With the 28th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers select….Julian Phillips, forward, from the University of Tennessee.
This is what the Ringer had to say about him in their mock draft:
"Phillips is once again another bet at the wing position with a focus on defense for Indiana."
Phillips has been a great player for the Volunteers this season averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds on the court. He isn’t blowing anyone away with his offensive prowress, but he has been quite impressive on the defensive side of the court. Additionally, his size will allow him to compete with larger forwards at the next level, something the Pacers continue to need.
Excellent timing by Julian Phillips on the help defense #NBADraft #Vols pic.twitter.com/B83bBTeo9a
— Caleb (@VolsAndDraft) January 14, 2023
Given that Tennessee is playing so well, we should have the opportunity to really see how Phillips measures up against some elite competition later in the tournament if they continue to advance. This might give us all of the information to really understand if Phillips is a great pickup as a late first-round selection for the Pacers.