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UConn guard Jordan Hawkins could be underrated in the 2023 draft class.
Editor’s Note: To learn more about Jonathan Wasserman’s 2023 Draft of Bleacher Report, or read this article on BleacherReport.com, click here.
(B/R) — With conference play underway, you can bet you’ll see a handful of under-the-radar NBA prospects starting to creep onto the draft board.
These prospects have already caught the attention of scouts, but a strong January and February should boost interest next June.
We’re looking at a mix of repeat breakouts and freshmen coming into the season who haven’t received much of the one-off hype.
Promising players such as Pepperdine’s Maxwell Lewis, Ohio State’s Bryce Sensabo, and Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins eventually became so famous that they were no longer considered sleepers.
The following prospects are in the early stages of their potential rise and are not considered lottery picks or necessarily top 20 prospects.
UCLA’s Jaylen Clark could be a valuable pick in the late first or early second round of the 2023 draft.
Jalen Clarke (UCLA, wing, junior)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Limited creation, shooting difficulties, average wing size
Reasons for being underrated: Easy-to-use versatility/adaptive, defensive, and projectable roles
Jaylen Clark must play on the draft board. We need versatility and consistent impact play over her 14.1 points per game.
Still a limited creator and shooter, his game doesn’t scream upwards.
Exceptional defensive instincts come first when you read off-the-ball play and watch Clark average 2.7 steals per game. As a help defender, he anticipates and reacts, displaying an untaught sense of jumping pass lanes, blowing up screens to force turnovers, and often turning them into haste points. .
Offensively, he doesn’t have a lot of firepower in one-on-one situations, but he does what defenses give up by improvising a variety of touch shots, passing closeouts, and timing cuts. It shows you how to use it. He shoots 70.8% of him at the rim and one-handed around the key where he shoots 19 of 37.
He also ranks as one of the nation’s most efficient pick-and-roll playmakers, with teammates converting 64.3% of his shot attempts from Clarke’s ball-screen passes, scoring in the 99th percentile. It has been.
He currently has the third-highest box plus-minus in the country, and eye tests support analyzes that show he regularly impacts games with efficient offensive and defensive IQ. increase.
His shooting development is based on 11-of-31 3-pointer starts, off-ball finishes, on-ball decision-making, and ability to convert defense to a supporting role. It’s starting to look like a worthwhile bet. .
Noah Clowney (Alabama, PF, freshman)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Lack of productivity, limited creation skills, number of shots, average athleticism
Reasons for being underrated: Physical tools, shot-making possibilities, valuable archetypes
Noah Clowney is shooting just 6.8 shots per game, but he’s building a strong NBA case with a combination that appreciates efficiency in shooting, defense, and finishing.
At just 18, his shot-making flashes, drives past closeouts, and screener baskets outweigh his 28.2% shooting percentage and apparent lack of polish on 3-pointers.
He has made up to eight 3-pointers in Alabama’s last five games and looks confident in quick and brief releases with minimal dips. He’s on the right path to becoming a stretch-four pick-and-pop big man.
Although limited offensively in terms of ball handling, self-creation and post-play, Clowney has found ways to score off the ball, showing good timing/awareness to slide across the screen, roll or land in a dunker’s spot. reach (68.3% at the rim).
On the ball, we’ve seen several sequences where he identifies space, puts the ball down, attacks in a straight line, and finishes with body control.
His 14.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per 40 minutes highlight the NBA’s physical tools and activity. Clowney works as a positive rebounder that adds value to defense with his mobility, motor and length.
The unrecognized scoring upside may eventually allow freshmen to join the board of directors of the 20-something team. This is Steele’s territory for a 6-foot-10 3-and-D forward with room for added shot versatility.
Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut, SG/SF, sophomore)
Overlooked for the following reasons: limited creativity or versatility
Reasons for being underrated: translatable/worthy shotmaking
Jordan Hawkins hasn’t stepped forward with creations and off-the-dribbling play, but NBA teams should start envisioning his shotmaking leading to off-ball scoring.
He’s averaging three 3-pointers in just 26 minutes per game, filling jumpers from spot-ups (47.1%) and screens (43.6%). Hawkins’ shots are compelling from an NBA scout’s perspective, given the altitude and lack of hesitation he gains in his shots. so quick triggers appear even on transitions (10 3-pointers were created).
While releasing catches is clearly the most comfortable and dangerous, he shows plenty of potential in pull-ups (36%), separating himself in contests with sudden determination and rising heights. increase.
Otherwise, he relies on his functional athleticism, mostly finishing transitions and making defensive playmaking.
While he’s not very versatile, Hawkins has a plug-and-play skill set with valuable specializations that should continue to be effective in catch-and-shoot roles alongside NBA creators and passers. He has averaged 14.6 ppg (and he has 22.5 points per 40 minutes) despite having a total of 14 ball possessions with his screens and isolations all season.
Taylor Hendricks (UCF, PF, Freshman)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Scout Inexperience, Limited Creativity
Reasons for being underrated: NBA Tools, Valuable Archetypes
Taylor Hendricks is starting to grab the attention of the NBA by ticking a worthy box with his combination of shotmaking, defense and tool/athleticism.
He is the only player in the country with at least 25 3-pointers, 15 dunks, and a block rate greater than 5%.
