NCAA Basketball: Midseason scouting notes and takeaways on 2023 NBA Draft prospects

Some other players to note

Uconn’s Donovan Clingan opened my eyes a bit in Portland, so I was excited to get another look at the seven-footer. I still believe in him as an NBA player, I just am not sure he’s quite ready this year. He is still a bit raw. It’s a notably weak big-man class, so there’d definitely be some interest if he did enter the draft. But I think he probably needs another year.

Florida State’s Baba Miller is one of the more intriguing names after missing the first 16 games of the season due to a (bogus) NCAA violation. I’ll be a bit lenient given I caught him in just his second game back, but he looks like a very long-term project right now. He’s actually up to 70% on the season from 2, but just 2-14 from three. His defensive upside also seems more theoretical right now. Truth be told, I am not sure what he is good at right now and if he left this year, wouldn’t add value on his first contract.

Notre Dame’s JJ Starling looked a lot better than the first time I saw him a month ago. Still likely a year away, I’ll be curious to see if he enters the portal with Mike Brey reportedly out after this season. Starling could be one of the better guards in the sport next year, especially in an up-tempo offense that might play to his strengths.