2013 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for Entire 1st Round

With the 2012 NBA draft now come and gone, it's time to take an early look at the 2013 class.

Several players seem to be in the running for the first overall pick, with Cody Zeller, Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel the early front-runners to have their name called first.

It will be months before we know if this class will live up to the one of 2012, but plenty of talent awaits all throughout the first round.

Here is an early version of how the 2013 draft class could shake out.

1. Brooklyn Nets: Shabazz Muhammed

Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight:  6'6", 220 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Freshman

With no offense to Bradley Beal, Muhammad may very well be the best shooting guard in the 2012 and 2013 draft classes combined.

Part of a monster recruiting class for UCLA, Shabazz is also a talented defender and rebounder and should have the Bruins in contention for a Final Four berth as a freshman.

Able to score anywhere on the court, often with a smooth left-hand finish, Muhammad could very well be 2013's first overall pick.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Nerlens Noel

Position: Center

Height/Weight:  6'11", 215 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

A tall, lanky center holding down the paint for Kentucky while swatting away a ridiculous number of shots?

Hmm, this sounds all too familiar.

Noel is the perfect replacement for Anthony Davis at Kentucky and someone who Davis seems to like.

"A great shot-blocker," said Davis, who set a Southeastern Conference record with 186 blocks this past season. "I think he's better than me."

The similarities may not end there, as Davis will be the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and Noel is the projected No. 1 pick for 2013.

3. Orlando Magic: Cody Zeller

Position: Power Forward/Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 209 pounds

School: Indiana

Year: Sophomore

Very skilled for a player of his size, Cody Zeller is an excellent shooter who can run the floor well, much like his older brother Tyler.

He will most likely play power forward in the NBA due to his thin frame but will be able to stretch defenses with great outside shooting.

Though he's not a great rebounder or shot-blocker, he will be nearly impossible to guard.

4. Phoenix Suns: James Michael McAdoo

Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 226 pounds

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore 

McAdoo should star at North Carolina with so many players ahead of him heading to the pros. 

Able to play either forward position with a 7'1" wingspan, McAdoo is also a good ball-handler and rebounder for his size.

With a few added post moves, he could be a star.

5. Sacramento Kings: Kyle Anderson

Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Freshman 

Anderson has the skills to play four or even five positions but likely projects as a small forward in the pros. 

He has a very high basketball I.Q. and should help lead UCLA back to the Final Four, along with Shabazz Muhammad.

6. Washington Wizards: Steven Adams

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 7'1", 245 pounds

School: Pittsburgh

Year: Freshman

Adams is a very athletic big man who can run the floor with ease. A good shot-blocker and rebounder, he is still developing his overall game.

Adams needs to work on his free-throw shooting and post moves but should be a very good center in a few years in the NBA.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaiah Austin

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 7'0", 215 pounds

School: Baylor

Year: Freshman

Austin is the latest gem in a recruiting surge for the Baylor Bears the last couple years.

A true seven-footer, Austin is a bit of a project right now but has good ball-handling skills and a soft touch for a player his size.

Austin will have to add about 20 to 30 pounds of muscle to his frame to not get pushed around in the pros, but his skill set would have been worth a lottery pick in this year's draft.

8. New Orleans Hornets: Myck Kabongo

Position: Point Guard

Height/Weight: 6'1", 170 pounds

School: Texas

Year: Sophomore 

Kabongo is a pure point guard with great play-making skills.  His small frame allows for his extra quickness, but some added muscle would be a plus.

It might take a few years, but Kabongo should be a very good point guard in the NBA.

9. Detroit Pistons: Alex Poythress

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman 

A combo forward, Poythress was the 2012 Tennessee Player of the Year for Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tenn. 

Able to play inside and out, Poythress is probably best suited for a small forward role, as he has three-point range and is an excellent finisher at the rim.

With a 7'1" wingspan, he remains an intriguing option on the defensive end as well and should be one-and-done at Kentucky.

10. Toronto Raptors: Archie Goodwin

Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'5", 185 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Goodwin is an attack-first shooting guard who plays an aggressive style of game.

Very good on the defensive side of the ball as well, Goodwin should thrive in Lexington, taking over Doron Lamb's spot.

11. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Tony Mitchell

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 235 pounds

School: North Texas

Year: Sophomore

Greg Monroe's twin?  Well, not exactly, but Mitchell could turn out to be just as talented.

Able to play either forward position with shooting abilities out to the three-point line, Mitchell has a variety of skills but was forced to sit out his freshman season for academic reasons.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Patric Young

Position: Power Forward/Center

Height/Weight: 6'9", 245 pounds

School: Florida

Year: Junior

A strong post presence with a 7'1" wingspan, Young is already a very good defender and shot-blocker.

Size could be a concern going forward, as Young is widely believed to be an inch or two below his actual listed height.

13. Portland Trail Blazers: Rudy Gobert

Position: Power Forward/Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 225 pounds

School: Cholet, International

Age: 20 

What stands out right away with Gobert is his insane wingspan, all 7'9" of it.

