# Team Player Pos
1 Zaccharie Risacher SF

This draft is pretty wide-open at the top but it's easy to make a case for Risacher at No. 1 given the upside he presents with the size and skill combo. Wings at 6-9 who can handle and shoot with ease the way he can don't slip far.

2 Rob Dillingham
Kentucky, Fr
 
PG

Dillingham is coming off the bench for Kentucky but flashing stardom when on the floor. He's a lightning rod with twitchy ability and capability as a ball-handler to dazzle. I see Kyrie Irving in his game and right now I'd take him No. 1 overall.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.1 15.4 2.8 3.9 48.2
3 Alex Sarr C

One of the most promising defensive prospects in this class, Sarr projects to be a shot blocking specialist in the NBA who has upside to switch onto multiple positions. It's hard to put him into one box, though, because of the rare versatility he brings to the table on both ends.

4 Reed Sheppard
Kentucky, Fr
 
SG

However good you think Sheppard is, just know you're probably wrong and underrating him. He's having an historically great freshman season at Kentucky as arguably the best shooter in college basketball, and he's a defensive playmaker with the smarts to be a two-way star.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.8 4.3 4.5 54.3
5 Ja'Kobe Walter
Baylor, Fr
 
SG

This might be on the high end of projections right now for Walter in part because his shot-making hasn't quite been at an elite level but I'm buying the dip. Great size, projectable shooting guard and long considered a great shooter. High floor type pick here.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32 14.2 4.4 1.5 37.3
6 Nikola Topic PG

Topic is a top-five talent for me in this class so slipping to six would register as a mild surprise. He's an excellent distributor who can play downhill and I love the vision + instincts combo he brings to the table as an electric playmaker.

7 Cody Williams
Colorado, Fr
 
SG

The younger brother of rising OKC Thunder star Jalen Williams, Cody has caught the eye of NBA teams as a sneaky No. 1 pick contender given his size and skill as a playmaking wing. He's shooting nearly 50% from 3-point range on modest volume this season as a freshman and has flashed in a number of roles with the Buffaloes this season.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.6 3.3 1.7 56.5
8 Tidjane Salaun SF

A big wing with a sturdy shooting base and a consistent release, Salaun has quickly become one of my favorites in this class. His mechanics as a shooter are excellent and his positional size as a jumbo wing make his game immediately translatable to the NBA.

9 Matas Buzelis PF

Buzelis hasn't quite lived up to expectations as a potential No. 1 pick in 2024 playing for G League Ignite this season but it's still hard to see him slipping out of the top 10. The tools he possesses that made him such a highly-touted prospect -- his 6-10 frame, ability to put the ball on the floor and shooting upside -- are all enough to validate a team willing to take him in this range.

10 Ron Holland PF

I've long been a fan of Holland's athleticism and potential and he's shown growth this season with G League Ignite with his handle. He has a lot of room to develop as an offensive weapon, though, particularly as a shooter and a facilitator. Lot to like about his potential but some concerns about him being a bit one-dimensional at this stage.

11 Stephon Castle
UConn, Fr
 
PG

On a UConn team flush with talent as the NCAA Tournament favorite, Castle has managed to stand out. As a 19-year-old. Wish he shot it a little better and with more confidence, but a silky guard who never plays rushed and has big-time playmaking ability.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
26.7 10.8 4.5 2.9 46.8
12 Donovan Clingan
UConn, Soph
 
C

Clingan isn't UConn's leading scorer or rebounder but he's been arguably its most impactful piece all season. Dominant defensive presence who brings relentless energy and effort.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
22 12.5 7.2 1.5 63.8
13 Isaiah Collier
USC, Fr
 
PG

Since returning from injury earlier this season, Collier has averaged 18.7 points and helped breathe life into USC's once-dead season. The Trojans defeated No. 5 Arizona last week with Collier going for 16 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal in the winning effort.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30 16.3 2.9 4.3 49.0
14 Dalton Knecht
Tennessee, Sr
 
