by We are about a month and a half away from the 2023 NBA Draft, and now that the lottery odds are set and March Madness is wrapped up, it seems like the perfect time to release a Mock Draft. This is one of the more interesting classes in recent memory as there are many prospects who have the chance to become seriously great NBA players. I believe the Draft this year doesn’t really start until the number two pick, let’s be honest, Victor Wembanyama has to be the clear and obvious number one pick due to the hype surrounding him. This will be a one round Mock Draft which will cover the player, where they are from, height and weight, age, player comparisons and more. I will update this closer to the Draft if I feel the need or if something happens that could completely shake up the field.
1. DET: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
7’4” 210 LBS, Age: 19
Wembanyama is the sure number one pick as he is labeled as the best Draft prospect since LeBron James. He has been described by Steph Curry as a “cheat code” and quite frankly, I agree, he has a unique skill-set that sets him apart from other players of his size, he can handle like a guard, and score off the dribble with ease along with his improving range. He seems like a perfect fit with young Star Cade Cunningham and last year’s first round picks, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
2023 Stats: 30 G, 21.5 Pts, 10.1 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 3.1 Blk, 47.5% FG, 29.8% 3PT, 82.8% FT
Player Comparison: Kristaps Porzingis/Rudy Gobert
2. HOU: Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite
6’2” 195 LBS, Age: 19
Henderson seems to be the favorite to go number two with a couple other players in the mix. At two, I have the Rockets grabbing their Point Guard of the future, a position they were very much in need of, no offense to Kevin Porter Jr. Henderson is an outstanding athlete with great basketball IQ, leaping ability, and playmaking. He isn’t a great shooter, but it seems as if he’s been working on it as of late, but even without a jumper, he has great skill, Henderson looks like a great fit with Jabari Smith Jr and Alperen Sengun amidst the Jalen Green trade rumors.
2023 Stats: 19 G, 16.5 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 6.5 Ast, 43.0% FG, 27.5% 3PT, 76.4% FT
Player Comparison: Young Derrick Rose
3. SAS: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama
6’9” 200 LBS, Age: 20
Brandon Miller is the number two player on my Big Board over Scoot Henderson, just based on the fact that he’s an elite shooter. Miller falls right into the lap of San Antonio due to Houston’s need for a Point Guard, he’s a great shot creator, has defensive versatility, good rebounder, and has obvious playmaking upside. Miller’s main weakness is that he’s not incredibly explosive, but that doesn’t mean much when looking at his overall skill set. Miller will be a great addition to the young team San Antonio has that includes Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell.
2023 Stats: 37 G, 18.8 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 2.1 Ast, 43.0% FG, 38.4% 3PT, 86.0% FT
Player Comparison: Paul George
4. CHA: Amen Thompson, Combo Guard, G League Ignite
6’7” 202 LBS, Age: 20
Amen Thompson and his brother will both be picked in this draft, but I think Amen is slightly better. He is a great combo Guard with fantastic passing skills, crazy athleticism, good defense and shifty handles, the jump shot leaves a lot to be desired but it can improve. Thompson seems like he’d be the long-term shooting guard next to LaMelo Ball in Charlotte, the Hornets have a lot of things to improve on, but surely Amen Thompson is a step in the right direction. I feel like anyone who tunes into a G League Ignite game will definitely agree that this kid’s got it.
2023 Stats: 16 G, 16.4 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 6.0 Ast, 2.3 Stl, 56.6% FG, 25.0% 3PT, 65.6% FT
Player Comparison: Taller John Wall
5. POR: Ausar Thompson, SF, G League Ignite
6’7” 207 LBS, Age: 20
Yes, I have the brothers going back to back in the Draft, and have them both in the top 5, that’s how talented they are. Ausar plays a little different from his brother, he’s more of a wing player while his brother is a Guard. Ausar is a great athlete with good playmaking and IQ, he is also a good defender and has good off-ball offensive skills such as cutting, he too doesn’t have a great outside shot, but let’s hope it develops. He’ll surely help Portland greatly in their rebuilding phase.
