This will be updated and reposted as more names declare, or decide to return to school.
Click here to view the latest updated post on this subject.
Updated: 4/01/2014
Kansas sophomore SG/SF Andrew Wiggins declares
UCLA SF Kyle Anderson declares
UCLA PG/SG Zach LaVine declares
Xavier PG/SG Semaj Christon declares
Missouri PG/SG Jordan Clarkson declares
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Declaring
SG/SF Andrew Wiggins, Fr, Kansas
6'8, 200 lbs
Hometown: Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
2013-2014 Stats: 17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
The mega hyped prospect Andrew Wiggins did not set the world on fire during his lone season at Kansas, but he showed enough that I still like him as my top overall pick, as I have all year. At the very worst, he will be drafted third overall. Questions about aggressiveness remain, but I think those worries are overblown. Remember when people said the same thing about LeBron James? That is something that comes in time. Even though Wiggins went out like a wet fart in the NCAA Tournament, he showed tremendous scoring ability at times, with a trademark 41 point, 8 rebound, 4 block, 5 steal game against West Virginia. His potential is off the charts and a team like the Bucks or 76ers should swing for the fences and draft Wiggins first overall.
Projected draft range: Top 3
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PF Noah Vonleh, Fr, Indiana
6'10, 240 lbs
Hometown: Haverhill, MA
2013-2014 Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg, .523 FG%
Noah Vonleh definitely could have used an additional year at Indiana to hone his offensive game, but no one can blame him for leaving. He has great size, was one of the best rebounders in college basketball and shoots a high percentage. Some scouts prefer him to Julius Randle. Randle is by far the better offensive big man, but Vonleh has the skills to grow into a very good all around center if a team chooses to develop him in that route. A project to be sure, but his skills and rebounding assures he will be a top ten pick.
Projected draft range: Lottery.
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PG Tyler Ennis, Fr, Syracuse
6'2, 180 lbs
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
2013-2014 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
The Orange were on top of the basketball world until a late season swoon and an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Tyler Ennis had a fantastic freshman season for Syracuse, providing a steady and productive influence at point guard. He is not a great shooter or terribly athletic, two things scouts really look for in a starting point guard. He is a great leader, ball handler and distributor, however, and has the look of a Mike Conley-like point guard. Depending on needs, he should be a mid to late lottery pick.
Projected draft range: Mid to late lottery.
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PG/SG Zach LaVine, Fr, UCLA
6'5, 185 lbs
Hometown: Seattle, WA
2013-2014 Stats: 9.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
A few months ago Zach LaVine was the darling of draft experts, and was placed in the late lottery in several mock drafts. As the year went on, his play fluctuated, and scouts worry if he is ready for the NBA. He is very athletic and a good scorer, but is a long way from being a productive NBA player. Still, with so many teams possessing multiple first round picks, he should be drafted in the teens or early 20's based on upside.
Projected draft range: 10-25, first round.
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SF TJ Warren, So, North Carolina State
6'8, 215 lbs
Hometown: Durham, NC
2013-2014 Stats: 24.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .525 FG%
TJ Warren exploded as a sophomore, finishing third in the entire nation in scoring. So he should declare and be picked in the top ten, right? Well, scouts want wing players who can stroke the ball, stretch defenses and score in a variety of ways, and right now, Warren is not a great shooter or a particularly good defender. He gets most of his points off mid range and in, and that could be more difficult in the NBA level. Still, teams are always looking for scoring, and Warren could work his way into a Thaddeus Young-like role at the NBA level.
Projected draft range: Mid to late first round, early second.
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SF Kyle Anderson, So, UCLA
6'9, 230 lbs
Hometown: Fairview, NJ
2013-2014 Stats: 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.5 apg
Few players were better this past season than Kyle Anderson. He was a walking triple double and the main reason UCLA was so successful. Despite the improvement, he remains the most polarizing prospect in this draft. The good: Great ball handler, terrific vision, solid rebounder, improving scorer. The bad: Terrible defender, extremely slow (nicknamed SloMo after all), has a body like a ball of Play Doh left out in the sun. How will the team that drafts him use him? He is at the best with the ball in his hand in a point forward type role, but his foot work and lack of speed will be a real hinderance on defense. He could be a successful pro, but it depends on where he is drafted and how he is used. Because of that, his draft stock is all over the place.
Projected draft range: Late lottery to early second round.
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PG/SG Semaj Christon, So, Xavier
6'3, 190 lbs
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 17.0 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.7 rpg
Semaj Christon improved his numbers and shooting percentages and cut down on his turnovers as a sophomore. However, he spent most of the year at shooting guard. Scouts will want to see if he can handle the point guard role full time. If so, he could be a Damian Lillard-lite, a score first point guard who can also get his teammates involved. Workouts will be key, but he has the talent to be drafted in the teens.
