How it works:
The 2023 NBA Draft is one of the most intriguing drafts in NBA History. In this article, I will go through the top prospects and make comparisons to past and current players. Many players will have multiple comparisons, but no more than 5 or 6 different comps. The comparisons will simply be "shades of" as nobody is an exact copy and everyone brings something different to the table. There will be either a (P) or (C) in front of the comparisons or a (Y). These mean Prime, Current, and Young. Players currently in their prime will only have an indication if it is intended to be their game when they were younger. A (D) or (O) after the comparison will be referring strictly to a player's defense or offense, as a player may remind me of someone on the defensive end but share nothing in common with them offensively or vice versa.
Notes: All Player measurements will be in feet. (.305 Meters)
Any measurements that are unknown will have a dash ( - ) in it's place.
I will use the term "POA defense" or "POA defender". This means Point of Attack.
For now we will only be looking at 54 different prospects, in no particular order. The list was thinned down after several prospects withdrew from this year's draft. This year there are only 58 picks in the draft, with two picks in the 2nd round being revoked due to tampering violations.
1. Victor Wembanyama
With one of the most impressive physical profiles the NBA draft has ever seen, Victor is the sure fire number 1 pick, standing at roughly 7' 5". He can create off the dribble, shoot from all levels, and make good reads as a passer. Especially for someone his size. He does even more on the defensive end. He is quick on his feet, is great at positioning himself for blocks, and can effectively close out on any player shooting on the perimeter. Victor is a once in a generation prospect with no true comparison, but with his size, length, mechanics, and instincts, he is sure to be a star in this league.
Shades of: A quicker Kristaps Porziņģis, a taller Kevin Durant, a more mobile Ralph Sampson (D)
2. Scoot Henderson
A shorter but extremely athletic guard, Scoot makes his presence known in the paint. He is an incredible finisher around the rim, with signs of a nice midrange game. Scoot is also an elite level playmaker, arguably the best in the draft. Scoot always seems to find his guys no matter what, and is by no means a selfish player. One of the main appeals to Scoot is his work ethic. Coupled with what he has already shown, he projects to be a good defender in the NBA. His 3 ball definitely needs work, but there is teams should not worry that Scoot won't put in the work to improve.
Shades of: (P) John Wall, (P) Derrick Rose, right handed De'Aaron Fox, (P) Russell Westbrook
3. Brandon Miller
Miller is a tall, lengthy, and lethal shooter, being able to score from anywhere beyond the arc. He is a solid athlete, and shows flashes of 3 level scoring ability. His main draw is his shooting and frame. He has the tools to be a great defender, with a frame similar to someone like Jaden McDaniels. He is a quick project, but in a couple years he could be a franchise cornerstone if developed correctly.
Shades of: (C) Paul George, (P) Harrison Barnes, Danny Granger
4. Amen Thompson
At 6' 7", Amen provides incredible size for a guard. He can slide in at PG or SG as needed. Amen has mind blowing athleticism and is an amazing finisher around the basket. He is an extremely talented playmaker, likely 2nd behind Scoot in this draft. Amen has great 2-Way ability and has continually shown he can turn defense into offense. His frame and wingspan along with incredible defensive instincts make him a force on that end. He can disrupt opposing players with his size and keep up with them with his speed. He is also a great weakside shot blocker with great help-side defense. His jump shot is definitely a work in progress, but he has already shown amazing improvement. He projects to be a tall all around guard in the NBA, but his potential is truly unlimited due to his incredible work ethic.
Shades of: Taller Ja Morant (O), (Y) Rajon Rondo, Lonzo Ball, (Y) Grant Hill
5. Jarace Walker
One of my favorite prospects from this draft, Jarace is an amazing defender with a great motor. At about 6' 8", 240 lbs, Jarace is incredibly mobile with quick feet and smart hands. He can disrupt larger forwards and bigs while also keeping up with most guards on the perimeter. Offensively, Jarace shows incredible promise. He shows signs of being a good playmaker for his position, always making the smart read with a great handle for his frame. He shows signs of being able to create his own shot, as well as having range from beyond the three point arc. He can catch and shoot and create off the dribble when needed. His main offensive specialty is getting to the basket. He has a deadly first step and a great pump fake, being able to blow by slower or jumpy defenders with ease. His frame allows him to bully his way through defenses. He uses his elite athleticism to get to the basket with an array of dunks and layups.
