2023 NBA mock draft 1.0: France's Victor Wembanyama tops the list, but who's next?
Which ever NBA team wins the draft lottery, it is going to select France’s Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.
You can’t pass on a 7-foot-2 player who can shoot, dribble, rebound, pass and overwhelm opponents with his length. Several front-office executives essentially stopped scouting Wembanyama late last year. They had seen enough.
He’s the No. 1 pick.
After that, G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson has long been considered the second overall pick, but Alabama’s Brandon Miller had the kind of season that puts him in the mix at No. 2.
Twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson are projected top-10 picks, and if you’re looking for potential first-round picks from the Final Four, it’s just UConn's Jordan Hawkins.
Here is USA TODAY’s NBA mock draft:
1. Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92
France, forward-center, 19 years old, 7-foot-2, 230 pounds
2022-23 stats: 21 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game, 46.7% FG, 30.7 3PT
2. Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
Guard, 19, 6-2, 195
2022-23 stats: 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 44.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT
3. Brandon Miller, Alabama
Freshman, forward, 20, 6-9, 200
2022-23 stats: 18.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 43.3% FG, 37.9% 3PT
4. Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
Guard, 20, 6-7, 200
2022-23 stats: 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 66.2% FG, 25% 3PT
5. Cam Whitmore, Villanova
Freshman, forward, 18, 6-7, 232
2022-23 stats: 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 47.8% FG, 34.3% 3PT
6. Jarace Walker, Houston
Freshman, forward, 19, 6-8, 240
2022-23 stats: 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 steals, 46.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT
7. Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
Guard, 20, 6-7, 215
2022-23 stats: 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 56.2% FG, 29.8% 3PT
8. Gradey Dick, Kansas
Freshman, guard, 19, 6-8, 205
2022-23 stats: 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 44% FG, 40% 3PT
9. Anthony Black, Arkansas
Freshman, guard, 19, 6-7, 198
2022-23 stats: 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assist, 2.1 steals, 45.3% FG, 30.1% 3PT
10. Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas
Freshman, guard, 18, 6-5, 185
2022-23 stats: 12.5 points, 37.6% FG, 33.8% 3PT
11. Cason Wallace, Kentucky
Freshman, guard, 19, 6-4, 193
2022-23 stats: 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 45% FG, 35% 3PT
12. Keyonte George, Baylor
Freshman, guard, 19, 6-4, 185
2022-23 stats: 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 37.6% FG, 33.8% 3PT
13. Taylor Hendricks, Central Florida
Freshman, forward, 19, 6-9, 210
2022-23 stats: 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.4 assists, 47.8% FG, 39.4% 3PT
14. Jett Howard, Michigan
Freshman, guard-forward, 19, 6-8, 215
2022-23 stats: 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 41.4% FG, 36.8% 3PT
15. Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana
Freshman, guard, 19, 6-6, 213
2022-23 stats: 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 40% FG, 30.9% 3PT
16. Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State
Freshman, forward, 19, 6-6, 235
2022-23 stats: 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 48% FG, 41% 3PT
17. Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers
France, guard, 18, 6-6, 192
2022-23 stats: 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 36.4% FG, 25% 3PT
18. Kris Murray, Iowa
Junior, forward, 22, 6-8, 220
2022-23 stats: 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 48% FG, 34% 3PT
19. Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Freshman, center, 19, 7-0, 230
2022-23 stats: 15.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 44.1% FG, 28.2% 3PT
20. Dereck Lively II, Duke
Freshman, center, 19, 7-1, 230
2022-23 stats: 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 65.8% FG
21. Gregory “GG” Jackson II, South Carolina
Freshman, forward, 18, 6-9, 215
2022-23 stats: 15.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 38.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT
22. Dariq Whitehead, Duke
Freshman, forward, 18, 6-7, 220
2022-23 stats: 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 42.1% FG, 42.9% 3PT
23. Colby Jones, Xavier
Junior, guard, 20, 6-6, 205
2022-23 stats: 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 50.1% FG, 36.7% 3PT
24. Jordan Hawkins, UConn
Sophomore, guard, 20, 6-5, 195
2022-23 stats: 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 41% FG, 39.1% 3PT
25. Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine
Sophomore, forward, 20, 6-7, 195
2022-23 stats: 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 46.9% FG, 35.1% 3PT
26. Kobe Bufkin, Michigan
Sophomore, guard, 19, 6-4, 195
2022-23 stats: 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 48.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT
27. Noah Clowney, Alabama
Freshman, forward, 18, 6-10, 210
2022-23 stats: 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 49% FG
28. Leonard Miller, G League Ignite
Forward, 19, 6-10, 210
2022-23 stats: 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 53.6% FG, 30.4% 3PT
29. Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite
Forward, 19, 6-8, 200
2022-23 stats: 11.6 points, 3.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 43.5% FG, 31.4% 3PT
30. Marcus Sasser, Houston
Senior, guard, 22, 6-2, 195
2022-23 stats: 16.8 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 43.8% FG, 38.4% 3PT
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA mock draft 1.0: Victor Wembanyama tops the list, but who's next?
