As the 2023 NBA Draft draws closer, teams continue gathering intelligence on the top prospects in this year’s class. We’re continuing to do the same here at Hoops Habit with our series ranking prospects by position and skillset.
There’s widely considered to be one uber-elite prospect in this year’s class and two that are on a lower tier, but still expected to be excellent. One of those two players is a small forward, the best wing in the draft, albeit not one without questions and swirling controversy.
Brandon Miller emerged as a star during his lone season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of the best players in all of college basketball a year ago. He was also connected to a weapon used in an alleged murder by one of his former teammates. One can’t be separated from the other.
While Miller has dominated the small forward conversation ahead of the draft, he’s far from the only player at the position worth looking at.
Who are the five best small forwards available in the 2023 NBA Draft?
There’s still plenty of time before the draft, which also means there’s plenty of time for players with college eligibility to decide to bail on the draft and return to the collegiate ranks. This list may prove to be fluid, though Miller doesn’t seem poised to exit the draft process.
Freshmen and underclassmen dominate the list, but don’t forget about some of these sleepers: Kansas’ Jalen Wilson, Texas’ Dillon Mitchell, Kansas State’s Keyontae Johnson, and Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates.
Here are the five best small forward prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft.
NBA Draft #5: Dariq Whitehead, Duke
Dariq Whitehead is one of the more difficult first-round prospects to assess ahead of the draft. He should be one of the best small forwards of the class, but an uneven campaign at Duke and injuries muddy the waters.
The McDonald’s All-American averaged an uninspiring 8.3 points per game during his lone season with the Blue Devils. He did manage to shoot well, hitting 43 percent of his three-pointers.
How much of his struggles were related to a foot injury? That’s in the eye of the beholder – and evaluating medical staffs. He required a procedure on his right foot during the preseason before his collegiate campaign. After it didn’t heal properly, he’s set to undergo another procedure, though he’s expected to be ready for his debut season.
Still, it’s all a bit worrying. If there was no injury concern, Whitehead would likely be a couple of spots higher on this pecking order. Foot injuries have a history of hobbling young players at the starts of their careers, though.
Outside of that pesky foot, Whitehead has an ideal frame for the NBA game, standing 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds. He can slash on the offensive end and make some plays, while on defense he has the ability to switch, though his lack of athleticism could be a hindrance on that end.
As long as this second procedure is a success, Whitehead could regain some of his favorable attributes and become a potential steal towards the bottom of the first round. His health is everything, though.
NBA Draft #4: Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State
Brice Sensabaugh could’ve remained in college and developed into a likely lottery pick next year. Instead, he’s following in the footsteps of fellow Ohio State alum Malaki Branham, headed towards a first-round selection after one year in Columbus.
Sensabaugh wasn’t even a full-time starter for the Buckeyes, starting slightly more than half the games he played in as a freshman. Still, he managed to average 16.3 points per game as Chris Holtmann’s go-to scorer, eclipsing 20 points on nearly a dozen occasions.
Scoring is probably Sensabaugh’s best ability. He can post up smaller opponents and get a rhythm going off the dribble. He can also shoot from almost anywhere on the court.
The combo forward is probably better suited for small forward than power forward at the next level, standing 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds. His athleticism makes him a decent defender and he’s able to rebound well for his size.
Sensabaugh suffered a knee injury during the Big Ten Tournament, which forced him to miss the end of the season. It doesn’t seem like that’s going to be a major concern going forward.
There’s also some polish that’s needed for Sensabaugh, who is more raw than many of the prospects in the draft. There’s improvement to be made in his playmaking skills and his ability to guard the quickest players.
For a team drafting in the mid-to-late first round with time to develop a young stud, Sensabaugh makes sense.
NBA Draft #3: Cam Whitmore, Villanova
There’s a fair question as to whether or not Cam Whitmore is a small forward or a power forward. Either way, he’s got a shot at being a lottery pick in the draft.
During his only season with the Villanova Wildcats, Whitmore averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors. His production came despite a thumb injury that sidelined him at the start of the season.
The 6-foot-7 wing is an explosive athlete, one whose potential helps stack up against other forwards in the draft with higher production. He’s long and strong, possessing the right body to become a star two-way wing.
Whitmore’s explosiveness is probably his best attribute. When he’s going downhill, defenders better watch out. He can body small defenders and push aside bigger ones. He makes strong cuts, able to find his way to the basket at a moment’s notice, even if he doesn’t create for himself.
His inconsistency does create some concerns for the NBA, particularly his inability to knock down threes at a consistent clip. He should spend plenty of time in the gym this summer, putting up shots from beyond the perimeter.
He’s another prospect that’s raw, but has all the potential to be a regular starter in the NBA, perhaps even more. That’s why mock drafts have him anywhere from the mid-teens all the way up to the top five.
NBA Draft #2: Gradey Dick, Kansas
Gradey Dick is a lottery-caliber prospect mainly based on one skill. But it’s the most important skill in the league and nobody in his draft class is better at it than the Kansas Jayhawks alum.
As a freshman, the former Gatorade National Player of the Year averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers are fine on their own, but it’s the shooting that carries Dick over the line.
He’s widely considered the best shooter in the class. He hit 40.3 percent of his three-point attempts a year ago. When he went to Lawrence, he was expected to pop as a potential lottery pick due to his three-point shooting capabilities and he lived up to those expectations perfectly.
Dick is able to find his spots on the court and his size allows him to get off shots easier than some of the players smaller than his 6-foot-6 frame. His release is quick and he’s able to shoot in a wide variety of situations, from catch-and-shoot to off the dribble.
Besides his shooting prowess, Dick is also a good rebounder for his size and fights hard for loose balls. He’s not considered a good defender, but always appears to be competing on that end of the court.
He’s not much of a creator on the offensive end, either, and could end up tethered to a catch-and-shoot role. It would help to develop more playmaking skills and to bulk up to help on the defensive end.
The warts are worth it – shooters are the premium players in the NBA right now.
NBA Draft #1: Brandon Miller, Alabama
The talent is undeniable with Brandon Miller. But the narrative around the Alabama Crimson Tide star is also well known, making Miller one of the more controversial figures in this year’s draft.
Miller was the best player in college basketball last year, or at least the best that is coming out to the NBA. The wing averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during his lone season in Tuscaloosa, earning Second Team All-American honors and winning SEC Player of the Year as a freshman.
His versatility and size made Miller a dominant player in the sport this season. He’s 6-foot-9 with the ability to space the floor and defend a wide array of positions. He has a long frame and the ability to make plays, showing a propensity to pass with either hand.
Miller is also a good three-point shooter. He’s long and has a high release point, allowing him to shoot over defenders and average nearly 40 percent on his long-distance attempts.
Miller is a bit skinny for his size, which could make defending bigger players difficult, despite his switchability. His do-everything-attitude can also get him into some trouble, such as when he commits too many turnovers or keeps shooting when he doesn’t have it (see: 3-of-19 in a Sweet Sixteen loss).
There’s also the character concern. Miller doesn’t seem to be in any real legal trouble following his alleged association with a murder weapon, but that doesn’t stop the issue from raising red flags. He hasn’t addressed it publicly in a way many people have found satisfactory to this point.
As long as NBA teams feel comfortable with Brandon Miller’s past – both on and off the court – he’ll be a worthy lottery selection in the draft.