College returners to keep an eye on next season 1.0
With quite a few withdrawals at the deadline of the 2023 NBA Draft, the returning class will be solid next year. Who are some names to keep an eye on? Here's the first edition of five!
Tristan da Silva
After receiving Pac-12 All-Conference honors, Tristan da Silva is set for another great year that’ll put him in serious draft conversations. At 6’9”, the modern NBA four has a reliable outside shot — 37.9% on 227 attempts in three years — and Coach Boyle will likely give him a bigger role.
Da Silva has soft touch around the rim and a polished game as a face-up scorer. On the defensive end, he should be able to guard multiple positions and improve as a weakside rim protector. If he shows improvement on that end, you’ll definitely see him rise up on draft boards.
Aidan Mahaney
At 6’3”, Mahaney finished his freshman year as a 14-point-per-game scorer. I expect him to take the reigns in year two as well. His scoring game can expand to all three levels and improve as a passer.
On the defensive end, his feel for the game and his competitive nature will be important to translate his scoring to another season where Saint Mary’s makes the tournament. What gives him the edge over other prospects is that Mahaney is already able to use his lack of athleticism to his advantage with his craft and change of pace.
If everything clicks, he’s a player that has a chance to play himself to the first round.
Jayden Nunn
Jayden Nunn is one of my absolute favorites for next year. With Flagler and George leaving Baylor, the incoming VCU transfer. At 6’4”, he’s a true pest on the defensive end. Excellent point-of-attack defender and an advanced scorer, especially when creating for himself.
By transferring to a bigger school, Nunn will likely have to play more off-ball, giving him an opportunity to showcase a total picture when it comes to his offense. On the defensive end, his long arms and great awareness will make him stand out in the traditional defensive-minded brand of basketball Baylor wants to play.
One of Nunn’s most underrated qualities is his screen navigation and passing. His quick decision-making will be put to the test in a quicker Baylor offense, which will be an area where he can show NBA decision-makers he belongs in the league.
Matthew Cleveland
At 6’7”, Cleveland has solid handles and the ability to be an elite two-level scorer in the NBA, that finished on a 64.5% clip with 259 attempts in two seasons. What stood out is that he kept creating good looks for himself inside the arc despite the defense leaving him wide open on the perimeter.
That’s the first sign of a high-end scorer at the NBA level. I think returning to school twice to expand on his game and working on the 3PT shot will do him good. On the defensive end, Cleveland improved with his off-ball defense. He still needs to get better at recognizing rotations and is often caught ball-watching. As of now, I don’t see an issue yet, however playing for a school with title aspirations forces him to improve on that end.
I’m a pretty big fan of Cleveland’s game. Love to see him mentioned here!