National Basketball Association

'Early-Entry' NBA Draft tracker: Which underclassmen are going pro?

Updated May. 12, 2023 10:15 a.m. ET

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With the college basketball season in the rearview, underclassmen announcing their intentions to enter the 2023 NBA Draft process is ramping up.

The process moves swiftly, with April 23 representing the deadline for athletes to apply for early entry, and June 1 serving as the last day to withdraw from the draft and uphold their college eligibility. 

The NBA Draft Combine will be held May 15-21 in Chicago, followed by the draft on June 22 in Brooklyn, New York. 

After 135 players declared for the draft last season, how many will there be in 2023?

Here's a look at the most notable names to announce their early entry into the NBA Draft process.

Eastern Michigan forward Emoni Bates

Bates, who was considered one of the top high school basketball prospects in recent memory, is entering the NBA Draft after spending this past season at Eastern Michigan. The 6-foot-10, 170-pound forward averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 30 games last season. He spent his freshman season at Memphis where he put up 9.7 points per contest in an injury-shortened season. 

Michigan State guard Jaden Akins

Akins announced on April 21 that he plans to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. As a sophomore, Akins helped Michigan State advance to the Sweet 16. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42.0/42.2/70.6. Akins started 25 of the 30 games that he appeared in for the Spartans last season.

Creighton guard Trey Alexander

Alexander announced on April 21 that he plans to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. As a sophomore, Alexander helped Creighton advance to the Elite Eight. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 44.7/41.0/82.4. Alexander started all 37 games that he appeared in for the Bluejays last season.

Arkansas forward Jordan Walsh

Walsh announced he will enter the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. A former five-star prospect in the 2022 class, Walsh put up 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season, making 22 starts for Arkansas. He helped guide the Razorbacks to a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. 

UCLA center Adem Bona

Bona, who was a five-star prospect in the 2022 class, announced he will enter his name into the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this past season for the Bruins. He helped lead UCLA to a 31-6 record and a Pac-12 regular-season title.

UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr. 

Jackson announced on April 18 that he plans to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 6.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this past season. Jackson will be the third UConn player to declare for the draft after the Huskies' national championship.

Purdue center Zach Edey

Edey announced he will enter the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility on April 18. The 7-foot-4 center led the Boilermakers to a No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament. He averaged 22.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game while being named the 2023 Naismith College Player of the Year.

Miami guard Isaiah Wong

The ACC Player of the Year is taking his talents to the NBA. Following a standout career at Miami, Wong announced his plans to enter the draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility. The talented 6-foot-4 guard finished his career ranking fourth all time on Miami's career scoring list. He averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 assists and shot 38.4% from 3-point range while leading the Hurricanes to a spot in the Final Four and a share of the ACC regular-season title.

UCLA guard Amari Bailey

Bailey announced his plans to enter the NBA Draft on April 13. The standout freshman started 28 of 30 games this past season for the Bruins. He averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. The 6-foot-4 guard helped lead UCLA to a 31-6 record and a spot in the Sweet 16 in this year's NCAA Tournament.

UConn forward Adama Sanogo

Sanogo officially announced his plans to enter the NBA Draft on April 13. "[No.] 21 out," he wrote.

The 21-year-old has appeared in 91 games (87 starts) across three seasons with the Huskies. This past season, Sanogo averaged 17.2 points and 1.3 assist per game — both career highs. He also added 7.7 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward is fresh off his winning the national championship with UConn in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis

Tubelis announced his decision to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the NBA Draft on April 13. The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian power forward is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while being named a second-team All-American. Tubelis helped lead the Wildcats to a 28-7 record and a second consecutive Pac-12 Tournament title. Arizona received a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the Wildcats were upset by No. 15 seed Princeton in the opening round.

Texas forward Dillon Mitchell

Mitchell announced his plans to enter the NBA Draft on April 12. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. However, Mitchell did not live up to the hype as a freshman, averaging 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.

Arkansas guard Anthony Black

Black announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft on April 12. The talented 6-foot-7 guard is expected to be a lottery pick following one season at Arkansas. Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season. He helped Arkansas beat No. 1 Kansas and advance to the Sweet 16 in this year's NCAA Tournament, where the Razorbacks fell to eventual national champion UConn.

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr.

Following a standout season at Illinois, Shannon announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft on April 12. Shannon, who began his college career at Texas Tech, has not specified if he will maintain his eligibility. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged a team-high 17.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while helping lead Illinois to a 20-13 record and a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova forward Cam Whitmore

Whitmore announced that he is declaring for the NBA Draft on April 11. The 6-foot-7, 232-pound forward enjoyed a standout freshman campaign, averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 26 appearances for the Wildcats. He was the No. 13 ranked recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He lived up to the hype during his time at Villanova, earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors.

Duke guard Jeremy Roach

Roach, a former consensus five-star recruit, announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft on April 10, but he will be maintaining his college eligibility through the process. The 6-foot-2 guard was a key member of Duke's 2022 Final Four and recorded a career-high 13.3 points and 3.1 assists per game in 2023.

