Anthony Davis. Kyrie Irving. Blake Griffin. Derrick Rose. In the past years, there have been significant stand out talent that have gone number one in the NBA draft. While there may not be that “one” guy that stands out as superior, there are many significant prospects at the college level that will have a big impact for many teams when the 2013 season rolls around. Let’s take a look at a few of these prospects.
Shabazz Muhammad- UCLA SG- A pure attacking shooting guard, Muhammad is averaging almost 20 points per game for the Bruins. He is a very physical, strong defender and at 6’6, is a nightmare matchup for most shooting guards. His level of production in just his freshman year at UCLA only reinforces that his potential is sky high and is a very intriguing candidate for NBA teams looking for an offensively gifted shooting guard. In this writer’s opinion, Muhammad is my number 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Nerlens Noel- UK C- With the seemingly decreasing lack of quality big men in the NBA, Norlens Noel is a prospect that most scouts and teams would love to have leading their frontcourt for years to come. He has the built and the athleticism to be one of the best defenders in the NBA as he is averaging almost 4 blocks per game. At just 18, there is much room for his game to grow and once he develops his offensive repertoire and works on his strength, I am confident that he will be a consistent, productive center in this league.
Alex Poythress- UK SF- Yet another very talented freshman from the University of Kentucky, Poythress is an all around, extremely athletic combo forward. Sized at 6’8, I see Poythress as being a small forward for most NBA teams as he can knock down the three point shot with consistency and finishes strong at the rim. Once he is able to improve his ball handling and mid-range jumper, he will have all the tools to be a very, very good player in this league for years to come.
Michael Carter-Williams- PG Syracuse- Carter-Williams is a true point guard with great ball-handling skills and ability to attack the opposing defense and create opportunities for his teammates, averaging almost 10 assists per game. He needs some work on his perimeter shooting but has the potential to be a great point guard and floor leader.
Sleeper Pick
Rudy Gobert- Center, Chorlet, France- Gobert is a young center playing in France who has a 7’9 wingspan- yes, a 7’9 wingspan. His insane length and shot blocking ability is attractive to most teams who are looking for a stopper at the defensive end. He is very athletic and has an uncanny ability to block and affect shots at the rim. He is a good(not great) athlete and is developing a nice offensive game. While he may not come in and have an immediate impact, I believe that he is definitely worth taking the chance on as his upside and potential is very high.
Photo Courtesy of: bikeride (Brent Soderberg) Flickr
