in NCAA B Articles

One of the annual rites of spring, declaring for the NBA Draft, is upon us in abundance.

Some, like UConn's Charlie Villanueva and Alabama's Kennedy Winston, didn't even wait until the NCAA Tournament ended to announce their intentions.

NCAA champion Rashad McCants of North Carolina tipped his hand in the locker room following the final, having already informed Roy Williams of his decision way back in January. Louisville's Francisco Garcia, with Rick Pitino blessing his departure, declared himself before the start of the season.

Over the coming weeks, you'll see at least another 30 to 40 players opt to test the NBA waters, some foolishly, some wisely. You'll see guys declare only to go through the experience of workouts and camps before returning to school, while others go for broke, sign with agents and forfeit their amateur status. As always, you'll see about 10 to 15 foreigners toss their name into the hat as well.

The number of potential preps-to-pros jumps are down significantly this year; you can count the ones that would be taken seriously on a single hand, and will find only one on our Top-Five lists below.

Among those names omitted are the NCAA Championship's most outstanding player, North Carolina's Sean May, Duke's J.J. Redick and Illinois' Dee Brown, because the strong feeling is that all of them will return for their senior seasons.

Some believe no time may be better than the present for May to leave school, but he can still improve his body and perimeter skills, and might lift his draft profile even further if he picks up where he left off in this year's tournament. I’m a big fan of May's game and feel it will translate well to the pros, but considering the big men available this season, it may be wise to get that degree and that last sprinkle of seasoning.

Brown and Redick should find their niches in the league once they are drafted, but you're not going to hear any NBA teams clamoring for their early entry. It's their choice: compete for player of the year honors or an NBA roster spot? Seems like a no-brainer for both.

With those disclaimers out of the way, here's my tentative list of top prospects at each position, with a special category created for Syracuse's Hakim Warrick, who as you'll see, I’m trumpeting pretty loudly. These lists are certain to change through workouts and measurements, but this is who NBA GMs are drooling over as the June 28 draft approaches.

Point guards:
1. Deron Williams, 6-foot-3, 210, Illinois: I’m defying most trends in not touting the truly special Paul as the top prize, but I also overhyped Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh a few years back. They've turned out to be pretty good. Williams is as gifted a leader and as clutch a performer as you'll find, and given his physical advantages over Paul, gets our nod. Williams is physically ready to start in the league next season, especially from a defensive standpoint. His shooting is already strong, and figures to improve as he hires professional help and dedicates himself to playing the NBA Draft showcase game. Devin Harris went in last year's lottery with similar gifts, and considering that most feel Williams is much further along, I'd be shocked if he didn't go in the top five.

2. Chris Paul, 6-1, 170, Wake Forest: A fabulous passer with excellent leadership skills, Paul will be an All-Star and one of the most dynamic performers at his position for the next decade. He can make things happen at both ends of the floor, and his competitive personality will make him a fan favorite in whatever city he ends up in.

3. Raymond Felton, 6-1, 200, North Carolina: Some scouts are sleeping on Sugar Ray's skills, which makes you wonder what said scouts are looking at. He's among the fastest players in the world with a basketball, and makes sound decisions despite playing at a breakneck pace. His jumper has continued to improve, and he's thick enough a player to take a pounding. If he opts to go pro -- he will likely at least test his stock -- he'll be a Top-20 selection.

4. Nate Robinson, 5-9, 181, Washington: If he opts to come out, he might be the draft's ultimate steal. Robinson defied odds and dropped jaws at last year's pre-draft camp, but went back to school to see if he couldn't lift his draft stock. Yes, he's small, but plays huge, hopping over bigger players and driving fearlessly with awesome athleticism. Write it down, Robinson will be much more than a novelty in the league and it will be painful to watch him fall to the late first/early second in lieu of bigger bodies that will never have the impact Nate the Great will enjoy.

5. Jarrett Jack, 6-3, 202, Georgia Tech: Jack is still on the fence about his entry, which may have a lot to do with the presence of Nos. 1 and 3 on this list. With those two gone, he could dominate the ACC and elevate his draft position, particularly if he leads the Yellow Jackets to a successful season. With five seniors gone, he'll be counted on to lead the team, should he return, a role it won't be easy to shy away from.

