The 2023 NBA Draft takes place Thursday at the Barclays Center, and Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis will learn where they will begin their professional careers.
Hood-Schifino was invited to the NBA draft Green Room and is a potential lottery pick. Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, could go as early as the late first round.
Here’s an updated look at where Hood-Schifino and Jackson-Davis stand in several updated mock drafts from Monday morning:
Jalen Hood-Schifino
• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 13 to Toronto
Many around the NBA are curious to see if the Raptors will move up on draft night, as there is a sense that they could be significant trade players depending on how aggressively they want to get involved with the likes of Pascal Siakam and others . Should they falter, it makes sense to target a guard with significant upside as a shot creator — such as Hood-Schifino. But adding shooting to that list will also be another major priority. There’s a plethora of players in this lineup (Dick, Bufkin, Cason Wallace, Nick Smith Jr., Jett Howard), but Hood-Schifino’s amazing physicality along with the potential star power he offers could make him very attractive in this castle. — Givony
• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 13 to Toronto
The Scout: Hood-Schifino is a well-rounded, young prospect who won the Big Ten’s Rookie of the Year award last season while averaging 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. He is also a very strong on-ball defender with real size of almost 6-6 in shoes. He has shown great unselfishness and comfort in ball screens, with a penchant for knocking down midrange jumpers. However, he is not a very good shooter off the catch yet and needs to be fine-tuned in that regard. If he can improve on that and some decision-making issues, Hood-Schifino could hit the field a touch earlier than most one-and-dones. But the shooting needs to improve, as he made just 33.3 percent from 3.
The fit: The Raptors have a lot of questions coming up in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet has said he will become a free agent, and Gary Trent Jr. can also be. There is precious little depth behind them. The team needs to find more answers, though it envisions Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator. Hood-Schifino can play a little bit on and off the ball, and I think he’s the rare one-and-done that could play early because of how impactful he is as a defender. He would give the Raptors some additional flexibility in terms of their offseason decision-making. More of the names I’ve heard involved with the Raptors are in the backcourt than the frontcourt, though they also don’t appear to be specifically looking for guards.
The row: No. 10 to 20
• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 14 to New Orleans
Hood-Schifino earns as high as No. 9 from the Jazz. We’re hearing there’s been a significant build-up of buzz on him during the training season, to the point where rival agents don’t expect him to be on the board outside of the lottery.
• The caller, Kevin O’Connor: No. 13 to Toronto
Hood-Schifino’s draft stock is all over the place, but the Raptors feel like a solid landing spot for him. Fred VanVleet’s future is in doubt, and if he stays in Toronto, he could use some size in the backcourt next to him.
• NBADraft.net: No. 16 to Utah
• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 15 to Atlanta
• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: No. 21 to Brooklyn
The Nets have plenty of wing depth and a young defensive center in Nic Claxton, but they need to add a young playmaker to the mix. While I’m lower on Hood-Schifino than some, his combination of size (6’6), pick-and-roll pass chops and pull-up shooting potential make him a worthy pick if he lasts that long.
• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 15 to Atlanta
The Indiana freshman measured in at a 6-foot-10.25 wingspan and looks comfortable with the ball in his hands. He averaged 0.24 screens per game. touch while in Indiana, per Stats Perform, which is the most of any projected first-round pick.
• CBS Sports, Kyle Boone: No. 14 to New Orleans
NBA teams are always on the lookout for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends in Indiana to push for a potential lottery pick in this year’s draft. Nice frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent, but the tools here are undeniable.
• Sports News, Kyle Irving: No. 13 to Toronto
Raptors face player options for both Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. this offseason, and they already need guard depth before those decisions. Hood-Schifino could give Toronto insurance as a fluid pick-and-roll ballhandler and developing scorer to run their offense if VanVleet goes elsewhere in free agency.
Trayce Jackson-Davis
• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 34 to Charlotte
• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 32 to Indiana
• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 38 to Sacramento
Jackson-Davis has been shooting jumpers during NBA auditions, something he didn’t do at Indiana. Regardless, he will earn consideration for his effectiveness as a post scorer, finisher, passer and rebounder.
• The caller, Kevin O’Connor: No. 30 to the Los Angeles Clippers
TJD is a highly athletic lob threat who brings defensive versatility, which could be valuable to a Clippers roster that has relied heavily on Ivica Zubac.
• NBADraft.net: No. 23 to Portland
• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 32 to Indiana
• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: Not expected in top 30 pick
• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 45 to Memphis
• CBS Sports, Kyle Boone: No. 29 to Indiana
Big men who don’t shoot 3-pointers don’t jump off the page as definite first-rounders, and yet, by most measures, Jackson-Davis seems like an anomaly. A dominant interior scorer and rebounder who shows good touch and makes good plays as a passer, there is optimism in NBA circles that he will eventually develop into a floor-spacer.
• Sports News, Kyle Irving: No. 29 to Indiana
With their third pick in the first round, the Pacers should look to add a more experienced player who could step into their rotation right away. Playing his college basketball just down the road in Indiana, Jackson-Davis would fill a void in the Pacers’ front court as a skilled small-ball five who can score in the pick-and-roll and provide switch-hitting opportunities on defense .
Filed under: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis