Ranking the 10 best shooting guard prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft

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Terquavion Smith, NC State Wolfpack – Mandatory Credit: Michael Ciaglo-USA TODAY Sports /

Shooting Guard #8: Terquavion Smith, NC State

Just a year ago, it looked like Terquavion Smith could come out in the 2022 draft and get some potential lottery buzz. Instead, he chose to return to school, helping the North Carolina State Wolfpack get back to the NCAA tournament.

From a draft stock perspective, it may not have been the right call, as Smith didn’t demonstrate much growth as a player for the team. He was still an electric ball-handler with microwave scoring potential, but his lack of efficiency as a scorer did dull some of the shine from plays that he’d make throughout games like this:

32 points for Terquavion Smith in likely the final game of his college career. Showed his aggressiveness, scoring instincts, athleticism and skill changing speeds, finishing at the basket and hitting tough floaters and pullups, while playing better-than-usual defense. pic.twitter.com/aWFmRIg3H6
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 17, 2023

Given his relative youth, there are still likely a few teams like Utah, Indiana, and San Antonio that would consider taking Smith in the late first or early second-round, but he’ll need to really put the “shooting” in shooting guard to have a defined NBA role.