SG

Knecht transferred to Tennessee from Northern Colorado and has blossomed this season into the SEC Player of the Year and a potential lottery pick with the Vols. He's a bouncy athlete who has a diverse skill set on offense and is shooting a career-best 40.5% from 3-point range.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29.9 21.1 4.7 1.8 46.5
15 Kyle Filipowski
Duke, Soph
 
C

I wanted to see Filipowski in his second season at Duke develop as a defender and become a more consistent and reliable shooter, and he has improved in both areas. The 7-footer fits the profile of a modern NBA big with the ability to score it from deep and also operate as a facilitator with good vision and willingness as a passer.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.5 17.1 8.2 2.8 51.3
16 DaRon Holmes II
Dayton, Jr
 
PF

There's a few players in this class I think I'll wind up being higher on than most, and Holmes is one of them. He improved his shot from deep on more volume with Dayton this season, scoring at a more efficient clip and making big strides as a junior for the Flyers. I see a future starting NBA center.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.2 20.4 8.4 2.6 54.5
17 Jared McCain
Duke, Fr
 
PG

One of college basketball's biggest personalities and most versatile shot-makers. Killer combo. McCain is a fun player all around who can be a microwave scorer and he plays with an edge that makes him fun to watch. Smidge concerned about his size, but his shot-making is so incredible it might just not matter.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.9 13.4 4.9 1.8 45.6
18 Bobi Klintman
Sweden, Fr
 
PF

The theoretical upside for Klintman as a 6-foot-10 wing is going to be tough to pass on for teams in the late teens or early 20s. Good shooter but probably falls more into the developmental category due to his slender frame and youth.

19 Yves Missi
Baylor, Fr
 
C

Missi is an unsuspecting one-and-done candidate who could go in the lottery after what he's put on tape at Baylor. He has a huge reach and a big frame that he puts to good use as a lob finisher and shot blocker. Still raw, but the flashes of "wow" are becoming more frequent.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.3 11.1 5.8 0.4 61.9
20 Terrence Shannon Jr.
Illinois, Sr
 
SG

Shannon has made strides in each of his five college seasons and is on pace for a career year as a scorer and shooter. NBA teams in general may see his age as a deterrent but he's a big wing who can hold his own as a defender and has the versatility on offense to be a potential rotation player at a premium position.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34 23 4.1 2.1 47.0
21 Ryan Dunn
Virginia, Soph
 
SF

One of the best defensive prospects in college basketball. Dunn is averaging 2.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game for a Virginia team that rates in the top 10 of efficiency metrics at KenPom. He has excellent timing and anticipation on defense and is one of the few on that side of the ball I'd consider a true playmaker.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
27.5 8.2 7 0.8 55.2
22 Johnny Furphy
Kansas, Fr
 
SG

Not sure Furphy has the goods to be an impactful NBA player from day one but I'm buying his NBA future long-term. He has the handles of a polished guard and shooting ability to boot.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.5 8.8 4.7 0.9 47.6
23 Devin Carter
Providence, Jr
 
PG

The best player in the Big East this season is a Providence Friar. Carter's been immense as a breakout junior, marrying up an already-elite defensive package with an unstoppable offensive game and improved 3-point consistency.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
35.2 19.7 8.7 3.6 47.3
24 Hunter Sallis SG

A former five-star who began his career at Gonzaga, Sallis has flourished this season at Wake averaging 18.3 points per game and shooting 41.6% from 3-point range. His progression as an outside scoring weapon was what previously kept him from earning first round buzz, and is now what might get him into the top 30.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
35.3 18.1 4.1 2.5 49.3
25 Tyler Smith PF

Smith is a stretch big who has quietly had a strong season for G League Ignite shooting it from deep and showcasing his athleticism. He has a five-star pedigree and has flashed enough to get first round looks for a team in this range looking to develop a big for the future.