Shades of: Bam Adebayo (D), (C) Al Horford, P.J Washington (O)
6. Cameron Whitmore
One of the best athletes in the draft, Whitmore is a big wing who can space the floor and create for himself beyond the arc and in the paint off drives. He shot over 40% on catch and shoot 3's and about 34% total last season at Villanova. Whitmore is an amazing and intelligent cutter as well as having an incredible second bounce that allows for impressive put back opportunities. Whitmore is also a strong defender with a great wingspan. He has a high upside, a good motor and definitely has all the tools and early glimpses to be something special in the NBA.
Shades of: (C) Aaron Gordon, bigger Anthony Edwards
7. Ausur Thompson
Similar to his twin brother Amen, Ausur is an elite level athlete. He has an extremely quick first step and is super explosive around the rim. The difference comes in the defense. Ausur is an extremely versatile defender. While he is similar to Amen in that aspect, it is definitely more of Ausur's specialty. He is a dominant force on defense, clamping up players on the perimeter. If they blow by his teammates he can provide help in the paint. He is one of the best shot blocking guards I have seen. At 6' 7" he plays defense like a wing, but on offense he plays more like an explosive guard or a quick athletic wing. He is an extremely skilled passer, and while his playmaking is not to the level of Amen, he more than makes up for that with his elite 2-way play.
Shades of: (Y) Rajon Rondo, Ja Morant (O), Dorian Finney-Smith (D), (Y) Grant Hill
8. Anthony Black
A tall playmaker and solid shooter, Black is the perfect archetype for the modern NBA. He is an extremely talented defender, providing for strong 2-way impact. He struggles to create space and get his shot off the dribble, but he impacts both sides of the court with his court vision and defensive play. He is one of the better shot blocking guards in the class, and his size allows him to be very versatile at 6' 7". He is best described as a 3 and D playmaker.
Shades of: Lonzo Ball, Josh Giddey (O)
9. Taylor Hendricks
One of the bigger projects in the draft, Hendricks is a large, mobile, and athletic forward. He can shoot and defend at the rim. He seems more comfortable shooting off the catch, but shows flashes of self creation. He struggles with his consistency, but as he grows as a shooter and rounds out his mechanics, it shouldn't be a major issue. Hendricks shows flashes of a handle, but definitely needs to continue to work in this area. Overall he has immense potential on both ends.
Shades of: Jermai Grant, (Y) Anthony Davis Lite
10. Cason Wallace
Cason Wallace is a 6' 4" defensive minded guard with a sizable wingspan who can space the floor at a high level. Wallace is an absolute terror on the defensive end and has solid physical tools such as his strength and wingspan. He is a 3 and D style guard who could be a valuable player on both ends of the court in the NBA.
Shades of: De'Anthony Melton, Jrue Holiday, Davion Mitchell
11. Keyonte George
A smaller guard with a good handle, Keyonte has great creativity when he plays and is a quick thinker. He can score on all 3 levels, but is still very inconsistent. He can be very inefficient and definitely struggles with shot selection. While he is not ball dominant and shows he wants to get his teammates involved, this is an area that he needs to work on to reduce pointless turnovers. He is the typical bench microwave archetype for the NBA that is also a competent defender.
Shades of: Lou Williams, (P) Gary Harris, Anfernee Simons (O), CJ McCollumn
12. Nick Smith Jr.
Nick Smith Jr. is a crafty scorer, smart cutter and decent spot up shooter with a quick first step and straight line speed. He can be an effective weapon on offense, but can often be inefficient due to his poor shot selection. He definitely prefers the wings and corners, while getting the rest of his points in the paint. He shows flashes of being a good passer, playing point guard in high school and sometimes with the Razorbacks, but feels more like a shooting guard at the NBA level. He is a skinnier prospect who certainly lacks strength and seems to avoid physicality on both ends of the floor. He always seems engaged and has a long wingspan which will allow him to evolve it to a decent defender. He projects to be either a microwave off the bench or more of an offensive role player who can play team defense.
