Stock Up, Stock Down for the Top 10 2015 NBA Draft Prospects Heading into March

The top of the projected 2015 NBA draft board is starting to look more attractive by the month.

And for the most part, this year's lottery prospects have been fairly consistent. We haven't seen many suddenly fall out of the picture after starting the year inside.

Over the past few weeks, it's been Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns who's made the loudest noise in the draft conversation. But Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell continues to put the pressure on the No. 1 spot as well. 

With March just around the counter, we're entering crunch time for a number of prospects looking to make one final push.

10. Myles Turner, Texas, 6'11", PF/C, Freshman

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When Myles Turner is on, few prospects look better. Unfortunately, you never quite know when he's going to deliver. 

Turner went for 25 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against Texas Tech on Valentine's Day, which came after four consecutive games of scoring eight points or fewer. 

More recently, he went for 17 points, 10 boards and six blocks in a loss to Oklahoma on February 17, only to follow with a six-point, 3-of-9 dud against Iowa State on Saturday. 

To his credit, Texas is somewhat of a mess right now, and his use in the offense has been questionable. 

Despite the inconsistency, NBA teams are bound to value Turner's ability to catch and shoot from anywhere. He has a high, quick release that's practically impossible to contest, along with the range to step outside and knock down spot-up threes with comfort. 

Though not the smoothest athlete, he's still finishing at a 70.9 percent clip at the rim, per Hoop-Math, while ranking No. 8 in the country in block percentage, via sports-reference.com. 

I wouldn't categorize Turner as one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the field. He'll need a few years of bulking up. 

But there's obvious upside tied to a big man who can stretch the floor and protect the rim. Usually, you get one or the other from your power forward or center. 

Turner struggled against quality competition for most of the year, so expect scouts to be locked in on him down the stretch against teams like West Virginia, Kansas and Baylor.

9. Devin Booker, Kentucky, 6'6", SG, Freshman

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Devin Booker's three-ball has started cooling off, but it hasn't stopped him from putting up points. And that's the most encouraging takeaway regarding Booker from Kentucky's last handful of games. 

He's proving he's more than just a shooter—that he can generate offense on days even when his jumper won't fall. 

Booker scored 18 points against Tennessee on February 17 despite shooting just 2-of-9 from behind the arc. He's been doing a better job of creating looks and converting on pull-ups off the dribble (38.5 percent on two-point jumpers, according to Hoop-Math).

And though not the flashiest athlete, he's displayed terrific body control around the rim, where he's shooting a strong 74.4 percent.

He's even looked sharp defensively, having shown he can keep smaller, quicker guards in front of him (1.4 fouls per game). 

Booker ultimately reminds me a ton of J.J. Redick, only he's 16 pounds stronger and two inches taller. 

With NBA 2-guard size, an elite shooting stroke (44.7 percent from three) and natural scoring instincts, Booker has emerged as one of the biggest 2015 risers. We suspect someone will target his shot-making skills in the lottery, just as the Sacramento Kings did with Nik Stauskas in 2014.

8. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, 7'0", C, Junior

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Willie Cauley-Stein has been active over Kentucky's last five games, averaging 12 points on 68.5 percent shooting in 25.4 minutes. 

Compared to last season, he's put together a better year offensively, having just matched his 2013-14 final point total (252) through 27 games. 

Cauley-Stein even started knocking down a mid-range jumper here and there, which could potentially be a major development.

He's also hammered home a number of monster dunks recently that have highlighted his value as a finisher. What would normally require a tough shot attempt through the trees for most players is actually an easy above-the-rim throwdown for Cauley-Stein.

For three years, we've seen his athleticism translate at the defensive end as well, where he's flashed the versatility to protect the rim, switch onto guards or pick up at half court. 

NBA teams looking for a little jolt in the frontcourt have likely had Cauley-Stein circled on their boards since December. 

Selling scouts on this newfound jumper could really push him up closer toward that No. 5 spot—right behind the consensus top four. 

7. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia, 7'0", PF, 1995

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Kristaps Porzingis had some expectations to meet after generating 2014 lottery buzz.

And it's tough to argue against what he's done so far. Porzingis averaged over 10 points in both the Spanish ACB and Eurocup while shooting 38.8 percent from three through 37 total games. 

Porzingis just went for a season-high 19 points in a loss on February 11, which followed a 17-point effort in a win on February 8. 

At 7'0", with the ability to shoot, separate in the mid-range and attack in line drives, Porzingis' NBA appeal is obvious. He's showcased the perimeter ball skills of a wing to match the size of a center. 

