NBA Mock Draft: Ranking top 10 shooting guard prospects of the 2023 class

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NBA Draft prospect Jordan Hawkins (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports) /

4. Jordan Hawkins, UCONN

Thanks in large part to UCONN’s run in the NCAA Tournament, I think it’s safe to say that Jordan Hawkins has cemented himself as a likely first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He’s one of the best shooters in the draft and is coming off a season in which he averaged 16 points and four rebounds on 39 percent shooting from 3-point range.

The big concern with Hawkins is whether or not he has enough on-ball skills where he won’t be a liability at times on the offensive end. While he may be an excellent shooter, there will be times when he’ll need to handle the ball. And if he can’t fully develop that part of his game, it’s easy to see why his draft stock could suffer even if he is still a first-round pick.

In the end, Hawkins has a skill set that lends itself to the NBA. He will be a player in the league for a long time if he can continue to shoot the basketball at a high level. The concern lies about his long-term potential and whether or not he can be something more than just a shooting specialist in the NBA.