26 Trey Alexander
Creighton, Jr
 
SG

The departure of Ryan Nembhard has freed Alexander up at Creighton to take on an even larger role commanding the offense and he's fared well as a co-creator. I don't see him as a lead guard in the NBA but there's a role for him as a combo guard who can facilitate and create at the NBA level given his versatile skill set.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
36.8 17.6 5.7 4.8 45.6
27 Dillon Jones
Weber St., Jr
 
SG

Jones flashed last summer at the NBA Draft Combine and was a projected first-rounder in my prospect ranks prior to returning to college. He has built upon a strong offseason with a monstrous junior season for Weber where he has improved every aspect of his game. Big guard who can pass, shoot and defend and seems to always be around the ball.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
37 20.8 9.8 5.2 48.9
28 Jaylon Tyson
California, Jr
 
SF

Cal went from a 3-win team to a 13-win team largely because of the addition of Tyson, who. averaged just shy of 20 points per game this season and flashed real improvement in a leading role. Big wing with big-time shooting ability.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34.3 19.6 6.8 3.5 46.5
29 Kevin McCullar Jr.
Kansas, Sr
 
SG

A nagging bone bruise that has restricted McCullar the last month-plus derailed what was on pace to be a First Team All-American season. He made significant improvement this season as a shooter while taking on a sizable role increase.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34.2 18.3 6 4.1 45.4
30 Tyler Kolek
Marquette, Sr
 
PG

An oblique injury kept Kolek out the last few games of the season for Marquette and illustrated his importance to the team. (Marquette went 1-2 in that stretch and narrowly defeated Xavier). He's been the best point guard in college basketball this season and his feel and skill as a passer are elite.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.4 15 4.7 7.6 48.6
# Team Player Pos
1 Alex Sarr C

Sarr spent part of this season sidelined with a hip injury but is back now and looking like a real candidate to go first in this draft. He's a 7-1, high-energy, versatile frontcourt prospect from France who can switch onto smaller players and also rim-protect. Think Jaren Jackson Jr. but without the established 3-point shot. Is Sarr a can't-miss prospect? No. But he would be a nice fit in Detroit next to Jalen Duren and could become the piece that ultimately returns the Pistons to respectability.

2 Reed Sheppard
Kentucky, Fr
 
SG

Nobody, and I mean nobody, had Sheppard projected this high — or even as a lottery pick — in the preseason. And, obviously, this is really high. But in a draft that's been labeled weak, relatively speaking, for at least a year now, why not make a bet on a 6-3 guard who can dribble, pass, shoot and guard his position. As The Athletic's Kyle Tucker recently pointed out, as of Feb. 7, Sheppard was the only player in college basketball who had recorded 90-plus assists, made 50-plus 3-pointers, created 50-plus steals and committed less than 40 turnovers on the season. He's just a basketball player, plain and simple, and a super-impressive one even if he has mostly been coming off of Kentucky's bench this season.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.8 4.3 4.5 54.3
3 Zaccharie Risacher SF

Risacher could be the first or second player from France selected in this draft depending on how franchises at the top ultimately settle on their evaluations of him and Sarr. Either way, Risacher shouldn't last long given that he's a good-enough athlete to play either forward spot. Also worth noting: he's shooting nearly 50% from 3-point range this season.

4 Rob Dillingham
Kentucky, Fr
 
PG

An NBA-record seven former Kentucky players were named NBA All-Stars this season, three of whom are guards -- Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey -- who didn't even manage to earn First Team All-SEC honors while at UK. Could Dillingham be the next? He's a little on the small side, and the defense needs to improve in terms of the discipline he shows on that end of the court. But Dillingham is the type of dynamic shot-creator and scorer who could become the latest in a line of prospects who ended up being better NBA players than they were Kentucky Wildcats.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.1 15.4 2.8 3.9 48.2
5 Cody Williams
Colorado, Fr
 
SG

Williams is the brother of Oklahoma City standout Jalen Williams. He's taller and a lot more heralded at the same age as his sibling, which is among the reasons the Colorado freshman will likely be the second player from his family to be selected in the lottery in a three-year span. He needs to add weight and continue to develop as a 3-point threat, but there are reasons to believe he'll do both things. That's why Williams is widely viewed as one of the safer options inside the top 10.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.6 3.3 1.7 56.5
6 Ja'Kobe Walter
Baylor, Fr
 
