2023 Big Board 1.0

New Year New Draft Prospects Rankings

Here we have my very first 2023 NBA Draft Big Board top 100 of the New Year! 

This draft class has two can’t miss players at the top, and while that makes this 2023 Draft cycle SOMEWHAT anticlimactic, it does not take away from the excitement of the two players at the top nor the intrigue and potential of players ranked below them. The apple of bad NBA Team’s eye is Victor Wembanyama and the desire of every point guard deficient and rudderless NBA franchise is Scoot Henderson, the race for the third overall pick in this draft is going to be fierce and WILL make up for the lack of unpredictability at who is ranked at the first and second spots. 

In my opinion, there are seven prospects who COULD challenge for the third spot. All of these seven players have a mix of great skills and legitimate upside to become stars in the league. Whether or not these players WILL reach that potential is yet to be determined, but as we will see this season they definitely get you excited every time they step out onto the court.

I always like to break my big board into Tiers based on potential, and before we dive into the rankings, let me take a minute to explain the tiers this year. Normally, I will start with Tier 1, but since Victor and Scoot are such rare prospects I am breaking out the Platinum-Diamond Tier because these are players you do not pass nor make deals to trade away their rights. Take them, do all you can to ensure their health, and watch them create a Hall of Fame resume. After the Platinum-Diamond, Tier 1 is The Race for the Third Overall Pick this year for all the reasons I just mentioned. If you haven’t seen games of any player in this Tier, go look them up right now! 

Tier 2 is players that have a defined skillset that gives them clear starter potential with a glimpse or two that perhaps they can be more than a solid starter. Tier 3 is players that have AT LEAST one clearly defined skill that projects them to be a reliable a part of an NBA rotation. And lastly, Tier 4 are the Undrafted Free Agents that NBA teams should be calling right away if their names are chosen among the 60 picks of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Along the way, I will highlight one or two players in each tier. Every time I update my big board, I will highlight one or two different players so we can try and get as much coverage on these players as possible. So now, without further adieu, let’s jump into the top 100!

Platinum Diamond Tier: Put them in the Hall of Fame Already

1) Victor Wembanyama, C/PF Metropolitans 92

2) Scoot Henderson, PG/SG G League Ignite

Wembanyama is a seven-foot four-inches tall 240 pound center/power forward that has drawn comparisons to Ralph Sampson, Kevin Durant, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Currently Wembanyama is averaging 22.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 3.1 bpg all while shooting 57.4% from two-point range, 28.2% from three-point distance, and 81.0% from the free throw line. Oh and he is getting to that free throw line 6.6 times per game. The stats are one thing to marvel at, but just pull up any game tape on him and you will see ONE-FOOT THREE POINT FLOATER, tons of blocked shots locking down anyone who dares to cross him, and more and more dimes to open teammates. This is what a no-brainer #1 player looks like, ladies and gentleman.

Tier 1: The Race for the Third Overall Pick

3) Ausar Thompson, SF/PF Overtime Elite

4) Cam Whitmore, SF/PF Villanova

5) Amen Thompson, PG/SG Overtime Elite

6) GG Jackson, PF/C South Carolina

7) Keyonte George, SG/PG Baylor

8) Nick Smith Jr, SG/PG Arkansas

9) Brandon Miller, PF/SF Alabama

While many in the Draft Sphere have Ausar’s brother Amen as the #3 guy this year, I think Ausar’s skills and potential should put him into that spot. While both of the Thompson Twins came into the year with shooting concerns, Ausar has done the most to answer them thus far. Ausar is currently shooting 36.1% from three and 60.2% from two while scoring 18.0 ppg. He will have to continue to work on his free throw percentage of 67.3%, but with great athleticism that shows up in his cutting to catch lobs and on defense which he uses to guard multiple positions, this is a player that has fantastic two-way potential to be a featured scorer and integral defender. Plus, as we discussed in episode #2 of the podcast, Does Shooting Even Matter when it comes to the Thompson Twins?

 

