Faculty basketball’s 8 finest freshmen, ranked by their 2023 NBA Draft potential

The No. 1 total decide within the NBA Draft has been a freshman taking part in faculty basketball for the final 13 years. The final time the highest decide within the draft got here from outdoors of the school ranks was 2006 when the Toronto Raptors chosen Italian ahead Andrea Bargnani with the primary decide.

That makes this season of faculty hoops one thing of an oddity: everybody is aware of French wunderkind Victor Wembanyama goes No. 1, and G League Ignite level guard Scoot Henderson goes No. 2 when the 2023 NBA Draft rolls round. In the meanwhile, Extra time Elite guard Amen Thompson is perhaps the front-runner to go No. 3 total. The final time the highest three picks within the draft all got here from outdoors of faculty basketball was again in 2001, when Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, and Eddy Curry went with the primary 4 picks.

Faculty basketball won’t be the house of the highest picks within the draft this season, however NBA followers will nonetheless discover loads of future professionals within the freshmen class. Our first 2023 NBA mock draft had 15 freshmen going within the first spherical. With the school season simply getting underway, that is our have a look at eight freshmen NBA followers must be following in faculty basketball this yr — even when they’re not as thrilling as Wemby and Scoot. SB Nation evaluated every of the gamers on this record on the McDonald’s All-American Sport and the Jordan Model Basic to get a primary have a look at this yr’s prime incoming faculty expertise.

8. Keyonte George, G, Baylor Bears

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In a draft class loaded with combo guards (Nick Smith, Cason Wallace, Terquavion Smith, and Amari Bailey amongst them), Keyonte George stands out as maybe the very best pure shooter within the group. Whereas George lacks Nick Smith’s ridiculous flexibility as a scorer and Wallace’s elite defensive aptitude, the Baylor freshman is seemingly in a position to meet within the center on each expertise to say himself as a 6’4 guard who can knock down open jumpers and compete defensively with lengthy arms.

George initiatives because the go-to possibility for the Baylor offense all yr, however the malleability of his sport alongside different stars is a part of what makes him so interesting. George is a wonderful catch-and-shoot risk who can dart across the perimeter and hit jumpers off motion. He can assault a closeout, too, with stable ball dealing with means, good burst as a driver, and enhancing passing means to search out the open man when he doesn’t attempt to rating himself. George isn’t an influence athlete on the rim and scouts will wish to see if he can end over size. On the defensive finish, George can defend the ball together with his physicality and quickness, although he can lose his man at occasions off the ball. George’s on-ball scoring package deal and rim ending might decide his draft ceiling, however for now he appears like one of many safer guard bets within the class to be a productive professional.

7. Brandon Miller, F, Alabama Crimson Tide

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Miller was one of many greatest winners of the postseason All-Star circuit, trying like among the best long-term prospects within the class when going towards his prime friends. At 6’8, 200 kilos, he has an excellent body for a professional wing with a creating dribble, cross, shoot ability set. Miller isn’t an influence athlete just like the wings who normally go close to the highest of the lottery, however he’s clean with the ball and has proven spectacular deceleration and physique management within the paint. Miller’s passing has popped off the display in Alabama’s early video games: he has the dimensions to cross excessive of most defenders, and the imaginative and prescient to identify teammates all around the flooring. His means to place the ball on the ground, rapidly discover the open man or go into his pull-up jumper is the inspiration for inventory as a possible lottery decide.

Miller’s three-point shot is much less developed than his flooring sport, however he knocked down 4-of-5 makes an attempt in Alabama’s win over Liberty with a few them coming from NBA vary. He has the look of a assured shooter and scouts will likely be completely satisfied to see the makes an attempt from deep even when the early outcomes aren’t wonderful. Miller wants so as to add energy to his body and tighten his deal with, however that may be stated for many 18-year-old wing prospects. If the capturing holds, his measurement and passing is compelling sufficient to make him a top-10 decide.

