the second half, as the Cougars suffocated Auburn’s will, repeatedly switching Walker and fellow big man J’wan Roberts onto Auburn’s guards … something you don’t see many college teams try.
That skill set cements Walker as a lottery pick, but from there, it gets easier to pick at the nits. He doesn’t have one overwhelming offensive skill and probably translates more as a P.J. Washington type who does a little bit of everything. He can probably masquerade as a five in occasional junk-ball lineups but gives up too much size to do it very often. He’s a lottery pick who may be a rotation player from day one, but I’m more comfortable with him in the back half at this point.
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Wtf is this
And lol
“(Scoot) realistically he may be the right choice at #3. But he also may be the wrong choice at #3,”
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Last edited:
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