2023 NBA Draft Big Board 8.0: Final prospect rankings

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place in Chicago this month. Here are the best prospects available. 

The San Antonio Spurs struck lottery gold and claimed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which will take place on June 22 in Chicago. While the Spurs’ selection in the top spot is a foregone conclusion, there is pervasive uncertainty with the rest of the draft.

It all starts with the Charlotte Hornets at No. 2. All season, the favorite to follow French big man Victor Wembanyama as the second overall pick was Scoot Henderson of the G-League Ignite. But he’s a point guard, and the Hornets already employ a point guard of significant stature in LaMelo Ball. Alabama’s Brandon Miller has emerged accordingly as the projected future of Charlotte basketball.

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers sit in the No. 3 spot with an explicit mandate to build a contender around 32-year-old Damian Lillard. He’s also a point guard, by the way, which could further complicate the Scoot Henderson matter. Will the Blazers trade out of the 3-spot?

If so, what happens with the Rockets at No. 4? Houston has been connected to James Harden since Christmas. The goal is to build a winner sooner than later around new head coach Ime Udoka. Is the No. 4 pick also on the trade block?

And on it goes, with the Orlando Magic (Nos. 6 and 11), Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 12), and Indiana Pacers (Nos. 7, 26, and 29) all heavily involved in trade rumors. We could be in for the busiest draft night in years. There’s a lot of talent in the lottery, but a lot of prospects have glaring flaws or don’t really fit with the teams in their projected range. It could get messy.

The 2023 NBA Draft class has historic upside, not just with Wembanyama, but with the slew of potential All-Stars expected to hear their names called after him. It’s a stud-filled class with plenty of depth, even after a long list of collegiate withdrawals.

So, without further ado, let’s get to what you’re all here for.

2023 NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking the top 60 prospects

Victor Wembanyama, generously listed at 7-foot-5 and 220 pounds over at ESPN, will be the No.1 overall pick in 2023. He’s the most hyped prospect since LeBron James and probably the most unique prospect in modern NBA history. He’s everything the league currently values — length, dynamic shooting, defensive versatility, scalable offense — plugged into the most absurd physical frame one could think of. There aren’t too many holes in Wembanyama’s game. He’s an excellent movement shooter with what might be the first actually unguardable jumper. Despite his high center of gravity, he’s more than capable of negotiating tight spaces off the bounce and fluidly moving into his pull-up jumper. Slower defenders are vulnerable to straight-line drives. His length and touch make up for his lack of strength finishing inside. On defense, he just inhales shots in the paint and is too long to actually drive by. Even if you get a step on Wembanyama, he’s capable of channeling Mr. Fantastic to swat the ball from behind.

Check out our full scouting report on Victor Wembanyama here. 

The twitchy 6-foot-2 guard was thrust right into a starring role for the G-League Ignite. He has room to grow as a decision-maker, but Henderson’s dynamic athleticism, three-level scoring, and flashes of on-ball defense cement his standing near the top of the draft board. He needs to trim the fat off his shot chart right now, but Henderson’s explosive live-dribble playmaking makes it easy to believe in him as a lead initiator and future star point guard. He would have been the No. 1 pick in 2022 – he’s that caliber of prospect. We haven’t seen such a well-rounded, hyper-athletic point guard enter the league in years.

Check out our full scouting report on Scoot Henderson here. 

At 6-foot-7, Amen Thompson is the most impressive athlete in the draft. The main knock against him will be the lack of high level competition at Overtime Elite, opposed to his piers who are facing collegiate or professional competition. That said, Thompson possesses unique size and explosiveness for a lead ball-handler, and he might be the best passer on the board. He needs to get more consistent from 3-point range, but Thompson is a gifted finisher with the handles and shiftiness needed to break down defenders at the next level. He can finish with power or finesse around the rim and he’s electric in the open court, where his speediness and playmaking are on full display. He can also guard multiple positions.

Check out our full scouting report on Amen Thompson here. 

Ausar Thompson was named Overtime Elite league MVP. While the spotlight currently favors his brother, Ausar should be getting plenty of top-5 looks himself because of the laundry list of physical attributes he shares with Amen — size, explosiveness, speed, coordination. He’s more comfortable off the ball too, and he’s more advanced on the defensive end. Bigger guards who can blend connective playmaking, star-level finishing, and elite perimeter defense at Ausar’s level, while also being top-top percentile athletes, are not common.