Shades of: Jordan Clarkson, Terry Rozier but a better playmaker
13. Gradey Dick
Gradey Dick is a great shooter with imense size for his position. He can catch and shoot as well as shoot off the dribble. He plays well in transition and on the fast break and is comfortable finishing through contact on his drives. He is a good cutter and is skilled with off the ball movement. Gradey has potential to be one of the league's best shooters if he is developed properly.
Shades of: Joe Harris, less athletic (Spurs) Richard Jefferson (O)
14. Jett Howard
At 6' 8" with guard skills, Jett Howard has limitless potential. He has a fantastic handle especially for his size. He can create space and separation consistently. He has a nice jab step and good footwork, which can baffle defenders. Jett can score at all 3 levels and is a good improviser. He tends to prefer jumpers, but when he decides to drive, he can use his size to his advantage. While he is not a great playmaker, his role at Michigan was very scoring oriented, so there is much he hasn't been able to showcase. Jett is competent at finding open shooters and can pass out of double teams. He projects to be a great team defender and as someone that comes from good NBA lineage, he has a defensive IQ of someone much more experienced.
Shades of: thicker Brandon Ingram, (Y) Carmelo Anthony with less post touches
15. G.G. Jackson
G.G. Jackson is a hyper athletic forward, with a solid jump shot and good ball control. While he definitely struggles on both ends, he is one of the youngest players in this draft. He can shoot at all 3 levels but has yet to become highly efficient. He can finish at the rim and can create looks for himself at a solid level for his size. He needs to work on his defensive consistency but when he is locked in, he is a solid and versatile defender both on the perimeter and in the paint. The biggest issue with him is definitely his playmaking. He is not a good playmaker to any extent and will definitely need to work on that a lot at the NBA level. Overall he is definitely a project, but could be a productive player given the proper situation and time.
Shades of: Jonathan Kuminga, Jayson Tatum, more athletic (P) Marcus Morris Sr.
16. Jalen Hood-Schifino
A smooth combo guard with a solid frame at 6' 6" and about 213 lbs, Hood-Schifino can defend at a solid level and is a solid playmaker that always seems to make the right read. Jalen can get his own shot off. He doesn't have a super flashy handle, but is good at getting to his spots nevertheless. He has a nice midrange game and has proven he can hit 3's at a decent clip either off the dribble or off the pass. Hood-Schifino can get to the basket when needed and is a competent finisher. Overall he is extremely well rounded and a versatile player offensively. His only downside is that he needs to improve his consistency behind the arc. He is a streaky shooter, but when he is hot he can hit from anywhere. He is easily one of my favorite prospects in this upcoming draft.
Shades of: Devin Booker
17. Dariq Whitehead
With an NBA ready frame, Dariq Whitehead is a very polarizing prospects in this class due to his injury history. He plays well in transition and in fast break situations. He can play relatively well off the ball. Whitehead uses his size and athleticism to his advantage on the defensive end. He is a good passer, good athlete, a great spot up shooter and a solid cutter. He shows potential to be able to create 3's for himself at the NBA level.
Shades of: Paul Pierce (O), Bigger (C) Bradley Beal (O)
18. Kobe Bufkin
One of the best defensive guards in the draft, Bufkin could be a great addition to an NBA teams POA defense. He is an efficient player with strong 2-Way upside. He is not super athletic, but is an effective finisher around the rim. He can struggle with shot selection, but has the ability to make tough shots. Bufkin has a good midrange game and the potential to develop into a good 3 point shooter. To do so, he will need to improve his range.
Shades of: (P) Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Markelle Fultz
19. Bilal Coulibaly
Bilal Coulibaly is between 6' 6" and 6' 8" (answers vary online) with an incredible wingspan of 7' 3". Bilal is one of the youngest players in the draft, but is efficient from the field and plays like an experienced veteran. He is athletic, and is a good finisher. He has great jump shot mechanics. He can catch and shoot, and has a solid midrange shot. Offensively he is crafty and creative. He has a quick first step and is a smart cutter. His main appeal however, is his immense defensive potential. Bilal is good at getting in passing lanes, disrupting guards with his wingspan. He is good at navigating screens, reading passes and can block shots on drives. He can guard a variety of positions and can switch onto most positions in the NBA. Most importantly, his defense often leads to offense.
