NBA Draft Focus: Whose Draft Stock Is Rising?

A few college studs are expanding their bank accounts by the second. This money isn't in their possession yet, but it will be as soon as their rising draft stock has them flying off the draft board higher than any projections forecasted just a few months ago. 

For some, this could mean they have put themselves in a position to be a lottery pick, and for others it could simply mean they will be drafted. 

What they all have in common is that these are the players who, for various reasons, are rising up draft boards. 

Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

At 6'3" and 207 pounds, Bradley Beal doesn't have the typical height a team looks for in a shooting guard. He also didn't get to play with the ball in his hands much this season as he shared the backcourt with Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton. 

Despite this, he still averaged 14.6 points per game in his freshman season and was likely headed for a mid to late—first round selection.

Then he came up clutch in the NCAA tournament and showcased his poise and a maturity well beyond his years. This will continue to serve him well as teams interview him.

In the tournament, Beal proved he had the ability to get to the rim and finish against top—flight interior defenders. 

Beal will also be helped by the fact that he is a solid rebounder; he averaged 6.5 a game last season, and he is an efficient scorer who had a field goal percentage of .445.  

He is a lock for the top 10 and likely the top five. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kentucky was so loaded with talent it was tough to stand out. They played fantastic team ball, and as a result Michael Kidd-Gilchrist didn't get to showcase his amazing talent like he would have at another school. 

Still the 6'7", 232 pound small forward's athleticism was undeniable, and he seemed destined to be a late lottery pick. 

Those projections were low. Kidd-Gilchrist is now commonly viewed as a top-five selection. 

This is a player with tremendous intangibles and leadership. That was on vivid display in Kentucky's championship run. 

He needs to work on his shooting stroke, but everything else about his game is NBA ready. He is also one of the best wing defenders in this draft, and teams are going to have a hard time passing on a player with the potential to dominate at both ends of the floor like Kidd-Gilchrist can. 

Damian Lilllard, PG, Weber State

Playing at Weber State, Damian Lillard didn't get a chance to blow away national audiences with his play. However, after the dust of the season settled, and live action gave way to tapes, Lillard has emerged as the best point guard prospect in this draft. 

He doesn't have the same command of the floor as North Carolina's Kendall Marshall, but he is a much better scorer. 

At 6'2", he has solid size for the position, and there is no doubting his ability to put the ball in the bucket. 

Lillard averaged 24.5 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field last season. Sure, this wasn't against elite competition, but he has the athleticism and shooting stroke to score on any level. 

He is now almost certainly a lottery selection.

Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Kendall Marshall is not a flashy scorer. In fact, he is a poor finisher around the rim. This left him with little draft buzz for most of his college career.

Then he got hurt in the NCAA tournament. Normally, this would be a bad thing for a player's draft stock. For Marshall, it was a huge plus. 

North Carolina's offense looked completely different without Marshall—just ask Harrison Barnes. 

Marshall knows how to get the ball to players in the perfect spot for them to succeed. This is a subtle talent that is hard to pick up on, but it was clear in his absence. 

Marshall is the best pure point guard in this draft, and any team with solid scorers at other positions will be well served to have a point guard like Marshall. True floor generals like him are getting harder and harder to find. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see him sneak into the tail end of the lottery. 

Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Dion Waiters spent the majority of his two years at Syracuse coming off the bench. This left him as an NBA draft afterthought. 

However, the 6'4", 215 pound guard really grew into his role coming off of the bench, and there is no doubting his ability to score. He averaged 12.6 points in 24.1 minutes a game last season. 

Waiters struggled in the Orange's last tournament game, but was fantastic leading up to that. During that run, he put his ability to penetrate the lane on full display. This is priceless on the NBA level. 

Like all Syracuse players, his defense is a question mark as he's been stuck in a zone, but he has the athleticism to be a solid man-to-man defender. 

If he works on his ball handling and court vision, Waiters has a chance to be a combo guard in the NBA. This potential could possible land him in the lottery and certainly won't have him hanging in the draft past the early 20s. 

Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie didn't get the chance to showcase his skills on a big stage in college, but he has the size and athleticism that overwhelms scouts and teams as they begin to evaluate players.

He spent his first two years at UTEP and transferred to Mississippi State. He had to sit out a year following his transfer which left him completely off the draft radar.

A funny thing happened after he sat out a season. He came back a better player. The 6'11", 230 pound forward averaged 15.8 rebounds and 10.6 rebounds a game last season. 

He improved every season in college, and this will not go unnoticed. Moultrie is now a likely lottery pick. 

Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Moe Harkless' draft stock was on a steady rise his freshman year and that climb is not over. 

He won the Big East Rookie of the Year last season and certainly had the stats to warrant it. He averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds a game. 

He will be well served to add some bulk, as he is only 190 pounds, but he has the length at 6'8" that teams covet on the wing. 

This young man is a complete player, and his potential is through the roof. He can drive, shoot and if he bulks up he will be able to get in the post against other small forwards. He is also an excellent defender. 

He will likely go off the board in the mid to late—teens. 

Jared Cunningham, SG, Oregon State

Jared Cunningham is an athletic shooting guard who didn't generate a lot of draft buzz this season. He is not a dominant outside shooter and hit just 33.8 percent of his three-point shots last season. And at 6'4", his size is not overwhelming. 

Also, let's face it. Playing at Oregon State may have gotten him noticed at the White House but not with a large audience. 

This prospect's draft stock is rising because of his potential to be a combo guard. He has decent handles and dished out 2.8 assists per game last season despite not being the main distributor. 

He knows how to penetrate the lane and has a ton of upside. Don't be surprised if he sneaks into the first round. 

Darius Miller, SG, Kentucky

Darius Miller took a backseat to Kentucky's super youngsters and being drafted at all seemed like a longshot for Miller. 

He could now possible be a late to early second—round selection. 

Miller has the shooting—he shot 37.6 percent from three-point range last season—and ball handling to play shooting guard in the NBA. He also has the athleticism and height (6'8") to guard either shooting guards or small forwards.

This is extremely valuable in the NBA and he will be a nice piece for any team to bring off the bench. 

Kyle O'Quinn, C/PF, Norfolk State

Kyle O'Quinn struggled with weight issues in his college career, and this was certainly a turnoff for NBA teams. However, with hard work and dedication, he was able to get that under control. 

ESPN lists him at 6'10" and 240 pounds. Still, O'Quinn was not playing against elite competition at Norfolk State, and there were legitimate questions whether he had the athleticism to succeed at the NBA level. It seemed unlikely he would be drafted at all. 

O'Quinn proved he can overcome his deficiencies to contribute in the NBA at the Portsmouth Invitational. 

The Invitational features the top college seniors in the nation, and O'Quinn dominated. In fact, he was named the MVP.

He snagged 12 rebounds and added six blocks. This kind of interior defense is a valuable commodity, and it almost certainly earned O'Quinn a second—round draft selection.