NBA Draft 2013: Prospects with Biggest Star Potential in This Year's Class

NBA All-Stars aren’t all drafted with the top selection of each year’s draft. There simply aren’t enough picks.

Successful college players often struggle to perform against the elite level of competition at the next level. Sometimes they just don’t fit into lineups due to mixed skill sets and physical limitations.

That’s why teams have to do their due diligence by studying not just how prospects performed in college, but also by taking a look at each player’s raw potential.

In a draft class that lacks a true top prospect like the 2012 crop, there are a lot of players with intriguing ability that could lead to their success in the NBA.

As we start talking about potential stars from this class, it’s important to keep all of this in mind when picking players out of the group.

Let’s take a look at a couple of 2013 NBA draft prospects who have the mixture of talent, measurables and intangibles that it takes to be excellent professionals.

2013 NBA Draft Information

When: Thurs., June 27, at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, N.Y. 

NBA Draft Order: Cleveland Cavaliers own No. 1 pick; full list here (via NBA.com). 

Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

There have been a lot of combo forwards who have failed to transition from scoring forwards in college to a true position at the next level. Big men are asked to do so much down low, both physically and in the pick-and-roll game, making these tweeners struggle to adapt and excel in the NBA.

It’s nice to have a stretch-four forward who can hit shots from the perimeter, but if he can’t hold up his end on the boards and defensively, he’s a liability on the court more than an ally.

Former UNLV prospect Anthony Bennett is the latest in a series of intriguing prospects who fall into this category. The 6’8” forward played both positions in college, but the challenge to do so will be much greater at the NBA level. Hardwood Paroxysm's Conrad Kaczmarek made an interesting comparison between Bennett and a similar player who has, to this point, failed to successfully make that conversion:

According to Orlando Sentinel writer Josh Robbins, NBA talent evaluator Ryan Blake confirmed Bennett’s two-position ability and versatility:

"

He’s one of the most versatile players around. He’s a guy that can play in the post. He can play a little bit on the wing. In college, at 6-8, 240 he was able to play two positions because he has that versatility. He shoots 38 percent from behind the arc. 

"

Offensively, Bennett has the skills to beat defenders and get to the rim from the perimeter. While out there he can also make defenders pay for giving him even an inch of open space. He’s a good spot shooter, too, making him an effective pick-and-roll asset.

So why isn’t he’s a top-pick candidate?

Bennett’s effort on defense is often criticized. He doesn’t do anything particularly well on that side of the court, which could initially inhibit his ability to see significant minutes on the floor. While he may have seemed disinterested on D in college, he’ll shape up in the NBA or become another talented one-way player who failed to realize his potential.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

Sweet-shooting former Kansas Jayhawks freshman Ben McLemore could end up being the best player of this entire class when all is said and done.

In his lone season of college ball, McLemore hit 42 percent of his three balls and 55 percent of all of his field goals. He demonstrated not just an ability to hurt defenses from the perimeter, but an explosive skill set that helped him get to and above the rim during transition breaks.

He has excellent size for his position at 6'5", adequate defensive awareness and effort and natural ability that will eventually make him a formidable true two-way player. McLemore can do it all, basically.

McLemore compares favorably to Ray Allen during the earlier part of his career. Those comparisons have repeatedly been made throughout the draft process. He isn’t the best ball-handler and lacks a true ability to beat defenses to the rim when in isolation.

A shooter with his athleticism is a rare commodity, though, propelling his potential far above his peers.

The biggest thing standing in McLemore’s way from becoming an NBA star is himself. He lacks confidence at times on the floor and takes poor percentage shots. It’s because of that he might not immediately explode in the NBA, but his time will definitely come.