Check out our full scouting report on Ausar Thompson here. 

The NBA values versatility above all else, and Jarace Walker provides a lot of it. On defense, he has the potential to guard 4-5 positions on any given night. He’s strong enough to battle bigs inside, quick enough to contain guards at the point of attack, and he ties it all together with tremendous instincts off the ball. He makes his presence felt consistently on the defensive end. He has more work to do offensively, but Walker’s impressive athleticism and potential as a downhill scorer shine through. If he can make the 3-point shot a regular staple of his game, Walker will have very few glaring weaknesses at the next level.

Check out our full scouting report on Jarace Walker here. 

An explosive 6-foot-7, 230-pound power athlete on the wing, Cam Whitmore kept NBA scouts intrigued all season despite bouts of inconsistency. He can defend up and down the positional spectrum and he possesses impressive open-court athleticism. Tie that in with steady growth as a shooter and playmaker, and there’s reason to believe Whitmore’s game will only get better from here. Plus, he played for Villanova, one of the top developmental hotspots in the country.

Check out our full scouting report on Cam Whitmore here. 

Brandon Miller is an electric and efficient three-level scorer at 6-foot-9, possessing a blend of size and shot-making prowess that immediately jumps off the screen. He was one of the most productive freshmen in the country, with remarkable efficiency beyond the arc and countless examples of advanced shot creation upside. It’s easy to decipher the path to stardom when watching a player his size move so fluidly with the ball. If he can tap further into his passing upside and increase his comfort level operating in traffic, Miller could become the next trademark 3-and-D wing to break into NBA stardom. The primary concern right now is character following Miller’s adjacency to a murder charge in Tuscaloosa.

Check out our full scouting report on Brandon Miller here. 

While Nick Smith Jr. lacks the eye-popping athleticism of his top-five counterparts, he more than makes up for it with skill and craft. The 6-foot-5 guard from Arkansas can absolutely obliterate defenses off the dribble, intermingling changes of speed and direction with advanced handles and feather-soft touch from everywhere on the court. His ability to shoot on the move, combined with his ability to keep defenders engaged off the ball, makes Smith the perfect modern comboguard. If he can tap further into his playmaking acumen, there’s undeniable All-Star potential.

Check out our full scouting report on Nick Smith Jr. here. 

Dariq Whitehead just checks a lot of boxes. At 6-foot-7, he provides good size and physicality on the wing. He takes pride in his defense and is switch-friendly. On offense, he’s a crafty and dynamic shot-maker who makes an effort to move the ball and get teammates involved – at least, he is in theory. Injuries are the main impediment between Whitehead and lottery consideration right now. He just wasn’t healthy or consistent enough to wow NBA decision-makers at Duke, and now he’s set to undergo his second foot surgery in a year. That said, he shot over 40 percent from long range and there’s reason to believe that a healthier Whitehead could unearth some of that pre-Duke magic. His limited athleticism is a mark against him and he will have to work hard to shed the “streaky” label that preceded his arrival at Duke, but the base skill set is quite tantalizing.

Check out our full scouting report on Dariq Whitehead here. 

The recent legacy of Kentucky guards in the NBA is quite strong. Cason Wallace will look to keep the momentum going. He’s an excellent perimeter defender at 6-foot-3, possessing the length and physicality needed to stonewall ball-handlers at the point of attack. He’s not a freak athlete, but Wallace plays with spirit and contributes in myriad ways offensively, from a bankable 3-point shot to nifty floaters and proficient passing. He won’t explode past defenders, but he has the skill, craft, and poise to get by just fine.

Check out our full scouting report on Cason Wallace here. 

A talented floor spacer and shot-blocker at the four spot, Taylor Hendricks has been one of the biggest risers during the college basketball season. He doesn’t have much on-ball juice yet, but Hendricks’ fluid athleticism and impressive instincts on defense should have scouts hooked. He has the potential to switch screens and guard five positions every night. The 19-year-old has genuine Best Defender In The Draft potential.

Check out our full scouting report on Taylor Hendricks here. 

A big guard who can function as a wing in some lineups, Anthony Black is the kind of malleable, connective-tissue offensive player so many good teams covet. He doesn’t create his own shots with much success, but Black is a gifted passer who can influence winning without dominating touches. He can sling every pass in the book out of pick-and-rolls, he’s great at kickstarting transition offense, and he does the little things to keep the ship sailing smoothly. His versatility and basketball I.Q., even if it isn’t paired with imminent star potential, should keep Black in the lottery conversation.