SG

In college basketball this season, Walter is my favorite guard prospect who doesn't call Kentucky home. He's a 6-5 teenager with a 6-11 wingspan who has already shown signs that he could be a big-time scorer at the next level. Walter also seems capable and committed to guarding his position, which suggests he should be a real asset on both ends of the court.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32 14.2 4.4 1.5 37.3
7 Dalton Knecht
Tennessee, Sr
 
SG

The Grizzlies being projected to land in the lottery is a byproduct of Ja Morant's 25-game suspension, his season-ending shoulder surgery and what seems like a million other injuries up and down the roster. Regardless, if healthy, Memphis should be capable of contending in the West next season -- which could lead to the Grizz moving this pick for a veteran better-equipped to help immediately. Time will tell. But if the Grizzlies keep the pick, Knecht, who will be 23 years old on the night of the draft, looks like the type of rookie who could help as a shooter and playmaker off the bench.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29.9 21.1 4.7 1.8 46.5
8 Nikola Topic PG

Topic remains sidelined in Europe with a knee injury, but that shouldn't prevent him from going in the top 10 of this draft. The 6-6 wing is a high-level shot-creator and accomplished scorer who has been a professional since the age of 16. In Atlanta, Topic could lighten the scoring load on Trae Young, who is currently seventh in the NBA in field goal attempts per game despite shooting below 44% from the field.

9 Isaiah Collier
USC, Fr
 
PG

Collier remains an interesting prospect, but his likely only season at USC has not gone well. The 6-5 point guard only guided the Trojans to an 8-8 start before being sidelined with a hand injury. In those 16 games, the five-star freshman turned it over 3.6 times in 28.5 minutes per contest while missing nearly seven out of every 10 3-pointers he attempted. Both numbers are concerning and suggest that Collier needs to show improvement when he returns presumably later this month to lessen some concerns that have shown themselves.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30 16.3 2.9 4.3 49.0
10 Stephon Castle
UConn, Fr
 
PG

Castle is among the reasons UConn is in position to repeat as college basketball's national champion despite losing three of the top six scorers from last season's team. In the simplest terms, he's a five-star high school prospect with great positional size who has been playing a big role nicely for one of the nation's best teams. That's an encouraging combination even if concerns about his not-quite-there-yet jumper are legitimate.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
26.7 10.8 4.5 2.9 46.8
11 Kyle Filipowski
Duke, Soph
 
C

Among the main things Filipowski needed to do this season to improve his stock is make a higher percentage of 3-point shots to show that he can truly be a stretch-big at the next level. So far, so good. The 7-foot center has made 35.6% of the 3.5 3-pointers he attempted per game. That's 7.4 percentage points better than what Filipowski shot from beyond the arc as a freshman, which is obviously an encouraging development for Duke's second-year star.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.5 17.1 8.2 2.8 51.3
12 Tidjane Salaun SF

How about a third French player in the lottery? Salaun is a wing with size who is an emerging shooter and plus-defender with a good motor. At this point, he's more of a spot-up shooter than an off-the-bounce shooter. But Salaun is still only 18 years old, point being there's plenty of time to expand his game on both ends.

13 Zach Edey
Purdue, Sr
 
C

Edey will be one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft. On one hand, he's an unstoppable force at the collegiate level, which makes him intriguing. On the other hand, he's a non-shooter who might struggle to guard in space at the next level. Either way, I'm convinced there's a place for Edey in the NBA, and with Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas in the final year of his contract, it makes sense that Edey's place in the NBA could start in New Orleans.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
31.3 24.4 11.7 2.1 61.9
14 Kevin McCullar Jr.
Kansas, Sr
 
SG

McCullar's decision to spend a fifth season playing college basketball is paying off — both in NIL money and as it pertains to his draft stock. The 6-7 wing is averaging a career-high 19.5 points while shooting a career-high 36.1% from 3-point range. In a draft short on top-tier talents, using a lottery pick on an older prospect who should be plug-and-play at the next level isn't the world's worst idea.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34.2 18.3 6 4.1 45.4
15 Matas Buzelis PF

Buzelis is the type of long prospect who can move all over the floor in ways that front offices really value these days. That he's shooting below 30% from 3-point range for a terrible G League Ignite team is a bit of a concern, especially considering there have long been questions about whether Buzelis will ever truly be a knockdown shooter. But his positional versatility and ability to pass at his size should make the Chicago native close to a lock to go somewhere in the top 20.