Naturally, he's already a talented shot-blocker due to his crazy length, but Gobert is also a good athlete who's slowing developing a nice offensive game.

14: Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. McCollum

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'3", 165 pounds

School: Lehigh

Year: Senior

A combo guard from a small school a la Damian Lillard, McCollum is a great scorer and rebounder for his size.

A talented defender as well, McCollum averaged 2.6 steals during his junior season.

15: New York Knicks: C.J. Leslie

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 207 pounds

School: N.C. State

Year: Junior

Explosive athlete who brings energy to every game he's in, Leslie runs the floor very well and is a candidate to finish many alley-oops.

He needs to improve his post game if he wants to play the 4 in the NBA.

16. Houston Rockets: Adonis Thomas

Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'6", 220 pounds

School: Memphis

Year: Sophomore

Thomas is a good athlete who can finish at the rim and plays every game with a high motor.

He needs to improve his outside shooting and ball-handling skills to succeed at the next level.

17. Utah Jazz: P.J. Hairston

Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'5", 220

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

An average playmaker with a high basketball I.Q., Hairston should see a big jump in minutes during his sophomore season. He is an excellent shooter and good defender.

Look for Hairston's stats to make a huge leap this year.

18. Boston Celtics: Le'Bryan Nash

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 220 pounds

School: Oklahoma State

Year: Sophomore

A very athletic forward with good size and strength, Nash excels taking the ball to basket.

He needs to develop his shot and ball-handing to star in NBA.

19. Dallas Mavericks: Joshua Smith

Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 300 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Junior

A big-body center who will likely play the 4 in the pros, Smith uses his size to be a dominant force in the paint.

He will likely have to drop some weight to be quick enough to guard opponents at the next level and keep up with pro pace.

20. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeff Withey

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 240 pounds

School: Kansas

Year: Senior

Withey made a name for himself in the 2012 NCAA tournament, helping Kansas advance to the national title game.

The excellent shot-blocker is still a project on offense but has a lot to offer as a developmental center.

21. Atlanta Hawks: Otto Porter

Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 210 pounds

School: Georgetown

Year: Sophomore

A good mid-range shooter who plays a very fluid game, Porter has a good work ethic and size for his position.

Porter needs to work on his outside shooting and ball-handling skills before he can be an effective pro.

22. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Miami): Reggie Bullock

Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'5", 190 pounds

School: North Carolina

Year: Junior

Bullock is already a good defender with a great work ethic, something any team would like to have.

He has a shooting guard body but must improve his ball-handling to play the 2 in the NBA.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis): B.J. Young

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'3", 160 pounds

School: Arkansas

Year: Sophomore

A very quick guard who led Arkansas in scoring last season, Young is excellent at finishing at the rim and shooting from the outside.

Young has the body of a point guard but the game of a shooting guard at this point.  He will have to decide what he wants to be and work towards it before declaring.

24. Denver Nuggets: Andre Roberson

Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 210 pounds

School: Colorado

Year: Junior

Roberson averaged over a double-double his sophomore year and is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.

He needs to add muscle to his frame to play in the NBA post and is still working on his shot, but he represents a lot of upside.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: DeShaun Thomas

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 220 pounds

School: Ohio State

Year: Junior

Thomas, a volume scorer who can rack up points in a variety of ways, can play either forward position now but will likely be a 3 at the next level.

He shot nearly 60 percent on two-pointers last season and should get even more looks with the loss of Jared Sullinger to the NBA.

26. Indiana Pacers: Ryan Harrow

Position: Point Guard

Height/Weight: 5'11", 160 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Sophomore 

The small but mighty Kentucky-transfer is a score-first point guard with good handles.

Harrow should thrive with a talented supporting cast on the defending champion Wildcats.

27. Chicago Bulls: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'5", 185 pounds

School: Michigan

Year: Junior

Hardaway Jr. is a good scorer and athlete who comes from very good basketball genes.

Along with Trey Burke in a talented Michigan backcourt, he should be primed to have a breakout junior season.

28. Los Angeles Lakers: Mason Plumlee

Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'10", 235 pounds

School: Duke

Year: Senior

An athletic big man who does almost everything well but nothing great, Plumlee is the type of player that will be a solid backup big and can step in at either power forward or center.

However, he is a poor free-throw shooter who has hovered around 50 percent for his college career.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Doug McDermott

Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 210 pounds

School: Creighton

Year: Junior

The dynamite scorer put up 22.9 points on better than 60-percent shooting during his sophomore season.

Though he's a good rebounder, McDermott may have to play the 3 in the pros due to his size.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder: Trey Burke

Position: Point Guard

Height/Weight: 5'11", 180 pounds

School: Michigan

Year: Sophomore

Burke enjoyed a nice freshman season for the Wolverines, averaging nearly 15 points and five assists per game.

He's a good athlete that can create shots for himself and others.