Every school in America dreams of having a player drafted, let alone the first overall pick. Several SEC players will be drafted this year. Here is a look at the DraftExpress.com mock draft:
Hornets - 1st Pick - Anthony Davis - Kentucky
Standing 6-10 in shoes, with a 7-4 wingspan, and arguably the most impressive blend of athletic tools we've seen in a big man prospect in our nine years evaluating the NBA draft, Davis is one of the most physically gifted players on this planet at the moment.
Wizards - 3rd Pick- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Kentucky
Standing 6-7 ½ in shoes, with a 6-10 wingspan and a chiseled 228 pound frame, he has ideal physical attributes for a NBA wing prospect, and a versatile skill-set to go along with that.
Cavaliers - 4th Pick - Bradley Beal - Florida
Standing somewhere between 6-4 and 6-5, Beal has decent size for a NBA shooting guard, to go along with a solid frame and average length. While not possessing rim-rocking explosiveness, he's an extremely smooth and fluid athlete with excellent mobility.
Sixers - 15th Pick - Terrence Jones - Kentucky
An incredibly versatile and talented player with clear-cut NBA tools, Jones was an elite player in the college game when he was zoned in, but the difficulties he has had making his presence felt on a consistent basis, staying focused for entire games, and not pouting when things don't go his way remain disconcerting.
Nuggets - 20th Pick - Marquis Teague - Kentucky
As we discussed in the past, Teague's physical attributes stand out immediately as among his most impressive attributes, as he has good size and excellent athleticism for the point guard position. Continuing to play with the very fast pace style he was known for prior to stepping foot in Lexington, Teague's blazing speed was on full display all year long, where he played as crucial a role as anyone in Kentucky's highly efficient fast break.
Hawks - 23rd Pick - Arnett Moultrie - Mississippi State
Not much has changed from a physical perspective for Moultrie since the last time we saw him play. He's still a very good athlete with all the running and leaping ability a big man prospect could need, while possessing excellent size and length at 6'11. He still needs to continue to get stronger, but has the frame needed to do so as he matures physically over the next few years.
Pacers - 26th Pick - Jeff Taylor - Vanderbilt
While Taylor's offensive game remains a work in progress, he is still an outstanding defender who should be able to contribute immediately in the NBA on that end of the floor. While his reported 6'6 wingspan is unimpressive to say the least, he has excellent lateral quickness to stay in front of all but the quickest point guards and the strength to guard four positions at the collegiate level. Furthermore, and as we have written before, his fundamentals are superb across the board, giving him the chance to be a real presence on this end of the floor at the next level.
Bobcats - 31st Pick - John Jenkins - Vanderbilt
Despite being a below average athlete and slightly undersized for the two-guard spot, there isn't much reason to believe Jenkins will have trouble getting his perimeter shot off against bigger, more athletic opponents in the NBA, as he's also unlikely to see the frequent double teams and traps he currently does as Vanderbilt's #1 option. He would probably excel most in a ball movement-heavy, up tempo offense that can get him the ball in space and on the move, where he possesses great mechanics and decision-making skills to get off high efficiency shots with ease.
Wizards - 32nd Pick - Doron Lamb - Kentucky
Measured at 6'5 with a 205-pound frame and a 6'7 wingspan, Lamb has a good physical profile for an NBA shooting guard with the potential to continue filling out his solid frame. While he lacks elite explosiveness, Lamb is nonetheless a solid athlete, possessing a solid first step and decent quickness in the open court.
Cavaliers - 33rd Pick - Festus Ezeli - Vanderbilt
What makes Ezeli intriguing will always start with his 6'11, 255-pound frame. Possessing prototypical size and athleticism for a NBA center, Ezeli has no shortage of physical tools. As we learned in his match up against Anthony Davis of Kentucky, he may struggle against truly elite level athletes at his position at this stage in his career, but solid performance as an upperclassman in the college game and upside at the NBA level revolve around his ability to utilize his size effectively on both ends of the floor.
Cavaliers - 34th Pick - Darius Miller - Kentucky
Already showing promising role-player potential with his ability to spread the floor and score in a complementary role, Miller has flashed some offensive tools that he didn't get to showcase as a fourth or fifth option alongside his talented teammates. It will be interesting to see how he fares in events like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and the various group and single-team workouts held in the pre-draft process, as he'll have the opportunity to better showcase himself in those settings.
Pistons - 44th Pick - JaMychal Green - Alabama
Green is an effective, albeit limited, post scorer at the collegiate level. He does a good job of asserting himself in the post, fighting for position early in the shot clock despite not being the strongest in terms of lower body strength. He has a high release point on his hook shot that he's able to get off over taller defenders and has solid touch with his right hand. He hasn't yet developed much in the way of advanced counter moves, and he hasn't yet developed a reliable move over his right shoulder, both problems that have plagued him throughout his time at Alabama and could make him predictable at the next level.
Timberwolves - 58th Pick - Khris Middleton - Texas A&M
Looking forward, Khris Middleton possesses a fairly unique skill set for his position, and is an interesting player trying to project to the next level. While his ability and feel scoring the ball in isolation situations is certainly attractive, his shortcomings in most areas traditional role players excel in pose some questions for how his game will translate and what types of adjustments he'll need to make.
Thomas Barnes: Stephen F. Austin,, Sam Houston State, Arkansas, and Texas Tech.