Shooting guards:
1. Gerald Green, 6-7, 200, Houston Gulf Shores Academy (Texas): The lanky Green dominated the McDonald's All-American Game and might be able to cement a spot in the lottery at the Nike Hoop Summit this weekend, which would be a huge loss for Oklahoma State. Green is compared often to a young Tracy McGrady, from the pull-up jumper to the seemingly effortless manner in which he glides around on the floor.

2. Antoine Wright, 6-7, 210, Texas A&M: People have been forecasting stardom for this kid since his days as a prep in California, but playing in the relative anonymity of College Station, the Big 12's purgatory until Billy Gillispie arrived, dimmed his national profile. No matter, he'll reach his destination just the same. He's got excellent hops and led the Big 12 in 3-point shooting last season, knocking down 45 percent. He hasn't signed with an agent, but it would be a surprise if he slipped into the 20s, so don't expect him back in the college ranks.

3. Kennedy Winston, 6-6, 220, Alabama: Perhaps the SEC's most dynamic scorer, Winston hasn't retained an agent but has indicated there will be no turning back. He's definitely somewhat of a 'tweener, and must concentrate on his defense in order to defend pro wings, but his ability to put the ball in the basket will intrigue teams. A probable late first-rounder.

4. Rashad McCants, 6-3, 207, North Carolina: Gotta love Rashad. Otherwise, you hate him. There's no in-between for the self-proclaimed "misunderstood" UNC junior. The NBA sewing circle has already proclaimed him a headcase, but there are plenty of those in the league and that won't stop him from earning a living. Of greater concern will be his ability to get shots off against bigger guards, defend, and pull back on his occasionally questionable shot selection.

5. Kelenna Azubuike, 6-5, 230, Kentucky: The Wildcats' leading scorer is an exciting athlete who could develop into a lockdown defender at the pro level. Tubby Smith is advising him not to retain an agent, but given his pro-ready frame, it's hard to see him falling out of the first round. He could have similar impact to those made by current rookies Andre Iguodala and Tony Allen.

Small Forwards:
1. Marvin Williams, 6-9, 235, North Carolina: The most beautiful player in this draft. There's no better way to say it, at least according to Magic Johnson. In conversations with Johnson, he lauded the UNC freshman as a flawless prospect. Being so polished at such a young age should be illegal, and if the team that ends up with the No. 1 pick already has a center, we'd think his selection over Utah's Andrew Bogut would be a no-brainer. Hey, maybe Williams and J.R. Smith will play together after all, although Williams will have a ring from his stint at Carolina, while Smith will have a head start on the bigger bank account.

2. Nemanja Aleksandrov, 6-11, 210, KK Reflex (Serbia): It would have been nice to see the greatly hyped Aleksandrov in Saturday's Nike Hoops summit against a nice array of big men (highly touted high school seniors Tyler Hansbrough, Julian Wright and Jon Brockman are all participating), but he withdrew due to a knee injury. Compared to a young Dirk Nowitzki, the 18-year old is a project that could solidify a spot in the Top 10 once he starts individual workouts in late May, for which he expects being healthy.

3. Danny Granger, 6-8, 225, New Mexico: Expect Granger to be the second four-year player to be selected in this year's draft, having really transformed himself into a legitimate small forward. He can shoot it, pass it, and really defend, having developed a reputation as a nasty shot blocker. Don't be surprised if he continues to work himself up the charts and into the Top 10. Right now he's a borderline lottery pick.

4. Joey Graham, 6-7, 225, Oklahoma State: Speaking of workers, Graham's game and body have come miles since he started his college career five years ago at the University of Central Florida. He's physically ready to play in the NBA and has developed a nice mid-range shot that makes him a definite throwback and an intriguing prospect. Teams should be wowed by his physical strength in workouts, but will also be looking to make sure his foot speed and 3-point range are sufficient for a pro wing. He'll be a first-rounder.

5. Francisco Garcia, 6-7, 190, Louisville: Pitino thrust him out the door before the season started, declaring he'd be a marvelous pro, but some scouts see him as too slight of frame and there's now significant competition on the wing. That's why Pitino has recently opened the door for him to return, counseling his star sniper not to sign with an agent. If he stays in the draft, it's because Pitino has received an assurance that his star pupil will go in round one.