Shades of: OG Anunoby, (C) Mikal Bridges
20. Dereck Lively II
A defensive minded big, Livley is a good athlete with some potential on the offensive end. For now he projects to be a defensive specialist. Livley is a great shot blocker with good timing and quick hands. He has great physical tools at 7' 1" with a 7' 7" wingspan. While he has shown occasional flashes of offensive production, he has an awkward jumper that will need work at the NBA level. It seems he will primarily be an athletic rim runner who gets his points off pick and rolls, lobs and putbacks.
Shades of: Tyson Chandler (D/O), Marvin Bagley III (O)
21. James Nnaji
James Nnaji is a great athlete with a strong frame. He is very mobile and can get off the ground quickly. Nnaji is a great vertical lob threat and is very active on the glass as a strong offensive and defensive rebounder. He is a screen setter and a great team player. Nnaji is a large physical presence and is always looking to finish strong around the rim. He has quick feet and good hands defensively. He projects to be a 2-way center who can anchor your defense and will be a perfect pairing with a good primary playmaker. His only glaring issues are his poor free throw shooting and the fact that he lacks a soft touch around the rim, which van sometimes lead to unfortunate misses.
Shades of: Clint Capela, Mark Williams
22. Sidy Cissoko
A big athletic wing, Cissoko already has an NBA ready frame. He is a good post playmaker and can create some opportunities outside the paint as well. He can be used as a pick and roll ball handler if needed. He has a great handle for his size. He has good footwork, a solid jump shot from all levels and is completely fearless. Cissoko is extremely fast for his size and is willing to hustle and put his body on the line. He is a lob threat and has tremendous defensive versatility and upside, often providing strong weak side help to his team. He has quick feet and can keep up with guards on the perimeter and can stop drives in the paint. Cissoko is not afraid of contact and attacks the basket strong on drives. He tends to have great chemistry with his centers and will likely fit nicely with another big on the floor. It is worth noting that Cissoko played as a guard in Europe before coming to the G-League. He measures at 6' 7" or 6' 8" depending on who you ask, with a 6' 10" wingspan. This combined with his guard skills could make him one heck of an NBA player player.
Shades of: (Y) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Note: I am not saying he will become the next Giannis. He doesn't remind me of current Giannis. Cissoko looks much like the early versions of Giannis as a perimeter player before his bulked up and hit his final growth spurt.
23. Noah Clowney
At 6' 11", Noah Clowney is a versatile, tall, and lengthy big. Clowney is extremely efficient and effective at the rim. Clowney shows flashes as a shooter. He is very coordinated and has great mechanics, especially for someone his size. He can create for himself on drives, but is primarily a roll man and cutter. He has all the tools to be a great defender. He has an especially high motor and quick feet for his size and always puts forth a consistent effort. Overall, Clowney is very promising and could develop into a good starter or a great backup, as he tends to know his role very well. Clowney can be placed at either the 4 or the 5 so it will be interesting to see how he is utilized at the NBA level.
Shades of: Wendell Carter Jr
24. Brice Sensabaugh
A great shooter from 3 and 2, Sensabaugh provides a lot of value as a scorer on and off the ball. He has a great frame at 6' 6" and is very strong for his size. His isn't a great athlete but has a good handle and can create for himself at a high level. Sensabaugh has a great midrange game and can shoot from beyond the arc. He isn't the best defender but with hard work, he could have impact on that end.
Shades of: (P) T.J. Warren
25. Jordan Hawkins
With one of the best jumpers in the draft, Hawkins has immense potential as a dynamic shooter who is great at moving and getting open off the ball. Hawkins has a quick release but an even quicker first step. He is a high level athlete who is fast with solid explosiveness. This helps him a lot as a defender and allows him to capitalize when defenders play to far up on him. His only major issues are his playmaking and his handle. This doesn't help with his ability to drive. He is still a threat going towards the basket, but can have a hard time getting there without getting his handle disrupted by the defense. Hawkins is a solid defender and can hold his own against most players, but he struggles against dynamic ball handlers. With proper NBA development, these are easy fixes and he will definitely be a valuable roll player in the NBA.
Shades of: Bogdon Bogdonovic, a shorter Micheal Porter Jr, Kentavious Cadwell-Pope (O), Gary Trent Jr.
