Early 2013 NBA Draft Top 15

1. Nerlens Noel, C Kentucky Fr. (6-11, 215)

Though he'll likely be unfairly compared to Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel might just be good enough live up to it anyways. Noel is much more of a traditional big man, and may even be a better shot blocker than Davis. Noel is big, long, and explosively athletic with terrific timing and instincts as a defender. He moves excellently for a big man and projects to be an outstanding pick-and-roll defender to go with obvious ability as a help defender. Offensively, he still has a ways to go, but he can hit a mid-range jumper and has some basic post moves; given the his overall athletic ability and great hands, I'd expect him to develop into a very good offensive player as well. Right now he's the favorite to be the top overall pick.

2. Shabazz Muhammad, G/F UCLA Fr. (6-6, 225)
Perhaps the most NBA ready player in the draft, Shabazz Muhammad has an NBA body and an NBA game. Ripped and super explosive athletically, Muhammad is a monster on the offensive end because of his first step, strength, and explosiveness attack the rim, especially in transition. Muhammad also has a fairly advanced post and mid-range game for his position. Really, the only weakness offensively is 3 point shooting, which isn't bad, just needs work. Muhammad is also an outstanding rebounder and defender. The thing to love the most about him though, is his motor and tenacity, he's always attacking on offense and defense. Muhammad and Noel will likely be battling all year for the number 1 overall pick.

3. Cody Zeller, C Indiana So. (6-11, 210)
Always viewed as a quality player but not elite High School player, Cody Zeller took the next step to star in his freshman year. Zeller's greatest attribute is his offense, where he can score in the paint or step out and hit a jumper, he's also very good running the floor. Physically, he has good size but needs to get stronger and isn't particularly long or explosive, however he moves really well and is very quick, which serves him well both offensively. If Zeller takes another step forward next season, he'll have a shot at the top overall pick and certainly go in the top 5, there just aren't many players his size with this much offensive ability.

4. Isaiah Austin, C Baylor Fr. (7-0, 215)

A long, athletically gifted big man who can handle the ball and shoot playing at Baylor, sound familiar? Much like Perry Jones and Quincy Miller before him, Isaiah Austin is a super skilled big man with advanced ball handling skills and 3-point shooting ability. Though Austin is most comfortable on the perimeter, he can also take the ball inside and score in the post while on defense he's a tremendous shotblocker thanks to explosive athleticism, a 7-3 wingspan, and a great timing as well as a excellent rebounder. Austin still needs to learn to take the ball into the post more and get stronger, but the combination of offensive skill and defensive ability he brings is enough to make him a top 5-10 pick easily.

5. James Michael McAdoo, PF North Carolina So. (6-9, 225)
The million dollar question with McAdoo is which part of his season was the reality, was it the first 30 games of the season, he was absolutely dreadful, or the last 8 when he was much better. I love McAdoo coming out of high school because of his polish and physical abilities, but he rarely showed either until the end of the season. McAdoo is skilled offensively and solid defensively to go with very smooth athleticism and explosiveness. McAdoo is the main guy at North Carolina next year and could crash and burn if those 8 games were just an aberrational and he might be a little overrated at this point, after all he's only scored in double figures 6 times in his career and never had more than 10 rebounds, but I believe in the High School player I saw.

6. Alex Poythress, SF Kentucky Fr.(6-9, 215)
Like Noel, Alex Poythress will likely suffer from unfair comparisons to his predecessor on the wing, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but Poythress is a terrific player in his own right. A long, explosive athlete, Poythress has a great motor and is constantly in attack mode on offense, defense, and crashing the glassing. That isn't to say Poythress is unskilled, he's got a good handle and can get to the rim as well as hit open jumpers.

7. Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh Fr. (6-11, 240)

Adams came out of nowhere both as a College recruit and an NBA prospect because, playing in his native New Zealand, very few had actually seen him play. However, after playing stateside against top recruits Nerlens Noel and Kaleb Tarczewski and more than holding his own, Adams blew up and became a top 10 recruit and a potential top 10 pick and it's easy to see why. Long, athletic, and strong, Adams plays very hard and physically, especially on defense and on the boards, he has great hands and a developing skill set.