2023 Stats: 16 G, 16.3 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 6.1 Ast, 2.4 Stl, 48.1% FG, 29.8% 3PT, 66.2% FT
Player Comparison: Young Andrew Wiggins
6. ORL: Anthony Black, PG, Arkansas
6’7” 198 LBS, Age: 19
Black is a perfect fit to be a Point Guard in today’s NBA, he has elite size, playmaking ability, and defensive skills. He’s good at getting to the rim and finishes well in traffic, he has a great jump shot form, however has been inconsistent from deep but the shooting upside is most definitely there. At six, Orlando gets the facilitator they so desperately need, despite Markelle Fultz playing well this year, it’s time for a change, and Black is a great two-way Point Guard with scoring potential. Black struggled a bit in the NCAA Tournament, but that doesn’t worry me too much, the talent is all there.
2023 Stats: 36 G, 12.8 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 4.0 Ast, 2.1 Stl, 45.3% FG, 30.1% 3PT, 70.5% FT
Player Comparison: More Athletic Lonzo Ball
7. IND: Jarace Walker, PF, Houston
6’8” 240 LBS, Age: 19
Walker is an absolute monster, he’s a perfect Power Forward for the NBA, he’s incredibly strong and he uses his body to his advantage while being 6’8”. Walker is a good defender on the perimeter and the interior, he handles the ball very well for a Power Forward, and is money in the mid-range while being able to score inside with physicality. He is already developing his 3-point shot, and it looks as if he’ll be a great small ball Center if needed. Walker has all the tools to be a defensive anchor for a team as well, and I believe he’ll compliment Myles Turner very well as the other big man.
2023 Stats: 36 G, 11.2 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 1.8 Ast, 1.3 Blk, 46.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 66.3% FT
Player Comparison: Julius Randle/Scottie Barnes
8. WAS: Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova
6’7” 232 LBS, Age: 18
Whitmore is one of the strongest, and most physical Forwards in the Draft. He is elite at getting to the rim and finishing over defenders who jump with him, Whitmore also had a solid year shooting the ball from deep and it seems like he’ll improve upon that. He hasn’t shown much value in the aspect of playmaking but he is also a versatile defender because of his athleticism and physicality that he uses to his advantage. Whitmore is rising on the Draft boards as the days go by, and would be a great young addition to the Wizards to help out Beal, Kuzma, and Porzingis.
2023 Stats: 26 G, 12.5 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.4 Stl, 47.8% FG, 34.3% 3PT, 70.3 FT
Player Comparison: OG Anunoby
9. UTA: Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky
6’4” 193 LBS, Age: 19
Cason Wallace is one of my favorite players in this entire class, I mean he is literally a Jrue Holiday clone in my eyes. His defensive skills and instincts are fantastic, has incredible IQ, is an elite playmaker, and is a good shooter off the dribble and off the catch. Wallace handles the ball well which only adds to his skill set, there are genuinely no clear weaknesses in his game, he is simply good at every aspect of basketball and has all the intangibles to help a team win, and I think that will transfer over to the NBA smoothly. Wallace should be drafted higher in my opinion so I’d consider Utah very lucky if they get him at nine. Utah needs a Point Guard desperately, so this would be a perfect fit.
2023 Stats: 32 G, 11.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 4.3 Ast, 2.0 Stl, 44.6% FG, 34.6% 3PT, 75.7% FT
Player Comparison: Jrue Holiday
10. DAL: Taylor Hendricks, PF, Central Florida
6’9” 210 LBS, Age: 19
The main thing Dallas needs to address is defense, along with tertiary scoring behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Hendricks is rising as we inch closer to the Draft and for good reason, he is the true definition of a two-way stretch four, he shot just below 40% from downtown in his lone year at UCF. Hendricks is unbelievably versatile on the defensive end, and his main weakness is shot creation but he would be a fantastic catch and shoot candidate for Irving and Doncic to pass to. Hendricks would also add much needed interior defense as a big man for Dallas
2023 Stats: 34 G, 15.1 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 1.7 Blk, 47.8% FG, 39.4% 3PT, 78.2% FT
Player Comparison: John Collins
11. ORL (via CHI): Gradey Dick, SG, Kansas
6’8” 205 LBS, Age: 19
Gradey Dick is the best shooter in the Draft, and I feel that he would fit in perfectly with Orlando as they are near the bottom of the League in 3-point shooting. Dick showed elite shooting, flashes of defensive upside, and can create his own shot well. I’d say defense is not his biggest weakness, he just needs to improve his lateral quickness because he generated a ton of steals in the lanes at Kansas. Dick is more than a shooter and If my Mock goes according to plan, Orlando would have a great young lineup of Anthony Black, Gradey Dick, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr.
2023 Stats: 36 G, 14.1 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 1.4 Stl, 44.2% FG, 40.3% 3PT, 85.4% FT
Player Comparison: Desmond Bane/More Athletic Kevin Huerter
12. OKC: Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn
6’5” 185 LBS, Age: 21
Hawkins showed that he is an incredible scorer after helping lead his UConn team to a National Championship victory this year. Hawkins is a sniper and a natural scorer and has really improved his isolation scoring. He is a solid defender but the only downside is his physicality, as he has sort of a small frame, so the main problem I will have regarding his NBA career, is his switchability and how well he’d be able to guard bigger ball handlers. Hawkins would surely be a great addition to OKC’s amazing young team and would help take some of the scoring load off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
2023 Stats: 37 G, 16.2 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast, 41.0% FG, 38.8% 3PT, 88.7% FT
Player Comparison: Anfernee Simons
13. TOR: Keyonte George, SG, Baylor
6’4” 185 LBS, Age: 19
George is one of the better pure scorers in the class, as he has smooth ball handling ability to get to his spots. He takes a high volume of shots and had very poor efficiency in his Freshman campaign at Baylor. He’s a solid defender and also needs to work on his speed with the ball. George has nice upside as a scorer as long as he addresses his inefficiencies, he tends to take really tough shots which cause bad misses, but I think it can be fixed. He would fit in well with the Raptors scheme of a lot of Guards and Wings in their lineups, however we’ll see how they assemble a team with no more Nick Nurse.
2023 Stats: 33 G, 15.3 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 2.8 Ast, 37.6% FG, 33.8% 3PT, 79.3% FT
Player Comparison: Terry Rozier
14. NOP: Nick Smith Jr., SG, Arkansas
6’5” 185 LBS, Age: 19
Within a month, Smith has fallen from a possible top 10 pick, to mid-first round. He struggled tremendously in the NCAA Tournament, and didn’t play most of the season anyway due to injury. Smith is a natural scorer and a shoot-first Guard and would be a great fit for New Orleans with the uncertainty of C.J. McCollum. Smith was wildly inefficient like Keyonte George, but the talent is there for Smith as it is for George. He loves the pull-up jump shot and when he’s on, hits deep threes with ease, he seems to have solid defensive instincts, but he isn’t very strong and may struggle to defend bigger Guards.
2023 Stats: 17 G, 12.5 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 37.6% FG, 33.8% 3PT, 74.0% FT
Player Comparison: D’Angelo Russell
15. ATL: Jett Howard, SG, Michigan
6’8” 215 LBS, Age: 20
The son of former NBA All Star Juwan Howard, really put his skills on display this year at the University of Michigan. Howard is an offensive threat, he can handle the ball and get to his spot quite well, he relies heavily on the jumper but for good reason, he can really stroke it well. He’s improving as a playmaker but it’s hard to tell the upside in that area and he’s got the ability to grow to be a great 3 and D wing in today’s game. Howard would be a great step for Atlanta if they decide to trade Trae Young, he’d be able to learn from impactful wings such as DeAndre Hunter.