26. Julian Phillips
Definitely a project pick, Phillips has high risk / high reward potential. He is an inefficient scorer, but has solid mechanics. Despite his jumper being on the slower side, he still looks comfortable shooting. He is great at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. Phillips has incredible athleticism with a 40+ inch vertical, which coupled with his scoring potential could be a deadly combo. He has great defensive upside. He is very active defensively and can disrupt the passing lanes and keep up with his matchups. The biggest thing that he needs to improve is his finishing. Most of his deficiencies are very fixable. The most notable one is his strength. There is still a lot to work on so it will be very interesting to see who will take the chance on him.
Shades of: RJ Barrett, Herb Jones
27. Leonard Miller
A big athletic forward, Miller plays well in transition and off of cuts. He can handle the ball and take it coast to coast, and can take it to the rack with his athleticism. Some of the most intriguing parts about his game are his rebounding ability. He is a walking double double and has tremendous defensive upside. Miller has a good wingspan and can disrupt opponents and get in passing lanes, which can help him turn defensive into offensive. Miller seems to be more comfortable on the wings defensively which is unique for someone his size. He definitely needs to work on getting comfortable with his jumper, but has a good base to work from. He is a good free throw shooter, which makes me more confident that his jumper will come around. I could see him being a consistent double double threat one day in the NBA. Even with his shot selection, he knows when to pass out of doubles, and when he heats up he won't miss.
Shades of: Bam Adebayo, Tyrone Hill, Al Harrington
28. Brandin Podziemski
One of the more well rounded prospects in the draft, Brandin Podziemski is a 6' 5" lefty with 3 level scoring ability. He has solid passing ability and good defensive awareness. Brandin is likely not a primary ball handler or playmaker for a team, but he could be a great secondary playmaker and can handle the ball well enough to take it up the floor or create for himself. Brandin is easily one of the best floor spacers in this draft and has shown increased range from beyond the arc, so he could bring instant impact with his shooting. He excels as a playmaker when finding the roll man, cutters and players in the dunkers spot or on the low blocks. Defensively he could fit well into any team defense. Overall, Brandin Podziemski would be a great addition to any NBA team and could have a very bright future as a player as long as he continues to work hard and is given the right opportunity. His drastic improvement after he transferred to Santa Clara is a great sign and a tribute to his strong work ethic.
Shades of: Manu Ginobili, Jalen Brunson, Luke Kennard (O)
Note: Manu is a comparison more so for all of Brandin's game on both ends, but Kennard is more similar to what Brandin looks like from beyond the arc. He doesn't have the same efficiency, but the mechanics are very close.
29. Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Prosper is a forward with defensive, shooting, and finishing upside. He is a great athlete with even greater physical tools. Prosper is an extremely active defender, both off the ball and in isolation. He uses his size and length to disrupt offensive players, and has incredible versatility. Prosper could be a guy who can guard 1-5 at the next level. He is great at going above screens and staying with quicker players, often beating them to their spots. Offensively, he loves to run the floor in transition and is a cutting and lob threat in the right situations. He can finish through all kinds of contact, and is not soft by any means. As a shooter, he is rapidly improving. He is solid catch and shoot guy, and seems to love the corners. Overall, Prosper will be a Swiss army knife for any team. He is a solid shooting threat, applies rim pressure on defense and can defend at a high level.
Shades of: Jared Vanderbilt (D), John Collins (O)
30. Rayan Rupert
At 6' 6" with a 7' 3" wingspan, Rayan might have the most intriguing frame in the 2023 draft (aside from Victor of course). With his immense wingspan, he is able to disrupt opponents and prevent drives at the basket. He will also be able to create great transition opportunities through his quick hands and long wingspan allowing him to pick opponents pockets and get tough steals. He will hustle defensively and always give it his all. He is everywhere defensively, and seems to be able to switch onto any position one through five, which is valuable in the modern NBA. He can be valuable offensively in transition, but struggles in half court offenses. He struggles shooting the ball, but he doesn't have terrible form. This could be an easy fix in the NBA with the right development staff.
Shades of: (Y) Mikal Bridges, Taller Josh Okogie (D)
31. Marcus Sasser
A smaller guard, Sasser is a good shooter and crafty scorer. Most of his points come from behind the arc in a variety of different ways. He can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble and has a nice step-back. He is also a good transition scorer. He is a good defender, but with his lack of size scouts could be concerned with how it will translate at the next level.
