SEC Basketball 2023 NBA Draft Preview: Alabama F Noah Clowney

Alongside fellow freshman Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney could be the second Alabama player selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. So, the only question left to answer is, at what pick could that happen, and why?

SEC Basketball 2023 NBA Draft Preview: Alabama F Noah Clowney

Clowney originally came to Alabama a year ago as a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2022 recruiting class, rated as a four-star power forward out of Dorman High School in South Carolina. One of the top players in the state of South Carolina, Clowney was also rated as the nation’s No. 79 overall player according to the 247Sports Composite.

During his lone season in Tuscaloosa, Clowney would start in all 36 games for the SEC champions a year ago, averaging 9.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG to earn SEC All-Freshman honors. Clowney would also shoot a combined 48.6% from the field, as well as an impressive 66.9% of two-point shots.

Strengths

One of Clowney’s biggest strengths is his size, as the freshman is one of the SEC’s more versatile forwards at 6-foot-10, 210 pounds. With that size, Clowney is an excellent defender, both at-and-away from the basket, and has the potential to guard multiple different positions on all parts of the floor.

Offensively, Clowney is arguably at his best when finishing around the rim, as the former four-star shot 66.9% on two-point goals during the 2022-23 season. A strong rebounder as well, Clowney is also capable of stepping outside the three-point arc to score offensively, but will still likely need to improve on his long distance shooting going forward.

Question Marks

As mentioned previously, one of the biggest question marks for Clowney as he enters the NBA is his three-point shooting, as the freshman shot only 28.3% (34-for-120) during the 2022-23 season. Clowney will likely need to improve in this area to reach his full potential in the NBA, as well as from the free throw line, where he shot 64.9% (72-of-111) this past season.

Potential Draft Range

While not a likely lottery pick, Clowney has the potential to come off the board as early as the 15-20 range, with the Alabama freshman likely coming off the board at some point across the remainder of the first round if not in that range. If Clowney should fall out of the first round, then the former four-star would likely be one of the first players selected in the second.

Draft Prediction

Clowney will be selected in the 20-25 pick range in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.