8. Rudy Gobert, PF/C France (7-1, 230)
Rudy Gobert came legitimately onto the NBA top prospect radar after dominating EuroCamp and measuring over 7-foot with a crazy 7-9 wingspan, which rivals the longest recorded in the last 10 so years (as a point of reference, the longest in the last draft was Andre Drummond's 7-6). Because of that length, Gobert is an outstanding rebounder, shotblocker, and finisher around the rim. Gobert still has to work on his overall skill level and get a lot stronger, but his potential is off the charts because of that size, as well as mobility and athleticism.

9. Tony Mitchell, SF North Texas So. (6-8, 220)
Finally able to play after academic and transfer issues, Tony Mitchell was completely dominant, averaging 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game, shooting 57% from the field and 44% from 3. The scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking, while excellent, aren't unexpected given Mitchell's skills, but the 3 point shooting is, as Mitchell was inconsistent from that range in High School. If Mitchell can continue to dominate and shoot from 3 that well, there's a good chance he'll get drafted in the top 10, because there are few more talented players in College basketball.

10. Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV Fr. (6-8, 230)

Whether it's fair or not, Anthony Bennett's draft stock will most likely rise and fall with his 3 point percentage. Despite being long, very explosive and strong, Bennett will always be labeled as undersized at 6-8, unless he has another growth spurt in him. Bennett's physical tools allow him to score in High School and, after a little seasoning, should be able to in college as well but, really it will all come down to the shooting. Bennett is already a good shooter and should only improve with time, and if it does Bennett will certainly be a top 10 pick.

11. Myck Kabongo, PG Texas So. (6-2, 170)
Though he struggled in his freshman year, there's still a lot to love about Myck Kabongo. Kabongo is a super quick, pure point guard who thinks pass first and loves to set up teammates, especially on the break. He's got as solid jumper and can get by most. He's also a charismatic, quality kid and vocal leader. So why did Kabongo  struggle? First, he played on dysfunctional Texas team that lacked talent. Secondly, he's small and smaller players usually have an adjustment period when it comes to finishing and dealing with stronger players. Kabongo has had a season and an offseason to get stronger and adjust, while Texas is losing some problem players and gaining a top recruiting class, so he could be in line for a breakout.

12. Ricardo Ledo, SG Providence Fr. (6-6, 195)
Perhaps the best scorer in the 2012 recruiting class, Ricardo Ledo has one thing on his mind when he steps on the floor: get buckets. Ledo is long and athletic and can score in a multitude of ways, whether it's with a smooth jumper or getting to the rim, Ledo is a natural. He also has advanced ball handling skills and great body control. Ledo's greatest strength can also be his greatest weakness, when he sometimes is too aggressive looking for his own shot. It's not that he's selfish, he just needs to learn to make the easier play rather than try to do it all himself.

13. Grant Jerrett, PF Arizona Fr. (6-10, 220)

One of three 5-Star Arizona frontcourt recruits, Grant Jerrett is the best NBA prospect of the three because he's got legit power forward height, athleticism, length (7-1 wingspan), and the frame to add a lot more strength to go along with a great skill set, including three point range, a post game, and a high basketball IQ. Jerrett needs to get stronger and learn to play more aggressively to become a dominant force, however he at worst has a future as a stretch 4 in the NBA, if not more.

14. Kyle Anderson, SF UCLA Fr. (6-8, 230)
I'm conflicted on Kyle Anderson, I love his size, incredible point guard skills, mid-range game and history as a winner, but it's hard to watch him and not think he's just not an NBA level athlete. There's something to be said about playing the game at your own pace, but I have a hard time seeing Anderson beating anyone off the dribble in the NBA. Still, Anderson will play in the NBA and at least be a solid player, especially if he can improve his shooting, but I don't think he'll be the dominant player he was in High School and likely will be in College. I also doubt Anderson will be a one-and-done either.

15. Michael Carter-Williams, G Syracuse Fr. (6-5, 180)
Syracuse had a deep, veteran backcourt last season, so 5-star, McDonald's All-American Michael Carter-Williams only played 10.3 minutes a game, while appearing in 26 of 37 games. When he did play, however he displayed serious talent, shooting 39% from 3 and posting a 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio. Now, with Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters gone, Carter-Williams will a starter and able to display his full skillset as a tall, long combo guard who can score from anywhere on the floor and has the potential to play point guard full time.
Just missed: Dario Saric, Croatia; Patric Young, Florida; Archie Goodwin, Kentucky; Adonis Thomas, Memphis; C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State