Projected draft range: Late first, early second round.
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SF LaQuinton Ross, Jr, Ohio State
6'8, 220 lbs
Hometown: Jackson, MS
2013-2014 Stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 447 FG%
LaQuinton Ross helped make up for the scoring DeShaun Thomas took with him, and hopes to parlay that into a first round selection. Right now I see him more as an early to mid second rounder. He can definitely score and is a nice shooter with size, but he is indifferent at times and does looks to be bench fodder at best. Scouts will also shy away due to lack of defensive intensity. Shooting is shooting, however, and he should be drafted.
Projected range: Early to mid second round.
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PG/SG Jordan Clarkson, Jr, Missouri
6'5, 193 lbs
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
2013-2014 Stats: 17.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg
Jordan Clarkson started the season on fire but really cooled off as the year went along. He has good size and is a nice athlete, but we have seen so many combo guards who can't shoot fail to make it in the NBA. Clarkson has his work cut out for him, but will be drafted in the second round.
Projected draft range: Second round.
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SF/PF Jakarr Sampson, So, St. John's
6'9, 214 lbs
Hometown: Akron, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Jakarr Sampson is a good athlete who can rebound and block shots, but he is similar to a million tweeners before him who have been unable to carve out a role in the NBA. He is too small and skinny to handle the four, but not a good enough shooter to play small forward. Likely undrafted.
Projected draft range: Undrafted.
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Returning
SF/PF Dario Saric, Croatia. Saric has top ten talent but has been wishy washy on coming to the NBA in the past, and most likely will not declare this year. He may never want to come to the NBA, which could kill his draft stock once automatically eligible.
SG/SF Wayne Selden, Fr, Kansas. Selden struggled to find a niche playing with Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Perry Ellis. I still thought he would have been a mid first round pick, but returning to Kansas and excelling in a bigger role will really help his stock for 2015.
PG Juwan Staten, Jr, West Virginia. Juwan Staten, the former Dayton transfer, became a team leader for the Mountaineers and put together a fantastic junior season. However, he is a bubble second round pick right now. He is not overly athletic, does not have great size, nor is he a good three point shooter. Scouts need one or two of those attributes if they are to draft a point guard. He decided to withdrawal from the draft and return for his senior season.
Click here to view the latest updated post on this subject.
Updated: 4/01/2014
Kansas sophomore SG/SF Andrew Wiggins declares
UCLA SF Kyle Anderson declares
UCLA PG/SG Zach LaVine declares
Xavier PG/SG Semaj Christon declares
Missouri PG/SG Jordan Clarkson declares
----------
Declaring
SG/SF Andrew Wiggins, Fr, Kansas6'8, 200 lbs
Hometown: Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
2013-2014 Stats: 17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
The mega hyped prospect Andrew Wiggins did not set the world on fire during his lone season at Kansas, but he showed enough that I still like him as my top overall pick, as I have all year. At the very worst, he will be drafted third overall. Questions about aggressiveness remain, but I think those worries are overblown. Remember when people said the same thing about LeBron James? That is something that comes in time. Even though Wiggins went out like a wet fart in the NCAA Tournament, he showed tremendous scoring ability at times, with a trademark 41 point, 8 rebound, 4 block, 5 steal game against West Virginia. His potential is off the charts and a team like the Bucks or 76ers should swing for the fences and draft Wiggins first overall.
Projected draft range: Top 3
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PF Noah Vonleh, Fr, Indiana6'10, 240 lbs
Hometown: Haverhill, MA
2013-2014 Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg, .523 FG%
Noah Vonleh definitely could have used an additional year at Indiana to hone his offensive game, but no one can blame him for leaving. He has great size, was one of the best rebounders in college basketball and shoots a high percentage. Some scouts prefer him to Julius Randle. Randle is by far the better offensive big man, but Vonleh has the skills to grow into a very good all around center if a team chooses to develop him in that route. A project to be sure, but his skills and rebounding assures he will be a top ten pick.
Projected draft range: Lottery.
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PG Tyler Ennis, Fr, Syracuse6'2, 180 lbs
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
2013-2014 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
The Orange were on top of the basketball world until a late season swoon and an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Tyler Ennis had a fantastic freshman season for Syracuse, providing a steady and productive influence at point guard. He is not a great shooter or terribly athletic, two things scouts really look for in a starting point guard. He is a great leader, ball handler and distributor, however, and has the look of a Mike Conley-like point guard. Depending on needs, he should be a mid to late lottery pick.
Projected draft range: Mid to late lottery.
