2023 NBA DRAFT Positional Breakdown: GUARDS
The strength of this year’s draft lies in the
depth and versatility of the guard class. This class has a variety of elite
playmakers, scorers and lock down defenders. There are also several guys that
will be drafted in the late first or second round that can have major roles in
the NBA.
FIRST ROUND
LOCKS:
Anthony Black--CG/SFArkansas
6'7"/210/ 6'7.5''
12.8 PTS 5.1
REB 3.9 AST 0.6 BLK 2.1
STL
Fr./19.4
Hometown: Duncanville, TX
NBA Comparison: Lonzo Ball/Shaun Livingston
ROLE: Versatile Starting Guard
BEST TOOLS: Playmaking/Length/Defense/Versatility
Black is a tall combo guard that is a superb playmaker
and willing defender. In his one year at Arkansas, he filled up the stat sheet
as an ultimate team player. He played with several other great players at Arkansas
and made them better. His inconsistent shot is what is keeping him from the top
five and superstar potential.
Cason Wallace-PG-Kentucky
6'4"/195/6'8.5''
11.7 PTS 3.7
REB 4.3 AST 2.0 STL
Fr./19.6
Hometown: Dallas
NBA Comparison: Eric Snow/Tony Allen/Alex Caruso
ROLE: Starting Point Guard, All-Defense Candidate
BEST TOOLS: Toughness/Defense/Playmaking
Wallace thrives in his role as a defensive stopper
and playmaking point guard. Currently, his offensive game is limited so I don’t
agree with the Jrue Holiday comparisons. However, this is a guy that I love and
has no bust potential due to his willingness to defend and his toughness. He
proved he can play off the ball in addition to the point. Like Snow, Allen and
Caruso, Wallace should be an elite defender in the league for many years and can
add much value to any contender.
6'5"/217/6'10.25"
13.5 PTS 4.1 REB 3.7 AST
Fr./20.0
Hometown: Pittsburgh
NBA Comparison: Greivis Vásquez/Randy Foye
ROLE: Starting Guard, Second Unit Lead Guard
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Playmaking/Length
JHS is a big guard that can play the point and off the ball as well. He shows flashes of Deron Williams to his game but is not the passer that he is. He needs to limit his turnovers if he is to play point guard at the next level. He may better long term as a second unit guard like Vásquez and Foye in their respective primes.
6'5"/187/6'6.75"
14.0 PTS 4.5 REB 2.9 AST 1.3 STL 84.9%-FT
So./19.7
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
NBA Comparison: Goran Dragic/ D'Angelo Russell
ROLE: Starting Guard
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Hustle/Defense/Getting to the Rim
Bufkin is a lefty that can get to the rim and finish with both hands. He also plays well through contact and get to the line where he is an excellent free throw shooter. He took a huge leap in his sophomore season leading Michigan in minutes and was their best player down the stretch.
Like
Dragic and Russell, Bufkin is a lefty that relies on hesitation and body control
to get offense rather than athletic ability. Like both of them, he is not a
true point guard but can be a very good option playing with a high volume
scorer like Luka, Shai, Lebron or Jimmy Butler (all picking in 10-18 range).
Nick Smith Jr.-CG-Arkansas
6'5"/185/6'8.5''
12.5 PTS 1.6
REB 1.7 AST 81.8%-FT
Fr./19.2
Hometown: Jacksonville, AR
NBA Comparison: Jordan Clarkson/Tyler Herro
ROLE: Instant offense bench player, High End 6th/7th
man
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Dribbling/Creating Own Offense
Smith was seen by some as the top prospect
coming out of high school in 2022 and had the #3 rank in the RSCI composite rankings.
He battled injuries and only played 17 games at Arkansas. He is a slender bucket
getter in the mold of Clarkson and Herro, both recent winners of the 6th
Man Award. Like those guys, he really doesn’t do more than score. He would be a
good fit on many teams picking in the 10-17 range needing a scorer off the
bench.