Check out our full scouting report on Anthony Black here. 

A 6-foot-8 wing who can shoot the everliving crap out of the ball, it’s not hard to see the path to NBA relevance for Gradey Dick. He’s an elite shooter with the size to compete on defense and a genuine eye for playmaking. He has an excellent sense of when to move and cut — and he’s a talented finisher in the lane relative to your typical shooting specialist. Put him next to a couple good creators at the next level and Dick has serious Star In His Role potential.

Check out our full scouting report on Gradey Dick here. 

His own star ascending next to teammate Victor Wembanyama, Bilal Coulibaly has no doubt benefited from the ocean of eyeballs on Metropolitans 92 this season. He’s still putting the pieces together, but at 18 years old, he’s very clearly an NBA athlete. His explosiveness shines on timely cuts to the rim, put-back jams, and tantalizing defensive highlights.

Check out our full scouting report on Bilal Coulibaly here. 

A talented three-level scorer who can make shots from any angle, Keyonte George should have no trouble finding his way to points in the NBA. A strongly built 6-foot-4 guard, George will need to get better at elevating teammates in the long run, but there are flashes of legitimate passing upside to complement his impressive shot-making. On defense, thanks to his broad shoulders and impressive bulk, he can guard bigger wings or stick with guards at the point of attack. He shot below 40 percent from the field at Baylor, but his shot profile and level of craft are promising.

Check out our full scouting report on Keyonte George here.

A 6-foot-8 wing with picturesque shooting mechanics, Jett Howard should pop for a lot of NBA teams. He can shoot off movement, he can shoot spotting up, or he can attack closeouts. His floater and in-between game are well-developed, and while he won’t create much for others, Howard profiles as an excellent complementary talent with room to grow. Theoretical positional versatility and his fiery competitive spirit boost Howard’s stock. He needs to get to a better place defensively to maximize his NBA potential.

Check out our full scouting report on Jett Howard here.

A 6-foot-6 guard with genuine craftiness off the dribble, three-level shot-making ability, and impressive rebounding numbers for his size, Podziemski is rapidly ascending draft boards. A lot of concern with the 20-year-old is tied to the lack of high-profile competition faced at Santa Clara, but just last season the Broncos produced an immediately impactful first-round pick in Jalen Williams.

Check out our full scouting report on Brandin Podziemski here.

At 6-foot-10, Leonard Miller’s fluid athleticism and unique skill level will have NBA teams salivating. He has a long way to go developmentally (especially with his jumper), but he averaged a double-double in the G-League and showed tremendous touch on shots around the rim. The production is hard to deny. He can handle the ball in tight spaces, create for teammates, and defend multiple positions – plus he’s a committed defender who crashes the glass, even if he’s prone to lapses in awareness or understanding at this stage of his career. Some will argue that you’re drafting the idea of Leonard Miller this early, but hey – it’s a pretty wonderful idea.

Check out our full scouting report on Leonard Miller here.

Dereck Lively II is next in a long line of physically imposing centers from Duke. He’s 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, nimble feet, and impressive defensive instincts. He projects as possibly the best rim protector in the draft behind Wembanyama. He will catch lobs, inhale rebounds, and put his 230-pound frame to good use on the block. After struggling out of the gates, he improved at a remarkable rate over the second half of the season. His rapid growth in terms of defensive awareness and consistency should have NBA teams convinced of his trajectory long-term.

Something of an oddball prospect, Andre Jackson’s draft case is built almost entirely beyond the box score. He doesn’t score much at all, but he’s a noteworthy athlete who exerts immense influence over the game defensively while operating as play-connector offensively. He’s smart, unselfish, and hard-working. His talent for winning was on full display during UConn’s NCAA championship run; he’s one of the draft’s great thinkers. He might not possess the upside of other first-round prospects, at least not as a scorer, but few non-lottery prospects feel like better bets to be positive-impact NBA players.

With Brandon Miller soaking up the spotlight in Alabama, you wouldn’t be blamed for overlooking Noah Clowney. The 6-foot-10 freshman, however, has been steadily climbing up draft boards on the strength of his multi-faceted defense and upside as a rim-runner. He will have NBA teams over the moon if the offensive skill set catches up to the raw athletic tools.

