[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Victor Wembanyama
Frame: 7’3″, 240 lbs
Position: Center
Team: Metropolitans 92
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Wembanyama has been the consensus number-one overall pick for at least three years. Every time he has stepped on the court, Wembanyama shows another out-of-this-world skill or ability that has front-office personnel jockeying for the opportunity to draft him.

Wembanyama averaged 21 and nine rebounds this year, with impressive offensive versatility. He can easily shoot the three-ball over defenders due to his frame and length. On the interior, Wembanyama connects on about 55 percent of his attempts.

He creates a matchup nightmare from just about everywhere on the floor offensively. His shot mechanics are smooth and repeatable, and the release point is high. Consistency in his jumper will help improve percentages over his career, both from long range and inside the arc. Wembanyama is skilled enough to convert looks off one leg, off the bounce, fading away from the basket, and even deep behind the three-point line.

He shoots above 80 percent from the free-throw line, so defenses need to play him honestly and hope not to foul. He does well driving to the basket and doesn’t shy away from contact. Adding muscle will undoubtedly help him absorb more contact and be able to finish through tougher competition.

For a player with such long limbs, Wembanyama does have a surprisingly tight handle when making dribble moves to get into open spaces to get his shot off. He has also shown flashes of playmaking ability with the ball in his hands.

Wembanyama runs the floor exceptionally well, especially on the wings, allowing him to get his own shots up or facilitate. He’ll immediately impact the next level, especially in the pick and roll, where he can attack with a hard roll to the basket, pick and pop or on the short roll into space. His height makes him a constant lob threat as well.

His game has already exceeded expectations for a 19-year-old prospect. Even though he has shot around 30 percent from beyond the arc this season, most expect Wembanyama to hit in the mid-thirties and build on that at the NBA level as his career unfolds. His ability to space the floor at 7’3″ is impressive but also becoming more commonplace with players like Kristaps Porzingis, Karl Anthony-Towns, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Davis. But he will also excel with his ability to put the ball on the floor and drive.

Defense

Wembanyama’s agility and length could quickly put him in elite defensive company at the next level. He is mobile enough at his height to stay with his assignment and alter a shot or affect the outcome of that possession.

His ability to block shots, not just at the rim, is astounding. Wembanyama gets his hands on hook shots, floaters, mid-range jumpers, and runners. His wingspan allows him to recover and get the block from behind in situations. Wembanyama can defend a player at the point of attack or follow them to the rim if necessary.

He possesses a high basketball IQ for such a young player, with the ability to process movement in real-time and impact the decision of an offensive player due to his mobility and lateral quickness, which are leaps and bounds beyond other players his age range.

The mobility in Wembanyama’s hips and switchability defensively allow him to be a player rarely seen on the court. While he may sometimes struggle against much quicker guard competition on switches, overall, Wembanyama has the tools to competently defend almost every spot on the court if needed. Many like to compare Wembanyama to his countryman, Rudy Gobert, but in this case, Wembanyama outshines his fellow Frenchman by not being as much of a liability on the perimeter.

He exceptionally utilizes his presence in the paint for such a slim player. Averaging over three blocks per game this season, Wembanyama has shown flashes that give the impression we may see his name on All-Defensive lists for years to come.

Looking Ahead

As the most highly touted player since LeBron James and the most hyped international prospect since Luka Dončić, Wembanyama has to stay healthy to even be in the realm of delivering on these high expectations. Like Chet Holmgren last year, Wembanyama must find ways to add weight and muscle to his frame without compromising mobility.

Earlier in the season, a video surfaced of his pre-game routine and static stretching he incorporated, which could go a long way in allowing his body more flexibility and bounce on his slight frame and hopefully make it easier to add proper mass. Going up against more physical players could expose some deficiencies but with the right work ethic and commitment.

Improving his rebounding efficiency is also an area to keep an eye on. At his height, Wembanyama should be a rebounding machine, but due to physicality, sometimes he is outmuscled or simply positions himself incorrectly to be effective on the glass.

Discipline on defense and keeping fouls to a minimum is another minor concern, as Wembanyama has sometimes tended to pick up bad fouls.

He has the highest floor of any prospect in recent memory and should live up to the hype. Hopefully, Wembanyama will stay healthy and grow into the star player capable of slamming home a putback on his own missed three-point attempt.

With the previously mentioned stars, throw in some Giannis Antetokounmpo for his close-out ability and defensive reads and put it all into a blender to get an idea of what Wembanyama can be in the NBA. His game shows glimpses of so many players that have come before, all in an oversized, mobile package. Wembanyama is like a video game player with all the settings set to max come to life.