Hybrid Forward:
1. Hakim Warrick, 6-8, 220, Syracuse: He's too small to be a power forward. He doesn't shoot well to be a small forward. Throw all that out the window when discussing this kid. The bottom line is his athleticism and explosive leaping ability make him a lottery lock, potentially Top-Five if he's as impressive in workouts as he was through parts of his senior season. He'll eventually develop a jumper if he works full-time at it, but the bottom line is that passing on a marvelous athlete, a wealthy man's Jerome Williams, would border on ignorant.

Power Forwards:
1. Charlie Villanueva, 6-11, 235, Connecticut: Who says there are no second chances in life? Villanueva flirted with turning pro straight out of high school and was met with resounding chorus of "thanks, but no thanks” due to an immature attitude and awful private workouts. Now, after two years at UConn, he's ready, having developed a strong all-around game that figures to make him a combination small/power forward a la Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh. By no means are we saying he's that good, or ever will be, but he's certainly the most talented four-man in this draft and will go in the lottery.

2. Fran Vasquez, 6-10, 230, Malaga (Spain): Considered Europe's most NBA-ready prospect, the 22-year old is playing consistently for his club team (few young players ever do) and thriving. Scouts like his toughness and footwork, and envision him to be a legitimate power forward prospect. He should also find a home among the lottery teams.

3. Chris Taft, 6-10, 260, Pittsburgh: Taft was one of the most physically imposing players in college basketball this past season but showed only glimpses of his raw skills. The Chris Wilcox comparisons are valid, and Taft may actually be a little bigger and more suited for a center spot, which makes him more valuable. Still, his tendency for finding foul trouble and often self-curbing his own intensity levels will be flaws that NBA execs will carp at before drafting him. If he works out well, don't be surprised to see him go Top-10, but whomever takes him will be taking a gamble that the Bronx native will mature.

4. Tiago Splitter, 6-11, 240, Tau Ceramica (Spain): The top Brazilian player in Europe, he had a tough time in workouts last year and must find a way to impress this time around. From a size and mobility standpoint, he's definitely a first-round talent, but he'll have to show in the States what he has in Europe: That he's a gritty rebounder and defender who can make an impact like countrymen Nene and Anderson Varejao. Come to think of it, it took the Cavs rookie a couple tries to impress enough to land in the first round.

5a/b. Ike Diogu, 6-8, 255, Arizona State; Wayne Simien, 6-8, 255, Kansas: These two may fall into the land of David West, Rodney Rogers, Kenny Thomas and all the other fours that have been called to small to play in the pros. Still, these guys both have that special something that might land them in the first round or at the very least early second with a chance to stick on a roster.

Centers:
1. Andrew Bogut, 7-0, 242, Utah: No one doubts Bogut as the top true center prospect to enter the league in years, and he'll no doubt go first or second. The Australian has great hands, terrific back-to-the-basket skills and is a marvelous passer and shot blocker.

2. Martynas Andriuskevicius, 7-3, 240, Zalgiris (Lithuania): Andriuskevicius is a legit 7-3, which is a plus, but at 19, he's still a boy. He doesn't play with the tenacity of a Dwight Howard, and there are questions that he'll float too much around the perimeter and not take advantage of his height. Still, he's marvelously coordinated for his height, is being mentored by Arvydas Sabonis, and has size that's hard to pass up on. Expect him to go in the top 10, with the top five a definite possibility.

3. Johan Petro, 7-0, 260, Pau Orthez (France): An athletic shot blocker, Petro is the top prospect in France this year, which is pretty good for a country that's starting to develop a mini-pipeline into the league. Though extremely raw offensively, he's got a great wing span and can make a difference on the boards and on defense. The scouting report on him is that his footwork is a little suspect, but if he's as good an athlete as advertised, he'll be at the top of someone's draft board in the teens.

4. Channing Frye, 6-11, 245, Arizona: The Wildcats' big man put in his work and has really developed into a nice center. He's now got some post moves, has extended his shooting range, and most importantly, put on some weight. He still has a ways to go, but will go in the first round and could be a nice surprise given time to improve his skills.

5. Dwayne Jones, 6-11, 250, Saint Joseph's: A shot-blocking specialist, Jones played with current pros Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, anchoring the middle for Phil Martelli's Hawks. With those two star guards gone this year, Jones' offensive production rose, but he still has miles to go in terms of development. He gets most of his points on putbacks, and is compared to Milwaukee's Dan Gadzuric who similarly has a limited game. He won't retain an agent, opening the door for a return to Saint Joe's if he's not satisfied with his draft position.