Looking Ahead: NCAA Matchup of Week Features Three of the Top Freshman Forwards

As it relates to NBA Draft talent, what is the top college basketball matchup of the week?

Every week, there’s a ton of exciting college matchups that feature upcoming NBA talent. As such, NBA fans are able to get a look at players that will be making an impact at the next level one day firsthand.

In the SEC, there’s a ton of athletes that have what it takes to be impactful NBA players. On any given night in that conference, there’s a good chance at least one player is headed to the league.

As it relates to future draft prospects, which college matchup are we most excited about entering the week?

Alabama Crimson Tide vs South Carolina Gamecocks

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at 8:00PM EST | ESPN+

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK

Featured Prospects: Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney, GG Jackson

Alabama clearly one of the best teams in the country, as the team heads to South Carolina this week. This is a matchup that will feature three of the best freshman forwards in the entire country.

Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney have cornerstone pieces of the Crimson Tide’s success thus far. They compliment each other extremely well with their varying skillsets.

Miller plays more on the wing and is one of the most explosive scorers in the country. Meanwhile, Clowney is a stretch four that makes a significant impact on the defensive end.

Both were on draft radars entering their respective freshman seasons, but have each improved their draft stocks tremendously with their play.

On the flip side, South Carolina hasn’t had as much success as a team this season, but have an elite prospect in GG Jackson, who is a clear one-and-done player. He's notched a 76 DSI and 74 3PE this season according to Cerebro Sports, which is extremely impressive for an 18-year-old.

The former top prospect in his class has shown flashes of greatness as an offensive star and will be the youngest player in the upcoming draft. Jackson still has a lot to improve on, but his ceiling is as high as nearly any college player in the country right now.

Given the three top NBA prospects in this game all play similar positions, we should get exciting head-to-head matchups all night.

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