Jalen Wilson: 6’6.5” 230 lbs 6’8” wingspan 22.6 years old Senior, Kansas 20.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 43% fg%, 33.9% 3%, 79.9% ft%

Overview: Jalen Wilson is a very accomplished college basketball player who at times was the star and others served as the star role player he will want to be in the NBA. Wilson is a feisty competitor who was an All-American this past season due to scoring but his best traits are his tenacity going after rebounds and his switch-ability defensively. Wilson should couple those and his improved shooting to become a 3 and D wing in the NBA who has the strength and quickness to match up with powerful wings. Wilson could slip due to age and late progression as a shooter but he may be selected high by a win now team who saw what Wilson’s teammate, Christian Braun was able to do for the Nuggets as an energy wing.

Strengths: REBOUNDING! One of the best rebounders in this class regardless of position. Shooting improved a lot off catch. 40.3% on open catch and shoot 3’s. Strong frame who won’t be bumped off his spot. Versatile player who has played many roles in his years at Kansas.

Weaknesses: Not the most explosive athlete. Almost undersized height wise as a 3. Shot only 27.5% on guarded catch and shoot 3’s. Good on ball defender but not great at helping.

• NCAA champion (2022)

• 1st-team All-American (2023)

• Big 12 Player of the Year (2023)

• Led Big 12 in Scoring and Rebounding. (2023)

• #35 NCAA Double-Double Leader (12 out of 36 games)

• Height w/o shoes: 6'5.5"

• Wingspan: 6'8.0"

• Max vertical: 35.0"

• 3 quarter sprint: 3.20 seconds (10th in draft class)

• Kansas went 28-8 in the 2022-23 season, and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament (#1 seed).

• * Worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jalen Wilson- Kansas (SF) Age: 22.6yrs 6’8 225 (Kenrick Williams)

Jalen Wilson was a key contributor for Kansas’s 2022 national Championship and with a lot of talent leaving the roster Wilson needed to step up and he did just that winning Big 12 player of the year. Wilson became a more aggressive and confident player when it came to scoring, driving right preferably and taking outside jumpers which he improved in last year taking them catch and shoot and off screens. His shot is going to need to continue to improve and get more consistent but it was a big improvement. Wilson is not the most athletic player but his positioning and footwork offensively and defensively help him to stay and get to good spots but his lack of speed and quickness can get him beat off the dribble and does not have great recovery skills. Wilson is also a guy who does not mind taking on a smaller tougher type of role and is a team first guy who can contribute off the back of the bench.

(36gs 35.4mpg)(20.1ppg, 8.3rb, 2.2ast, 43.0fg%, 33.7 3pt% 5.8 3pa)

When a player has their role on their team change, there usually is an adjustment period for not just player, but the team as a whole. Jalen Wilson's role at Kansas was much different than in previous years (he played four seasons at Kansas), being more relied on as a scorer, and he was a legit offensive threat every night this season. I thought he was most impressive on the boards, leading the team in rebounds per game (8.3) and in totality (297). He was a guy who crashed often, and I think his broader stance gave him an advantage when boxing guys out. Again, his scoring and three-point efficiency increased with this bigger role. He wasn't necessarily great from three, only shooting 33.7% in that department, and while some of those attempts were much deeper (and maybe more "dumb"), I thought he had a smooth form that needs consistency. Wilson never had this role before in previous seasons, but the one thing that stuck out through all of his years at Kansas was his aggressiveness to get to the basket. He isn't one to get a lot of dunks, and certainly not a guy with good burst or athleticism, but his play strength and tendency to move defenders out of the way was a fun trait to see play out. His efficiency in the two-point range should be better, for someone who attempts as many as he does. He shoots 48% on twos, which is not horrendous, but only making 46% of his baskets between 2-4 feet on 127 attempts is not great. His defenders usually give him a lot of space due to his lack of athleticism, and usually takes advantage in the mid-range. I think there is promise for him in that department, and that with more reps with as much space as he'll have, it should be a legit strength of his at the next level. His athleticism deficiencies were also an issue defensively. I thought he had played on heavy feet, and I think that the technique was not really sound when guarding on the perimeter. Wilson needs to improve a ton with his technique and awareness on that end, as well as fixing his turnover issues. Jalen Wilson is the definition of being a few years away. His athletic deficiencies may always be an issue, but there is some nice developmental areas that could be attacked by a team in the late second round.

• Player Comparison: Shades of Caleb Martin and Kenrich Williams

• Projected Draft Position: Picks 45-58

• Best Fits: Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks

Role: Back of Rotation/End of Bench Wing

• solid at a lot of things, but not NBA good at any one thing

• not super quick on moves (worked in college, but might struggle in the NBA)

• knows how to win (won national championship & Big 12 championships)

Player Comparison: (Shades of) Wendell Moore

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comparison: torrey craig PF/SF 6'8" 215 Lbs

positives

• 20/8 (35 mins)

• 3 30 point games

• 21-22' ncaa champion

• really favor his shooting ability off the catch

negatives

• 43/34% fg/3pt

• 48% on 2's not an amazing finisher

• will be 22 on draft night

• not really the most athletic player, can't play above the rim

expectations

• could be a helpful role player

• help a winning team, fill in piece

Tier 5: Rotation piece (5th, 6th, 7th men of a middle team or end of the bench of a contender)

Best fit team : Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics

Best Rank : 31. Lowest Rank : 48. Final Rank : 46.

Rank in the 2023 official NBA draft : 51 with the Brooklyn Nets.