March is the time when most NBA fans start to pay attention to college basketball and see a new wave of NBA talent. The 2023 NBA Draft will be unlike any other draft, potentially only one or two college players will be selected in the top five. Victor Wembanyama (France), Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite), Amen and Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite) have chosen the professional path over collegiate basketball and are predicted to be number one in the upcoming draft.
Conference tournaments are underway and there is still plenty of talent to keep an eye on in the major conferences leading up to the NCAA Tournament. Sportzshala Sports ranks Power Six conferences based on estimated NBA talent and picks the best players to watch.
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SEC: A+
As far as potential NBA star power goes, the SEC is full of talent. Arkansas needs to work in the SEC tournament to win a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, and the young Razorbacks defensive back has two potential top-10 picks with rookies Nick Smith Jr. and Anthony Black.
The best players to watch
Brandon Miller, Alabama
Thrust range: 2-6
Earlier this week, Miller was named SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 Winger averaged 19.6 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 40.4% of his attempts from three-point range. He is the first SEC player to win both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year since Anthony Davis did it with Kentucky in 2012.
Miller’s problems off the court and involvement in the shooting of Jamie Harris brought criticism and unwanted attention to No. 4 in Alabama as Miller continued to play to close out the season. In February, he scored a career-high 41 points (including six 3-pointers) and averaged 20.5 points over nine games. Henderson is the best defenseman in this class of draft pick, but there are rumors in the NBA that some franchises may choose Miller over No. 2 Henderson due to his size, the way he creates space between himself and defensemen, and defensive versatility.
Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas
Thrust range: 3-10
The 6-5 freshman quarterback returned to the floor in early February after a two-month absence with a minor knee injury. Smith Jr. was the highest-ranked defensive end at the start of the season, and many NBA scouts and executives did not think he would return from injury. Arkansas is struggling late in the season and needs to pick up a few SEC Tournament victories in order for NBA fans and scouts to see Smith Jr. in the NCAA Tournament. Smith Jr. is averaging 21.8 points in his last five games and has shown many ways to score a goal, especially off the field and as a main ball carrier.
Anthony Black, Arkansas
Thrust range: 4-12
In the absence of Smith Jr., Black’s touch count has increased and he shines as a facilitator with 4.2 assists per game. He has a large defensive position (6-7) and is one of the best off-the-ball defenders as he changes shots with his long wingspan. Black is very patient on offense and always tries to make an extra pass when the defense is chasing him. His outside shot remains an area of development, but he has made great strides since the start of the season, going 3-for-5 from three in a win over LSU earlier this season.
Cason Wallace, Kentucky
Thrust range: 8-15
Wallace is the best ball-handler in this draft class, defending both rear positions with ease and dropping from a high pick-and-roll switch to intercept or block from behind. Kentucky has been up and down this season, and the team is going the same way on offense as Wallace. With the Wildcats winning four games in a row to end the season, Wallace averaged eight assists and 2.5 steals during that stretch, compared to his one assist and just 6 points in his last loss to Vanderbilt.
Honorable Mention: H. J. Jackson (South Carolina), Noah Clooney (Alabama), Kobe Brown (Missouri).
Big 12: A
The Big 12 is the most competitive college basketball conference this season because it’s every team’s night and mishaps happen throughout the season. There are two potential lottery picks to look out for ahead of the NCAA Tournament and one predicted second-round pick with first-round talent.
The best players to watch
Keyonte George, Baylor
Thrust range: 7-14
George was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Second Team of the Year, averaging 16 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. The 6-4 guard is a highly accurate shooter, hitting 35% on six attempts per game from three-point range, and has hit a couple of good shots this season as one of the youngest players on Baylor’s veteran team. George suffered a minor ankle injury in a win over Texas a couple of weeks ago and has been gradually increasing his minutes on the court ahead of the NCAA tournament.
Grady Dick, Kansas
Thrust range: 6-12
Kansas lost two key NBA players (Christian Brown and Ohai Agbaji) after winning the championship last season, but got a great two-way defense in an outstanding freshman. Dick has limitless shooting range and at 6-8 he can see over the defense to make the right half-court set reads. Dick is averaging over 40% from three-point range on eight attempts per game, and his consistent shooting combined with his high defensive IQ make him an enticing top 10 player.
Keyonte Johnson, Kansas
Thrust range: 28-38
Johnson did not play competitive basketball for a year and a half after passing out on the court in a game during his junior season in Florida. The 6-6 forward moved to Kansas State this season and has been a key driver of the Wildcats’ 12th-place finish. Heart problems will make NBA teams hesitant to take Johnson in the first round, but if he continues to play without any health issues, he could be a steal for the team in the second round. Johnson is averaging 17.8 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-pointers. He is one of the most exciting transitional players and is very good at throwing 3 balls for a player of his size.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Adam Flagler (Baylor), Grant Sherfield (Oklahoma)
Big Ten: B+
Only two teams from the Big Ten finished the season in the top 25 rankings – No. 5 Purdue and No. 19 Indiana. Michigan sophomore Kobe Bufkin is one of the most active draft picks after a strong regular season finish, and Juwan Howard’s team has a lot of work to do in the conference tournament if NBA scouts want to see more of Bufkin amid tougher competition in the coming weeks.
The best players to watch
Jett Howard, Michigan
Thrust range: 10-20
Howard is recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for two games at the end of the regular season. The 6-8 freshman quarterback burst onto the scene as an underdog, hitting 6-of-8 from deep in the pre-season exhibition game against Ferris State and hitting five 3-pointers in his first college game. Howard averages 37% of depth per season, and combined with his size and long-range shot, he shows little in the way of rebounding, clear vision and passing on the open court.
Jalen Hood-Scifino, Indiana
Thrust range: 14-25
The freshman quarterback is one of the most progressive players in college basketball and has continued to climb the boards throughout the season. The 6–6 quarterback was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Second Team. He consistently makes correct readings downhill and is a three-level scorer, averaging 15.8 points in February.
Chris Murray, Iowa
Thrust range: 12-20
Chris, the twin brother of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, has grown in importance this season. The juniors were 6-8 in the lead in points (20.5), rebounds (8.2) and blocks (1.1). They need to win a few games in the Big Ten tournament to hear their name on Qualifier Sunday. Murray has big size and rim control and shoots confidently from deep (trying to hit 13 3s in Iowa’s last game).
Honorable Mention: Bufkin (Michigan), Trace Jackson-Davis (Ind.), Bryce Sensabo (Ohio State)
Big East: B
There is a lot of talent in the Big East this season, especially in the quarterback position. Villanova struggled in her first season without Hall of Famer coach Jay Wright, and that opened the door for other teams to begin dominating the conference, with four teams entering the top 25 and ending the regular season.
The best players to watch
Cam Whitmore, Villanova
Thrust range: 5-12
Whitmore started his first season as one of the best defenders in his class and last summer was the most valuable player in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, where he led Team USA to a gold medal. He is a seasoned scorer who struggled in freshman head coach Kyle Neptune’s system, averaging 12.6 points and less than one assist per game. Whitmore’s style of play is more fluid when there is freedom, especially in the pick-and-roll variation, and he can take what the defense gives him.
Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut
Thrust range: 20-30
The NBA is a league of shooters, and Hawkins will let her fly from anywhere on the floor, averaging 16.4 points and hitting 38% of her 3-point attempts this season. Hawkins is one of the most improved players of the season from rookie to sophomore and has a ton of advantages as a shooting guard in the NBA. He needs to add some weight to his 195-pound body, but at 6-5 Hawkins…
Source: sports.yahoo.com
