Because this has become one of the most enjoyable — if not ridiculous — exercises in sports, let’s take a quick look ahead to the 2016 NBA Draft to see what might happen for the current members of the Kansas University men’s basketball team.
Last night, in Brooklyn, New York, former Jayhawks Kelly Oubre (15th pick in the first round) and Cliff Alexander (undrafted) learned their pro fates.
By recent KU standards, that’s a pretty uneventful draft. It marked the first time since 2009 that Bill Self did not produce a lottery pick, with Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, Markieff and Marcus Morris, Thomas Robinson, Ben McLemore and Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins all being lottery picks between 2010-14.
According to the 2016 draft projections at DraftExpress.com, the Jayhawks will jump back into the lottery next season, with freshman-to-be **Cheick Diallo** slated to be the 14th pick as of today.
Obviously there is still a ton of time between now and then and a ton of basketball yet to be played, but based on his status coming out of high school and his skills, Diallo definitely has a shot to become a lottery pick with a good freshman season at KU.
Beyond that, there are at least a couple of other guys on the KU roster who could hear their names called in next year’s draft. In fact, the very next slot on DraftExpress’s oh-so-early mock draft for next season features another Jayhawk, with Ukrainian sensation **Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk** plugged into that spot.
KU coach Bill Self has said for months that Mykhailiuk could very well be the best pro prospect on the roster. He’s a great athlete with good offensive skills, a solid basketball IQ and an insatiable desire to learn the game.
Beyond that, Svi has great NBA 2-guard size (listed last season at 6-8, 195), he’s not afraid to play defense and he can flat-out shoot the ball.
If he makes the kind of jump this offseason that many believe he’s on pace to make, he easily could move up on the draft board by next June and become a lottery pick himself.
Those were the only two Jayhawks on DraftExpress’s early look at the 2016 draft, but there are a few other KU players who easily could wind up being selected next June should they have good seasons and/or decide to leave school.
Senior **Perry Ellis**, who somehow was not on DraftExpress’s Top 60 for 2016, seems like a strong candidate to get a look by NBA brass. He’s poised to have a monster year, just keeps getting better and has great work ethic, drive and, perhaps most of all, is a high character guy who any GM and coach would love to have on his bench.
That alone won’t get Ellis a roster spot but that combined with a big year certainly could.
Junior wing **Wayne Selden** is another Jayhawk who could have an NBA future based on his size, athleticism and ability to shoot the ball. In fact, many believed Selden would be gone by now. But a decent freshman year in the shadows of Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid followed by a sub-par sophomore season left Selden in Lawrence, where he’ll be looking for his best season yet this winter.
If it comes, Selden’s a definite candidate to land in the first round next June. If not, the NBA may never come calling.
The last guy on the roster with a real shot at the NBA in 2016 is freshman forward **Carlton Bragg**, who’s size, length, soft shot and good handles have him poised for a big role during his first season at KU.
He’s still way too skinny to bang with the big bodies in the NBA on a regular basis and needs to add some polish to a few areas of his game, but he’s definitely one of those guys NBA GMs drool over when looking at his potential.
I’ve heard of more than a few people (including Self) who believe that junior sharpshooter **Brannen Greene** is a future pro, but he’s coming off of hip surgery and still has yet to fully break through. Because of that, projecting him as a possible 2016 draftee seems like a bit of a reach.
That said, identifying five other guys with a shot at being draft worthy in 2016 only adds to the idea that this year’s KU squad could be in line to contend at the highest level.
Kansas forward Carlton Bragg, left, hits the floor for a loose ball with Canada guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson in the first-half of a Team USA exhibition game against Canada Tuesday, June 23, at the Sprint Center in K.C., MO.
Kansas guard Brannen Greene stretches before entering the game during the second half on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at Allen Fieldhouse. Greene sat out in Tuesday's game against Iona.
