2023 NBA Mock Draft: Spurs land franchise PG, tanking pays off for Pistons

Xavier guard Colby Jones finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together in his third season with his team, proving himself as one of the most versatile two-way guards in the entire draft. Despite subpar free-throw shooting numbers (hitting only 65% of his 3.4 attempts per game), Jones dramatically improved as a three-point shooter in his junior season, jumping from 29% last season to just under 38% this season.

But Jones’ appeal largely comes from his wide-ranging impact on any given game, as he’s proven to be a versatile defender at 6’5”, a very capable playmaker (averaging 4.4 assists per game this past season), and someone that can be successful on or off-ball. 

Teams toward the end of the first round will likely have several experienced wings to choose from, but Jones strikes me as the player that will be able to fill the most gaps for his future team, leading me to believe he’ll be taken before the likes of Julian Strawther, Jalen Wilson, Jaime Jaquez, and others.