Keyonte
George-SG-Baylor
6'4"/185
15.3 PTS 4.2
REB 2.8 AST 80.8%-FT
Fr./19.4
Hometown: Lewisville, TX
NBA Comparison: Eric Gordon/Anfernee Simons
ROLE: Instant offense bench player, High End 6th/7th
man
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Dribbling/Creating Own Offense
Like Smith, George was a top prospect that
played well but was very inconsistent in his one year at Baylor. He is a little
stronger and more versatile that Smith. He will need to improve his deep
shooting and cut back on turnovers in order to be a high impact player at the
next level. The raw talent is there, but the consistency is lacking.
FIRST ROUND BORDERLINE:
Colby
Jones-CG-Xavier
6'6"/199/6'9.75"
15.0 PTS 5.7
REB 4.4 AST 1.3 STL
Jr./21.0
Hometown: Birmingham
NBA Comparison: Caris LeVert/Nickeil Alexander-Walker
ROLE: Second Unit Combo Guard
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Toughness/Length
Jones showed the ability to play off the ball
and facilitate the offense for a good Xavier team last year. He is an inconsistent
shooter with weird shooting splits in his college career (34.4%-3PT, 67.9%-FT,
49.4%-FG). He is an average athlete but he knows how to use his length to
contribute on the court.
Andre Jackson Jr.-SG-UConn
6'6"/198/6'9.75"
6.7 PTS 6.2
REB 4.7 AST 1.1 STL 0.5
BLK
Jr./21.6
Hometown: Matisse Thybulle/Andre Roberson
NBA Comparison: Amsterdam, NY
ROLE: Lockdown Defender
BEST TOOLS: Elite Athletic Ability/Defense/Toughness
Jackson was the best glue guy and best defender
for UConn during their title run. He showed off his elite athleticism at the
combine where he had a 39.5” vert and ran a 3.14 three quarter sprint. Both
times were top five. With Jackson you know exactly what you are getting as
defender and freak athlete. He is complete non-factor on offense which is why he
will likely go in the second round.
Marcus Sasser-CG-Houston
6'2"/196/6'7"
16.8 PTS 3.1
AST 1.6 STL 84.8%-FT 38.4%-3PT
Sr./22.7
Hometown: Red Oak, TX
NBA Comparison: Mario Chalmers/Monte Morris
ROLE: Second Unit Combo Guard and Floor Spacer
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Defense/Toughness/Leadership
Sasser is one of those guys that will get drafted
in the second round and play in the league for a decade. Like Rio and Monte, he
is an excellent shooter and defender but is limited by size and athletic ability.
Sasser is a guy that can contribute right away as second round pick.
Terquavion Smith-CG-NC St
6'4"/163/6'6.75"
17.9 PTS 3.6
REB 4.1 AST 1.4 STL
So./20.4
Hometown: Greenville, NC
NBA Comparison: Eric Maynor/ Dennis Schröder
ROLE: Backup Combo Guard
BEST TOOLS: Creating/Scoring/Defense
Smith has been a very productive player in his
two seasons at NC St. He can score, create and is a willing defender despite
his lack of size. At 163 pounds he is very small and lacks freak length like a
Rajon Rondo to make up for it. He is not really a true point guard but will
need to be more of a playmaker to stick in the league. Schröder is the model
for success that Smith could follow.
Amari Bailey-SG-UCLA
6'4"/191/6'7"
11.2 PTS 3.8
REB 2.2 AST 1.1 STL 38.9%-3PT
Fr./19.3
Hometown: Chicago
NBA Comparison: Delonte West/Cameron Payne
ROLE: Backup Guard
BEST TOOLS: Dribbling/Getting to the Rim
Bailey is an undersized lefty that knows how
to get to the rim. He shot it well from three but was a bad free throw shooter
(69.8%) and is an inconsistent offensive player. He was a top 10 recruit that
struggled to find his niche on a talented veteran UCLA team. He could be a
better pro than college player in the right system.
Ben
Sheppard-SG-Belmont
6'6"/195/6'7.75"
18.8 PTS 5.2
REB 2.9 AST 1.4 STL
Sr./21.9
Hometown: Atlanta
NBA Comparison: Josh Richardson/DeAndre' Bembry
ROLE: Backup Guard
BEST TOOLS: Defense/Scoring/Versatility
Sheppard held his own at the combine and has
seen his stock rise. He is a fast player with a nice first step but is not an
elite overall athlete. He had weird shooting splits in his college career (37.0%-3PT,
69.6%-FT, 47.5%-FG) though he improved his three point shooting every year giving
scouts hope as a 3 and D guy.