Shades of: Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe
Note: Sasser is a better defender than both.
32. Colby Jones
A defensive minded guard with great defensive instincts, Jones has great hands and gets steals at will. At 6' 6" he has shown he can switch and guard multiple positions. Jones has great court awareness on both ends, and is a good scorer around the basket with an array of floaters and drives. He has a soft touch, but isn't extremely athletic. More athletic players can give Jones problems defensively. He isn't a dynamic ball handler or a good self creator off the dribble, but knows his strengths and his role very well.
Shades of: Delon Wright
33. Maxwell Lewis
Maxwell Lewis is a lengthy wing with a long wingspan. He is a good athlete with a lot of defensive upside. While he is currently not a great defender he possesses the physical tools to improve. He is a good and confident shooter, but can struggle with shot selection. Lewis is a solid finisher, but has a loose yet still effective handle. He struggles with turnovers at times. He has a habit of shuffling his feet with the ball which can lead to multiple travel calls in a game. This is where the majority of his turnovers come from.
Shades of: Jalen Williams, Devin Vassell
34. Jalen Wilson
A tall smooth forward, Jalen Wilson is a great shooter with a solid frame. Wilson is good at drawing contact and is a good free throw shooter. He is just an average finisher, and struggles with his left hand. However, he is aware of his shortcomings and does a good job of playing to his strengths. He has a great jumper and a solid midrange game, but his main attraction comes as a high volume three point shooter. Jalen is also active off ball. He is a solid cutter and has a good handle for his size and position. He plays well in transition and is a solid outlet passer. Defensively, Wilson is active and could fit into a team's defensive scheme.
Shades of: Kyle Kuzma, Kenrich Williams, Micheal Porter Jr.
35. Amari Bailey
Amari Bailey is a small efficient guard. He is a great shooter from all levels and is a good athlete, especially for size. He plays at his own pace and has a good midrange game. He is a solid finisher with an effective handle. He is good at getting to his spots, and is good off the catch and shoot. Bailey has smart and active hands defensively. He is good at reading and disrupting passing lanes.
shades of: Monte Ellis (O), Avery Bradley
Note: Amari is a much better shooter than Ellis from beyond the arc, but their midrange games are very similar. They also have a similar frame and comparable athleticism. Many of their habits are also similar.
36. Kobe Brown
With a very versatile offensive game for forward, Kobe Brown is one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft. He is a catch and shoot threat and shows solid self creation upside. He is a dangerous passer, especially in transition with his cross court outlet passes. Brown is also a fantastic post playmaker. He is great at finding cutters and open shooters, making him an ideal teammate for any active off ball players. He is a matchup nightmare, shooting over 60% in the painted area. Brown is a great athlete and coupled with his frame, it is a dangerous combo. On the other end of the court, he is an impactful defender. Brown is a good weak side shot blocker and has quick enough feet to keep up with players on the perimeter. His biggest opportunity for improvement should be his reliability as a shooter and his lateral reactivity.
Shades of: More athletic Kevin Love (O)
37. Kris Murray
Very similar to his brother Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings, Kris Murray is a floor spacing wing who can shoot and defend. Kris is a lefty but, the similarities in their game remain. Kris' only red flag is his consistency. With time and with the right situation, I believe he can be a valuable role player much like his brother. He has good touch and finesse around the rim with short jumpers. He isn't extremely athletic, but is still mobile and strong. He is a tough defender who would fit well into a good team defense. His main struggles come against good on ball defenders and more athletic opponents, but he plays to his strengths and seems to know his role well.
Shades of: Keegan Murray
38. Mouhamed Gueye
An incredible frame at 6'11", Mouhamed is definitely a project, but shows promise. He has great shooting mechanics and incredible athleticism, especially for his size. He is more mobile than most other players that are his height, and could be a dangerous 2-way player in the paint and beyond the arc if he is developed properly.
Shades of: Slimmer Thadeus Young (O), (C) Myles Turner
39. Keyontae Johnson
A solid 3 level scorer with a great midrange game, Keyontae is strong and uses his size to his advantage. He can be careless with the basketball, but is a good passer in transition and good at finding cutters and players in the dunkers spot. He is athletic and can throw down some nice dunks. His tournament run this year was highlighted by an incredible dunk off an alley-oop on a misdirection play.