A 19-year-old wing with positional size and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, it feels like the broader NBA Draft world is sleeping on Jordan Walsh. A five-star recruit who sacrificed a lot to find his role in Arkansas’ star-studded offense, Walsh instead made a pronounced impact on the defensive end. He possesses a rare blend of physical tools, youth, and intangibles. He makes every hustle play and isn’t a zero on offense. If the jumper comes around, he should stick in an NBA rotation for years to come.

Another twin, for good measure. Kris Murray will undoubtedly draw comparisons to his brother Keegan, the No. 4 pick in last year’s class. Those comparisons are, of course, mostly surface-level (quite literally). That said, the twins should join each other at the professional level next season thanks to Kris’s blend of size and shooting, as well as his ability to drive the lane with long strides, precise footwork, and feather-soft touch.

Ricky Council IV is flat-out elite as a finisher. Strong and bursty, he’s a handful driving the lane – complete with high-flying athleticism and the ability to contort his body in midair to evade the rim protector. His touch is special for a wing, and he profiles as a multi-positional defender. What stands between Council and placing even higher on this board is an inconsistent jumper.

NBA teams should take the patient approach with GG Jackson. Once the top recruit in the high school class of 2023, Jackson instead graduated early and went to Carolina as a 17-year-old. He’s the youngest player on the board and thus should be afforded some extra leniency by decision-makers who see the obvious upside in a physical, fluid 6-foot-9 forward who can space the floor, create off the dribble, and defend multiple positions. That said, his shot selection and general decision-making were all over the place. Jackson will need the right infrastructure around him and good coaching to succeed.

Colby Jones is another box-checker, well-rounded to the extreme. He posted career-best numbers across the board, most notably as a 3-point shooter. He drops some seriously impressive passes, with a play style geared toward elevating teammates. Jones isn’t the best athlete on the board, but he’s capable of finishing with craft around the rim and hitting some funky shots in the paint. With versatile defense and Swiss Army Knife potential offensively, Jones profiles as the quintessential modern role player if the 3-point shot is here to stay.

A lanky guard with excellent body control, Bufkin emerged as one of Michigan’s most reliable offensive weapons, frequently flying around screens or DHOs before attacking downhill off the catch. He competes hard defensively too. If you buy the development of his jumper as a reliable weapon, then there’s a clear path to regular NBA minutes as a connective playmaker and off-ball scorer. He will need to improve his court vision if he wants to elevate to lead initiator status eventually.

A bulky 6-foot-5 wing who scores with patience and precision, Brice Sensabaugh was the best scoring freshman in college basketball. He can make the net sing from 3-point land and he can leverage his strength advantage in the post. He regularly torches defenses with tough shot-making, but his defense has been deeply problematic and could hold him back at the next level. Also, will the difficult contested jumpers fall at the same rate in the NBA.

A shifty 6-foot-6 guard with feather-soft touch and advanced playmaking instincts, Jalen Hood-Schifino has genuine potential to crack the lottery if the right team latches on. He lacks explosiveness on drives to the rim, but a wide array of floaters and touch shots — combined with his ability to play physically through contact — allow Hood-Schifino to offset those limitations. He’s a tremendous passer with flashes of impressive defense too. If he can get 3s to fall consistently, NBA teams should be banging down his door.

A wrist injury interrupted his season, but the early body of work from Rayan Rupert in Australia’s NBL is quite impressive. Only a handful of prospects every year play genuine minutes against high-level professional competition. Standing 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Rupert is one of the best perimeter defenders on the board. He’s a monster at the point of attack, frequently bottling up ball-handlers and converting turnovers into transition offense. If he can progress as a shooter, it’s hard to imagine he won’t stick around in the NBA.

His efficiency wavered under the burden of a massive role at Pepperdine, but Maxwell Lewis has entrenched himself in the first round discussion. He has excellent size on the wing at 6-foot-7, combined with comfort shooting on the move and the ability to attack downhill, using long and purposeful strides to keep the defense off-balance. A more streamlined NBA role should do him a lot of good.

A physically imposing center with rim-rocking power and impressive shot-blocking instincts, James Nnaji has honed his skill set with one of the best teams in Europe — Barcelona. He will set massive screens, roll hard to the rim, and do the things you expect of a quality role playing big, but he’s still in the early stages of development as far as decision-making is concerned.

