Ranking the 10 best center prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft
By Rowan Kent
![Victor Wembanyama, Mets 92 - Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports Victor Wembanyama, Mets 92 - Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8c2e9f08a8d95a9d113661688af930a2d534449826a2e6a5721e8d543c341a01.jpg)
Center #3: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
At this point in the center rankings, the top three players should all see some legitimate first round interest. That isn’t the usual tally for this position, but it isn’t a knock of Trayce Jackson-Davis or the second-ranked player that they’re here or that they’re here by default.
In contrast, Jackson-Davis is a talented small-ball five who dominated the college game at Indiana for three years before graduating and heading to the league. He’s a crafty inside scorer, solid screener, good rebounder on both ends, and a sneakily-good passer out of the high and low post:
For no particular reason here's two minutes of Trayce Jackson-Davis blocking shots and dropping dimes. pic.twitter.com/jSvtJynatY
— cashiggy (@cashiggy11) May 29, 2023
He’s shown enough defensive tape for teams to feel at least somewhat comfortable in smaller lineups with him as the center. He likely will need the perfect fit to start, but as a first big off of the bench who can offer a change of pace, Jackson-Davis is a perfect fit and could make a team happy at the end of the first round of the draft.