16. Leonard Miller (G League Ignite, PF)
Miller is a solid, big forward with a lot of grit and strength about him. He can rebound, defend, and shows all the signs of being a versatile forward who can play anywhere in the frontcourt. It helps he has some ball-handling skills and a sweet jumper, but he needs to bulk up and refine his game to have a long NBA career.
17. Dariq Whitehead (Duke, SG)
Whitehead is a dynamic, electric guard who makes big flashy plays on both ends of the court. He’s athletic and intelligent and was a shoo-in lottery pick until a foot injury derailed his season. He should be a mid-to-late first-round steal for many teams.
18. Jett Howard (Michigan, SF)
Howard is a sweet shooter who can create and make his own shots. His versatility on defense and athleticism remain significant questions for the small forward if he wants to make big waves in the league.
19. Dereck Lively II (Duke, PF)
Lively II is one of this draft class’ best big men thanks to his perimeter shooting, his defense, and impressive build that could significantly help an ailing frontcourt like the Pelicans or the Thunder. He was inconsistent in his freshman season with Duke, but it doesn’t mean teams won’t take a chance on him.
20. Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana, PG)
Hood-Schifino is a prospect on the rise after a great NBA Draft Combine performance. His intelligence, ball-handling, and versatility easily make up for a perceived lack of athleticism as he slots in as a mid-first-round pick.
21. Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, SF)
Sensabaugh’s 6’6, 235-pound build has split scouts in two sides, one describing him as arguably the best shot-creator and a midrange magician, and the other pointing out his defensive inaccuracies and weaknesses when it comes to finishing. He could get lost in this draft class’ wing depth, but he’s certainly not one to forget.
22. Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers, SG)
Rupert is a raw talent who can hit threes and be a threat from the perimeter, while also collecting easy steals and blocks thanks to his size and wingspan. He’s far from a finished prospect, but his upside shouldn’t be slept on.
23. Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92, SF)
Wembanyama’s partner at Mets 92, Bilal Coulibaly is yet another talented wing who can hit threes, make big defensive plays, and dribble the ball like a traditional point guard. He’s unproven though, and despite his prowess in France, Coulibaly needs a strong Combine to convince scouts and GMs.
24. Kris Murray (Iowa, PF)
Murray is consistent and a smooth forward with an advanced level of footwork. He’s comfortable from range, and his size ensures some results with midrange shots and three-pointers. Murray may struggle against the bigger, more physical defenders in the NBA, and his shot selection is iffy at times.
25. Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine, SF)
Lewis is yet another wing with massive potential on both sides of the ball. Lewis is big and agile, while also showing a lot of ball-handling skills and spot-up scoring skills. However, he does have trouble choosing shots and He’s definitely a name you should watch out for; drafts have him as far up as the late lottery to the early second round.
26. GG Jackson (South Carolina, PF)
GG Jackson has exploded for some high-scoring games in the SEC, and with his athleticism, natural fluidity, and footwork, he could be a very nice pick for a playoff-contending team in the late first round. But Jackson is a streaky shooter, and while at South Carolina, he forced some bad shots.
27. Colby Jones (Xavier, SG)
Jones has been one of the most improved players during the recent college basketball season. Jones is well-rounded and versatile, but he doesn’t have any qualities that immediately jump out at scouts, so he could fall to the early-second-round in the worst-case scenario or up to the mid-first-round.
28. Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana, PF)
This Indiana Hoosiers power forward is a powerful, physical presence in the paint. He’s a solid rebounder, effective on the inside, and a fairly good defender. However, he may need to finetune some of his tools to get a lot of minutes in the NBA.
29. Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara, SG)
Podziemski is one of the draft’s best outside shooters, a solid playmaker, and a combo guard with all the tools to succeed, or at least, play, at the next level. Podziemski needs the ball in his hands to thrive in an offense, which could clash with a championship-contending team.
30. Noah Clowney (Alabama, PF)
Clowney was a key part of Alabama’s SEC Tournament Championship title; he’s an unstoppable force of nature who can score in the paint and can get rebounds and block shots with his impressive wingspan. Yet, he’s still an unproven free-throw shooter who struggles with his jump shot. Clowney’s game still needs a lot of development.
See All 2023 NBA Draft Rankings and Profiles