He more than doubled his 3-point attempts compared to last season and he hit them at a prodigious rate. Drawing expanded duties as a sophomore, Jordan Hawkins led UConn to the national championship with his impressive shot-making and boundless energy. Sometimes, all it takes to carve out an NBA role is one elite, translatable skill. Hawkins certainly has one that teams value.

Amari Bailey is a talented downhill scorer and creator, showing a willingness to look for teammates out of the pick-and-roll that should have NBA scouts intrigued. His 3-point shots are falling, now he just needs to ratchet up the volume.

One of the most electric performers in college basketball, Terquavion Smith will supply instant entertainment value for whichever team drafts him. He’s a nutty pull-up shooter with deep range and unquenchable confidence. He needs to show he can defend on a regular basis, but Smith’s shooting and playmaking upside will keep him glued to draft boards.

24-year-old Jalen Slawson doesn’t have much ‘upside’ in the traditional sense, but he’s a remarkable defender who provides unique offensive versatility at 6-foot-7. While not an elite shooter, nor particularly explosive creating his own shots inside the arc, Slawson finds ways to influence winning – primarily with his playmaking acumen. He spent a lot of time in the driver’s seat for Furman’s offense, running sets on the elbow and spraying passes to open teammates all over the floor. He’s a fascinating utility player who could be ready to go day one given his experience level.

He flew under the radar at Belmont, but Ben Sheppard has NBA size at 6-foot-6 with one of the purest shooting strokes in the draft. His compact mechanics, excellent sense for off-ball movement, and positional versatility should have NBA teams intrigued in the second round.

A teenager competing and thriving at the highest level of European basketball, it’s getting harder to ignore Tristan Vukcevic. He’s 6-foot-11 and one of the purest shooters on the board. Can he hold up defensively is the question. He’s slow in space and he doesn’t possess much vertical pop. Still, his combination of size and skill – and strong early professional track record – make him worth a look in the second round.

Something of a dinosaur in his ability to score with power and finesse in the post, many will question whether or not Trayce Jackson-Davis is a decade late to the NBA. Those questions are justified, but his ambidextrous finishing, polished footwork, and multi-faceted skill set make me generally optimistic about his potential to carve out a lane.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, Kobe Brown is one of the more unique prospects on the board. He absolutely scorched the nets for Missouri this season (45.5 percent from 3) and he’s remarkably nimble with the ball in hand, attacking defenders off the catch and fluidly hitting pull-up jumpers. He can also bully smaller defenders in the post. What really makes Brown pop, however, is his quick processing speed and impressive passing acumen in the frontcourt.

Marcus Sasser is a magnificent shooter with deep range — on the move, pulling up, standing still, it doesn’t really matter. He’s shifty off the bounce and has no trouble creating space to get into his jump shot. Unfortunately, he’s 6-foot-2 in shoes and will be unavoidably limited on the defensive end despite his impressive commitment to that side of the ball.

Playing against grown men in the Adriatic League, the teenaged Nikola Durisic has proven his mettle on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-8, he’s a strong and physical defender capable of guarding several positions. Offensively, he’s quick to impress with playmaking flare and signs of shot-making potential. He has to get more efficient and choose his spots more wisely, but he has the foundation of a gifted multi-faceted contributor.

A bouncy 6-foot-8 forward who dominated for Marquette with athletic flourishes around the rim. He flashed enough 3-point shooting to buy the jumper long term and his ability to attack the rim on straight-line drives popped in Combine scrimmages. He should be able to defend multiple positions at the next level, for good measure.

Sporadic playing time at Wake Forest limited Bobi Klintman’s exposure to national audiences. He has a ways to go developmentally and he’s already 20 years old as a freshman. That said, fluid 6-foot-10 athletes who can grab-and-go in transition, navigate traffic off the bounce, and shoot the 3 aren’t easy to find. His upside is significant. He will be a big prospect to watch in 2024 if he decides to return to school.

Playing an increased role in year three with the Bruins, Jaylen Clark gave NBA teams plenty to be excited about. He defends smart and hard, with enough 3-point shooting and off-ball scoring upside to complement teammates on that side of the ball too.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. projects as a rock-solid role player. He doesn’t explode off the screen and he needs to get his 3-point numbers back on track, but he’s a gritty two-way player with scoring craft, a real eye for playmaking, and all the intangibles you’d expect with an accomplished four-year player.

