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NCAA Basketball: Top 50 players from 2023 NBA Draft most likely to succeed

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Anthony Black (0) dunks the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Anthony Black (0) dunks the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.
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NBA Draft
NCAA Basketball Penn State Nittany Lions guard Jalen Pickett Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

42. Adama Sanogo – UConn Huskies

2022-23 season stats: 17.2 ppg and 7.7 rpg

The leading scorer on the national champion Huskies proved to be an outstanding post-scorer and underrated defender. The concern with Sanogo is that he doesn’t spread the floor and is a bit undersized as an NBA center at just 6’9. Still, he’s the kind of athlete and rim-runner that should find a way to get drafted, even late in the second round.

41. Justyn Mutts – Virginia Tech Hokies

2022-23 season stats: 13.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 4.6 apg

Mutts started out his career at Delaware, before becoming one of the ultimate “glue guys” in NCAA Basketball. The 6’7 forward can play and guard three positions inside and is a quality passer as well. He doesn’t shoot the ball much and realistically, the offense won’t run through him. But Mutts is just too good at all facets of the game not to find a role on an NBA team.

40. Jalen Pickett – Penn State Nittany Lions

2022-23 season stats: 17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 6.6 apg

In five years at both Siena and Penn State, Pickett was a double-digit scorer and all-around stat-stuffer. He shot 51% from the field and 38% from three-point range, while also producing a triple-double against Butler during last season. At 6’4, Pickett has the size to be a point guard in the NBA but his age and athleticism questions hurt him a bit. But expect him to find a way to play in the league for several years at least.