2023 Stats: 29 G, 14.2 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.0 Ast, 41.4% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 80.0% FT
Player Comparison: Eric Gordon
16. UTA (via MIN): GG Jackson II, PF, South Carolina
6’9” 215 LBS, Age: 18
Jackson is one of the youngest players in this Draft, and he is incredibly talented with great upside for any team that selects him. He has an incredible offensive arsenal as he loves to score off the dribble or off the catch but is very inefficient, he’s tall and athletic with really nice range, his wingspan is only around 6’10” so he will likely be a Power Forward in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad defender, in fact he’s a plus defender. Utah would get a nice player here to put alongside Markkanen, Kessler, Sexton and the young Jazz squad. However I have to knock his poor decision making, which is not good.
2023 Stats: 32 G, 15.4 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 38.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT, 67.7% FT
Player Comparison: Two-Way Rui Hachimura
17. LAL: Dariq Whitehead, SF, Duke
6’7” 220 LBS, Age: 18
It was a bit of a surprise that Dariq Whitehead declared for the Draft after coming off the bench most of the year for the Blue Devils. Whitehead has shown flashes that he can develop into a really nice 3 and D wing in the NBA, even though he underwhelmed a little bit this year. He struggled a bit off the catch when in comparison to creating his own shot, but the 18 year old has a lot of time to improve, I see the Lakers taking him based on the upside and shooting ability alone.
2023 Stats: 28 G, 8.3 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast, 42.1% FG, 43.0% 3PT, 79.3% FT
Player Comparison: Cam Reddish
18. MIA: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Combo Guard, Indiana
6’6” 213 LBS, Age: 19
Jalen Hood-Schifino was a great partner to Trayce Jackson-Davis this past year. He is a good combo Guard who has the ability to facilitate as the Point Guard or play off the ball as a Shooting Guard. He has a very smooth play style as he relies on finesse and breaking down a defender rather than using athleticism or explosiveness. He struggled a bit to shoot at a consistent rate from deep and on the other end, is a good defender, he’s got really nice size and is able to hold his own very well. This would be a good pick for Miami as they need someone to step into the Point Guard role with the aging Kyle Lowry.
2023 Stats: 32 G, 13.5 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 3.7 Ast, 41.7% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 77.6% FT
Player Comparison: Spencer Dinwiddie
19. GSW: Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State
6’6” 235 LBS, Age: 19
Sensabaugh is an extremely big and strong Forward who really exploded onto the scene at Ohio State this year as a Freshman. Sensabaugh is simply a 3-level scorer, and he can score off the dribble and off the catch, which is obviously very important. He is an above average athlete and is very physical which causes him to be a solid defender but there’s room for improvement, he’s not super fast which doesn’t help him defensively sometimes and he also needs to improve his playmaking, but it’s not like he needs to be an elite playmaker. If he falls to Golden State, they’ll just be adding another scorer and shooter.
2023 Stats: 33 G, 16.3 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.2 Ast, 48.0% FG, 40.5% 3PT, 83.0% FT
Player Comparison: T.J. Warren/Terrence Ross
20. HOU (via LAC): Kris Murray, PF, Iowa
6’8” 215 LBS, Age: 22
Kris Murray really broke out last year at Iowa, which was very much expected as many Iowa players were gone after 2021. Murray is a good off ball scorer and has really developed his outside game and is looking like he’ll become a true 3-level scorer with his skill set. He’s a solid defender and he really continues to improve as an all-around player. The main knock with him is his age, as he’ll be 23 at the start of his rookie year, 23 is still young but it doesn’t give him as much time to develop as the other prospects, but he’d be a nice scoring piece for the seemingly on the rise Rockets.
