10 under-the-radar NBA draft prospects that every team should target

Under-the-Radar Prospect #2: Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine

As the NBA continues to become a more offense-friendly league, the need for players who can pass, dribble, and shoot at a high level while possessing positional size has risen exponentially.

Luckily, the 2023 draft class is full of these sorts of players. Prospects like Brandon Miller, Gradey Dick, Jett Howard, and Dariq Whitehead are all some of the more famous players in the college ranks who fit the bill, but just like Jalen Williams last year, an under-the-radar wing from the WCC has been steadily rising due to his offensive wing versatility.

Pepperdine has not played well this season, but that’s not on Lewis. He leads the team in scoring while ranking second in rebounding and assisting, which showcases his all-around game. He has a tight handle that lets him create shots for himself, gets into the lane at will, and live at the free-throw line, but more recently, his ability to create for others off of the dribble has shown how high his ceiling could be:

https://twitter.com/CoreyTulaba/status/1636095680287502336

Although his defensive warts might keep him from cracking the lottery, that doesn’t mean every NBA team wouldn’t love to have him. For teams like Golden State, Miami, and New York, having another player with good size, shot creation talent, and the ability to be an offensive connector could help to elevate their roster to a contending level even in his rookie year.