2015 NBA Draft Prospects on the Cusp of a Full-Fledged Breakout

Every few weeks, it seems like a breakout prospect emerges into the 2015 NBA draft conversation. 

Recently, a few upperclassmen have hit their strides as sophomores or juniors. In doing so, they appear to have strengthened the field and overall depth of the projected draft class.

For some, it's been about finally getting the right opportunity. It just clicked at the right time for a couple of others. 

The following six players have been making more and more noise on the NBA draft front as of late. Expect them to continue generating buzz and rising up boards in the weeks to come.

Jake Layman, Maryland, 6'9", SF, Junior

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

In terms of efficiency, Jake Layman has been a different guy than he was in 2013-14. He's raised his field-goal percentage to 52.7 percent from 40.1 percent, and while he's shooting it better from downtown (an impressive 39.7 percent), it's his inside-the-arc conversation rate that's been the difference. 

He's making 60.9 percent of his two-point attempts after making just 44.1 percent last season. That's a pretty ridiculous jump if he can sustain hold it. He made 28 shots at the rim in the half court all last year and had 25 through 16 games as a junior.

Layman, who looks stronger physically, has capitalized in a role that calls for him to make plays opportunistically, whether it's knocking down the open shot, attacking the open lane or scoring off cuts.

He doesn't create much offense, but this year, he's finishing it from all different angles, which plays a bit to his role-player potential at the next level. 

At 6'9" with fluid athleticism and a good-looking jumper, Layman has the physical tools and skill set of a stretch NBA wing. Having tightened up the rest of his game, he's emerged as a potential sneaky late first- or second-round option, the way Chandler Parsons was just a few years back.

Tyrone Wallace, California, 6'5", PG, Junior

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Few guards have been more productive than Tyrone Wallace, who's become California's lead playmaker with Justin Cobbs now out of the picture. 

His usage rate has skyrocketed from 20.9 percent last year to 31.9 percent this season, and he's capitalized accordingly. Through 16 games, Wallace is averaging 19.1 points and 4.1 assists on a respectable 45.5 percent shooting.

ESPN.com's Chad Ford recently touched upon Wallace's rise and breakout (subscription required):

"

Wallace is the player who is charging up the boards. He's big, athletic and shooting the lights out while running Cal's offense. After two pretty pedestrian years at Cal, I'm not sure there's been a more improved player. Scouts are wondering if he'll revert back to the mean once he gets into Pac-12 play. I doubt it, as he looks like the real deal.

"

At 6'5", he's a stud athlete who can handle the ball and shake off the dribble, which is essentially what drives his mismatch potential and overall NBA appeal.

You wouldn't call Wallace a "pure" point guard, but nowadays, that's not a requirement. 

He's capable of passing or scoring out of pick-and-rolls, and with his ability to get into the paint, he's always a threat in the drive-and-kick game. Still, Wallace is ultimately at his best attacking from the wing, where he can explode through the lane and finish with floaters, runners and nifty layups. 

He's even shooting a decent 36.2 percent from downtown, though some of his misses can look ugly. 

Wallace's athleticism and activity level also show up at the defensive end, as he leads all guards in average rebounds per game. At 6'5", he's quick, bouncy and disruptive, both under the boards and on the perimeter.

Though not the perfect prospect—his in-between game and jumper could use work—Wallace's physical tools for the position and potent offensive attack fuel some pretty intriguing NBA upside.

He'll have the chance to make a statement with Utah and Arizona (twice) both on the schedule.

Robert Upshaw, Washington, 7'0", C, Junior

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Robert Upshaw sat out last season after transferring from Fresno State, where he'd been suspended twice and eventually dismissed following his freshman season.

Now he's on the cusp of emerging as a legitimate first-round option for NBA teams in search of rim protection. 

Upshaw leads the country in shot blocking, averaging 4.4 swats in 23.3 minutes per game. And at 7'0", 250 pounds with a 7'4" wingspan, he looks the part. 

He moves well and anticipates even better, which allows him to cover a ton of space. Of Upshaw's 66 blocked shots, only 16 have come right at the rim. He's even swatted five three-pointers on the year.

Offensively, Upshaw is fairly limited and shoots just 45.2 percent from the line, though he's averaging 11.1 points on 59.5 percent shooting from the field. He's a strong finisher and a capable over-the-shoulder scorer in the paint.

