Alabama power forward Noah Clowney will enter the 2023 NBA draft following his freshman season, having announced his intentions on Instagram. Clowney’s statement doesn’t include any mention of preserving his remaining NCAA eligibility, which likely means he plans to forgo that eligibility and go pro.
In his first and only college season, Clowney averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game (36 games) as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide. His strong showing earned him a spot on the SEC’s All-Freshman team.
The No. 20 overall prospect on ESPN’s big board, Clowney is one of two potential first-round picks out of Alabama this year, joining college teammate Brandon Miller.
In his most recent mock draft, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had Clowney coming off the board at No. 25, noting that there are NBA evaluators who love the 18-year-old’s “mix of athleticism and length,” though he remains raw and doesn’t have a reliable jump shot.
The following prospects also recently declared for the draft as early entrants:
Expected to remain in the draft:
- Armaan Franklin, G, Virginia (senior) (Instagram link)
Testing the draft waters:
- Frankie Collins, G, Arizona State (sophomore) (Instagram link)
- Davonte Davis, G, Arkansas (junior) (Twitter link)
- Rayshon Harrison, G, Grand Canyon (junior) (Twitter link)
- Tramon Mark, G, Houston (sophomore) (Twitter link)
- Note: Mark is also entering the transfer portal.
What was once touted to be a really strong draft, is looking like Vic Wembanyama and everybody else.
Anybody with a pick outside of the top 5 or 6 picks will be looking to move their selection.
I miss the days when the nba draft was a real thing. Today it’s 2 or 3 players and random lottery tickets.
This is a weak draft, maybe the weakest ever, but next season hasn’t happened yet, or 2025 which both look underwhelming at best, as of now.
XMAXX
I hope you feel better soon.
If you have some insight on up & coming players that I don’t please share…
The freshman, sophomores, and juniors don’t contain a lot of elite talent.
If I’m wrong, name the freshman, sophomores, and juniors that are wowing the scouts?
Wembanyama, Scoot, and a whole lot of projects is this years’ draft
The weakest ever?! A generational player at #1 who could be a top 10-15 player all time when all is said and done already makes it better than some historical drafts. How about the 2006 draft where Bargnani went number one, and top 10 picks from the draft included Sheldon Williams, Patrick O’Bryant and Adam Morrison.
Wembenayama, hasn’t done anything yet. In the drafts of the past you have the benefit of knowing the results, but at the time people were saying other things about the talent pool.
I honestly don’t remember a draft with little to no talent after the first 2 players, who are not locks to be instantly great. Not like Shaq, or LBJ anyway.