Cody Zeller: Predicting the NBA Future for the Indiana Hoosiers' Star

I believe Cody Zeller will be a top-three pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

Mock drafts like Hoops Hype, NBADraft.net and ESPN.com all have him in the top three. 

I think that Zeller would've been a lottery pick last year and a higher pick than his brother Tyler at 17th.

Coming out of high school, Zeller was the fourth-best power forward according to Scout.com. 

His strengths were his post play and his ability to run the floor very well for a big man. 

Zeller has continued to improve those strengths, gotten stronger and has become a better defensive player against good big men while at IU. 

The two main negatives that I see with Zeller's game are that he needs to become a better free-throw shooter and improve his mid-shot range from 15-20 feet. 

I know that those two weaknesses might be knit-picking for a player who has a great basketball IQ and doesn't make many mistakes on floor, but NBA scouts always find flaws in a player.

Zeller's NBA Future

Picked in the top-three by either Detroit, Cleveland, Sacramento or Toronto.

He will play either power forward or center in the NBA, depending on the team and how it wants to use him.

I see him becoming a starter in the NBA by his third year and playing in the All-Star game by his fifth year.

He will average around 15-18 points and eight or nine rebounds per game in his prime (fourth-10th year), while in the NBA. 

If he could develop an outside range, then I could see him being used like Pau Gasol with the Lakers. 

Expect to see him as a crucial member of his team and a solid post-man in the future.