Villanova wing Cam Whitmore has been a polarizing prospect this season, with some scouts viewing him as having the highest upside among all college prospects, while some view him as more of a late lottery pick. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic believes the pace-and-space NBA game will better suit Whitmore’s explosiveness and shot creation ability, which has been somewhat hampered by the more congested college game.
Whitmore is ranked No. 5 on Vecenie’s latest top 100 big board ahead of the 2023 draft. Vecenie’s full top 10 is as follows (in order): Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, France), Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite), Brandon Miller (Alabama), Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite), Whitmore, Ausar Thompson (OTE), Jarace Walker (Houston), Anthony Black (Arkansas), Gradey Dick (Kansas) and Cason Wallace (Kentucky).
Here are a few more draft-related notes:
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer recently updated his own 2023 big board, and there is a notable difference with Vecenie’s. While nearly all talent evaluators have Wembanyama and Henderson as the top two prospects, O’Connor ranks Miller No. 2 and Henderson No. 3. O’Connor is also high on Baylor’s Keyonte George, ranking him No. 8; he was No. 16 on Vecenie’s board. O’Connor also updated his mock draft for the first round, which can be found right here.
- In an Insider-only story for ESPN, Jonathan Givony provides his latest two-round mock draft and takes a look at 12 prospects who are likely competing in their final college games due to a lack of team success. According to Givony, a couple of former top high school prospects may have hurt their stock more than they helped it this season. One is South Carolina’s Gregory Jackson II (No. 27 in the mock), who reclassified to 2023 and was the top recruit for ’24. The other is Emoni Bates (No. 52), who transferred to Eastern Michigan after a poor freshman season at Memphis. As Givony writes, both Jackson and Bates struggled with offensive efficiency, poor decision-making, and lackadaisical defense.
- Twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson recently sat down for an interview with Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter video link). Both players are projected to go in the top 10 — in Givony’s mock, they’re selected back-to-back at Nos. 4 and 5.
Emoni Bates is the definition of this years no risk book or bust.
Former high school player of the years projected to be a late second or possible even undrafted. He’s a 6’10 forward that plays a lot like KD, is averaging 20-5-5 this season so his game is on full display and you can see the potential.
However has had off the court issues, injury concerns with his slim frame, poor shooting efficiency and poor decision making.
I think on the right team he could really turn it around but that’s a huge ask. I’d like to see with Boston, Indy, Pheonix or San Antonio.
It’s odd because he’s 100% closer to BJ than BI. Being similar to BJ Boston makes you a prospect but not a good one. Not being better than BJ Boston makes you less more or less useless on your rookie deal.
Still worth having as a developmental 14th to 17th man.
Thompson Twins…who remembers their song, “hold me now”? Well those two brothers will hold each other in embrace if they go high in the lottery.
Imagine if they go to the same team…the league will be broken
Lies, lies, lies, yeaaah!
If you’re a guard who really likes to shoot, and you don’t pass or defend all that well, it’s a guarantee that O’Connor thinks you’re great