6. Jarace Walker, F, Houston Cougars

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Head coach Kelvin Sampson has turned Houston into a contemporary faculty basketball powerhouse, however he’s by no means had an NBA prospect like Jerace Walker earlier than. An extended-time standout at IMG Academy, Walker is a 6’8, 240-pound powerhouse who combines large uncooked athletic energy with spectacular perimeter expertise for his measurement. Maybe the very best factor about Walker is that he’s all the time taking part in with a excessive motor, making him a monster on the glass and an element for each 50/50 ball with such imposing physicality.

There’s extra to Walker’s sport than simply bully ball. He’s a superb ball handler and flashes spectacular shot-making contact from contained in the arc. His spot-up three-point shot is coming round: the discharge is sluggish, however he’s displaying he can knock down photographs if he’s large open. As Walker’s three ball improves, it’s going to make him even scarier as somebody who can assault closeouts. For such a giant physique, he’s proven the power to get downhill and alter instructions on the transfer, with sufficient craft to attain persistently within the quick midrange space. Walker’s defensive translation seems like a much bigger query when he has to protect faster wings on the perimeter, however that is merely a giant, highly effective athlete with actual ability flashes who goes laborious on each possession.

5. Kel’el Ware, C, Oregon

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Ware partnered with Nick Smith Jr. to steer North Little Rock Excessive to a state championship in Arkansas earlier than flying to the other nook of the nation to start out his faculty profession at Oregon. Ware joins a deep Geese entrance courtroom that already included N’Faly Dante and Nate Bittle as beginning caliber facilities, however his bodily items are so immense that it is going to be laborious for head coach Dana Altman to maintain him off the ground. Ware appeared like probably the most gifted 7-footer within the incoming freshman class in the course of the All-Star circuit, displaying off spectacular athletic fluidity and tantalizing flashes of ability that may be developed long-term.

Ware’s protection will likely be his calling card early in his profession. He strikes properly on his toes for somebody his measurement, giving him the flexibility to play a number of defensive schemes. His size and shot-blocking expertise are suited to play drop, however he can even get to the extent of the display and hassle peterimeter shooters. On offense, Ware will likely be a lob risk on rolls and has the creating indicators of a face-up sport. He’s already hit one three-pointer early within the season, and appears comfy on the foul line, too. Ware isn’t in an excellent scenario for enjoying time with Oregon having so many different good bigs, however there’s little question his long-term projection is tantalizing.

4. Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova Wildcats

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Cam Whitmore was lengthy thought of a five-star recruit throughout a standout prep profession in Maryland, however his robust play on the All-Star circuit and dominance in the course of the FIBA Americas U18 Championships in the summertime all of a sudden has him getting hyped as a possible top-five decide. Nobody on this class has a greater mixture of measurement, pace, and energy. At 6’6, 240 kilos, Whitmore performs basketball like a center linebacker with a 40-inch vertical: he relentlessly assaults the rim on drives, in transition, and as an offensive rebounder, utilizing his massive body and unimaginable leaping means to persistently end at and above the rim. If Whitmore has a runway and time to load up, there aren’t many rim protectors who’re going to be highly effective sufficient to disclaim him a bucket.

Whitmore’s three-point shot will likely be his greatest swing ability. In the meanwhile, he initiatives as a low quantity shooter who can hit them at a good clip if he’s large open on a spot-up. His protection may even be price monitoring: is he too cumbersome to stay with wings darting round screens on the perimeter? Is he higher used as a weak-side rim protector inside? There hasn’t been a freshman freight prepare in faculty hoops like this since Zion Williamson. His debut has been delayed due to a surgically-repaired thumb, however his immense physicality offers him an amazing probability to be an instant-impact freshman when he finally takes the ground.

3. Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke Blue Devils

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Dariq Whitehead is the most recent star from Florida prep powerhouse Montverde Academy, going from a sidekick alongside older stars Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, and Moses Moody early in his highschool profession to the workforce’s main man as a senior. Now Whitehead is poised to be the primary freshman star of the post-Coach Okay period at Duke. The 6’5 combo guard has the correct mix of open flooring athleticism, halfcourt ability, and defensive upside to demand appears within the top-10 and even the top-five of the 2023 draft.

