As a result of owning the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic had one of the best draft classes in the entire NBA. From selecting Duke’s Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick to taking Michigan’s Caleb Houstan with the No. 32 pick, the Magic left the 2022 NBA Draft with two promising rookies that will solidify Orlando’s young roster. Despite this, many promising draft prospects weren’t even selected in the 2022 Draft, and some even withdrew their names altogether. During the 2022 NBA Pre-Draft process, June 1st and June 13th were extremely critical in influencing many draft prospects to return to college.
For context, the NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline for underclassmen that wish to maintain their collegiate eligibility was June 1st, while the NBA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline for draft prospects was June 13th. Of the 112 total early-entry candidates that withdrew their names from the 2022 NBA Draft, these five players did so to improve their draft positioning in the 2023 NBA Draft while guaranteeing a playing spot in 2022-2023.
1. Armando Bacot, PF/C, University of North Carolina
After an incredible performance at the 2022 March Madness Tournament, Bacot is back in Chapel Hill with the intent to solidify himself as one of the 2023 NBA Draft’s best big men. Standing at 6’10” and 240 pounds, Bacot is a dominant two-way force who thrives in attacking and defending the paint. In 39 games with North Carolina this past season, Bacot averaged 16.3 PPG (Seventh in ACC), 13.1 RPG (First in ACC), and 1.7 BPG (Fifth in ACC), all career-highs. As a result of his immense upper-body strength and basketball intangibles, Bacot was one of the nation’s best rebounders, as he recorded 163 total offensive rebounds (First in Nation), and 348 defensive rebounds (Second in Nation), leading the ACC in both categories. Furthermore, Bacot’s offense is extremely efficient, as he shot 56.9% from the field and 57.7% on two-point attempts, along with a 59.6% true shooting percentage. Although the 22-year-old currently lacks a consistent three-point shot (12.5%), he has started to become comfortable with taking mid-range jump shots, and should attempt three-point shots in no time.
In regards to his fantastic 2021-2022 season, Bacot still managed to elevate his game for March Madness, as he averaged a staggering 15.3 PPG, 16.5 RPG, and 1.5 BPG while shooting 42.2% from the field and 59.2% from the free-throw line. Simply put, Bacot played a major role in North Carolina’s success in March Madness, as he led the No. 8 seed Tar Heels to the National Championship game against the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks. Even though North Carolina lost to Kansas 69-72, the Tar Heel’s 2022 March Madness run was very encouraging, even after first-year head coach Hubert Davis replaced legendary coach Roy Williams at the beginning of the season. After his breakout season with North Carolina, Bacot was expected to enter the 2022 NBA Draft, but decided to return to Chapel Hill for his Senior Year of College. If Bacot is able to have another great college basketball season this year, then he will certainly be one of the best and most experienced prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft.
2. Terquavion Smith, PG/SG, North Carolina (NC) State University
Getty ImagesAfter a fantastic freshman season at NC State, Smith quickly moved up in various 2022 NBA Mock Drafts. During the 2021-2022 season at NC State, Smith averaged 16.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 39.8% from the field and 36.9% from downtown. Smith’s superb statline was largely attributed to his great all-around offense and selflessness, as he can create shots for himself or his teammates. When Smith does decide to shoot, good results tend to follow. In addition to shooting 36.9% from three-point range (Fourth in ACC), Smith led the ACC with 96 total three-pointers, which also ranks as the fourth-highest total by a freshman in ACC history. Although Smith posted a team-high 27.5% Usage Rate, he continued to deliver for the Wolfpack, as he produced 478 total points (18th in ACC). At just 19 years old, Smith’s combination of youth, dynamic shot-making, and confident style of play made him a high riser during the Pre-Draft Process.
Instead of entering the 2022 NBA Draft as a likely mid-to-late first-round pick, Smith decided to withdraw his name from the Draft and return to NC State for his sophomore season, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
“I have to be honest and admit money has never been at the center of my thoughts,” Smith told ESPN’s Givony. “My agent explained to me that teams as high as the late teens, through the rest of the first round, all have me ranked as a first-round talent. It’s exciting to hear that. But I told him I have more work to do. I like school and my college in particular. Remember, my last two years have been so strange, thanks to the pandemic. I just want one more season to get everything right and just be a college student.”
With Smith now back in NC State for the 2022-2023 season, he will look to continue to improve his draft stock as an electric three-level scorer. Smith’s game definitely has some areas of concern, which is headlined by his inability to play off-the-ball. While the 19-year-old will likely control NC State’s offense, the likelihood of doing so in his first few seasons in the NBA is small, due to his inexperience. Furthermore, If Smith does find himself in a facilitating role in the NBA, he’ll need to lower the number of turnovers and fouls he’s committing. In 32 games last season, Smith committed 54 total turnovers (1.7 TPG) and 69 fouls (2.2 FPG), both of which ranked inside the top three among NC State players. It would also be encouraging to see Smith put on weight, as he is just 6’4″ and 180 pounds. In spite of this, Smith will look to take a massive jump in his play this season in hopes of becoming one of the top picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
3. Oscar Tshiebwe, PF/C, University of Kentucky
Throughout the 2021-2022 college basketball season, there wasn’t a more dominant player than Kentucky’s Tshiebwe. Standing at 6’9″ and 260 pounds, Tshiebwe used his size to have his way against any and every team he played, as the 2021-2022 AP National Player of the Year averaged 17.4 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.6 BPG. While averaging a double-double is impressive, Tshiebwe’s consistency was more eye-popping, as the junior forward ended the season with 16 straight double-doubles, the longest streak by a Wildcat since 1969. Tshiebwe’s 28 double-doubles also set a new Wildcat single-season record, and Tshiebwe is the first Division One player to average at least 15.0 points and at least 15.0 rebounds per game since the 1979-80 season. If this isn’t impressive enough, Tshiebwe also became the third player in Kentucky’s program history to amass 500 rebounds in a season (515).