Jaylen Clark-SG-UCLA
6'5"/204/6'9"
13.0 PTS 6.0
REB 1.9 AST 2.6 STL
Jr./21.7
Hometown: Riverside, CA
NBA Comparison: Bruce Bowen/Raja Bell
ROLE: Lockdown Defender
BEST TOOLS: Defense/Toughness/Getting to the Rim
Clark is a physical player that strives in his role as a defensive stopper. He would be a first round lock if he did not tear his ACL. Like Bowen and Bell he could turn into a great defensive player on winning teams.
GETTING DRAFTED
BORDERLINE:
Jalen Pickett-CG-Penn St
6'3''/198/6'7.25''
17.7 PTS 7.4
REB 6.6 AST 36.4%-3PT 84.0%-FT
Sr./23.7
Hometown: Rochester, NY
NBA Comparison: Sam Cassell/Terry Porter
BEST TOOLS: Playmaking/Scoring/Post Up Guard
Pickett is an old school playmaker that can
really rebound and post up for a small guard. Can he get minutes as a modern
day Cassell or Porter?
Mike Miles Jr.-PG-TCU
6'2"/205/6'1"
17.9 PTS 2.7
REB 2.7 AST 1.2 STL
Jr./20.8
Hometown: Lancaster, TX
NBA Comparison: Cory Joseph
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Power Guard/Long Range Shooting
Miles is a strong guard that lacks length. He knows
how to rely on athletic ability and physicality to get his offense.
Mojave King-SG-G League Ignite/New Zealand
6'5"/201/6'8"
9.4 PTS 4.4
REB 1.4 AST
INT./20.9
Hometown: Dunedin, New Zealand
NBA Comparison: Josh Okogie
BEST TOOLS: Elite Leaping Ability/Defense/Off Ball Movement
King showed his hops at the combine posting a
42” vertical jump. He played on the Ignite team and was solid in limited minutes.
Adam
Flagler-CG-Baylor
6'2"/192/6'4.5''
15.6 PTS 2.4
REB 4.6 AST 1.2 STL
Sr./23.5
Hometown: Duluth, GA
NBA Comparison: Gabe Vincent
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Defense/Toughness
Flagler is a team player that had a nice role
off the bench for Baylor’s 2021 title team. The past two seasons he has been a
quality starter. Like Vincent, he could become a solid backup with his ability to
play both ends of the court.
Malcolm
Cazalon-SG-France Leuven
6'6''/186/ 6'10.5''
12.9 PTS 3.1
REB 2.8 AST 1.8 STL
INT/21.8
Hometown: Roanne, France
NBA Comparison: Terrance Ferguson
BEST TOOLS: Length/Versatility/Defense
Cazalon has been on the draft radar for years
withdrawing as an Early Entrant in both 2021 and 2022. Now he is automatically
eligible and could go late in the second round. He has a nice skill set but has
not put it together.
Omari Moore-CG-San Jose St
6'6''/189/6'9.75''
17.4 PTS 4.7
REB 4.8 AST
Sr./23.7
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
NBA Comparison: Jamaal Franklin
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Defense/Length
Moore was the Mountain West Player of the Year
leading San Jose St to a winning season for the first time in over a decade. He
did everything in college but will need to find a niche in order to make a
roster in the NBA.
Markquis Nowell-PG-Kansas St
5'8"/160/6'0.5''
17.6 PTS 3.5
REB 8.3 AST 38.6%-3PT 88.9%-FT
Sr./23.5
Hometown: NYC Harlem
NBA Comparison: Keifer Sykes/Russ Smith
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Playmaking/Toughness
Nowell was the story of March Madness as he
had several huge games all the way to the Elite Eight. He’s a playmaker from
NYC that is combines flash and fundamentals. He is an excellent shooter and creator.
He could find his way on a roster but has an uphill battle with his lack of
height. He will have a long pro career though it may not be in the NBA.
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