16 Ron Holland PF

Holland skipped college to play for the G League Ignite, where he's leading the team in scoring but almost never leading it to victories. He's also shooting below 25% from 3-point range and averaging roughly as many turnovers as assists. As you can see, I'm lower on Holland than most based on what I've seen in the G League. But I'll be happy to revisit the evaluation if and when Holland shows improvement in any of the areas mentioned.

17 Johnny Furphy
Kansas, Fr
 
SG

Furphy changed Kansas' season when Bill Self inserted him into the starting lineup after a loss at UCF, and the 6-9 guard has already done enough to establish himself as a serious one-and-done candidate. He comes from a family of athletes in Australia and is shooting above 50% from the field and above 40% from 3-point range. If those numbers stay steady, Furphy cracking the lottery should not be ruled out.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.5 8.8 4.7 0.9 47.6
18 Ryan Dunn
Virginia, Soph
 
SF

Some consider Dunn a high-floor/low-ceiling prospect who has the potential to be an elite defender who guards multiple positions but will maybe never amount to much on offense. I don't completely disagree with the sentiment. But using the 18th pick in a weak draft on a high-IQ, high-energy player who projects as the best versatile defender in this draft doesn't seem like the type of thing a franchise would regret.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
27.5 8.2 7 0.8 55.2
19 Oso Ighodaro
Marquette, Sr
 
SF

Ighodaro doesn't project as the type of big who will stretch the floor because he doesn't even take 3-pointers at Marquette. But the 6-11 athlete is a versatile defender and lob threat who could be a real weapon in Atlanta in lineups with Trae Young.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.3 14 6.9 2.9 58.3
20 Donovan Clingan
UConn, Soph
 
C

Clingan is among the center prospects who have the size and talent as a real rim-protector to help a contender as a rookie the same way the Mavericks' Dereck Lively is helping a contender as a rookie. That acknowledged, the 7-2 center hasn't had the type of jump in production some predicted once Adama Sanogo left UConn and allowed Clingan to slide into the starting lineup. A foot injury that sidelined him for five games this season is another area of concern.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
22 12.5 7.2 1.5 63.8
21 Tyler Smith PF

Smith making nearly 40% of the roughly four 3-pointers he's attempting per game for the G-League Ignite this season is a huge positive for the Overtime Elite alum. To stick in the NBA, the defense will have to improve dramatically. But Smith's shooting alone could prove valuable for a New Orleans franchise that ranks in the bottom half of the NBA in 3-pointers made per contest.

22 Yves Missi
Baylor, Fr
 
C

Missi is an incredible physical specimen who is excellent at the rim on offense and in possession of enough athleticism, size and strength to really excel defensively. The 7-footer from Cameroon would be fortunate to land in Philadelphia, where he could learn from and back up reigning MVP Joel Embiid.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.3 11.1 5.8 0.4 61.9
23 D.J. Wagner
Kentucky, Fr
 
PG

I've been a believer in Wagner as an NBA prospect for years after watching him on the grassroots circuit as the son of a former lottery pick. Skeptics will point out that he doesn't pop athletically or make shots from the perimeter reliably — and they're right. But I still think, one way or another, Wagner will prove to be a longtime NBA player.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
26.1 10.3 1.9 3.3 41.3
24 Ulrich Chomche C

Chomche has visited multiple colleges over the past year — among them Texas and Arizona —and reportedly remains open to playing college basketball next season. As always, we'll see. But the Cameroon native does have first-round potential considering he's 6-11 with a 7-4 wingspan and regarded as one of the best athletes who could be available in this draft.

25 Bobi Klintman
Sweden, Fr
 
PF

Klintman is a two-way wing from Sweden who should be able to alternate between both forward spots. He initially declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after one year at Wake Forest but ultimately withdrew and pursued a professional opportunity in Australia. With another year of development under his belt, and not many great options in the 20s, Klintman will have a better chance to get a guaranteed contract in this draft than he did last year.

