In celebration of MADE Hoops 10th year of teaching and guiding the next generation of basketball players here are the 10 MADE Hoops Alumni who got picked top-10 in the first round of the NBA Draft.
1. F Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic, Rd 1, Pick 1, 2022 NBA Draft)
Banchero as of Dec 1, 2023 is averaging 19.1pts, 6.3reb, 4.6ast and leading the Orlando Magic with a 13-5 record and is second in the Eastern Conference Standings so far in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season. He is coming out of Duke University and currently playing at an All-Star level at just 21 years old. With his size he has good ball-handling ability and can score in different ways on the floor.
He is a willing passer and is a very underrated playmaker for his position. In his hometown of Seattle, WA his experience learning from Seattle-based players like NBA Vet Jamal Crawford prepared him for the NBA. A quick note, his mother played in the WNBA and his father played college football for the University of Washington.
2. G Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets, Rd 1, Pick 2, 2023 NBA Draft)
Miller is a skilled shooting guard that has the potential to be the future of the Hornets. His confidence and overall game are slowly improving with his patient style of play. He played college ball for the University of Alabama where he averaged 18.8pts in 37 games and shot nearly 40% from behind the arc. His favorite NBA player is LA Clippers Forward Paul George and he admires George Elite all-around game.
Miller’s smooth shot-making ability and movement on the floor mirrors Paul George’s game on the offensive side of the floor. Miller comes from an athletic family where his father played college football at Alabama, his brother played basketball overseas, and his sister currently plays basketball at Cumberland University.
3. C James Wiseman (Drafted by the Golden State Warriors, Rd 1, Pick 2, 2020 NBA Draft)
Wiseman had a slow start to his career with the Warriors and now wants to turn the page with the Detroit Pistons. He is from Nashville, TN and played college ball with the University of Memphis.
For his college career the 7’1 center averaged 19.7pts, 10.7reb for the Memphis Tigers. With inconsistency and injuries Wiseman hasn’t got into a rhythm yet on the floor but at just 22 years old he has a lot of upside and has time to improve his game.
4. G Scoot Henderson (Portland Trailblazers, Rd 1, Pick 3, 2023 NBA Draft)
Henderson is an explosive finisher that can finish strong at the rim. The combination of athleticism, force, and jumping ability makes him very special as a 6’2 guard.
In his G-League career with the G-League Ignite he averaged 16.5pts, 4.5ast, 4.3reb in 25.9min of play. He is originally from Marietta, GA and played high school ball at Kell High School. After Blazers traded PG Damian Lillard, he is the one to look at as the future of the Portland Trailblazers. At just 19 years old he has time to continue to improve his game and hopefully rebuild a young Trailblazers team back to the playoffs.
5. SG RJ Barrett (NY Knicks, Rd 1, Pick 3, 2019 NBA Draft)
Barrett is a former Duke Blue Devil who is playing good at this stage of his career. As of Dec 1, 2023 he is averaging 18.8 pts per game for the NY Knicks in the 2023-24 regular season. He is an aggressive driver at the rim and has a soft touch on the perimeter with his lefty release. He is a willing passer and looks for his teammates.
He is a Canadian-born player who was a former five-star recruit in the 2018 class. He played one year for the great coach Mike Krzyzewski for Duke University. In his Duke career he averaged 22.6pts, 7.6reb, 4.3ast in 38 games.
6. PG Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks, Rd 1, Pick 5, 2018 NBA Draft)
Since Young got drafted by the Hawks, he has grown into one of the best point guards in the NBA. From his rangy 3-balls, his lay-up package around the rim, his iso-game, and his unselfishness on the floor. He has improved his playmaking ability throughout the years. He also scores well off the P/R. He can also create his own shot off the dribble and has a beautiful high floater when attacking the paint.
Growing up Young was a big fan of Steve Nash because of his ability to play quick and fast on the court and he had great ability to finish under-the-rim. While playing ball at the University of Oklahoma Young averaged 27.4pts, 3.9reb, 8.7ast, 1.7stls, and shot 36% from 3pt range.
7. PG Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers, Rd 1, Pick 5, 2019 NBA Draft)
Garland is a smooth crafty point guard on the floor. He has the ability to finish at the rim and create contact to go to the free-throw line. He has good shooting ability and can move the ball and get his teammates involved. He became an All-Star in 2022 and cemented himself as one of the best young guards in the NBA.
The Cavs guard is from Gary, IN and went to college at Vanderbilt University. He is a player that always says “he’s been working on the game within the game”. His father Winston Garland also played college basketball for Missouri State and then he played seven seasons in the NBA.
8. SG Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trailblazers, Rd 1, Pick 7, 2022 NBA Draft)
Sharpe ever since coming into the NBA always played with a confident swagger. He is from
London, Canada and played college ball for the University of Kentucky. He was the No.3 recruit out of high school and never suited up to play in college.
While he was in college, he got his body and mind right all to get ready for the NBA. He is a talented scorer anywhere on the floor. He also is a good rebounder for his position and he is a willing passer. His best trait is his confidence because every time he gets the ball he attacks.
9. PF Jarace Walker (Washington Wizards, traded to Ind, Rd 1, Pick 8, 2023 NBA Draft)
Walker has good size and length. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor. He can pass the ball well. He has the ability to drive to the rim and finish with high floaters. He is a capable 3pt shooter. Can run the floor and has good athleticism. He is from Baltimore, MD and played college ball at the University of Houston.
Walker learned a lot of work ethic from former University of Houston guard Marcus Sasser. Since he saw the extra time Sasser worked in the gym Walker started to copy his teammate. As a prospect scouts loved Walker because of his size, length, his ability on the defensive end, and he can stretch the floor and shoot from deep.
10. G Cason Wallace (Dallas Mavs, traded to OKC, Rd 1, Pick 10, 2023 NBA Draft)
The first time I saw Wallace was when he played for the University of Kentucky. He has good length at the guard spot at 6’4. He can score inside and out. He can push the pace and finish in transition. He always looks for his teammates and keeps the ball moving. On defense he has quick hands for steals and he is a good shot-blocking guard.
At the NBA level he has good handles and he is very patient with the ball. He is very dangerous when shooting the 3-ball off the catch. He uses his length and movement without the ball to finish at the rim. The former Kentucky guard is born in Dallas, Texas. He committed to Kentucky as a five-star recruit. He averaged 19.9pts, 7.4reb, 6.1 ast as a senior at Richardson High School in Richardson, TX.
