2023 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0; Wembanyama, Scoot, and who comes next?
Who will come after Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson? These two have had the top picks in the 2023 NBA Draft locked in for well over a year and are already being talked about as possible generational talents.
The interesting piece of this draft is that it is shaping up to be very freshman heavy. That piece is interesting because of how many people left the 2022 high class, with the likes of Jalen Duren and Shaedon Sharpe classified up to the 2021 class. Players like Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, and Ausar Thompson were also highly-ranked players in this high school class who left, however, they remain in the 2023 NBA Draft class.
READ 2023 NBA Draft Big Board vol. 1
This draft is good at the top, very good, in fact, with No. 1 and No. 2. After that, from No. 3 to No. 13 ish range, there are a lot of question marks. A lot could depend on how these guys interview or how they play in the individual team workouts. While my big board stayed relatively close between versions one and two, do not be surprised if there is a lot of shuffling in this range between now and draft night.
Once you get past the 11 to 14 range, there is some good depth to be had. Do not be surprised if someone(s) in the latter half of the first round end up forming solid NBA careers. While we are currently not held back anymore by COVID, the players in this draft were certainly affected, both in their ability to play and develop and their ability to be seen.
With that said, here is my 2023 NBA Draft Big Board, version 2.0.
1. C Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92/France)
7-3, 225 pounds | January 2004
2022-23 stats: 21 games, 32.1 minutes, 22.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.1 blocks, 47.2% FG, 28.9% 3P
2. PG Scoot Henderson (G-League Ignite)
Profile | 6-2, 195 pounds | February 2004
2022-23 stats: 11 games, 29.8 minutes, 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 45.5% FG, 28.0% 3P
3. F Brandon Miller (Alabama)
Profile | 6-9, 200 pounds | January 2002
2022-23 stats: 27 games, 32.6 minutes, 18.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 45.9% FG, 42.9% 3P
4. G Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)
Profile | 6-6, 200 pounds | January 2003
2022-23 stats: 16 games, 27.5 minutes, 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.9 blocks, 56.6% FG, 25.0% 3P
5. F Cam Whitmore (Villanova)
Profile | 6-6, 235 pounds | July 2004
2022-23 stats: 21 games, 27.2 minutes, 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 45.7% FG, 32.6% 3P
6. G Gradey Dick (Kansas)
Profile | 6-8, 205 pounds | November 2003
2022-23 stats: 28 games, 32.4 minutes, 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 45.1% FG, 40.7% 3P
7. PG Anthony Black (Arkansas)
Profile | 6-7, 195 pounds | January 2004
2022-23 stats: 28 games, 35.4 minutes, 12.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 46.7% FG, 32.0% 3P
8. G Nick Smith (Arkansas)
Profile | 6-4, 180 pounds | April 2004
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 22.2 minutes, 11.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 40.9% FG, 33.3% 3P
9. F Jarace Walker (Houston)
Profile | 6-8, 240 pounds | September 2003
2022-23 stats: 26 games, 26.3 minutes, 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks, 49.4% FG, 38.7% 3P
10. G Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State)
Profile | 6-6, 235 pounds | October 2003
2022-23 stats: 27 games, 23.9 minutes, 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 48.1% FG, 43.5% 3P
11. G Cason Wallace (Kentucky)
Profile | 6-4, 195 pounds | November 2003
2022-23 stats: 26 games, 31.7 minutes, 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 45.5% FG, 35.4% 3P
12. G Keyonte George (Baylor)
Profile | 6-3, 185 pounds | November 2003
2022-23 stats: 28 games, 29.7 minutes, 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 39.2% FG, 35.8% 3P
13. G Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)
Profile | 6-6, 200 pounds | January 2003
2022-23 stats: 16 games, 27.3 minutes, 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.1 blocks, 48.1% FG, 29.8% 3P
14. PG Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana)
Profile | 6-6, 215 pounds | June 2003
2022-23 stats: 25 games, 32.0 minutes, 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 41.4% FG, 36.0% 3P
No. 15-25
15. F GG Jackson (South Carolina)
16. C Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
17. F Taylor Hendricks (UCF)
18. Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers)
19. F Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
20. G Ricky Council IV (Arkansas)
21. G Jett Howard (Michigan)
22. F Leonard Miller (G-League Ignite)
23. G Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
24. F Kris Murray (Iowa)
25. G Jordan Hawkins (UConn)
No. 26-30
26. G Colby Jones (Xavier)
27. G Kobe Bufkin (Michigan)
28. C Kel’el Ware (Oregon)
29. F Jalen Wilson (Kansas)
30. C Dereck Lively (Duke)