By Jon Terry
January 23, 2024
The rookie headlines coming into this season were about Wenbanyama, and then the emerging Prep-Pro leagues, G League Ignite, and Overtime Elite. Beyond Brandon Miller and associated controversy, the US College class of ’23-24 didn’t get much attention, and certainly not much love, in this Column, or elsewhere.
But as always, the numbers tell the true story. We took a look, and compared the players in each NBA rookie source – G League Ignite and OT Elite, Overseas, and US College – to see how they square off.
G Ignite + OT Elite = Underwhelming
We heard these names a lot: Amen. Ausar. Scoot. Then names we didn’t hear: Miller (Leonard, not Brandon), Sidy, and King.
That’s this year’s class from U.S. Pre-Professional Leagues, specifically, G-League Ignite, and Overtime Elite, representing 6 picks out of 58, across rounds 1 and 2.
Scoot Henderson is putting up unimpressive numbers for the awful Blazers, averaging around 13 pts with 5 assists a game, offset by 3.3 turnovers, poor shooting percentages, and an awful +/- of -7.6. Ausar Thompson is steadily modest for the bad Pistons, at 8 poing and 7 boards a game, also with a negative +/-. His twin, Amen, averages 5.3 points, and 3.6 boards, shooting poorly, in about 14 minutes a game for the surprising Rockets, with a plus/minus of -2.6.
Leonard Miller, a Guard for the T-Wolves, and Sidy Cissiko, for the Spurs, are deep reserves not doing much. Mojave King is now playing for the Indiana G-League Mad Ants.
Starting 5: Scoot, the Thompson twins, Leonard Miller, and Sidy Cissiko
Bench: Mojave King, temporarily promoted from the G League
Grade: D. 5 of 6 made teams, but the overall performance is disappointing.
Other Overseas Drafts + Wemby = Wemby
Wembanyama is almost as good as he was supposed to be with at 19.5ppg 10 rbgm, decent shooting percentages, 4 blocks a game, and a positive +/- of 1.9 on a really bad team. But with a nod to Bilal Coulibaly earning minutes for the terrible Wizards, nothing impressive is on the rest of this list: Zkeke Nnjaji (PF), Tristan Vukecevic (C), Ryan Rupter (G), and Tarik Biberovic (G). Njajo and Rupert get minimal minutes for the downtrodden Blazers and Pistons. Vukecivic and Bibervovic are still Overseas, putting up average numbers.
Starting 5: Wembanyama, Coulibily, Nzjaji, Rupter, and Biberovic
Bench: Vukecevic
Grade: C-. No grading on a curve, we’re getting bronze medals against these guys. Their rookie class should be deeper than Wemby. It’s not.
US College + Redshirt Chet = Balanced and Deep
American College hoopers were well-represented in the ’23 draft, accounting for 45 of 58 players drafted, with 41 of those players making NBA rosters.
Chet is playing well for the tough Thunder, and in an ever-shifting 1-2 battle with Wembanyama for Rookie-of-the-Year. But even without Chet, this class is stronger than it appears at first glance.
Derrick Lively does not put up amazing numbers, but when healthy, has been a force for the tougher-than-expected Mavs. Same for Cam Whitmore in Houston. Brandon Miller is starting and putting up decent numbers for the lottery-bound Hornets, as is Jaime Jasquez for the contending Heat.
Keyonte George gets 13 ppg and 4.5 apg for thje surprising Jazz, Brandon Podziemski has been shooting it well for the Warriors, carrying a 40% 3pt FG% at the midpoint of season.
Throw in Jordan Hawkins for the Pelicans, also scoring in double figures, and 8 other US College rookies that are getting good minutes – Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors, F), Toumani Camara (Suns, F), Noah Clowney (Nets, F/C), Nick Smith Jr. (Hornets, G), Marcus Sasser (Pistons, G), Carson Wallace (Thunder, G) Julian Strawther (Nuggets, G/F), Anthony Black (Magic, G), Taylor Hendricks (Jazz, F,) – and you’ve got a pretty tough, if somewhat unspectacular, class
Starting 5: Chet, Lively, B. Miller, Jazquez, K. George
Bench: Hawkins, Podziemski, Whitemore, Jackson-Davis, Camara
Grade: B. Chet is real, Lively is all upside, the guards have NBA staying power
And the Winner Is …
Thus far in 2023-24, it’s a blowout: despite the amazing and ever-improving Wembanyama, Amercan College rookies are deeper, stronger, and winning more than their Overseas and Prep-Pro League counterparts.
| Source | PPG | 2FG% | 3FG% | RBG | APG | SPG | BPG | +/- |
| US College (Top 10) | 10.92 | 0.5058 | 0.289 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | -0.86 |
| Overseas (All (4)) | 8.4 | 0.437 | 0.363 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.125 | -3.3 |
| Prep-Pro (All (6)) | 4.4 | 0.424 | 0.15575 | 3.3 | 1.05 | 0.6 | 0.35 | -1.7 |
Despite Wemby’s gaudy numbers and the Prep-Pro hype, US college rookies lead every category, except 3 pt shooting, which remains the domain of Overseas ballplayers. Moreover, this class of US College rooks appears to have staying power.
So hold those horses, folks: Despite the young Wembys, seasoned Jokics, and number of Overseas contributors on NBA rosters, and the powerful money draw of G League Ignite and Overtime Elite, US College basketball still makes the best NBA Players.
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Short Shots
Boy, did this author get it wrong on the Nets. Simmons is back to being Simmons – Simmons 20-22, who dresses cool but doesn’t play basketball. Vaughn has lost this team.
On the other hand, the Knicks made an an investment in balance and chemistry over starpower with the OG /Barrett-Quickly trade, and it’s working – they are one ballplayer away from challenging the Celtics, Bucks and Sixers Triumverate.
Speaking of chemistry, the Clips are proving all the Harden and Westbrook haters wrong, both are playing unselfish basketball, accepting their roles, and making the Clips the favorite to emerge from the West. Extra cred to Russ: every time we try to bury this guy, he reminds us that other make shots consistently, he can do whatever he wants on the basketball court. We’d like to see him close his career with a championship, with the Clips, or back home in OKC.
Next Week … we look at the Vets: is the rest of the World really catching up at the NBA Level, of so, at what positions, and how close is it? Catch the Tizzle next week and find out!