Shades of: Cam Thomas, (P) Eric Bledsoe (O)
40. Efe Abogidi
Efe Abogidi is a good athlete with a high rebounding IQ. He is a good vertical defender with good footwork. He has a solid hook-shot, a good midrange shot and solid hands. Abogidi is a great shot blocker and rim protector with a good frame. He is a good screen setter and plays well in transition. Along with his athleticism, he is fast and can seemingly dunk anything. He also has a soft touch around the rim and in the midrange.
Shades of: faster Deandre Ayton (O), smaller Jarrett Allen (D)
41. Ricky Council IV
Council IV possesses a range of impressive qualities. As a good defender, Council IV excels at navigating switches and has quick hands, which allow him to be a great pickpocket even against skilled ball handlers. Council IV's ability to beat offensive players to their spots is impressive. On the other end, he is a tough shot taker and maker. While Council IV is a good midrange scorer, he lacks range beyond the arc. Additionally, Council IV is a good athlete who excels in transition and has a knack for getting downhill. His skills navigating through traffic are evident, and he makes effective adjustments at the rim. Council IV can finish strongly and confidently with both hands and is intelligent in his movement off the ball ball. He is a smart cutter, which could be valuable for any team in the NBA. He poses as a lob threat due to his athleticism. He releases the ball at the high point during his jumper which makes his shot hard to block.
shades of: Lonnie Walker IV (O)
42. Terquavion Smith
A small quick guard with a great jump shot, Terquavion Smith has amazing range. He is extremely fast down the floor. He is a good athlete with smart hands defensively. Although he definitely is looking to score a lot of the time, he is a solid and willing passer. He is good at setting up his teammates on fast breaks and in the post. Smith is a solid midrange shooter and a good finisher. He can shoot threes in a variety of ways, including off the dribble and off the catch. Efficiency could be an issue at the next level as his shot selection could use improvement.
Shades of: Immanuel Quickley, Bones Hyland
Note: Smith is a far more willing and skilled passer than Bones Hyland.
43. Alex Fudge
Alex Fudge is a great cutter. He is great at playing on the baseline, is a good finisher, and a respectable lob threat. Fudge is a great defender. He knows where to position himself for blocks, has great hands defensively and is athletic, which shows at both ends of the court. He is a good vertical defender and quick on his feet. He can be extremely switchable and defensively versatile at the next level.
Shades of: Jared Vanderbilt
44. Jordan Walsh
Walsh has a great frame and wingspan. He is a good athlete with a high motor. He has the potential to be a good shooter at the next level. He has solid mechanics and is confident as a shooter,. He can handle the ball and has great defensive potential. He can be a solid contributor right away with his hustle, high energy, cutting, and solid decision making.
Shades of: (P) Andre Iguodola, Bruce Brown
45. Isaiah Wong
Isaiah Wong is great off the catch and shoot and has extended range from three. He is patient and has a solid handle that can get him to his spots. His is athleticism makes him a good finisher around the rim, who can finish through contact. He has a decent midrange game, but will not be the focal point of an offense.
Shades of: Smaller Norman Powell (O), Smaller Caris LeVert (O)
46. Adama Sanogo
Adama is a big man who shows flashes of being able to stretch the floor. He could be a good lob threat and a good rebounder. He is a good screen setter and great shot blocker with a high motor. He is fast for his size and position, and can run the floor. He is very strong and has good footwork in the post and is a solid post playmaker.
Shades of: Robert Williams III, Day'Ron Sharpe
47. Tristan Vukcevic
Tristan Vukcevic is a solid athlete that is quick on his feet with a great jumper and good mechanics. Vukevic is good off the catch and shoot, can get to the rim and finish through contact. He also has shown some flashes of self creation. He is a good passer at the center position, which is typical for many European big men. He has flashes of guard skills with a great handle for a big man.
Shades of: Maxi Kleber (O)
Note: He has potential to be a far better self creator than Kleber.
48. Jaylen Clark
Arguably the best perimeter defender in the class, Jaylen Clark is a good athlete with solid jump shot mechanics. Clark is good rebounder for a guard. He can finish through contact, and plays well in transition offensively and defensively. While his mechanics are good, his jump shot still needs work as he frequently has some pretty ugly misses.
