NBA Mock Draft: Ranking top 10 small forward prospects of the 2023 class

8. Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine

As somewhat of a late riser, Maxwell Lewis has jumped onto the NBA Draft scene as a capable 3-and-D prospect. During his sophomore season at Pepperdine, Lewis averaged 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range.

At 6-foot-7, he’s worked his way into being a likely first-round pick. He could solidify his draft positioning with great showings in the pre-draft process. Despite what he has going for him, Lewis is far from a sure thing as a prospect.

The concern with Lewis is whether or not he’ll be able to match the athleticism and speed that the NBA has to offer. Even more so considering that he played college basketball at Pepperdine and will be coming to the NBA without much experience against some of the other elite talent. But, in the end, that may not even matter.

If Lewis finds the right situation, there’s no question that with his size and skill set, he could become an important player for a good team down the road.