26 Justin Edwards
Kentucky, Fr
 
SF

Edwards was the highest-ranked prospect in Kentucky's top-ranked recruiting class but has been largely disappointing all season. He's sixth on the team in minutes played, sixth on the team in scoring and shooting below 30% from 3-point range. Off of his high school reputation alone, somebody will take a flier on the 6-8 wing because somebody always takes a flyer on a one-and-done player who was ranked in the top five of his high school class. But the truth is that Edwards has done very little at UK to suggest he should be selected anywhere close to where most had him projected before this season began.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
21.7 8.7 3.5 0.9 48.8
27 Jared McCain
Duke, Fr
 
PG

Tyrese Proctor was regarded as Duke's best backcourt prospect heading into this season — and he still might be. Eye of the beholder and all that. But it's McCain who is having the better season by averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while making 40.0% of the 5.2 3-pointers he's taking per game. With Mike Conley both 36 years old and headed for free agency, Minnesota adding a guard who can really shoot like him would be understandable

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.9 13.4 4.9 1.8 45.6
28 Hunter Sallis SG

Sallis spent two years at Gonzaga but never got going and only averaged 4.4 points in those seasons. He's been unlocked at Wake Forest, though. The 6-5 guard is averaging 17.9 points and making nearly 40% of the 5.6 3-pointers he's attempting per game. He's the latest example that highlights how sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs, which is why folks are often misguided when they label student-athletes who transfer as people who are just "running from adversity." Sometimes, in reality, they're just running toward success.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
35.3 18.1 4.1 2.5 49.3
29 DaRon Holmes II
Dayton, Jr
 
PF

Holmes is the rare top-55 high school prospect who enrolled at an Atlantic 10 school, and he's the main reason Dayton has emerged as a Final Four threat. The 6-10 forward has gone from a good A-10 player as a freshman to an All-American candidate as a junior. He's a sensible option at this point in the draft in part because of the way he's gone from a non-shooter upon enrolling at Dayton to a real stretch-the-floor threat as a third-year player who is making above 38% of the 3-pointers he's attempting.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.2 20.4 8.4 2.6 54.5
30 Tyler Kolek
Marquette, Sr
 
PG

Kolek has some obvious issues as an NBA prospect, most notably a lack of athleticism relative to what's desired from lead guards. Still, at 6-3, Kolek is adequately sized for his position, terrific in pick-and-rolls, an A-plus passer and a reliable 3-point shooter. If you focus on what he can do instead of his perceived deficiencies, what you'll see is a reigning Big East Player of the Year who is skilled enough to stick in the NBA for many years.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.4 15 4.7 7.6 48.6
# Team Player Pos
1 Zaccharie Risacher SF

Risacher brings great size and length to the wing with encouraging fluidity on his outside shot. Like any young international prospect, Risacher will need time to develop the physicality required to thrive in the NBA. In the absence of an obvious headliner from the class, he's as deserving as anyone to be taken No. 1 overall.

2 Alex Sarr C

Sarr is an athletic rim protector with upside as a perimeter defender. His 3-point shooting percentages leave something to be desired. But for a young player of his size, he's ahead of the curve offensively in how he's flashed the ability to handle the basketball and create shots.

3 Nikola Topic PG

Topic is a big European guard with a nifty handle and natural passing instincts. It's easy to envision him facilitating out of the pick-and-roll. Whoever drafts him may need to be patient with his 3-point shot but will be getting a player with tantalizing offensive upside.

4 Reed Sheppard
Kentucky, Fr
 
SG

If you don't think Sheppard is a lottery-level player, it's because you haven't watched much Kentucky basketball and are relying on the same stereotypes as the evaluators who pegged him as the fifth-best player in his own signing class at UK. He's an elite defender, elite shooter and one of the best passers in college basketball.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.8 4.3 4.5 54.3
5 Matas Buzelis PF

Buzelis hasn't shot it great from 3-point range for G League Ignite, but he's shown a well-rounded offensive game and is making an impact on the defensive end. In a draft class full of rangy wings with potential versatility, he is arguably the most well-rounded of the bunch.

