Guards
Collin Sexton, PG Alabama (6-3, 190) Age: 18
Sexton is a scoring first guard with tremendous physical gifts. He is a highly competitive player on both ends of the court but has some rougher edges that do need smoothing out, which he will look to achieve in his likely one year at Alabama. The favorite at this point to be the first guard drafted, but not in the conversation for the top overall pick at this point, though that would definitely change with a big season.
Bruce Brown, PG/SG Miami (6-5, 190) Age: 21
Brown is combo/playmaking guard that radiates bounce and energy on his aggressive drives to the basket. He might not be a pure shooter or prototypical lead guard, but his ability to get the basket and make plays is a highly coveted skill in the NBA.
Shake Milton, PG/SG SMU (6-6, 205) Age: 21
One of the more underrated players in the college basketball the last two seasons, Shake Milton can play multiple positions, on or off the ball, shoot, pass, and defend. He might not be a potential star, but as a third guard type, there is a lot to like about Milton.
Trevon Duval, PG Duke (6-3, 186) Age: 19
At this point Duval is all athleticism, so it is a good thing that he is so explosive in the open floor and hard to stay in front of in the half court. This athletic ability, plus very long arms, also give him tremendous defensive potential. Skill-wise, he has a long way to go as a shooter, decision maker, and passer, however the upside here is tremendous, but so is the downside.
Lonnie Walker, SG Miami (6-4, 192) Age: 18
Walker is a very good athlete that can get to the rim and shoot from range, but as with most Freshman his decision making and overall offensive game needs polish. He has the skills, now he just needs to think the game as well as he plays it.
Troy Brown, SG Oregon (6-7, 215) Age: 18
Brown isn't a super athlete like a lot of the other players on this list, but he is versatile and intelligent. He can pass, plays defense, and has a good jumper, though he needs more consistent in this area. Not being an upper-echelon will defender will always be a issue, but his smarts makes up for that and more, the line is just a finer one to walk.
De'Anthony Melton, (6-4, 190) PG/SG USC Age: 19
Melton is a versatile player that is one piece away from breaking into top end consideration. He is one of the best, most impactful defensive players in the draft (averaging 1.9 steals and 1 block a game for a guard is special) as well as an unselfish passer and competent scorer. What he needs to improve is his three point shot, without that he is a potential backup, with it he could be monster.
Tyus Battle, SG Syracuse (6-6, 205) Age: 20
Similar to Brown, Tyus Battle is a versatile player both offensively and defensively but without special physical tools. In a bigger role this season the hope will be that he can stand out more as a scorer than he has in the past.
Forwards/Wings
Michael Porter Jr, SF/PF Missouri (6-10, 215) Age: 19
Last spring, Porter was considered by many to be the favorite for the number one pick, but with Marvin Bagley reclassifying and Luka Doncic breaking out over the summer, things are little more up in the air. Porter is a super skilled wing with a ton of offensive upside, will he dominate at Missouri like his talent suggests he should? If he does there is a good chance he is the top overall pick even still.
Luka Doncic, SG/SF Real Madrid (6-7, 185) Age: 18
Doncic confirmed this summer what watchers of Real Madrid have known for a long time: this kid is the real deal and a potential number 1 pick and star in the NBA. Despite being only 18 years old, Doncic more than held his own in Eurobasket and the ACB. He is a tremendously gifted pass and playmaker, he's skilled and can shoot. Are NBA teams willing to take an intentional player at #1 again? Time will tell.
Miles Bridges, SF/PF Michigan State (6-7, 225) Age: 19
Bridges could have been a lottery pick last year, but he surprisingly returned for his Sophomore season, with National Player of the Year type expectations. Bridges is a super athletic dunk machine with a good overall all around game. There is some question if Bridges shooting was for real last season, and his mechanics are not ideal, so that is definitely something to monitor.
Mikal Bridges, SF Villanova (6-6, 210) Age: 21
The other M. Bridges, don't sell Mikal short. He is a super athletic wing with long arms that filled the stat sheet nightly for Villanova and was a super efficient scorer. He'll take on a bigger role at Nova this season and could be in for a huge year.
Justin Jackson, SF/PF Maryland (6-7, 225) Age: 20
Jackson tested the waters up to the deadline last season, but decided instead to return for another season at Maryland. Jackson is a physically imposing combo forward with a sweet outside stroke, though he'll need to round out the rest of his game to project as more than a role player.
Dzanan Musa, SF Cedevita (6-9, 195) Age: 18
Musa is a tall wing from Bosnia and Herzegovina who plays in the Croatian ABA. He is good handling the ball and shooting from the outside, though he needs to improve inside the arc and defensively, which might be difficult consider his physical limitations.
Hamadou Diallo, SG/SF Kentucky (6-5, 198) Age: 19
Diallo blew up the combine last year with a 44.5 vertical leap, but decided to return to Kentucky, where he never actually played a game last season. Diallo is every bit that level of athlete and uses it to attack the basket, rebound, and defend. However, to reach his fairly high ceiling, Diallo need to become a more consistent shooter.