Still, Upshaw's physical tools and defensive instincts could hold enough NBA value alone. That's what teams will ultimately be targeting, along with the overall presence he can offer inside. 

Before running into trouble at Fresno State, Upshaw was a big recruit out of California. He recently spoke to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg regarding his resurgence at Washington:

"

What I've tried to do is be the person Washington has been missing, a big man that can block shots, run the floor, rebound and also score. I'm having success but I'm not satisfied. I know I can be a lot better than what I am right now. I think this is the start of what I can be, and I just have to keep improving.

"

Christian Wood, UNLV, 6'11", PF/C, Sophomore

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Christian Wood has been a head-turner as a sophomore over at UNLV after only playing 13 minutes as a freshman. He's averaging 14.9 points on 52 percent shooting, but the buzz really picked up recently following his 24-point, 10-rebound, two-block line in a win over Arizona on December 23.  

At 6'11" with a massive wingspan and pogo-stick bounce, he immediately jumps off the screen and court, though it's his developing skill set that's helped put him on the radar.

Wood has a good feel out on the perimeter, where he's a mismatch facing the rim and attacking slower-footed big men off the bounce. Like a wing, Wood can put the ball on the floor, spin in the lane and finish on the move with body control and touch. 

He's also hit 13 three-pointers on the year, including 9-of-15 over his last five games. Wood has a high-arching jumper, and though it doesn't always look pretty, the results so far have been encouraging.

Inside, he's averaging 10.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, which you can attribute to his athleticism, length and activity. At 220 pounds, Wood will need to add some bulk to his skinny all-around frame, but his ability to step outside could cause serious matchup issues at the offensive end.

He's still raw, and I'd hesitate before throwing his name into the lottery conversation, but Wood has clearly emerged as a first-round name to watch moving forward. 

Justin Anderson, Virginia, 6'6", SG, Junior

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

There's no mystery as to what's catapulted Justin Anderson into the first-round conversation. At 6'6", 227 pounds with a giant 6'11" wingspan, he always had the NBA size, strength and athleticism—but now he has the jumper working, and it's connecting at an eye-opening rate. 

Anderson is shooting 56.3 percent from downtown on 64 attempts, nailing 2.4 per game. He had already hit more threes by January 8 than he did all of last season. 

And in the process, Anderson has nearly doubled his scoring average from 2013-14 to 14.9 points per game. 

Though the rest of his offensive skill set is mostly limited to line driving and finishing, Anderson is a standout at the defensive end, where he's capable of guarding three positions and making the highlight play. 

Anderson's upside isn't overwhelming without an ability to create, but he's suddenly established himself as a legitimate three-and-D prospect with enticing role-player potential. 

Jerian Grant, Notre Dame, 6'5", PG/SG, Senior

Joe Raymond/Associated Press

After missing the second half of last season with academic issues, Jerian Grant is back playing the best ball of his career, and it has Notre Dame ranked and climbing in the top 15. 

Nobody in the country has earned more win shares than Grant, who's averaging 16.6 points and 6.3 assists on 50.3 percent shooting. 

Under the NBA lens, he immediately stands out based on his 6'5" size and electric athleticism. The fact that he's ranked in the top 10 nationally in pure point rating, which measures assist-to-turnover ratio, only enhances his appeal as a point guard and mismatch. 

Grant has shown off a terrific feel as a passer and playmaker. It's comforting to see that 71 percent of his assists have come in the half court. He's reading defenses and picking them apart.

As a scorer, he has demonstrated his takeover ability, like he did against Michigan State on December 3, when he sunk the go-ahead pull-up three with just over a minute left to cap off a 27-point performance. 

Grant can ultimately create his own shot from anywhere, as well as knock down contested ones with high degrees of difficulty. 

As ESPN.com's Chad Ford points out (subscription required), the biggest thing working against him is age. Grant will be turning 23 in October.

Either way, he really does look the part of an NBA guard out there, between his physical tools and balanced offensive attack.

The further Grant takes Notre Dame, the further it could drive his rising draft stock into the mid-first round. 

All advanced stats courtesy of Hoop-Math.com (subscription required), RealGM.com or Sports-Reference.com. All basic stats courtesy of ESPN.com and are current through games played on Saturday, Jan. 10. All measurements courtesy of DraftExpress.com.