Jalen Wilson is a 6’8 wing from the University of Kansas who led the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounding. After winning the national championship in 2022, many were skeptical of Kansas’s ability to repeat as a title contender. However, Jalen Wilson made sure these critics were silenced, earning his spot as a top prospect in the upcoming draft.
Jalen Wilson 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
After the departures of Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji to the NBA, Bill Self turned to his junior guard Jalen Wilson. Redshirting his freshman year due to a broken ankle, Wilson had time to develop in Self’s system. In his true sophomore year, Wilson averaged 11.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg and was second in the Big 12 in double-doubles with 9. In the 2021-22 season, he led KU in rebounds and put up 12 points per contest in the regular season. Finally, this past season, he led the Big 12 in scoring with 20.1 ppg as well as 8.3 rpg.
As for his honors during the season, he was a part of the All-Big 12 First Team, a Consensus All-American, the Julius Erving Award Recipient, and a Naismith Trophy Finalist.
Strengths
Wilson is extremely versatile and highly athletic. His speed, both on the ball and off, creates space between him and his defender, giving him a multitude of options. One of these options is shooting the three. His 3-point shooting percentage increased from 26.3% last season to 33.7% this season, exemplifying the larger role he took on this year amid the departures of his teammates. Although these numbers are not as high as scouts may like, he is one of the most underrated three-point shooters in the draft. His ability to shoot quick off passes, coupled with his speed, gives his defenders headaches.
Wilson’s off-the-ball awareness is a big reason why Kansas was second in the Big 12 in assists per game with 16.4. Watch any of Wilson’s highlights, and you will see a handful of plays where he gets the ball right underneath the hoop for a quick reverse. A simple jump cut creates enough burst to separate Wilson from his man and for an easy basket.
Finally, Wilson’s mid-range prowess is another crucial strength of his game. Sometimes defenders can be too weary of Wilson’s speed and back off a little too much. This allows him to pull up from the free throw line or dribble to the baseline for a quick jumper.
Weaknesses
Wilson’s defense is a major concern in the eyes of NBA GMs. He sits seventh on Kansas in defensive efficiency and is in the bottom quadrant in Big 12 steal and block percentages. Although his athletic frame at 6’8 225 may seem to be ideal defensively, he lacks the awareness he brings on offense. He can sometimes be lazy on defense, and mistakes on offense tend to translate to errors on defense.
Wilson’s passing could also use some work as he transitions to the NBA. He only mustered up 2.19 assists per game, a number that has stayed constant throughout his career. His struggles to facilitate the ball often render turnovers. He was last on Kansas in turnovers with 84 this past season.
NBA Player Comparison
Jimmy Butler. Butler is another exceptionally athletic wing whose physicality and speed mimic that of Wilson’s. Butler has struggled with his three-point shot in years prior but has improved significantly this year, like Wilson. Although Butler is more built than Wilson and is stronger defensively, both are incredibly intelligent players. Both have a knack for finding the right spots on the court to grab rebounds and are two of the most versatile players on their teams.
NBA Draft Projection
Late first to early second round.