Tier 2: Starter Potential, Maybe More…

10) Dariq Whitehead, SG/SF Duke

11) Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG/SG Indiana

12) Anthony Black, PG/SG Arkansas

13) Jarace Walker, PF/C Houston

14) Cason Wallace, PG/SG Kentucky

15) Taylor Hendricks, SF/PF UCF

16) Jett Howard, SF/SG Michigan

17) Jordan Walsh, SF/PF Arkansas

18) Baba Miller, PF/C Florida State

19) Kris Murray, PF/SF Iowa

20) Maxwell Lewis, SF/SG Pepperdine

21) Kel’el Ware, C Oregon

22) Gradey Dick, SG/SF Kansas

23) Jalen Wilson, PF/SF Kansas

Jalen Hood-Schifino is someone that is gaining more steam lately, but really the majority of us in NBA Draft land should have been in on him since the off-season. Hood-Schifino is the much coveted big point guard at six-foot six-inches tall and 213 pounds. So far this season at Indiana, Hood-Schifino has shown the ability to drain three-pointers off the dribble and the catch; run the offense as the lead guard; understand on-ball and off-ball defensive concepts; and drop dimes that get everyone out of their seats. The biggest knocks on him are that he is not a standout athlete who does not produce things like highlight dunks and that he is struggling to finish at the basket. Hood-Schifino is currently 12 of 23 for 52.2% at the rim. He will need to show he can get to the rim and finish if he wants to continue this climb. If you want to hear more reasons why Jalen Hood-Schifino is here at 11, listen to out most recent podcast about why he SHOULD Be In Your Lottery.

 

Baba Miller JUST debuted on January 11, 2023 (due to a ridiculous suspension by the NCAA, seriously go look it up) and all of us in the NBA Draft world are salivating waiting for more Baba. If you look for stats on Miller you will be underwhelmed as he has spent his development time in the Real Madrid system over in Spain so his playing time has been sparse. If you pull up the film, however, you see a six-foot eleven-inches tall 204 pound phenom.

With big man size, wing fluidity, and guard vision Miller is as unique of a prospect as they get. Baba will be a project for sure, but if you like a prospect like Aleksej Pokusevski, then you are going to LOVE Baba Miller.

Tier 3: Rotational Piece

24) Chris Livingston, SF/SG Kentucky

25) Arthur Kaluma, PF/SF Creighton

26) Colby Jones, PG/SG Xavier

27) Noah Clowney, C/PF Alabama

28) Brice Sensabaugh, PF/SF Ohio State

29) Rayan Rupert, SF/SG New Zealand Breakers

30) Jordan Hawkins, SG UConn

31) Reece Beekman, PG/SG Virginia

32) Houston Mallette, SG/SF Pepperdine

33) Jaylen Clark, SG/SF UCLA

34) Khalif Battle, SG Temple

35) Malik Hall, SF/PF Michigan State

36) Terquavion Smith, SG NC State

37) Tristan Da Silva, SF/SG Colorado

38) Azuolas Tubelis, PF/C Arizona

39) Tyler Burton, SF/PF Richmond

40) Terrance Arceneaux, SG/SF Houston

41) Brandin Podziemski, SG/PG Santa Clara

42) JJ Starling, SG/PG Notre Dame

43) Coleman Hawkins, PF/SF Illinois

44) Kyle Filipowski, C Duke

45) Leonard Miller, PF/SF G League Ignite

46) Julian Phillips, SF/PF Tennessee

47) Nikola Đurišić, SF/PF Mega

48) Dillon Mitchell, PF/SF Texas

49) Sidy Cissoko, SF/SG G League Ignite

50) Tucker DeVries, SF/PF Drake

51) Julian Strawther, SF/SG Gonzaga

52) Daron Holmes II, C Dayton

53) Pete Nance, PF/C North Carolina

54) Marcus Sasser, PG/SG Houston

55) James Nnaji, C Barcelona

56) Tristan Vukčević, C/PF KK Partizan

57) Terrence Shannon, SG/SF Illinois

58) Mojave King, SG/SF G League Ignite

59) Andre Jackson, PG/SF UConn

60) Branden Carlson, C Utah

Houston Mallette is someone I have been very high on since the end of this past season where he led Pepperdine in scoring as a freshman. While his freshman season reminded me a lot of Richard Hamilton and Reggie Miller with Mallette’s constant off-ball movement and ability to get his three-point shot off from any position on the court, this season Mallette has also expanded his passing. Currently Mallette his dishing out 2.9 apg to go along with his 13.3 ppg on shooting splits of 45.2% from two, 39.3% from three, and 78.7% from the free throw line. Mallette’s bread-and-butter is as a shooter, though, taking 186 attempts last year and sinking 38.2% of them. The aforementioned 39.3% from three for this year has come on 89 attempts so far. NBA teams are always looking for shooting specialists and it will be hard for anyone to top Houston Mallette in that category.

Andre Jackson is one of the most intriguing players in this class. With size, athleticism and live dribble passing that make you think Andre Iguodala had been cloned, Jackson has dunks and dimes to wow and excite. He also is a smart player out there picking his spots for precision passes and cuts for lobs and dunks to the hoop. Defensively, Jackson has few peers in this class as he uses his top notch athleticism and six-foot six-inch 210 pound frame to guard every position out there except center. You really have to see an entire game of UConn basketball to understand the complete impact Jackson has on the court.

