Scout's Notebook: Evaluating Group of Kansas Draft Prospects Live
The Draft Digest team took on the Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth on Monday night to get a closer look at the the abundance of future NBA talent on the Kansas roster. At the same time, we were able to evaluate a standout TCU guard.
It was a back-and-forth game, but the Jayhawks beat the Horned Frogs by a final score of 63-58 on Monday night. There was upwards of six future NBA talents that went head-to-head in the ranked conference showdown.
Let’s take a look at each of these potential draft prospects and our notes on them.
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Gradey Dick (Wing | Kansas)
Simply put, Dick was the best player on the floor in this contest by quite a bit. He's got legitimate NBA wing size and arguably the best jumper in the country. Seeing the mechanics up close really solidify his case for being an instant contributor at the next level.
Furthermore, he showcased much more than just shooting upside in this game. The Kansas freshman flashed his passing ability and also pulled down some crucial rebounds. Dick also proved he can generate his own shots, using a variety of jabs and pump fakes to get a good look.
The defense was also solid from Dick in this one, guarding multiple positions at a solid level. There's a reason he's projected to go as high as the lottery in the 2023 NBA Draft. He finished with 19 points despite the off night from deep (3-of-10 three) to go along with six boards and two assists.
Jalen Wilson (Forward | Kansas)
This matchup against TCU was one of the worst performances of Wilson's season overall offensively. He finished with just seven points on 11 shot attempts, although he did pull down 13 rebounds.
The upperclassman wasn't aggressive early in the game and then couldn't get shots to fall when he did look to attack. He was short on several attempts, as it just wasn't his night on that end.
With that in mind, he's still a prospect that will get serious consideration early in the second round of the upcoming draft. He's the perfect build for a combo forward at the next level and has the ability to bring the ball up the floor upon rebounding it which is crucial in the modern NBA.
KJ Adams (Forward | Kansas)
There's so many things to like about Adams, but he still hasn't put together a well-rounded game to get real buzz in the 2023 NBA Draft. In person, he's noticeably one of the most physically gifted players in the country. He's strong, has a good frame, is athletic and moves his feet well. He played fantastic defense in this contest against TCU while guarding several positions.
On the flip side, he rarely looks to score the ball offensively and lacks a real jumper. In general, when Adams catches on the perimeter, he looks to dish the ball rather and seeing if he has something for himself. Especially against Eddie Lampkin, Adams could have had success putting the ball on the floor and putting pressure on the rim in this game.
You can tell from pregame warmups that he has good natural touch. However, the natural feel on the offensive end along with the mechanics and speed of Adams' jump shot need work. He finished with six point and six rebounds in this contest.
Kevin McCullar (Guard | Kansas)
Since transfering to Kansas from Texas Tech, McCullar has been a valuable piece. He'll almost certainly get consideration in the upcoming draft, it's just a matter of at what point.
The two-way impact of McCullar is real, but it's difficult to find that one thing he's great at. The Jayhawks guard is versatile and does a lot of things well, but lacks an elite skill.
However, he did once again have a spectacular showing on Monday night, pouring in 15 points to go along with seven boards and three assists.
Mike Miles (Guard | TCU)
The leader of the Horned Frogs roster, Miles is electric. The passion and energy he plays with is contagious to his teammates and the crowd as he is one of the best scorers in the conference. In the loss he scored 13 points, but it took him 14 shot attempts. It wasn't the most efficient night for Miles, but the advanced scoring upside is so blatantly obvious.
There is concern about his height, but Miles plays bigger than his size. While he's a three-year player, he's young for his high school class and is still just 20 years old. As a late second-round flyer, Miles could be a great pick as a bench spark plug at the NBA level.
MJ Rice (Guard | Kansas)
Rice is a prospect that will take at least another year before he's ready to make the jump to the NBA, but he's worth mentioning given his upside as a prospect. He played just four minutes tonight, but did score a bucket in what was a big moment.
The young guard could take on a much bigger role next season and end up being a first rounder in the 2024 NBA Draft. Unfortunately for now, he's not a large part of the Kansas rotation.
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