Eastern Notes: Hawks, Quickley, Pistons, Banchero
The Hawks will take a look at six draft prospects on Tuesday, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. That group includes three guards — UCLA’s Tyger Campbell, Furman’s Mike Bothwell and Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell — along with Miami (Fla.)’s Norchad Omier, UTC’s Jake Stephens and Arizona State’s Marcus Bagley.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Immanuel Quickley missed Game 4 of the Knicks’ playoff series against the Heat on Monday due to a sprained left ankle, the team’s PR department tweets. Quickley had been listed as doubtful on Sunday after suffering the injury on Saturday.
- The Pistons need to prioritize perimeter shooting and defense, as well as veteran guards, during the offseason, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press opines. Veteran options for their perimeter needs includes the likes of free agents Jerami Grant and Cameron Johnson (restricted), while Dennis Schroder and Patrick Beverley could fill the other need, unless they bring back free agent Cory Joseph.
- Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who was named Rookie of the Year last week, said he had no idea he might be taken with the top pick last June until draft day, when he saw a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, Banchero told the ESPN analyst on the Woj Pod (Twitter link). “My mom was in complete shock. … I was freakin’ out. Going No. 1 is a whole different thing, especially when you’re not expecting it,” he said.
50 Prospects Reportedly Invited To G League Elite Camp
A total of 50 prospects for the 2023 NBA draft have been invited to the NBA’s G League Elite Camp, according to reports from Adam Zagoria of Forbes and Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).
Those players are as follows:
- Charles Bediako (Alabama)
- Leaky Black (North Carolina)
- Jalen Bridges (Baylor)
- Johni Broome (Auburn)
- Joe Bryant (Norfolk State)
- Tyler Burton (Richmond)
- Michael Caicedo (Coviran Granada – Spain)
- Tyger Campbell (UCLA)
- Colin Castleton (Florida)
- Malcolm Cazalon (Mega Basket – Serbia)
- Tristan Da Silva (Colorado)
- Antoine Davis (Detroit)
- Johnell Davis (FAU)
- Kendric Davis (Memphis)
- Shaun Doss (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
- Tosan Evbuomwan (Princeton)
- PJ Hall (Clemson)
- Hakim Hart (Maryland)
- Joey Hauser (Michigan State)
- Nadir Hifi (Le Portel – France)
- D’Moi Hodge (Missouri)
- Zvonimir Ivisic (SC Derby – Montenegro)
- Josiah-Jordan James (Tennessee)
- Dillon Jones (Weber State)
- Mojave King (G League Ignite)
- Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
- Pelle Larsson (Arizona)
- Tyrin Lawrence (Vanderbilt)
- Jaylen Martin (Overtime Elite)
- Matthew Mayer (Illinois)
- Caleb McConnell (Rutgers)
- Emanuel Miller (TCU)
- Matthew Murrell (Mississippi)
- Ousmane N’Diaye (Baskonia – Spain)
- Tristen Newton (UConn)
- Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee)
- Landers Nolley II (Cincinnati)
- Markquis Nowell (Kansas State)
- Norchad Omier (Miami)
- Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers)
- Drew Peterson (USC)
- Antonio Reeves (Kentucky)
- Sir’Jabari Rice (Texas)
- Spencer Rodgers (Kennesaw State)
- Mark Sears (Alabama)
- Mike Sharavjamts (Dayton)
- Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State)
- Jacob Toppin (Kentucky)
- Hunter Tyson (Clemson)
- Anton Watson (Gonzaga)
The name of the G League Elite Camp is a bit of a misnomer — when first introduced, the event showcased NBAGL players, but the field of participants now consists exclusively of draft prospects. The event will take place on May 13 and 14 in Chicago, ahead of this year’s draft combine.
Like the combine, the Elite Camp brings young players to Chicago to meet NBA teams and participate in drills and scrimmages. While the combine focuses on the top prospects in a given draft class, the Elite Camp generally features prospects who are trying to break into that upper echelon of prospects but are more likely to go undrafted. The top performers at the event typically receive invites to the combine.
Of the 50 G League Elite Camp invitees, 15 show up on Jonathan Givony’s list of this year’s top 100 prospects at ESPN.com. However, no Elite Camp invitee ranks higher than No. 58 (Hart) on ESPN’s board.
The G League Elite Camp will give the invitees who declared for the draft as early entrants an opportunity to see where they stand ahead of the draft withdrawal deadline on May 31. Not all of the players who participate in this event will remain in the draft pool.
Some NBA players who have participated in past G League Elite Camps include Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, Pacers forward Oshae Brissett, Clippers guard Terance Mann, and Heat wing Max Strus.
Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II Among Final Draft Early Entrants
Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II was among the players who declared for the 2023 NBA draft ahead of Sunday’s deadline, a source tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). It’s unclear if Holmes will be maintaining his remaining college eligibility or going pro outright.
In 34 games as a sophomore in 2022/23, Holmes averaged 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Flyers. He is currently ranked No. 65 on ESPN’s big board, making him perhaps a borderline second-round pick.
Senegalese center Ousmane N’Diaye, who plays for a third division Spanish team (Grupo Eleyco Baskonia), and Spanish small forward Michael Caicedo, who plays for Covirán Granada of Spain’s top league (Liga ACB), have also entered the draft (Twitter links courtesy of Sigma Sports and Global Scouting). N’Diaye is ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s list, while Caicedo is No. 86.
Another possible second-rounder, Spanish point guard Juan Nunez, decided not to declare for the draft, according to Givony (Twitter link). The 18-year-old, who is ranked No. 60 on ESPN’s board, plays for German club Ratiopharm Ulm and is considered a talented passer. He could improve his stock and possibly be a first-round pick next year, Givony adds.
Here are a few more players who entered the draft before yesterday’s deadline:
- Miami (FL) junior forward Norchad Omier declared while maintaining his eligibility (Twitter link via the team).
- Forward David Okwera of Australia’s NBL (Twitter link via Jon Chepkevich of RookieScale.com).
- Mexican forward Gael Bonilla of the Mexico City Capitanes (Twitter link via Enrique Garay).
- Michigan State sophomore guard Jaden Akins declared while maintaining his eligibility (Instagram link).
- Croatian centers (and twin brothers) Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic of SC Derby Podgorica (Twitter link via agent Misko Raznatovic).