2023 Stats: 29 G, 20.2 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast, 47.6% FG, 33.5% 3PT, 73.0% FT
Player Comparison: Marcus Morris Sr.
21. BKN (via PHX): Kobe Bufkin, SG, Michigan
6’4” 195 LBS, Age: 19
The second Wolverine to go in this first round would be Guard, Kobe Bufkin. He absolutely broke out in his second year at Michigan as a scorer and a decent playmaker. Bufkin likes to shoot the ball and he has a sweet lefty stroke, he also likes running the floor in transition, but sometimes gets shot happy and forces unnecessary contested shots. He gets too excited on the defensive end and commits a lot of unneeded fouls, even fouling out of multiple games. Bufkin would have a great shot to prove himself on a young team full of wings being the Brooklyn Nets.
2023 Stats: 33 G, 14.0 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 3.0 Ast, 48.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT, 85.0% FT
Player Comparison: Jordan Poole
22. BKN: Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama
6’10” 210 LBS, Age: 18
Noah Clowney is one of the youngest players in the 2023 NBA Draft and I think Clowney has a chance to be a really good impact guy especially defensively. He showed nice versatility on defense being an elite shot blocker and rebounding at a high level as well. He provided some nice floor spacing for Alabama, attempting around three shots from downtown per game, he didn’t shoot a great percentage, but the shooting upside is there. If he does develop the shooting, he can be a very valuable two-way stretch four which is the best case scenario, but he is a project to be worked on.
2023 Stats: 36 G, 9.8 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 1.0 Blk, 48.6% FG, 28.3% 3PT, 65.0% FT
Player Comparison: Naz Reid
23. POR (via NYK): Leonard Miller, SF, G League Ignite
6’10” 210 LBS, Age: 19
Leonard Miller is a raw prospect, like Noah Clowney, he’ll be a project, but he’s got really nice upside from what we’ve seen. Miller handles the ball well for a 6’10” guy, often scoring off the dribble, he’s also a great athlete which helps him on the defensive end a bit despite his bad instincts. He tends to get shot happy and make bad decisions in pressure situations and sometimes is wild with the ball. Miller is a project as I said, but he sure fits the window for Portland’s apparent rebuild. Miller is a tall guy who can create a shot, but is a negative defender as of now especially in the paint.
2023 Stats: 24 G, 18.0 Pts, 11.0 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 55.6% FG, 32.7% 3PT, 79.2% FT
Player Comparison: Christian Wood/Marvin Bagley III
24. SAC: Rayan Rupert, SF, France
6’6” 205 LBS, Age: 18
Rupert is an absolutely elite defender on the ball as he possesses a 7’3” wingspan and really nice instincts to shut down ball handlers. Rupert is another project player being just 18 years old, but he can be a high floor prospect due to his elite defense. Rupert struggles to hit from downtown and is subpar in a set half-court offense, he doesn’t provide much physically and the fact that he can’t shoot well already has him at a disadvantage. If Rupert can up his efficiency from deep, he can turn himself into a nice 3 and D player one day.
2023 Stats: 20 G, 6.6 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 1.0 Ast, 36.4% FG, 25.0% 3PT, 70.3% FT
Player Comparison: Isaac Okoro
25. MEM: Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine
6’7” 195 LBS, Age: 20
3 and D wings, the NBA can never have enough of them because of how important it is to, well, shoot the 3 and play D. Lewis put himself on the map even at a smaller school like Pepperdine and showed he’s a nice shooter and shot creator. Even though his best bet would be 3 and D, he’s a good athlete and has shown promise with finishing the basketball. Lewis has a nice stroke although 3 point consistency has been a problem before, largely due to his tendency to take tough shots. Sometimes he can be a ball stopper, but he could fit in well with a young, determined team like Memphis.
