We examine the pros and cons for Memphis point guard Kendric Davis in 2023 NBA Draft

NBA mock draft miners might be disappointed if they are hoping to find Kendric Davis this week.

The prevailing expectation is Memphis’ All-American point guard will not hear his name called during the NBA Draft on Thursday (7 p.m., ABC/ESPN). And that’s OK by Davis. All he wants is a shot to prove himself.

Corey Barker, Davis’ agent, strongly believes his client will get it. After all, the play-by-play throughout the entire pre-draft process has closely mimicked that of another player that Barker represents who has made the most of his opportunities: Memphis Grizzlies power forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.

“Last year, Junior did the exact same thing Kendric has done,” said Barker, a former assistant coach at TCU, where Davis’ collegiate career began.

The former Louisiana Tech star parlayed a big week at last year’s G League Combine Elite Camp into an invitation to the NBA draft combine. Lofton – like Davis, a native of Houston – turned that into more than a dozen individual workouts in front of NBA teams. And, while he went undrafted, Lofton signed a two-way deal with the Grizzlies. He was eventually named the G League Rookie of the Year and, in April, Lofton signed a four-year standard contract with the Grizzlies reportedly worth $7 million.

Barker said Davis (21.9 points, 5.4 assists per game last season, who also played three seasons at SMU) has competed in front of a representative from all 30 NBA teams. At least 10 of them – the Grizzlies, Pacers, Hawks, Mavericks, Warriors, Nets, Knicks, Hornets, Wizards and his hometown Rockets – invited him in for on-site individual workouts.

Davis has not received a guarantee from any team, according to Barker. He said Davis may or may not watch the draft broadcast.

“He’ll probably be in the gym,” said Barker. “He’s not caught up in the hype of all that. He just wants to get somewhere and get to work.”

Kendric Davis: pros

Davis is a dynamic floor general with the ability to create for himself and others. His quickness, tight handle and instinctive decision-making separate him from other point guards. In college, the biggest threat Davis presented as a scorer was at the rim. He shot well enough from the 3-point line to keep the defense honest, even if he was a bit streaky. At Memphis, Davis made big strides with his mid-range game on offense and also showed significant improvement on the defensive end.

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Kendric Davis: cons

Davis measured a shade over 5-foot-10 (without shoes) at the G League camp, which has been a knock against him since high school. Heading into the draft process, he was also a bit lean. But Barker said Davis has added about eight pounds of muscle, most notably in his core and lower body.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What are Kendric Davis' expectations for 2023 NBA Draft?