The Top Prospect at Every Position for the 2016 NBA Draft Class

The projected 2016 NBA draft field should offer at least one standout prospect at each position. 

We identified the top point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center expected to declare after the 2015-16 season. 

These are the positions we project them to mostly play in the pros. Ben Simmons will likely play the 4 at LSU, but in the NBA, he's more likely to play the 3—so we classified him as a small forward. 

Once again, expect to see another big group of one-and-done freshmen next season. Only one of the following prospects is a returning college player.

Point Guard: Jamal Murray, Kentucky, 6'5", Freshman

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Projected NBA Position: Point Guard (or Combo Guard)

Projected College Position: Shooting Guard 

Next in Line: Kris Dunn, Providence, Junior and Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame, Junior

He'll likely suit up at the 2-guard slot alongside Tyler Ulis at Kentucky, but in the pros, Jamal Murray projects as a player whom NBA coaches will want with the ball. 

Either way, he's a 6'5" scoring playmaker.

And Murray just continues to build up his resume, even before his first college game. After winning MVP of the Nike Hoop Summit, Murray led Canada in the Pan Am Games to a win over the USA with 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined.

"It was one for the ages, especially against the United States, against seasoned pros; some NBA players, some fringe NBA players," Canada's assistant general manager Rowan Barrett told the Courier-Journal's Kyle Tucker.

Though eight years younger than the average player at the Pan Am Games, according to Synergy Sports Technology, Murray finished the tournament ranked first in isolation points per game and isolation field-goal percentage and third in points created per game via the pick-and-roll. He also shot 40.7 percent from deep.

He's highly skilled, from his off-the-dribble game to his shot-making ability on the perimeter. Murray isn't a pure point guard, but he can create for teammates and find them off screens and penetration. 

However, he isn't a standout athlete or explosive leaper. Those weaknesses are likely to stir up debate regarding his outlook as an NBA pro.

We aren't going to hold them too much against Murray just yet. He'll enter his freshman season as our No. 1 guard capable of generating top-five draft buzz throughout next year. 

Shooting Guard: Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey, 6'7", 1997

Current Position: Shooting guard

Projected NBA Position: Shooting guard

Next in Line: Malik Newman, Mississippi State, Freshman and Caris LeVert, Michigan, Senior

Furkan Korkmaz spent last season playing limited minutes as one of the youngest prospects in the Euroleague, but over the years, he'd made a name for himself through FIBA and other various international tournaments.

He's building his resume at the Under-18 European Championships, where he's averaging 14.8 points through six games. 

Korkmaz has 6'7" size and fluid athleticism for a 2-guard. The fact that he's a seasoned jump-shooter is a huge plus as well—Korkmaz hit 33 of 78 three-pointers (42.3 percent) in 2014-15, and he just shot 45.2 percent from deep in July at the Under-19 World Championships, where he was named to the all-tournament team.

He also incorporates crafty passing into his game. Korkmaz can handle the ball and see his spot-up targets and cutters off dribble penetration. 

With the ability to create shots—both for himself as a driver and perimeter scorer and for his teammates as a distributor—Korkmaz possesses NBA-friendly offensive versatility.

He can also defend with activity and length, and though he'll obviously need to get stronger, he has the potential to add something at both ends of the floor. 

It will be interesting to see how much his role expands with Anadolu Efes, who dresses recent NBA draft picks Dario Saric and Cedi Osman. Either way, by June, he'll still likely be viewed as a project who needs a few years to develop, particularly physically. 

However, in what could be a shallow pool of eligible shooting guards, Korkmaz has the potential to emerge as the first one off the board in 2016. 

Small Forward: Ben Simmons, LSU, 6'9", Freshman

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Projected NBA Position: Small Forward (or Small-Ball 4)

Projected College Position: Power Forward 

Next in Line: Brandon Ingram, Duke, Freshman and Jaylen Brown, California, Freshman

Ben Simmons might play mostly power forward at LSU, but in the pros, the mismatch he presents could be most daunting on the wing.

Either way, his physical tools and versatility should work at both frontcourt positions. 

At 6'9", 229 pounds (he was 239 pounds in April), Simmons is a unique point forward who is most comfortable handling the ball and facilitating. 

His vision and basketball IQ are off the charts. Simmons' passing ability just might be his signature strength. He sees the floor and finds cutters and shooters off pick-and-rolls and drive-and-kicks.

In the half court, he has the size and face-up attack to play over the defense, as well as the control, quickness and agility to get low and blow right past it. 

His smooth athleticism shows up in the open floor. Go ahead and bank on Simmons creating a number of highlights this season off coast-to-coast takes for easy buckets on the break. 

As a scorer, he's terrific in transition, where he can glide down the floor and weave through traffic. And he's crafty against a set defense—Simmons has a deep arsenal of runners and floaters he can make off one foot around the key.

In 2015-16, scouts will focus on how well he plays without the ball, something he isn't used to doing. He also isn't a particularly sharp shooter and will pass up jump-shot opportunities. 

Still, with strong defensive tools, Simmons projects as potentially one of the game's more unique two-way weapons. He's our favorite for the No. 1 overall pick heading into next season. 

Power Forward: Skal Labissiere, Kentucky, 7'1", Freshman

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Projected NBA Position: Power Forward

Projected College Position: Center

Next in Line: Henry Ellenson, Marquette, Freshman and Dragan Bender, Croatia, 1997

Skal Labissiere will step in as Kentucky's new anchor in the middle, though by the time he settles into the pros, his versatility should be more effective at power forward.  

His game takes him out to the elbows and mid-range, where he's developed a soft touch and can make difficult shots. 

He went for 21 points in April at the Nike Hoop Summit, where he knocked down a handful of pick-and-pop jumpers and contested turnarounds in the post. 

Labissiere has also demonstrated an improving over-the-shoulder game on the block, with the ability to shake and separate into high-percentage hooks. 

His size and bounce translate to easy buckets off lobs, dump passes and putbacks. 

Tremendous defensive upside completes the package and puts Labissiere in the early hunt for 2016's No. 1 overall pick. He's an active shot-blocker who can switch onto wings and contain out on the perimeter. 

At just 216 pounds, Labissiere's lack of strength will be a talking point throughout his freshman year. But it's not troublesome enough to negate or cloud his monster two-way potential. 

Center: Jakob Poeltl, Utah, 7'0", Sophomore

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College Position: Center

Projected NBA Position: Center

Next in Line: Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, Junior and Diamond Stone, Maryland, Freshman

Jakob Poeltl will enter his sophomore year firmly positioned on the first-round radar—unlike last November, when he started his freshman season as an unknown. 

He opened eyes in 2014-15 with his 7'0" size, mobility and athleticism. He looks the part of an NBA center capable of anchoring a defense. 

The nimble Austrian blocked 3.2 shots per 40 minutes last year for Utah's No. 6-ranked defense in the country, per Kenpom.com. Poeltl was also one of the few big men to really silence Jahlil Okafor, whom he held to just six points in the NCAA tournament.  

Poeltl doesn't quite project as a scorer, but he's highly effective off dump passes and pick-and-rolls, having shot a whopping 68.1 percent from the floor last year. 

NBA teams should be willing to invest in him for the rim protection Poeltl offers, as well as the easy buckets he finds on the other end of the floor. 

Even if he shows little to no improvement on his post moves or touch, Poeltl's physical tools and defense should help stabilize his stock.