Shades of: Tony Allen, Alex Caruso, bigger Davion Mitchell.
49. Trayce Jackson-Davis
TJD is extremely athletic with positional versatility in the front court, and even more versatility defensively. Jackson-Davis is an Incredible passer for a front court player, and shows flashes of a jump shot. There is definitely cloudiness when it comes to his position at the next level. He would be an undersized five, yet he doesn't play like a four. He is an extremely hard worker with a high basketball IQ, so in the right situation he could be a perfect fit.
Shades of: more athletic Domantas Sabonis (O), more verticle Draymond Green
Note: Jackson-Davis is not as polished yet as either Green or Sabonis.
50. Julian Strawther
A talented and versatile shooter, Strawther has potential as a solid secondary or tertiary guard. He can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble or off movement and plays well as a shooter in transition. Strawther has an extremely quick release, which will be extremely useful at the next level. He has potential to be a solid defender on the ball, but certainly struggles off the ball. Around the rim he is a solid finisher but often settles for floaters rather than aggressively attacking the hoop. He is a competent passer but should not be expected to be a primary playmaker.
Shades of: Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Isaiah Joe
51. Andre Jackson Jr.
Andre Jackson Jr. is athletic and fast. He is a great passer for size, but a poor shooter. With defensive upside and defensive versatility, he will hustle and make winning plays. He can handle the ball and will make the right read. Andre could be a valuable and versatile role player in the right situation. He is a good cutter and a quick decision maker. However, on the flip side, he can be tentative on offense, but this can improve as his shot improves. Jackson Jr. is a player I could see being put at point guard for specific lineups.
(P) Ben Simmons, Patrick Williams (D)
52. Jamie Jaquez Jr.
Playing all 4 years in college, Jaquez is on of the more mature prospects in this class. He sees himself being a 3&D kind of player for any team that drafts him. He has shooting and defensive upside and could be a good rebounder for his size at the NBA level. He shows signs of being a good playmaker, and could be a good fit on any team doing all the little things to win. He is not a selfish player by any means and is willing to hustle and do whatever it takes.
Shades of: Taller Josh Hart
53. Emoni Bates
Emoni Bates is probably the prospect that has the most mixed review of anyone in this draft class. Opinions on his talent cary greatly. Emoni is a talented shooter, but struggles heavily with shot selection. He is not a great playmaker or a very willing one, and will certainly need an adjustment period in the NBA. In college, the offense revolved around Emoni but the team did not win a ton of games. One of his biggest flaws is picking up his dribble where he shouldn’t and is forced to shoot or pass out of a double. Emoni's measuarbles outside of his height are not great. He has a near equal wingspan and has some of the smallest hands in the draft. He also has one of the lowest verticals, and needs to hit the weight room. With that being said, he is tall and skilled for his height and his jump shot will at least be serviceable at the NBA level. He is a decent cutter and has all the confidence in the world. If a team can harness his potential, I could see him being an important sixth man on a solid team.
Shades of: Denzel Valentine, Slimmer (C) Marcus Morris (O)
54. Ben Sheppard
Ben Sheppard is a wing with incredible shooting potential. He projects to be a good defender and has shown to have a good feel for passing. Ben shot 40.5% on catch and shoot jumpers and shot 49.1% on unguarded catch and shoot attempts. Sheppard is great at shooting off screens. His mechanics are extremely sound and consistent. He is great at moving without the ball to get open on the perimeter and can attack the rim if needed. He has a lot of upside as a passer and playmaker and seems to always make the right decisions. Sheppard is very good at hitting the roll man. Defensively, he has good hands and solid footwork. This allows him to get in passing lanes and stay with his man off or on the ball. he seems to create the most havoc guarding full court. His biggest downside is that he is not great at navigating screens and can be beat off the dribble by faster players. Overall, he projects to be a high level role player who can help a contender right away. He has had great shooting performances at the combine and everything seems like it will carry over to the next level to some degree.
Shades of: Keegan Murray (O), Saddiq Bey
Thank you.
Hopefully you enjoyed this article, if you have any thoughts and/or opinions feel free to reach me at @WfromDeBall on Twitter.
Thank you to @NameIsTree on Twitter for helping me with some of the shades and comparisons.
Special thanks to John Podziemski (Brendin Podziemski's father) for helping me write his son's player bio.