6 Cody Williams
Colorado, Fr
 
SG

If you want to nitpick, Williams has turned the ball over a lot and hasn't rated as one of Colorado's top defenders during his freshman season. But his offensive efficiency has been off the charts, and he's got all the physical tools and talent needed to potentially develop into an NBA All-Star.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29 12.6 3.3 1.7 56.5
7 Stephon Castle
UConn, Fr
 
PG

Castle is a big, versatile guard capable of facilitating the offense or playing off the ball. He also rates as UConn's No. 2 defender behind only 7-4 Donovan Clingan, according to evanmiya.com. From an intangibles perspective, it's remarkably impressive to see a freshman making such valuable contributions to the reigning national title winners.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
26.7 10.8 4.5 2.9 46.8
8 Tidjane Salaun SF

Salaun is demonstrating encouraging proficiency as a 3-point shooter overseas, suggesting his floor would be as a rotational 3-and-D wing. If the flashes he's shown as an attacker and finisher translate to the next level, then he could be a dynamic NBA playmaker.

9 Ja'Kobe Walter
Baylor, Fr
 
SG

Walter hasn't been the world's most efficient offensive player in his lone season of college basketball, but he's shown all the tools which made him a five-star prospect. He's athletic and rangy, and his excellent free-throw shooting suggests there is long-term shooting upside.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32 14.2 4.4 1.5 37.3
10 Dalton Knecht
Tennessee, Sr
 
SG

Knecht is one of the oldest players with lottery potential in recent memory after five years of college basketball. But he's proven that he is an elite scorer at all three levels while playing for an excellent Tennessee team that has faced some of college basketball's top opposition.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
29.9 21.1 4.7 1.8 46.5
11 Kyle Filipowski
Duke, Soph
 
C

Filipowski's offensive efficiency and rim protection have improved this season. He could have been a first-round pick last year. After another year of quality development, he's undoubtedly a lottery-level talent in this class.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.5 17.1 8.2 2.8 51.3
12 Rob Dillingham
Kentucky, Fr
 
PG

Dillingham is an offensive wizard with a knockdown 3-point shot and a knack for finishing at the rim among the trees. He can play either guard spot and hit shots off the dribble or as a spot-up shooter. His defense is unimpressive, but that's no shock for a young and slender guard.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.1 15.4 2.8 3.9 48.2
13 Yves Missi
Baylor, Fr
 
C

Missi is a bouncy post player and potentially elite shot blocker who is effective offensively as a dunker, lob threat and face-up operator in the high post. He's still learning the game and 3-pointers aren't even close to being a part of his arsenal. But his tremendous defensive upside, length and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23.3 11.1 5.8 0.4 61.9
14 Jared McCain
Duke, Fr
 
PG

For a slender guard, McCain's offensive efficiency has been off the charts. He's a relentless worker who can play either guard spot, and he rebounds well for his size. McCain's defense isn't a strength, but his offensive upside makes up for it, and he's no worse defensively than most players his size.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30.9 13.4 4.9 1.8 45.6
15 DaRon Holmes II
Dayton, Jr
 
PF

Holmes is an athletic big man with a ton of variety in his game on both ends. He swats shots at the rim but can also move his feet to stay in front of smaller players. Offensively, he can score from the block or pull you out to the 3-point line with a sweet jumper. He can also put it on the deck and attack the closeout. Holmes is one of the most underrated players in this class.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
32.2 20.4 8.4 2.6 54.5
16 Isaiah Collier
USC, Fr
 
PG

Collier is an elite offensive guard with three-way scoring chops and the size to become a quality defender. There's a reason he was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports, and it's mostly because he can get buckets.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
30 16.3 2.9 4.3 49.0
17 Ron Holland PF

Holland's offensive game needs plenty of refining, but his upside as a long and athletic wing is obvious. Few in this class share Holland's potential as a perimeter defender. If he can establish an offensive identity, Holland could be a useful NBA player earlier than many in this draft.

