Jaime Jaquez Jr. NBA draft projection: Can he be a first-round pick in 2023?

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is one of the country's most talented young basketball players. He was a big part of the UCLA Bruins, and his Sweet 16 performance Thursday in a 79-76 loss to Gonzaga was impeccable.

The 6-foot-7 swingman finished his senior year as the Pac-12 Player of the Year and is expected to make it to the NBA next season. Thanks to his big game in March Madness 2023, the talented player could be selected in the first round.

The 2023 NBA draft will be held on June 22. However, Jaquez won't be able to improve his draft stock in games as his Bruins were eliminated in the Sweet 16.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a great performance against Gonzaga

Jaquez led the UCLA Bruins with 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Sweet 16 matchup against Gonzaga. He also added three assists, three steals and a block to his final stat line.

The Bruins had a big lead in the second half, but the Bulldogs went on a big run and ended up advancing to the Elite Eight.

Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s great performance was not enough to get a victory. (Image via Getty Images)

Jaquez improved his stats each year at UCLA. This year, he averaged a career-high 17.8 ppg and 8.2 rpg. While he is not super athletic, his scoring skills make him very valuable.

You may be interested in reading: "This dropped my jaw to the floor"- Fans applaud game of the tournament as Gonzaga stuns UCLA in Sweet 16

Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s strong frame allows him to be physical and score in the post. However, this may not work in the NBA as he's not big enough to play against bigger frontcourt players.

The Bruins star could be a first-round pick. (Image via Getty Images)

Once he enters the NBA, Jaime Jaquez Jr. will be 22 years old. Due to this, several teams will not be interested in picking him. However, there is no doubt that he could be a first-round pick.

Make no mistake. If the 6-foot-7 swingman ends up getting picked in the first round, it will be with a late pick, likely in the 25-30 range. Many players are better and younger, which is why Jaquez's draft stock isn't very impressive.

If he doesn't get picked in the first round, the 22-year-old will likely be an early second-round pick.

The 6-foot-7 swingman will likely be picked late in the first round. (Image via Getty Images)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. could have a similar career trajectory to Rick Fox, the former 24th pick. Fox stood at 6-7 and spent 13 years in the NBA, winning three championships.

You may be interested in reading: Ranking 5 teams with the most Sweet 16 appearances in NCAA history featuring Kentucky and UCLA

Tobias Harris is another player Jaquez can be compared to. They have almost identical body types and enjoy posting up. Harris' 3-point shooting wasn't great when he entered the NBA, but he's now one of the deadliest scorers from this range.