A thumbnail look at potential first-round selections for the NBA Draft to be held Thursday:
Washington Wizards
Philadelphia 76ers
New Jersey Nets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Sacramento Kings
Golden State Warriors
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Clippers
Utah Jazz
Indiana Pacers
New Orleans Hornets
Memphis Grizzlies
Toronto Raptors
Houston Rockets
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat
Boston Celtics
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Atlanta Hawks
Memphis Grizzlies
Oklahoma City Thunder
New Jersey Nets
Memphis Grizzlies
Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards
Solomon Alabi, c,
Florida State
7-1, 251. … 11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.3 bpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long and athletic. … Has an immense wingspan and can jump better than most centers. … Excellent shot blocker. … Can hit medium to short range shots. … Has a basic post game on offense. … Needs to bulk up and improve ball-handling skills.
Cole Aldrich, c, Kansas
6-11, 245. … 11.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg
A junior early entry. … A long-armed, mobile center. … Has strong rebounding and defensive skills. … Improved his shot blocking this past season. … Has limited offensive skills and needs to work on his shooting mechanics.
Al-Farouq Aminu, f, Wake Forest
6-9, 215. … 15.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long and athletic, can create matchup problems for opponents. … A competitor with a strong work ethic. … Runs the floor well. … Strong rebounder with a massive wingspan. … Inconsistent shooter. … Needs to improve his ball handling and perimeter game.
James Anderson, g, Oklahoma State
6-6, 215. … 22.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg
A junior early entry. … The Big 12 Player of the Year. … An impressive offensive talent. … Fluid athlete. … Can run off a screen or create his own shot. … Has NBA 3-point range. … A below average defender.
Luke Babbitt, f, Nevada
6-9, 225. … 21.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Smooth offensive player. … Has a very good basketball IQ and feel for the game. … Can create his own shot. … Can hit the midrange shots and hits 3-pointers regularly. … Defensive game needs work, especially lateral quickness.
Eric Bledsoe, g, Kentucky
6-1, 190. … 11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg
A freshman early entry. … Has a point guard’s body and played off the ball, next to John Wall. … Super athlete with a long wing span. … Limited offensive skills: ball handling, perimeter shot and playmaking. … Had a high turnover rate in college.
Craig Brackins, f, Iowa State
6-10, 230. … 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Has a soft touch around the basket. … Has a great wingspan. … Improved his rebounding. … Needs to add weight and muscle to play the post at the next level. … Settles for jump shots too often. … Decision to return for his junior year may have cost him several draft spots.
Avery Bradley, g, Texas
6-2, 180. … 11.6 ppg, 2.1 apg
A freshman early entry. … Great defender. … Good leaper and quick. … Shooting guard may be a better fit because of the his 6-foot-7 wingspan. … Impressed the scouts at the camps. … Excellent defender. … Needs to improve playmaking skills.
DeMarcus Cousins, f, Kentucky
6-11, 270. … 15.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Huge frame, a presence in the post. … A true center with excellent skills. … Can score with back to the basket or facing it. … Has a great wingspan. … Some concern about his conditioning. … Needs to improve passing and lateral quickness.
Ed Davis, f, North Carolina
6-10, 225. … 13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg
A sophomore early entry. … Missed the last 13 games with a broken left wrist. … Excellent frame and athlete. … High basketball IQ. … Solid hands, great touch around the basket. … Needs to improve offensive skills, very raw. … Needs to get stronger for the post game.
Devin Ebanks, f, West Virginia
6-9, 215. … 12.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long lanky frame makes him tough on defense. … Very competitive. … Terrific rebounder. … Must improve his perimeter game and ball-handling skills. … His play on the court is inconsistent. … His off-court issues may be cause for concern.
Derrick Favors, f, Georgia Tech
6-9, 246. … 12.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg
A freshman early entry. … Has a great wing span. … Athletic power forward. … Excels as a rebounder and defender. … A huge upside, as his offensive game is improving. … Needs to be more assertive in his game.
Paul George, f, Fresno State
6-8, 210. … 16.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Great scoring instincts. … Terrific from the perimeter. … Athletic and physical attributes cause matchup problems. … Inconsistent on defender. … Average ball-handler. … Court decisions are suspect. … Turnover prone.
Gordon Hayward, f, Butler
6-8, 207. … 15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Solid offensive skills with great size. … High basketball IQ. … Solid perimeter game. … Effective in transition. … Limited defensive game. … Average athlete. … Needs to add weight for next level.
Xavier Henry, g, Kansas
6-6, 220. … 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Has the size to play shooting guard or small forward. … A solid understanding of the game. … Has deep range on his jump shot. … Needs to improve on creating his own shot. … Lateral quickness needs to get better.
Damion James, f, Texas
6-7, 225. … 18.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg
Senior. … Solid athlete with an NBA body. … Plays hard, excellent work ethic. … High energy on the court. … Good in transition. … Excellent on the boards. … Solid defensively. … Doesn’t stand out in any one area, but isn’t lacking in any.
