Brice Sensabaugh Is The Best Pure Scorer In The 2023 Draft Class | 16.3 PPG 40.5 3P% & 48.0 FG%

March 9, 2023

At 5-15 in Big Ten play, Ohio State is in the midst of its worst season in 25 years. That's something NBA scouts will certainly weigh when evaluating the gaudy scoring production of super freshman Sensabaugh, who has hit a wall over the past 10 games from an efficiency standpoint, shooting 30% for 3 and 50% inside the arc.

Even with Sensabaugh's recent struggles, he's still the second-most-prolific per-minute scorer in college basketball among projected draft picks, trailing only runaway National Player of the Year favorite Zach Edey. Sensabaugh has a clear case to be considered the best perimeter shooter in this draft in terms of volume and accuracy (42% 3P%) and is far from being just a shooter, also showing quite a bit of potential in the pick-and-roll, when creating one-on-one and as a post-scorer; he's capable of putting the ball in the basket from anywhere on the floor.

The biggest questions revolve around his defense, where he's stuck between positions as a 6-6 power forward with average length, a husky frame and inconsistent intensity and awareness that causes him to be frequently targeted and scored on by opponents.

As the No. 13 seed in the loaded Big Ten tournament, just advancing another day or two would be considered a major success for the Buckeyes, something Sensabaugh will play a large role in on both ends of the floor. How much progress Sensabaugh can make with his body during the pre-draft process (assuming he elects to enter the draft) will be even more crucial, as NBA teams want to see him get in much better shape to take him as seriously as his outstanding scoring production suggests they should. -- Jonathan Givony

2022-23 (Freshman)
First OSU freshman to lead the team in scoring since D’Angelo Russell in 2015
Third in scoring nationally among freshmen
Averaged 16.3 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding at 5.4 per game
Made a team-high 60 three-pointers and shot 40.5 percent from long range
Scored in double figures in 29 of 33 games with 11 20-point games
Just the third OSU freshman over the last 40 years to start their career with six consecutive double-figure games (Michael Redd 12 games in 1997 and Jimmy Jackson 10 games in 1989)
OSU Freshman Ranks
537 points – 4th
16.3 scoring average – 5th
197 field goals – 5th
60 three-pointers – 2nd
405 three-point percentage – 5th
.830 free throw percentage – 3rd
83 free throws made – 9th
One of seven freshmen since 2003 to average 15 or more points and be an above average shooter (50 percent on 2-pt FGs, 40 percent on 3-pt FGs and 80 percent on FTs), joining Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Ben McLemore, Lauri Markkanen and Mike Daum
Had a great Buckeye debut, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds vs. Robert Morris (11/7)
Posted his first 20-point game with 20 points on 3-of-7 from long range vs. Eastern Illinois (11/16)
Made his first collegiate start and finished with 13 points on 3-of-4 from deep in the win over Rutgers (12/8)
Shined vs. North Carolina (12/17) at The Garden, scoring a team-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists
Had 19 points, seven rebounds and a season-high seven assists vs. Maine (12/21)
Scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed five rebounds vs. No. 1 Purdue (1/5)
Had a third-consecutive double-doubles vs. Minnesota (1/12), at Rutgers (1/15) and at Nebraska (1/18)
Was 10-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-5 from long range en route to a season-high 27 points vs. Iowa (1/21)
Tied a season-high with 11 rebounds to go with nine points in the Big Ten Tournament win over Wisconsin (3/8)