18 Donovan Clingan
UConn, Soph
 
C

Clingan's professional identity will be as a rim protector and dunker. There isn't much else to his game, but he's elite in those facets, which will make him useful to the right NBA team.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
22 12.5 7.2 1.5 63.8
19 Tyler Smith PF

Smith's 3-point shooting numbers are encouraging, and his solid free-throw shooting suggests they are no fluke. Defensively, he may be something of a "tweener" lacking the physicality of most fives and the lateral quickness of many fours. But a franchise with vision and developmental chops can help him reach proficiency on that end.

20 Jaylon Tyson
California, Jr
 
SF

Tyson is a two-way wing with impressive offensive efficiency for such a high-volume player. Perhaps the elite-level upside isn't there. But with a proven body of work in college basketball on both ends of the floor and good size, he should have a reasonably high floor in the NBA.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34.3 19.6 6.8 3.5 46.5
21 Ryan Dunn
Virginia, Soph
 
SF

Dunn may be the best defender in the draft class. His perimeter shot needs a ton of work, but he's efficient inside the arc and is a versatile menace with elite shot-swatting DNA on the other end.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
27.5 8.2 7 0.8 55.2
22 Devin Carter
Providence, Jr
 
PG

Carter is a menacing perimeter defender whose draft stock has surged this season amid a massive uptick in his 3-point shooting volume and percentage. He can play either guard spot and defend taller players.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
35.2 19.7 8.7 3.6 47.3
23 Kyshawn George
Miami, Fr
 
PG

George is a big wing who shoots it well from deep while playing quality defense. Those two traits alone make him worth a look in the first round. But there are some edges that need to be smoothed out, especially with regard to his offensive game inside the arc.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
23 7.6 3 2.2 42.6
24 Dillon Jones
Weber St., Jr
 
SG

Since catching the attention of NBA scouts last season, Jones has only improved upon his stat-stuffing game, raising his 3-point percentage and remaining impressively efficient as a high-volume player with intriguing defensive upside.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
37 20.8 9.8 5.2 48.9
25 Trey Alexander
Creighton, Jr
 
SG

Alexander is a stingy perimeter defender for his size and brings three-way scoring chops to the table as a versatile guard capable of playing on or off the ball. His 3-point shooting percentage has slipped this season, but he retains high-upside as a shooter as evidenced by a steady career free-throw mark of above 80%.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
36.8 17.6 5.7 4.8 45.6
26 Kel'el Ware
Creighton, Soph
 
C

Ware is flying under the radar since Indiana is languishing outside the NCAA Tournament picture. But he's shown all the flashes of why he was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2022. With an effective 3-point shot and shot-blocking ability, there is a home for him in an NBA rotation.

27 Hunter Sallis SG

A change of scenery was all Sallis needed to begin realizing his potential after two seasons as a reserve at Gonzaga. His offensive efficiency has been stunning for Wake Forest and has actually improved amid the grind of conference play.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
35.3 18.1 4.1 2.5 49.3
28 Justin Edwards
Kentucky, Fr
 
SF

Edwards has improved as an outside shooter as the season has progressed, helping him to quietly evolve into an efficient secondary option for a loaded Kentucky team. He's not been the star that many expected him to be out of high school, but the upside is still there, and that should become obvious to scouts if he goes through the pre-draft process.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
21.7 8.7 3.5 0.9 48.8
29 Kevin McCullar Jr.
Kansas, Sr
 
SG

The biggest questions with McCullar are about his health and age as he's sat out several games this season due to a lingering knee issue. If he checks out medically, he could make an early impact as one of the oldest prospects in this class with a well-proven skill set as a two-way wing.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
34.2 18.3 6 4.1 45.4
30 D.J. Wagner
Kentucky, Fr
 
PG

Just because Wagner has been overshadowed by some of the other quality freshmen on Kentucky's roster shouldn't take away from the flashes of potential he's shown. The biggest issue is his unimpressive 3-point shooting. But the playmaking and shot-creation potential remain appealing.

2023 College Stats

MPG PPG RPG APG FG%
26.1 10.3 1.9 3.3 41.3
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