Scouting report: Five guards Sacramento Kings could select in first round of NBA draft
Kings general manager Monte McNair and his staff are in the advanced stages of their pre-draft preparation with just two weeks to go before the 2023 NBA draft.
Sacramento holds the 24th overall pick in the June 22 draft and a pair of second-round picks at No. 38 and No. 54. The Kings will likely discuss these picks in trade talks right up until the moment they are on the clock, but should they keep them there are some intriguing talents in a draft headlined by French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Barring changes, the backcourt is not an area of need in Sacramento with De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell and P.J. Dozier under contract next season. Even so, there are a number of guards who will be worthy of consideration if they are available at No. 24.
Among the players the Kings have brought in for pre-draft workouts are: Emoni Bates, a 6-foot-10, 190-pound shooting guard from Eastern Michigan; Seth Lundy, a 6-5, 214-pound shooting guard/small forward from Penn State; and Ben Sheppard, a 6-6, 195-pound shooting guard from Belmont.
Those players are more likely to be second-round targets. Here are five guards the Kings could consider if they are available at No. 24.
Keyonte George
Baylor | SG | 6-4/185 | 19 years old
George is projected to go quite a bit higher in most mock drafts, but The Athletic identifies his range as No. 10 to No. 25, noting he is “a bit polarizing for scouts.” George averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals as a freshman at Baylor, but he shot just 37.6% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range with 2.9 turnovers per game.
Jett Howard
Michigan | SG | 6-8/215 | 19 years old
Howard, the son of Wolverines coach Juwan Howard, is another player who could go in the middle of the first round given his impressive shotmaking ability, but some believe he could fall due to defensive deficiencies. He averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 36.8% from 3-point range on 7.3 attempts per game as a freshman at Michigan.
Rayan Rupert
New Zealand Breakers | SG | 6-7/193 | 19 years old
Rupert is a defensive-minded wing with a 7-3 wingspan and tantalizing upside at that end of the floor, but his offensive game needs work. He averaged 6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists while shooting 36.9% from the field, 31.2% from 3-point range and 73.8% at the free-throw line in 31 games in Australia’s National Basketball League.
Dariq Whitehead
Duke | SG | 6-6 ¾/217 | 18 years old
A foot injury hindered Whitehead during his freshman season at Duke. He averaged just 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds but still showcased his shotmaking ability while hitting 42.9% from 3-point range. Medical evaluations could determine whether he is selected at the end of the lottery or somewhere in the 20s.
Colby Jones
Xavier | SG | 6-5 ½/199 | 21 years old
Jones possesses attributes the Kings might like as a guard with good size, tremendous versatility and three years of experience in a strong college program. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 50.9% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range as a junior. He’s also a solid defender who can guard multiple positions.
