Brice Sensabaugh is a Lottery Pick, here's why:
Unveiling the Exceptional Talent of Brice Sensabaugh: A Compelling Case for His Lottery Pick Status
A little over a year ago today, Brice Sensabaugh was settling into his dorm room, having moved north to Colombus, Ohio, to attend The Ohio State University. Then, he was a little-known prospect in the eyes of NBA executives from Orlando, Florida. Fast forward a year, Sensabaugh is expected to hear his name called on June 22 in the Barclays Center. Over the past year, Sensabaugh has burst onto the scene of many in the national draft scene, but those following him for a while knew that he had this in him.
Starting in the Spring of 21', Sensabaugh established himself amongst the best scorers in the nation by posting an average of 17.9 PPG on the Elite Youth Basketball Circuit (EYBL). This put him on the map of recruiters nationwide, and he would settle on Chris Holtmann and The Ohio State Buckeyes by the start of his Senior year. A late bloomer in the eyes of recruiters due to two meniscus surgeries in high school, Sensabaugh's elite talent finally prevailed, leading him to High-Major College Basketball. Fast forward to the Summer of 22', Sensabaugh had settled in at Ohio State and began to play in the Kingdom Summer League, a pro-am for the best talents in and around the Colombus area. As Sensabaugh established himself as an alpha of a league containing pros, both NBA and overseas, his scoring talent flourished.
All this talent came together this past season for Sensabaugh at Ohio State. Chris Holtmann gave Sensabaugh the green light, and he went to work. Sensabaugh thrived, posting 26.6 PPG per 40 minutes, the highest amongst the 2023 NBA Draft Class. Despite displaying a massive amount of talent scoring the basketball, Coach Chris Holtmann's system highlighted Sensabaugh's flaws, sometimes making him borderline unplayable due to his poor all-around defense and lack of playmaking.
With all that being said, Sensabaugh is a lottery pick. Here’s why:
Sensabaugh can immediately step into an NBA offense and be the best scorer on the floor, but that's not what the NBA is looking for out of him. They're looking for guys who can complement the players on max contracts. Well, Sensabaugh can do that as well. It's crucial to immediately highlight Sensabaugh's shooting proficiency which will instantly help him establish a role in an NBA offense. 40.4% on C&S threes is fabulous, which will help him get on the court at the next level, but that is where his "deficiencies" start.
Strengths
As highlighted above, Sensabaugh is the best scorer in a class full of top-tier talents. His bag is extremely deep; whether you want C&S threes, off-the-dribble threes, mid-range, post fades, or low-post work, he can give it to you any way you want.
Another elegant part of his game is his footwork. Sensabaugh is 19 going on 30 in that essence. He knows how to get to his spot and efficiently take advantage. While Sensabaugh can lack the ability to gain space 1v1, he does flash the ability to create space occasionally despite being known as a tough shot maker.
All of this offense makes him so coveted in the first place, but improving upon his flaws will make him stick in the NBA. He must improve on the following things:
Weaknesses
Sensabaugh has 2 glaring weaknesses, Defense and Playmaking. In my mind, he only has one defense. Sensabaugh showed immense flashes of positive playmaking throughout various times of the year and can eventually put it all together. December 21, the day Brice Sensabaugh's playmaking burst onto the scene, showing what type of passer he can subsequently be considering the amount of attention placed on his scoring ability.
Sensabaugh’s 7 assists vs. Maine - 12/21/22
Here’s another flash of playmaking by Sensabaugh against MSU in early March:
All of this playmaking is "holding him back," but in reality, it's a budding strength of Sensabaugh's. Efficient scoring, something Sensabaugh possesses, means that he'll see double teams, which is where his growing passing ability will come into use.
All of that said, Sensabaugh does have a real problem when it comes to guarding on defense. He lacks the lateral quickness of an average NBA defender, which will make him the target of opposing offenses at the next level, something he'll need to improve upon if he wants to stick. The majority of his defensive issues go back to two things, his body type and his meniscus injuries.
So far, it appears as if Sensabaugh has benefitted from the pre-draft process by getting into tip-top shape, which will inevitably cure a portion of his defensive issues but also by getting cleared medically to workout with NBA teams alleviating the fears put into teams by his decision to sit out the back end of the B1G Ten Tournament due to a knee injury suffered during the tournament.
Picture of Sensabaugh during the Pre-Draft Process:
Example of Sensabaugh’s Defensive Mishaps:
All of these weaknesses are things stopping him from potentially playing at the next level, but the reality is these weaknesses will fade quickly at the next level, making him a steal for whoever ends up getting him.
Fit
Sensabaugh is a prime candidate for the selection of a team picking in the late lottery. The Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans, picking #13 and #14, respectively, would be excellent landing spots for Sensabaugh. Masai Ujiri's love for funky prospects runs deep, and it would be no surprise for him to hear his name called in that slot. With the looks of things being blown up in Toronto, Sensabaugh should be delighted should he see himself go there on draft night. As for New Orleans, Sensabaugh could be a welcomed injection of scoring, something the Pelicans lacked in their season-ending loss at the hands of the youthful Oklahoma City Thunder. And for Zion, who knows with him? Hell, he might even get traded this offseason. Fit is essential when it comes to Sensabaugh, so for him to go to a place like Toronto and be able to develop would help him reach his full potential. That's why I believe Sensabaugh will be a top 10 player to have emerged from this 2023 draft class when it's all said and done.
Wrap-Up
As Brice Sensabaugh emerges as an exceptional scorer in the 2023 NBA Draft class possessing a diverse offensive skill that'll set him apart, his shooting proficiency, varied shot selection, and advanced footwork will make him an enticing player for years to come for whichever team chooses to select him.
While there are areas for improvement, particularly in defense and playmaking, Sensabaugh has shown flashes of potential and growth. His efficient scoring and the attention he attracts from defenses can be leveraged to develop his passing upside.
Teams picking in the late lottery, like the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans, could provide an ideal fit for Sensabaugh's development. Toronto's history of embracing unconventional prospects under Masai Ujiri's leadership could make them an attractive destination. Similarly, the Pelicans could benefit from Sensabaugh's scoring abilities and help fill their offensive needs. With the right coaching and environment, Sensabaugh has the potential to become one of the standout players from the 2023 draft class, making him a steal for whichever team selects him. That is why Brice Sensabaugh is a lottery pick.