NBA Draft 2013: Latest Updates on Injured Top Prospects

Injuries have plagued some of the top prospects that are expected to be taken in the 2013 NBA draft and each is doing all they can to take the court as soon as physically possible.

Where these college stars will go on June 27 is one of the draft’s biggest storylines. Each of the following players has undergone surgery to repair severe injuries and their draft stock could easily be affected by their ailments.

It’s especially intriguing because of how much potential they have and the risk that NBA teams with the top picks in the draft are going to have to take. Will that risk be worth the reward down the road or will prior injuries plague their careers?

Regardless of what happens in the future, here are the latest updates on each top prospect’s road to recovery.

Alex Len, C, Maryland

Alex Len is easily one of the best big men in this year’s draft class and will have his name called at some point during the first 15 picks. But what impact will the sophomore’s ankle have on where he goes?

Len underwent surgery on a partial stress fracture in his left ankle in early May per his agency, according to Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post. He will out be for four to six months and might not be ready until the regular season gets underway.

Len had his cast removed and stitches taken out two weeks ago, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post. The 7'1" center still didn’t get to participate in any pre-draft workouts, but thinks “10 years from now, I’ll be the best player out of this draft.”

Len’s numbers speak to how much potential he has the next level. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game for the Terrapins. Some believe that his production in college and potential for the future will outweigh his injury.

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“I think you take Alex Len, who has a lot of upside, but you don’t know how that ankle injury or that ankle surgery is going to affect him four or five months down the road,” senior director of NBA scouting operations Ryan Blake told Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

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Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to get a great player in Nerlens Noel—that is unless they trade the No. 1 overall pick to another team, in which case that team will get a great player. But for now, Noel is no more than a guy that’ll be on the bench.

Noel is currently recovering from ACL surgery and is working hard to get back to the court, according to Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer. Schmitt Boyer profiled Noel’s rehab recently while he talked about his daily routine and eventual return.

“They don’t know,” Noel told Schmitt Boyer after hearing ESPN’s Chris Broussard say that, “He may not be back until Christmas…if at all.”

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By they, he means anybody who isn’t watching as many as six hours of rehab a day, at least six days a week at the facility [Dr. James] Andrews recommended, with additional non-jumping shooting drills for at least an hour a day and twice that much on weekends.

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As a freshman at Kentucky, Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game. He may have only played in 24 games for the Wildcats, but it’s safe to say that he made a good impression on NBA teams and scouts.

Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

Anthony Bennett had a great season with UNLV, his first and last with the program. After averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game for the Rebels, Bennett decided that he wanted to play at the next level in 2013-14.

Bennett experienced pain in his left shoulder throughout the season, but thought it was a nerve issue from sleeping on it wrong, according to Lee. He then found out that he would need to have surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

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“It’s been tough for me. Kind of depressing, too, that I’m hurt, Bennett said. “Could’ve have fixed this earlier in the season, but I didn’t know what it was. I’m just happy I got it out the way. It’s a long process, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to come back 100 percent.”

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Bennett is expected to be out until August, but could return sooner depending on how his rehab goes per Lee. The 6'8" forward still thinks he’ll be a top pick in the upcoming draft, saying, “I can go anywhere in the top five. I feel I can play in any of those systems.”

In the latest mock draft from B/R’s NBA Lead Writer Jonathan Wasserman, the Detroit Pistons took Bennett at No. 8. Wasserman notes that the Pistons need a versatile forward that can score from anywhere on the floor.