The college basketball season begins this Monday, November 7th. For many players, this is an important year that should determine their place in the eyes of NBA scouts and shape their future with the big leagues. Surprises, backlash, blowouts, injuries…anything could happen in the coming months. From expert Mike Schmitz to prospect assessment enthusiasts, the scouting world will watch each player’s every move trying to identify their profile and ultimately lend themselves to the projection game for the 2023 NBA Draft and their long-term future in the NBA. The CCS Scouting Squad is no exception to this rule and kicks off its season by offering you three special prospects. Three stars that stand out clearly from the rest of the vintage. Fun fact: No one goes to college. (Source: spox.com)
Victor Vembanyama
Date of Birth: January 4, 2004 – Class: New face
Club: Boulogne-Levallois – the work: Pivot
Measurements
Cut: 224 cm – Weight: 95 kg – Wings: 244 cm
What if we, the French, hold the No. 1 draft pick for the first time in history? Here is the full challenge of the season in France. All the eyes of the world are on the French Crazy measurements. If questions remain after taking the option to join Boulogne-Levallois instead of continuing the climb with ASVEL, it is clear that this choice was the right one. More minutes and more freedom To showcase his qualities, this is what coach Vincent Collette offered him, and the whole world can benefit from it. Of course, after two exhibition matches against The Ignite Team There the French star shined Averaged 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks, Americans have fallen into a completely delusional obsession with hope. Especially the stars of the league LeBron James is the king Personally, the Mets praised the giant. Meanwhile, the NBA has decided Buy the rights to the Ile-de-France team To spread his exploits. This excitement is the qualities of hope. A Size-mobility combo That makes him a better player.
Victor Vembanyama is the first to jump when he sees him on court Ability to block Opposing players his Unusual wings Lets him Multiply the counters At high altitude, it’s easy to predict the impact he’ll have once he enters the big leagues. However, from his 2m24 top, the French will struggle laterally and with support speed. Unfortunately, this is not the case for his opponents. East Vembanyama Extremely mobile And moves better than most interiors. So it’s hard to pick up from behind. This quality alone would make him one of the best prospects of his generation, but as nature sometimes works things out well, so has Victor Impressive attacking tackle. The Mets pivot is certainly talented Draw long distances with high efficiency. If he hasn’t actually put the picks in, he promises Option to roll or option to pop From far away. We could even see him doing a dribble and driver pose in the circle at times. How can you defend a player who can offer so much offensively?
Starting with this premise, it’s hard to imagine Victor Vembanyama slipping in the classification next draft. Only an injury could derail the Frenchman’s plans. However, we have to be careful at this late stage, especially after what Chet Holmgren experienced in the offseason.
Scooter Henderson
Date of Birth: February 3, 2004 – Class: New face
University: Ignite Team (G-League) – the work: the leader
Measurements
Cut: 193 cm – Weight: 88 kg – Wings: 206 cm
I mean Scoot Henderson More than a consolation prize. The native leader of Marietta, Georgia seems to challenge the status of n ° 1 of the 2023 NBA draft to the French alien (somewhat). It’s a little crazy to see the excitement Vembanyamma evokes. Already noticed (noticeable) in high school during one junior season. Averaged 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game, the Ignite team player wowed scouts in just four G-League games last season. Surrounded by prospects like Jaden Hardy, Marjon Beauchamps or Dyson Daniels, who all line up in the first round of the 2022 draft, Henderson is simply Established as the team’s best prospect.
But then, What makes Scoot Henderson so special? He is an exceptional athlete Spontaneous explosiveness is rare That comparisons are hard to find. Most scouts mentioned names like Derrick Rose or Ja Morantine before the injury. That’s it. Strong, fast, impressive vertical rebound, amazing changes of direction and speed… A supersonic guard in short. But Scoot Henderson, it’s not just a physical, it’s a Great manager. He showed throughout last season that he has the potential to be an absolutely incredible organizing running back, if his passing game is undervalued. Playing the game, basketball IQ, passing quality, pick and roll management… His mastery of the game, times and places seems truly extraordinary.. Scoot Henderson is also a worker. His game Pull up Analysts scoffed, but the kid worked on it this summer and offered us a real improvement in that area during the preseason meetings.
Without a doubt, Scoot Henderson is a An absolutely extraordinary talent The second place announced in the draft 2023 owes only to the presence of UFO Victor Vembanyama. In final drafts, he almost certainly would have been No. 1 of his vintage. This season, we expect real confirmation from him, with a special focus on outside shooting and defense. From Mindset to Physique with Basketball IQ Scoot Henderson has everything to succeed and become a future franchise player, No. 1 point guard and first offensive option..
Amen Thompson
Date of Birth: January 30, 2003 – Class: New face
University: Overtime Elite – the work: Playmaker / Fullback (#1)
Measurements
Cut: 201 cm – Weight: 87 kg – Wings: 206 cm
While the first two spots of the 2023 draft seem already set and reserved for the two phenoms presented above, the lottery spots are more contentious, and a top ten prospect could claim the third spot in this draft. However, one name stands out from the rest with a goal of finishing the podium behind Vembanyama and Henderson: It’s Amen Thompson. Twin brother to Auser Thompson (part of this cuvée and expected late in the lottery), Amen evolves in the elite program overtime, a league created a year ago to offer an alternative to the traditional school curriculum (high school/university) and G-League Ignite. After dominating the average during his junior year in high school 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists Average per game, Amen decides to join an elite program overtime rather than follow the university route.
While OTE’s adversity and level of competition are often discussed, Thompson’s talent is undeniable. Combo guard over two meters With impressive athletic qualitiesAmen Thomson excites all observers Its explosiveness and its verticality. This is the slasher profile A very good driver with a high level of dribbling quality That, along with his speed, allows him to eliminate many of his defenders with ease. Some well-felt passes have been noted, especially in his last matches (for example during the OTE Pro Day scrimmage 2022) but we feel the player is a scorer before success. A recurring problem with many high-level scorers who dominate the youth ranks, Thompson’s defense has fluctuated. The physical and athletic tools are there (2m06 wingspan, honest lateral mobility) but involvement is often lacking and Amen sometimes seems completely disinterested in this part of the field. As far as shooting goes, this might be the player’s biggest project yet. Mechanics, apart from the tragedy, can still be improved (despite an improvement between last season and the first games seen this season) and no percentage.
As we know, the first two names mentioned by Adam Silver in June 2023 should come from BetClick Elite and the G-League. But while plenty of NCAA prospects could claim the third draft pick, Amen Thompson appears to be holding the line for now. An above-average athlete and a lethal scorer given some scope to add speed. This year, we’ll be keeping a close eye on defensive efforts, but especially improvement in shooting. If the player wants to be drafted on the podium and earn a prominent spot on an NBA team in the long run, he must show improvement in his shooting, whether it be the pull up or the catch & shoot, just the mid-range 3-pointer.
These three players are just a small fraction of the prospects that will present themselves for the 2023 draft. And if Victor and Scoot are in doubt about their selection in the top spots of the draft, Amen will have to show improvement. Looking to finish this podium by locking in third place. Either way, the battle for the top spot in the draft looks more open than it has in recent seasons. Nick Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Darrique Whitehead, Keionte George, Jarreus Walker and Auser Thompson…there are many contenders for a spot in the lottery and it promises to be an exciting scouting season!