Ben McLemore, Kansas — High school basketball scouting legend Tom Konchalski is partial to the phrase “he scores like we breathe.” There’s no one in the country you can use that for more than McLemore, who has a chance to be the top overall pick. McLemore shoots the lights out and is also adept slashing to the hoop. Think of a more athletic, more versatile version of Ray Allen. Scary, we know.
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Anthony Bennett, UNLV — If you’re looking for weaknesses in Bennett, you may only find his inexperience. The freshman seems to have everything one would need to excel at the next level – a 6-foot-7, 240-pound football player’s body, uncanny athleticism and a polished offense game that makes guarding him almost unfair. He’s a prototypical wing player with range from beyond the arc. His defense leaves a little something to be desired, but he just turned 20. Bennett is easily a lottery pick.
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Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga — The long-haired, headband-wearing 7-footer looks like a player out of Will Ferrell’s “Semi Pro,” but he’s actually one of the top big men in the country. The talented Canadian isn’t just a jock either – he was named an Academic All-American this year. Expect teams like the Celtics, Bucks and maybe even the Nets to be interested in him in the middle of the first round.
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Doug McDermott, Creighton — His team doesn’t get much play on national TV, but Creighton is legitimate and so is McDermott. The 6-foot-7 small forward can shoot the rock from beyond the arc and is physical inside. He’s no mid-major softie. Don’t do a double take when you’re watching the Bluejays in the tournament – Creighton’s coach Greg McDermott is Doug’s dad. Talk about a family affair.
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Victor Oladipa, Indiana — Cody Zeller who? Before the season, Zeller was the clear star player – and top pro prospect – at Indiana. Well, Oladipo has made a lot of believers in 2012-13. At 6-foot-4 with absurd athleticism, the junior figures to transition to the next level seamlessly on defense. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but he’s improving at such a rapid rate it’s only a matter of time before he makes some tweaks and becomes a real problem in the NBA. Lottery pick, for sure.
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Mason Plumlee, Duke — Yeah, yeah. We know. Duke players don’t usually stand out at the next level. But Plumlee really has a chance to be different because of his athleticism and 6-foot-11 size. He’s also that rare player who stayed all four years at school. For that sake, we hope he does have a good NBA career – maybe others will follow his lead. Look for teams that like to play up tempo – Dallas, Phoenix – to covet Plumlee in the first round.
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Otto Porter, Georgetown — No player in the country improved his draft stock this season more than Porter. The versatile, 6-foot-8 sophomore went from borderline first-round talent to sure-fire lottery pick. Some scouting services have Porter going as high as No. 3. It’s been that kind of year for him and Georgetown, which won the Big East regular-season title. Porter has drawn comparisons to Tyshaun Prince, but overall he might have a more polished game.
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Glenn Robinson III, Michigan — Point guard Trey Burke is having the better year at Michigan, but Robinson is the better NBA prospect. He’s 6-foot-6, freakishly athletic and, of course, the bloodlines are strong. His father Glenn Robinson was a star and former No. 1 overall pick for the Bucks. Only a freshman, Robinson is likely to bolt for the draft after this season, though some say he could use another year of seasoning. Maybe he’ll get all he needs in the next few weeks.
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Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State — Comparisons to James Harden are not completely accurate. Physically, the two are similar – thick and around 6-foot-4 with shooting ability. But Harden is an off guard, a pure scorer. Smart is a point guard. He’s not a prototypical athlete, but he’s great off the bounce and makes players around him better. Look for Smart to not only be a big-time impact player in March but also to go in the top five picks in the NBA Draft.
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Cody Zeller, Indiana — If you’re looking for polish and smarts down low, Zeller is your guy. He’s hard-working, runs the floor and is very skilled – especially for a guy who’s almost 7-feet tall. Zeller’s two brothers – Tyler and Luke – are both in the NBA and it’s only a matter of time before the youngest sibling joins them. Scouts say Cody projects better than both Tyler and Luke. You’ll almost surely see him get selected in the lottery.
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