Armon Johnson, g, Nevada
6-3, 195. … 15.7 ppg, 5.6 apg
A junior early entry. … Impressive athlete with an outstanding frame for the point. … Explosive first step. … Aggressive player. … Excellent body control. … Has the defensive tools. … Needs to work on shooting mechanics.
Wesley Johnson, f, Syracuse
6-7, 205. … 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Has the physical tools for the small forward position. … Explosive, excels in transition. … Great footwork. … Solid shooter with a nice touch. … Plays like he has something to prove. … Needs to improve ballhandling.
Dominique Jones, g, South Florida
6-4, 215. … 21.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
A junior early entry. … An aggressive slasher who gets to the foul line often. … A combo guard with size and strength. … Can create his own shot and scores in bunches. … Terrific man-to-man defender. … Needs to improve his perimeter jump shot.
Gani Lawal, f, Georgia Tech
6-9, 234. … 13.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Excellent wingspan. … Tremendous work ethic. … Runs the floor well. … Finishes around the rim. … Needs to continue to improve his low post footwork, jump shooting, and passing. … Not polished but shows great potential.
Greg Monroe, f, Georgetown
6-11, 253. … 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Has the size and length to play center. … Has a solid all-around game in the post. … Likes to face the basket. … Excellent court vision and instincts. … Terrific passer … Average rebounder and defender. … Needs to improve perimeter shooting.
Daniel Orton, c, Kentucky
6-10, 255. … 3.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Great physical tools. … Wide frame and great wingspan. … Above average athlete. … Did not play much behind DeMarcus Cousins. … Some think he should have stayed in school one more year. … Will be picked on potential.
Patrick Patterson, c, Kentucky
6-9, 235. … 14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg
A junior early entry. … A versatile forward. … Aggressive inside player. … Finishes around the rim. … Solid jump shooter. … Rarely turns the ball over. … Needs to improve his footwork. … Needs to improve his rebounding, he relies too much on his athletic skills.
Quincy Pondexter, f, Washington
6-6, 225. … 19.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Senior. … Efficient scorer. … Can pull up for the jumper or finish strong at the rim. … Long and athletic. … Solid rebounder and defender. … Improved his game as a senior. … Needs to improve ball handling and his perimeter shot.
Stanley Robinson, f, Connecticut
6-9, 210. … 14.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg
Senior. … An athletic combo forward. … Has the physical tools to play the half-court or transition game. … A good rebounder and defender. … Excels in transition. … Play was inconsistent most of his collegiate career. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot.
Larry Sanders, f-c, Virginia Commonwealth
6-11, 235. … 14.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.6 bpg
A junior early entry. … Has the tools to be a force in the paint on the defensive side. … Terrific wingspan. … Made great strides in his three years at VCU. … Plays with energy, runs the floor well. … Limited offensive skills. … A project.
Kevin Seraphin, f-c, Cholet (France)
6-9, 264. … 5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Early international entry, born in 1989. … Used as a rebounder and defender for the best team in France. … Muscular big man, long, athletic. … Offensive game needs work. … Will be picked on potential.
Lance Stephenson, g, Cincinnati
6-5, 212. … 12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
A freshman early entry. … New York State’s all-time leading prep scorer. … Good length and a strong frame for shooting guard. … Excellent passer. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot. … Needs to work on his strength and conditioning.
Evan Turner, g, Ohio State
6-7, 205. … 20.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 6.0 apg
A junior early entry. … May be the most versatile player in the draft. … The national player of the year. … Can play any backcourt position. … Impressive midrange game. … Dynamic shot creator. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot.
Ekpe Udoh, c, Baylor
6-10, 240. … 13.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.7 bpg
A junior early entry. … Set the Big 12 single-season record for blocks (3.7 per game). … Versatile. … Fluid around the rim. … Can step out to the midrange. … Needs to improve ballhandling and passing. … Needs to become stronger in his lower body.
John Wall, g, Kentucky
6-4, 195. … 16.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.3 rpg
A freshman early entry. … May be the most dynamic player in the draft. … Extremely quick point guard. … Aggressive with good instincts. … Unselfish with the ball. … Needs to improve perimeter game. … His ability to operate in the half-court needs work.
Willie Warren, g, Oklahoma
6-4, 203. … 16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Explosive, gets to the rim and finishes. … Solid pull-up jumper. … Has outstanding scoring instincts. … His draft stock took a hit with some setbacks this season. … Turnovers are a problem. … Needs to work on defense.
Terrico White, g, Mississippi
6-5, 213. … 15.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Has a terrific shooting stroke, especially at midrange. … A physical specimen. … Lacks a defined position. … Needs to be more aggressive on the offensive end.
Hassan Whiteside, c, Marshall
7-0, 235. … 13.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 5.4 bpg
A freshman early entry. … Led the nation in blocked shots. … Has length and ability to rise above the competition. … Has nice touch near the basket and can step out beyond the top of the key. … Needs to show that he’s more than a dynamic weakside defender.
Elliot Williams, g, Memphis
6-5, 180. … 17.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Athletic combo guard. … Has great scoring instincts and shot-creating ability. … Gets to the foul line often. … Solid defender. … A lefty, who struggles going right.