Even though Tshiebwe’s immaculate season is one for the history books, his decision to return to Kentucky for the 2022-2023 season isn’t surprising for multiple reasons. To begin, Tshiebwe is an extremely raw prospect, as he didn’t start playing basketball until he was fourteen years old. As a result of this, his raw playing style was evident in his first two collegiate seasons at West Virginia, as Tshiebwe averaged just 10.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG while committing 1.6 TPG and 2.7 FPG. It’s also worth noting that Tshiebwe’s offensive game is one-dimensional, as he tends to do most of his work near or below the rim. While this was effective for Thsiebwe this past season, the modern-day big-man in the NBA typically can score from outside the paint and knock down a few three-pointers in order to space the floor for his teammates. Unfortunately, Tshiebwe didn’t even attempt a single three-pointer last season, but he already told the media that he’ll attempt three-point shots this season.
4. Julian Strawther, SF/PF. University of Gonzaga
Although Strawther wasn’t one of Gonzaga’s consistently featured players during the 2021-2022 season, he will see a major increase in playing opportunities with the Bulldogs this season as their primary wing scorer. Standing at 6’7″ and 205 pounds, Strawther is great at scoring the basketball, and can do so at all three levels of the floor. In 32 games with Gonzaga this past season, Strawther averaged 11.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.0 APG while shooting 49.8% from the field, 36.5% from three-point range, and 70.5% from the free-throw line. What may be more encouraging to draft scouts than Strawther’s shooting splits is his shooting form. The main reason why Strawther shot the ball so well last season was his shooting form, which is concise, has a clean follow-through, and gets good elevation, making it tough to defend. Strawther also has ample experience with playing off of the ball, as he typically played second fiddle to Chet Holmgren, Drew Timme, Andrew Nembhard, and Rasir Bolton. With Holmgren (No. 2 to Oklahoma City) and Nembhard (No. 31 to Indiana) now in the NBA, Strawther will have a much bigger role in Gonzaga’s offense this upcoming season.
It’s worth mentioning that Strawther is a very good defender in addition to his offensive prowess. In fact, the 20-year-old posted a 93.9 Defensive Rating (Eighth in WCC), 1.8 Defensive Win Shares (11th in WCC), and a 1.9 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (17th in WCC). While Strawther won’t become the next lock-down defender in the NBA, he’s more than capable of defending all the positions on the floor, besides center. Strawther’s ability to put pressure on the ball is key to forcing mistakes by his opponents, which has made him a good defender. Like most other draft prospects, Strawther will need to cut down on the fouls he commits, as Strawther committed 65 total fouls (2.0 FPG) last season. Strawther can be sloppy when dribbling and does need to tighten his handles up for the upcoming season. If Strawther can work on these areas, then he projects to be one of the best three-&-d wings in the entire 2023 NBA Draft, barring injury.
5. Arthur Kaluma, PF/C, University of Creighton
At the beginning of his Freshman season at Creighton, Kaluma had a slow start, and was having trouble adjusting to the game at the college level. Fortunately, Kaluma broke through these growing pains and quickly became an athletic wing with amazing finishing skills. In 31 games last season, Kaluma averaged 26.8 MPG, 10.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.3 APG while shooting 44.4% from the field and 67.1% from the free-throw line. Even after suffering a serious knee injury at the beginning of the season, Kaluma quickly recovered and played like the injury never occurred, which was highlighted by his 24-point, 12-rebound outing against the No. 1 seed and eventual National Champions Kansas Jayhawks. It’s worth noting that Kaluma’s real specialty is his defense. At 6’7″ and 220 pounds, Kaluma’s physical frame made him one of the better defenders in the Big East, as he tallied a 97.3 Defensive Rating (12th in Big East) and 11.0% Rebound Percentage (20th in Big East), along with 1.5 Defensive Win Shares (DWS).
With this said, Kaluma decided to return to college and address some red flags in his game. First off, Kaluma needs to work on his mobility and agility. He just doesn’t navigate tight spaces well and needs to improve his ball-handling skills to be a difference-maker without the ball in his hands. Similar to Kentucky’s Tshiebwe, Kaluma lacks a consistent three-point jump shot, as he shot 26.5% from downtown last season. The 20-year-old also needs to work on lowering the number of turnovers and fouls he commits, as he committed 79 total turnovers (2.5 TPG) and 78 fouls (2.5 FPG). In spite of these issues, Kaluma’s decision to return to Creighton was the right decision. If Kaluma would have entered the 2022 NBA Draft, he would have likely been a mid-to-late second-round pick based on his upside. Since Kaluma has another season to work on his aforementioned issues, his continued improvement as a shooter and improved defensive consistency may put him in the conversation as one of the top wing players in this draft.