What Jackson DOESN’T HAVE is a clear offensive skillset. His jumper is more of a push shot that is inconsistent at best. And while he can screen and catch lobs off cuts, his ability at the power forward spot is largely theoretical at this point due to limited time doing anything an NBA 4 would do. I am certain the name Matisse Thybulle will come up in discussions about Jackson. BUT, Andre Jackson has been playing point guard and has live dribble passing skills Thybulle will most likely never possess. And in an NBA that wants wing-sized guys that can pass, dribble, and shoot two out of three ain’t bad.

Tier 4: Get Them on the Phone!: Undrafted Free Agents

61) Mike Sharavjamts, PG/SG Dayton

62) AJ Hoggard, PG/SG Michigan State

63) Jaelen House, PG/SG New Mexico

64) Tyrese Proctor, PG/SG Duke

65) Mike Miles, PG TCU

66) Adem Bona, C UCLA

67) Caleb McConnell, SF/SG Rutgers

68) Drew Peterson, SG/SF USC

69) Fletcher Loyer, SG/PG Purdue

70) Jalen Pickett, PG/SG Penn State

71) Taran Armstrong, PG/SG California Baptist

72) Seth Lundy, SF/PF Penn State

73) Nate Laszewski, PF/C Notre Dame

74) Kowacie Reeves, SG/SF Florida

75) Oscar Tshiebwe, C Kentucky

76) Jaime Jacquez, PF/C UCLA

77) Derek Lively II, C/PF Duke

78) Antonio Reeves, SG Kentucky

79) Ricky Council IV, SG/SF Arkansas

80) Judah Mintz, SG Syracuse

81) Kerr Kriisa, PG/SG Arizona

82) Antoine Davis, PG/SG Detroit Mercy

83) Jayden Nunn, SG/PG VCU

84) Oumar Ballo, C Arizona

85) Adam Flagler, PG/SG Baylor

86) Adama Sanogo, C/PF UConn

87) Caleb Love, SG/PG North Carolina

88) Efe Abogidi, C/PF G League Ignite

89) Hunter Dickinson, C Michigan

90) Trayce Jackson-Davis, C Indiana

91) Armando Bacot, C North Carolina

92) Drew Timme, C Gonzaga

93) Mousa Cisse, C Oklahoma State

94) Tyler Robertson, PG/SF Portland

95) Myles Stute, PF/SF Vanderbilt

96) LJ Cryer, PG/SG Baylor

97) Darin Green, SG Florida State

98) Kevin McCullar, PG/SG Kansas

99) Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, PF/C Memphis

100) Kamaka Hepa, PF/SF Hawaii

Quite possibly my favorite prospect to watch this draft cycle so far is Mike Sharavjamts. Son of the very first Asian Harlem Globetrotter Sharavjamts Tserenjankhar, the Dayton wing/guard certainly plays like someone who learned under a Globetrotter. Mike stands at six-foot eight-inches tall and weighs in at 180 pounds and has point guard handle and vision along with the sauce from his Dad’s world famous team and a silky smooth three point shot. When Dayton finally started playing Sharavjamts as the point guard and in his first 2 games and Mike awarded them with 16 assists (8 in each contest). Couple this with his 36.8% from three as the primary floor spacing option in a 3 big-man starting lineup and you see there is much more for Sharavjamts to unlock this season and when he gets NBA spacing. Playing in a three big man lineup, however, has done little favors to Sharavjamts as he hasn’t been able to push the pace, nor has he had much help outside of Mustapha Amzil when it come to spacing the floor. I don’t know that Dayton will be able to play faster or get more help for Sharavjamts on the perimeter this season, but do yourself a favor RIGHT NOW and watch all of the Mike Sharavjamts games that you can!  

If there is one guy in this tier I would write about every single time, it would be Jalen Pickett. I have been a huge fan of the six-foot four-inches tall 204 pound Jalen Pickett ever since his freshman season at Siena. Penn State’s current leader in points, assists, and steals Pickett is posting some UNREAL point guard statistics. With an assist percentage of 44.4% and a turnover rate of 10.9% there are very few prospects ever that create shots AND take care of the ball as well as Pickett. This is also not a new thing for Jalen as he posted assist percentages over 34% in his freshman and sophomore seasons at Siena. While questions about his three-point shot and overall athleticism will need to be answered in more detail this season, one last thing to remember when watching Pickett and this Penn State team, they play with only ONE center who is a six-foot ten-inches tall freshman in Kbbe Njie. In the Big Ten, this is Mount Everest to climb.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read over this first top 100 big board. We will continue to update this as the season moves on and prospects rise and fall.