2023 Stats: 31 G, 17.1 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 2.8 Ast, 46.8% FG, 34.8% 3PT, 78.7% FT
Player Comparison: DeAndre Hunter
26. IND (via CLE): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
7’1” 230 LBS, Age: 19
To be completely honest, Dereck Lively II was quite disappointing this year for Duke, but he is a tremendous shot blocker and uses all of his 7’7” wingspan to his advantage, Lively moves well for his size, and has emerged as a lob threat on the offensive end which will be great for his Draft stock. He is the definition of an inside center, he is already getting high praise by scouts and analysts who are predicting he’ll be an All-League defender, his offense needs some work, but at the very least he’d help Indiana on the second unit due to the disappointing under-utilization of Isaiah Jackson.
2023 Stats: 34 G, 5.2 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 2.4 Blk, 65.8% FG, 60.0% FT
Player Comparison: Mitchell Robinson
27. CHA (via DEN): Bilal Coulibaly, SF, France
6’6” 230 LBS, Age: 18
Coulibaly didn’t see a ton of success for the Metropolitans, but he played great before playing for the under-21 team. Coulibaly is a fantastic athlete and that helps him greatly to finish in traffic and he can make acrobatic finishes after absorbing contact. He’s a really nice defender with great switchability meaning he can guard 1 through 4 partly due to his 7’3” wingspan, he’s an efficient scorer and a solid 3 point shooter. He’d be another project for the young Hornets team where he could thrive with other young players.
2023 Stats: 37 G, 11.5 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 1.4 Ast, 1.6 Stl, 52.8% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 72.5% FT
Player Comparison: Jalen Williams
28. UTA (via PHI): Ricky Council IV, SG, Arkansas
6’6” 205 LBS, Age: 21
Yes, I have three of the four Arkansas players in this Draft going in the first round, the Razorbacks really had some special talent, and Council IV was honestly their most effective scorer. He loves to get to the rim and score the ball, he wasn’t good from beyond the arc but there’s some upside there because of his nice mid-range game. Council IV is a more than capable defender who often guarded opposing teams’ secondary ball handlers, I could see him fitting in well with Utah because they have players with experience and players who are young to all work off each other.
2023 Stats: 36 G, 16.1 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 2.3 Ast, 43.3% FG, 27.0% 3PT, 79.4% FT
Player Comparison: Caleb Martin
29. IND (via BOS): Terquavion Smith, SG, NC State
6’4” 165 LBS, Age: 20
Terquavion Smith really impressed in the NCAA Tournament, his scoring was on full display and had some acrobatic and insane plays that landed him on highlight reels. Smith is a scorer, and when he’s hot, there is no slowing him down at all. He’s surely a spark of scoring, although he tends to be a little inefficient but that can be fixed hopefully. His main weakness is that he’s really small, which doesn’t help him physically on offense nor on defense, Smith is a pure scorer. In Indiana, he’d be another bench scorer to help out Bennedict Mathurin and company.
2023 Stats: 34 G, 18.0 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 4.1 Ast, 38.0% FG, 33.6% 3PT, 70.1% FT
Player Comparison: Bones Hyland/Immanuel Quickley
30. LAC (via MIL): Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF, UCLA
6’7” 225 LBS, Age: 22
With the last pick in the first round, I have the Clippers taking Jaime Jaquez Jr from UCLA. Jaquez is a very skilled Forward, I wish he would’ve entered the draft after his Sophomore year to get NBA development at a younger age. Jaquez is very good in the isolation game and is able to use crafty moves to score on his defender. He’s not great from beyond the arc which hurts his Draft stock a bit, he’s also a plus rebounder and a solid defender although he struggled to guard quicker players. He’ll need to grow as a shooter but I think he can do it, however if he’s drafted to the Clippers, he’s got a good amount of competition considering how deep of a team they are.
2023 Stats: 37 G, 17.8 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 2.4 Ast, 48.1% FG, 31.7% 3PT, 77.0% FT
Player Comparison: Poor Man’s Tobias Harris