UConn guard Jordan Hawkins

Hawkins announced his entry into the NBA Draft on April 7, just five days after the star UConn guard helped propel the Huskies to a dominant NCAA Tournament run that resulted in the team's fifth national championship. Hawkins' biggest shot of his college career was one of his last, draining a 3-pointer late in the second half of the title game after San Diego State had cut UConn's lead down to five. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 16.2 points per game last season and shot 38.8% from 3-point range. He made first team All-Big East in 2022-23 and is considered a knock-down shooter who will likely be selected in the first round of the draft in June.

Iowa forward Kris Murray

Murray announced his decision to enter the draft on April 7. As a junior, Murray helped the Hawkeyes claim a No. 8 seed in the tournament. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 20.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6/33.5/72.9.

UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaquez announced his decision April 6 after a four-year college career that saw him help elevate the Bruins back to national prominence, including an NCAA Tournament run to the Final Four in 2021 and two more appearances in the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023. Jaquez averaged a career-high 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season.

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson

Wilson announced his decision to enter the draft on April 5. As a senior, Wilson helped Kansas claim a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43.0/33.7/79.9. Wilson was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and earned All-Big 12 honors twice in his college career.

Penn State guard Jalen Pickett

Pickett announced his decision to enter the draft on April 4. As a fifth-year senior, Pickett helped Penn State claim a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advance to the second round. He averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 50.8/38.1/76.3. Pickett spent three seasons at Siena before joining the Nittany Lions.

Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis

Jackson-Davis announced his decision to enter the draft on April 4. As a senior, Jackson-Davis helped Indiana claim a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 58.1/00.0/69.5. Jackson-Davis earned All-Big Ten honors in each of his four seasons with the Hoosiers.

Duke center Dereck Lively

After a single season at Duke, Lively announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft. The 7-foot-1 freshman center notched 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 34 games for the Blue Devils.  Entering college, Lively was the No. 2 recruit, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and helped lead Duke to the ACC title.

Kentucky guard Cason Wallace

The Kentucky freshman, a projected lottery pick, will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 point guard averaged 11.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 32 minutes per game this season for the Wildcats. Wallace helped lead Kentucky to a 22-12 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas forward Gradey Dick

Kansas' freshman forward will enter the upcoming draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he announced March 31. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game this season, shooting 40% from 3.

Xavier guard Colby Jones

Jones announced that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the NBA Draft. A 6-foot-6 wing from Birmingham, Alabama, Jones averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game this past season while helping lead the Musketeers to a 27-10 record and a spot in the Sweet 16, where they eventually fell to No. 2 seed Texas. Jones is projected to be a late first-round pick in the draft.

Alabama forward Brandon Miller

Miller announced his decision to enter the draft on March 30. As a freshman, Miller helped the Crimson Tide claim a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.0/38.4/85.9. Miller was named the SEC Player of the Year and was a first-team AP All-American.

Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr.

Smith announced his decision to enter the draft on March 30. As a freshman, Smith helped the Razorbacks reach the Sweet 16 and beat No. 1 seed Kansas in the process. Smith averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 37.6/33.8/74.0.

UCLA guard Jaylen Clark

Clark announced his decision to enter the draft on March 29. The 6-foot-5 guard cracked the Bruins' starting rotation in his junior season, averaging 13.0 points, six rebounds and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 48.1/32.9/69.8. He was named the Pac-12 and NABC Defensive Player of the Year. Clark suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in early-March that kept him out of the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament.

TCU guard Mike Miles

Miles announced his decision to enter the draft on March 29. A three-year starter, Miles helped the Horned Frogs claim a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament this season. He averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 49.7/36.2/74.9. Miles was named second-team All-Big 12 this season.

Baylor guard Keyonte George

Baylor's standout guard and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year announced on March 28 that he'd be declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. George, the No. 9 prospect from the 2022 class, made it clear why he entered the Bears' program as a five-star recruit, after averaging 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists during his first season.

Michigan guard Jett Howard

Howard announced that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the draft on March 23. During his one-year career with the Wolverines, the 6-foot-8 guard averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 41.4/36.8/80.0. 

South Carolina forward GG Jackson

The Gamecock's leading scorer made his announcement after averaging 15.4 points this season. He was originally the No. 1 prospect for the 2023 class but reclassified to play for his hometown team in Lamont Harris' first season as head coach. 

North Carolina State guard Terquavion Smith

A high-volume scoring guard, Smith put up buckets in bunches through two seasons with Kevin Keattes' Wolfpack. He followed 16.3 points per game his freshman season with 17.9 in his second college stint, including three performances of 30-plus points, highlighted by 32 in his team's first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Creighton.

Houston forward Jarace Walker

At 6-foot-8, Walker possesses the ideal size NBA scouts covet when evaluating potential prospects. A consensus five-star recruit out of IMG, Walker was a huge reason for Houston's No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament — and he showed the bright lights weren't too much when moments mattered most. Walker shot a solid percentage from the floor (46.5), and averaged 11.2 PPG while collecting 6.8 boards per contest.

Duke forward Dariq Whitehead

Whitehead's commitment to Duke was perhaps the best thing head coach Jon Scheyer could've hoped for to kick off a new era in Durham. The five-star prospect flashed every tool in his skill set during his freshman season. He nabbed four steals in an ACC matchup against Virginia, while tallying four games with at least four 3-balls. Whitehead also scored in double-figures in 10 games, including a stretch in which he did so in six of eight contests.

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