Whitehead has spectacular pace as a ball handler in transition, and a fast first step towards a set protection. He’s an excellent leaper when he will get into the paint, displaying the power to rise off one foot or two for finishes above the rim. Whitehead can be a heady passer, one which’s creating his reside dribble chops whereas already possession the ‘connective’ traits as a fast ball-mover that coaches like to see. Whitehead must also be a plus on the defensive finish, utilizing a 6’8 wingspan and large body to harass smaller ball handlers. The swing ability is once more the three-point shot, however Whitehead definitely has the arrogance to take it typically off the dribble. When it goes in, there’s a convincing argument that Whitehead is the second most full guard within the draft behind Henderson. Professional scouts will wish to see good shot choice and fewer variances in accuracy when he lets it fireplace from deep. If the jumper is falling, Whitehead is without doubt one of the most well-rounded gamers on this yr’s class.

2. Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky Wildcats

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Cason Wallace is subsequent within the lengthy line of nice guards to come back out of Texas (Marcus Good, Tyrese Maxey, Jimmy Butler, and so on.) taking part in with an plain nasty streak. He’s additionally the subsequent freshman star for John Calipari at Kentucky. At 6’4, 195 kilos, Wallace is a lockdown defender on the level of assault who’s going to stockpile steals, deflections, and blocks towards overmatched opposing guards all season. He’s extremely tough to display and he’s seemingly by no means out of a play on the defensive finish with great closing pace and the size to problem photographs from a wide range of angles. He has the energy to tackle larger assignments on switches, and also will make an influence as a roaming off-ball defender. His depth on the defensive finish will draw comparisons to Good and Jrue Vacation, however he ought to have actual offensive utility within the NBA, too.

Wallace can swap between both guard position on offense. He’s a ok driver to bend defenses by entering into the paint and kicking out to teammates. He additionally has connective traits as a flooring spacing shooter and fast ball-mover across the perimeter. Simply how dependable he’ll be as an outdoor shooter will likely be a query mark for Wallace, however Kentucky will really feel comfy letting him take the open ones. There aren’t many gamers on this draft class who will pack the field rating the best way Wallace does on an each evening foundation. The Wildcats will nonetheless really feel just like the veteran workforce we noticed final yr, however now they’ve a stud freshman guard to function the proverbial head of the snake.

1. Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas Razorbacks

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Nick Smith Jr. is a lightning-quick 6’4 guard who sky-rocketed up the category rankings as a highschool senior, going from a four-star recruit ranked within the late 30s to the No. 1 participant within the nation, in response to 247 Sports activities. He determined to remain dwelling and play for his in-state Arkansas Razorbacks, the place he’s the crown jewel of a category that features two different McDonald’s All-Individuals with legit aspirations to be one-and-done first spherical picks in Jordan Walsh and Anthony Black. Sadly, Smith has been sidelined to start out the yr for the Razorbacks with what this system is asking “proper knee administration.”

When Smith does take the courtroom, he’s anticipated to be probably the most electrical freshman scorer in faculty basketball who initiatives as a dynamic offensive risk each on- and off-the-ball. Smith is a quick and shifty ball handler who can burn his preliminary defender and collapse the protection by entering into the paint. He’s has nice flexibility and physique management in tight areas, with tender contact on floaters and the creativity to get off his shot from a wide range of angles. Smith additionally has deep vary on his jumper out to the NBA line, whether or not he’s pulling up off the dribble or recognizing up. Smith appears good taking part in off the ball, displaying the power to house the ground, assault closeouts, and run late shot-clock actions within the mildew {of professional} scorers like Jordan Poole and Jordan Clarkson. There are some intriguing passing flashes right here, too. He may very well be a killer within the pick-and-roll as he continues to hone his playmaking. Smith lacks the majority to complete by means of contact within the paint, and he’s by no means actually had the elite leaping means to complete above the rim. His finest NBA match would possibly come subsequent to a much bigger main initiator, however for now, Smith needs to be among the best scorers and finest shot creators within the class.