How Many Kentucky Wildcats Will Become Future NBA Draft Picks?
Word on the streets is that this Kentucky roster is deep. It's actually unlike anything we've ever seen.
The Wildcats smoked North Carolina Saturday afternoon 84-70, and Karl-Anthony Towns, a top-three overall candidate for the 2015 draft, didn't even record a shot attempt.
It was the rest of the guys in Kentucky's ridiculously deep rotation who stepped up. The blowout was simply a reminder of the endless talent on this team.
And that raises the big question—just how many of these Wildcats will eventually get drafted?
The following Kentucky players are guys who can expect to hear their names called in the draft, whether it's this June or in 2016.
Karl-Anthony Towns, 6'11", PF/C, Freshman
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2015 Draft Projection: Top Three
I wouldn't be too worried over Karl-Anthony Towns' quiet afternoon against North Carolina, when he finished with only two points—both coming at the line—and zero official field-goal attempts.
His upside will continue to shine in flashes, given all the sharing that goes on in Kentucky's loaded frontcourt.
However, we did see one of those flashes in the second half, when he got up high off the ground as a weak-side shot-blocker to swat a Marcus Paige floater back to half court.
It hasn't all come at once, but so far on the year, Towns has showcased the entire two-way package, from post scoring and shooting to passing and rim protection.
Between his NBA center size, fluid athleticism and sharp inside-out skill set, his physical tools and versatility fuel some unique long-term potential.
Regardless of how little Towns produces in Kentucky's stacked lineup, he's not falling from the top-three conversation.
Willie Cauley-Stein, 7'0", C, Junior
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2015 Draft Projection: Lottery
Of all the Wildcats, nobody is having a bigger year than Willie Cauley-Stein, who only enhanced his resume on Saturday against North Carolina with 15 points, six boards, four steals and two blocks.
His size and spectacular athleticism continue to lead to easy points around the rim, where he recorded a tip-in, two alley-oops and a monster dunk in transition. He also showed off a little bit of his improved touch in the paint by hitting two contested jump hooks.
Still, it's been on defense where he's made the most noise. Cauley-Stein forced a turnover defending the perimeter and intercepted an inbounds pass—plays you usually see from guards, not 7-footers. He later jumped in front of his man posting up to steal the entry pass.
Capable of impacting a game without needing any offensive touches, Cauley-Stein has undoubtedly been the team's MVP following his surprise decision to return to Kentucky for another season.
And that decision is starting to look like a smart one. Cauley-Stein has consistently reminded viewers just how valuable his defensive versatility can be, whether he's protecting the rim, switching on pick-and-rolls or challenging post scorers with his length.
As long as that motor stays charged, it would seem hard to imagine more than 10 teams passing on Cauley-Stein in the 2015 draft.
Dakari Johnson, 7'0", C, Sophomore
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2015 Draft Projection: Late First Round
2016 Draft Projection: Mid- to Late First Round
Dakari Johnson is moving much quicker this season after trimming down to 255 pounds during the summer.
It was evident against North Carolina—on one play in the second half, he beat the entire defense down the floor to finish a dunk in transition.
Earlier, he got himself fouled in the post on a smooth drop step, a move he wasn't executing with as much fluidity last season.
Clearly lighter on his feet, he also picked up two blocks and three steals.
On the downside, Johnson's hands just aren't very soft. Early in the game, he air-balled a jump hook from about eight feet away, which is about as far from the rim as you'll see him operate.
Strictly a low-post scorer, Johnson isn't an option outside the paint, and he tends to struggle going up in traffic. He's also not super-athletic, which limits his upside.
Regardless, nothing can take away from his size and strength for the interior, where he can score one-on-one, finish and man the glass. And that should keep him in the first-round conversation.
But without a jumper, a high-post game or standout defensive talent, I wouldn't bet on anyone reaching too far.
Trey Lyles, 6'10", PF, Freshman
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2015 Draft Projection: Late First Round/Second Round
2015 Draft Projection: Mid- to Late First Round
Of Kentucky's three games against ranked opponents (Kansas, Texas, North Carolina), Trey Lyles' best offensive performance came against North Carolina, having finished 4-of-6 for nine points.
He showcased his polished inside-out versatility by hitting two jumpers, one off a drive-and-kick and the other coming off a screen.
Late in the game, he made a great play crashing the glass where he ripped down an offensive rebound and put it back in for two.
Skilled offensively with a promising jumper and high basketball IQ, Lyles has some intriguing mismatch potential as a 6'10" face-up forward.
However, a skeptic would be quick to question his NBA position—whether he's strong enough to play in the paint or quick enough for the perimeter at either end of the floor. Though more of a 4 than a 3, you don't see him spending much time banging down low.
From a stock perspective, Lyles would probably be better off returning to improve his shooting consistency and body, but he could still generate 2015 first-round interest based on his refined skill set and physical tools.
