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Weekend Brunch: 2023 NBA Draft Edition

Check out below for this week’s installment of “Weekend Brunch”, highlighting all the latest happenings in the world of college basketball.

This week’s focus is on the 2023 NBA Draft.

Buon Appetit!

5 Questions Entering the 2023 NBA Draft

1. Who is Victor Wembanyama?
The most highly touted draft prospect since LeBron James. Not since James was selected first overall by Cleveland in 2003 has the NBA Draft seen a prospect with a buzz as palpable as the 7-4 Wembanyama. He’s a lock to go No. 1 to San Antonio in what should be the start of another long successful run by one of professional sports’ most fabled franchises.

2. Who is the second-best prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft?
Alabama’s Brandon Miller. The 6-9 forward averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds last season as a freshman and led the Crimson Tide to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Miller also shot an impressive 38.4 percent from three-point range and made a whopping 106 shots from long distance. That type of production at the highest level of college basketball should make Miller the choice for Charlotte at No. 2 overall instead of Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite).

3. Which lottery pick is not receiving enough attention?
Kansas’ Gradey Dick. Like Miller, Dick is a proven shooter with legit size at 6-8 who should be able to make an immediate impact in the NBA because of his ability to space the floor. Dick shot 40.3 from three-point range last season as a freshman and had nine games where he made four or more shots from long distance. Shooting instantly translates at the NBA level, something that Dick will reiterate during the 2023-24 season.

4. Which lottery pick is the biggest wildcard?
Villanova’s Cam Whitmore. The 6-7 forward could fall down the board tonight at the Barclays Center, but multiple NBA scouts have recently told College Hoops Today that they believe that Whitmore is one of the top three or four prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. Remember: Whitmore missed the majority of the preseason last year with a hand injury and also never played with a veteran point guard until mid-January because Justin Moore was recovering from a torn achilles. This kid has big time talent and could wind up being one of the top players in the 2023 NBA Draft.

5. Which player is being vastly underrated?
UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez. The Pac-12 Player of the Year has reportedly ripped through his opponents like a chainsaw through butter during pre-draft workouts. That’s not a surprise to those who have covered the 6-7 Jaquez over the past four years. A mirror image of his college coach Mick Cronin, Jaquez often conquers opponents with the biggest weapon that he has — his heart.

Top-10 Big Board

1. Victor Wembanyama, Metopolitans 92 (France)
2022-23 Stats: 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, three blocks
Comparison: N/A

2. Brandon Miller, Alabama
2022-23 Stats: 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds
Comparison: Paul George

3. Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
2022-23 Stats: 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds
Comparison: Russell Westbrook

4. Cam Whitmore, Villanova
2022-23 Stats: 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds
Comparison: Caron Butler

5. Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
2022-23 Stats: 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists
Comparison: Dejounte Murray

6. Anthony Black, Arkansas
2022-23 Stats: 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Comparison: Josh Giddey

7. Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
2022-23 Stats: 16.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists
Comparison: Andre Iguodala

8. Jarace Walker, Houston
2022-23 Stats: 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds
Comparison: Paul Millsap

9. Taylor Hendricks, UCF
2022-23 Stats: 15.1 points, seven rebounds
Comparison: Antawn Jamison

10. Gradey Dick, Kansas
2022-23 Stats: 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
Comparison: Kevin Huerter

5 Sleepers

  • Jaime Jaquez UCLA: The toughest player in the 2023 NBA Draft.
  • Colby Jones, Xavier: Multidimensional wing could fill a “Josh Hart type role” in the NBA.
  • Adama Sanogo, UConn: The Most Outstanding Player in the 2023 NCAA Tournament is barely being mentioned despite averaging 19.7 points and 9.8 rebounds during March Madness.
  • Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State: Shot over 40 percent from three-point range last season as a freshman.
  • Marcus Sasser, Houston: Seasoned floor general is good enough to be a long-time rotation player in the NBA.

Leftovers