Sidy Cissoko improved constantly over the course of the G-League season. He can be something of an erratic decision-maker on both sides of the ball,  but the tools are all there. He’s 6-foot-7 with powerful athleticism and a real nose for the ball. He mucks up the floor for opposing offenses and shows potential as a downhill driver and perimeter shooter. If he can clean up simple mistakes and really nail down the 3-point shot, NBA teams will have no trouble imagining a productive future at the next level.

An experienced collegiate wing in one of the nation’s top programs, Julian Strawther should continue to draw attention all summer thanks to his combination of size and shooting on the wing. He’s more than just 3-and-D, though — Strawther is an under-appreciated athlete who can get out in transition and play above the rim every now and then.

Despite limited offensive production, Julian Phillips should intrigue NBA teams on the basis of his size (6-foot-8), fluidity of movement, and potential as a two-way role player. He’s one of the top wing defenders on the board and only 19 years old.

NBA teams will need to give Keyontae Johnson the all-important medical all-clear, but years after collapsing mid-game in 2020, the former Florida Gator is back to full strength and then some for his new team. He can spread the floor, attack the lane, and defend a couple positions. He profiles well as a two-way role player at the next level.

Despite wavering efficiency, Jalen Wilson handled an increased workload with aplomb in his senior season. His 3-point numbers skyrocketed and he showcased never-before-seen versatility as a scorer, which should interest NBA teams in search of more offensive punch. He has a real chance to enter the first round conversation if he hasn’t already.

An extremely unique prospect. Tosan Evbuomwan was the biggest player on the floor for super-small Princeton, and yet he was basically the point guard. He’s a tremendous passer who thrives in DHOs and two-man actions on the perimeter. He’s comfortable attacking bigs off the dribble and he frequently rewards cutters or off-ball movers. He’s not particularly explosive and the jury’s out on whether or not he can score enough at the next level, but his size-passing combo is enough to earn second round looks.

One of college basketball’s most productive guards. What Miles lacks in 3-point volume, he makes up for with fearlessness driving the lane and impressive finishing ability for a 6-foot-1 guard.

Built strong at 6-foot-6, Penn State junior Seth Lundy hit 40 percent of his 3s last season. He averaged almost twice as many 3-point attempts as 2-point attempts, which could appeal to NBA teams looking for a confident bomber to space the floor from the wing. He doesn’t create much separation off the dribble, but Lundy flashed the ability to attack closeouts and hit contested jumpers. He’s got the bucket-getting gene.

Ousmane Ndiaye has all the tools for success in the NBA. At 6-foot-10, he moves his feet well and flashes upside as a shooter. Physically, he looks like a very talented rim protector. That said, he’s unpolished. He needs to work on his decision-making and fundamentals.

The five-year senior from Clemson averaged 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds in his last season with the Tigers. He shot over 40 percent from 3-point range and showed tremendous feel for when to cut or relocate off-ball. He won’t create his own offense, but he has a strong complementary skill set and plenty of intangibles. Teams willing to look past his advanced age could find a second-round contributor.

An obvious NBA talent offensively, Markquis Nowell thrives getting into the teeth of the defense and creating for teammates. His court vision is next level; there isn’t a single prospect with more impressive passing highlights. Nowell’s I.Q., processing speed, and craftiness could land him an NBA job. The only concern is size. He’s 5-foot-6 – that’s just hard to overcome, especially with the length and athleticism on display in today’s league.

Read more about Markquis Nowell’s NBA outlook here. 

A battle-test and accomplished college star, Drew Timme has certainly earned his opportunity at the next level. How his game fits in the modern NBA is an open-ended question, but there’s still appeal in such a skilled, dominant post scorer.

Not unlike throwing a dart in a dark room. Emoni Bates was once a top recruit who felt destined for top-five pick status. Until he wasn’t. Now at Eastern Michigan after his dreadful stint in Memphis, Bates is looking to rebuild his draft stock. He put up numbers, albeit one has to remember the context of those numbers (it’s Eastern Michigan). At 6-foot-9, his combination of size and shot-making is not easy to find. That said, Bates’ complete lack of explosion at the rim is a concern when projecting his efficiency long-term.

Read more about the unique case of Emoni Bates here. 

An explosive 7-footer who should be able to play NBA defense due to his nimble movement in space. He crashes the glass, makes plays around the rim, and even flashes touch out to the 3-point line. That said, his limited feel for the game and potential tweener status (he’s only listed at 203 pounds) could dissuade some teams.