Devin Booker, 6'6", SG, Freshman
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2015 Draft Projection: Late First Round/Second Round
2016 Draft Projection: Mid- to Late First Round
After sitting out the Columbia game (December 10) with a minor knee injury, Devin Booker returned and ultimately put up his best performance of the year against North Carolina.
He finished with 15 points on 3-of-3 shooting from downtown. Each three-pointer was of the catch-and-shoot variety, where he rises with terrific balance and form out to the NBA arc.
Booker picked up two other buckets, one off a cut to the hoop and the other in transition. Early in the game, he got to the line after putting the ball on the floor and getting his man to bite on a fake.
In terms of weaknesses, Booker's limitations are pretty clear. He had a pull-up jumper blocked against North Carolina's Theo Pinson, a reflection of his inability to separate one-on-one. His lack of strength has also been easy to spot—at one point, Booker picked up his dribble around half court before his defender knocked the ball right out of his hands.
Without great strength or quickness, Booker struggles inside the arc, both physically and off the dribble, where he isn't much of a threat.
But there's legitimate NBA value tied to his lethal three-point stroke for a 6'6" wing, as well as his strong basketball IQ.
I'd bet on Booker returning for his sophomore year, when he can add some muscle and expand his game with more touches in the offense.
Marcus Lee, 6'9", PF, Sophomore
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2015 Draft Projection: Late First Round/Second Round
2016 Draft Projection: Mid- to Late First Round
With Marcus Lee, you get zero percent skill and 100 percent athleticism and activity. He's a guy who can make things happen without dribbling once all game.
And that was the case Saturday afternoon against North Carolina, when he finished with eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, along with a few standout defensive stretches.
"Marcus Lee giving coach John Calipari good minutes. Active defensively, on the glass and running the floor," ESPN's Seth Greenberg tweeted mid-game.
You could have summed up Lee's game in one play early in the first half—he altered a shot at the defensive end high above the rim and then sprinted back down the floor to finish an and-one bucket on the break.
To no surprise, his other three buckets also came at the rim—one on a tip, another in transition and one on an alley-oop.
Lee is like an electric pogo stick, and despite lacking any ball skills whatsoever, his bounce and motor translate to easy buckets and defensive disruption.
The best thing Lee has going for him—there's no mystery regarding his outlook, and his role will remain the same when he eventually makes the NBA jump. The only question is when that will be. He'd probably have a better shot at the first round if he came back as a junior to build up his limited offensive repertoire.
Aaron Harrison, 6'6", SG, Sophomore
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2015 Draft Projection: Second Round
2016 Draft Projection: Late First Round/Second Round
Aaron Harrison had one of those games against North Carolina when the rim must have looked like a hula hoop. He drilled three three-pointers, each from different spots, and finished with 14 points on the afternoon.
There's no doubt Harrison can shoot. But will it ever come with consistency? Prior to facing North Carolina, he'd hit just 22.7 percent of his threes on the year, an area of his game that's supposed to be his specialty.
From an NBA perspective, Harrison can't afford too much shooting inconsistency, given how little of a threat he is off the dribble.
Strictly a perimeter scorer, his overall effectiveness is tied directly to the accuracy of his jumper. And if it's only falling every other day, NBA teams probably won't be knocking down his door.
Still, at 6'6" with a pro's body and a refined perimeter attack consisting of a sharp pull-up game and deep range, Harrison does have some shot-making potential for the next level.
But at this stage, he's a second-round talent unless he returns as a junior and ultimately expands his off-the-dribble skill set.
Andrew Harrison, 6'6", PG, Sophomore
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2015 Draft Projection: Second Round
2016 Draft Projection: Late First Round/Second Round
After a 1-of-12 showing against Columbia, Andrew Harrison bounced back nicely in Kentucky's route over North Carolina, having finished with 11 points and five assists.
Nine of those points actually came from the stripe. Clearly at his best when he's attacking and putting pressure on the defense, Harrison can be tough to contain in the lane, given his 6'6" size for a ball-handler.
His one bucket was a thing of beauty—Harrison lost his defender off the dribble and sliced through the lane for a pretty finish.
And he dished out a couple of nice assists, which for the most part, came off penetration. In the second half, he made two textbook drive-and-kicks, one to Trey Lyles for a jumper and the other a lob to Marcus Lee for an alley-oop.
Unfortunately, Harrison's lack of quickness and explosiveness really hamper his NBA outlook. He lacks burst, both turning the corner and elevating around the rim. On one play against North Carolina, Harrison blew what would have been an easy and-one opportunity by missing a cupcake layup, a result of his inability to rise over the hoop.
And that jumper just isn't very convincing. He's now 6-of-23 from downtown on the year after missing his one attempt on Saturday.
Given his mismatched physical tools for the position, along with his refined offensive attack, Harrison will hear his name called whenever he declares. I just wouldn't bet on it being in the first round.
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