Most Underrated Prospect At Each Position In 2023 NBA Draft
Every year in the NBA draft there are prospects that are extremely underrated by the consensus and that’s how we often find second round steals every single year. We even see undrafted prospects make an impact on NBA rosters. Let’s dive into the most underrated prospect at each position in the draft this year.
Point Guard
Adam Flagler had a vital role in Baylor’s 2021 NCAA championship run as he came off the bench that year backing up King’s guard, Davion Mitchell and Thunder’s guard, Jared Butler. The underrated point guard has expanded his game since then yet is still being projected as an undrafted prospect which is much lower than where he should actually go. Flagler’s elite skill is his shooting ability.
The high level shooter excels as a spot-up shooter, has tough shot-making ability, and a really good floater in the lane. The passing has improved over the years which is very encouraging and he can also do a good job defending lead guards. The biggest concern for him is that he's pretty limited as a finisher as you’ll never see him playing above the rim and he struggles to finish through contact.
Shooting Guard
Omari Moore is a mid-major prospect that has a great combination of size and playmaking skills. Moore stands at 6-foot-6 and has impressive half-court creation skills. The skilled combo guard has a smooth handle and loves to operate out of the pick and roll. The court vision is really impressive as he’s capable of consistently finding and creating for teammates.
The combination of Moore’s long strides and athleticism gives him some upside as a slasher. The skilled guard can really defend and has some awesome defensive tools. The major concern for Moore is the inconsistent 3-point shooting as he’s not much of a threat as a shooter off the catch which could be a concern at the next level as he’ll likely not be given a ton of on-ball opportunities early on in his career.
Small Forward
Jalen Slawson is a name you probably heard in March as he was the best player on Furman who ended up upsetting Virginia in the first-round of the NCAA tournament. Slawson is one of the best forward defensive prospects in the draft as he has the tools, agility, and IQ to be an impactful on-ball and off-ball defender. The defensive prospect has great versatility on that end and has a chance to carve out a role in the NBA due to his defensive chops but he’s much more than just a defender.
Slawson is a good secondary playmaker that can handle it in transition and has shown nice off-ball passing skills. The versatile wing knows his role on both ends of the floor and that’s always an underrated thing to have for prospects entering the draft. The two-way forward biggest concern is the jumper as it’s too inconsistent as an off-ball player.
Power Forward
Bobi Klintman is one of the most unique prospects in this draft. Klintman wasn’t the most productive player in college but the flashes, upside, and tools he possesses is unique. The 6-foot-10 forward shot 36.8% from three with the majority of his shots this season coming from outside the arc. The shooting big is much more than just a shooter as he has shown flashes of shot-making ability off the dribble. The skilled big has a smooth handle at his size and he can really pass the ball.
Although he’s kind of just flashes as of right now, the ceiling is pretty enticing and worth betting on. Klintman is a skilled offensive big but don’t get it twisted, he’s much more than just an offensive prospect as he has nice tools, off-ball defense, and flashes defensively. There’s a chance Klintman could carve out a role as a 3-and-D big in the NBA. The high upside big will need to continue to improve upon his consistency and production.
Center
Colin Castleton tragically had a season ending injury for Florida to end his college career, but don’t forget about him as the big man has a chance to be a steal in the second round. The fifth year senior was one of the best rim protectors in all of college basketball as he averaged three blocks per game this past season for the Florida Gators. The shot-blocking big man does a great job of altering every shot inside the paint while limiting his fouls which is a key skill to have as a big man.
Castleton does a phenomenal job of defending without fouling and it’s a testament to his strong feel for the game. The defensive big has improved offensively over the years as he developed some low post scoring moves as he showcases a soft touch around the rim and is a solid free-throw shooting big. In his fifth season in college, he made his first three pointers as he made a total of two threes this season which is a positive sign moving forward in his career. The next step for the big man is getting more physical on both ends of the floor and utilizing his size a little more.
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