2023 NBA Draft Prospect Highlights: Noah Clowney
Overview
A four-star recruit at Dorman High School with averages of 17.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a senior, Noah Clowney committed to Alabama, where he was a one-and-done. Clowney started 32 of his 36 appearances as a freshman, averaging 9.8 points on 48.6 percent shooting, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 combined blocks-plus-steals in 25.4 minutes. Those numbers got him voted to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He also put up career highs of 22 points, five threes, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks. Alabama won its conference tournament and made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.
Analysis
Clowney is a wiry big who may spend time at the four and five at the NBA level depending on the team’s system and/or how consistent his three-pointer becomes. Offensively, he showed upside to space from the corners and work in the pick-and-pop, and his length and soft hands allow him to catch and finish off cuts to the hoop. He’s an impactful rebounder. Defensively, he’s mobile and disciplined, so he may be extra valuable to a team that switches and hedges its bigs onto perimeter players.
Projection
Mobile, lengthy bigs that can drill the three are highly sought after in the switch-y, spaced-out modern NBA. He’ll be most valuable to a team that embraces that style, and if the jumper continues to develop, it’s easy to imagine him making an impact off the bench in Year 1. From there, there’s a path to starting. Clowney’s role feels malleable based on which team drafts him and what sort of progress he makes on his three-ball and physicality, but there’s potential for a Jarrett Allen-type with a three-ball or a defensively-tilted John Collins.
— Profile by RotoWire