4 To Watch In 2023

For every NBA player that decides to hang it up and retire there's another shining star in the gym working to become great. From high school on up there are guys that take a leap and elevate their game to another level. Crazy to think that this is my 5th installment of this annual series. Although I am really against heaping high praise on players before their junior year of high school there's one kid that I expect to put the world on notice in the coming months. Allow me to introduce you to Cameron Boozer.

To basketball fans this last name instantly stands out. Cameron is the son of Duke legend and former NBA all-star Carlos Boozer. He is the number 1 player in the 2025 class. Currently this hoop prodigy is listed at 6’9 and has plenty of time to continue growing considering that he recently turned 15 years old. In my personal opinion this was the most impressive high school player I watched over the summer. At an age where simply being bigger or more athletic than your peers can put you head and shoulders above the pack Cam has the skill set to be dominant even if he was 6’4. He has the ability to face up and score in the low post while also being capable of knocking down deep shots. His handle takes his shot creation to another level. His knack for rebounding and leading the break reminds me of Paolo Banchero. While his athleticism is at a supreme level his passing ability is a feature that’s easy to overlook because he’s creating highlights doing a bit of everything else on the floor. He has the ability to pass out of a double team while remaining poised which is a quality a lot of guys in the NBA struggle with. I expect him to be a fan favorite and develop a huge following before committing to a college. These days that could translate into a multitude of NIL deals and amplify his brand heading into the draft.

Next up we have rising Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead. Coming off a senior year for the ages that included All-American MVP and Naismith Prep Player of the Year honors Mr. Whitehead will be met with high expectations. The 4x high school national champion is a projected lottery pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Coming from Montverde Academy Dariq has played alongside NBA stars such as Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes. He is a 6'7 small forward that can impact the game in all areas. He's very explosive yet plays a smooth style of basketball. Very rarely does he make the wrong play which speaks to his IQ. Of all the tools he has in his game his most valuable move is the first step. Like Spencer Dinwiddie, he's very good at sizing up defenders and beating them with the first step. That feature contributes to his ability to be a 3-level scorer. When needed to be I think he'll be an aggressive that can wear down defenders like RJ Barrett did in his 1 year at Duke. Those that haven't seen him in action yet are in for a show!

In my personal opinion the best shooter in this rookie class is Summer League MVP Keegan Murray. Following up a 23ppg Summer League run Murray averaged 16 ppg on 70% from the field in the NBA preseason. With Sacramento not in position to compete for anything significant I can see Mike Brown giving him solid minutes throughout the season. Once he fully adapts to the pace of the league I can see a few nights where he sets the league on fire. At 6'8 and 225 lbs he will be difficult to defend with 1 wing player. His size will allow him to punish teams for using a small lineup. With his 6'11 wingspan I expect him to terrorize teams all season. I can see his game aging well…. kinda like Steve Smith. He could possibly serve as that type of player for close to 20 years if health allows him to.

Finally we have Delaware's own Bones Hyland. From VCU he's 1 full season into his career and he's already looking like a routine 6th Man of the Year candidate. He plays the game with the type of joy that makes it hard to root against him. With Denver rolling out a healthy roster this year I expect Bones to become an even bigger fan favorite. He will be in more high profile matchups which will amplify his popularity if he executes properly. Last season you could just see how easy the game was to him by the all star break. Bones has a very slender body type with a ridiculous handle and can get a shot off in any scenario. I think he's capable of a few 40 point games this season. The last time Jokic, MPJ, and Jamal Murray were all on the floor together in the playoffs they were in the Western Conference Finals in the Bubble. Jokic has won back to back MVP awards since then. Makes you wonder if Bones can play a key part in getting the Denver Nuggets into the NBA Finals.