As we head into March the 2023 draft class is coming into clearer focus. The top 2 prospects are set and now we have Brandon Miller emerging as the likely no.3 guy in the class (despite the off the court issues). He’s been absolutely special this season. We also have Nick Smith back in action and starting to regain traction as a top 5 pick.
The second half of the lottery is wide open with about 10 guys that could come off the board in any order. Taylor Hendricks has been gaining a lot of traction throughout the season and I see him as a lottery level talent with top 10 potential.
Another big riser is UConn guard Jordan Hawkins who looks to be firmly within the top 30 at this point and is creeping towards the lottery on my board. He’s got a picture perfect jumper, is a constant threat form 3pt range and is also showing a more well rounded game as the season progresses.
And two Indiana Hoosiers continue to ascend up the board with both Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis firmly in the first round. JHS is looking more and more like a lottery pick and jumps ahead of Cason Wallace and Jett Howard on this latest big board update.
Meanwhile Florida State freshman forward Baba Miller is off the top 60 list after struggling to make much of an impact so far. It looks like he’s at least another year away from being draft ready.
Texas forward Dillon Mitchell is another highly touted freshman who hasn’t lived up to the hype. He’s also dropped off this list and is now projected as a 2024 prospect.
Arthur Kaluma came into the season projected as a top 15 pick but just hasn’t gotten it going this year and is taking a tumble down the board. He might be in need of another year of development as well before jumping into the draft.
All in all this is looking like a really solid draft class with a loaded top 5, a solid second half of the lottery and decent depth in the first round. The second round is full of flyers – high upside, unpolished players, some of whom will bust, along with a slew of solid upperclassmen who could very well outplay their draft position.
It will be interesting to see the changes on this board between now and the end of March Madness. Every year we get some big risers this time of year – but often times we overvalue the hot names in March and get caught up in the madness, putting too much stock on post-season performance.
2023 NBA Draft Big Board
- Victor Wembanyama – PF/C – France
- Scoot Henderson – PG – Ignite
- Brandon Miller – SF – Alabama
- Nick Smith – PG/SG – Arkansas
- Amen Thompson – PG/SG – Overtime Elite
- Jarace Walker – PF – Houston
- Keyonte George – SG – Baylor
- Cam Whitmore – SF – Villanova
- Ausar Thompson – SG – Overtime Elite
- Grady Dick – SG/SF – Kansas
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