Rodion Kuracs, SF/PF Barcelona (6-8, 190) Age: 19
Kuracs is a skilled wing from Latvia that's a good passer, shooter, and ball handler with the physical skills to create inside and outside the arc. He hasn't played against the best competition, so there might be some growth necessary before he is physically ready to compete.
Isaac Bonga, PG/SG/SF Frankfurt (6-9, 172) Age: 17
The craze to find the next "Greek Freak" has died down, but Isaac Bonga is in that mold. The German international plays in the Bundesliga in Germany. Bonga is super skinny, not a super athlete, and needs to work on his jumper, but you can't teach his natural point guard skills at 6-9+.
Arnoldas Kulboka, SF Bamberg (6-10, 206) Age: 19
Kulboka, a native of Lithuania, is a forward that plays for Bamberg in the Bundisliga, though he is on loan in the Italian Serie A. Kulboka is a well-rounded scorer that can attack the basket and shoot from range. He needs to get much stronger and more consistent, but there is a lot to like in his game.
Killian Tillie, SF/PF Gonzaga (6-10, 200) Age: 19
Tillie hopes to follow in the footsteps of Domantas Sabonis and Zach Collins as Gonzaga big men to get drafted in the lottery. The French native Tillie might be the best of the bunch, he barely played last season but showed a big skill level for his size. How he does with a bigger role will determine where he ends up being draft.
Bigs
Marvin Bagley, PF/C Duke (6-11, 234) Age: 18
Considered by many to be the best prospect in High School basketball, Bagley surprisingly reclassified to the class of 17, so as to be eligible to be drafted a year earlier. Bagley is a big time athlete who plays way above the rim but also has a lot perimeter skills as well. A big year could easily lock him into the top overall spot in the draft.
DeAndre Ayton, C Arizona (7-1, 250) Age: 19
Other players might be considered better prospects in the draft than Ayton, but no one can touch him for talent. He can be an incredibly dominant force on the floor, using his stupid long arms and athletic ability the score from every area of the floor, including from beyond the arc. The problem is Ayton can dominate, but only when he wants to. He needs to play with a consistent effort to reach his potential, which is best player in the NBA high.
Mohamed Bamba, PF/C Texas (6-11, 225) Age: 19
In another draft, Bamba would be an solid top big man, but in the this draft he is a strong third, which is saying something considering Bamba has a 7-9 wingspan and can shoot threes. Though not considered a strong contender for the top overall pick, Bamba could definitely vault into that conversation with a big year.
Robert Williams, PF/C Texas A&M (6-10, 241) Age: 20
Williams was a potential lottery pick who decided to return for another year. Williams is a tremendous shot blocker with big defensive upside who is also developing outside touch as well. He looks like he'll be a lottery pick this year as well and could be in the top ten if his jumper develops more. Williams has a lot in common with Myles Turner.
Jaren Jackson, PF/C Michigan State (6-11, 242) Age: 18
Jackson is another potential lottery big man, a center with defensive upside and an offensive game that is at least intriguing. If Jackson can be more consistent and polish out his offense, he could be a high lottery pick, if not he might be coming back for another year.
Wendell Carter, PF/C Duke (6-10, 259) Age: 18
Carter was all set to be the big man on campus for Duke, but after Marvin Bagley reclassified, his playing time will be uncertain. He isn't a super athlete and doesn't stand out particularly in any area, however through smarts and skill he is effective. How much he plays at Duke may determine how interested teams are, though he has a long track record and would likely be a lottery pick even with a small role.
Chimezie Metu, C USC (6-11, 225) Age: 20
Metu has grown a lot in the last two years and will look to continue on that development curve in his Junior season for a very talented USC team. Metu has physical gifts and production, he just needs to polish out his game.
Mitchell Robinson, PF/C N/A (7-1, 233) Age: 19
Robinson was going to attend Western Kentucky but decided to drop out and prepare exclusively for the draft, a path more prospect should take. Robinson needs to grow and develop as a player but he's got really excellent physical tools. There will be mystery surrounding him but there shouldn't be, he is a high upside project that needs time to develop but has a lot of potential.
Nick Richards, PF/C Kentucky (6-11, 240) Age: 19
Like Robinson, Nick Richards has size, length, and athletic ability but is limited skill-wise at this point. How he develops offensively will be what to watch with him.
Austin Wiley, C Auburn (6-11, 260) Age: 18
Wiley also needs to get better offensively, and he has a massive frame that can be a problem defensively and on the glass, though he lacks the raw athletic ability of Richards and Robinson.
Brandon McCoy, C UNLV (7-1, 250) Age: 19
McCoy is, you guessed it, a physical marvel who needs to get better on offense. Any of these four could breakout and be lottery type picks.
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