Searching for the Next Anthony Davis: Which NBA Prospect Could Change the Game?
Anthony Davis seemingly cut about 10 guys in the line that leads straight to the top of the NBA superstar pyramid.
He's gone from 5-star recruit to national champion and Player of the Year at Kentucky to the game's next big thing at the highest level.
In a recent survey conducted by NBA.com's John Schuhmann, NBA general managers were asked who they'd sign first if they were building a franchise from scratch, and behind LeBron James, Davis tied with Kevin Durant for 25 percent of the votes.
He's still got a long ways to go at only 21 years old, which seems like a joke, but he's right on track to eventually join the game's elite tier of players.
Now that we've got that figured out, the only move to make is locating the next NBA game changer.
The upcoming high school recruiting classes are lined up with some pretty special prospects at the top. And between FIBA, all the camps and showcase events, fans, scouts and writers get the chance to track their development from when many are just 15 and 16 years old.
We'll take a look at some of the draft-eligible prospects up until 2017 who might just be next in line after Anthony Davis.
Draft Eligible: 2015
Jahlil Okafor, Duke, 6'11", C, 1995
The consensus No. 1 recruit, MVP of the McDonald's All-American game, co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic and gold medalist for USA's FIBA Under-17 World Championship team, Jahlil Okafor has quite the resume for an 18-year-old.
You can't miss him—at 6'11", 272 pounds with a 7'5" wingspan, few players at high school or college level can take up as much space around the basket. And none of them have Okafor's footwork, hands or post skills, which when combined with his size and strength, can lead to some easy buckets and high-percentage offense.
He's a guy you can feed the ball down low, someone who can go to work as a one-on-one scorer.
But Okafor lacks the kind of standout athleticism that propels a guy like Anthony Davis coast to coast—from a defensive board to a finish on the break.
It doesn't mean he can't be the next big star—Tim Duncan wasn't exactly a "freak" back in his prime—it just makes his upside tougher to spot.
Just a few weeks prior to college basketball tip off, Okafor will start off at No. 1 on our big board, though I'm not sure his ceiling comes close to the towering height of Davis'.
Karl Towns Jr., Kentucky, 7'0", C ,1995
Karl Towns Jr. might actually have the most upside of any prospect in the projected 2015 draft class. At 7'0", his skill set dips into every category across the board, from scoring and shooting to passing and rebounding.
It's the type of versatility that could create quite the mismatch in the pros; the type that drives All-Star upside long term.
A fluid athlete, Towns is a threat in both the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop games, as well as from the elbows, where he likes to dish or put the ball on the floor.
As a freshman, he'll be playing in one of the deepest frontcourts that college hoops has ever seen. Towns won't get the chance to dominate like Okafor will at Duke, but there's no question regarding his outlook as an elite NBA prospect.
The only issue relates to how much better he'll get.
Emmanuel Mudiay, China, 6'5", PG, 1996
Emmanuel Mudiay certainly has the look of an NBA star, standing 6'5" with smooth athleticism at point guard. But he's spending the year in China, where he will be tougher to evaluate in a different game against grown men.
No matter, Mudiay did enough damage under the high school spotlight to justify No. 1 overall consideration in 2015.
He resembles John Wall in more ways than one, from his size, athleticism and playmaking ability to his capable yet uninspiring jumper.
There actually aren't that many standout point guards coming up through the high school ranks over the next few years. If any of them are going to emerge as an NBA superstar talent, Mudiay is probably the best bet.
Draft Eligible: 2016
Jaylen Brown, 6'6", SF, 1996, Wheeler High School, Georgia
From the Nike Global Challenge, Elite 24 and Adidas Nations to the Under-18 FIBA World Championships, Jaylen Brown has been arguably the hottest name at the junior level over the past couple of months.
He's establishing himself as one of the real potential prizes of the 2016 draft.
A terrific athlete with a toned body and textbook size for the wing, Brown fits the physical profile of an NBA small forward. And fundamentally, he's as complete as they come.
Brown is quick off the bounce and tough in traffic, where he plays through contact and always maintains effortless body control at the rim. He's also a willing passer and looks fairly natural as a shooter, which should mix well with his excellent defensive tools.
Brown went for 32 points and 15 boards on national television against fellow elite prospect Thon Maker this summer.
He's now a can't-miss name at the junior level entering his senior year in high school. Mark him down as a No. 1 overall candidate in the 2016 draft and a potential NBA star down the road.
Ben Simmons, 6'8", SF/PF, 1996, Montverde Academy (Committed to LSU)
Ben Simmons' awesome versatility and impact at the high school level have pushed him atop the majority of recruiting services' big boards.
At 6'8", he plays a face-up style of ball in the form of a point forward. Simmons is a terrific passer, as well as a standout athlete and crafty finisher at the rim.
He's also a smooth lefty who can just as easily take his man and finish with the right.
Simmons' true NBA position isn't quite clear just yet, as he'll have some strides to make in order to successfully transition to the wing, but if he's able to carve out a niche for himself and exploit his unique versatility, watch out.
Draft Eligible: 2017
Thon Maker, 7'0", PF, 1997, Athletes Institute
There probably isn't another prospect with a ceiling that reaches the height of Thon Maker's. At 7'0", he's got the size of a center, the mobility of a 4 and the ball skills of a wing. The mismatch potential here is really through the roof.
Born in Sudan and raised in Australia, Maker spent his early high school years in the U.S. before he decided to take his talents to Canada, where he'll be training at the Athletes Institute.
Maker has turned heads with this ability to handle the ball, work from the perimeter and knock down shots from outside. The Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett comparisons are a little much, but that's the type of outlook his physical tools and face-the-rim skill set project.
"My game is built inside-out," Maker told Bleacher Report's Josh Martin. "I’ve got to attack first, weaken the defense and just foul the team out, basically, is what I’m trying to do. That opens up the lanes and also it sucks the defense in and leaves the outside open."
With Maker, the possibilities are essentially endless. He's as fascinating to watch as any prospect in the country, and that will likely continue to be the case as he builds up his body and all-around game.
Expect absurd hype when he chooses to declare for the NBA draft, whether it be in 2016 or 2017, depending if he chooses to reclassify or not.
Either way, Maker's potential star power reaches Anthony Davis-like levels, although it's a little too far away to declare him next in line.
| Kelly Oubre | 2015 | SF | 6'7" |
| Diamond Stone | 2016 | PF/C | 6'10" |
| Jayson Tatum | 2017 | SF | 6'7" |
| Josh Jackson | 2017 | SF | 6'6" |
| Harry Giles | 2017 | PF | 6'9" |
| Dennis Smith Jr. | 2017 | PG | 6'1" |
At such a young age, a lot can happen in a short amount of time. Davis grew from roughly 6'3" to 6'10" over a two-year span.
By October 2015, there could three or four more guys who propel themselves into the conversation.
Regardless, as of October 2014, we're looking at some exciting up-and-coming talent for the near future. It's tough to say who it will be, but odds are one of these world-class prospects breaks through and follows Davis' path to the top of the NBA.
Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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