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PG/SG Zach LaVine, Fr, UCLA6'5, 185 lbs
Hometown: Seattle, WA
2013-2014 Stats: 9.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
A few months ago Zach LaVine was the darling of draft experts, and was placed in the late lottery in several mock drafts. As the year went on, his play fluctuated, and scouts worry if he is ready for the NBA. He is very athletic and a good scorer, but is a long way from being a productive NBA player. Still, with so many teams possessing multiple first round picks, he should be drafted in the teens or early 20's based on upside.
Projected draft range: 10-25, first round.
-----
SF TJ Warren, So, North Carolina State6'8, 215 lbs
Hometown: Durham, NC
2013-2014 Stats: 24.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .525 FG%
TJ Warren exploded as a sophomore, finishing third in the entire nation in scoring. So he should declare and be picked in the top ten, right? Well, scouts want wing players who can stroke the ball, stretch defenses and score in a variety of ways, and right now, Warren is not a great shooter or a particularly good defender. He gets most of his points off mid range and in, and that could be more difficult in the NBA level. Still, teams are always looking for scoring, and Warren could work his way into a Thaddeus Young-like role at the NBA level.
Projected draft range: Mid to late first round, early second.
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SF Kyle Anderson, So, UCLA6'9, 230 lbs
Hometown: Fairview, NJ
2013-2014 Stats: 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.5 apg
Few players were better this past season than Kyle Anderson. He was a walking triple double and the main reason UCLA was so successful. Despite the improvement, he remains the most polarizing prospect in this draft. The good: Great ball handler, terrific vision, solid rebounder, improving scorer. The bad: Terrible defender, extremely slow (nicknamed SloMo after all), has a body like a ball of Play Doh left out in the sun. How will the team that drafts him use him? He is at the best with the ball in his hand in a point forward type role, but his foot work and lack of speed will be a real hinderance on defense. He could be a successful pro, but it depends on where he is drafted and how he is used. Because of that, his draft stock is all over the place.
Projected draft range: Late lottery to early second round.
-----
PG/SG Semaj Christon, So, Xavier6'3, 190 lbs
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 17.0 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.7 rpg
Semaj Christon improved his numbers and shooting percentages and cut down on his turnovers as a sophomore. However, he spent most of the year at shooting guard. Scouts will want to see if he can handle the point guard role full time. If so, he could be a Damian Lillard-lite, a score first point guard who can also get his teammates involved. Workouts will be key, but he has the talent to be drafted in the teens.
Projected draft range: Late first, early second round.
-----
SF LaQuinton Ross, Jr, Ohio State6'8, 220 lbs
Hometown: Jackson, MS
2013-2014 Stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 447 FG%
LaQuinton Ross helped make up for the scoring DeShaun Thomas took with him, and hopes to parlay that into a first round selection. Right now I see him more as an early to mid second rounder. He can definitely score and is a nice shooter with size, but he is indifferent at times and does looks to be bench fodder at best. Scouts will also shy away due to lack of defensive intensity. Shooting is shooting, however, and he should be drafted.
Projected range: Early to mid second round.
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PG/SG Jordan Clarkson, Jr, Missouri6'5, 193 lbs
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
2013-2014 Stats: 17.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg
Jordan Clarkson started the season on fire but really cooled off as the year went along. He has good size and is a nice athlete, but we have seen so many combo guards who can't shoot fail to make it in the NBA. Clarkson has his work cut out for him, but will be drafted in the second round.
Projected draft range: Second round.
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SF/PF Jakarr Sampson, So, St. John's6'9, 214 lbs
Hometown: Akron, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Jakarr Sampson is a good athlete who can rebound and block shots, but he is similar to a million tweeners before him who have been unable to carve out a role in the NBA. He is too small and skinny to handle the four, but not a good enough shooter to play small forward. Likely undrafted.
Projected draft range: Undrafted.
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Returning
SF/PF Dario Saric, Croatia. Saric has top ten talent but has been wishy washy on coming to the NBA in the past, and most likely will not declare this year. He may never want to come to the NBA, which could kill his draft stock once automatically eligible.
SG/SF Wayne Selden, Fr, Kansas. Selden struggled to find a niche playing with Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Perry Ellis. I still thought he would have been a mid first round pick, but returning to Kansas and excelling in a bigger role will really help his stock for 2015.
PG Juwan Staten, Jr, West Virginia. Juwan Staten, the former Dayton transfer, became a team leader for the Mountaineers and put together a fantastic junior season. However, he is a bubble second round pick right now. He is not overly athletic, does not have great size, nor is he a good three point shooter. Scouts need one or two of those attributes if they are to draft a point guard. He decided to withdrawal from the draft and return for his senior season.
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