A final look at where Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis stand in mock drafts ahead of tonight’s NBA draft

The 2023 NBA draft takes place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event begins at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

Jalen Hood-Schifino is expected to become Indiana’s first NBA draft pick since Romeo Langford in 2019. And Trayce Jackson-Davis is also expected to be selected as early as the late first round.

With less than 12 hours to go before the draft, here’s a roundup looking at where Hood-Schifino and Jackson-Davis stand in mock drafts:

Jalen Hood-Schifino

• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 15 to Atlanta

• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 13 to Toronto

The Scout: Hood-Schifino is a well-rounded, young prospect who won the Big Ten’s Rookie of the Year award this past season while averaging 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. He’s also a very strong on-ball defender with real size at nearly 6-6 in shoes. He’s shown great unselfishness and comfort in ball screens, with a penchant for knocking down midrange jumpers. However, he’s not a particularly adept shooter off the catch yet and will need some fine-tuning in that regard. If he can improve that and some decision-making questions, Hood-Schifino could get on the court a touch earlier than most one-and-dones. But the shooting needs to improve, as he made just 33.3 percent from 3.

The Fit: The Raptors have some questions in the backcourt. Gary Trent Jr. is opting in to his player option, but Fred VanVleet has said he’ll become a free agent. The team needs to find more depth, even if it envisions Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator. Hood-Schifino can play a bit on and off the ball, and I think he’s the rare one-and-done who could play early because of how impactful he is as a defender. He would give the Raptors some further flexibility in terms of their offseason decision-making. More of the names I’ve heard involved with the Raptors reside in the backcourt than the frontcourt, although they don’t seem to be expressly looking for guards either.

• The Athletic, Zach Harper: No. 17 to Los Angeles Lakers

I think someone like Leonard Miller out of the G League Ignite could be an interesting option for the Lakers, but they need a big man who can play now if they’re going to add that to the rotation. It’s a lot easier to bring in a guard or wing to the mix, and that’s why I believe Hood-Schifino fits in best. He has great size as a playmaker for the NBA game and a 6-foot-10 wingspan to make life difficult for opponents, and his feel for what to do out there is exceptional. The Lakers would need to immediately work on his jumper, but the rest of his game is reliable. I think he could play in the rotation right away and give them a little insurance if Austin Reaves goes for a bigger payday elsewhere.

• The Athletic, John Hollinger: No. 20 to Houston

The odds of this pick getting traded are extremely high, given that Houston already has too many young players on rookie contracts and that the Rockets are actually trying to win this year. Unlike the pick at No. 4, Houston is likelier to get what would be considered fair value here, so I’ll be surprised if the Rockets end up making this pick themselves.

Thus, consider this one a placeholder: Hood-Schifino is likely the highest-rated player left on most draft boards whom I haven’t found a home for yet, so some team might trade a future first to the Rockets on the clock with the intent of grabbing him here. I don’t think Hood-Schifino is a first-round talent, so I’m really interested to see where the league values him.

• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 14 to New Orleans

Jalen Hood-Schifino is earning consideration as high as No. 9 from the Jazz.

We’re hearing there has been a significant buildup of buzz on him during workout season, to the point where rival agents don’t anticipate him being on the board outside the lottery.

• The Ringer, Kevin O’Connor: No. 15 to Atlanta

League sources have connected the Hawks to a whole bunch of teams in trade talks—the Celtics, Mavericks, and Raptors. One of the players Atlanta has interest in is Toronto’s Pascal Siakam, who would give the team some much-needed size around Trae Young. The Hawks front office is willing to trade anyone but Trae, so that means Dejounte Murray could be a valuable piece in negotiations. And perhaps we’ll finally see a John Collins move. A team moving into this spot might have interest in Hood-Schifino, whom scouts love because of his combination of size and playmaking ability.

• NBADraft.net: No. 16 to Utah

• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 13 to Toronto

Hood-Schifino plays bigger than his 6-6 frame and has a 6-10 wingspan that allows him flexibility to defend the perimeter and alter shots off the dribble. He’s one of the best guards in the pick-and-roll and showed confidence in decision-making when games were on the line late in the season. With many talented guards projected in the lottery and mid-first round, Hood-Schifino could play himself into the lottery with strong workouts leading up to the draft.

• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: No. 13 to Toronto

• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 15 to Atlanta

• CBS Sports, Colin Ward-Henninger: No. 15 to Atlanta

I love Hood-Schifino as a prospect, and he would slot in nicely in Atlanta as a backup combo guard who can play next to both Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. The guy just doesn’t do a whole lot wrong on the basketball court, and his 6-10 wingspan allows him to play much bigger than his size defensively.

• Sporting News, Kyle Irving: No. 13 to Toronto

I’ve had Hood-Schifino mocked to the Raptors for a while now, and the fit grew even stronger when Toronto hired Darko Rajakovic, a pick-and-roll savant, as its new head coach. With VanVleet set to hit unrestricted free agency, Hood-Schifino could give the Raptors insurance as a fluid pick-and-roll ball handler and developing scorer to run their offense.

Even if VanVleet decides to stick around, Toronto could still use guard depth and a second-unit playmaker with a ton of untapped potential like Hood-Schifino.

• NYPost, Zach Braziller: No. 14 to New Orleans

There isn’t any one thing Hood-Schifino does extraordinarily well, but there is no clear weakness, either.

With his 6-foot-10 wingspan, he can defend multiple positions, is adept at finishing around the basket and his decision-making is held in high regard.

He’s one of the most complete guards in this draft.

• Boston Globe, Gary Washburn: No. 8 to Washington

The Wizards are in total rebuilding mode and they really need to land on this pick. Hood-Schifino is a tough-minded guard who helped Indiana reach the NCAA Tournament. He was not an efficient scorer but showed the potential of being a starting shooting guard in the NBA during his lone college season. He’ll take a year or two to develop.

Trayce Jackson-Davis

• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 32 to Denver

• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 40 to Indiana

• The Athletic, Zach Harper: No. 34 to Charlotte

• The Athletic, John Hollinger: Not in the first 30 picks

• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 38 to Sacramento

Trayce Jackson-Davis has been shooting jumpers during NBA auditions, something he didn’t do at Indiana. Regardless, he’ll earn consideration for his effectiveness as a post scorer, finisher, passer and rebounder.

• The Ringer, Kevin O’Connor: No. 30 to Los Angeles Clippers

TJD is a highly athletic lob threat who brings defensive versatility, which could be valuable to a Clippers roster that has largely relied on Ivica Zubac.

• NBADraft.net: No. 29 to Denver

• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 32 to Denver

Over his four years at Indiana, Jackson-Davis has improved his handle and showed NBA scouts that he can drive, pass and defend at a high level. He was solid in the pick-and-roll option late in the season alongside Hood-Schifino and he has an easiness to his game that’s mixed with good footwork and above average athleticism at the forward position.

• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: No. 40 to Indiana

• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 45 to Memphis

• CBS Sports, Colin Ward-Henninger: Not in the first 30 picks

• Sporting News, Kyle Irving: No. 29 to Denver

The Pacers have reportedly traded picks Nos. 29 and 32 to the Nuggets for pick No. 40 and a 2024 first-round pick.

This gives the defending champions an opportunity to add some depth in case key role player Bruce Brown, who declined his player option on Wednesday, elects to walk in free agency.

I originally had Indiana slated to take Jackson-Davis with this selection, and I actually still love that pick for Denver. The non-Nikola Jokic minutes were rough during the playoffs and Jackson-Davis provides a win-now team with an experienced player off the bench for their frontcourt.

The All-American is a capable small-ball five who can score in the pick-and-roll, provide switchability on defense and protect the rim.

• NYPost, Zach Braziller: No. 30 to Los Angeles Clippers

A college star who stayed for four years, is already 23 years old and will hear his name called in the first round?

Jackson-Davis is about as rare as a winning lottery ticket.

• Boston Globe, Gary Washburn: Not in the first 30 picks

Category: Media

Filed to: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis