2023 NBA Draft Prospect Highlights: Amen Thompson
• Amen and Ausar Thompson can make history at 2023 NBA Draft
Overview
Amen Thompson, a five-star recruit by ESPN, won a state high school basketball title with Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He and his brother, Ausar, bypassed their senior years to play in the Overtime Elite. In 2021, he played for Team OTE where he averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals. Last season, he moved to City Reapers where he averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.4 steals in 28.2 minutes. His team won the league title in a 3-0 sweep over the YNG Dreamerz.
Analysis
Thompson has been operating as a ballhandler and playmaker with wing size and elite athleticism. He plays best with spacers around him, as opponents often go under screens. Even with that being the case, Thompson’s quickness and vertical leap help him blow past and rise over defenses with acrobatic finishes. When teams collapse, he finds the right man with an accurate pass. He’s bothersome on defense and can beat his man to the spot and has shown good IQ in help situations.
Projection
Thompson will likely need the ball in his hands at the NBA level to unlock his full potential, which could be All-Star level, but how quickly he gets there may depend on if he lands on a team with or without an established point guard. Unquestionably, he’ll get easy points and make a defensive impact through his top-shelf athleticism, but playing off ball isn’t his strong suit. Thompson holds similarities to a wing-sized Ja Morant or a more athletic Ben Simmons.
Amen and Ausar Thompson could go from Overtime Elite to the 1st twins to be selected as Top 10 picks in the same Draft.
— Profile by RotoWire