Continuing shots is clearly key, but his early consistency continues as he has a 79.1% free throw percentage and 41% from deep on 4.4 tries per game. Promising. Hendrix is doing most of his damage spotting, but the smaller sample size shows Hendrix is comfortable off the dribble (6 out of 14) and slows down before using a pullup or a touch to the runner. (6 out of 10) indicates that.
While he remains restricted in creation situations, he is very efficient (99th percentile) when converting in transitions, playing mainly to his strengths, ending plays with fast breaks, rolls and Created by cut, catch and shoot chances.
Given the 6.9-foot, 210-pound frame, mobility, athleticism, and ability to contest shots at the rim and off the rim, the NBA coach will be better able to utilize his defensive tools and activities early on. maybe. Hendricks combines both a fearless challenging finish and an impressive foot his speed in space his guard.
Between his build and shots, the team is starting to see translatable 3-D. This is his first grade floor projection in November when he turned 19. Continuing to produce during his play should help Hendricks secure a spot on the team’s first-round board.
Xavier guard Colby Jones is an outstanding passer and a clever half-court set finisher.
Colby Jones (Xavier, SG/SF, Jr.)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Movement limitation, lack of self-creation, low-volume shooting
Reasons for being underrated: Versatility/projected fit, bi-directional tools, improved shooting
Thanks to early signs of a 3-point improvement (40-18), Colby Jones, already an NBA watcher, had 16 points, 5 assists and 2 steals in a win over No. 2 Connecticut, giving the scout another strong performance. made a statement.
It’s becoming easier to imagine the NBA fitting into a 6-foot-6 interchangeable guard or wing. He’s an outstanding passer, versatile defender, and suddenly a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat (48.3%).
Jones feels ready to adapt to the next level with his ball screen play and passing IQ (5.6 apg), improving his shot-making and physical tools for driving, finishing and defending multiple positions.
Jones isn’t a sharp creator off the dribble, and his limited pull-up game and small amount of 3-point attempts suggest he’s not projected as a high upside scorer. However, he has shown great patience, timing and finesse to play within his set of half-court offensives. He picks his spots well and attacks, using his power and offhand to convert around the basket.
Jones is also tough and alarming in defense and pace, finishing with a 2.5 steal percentage for the third straight season.
NBA coaches could consider using him over the ball to cut the ball or as a dribbling handoff weapon.
The longer this consistent shooting streak lasts, the more compelling it becomes that he becomes visible as a prospect for the Swiss Army Knife.
Judah Mintz (Syracuse, PG/SG, Freshman)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Syracuse records, shot counts and physics tools
Reasons for being underrated: Creativity, Variety, Shootmaking, Energy
Judah Mintz’s poor 3-point numbers and a bad Syracuse loss have kept his draft buzz in check. The team invested early on, with two-point shooting percentage and free throw percentage (77.3) suggesting room for improvement in shooting, and a freshman whose creativity and playmaking are already positives to continue to persevere with his guard. It may be wise to
Mintz, who was the fourth-highest scoring freshman despite recording five 3s all season, was able to get out of ball-handling moves, speed changes, long strides, and when finishing plays off a dribble, he was a midfielder. Get the hang of getting up and hanging on range shots. Layup air.
He creates his own separation with counters, timings and bounces. Despite his weight of only 172 pounds, he makes good contacts. Mintz is cunning in lane, using pivots, fakes, patience and touch (14 runners out of 28).
With 59 assists for 29 turnovers, he did a great job of running points. It shows enough sense of playmaking to be used to create
His defensive drive and energy are also selling points, as Mintz averages 2.3 spg off-ball pressure, comfortable feet and good strength.
Mintz is unlikely to contribute as a rookie in the 2023-24 season, and could well return to Syracuse for his sophomore season. He may still be underrated for his wiggles, off-the-dribble shots, rim pressure, passing, defensive motor, and shooting range that can be improved.
Jordan Walsh (Arkansas, SF/PF, Freshman)
Overlooked for the following reasons: Self-made limit, 3-point shoot, directing
Reasons for being underrated: Fit/Versatility, Convertible Defense/Hustle, Modifiable Shooting
Trevon Brazil’s late-season injury paved the way for Jordan Walsh to showcase more scoring versatility and defense that formed the forward archetype that is the archetype of NBA team values.
The general manager can safely ignore the 18 year old production and percentage shortfall with a utilization rate of 16.3%. In the long run, it should be worth betting on Walsh’s improved shooting ability and what he can do with the 6-foot-7 high-energy defender who can score with closeout attacks, pull-ups and runners at mid-range. is.
Walsh has enough shooting mechanics for his team to bet on scoring off-ball and defending from three or four positions, along with off-the-dribbling maneuvers, touch shots, physical finishing (64.9% at the rim), effort and footwork. Flashed speed. A scout should see convertible defenses related to his tools, foot speed, IQ, focus, motor, recovery and playmaking (3.2 steals his percentage).
Smart passing and hustle play only enhance Walsh’s roll player profile and potential to make an impact in the game without taking a shot.
There were questionable sequences when he struggled to isolate offensively, but realistically, one-on-one scoring isn’t going to be a huge part of his job description at the next level. .
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Jonathan Wasserman is a principal scout and NBA Draft Analyst for Bleacher Report.you can follow him twitter.
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