Porzingis has also drawn praise for having a good head on his shoulders, which ESPN's Fran Fraschilla recently addressed: "When NBA teams really dig into Porzingis' background, they will come away impressed. He is a high-character kid with a great work ethic and a tremendous love for the game. Also, he has developed a high level of maturity due in part to being away from home since the age of 15."

Porzingis might need to sleep in the weight room for a year, but with a clean jumper and above-the-rim burst, I'd imagine he'll fare quite well during team workouts. 

He's going to get top-five looks just based on his mismatch potential alone.

6. Stanley Johnson, Arizona, 6'7", SF, Freshman

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Stanley Johnson is fresh off arguably his worst outing of the year after shooting just 1-of-9 against UCLA on Saturday night. 

The jumper just hasn't been falling lately, with Johnson now having missed 16 of his last 21 from behind the arc.

He also continues to struggle at the rim (53.8 percent on the year, per Hoop-Math), where he shot just 2-of-7 in a bad loss to Arizona State on February 7.

I wouldn't sound any alarms. Averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds, Johnson has been fairly consistent all year, while that 6'7", 245-pound frame seems built for NBA play. 

Still, with two ultra-athletic wings in Duke's Justise Winslow and Croatia's Mario Hezonja both heating up, Johnson must finish strong to earn the title of No. 1 small forward.  

5. Mario Hezonja, Croatia, 6'8", SG/SF, 1995

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Though he wasn't a factor in Barcelona's loss to Real Madrid Monday in Copa Del Rey, Mario Hezonja is coming off arguably his best month in two years with the team. 

After setting a Spanish ACB record by making eight threes in a game without missing, Hezonja followed by scoring 22 points against Real Madrid on February 5. 

More recently, he finished with 12 points in 14 minutes in a win over Unicaja Malaga on Saturday, marking his third consecutive double-digit scoring effort.

Despite fluctuating playing time, Hezonja has managed to stay efficient by making over 56 percent of twos and over 42 percent of his threes in both Euroleague and Spanish ACB play.

Hezonja is ultimately loaded with confidence, which shows up on and off the floor. “If I was in college I’d probably be the No. 1 pick,” he told BasketballInsiders.com's David Pick.

Meanwhile, his role overseas is likely to be similar to the one he's placed in as a rookie, which should hopefully lead to a fairly smooth transition. Hezonja is used mostly off the ball, where he can spread the floor as a shooter, attack closeouts and free himself up off screens, pindowns and curls. 

He's a spectacular athlete with textbook 6'8" size for a wing. If teams can overlook the concerns over his mental approach—"Maturity has been an issue at times as a young player," writes ESPN's Fran Fraschilla—Hezonja's talent and upside could lead to a top-five reach. 

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, China, 6'5", PG, 1996

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There isn't much new to report on Emmanuel Mudiay, who's been hanging out in China watching his team from the sidelines.

Mudiay hasn't played since injuring his ankle in November. With the CBA's regular season only 38 games, his club, Guangdong Southern, found a replacement in former NBA guard Will Bynum. 

NBA teams aren't likely to get another look at Mudiay until predraft workouts in June, after he likely skips the combine—a growing tradition among top prospects. 

Mudiay ultimately averaged 17.7 points and 5.9 assists during his 10-game stint in China. Though it's worth noting nine players in the league average at least 30 points, and after going down, Guangdong would go on to win a record-breaking 27 consecutive games.

Still, the eye-test results were promising, as Mudiay looked the part of an NBA pro against former draft picks and grown adults. 

With 6'5" size, above-the-rim athleticism, lightning quickness and a strong pick-and-roll feel, Mudiay has every tool in the point guard box. 

The fact that the Philadelphia 76ers need a new floor general after trading Michael Carter-Williams only improves Mudiay's chances of going top three.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky, 6'11", PF/C, Freshman

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Coming off a 19-point, 10-rebound, four-block game against Auburn Saturday night, Karl-Anthony Towns appears to be on the verge of making his move. 

He flashed it all against the Tigers, from post scoring and pick-and-roll finishing to attacking off the dribble and shooting. 

It's starting to come together for Towns, whose only real problem is staying on the floor (5.7 fouls per 40).

In the four games he's played at least 20 minutes this month, Towns has averaged 16.2 points, 11 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks.

He's even now shooting 78.8 percent from the line, a testament to his promising touch and stretch-4 potential. 

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, some general managers are starting to believe Towns is the better long-term prospect than Duke's Jahlil Okafor. 

Towns' footwork isn't where Okafor's is, but he's clearly the superior athlete and defender. 

Though not quite the favorite, he's certainly reentered the No. 1 overall conversation. Towns will have a chance to move the needle even further with a strong 2015 postseason.

2. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State, 6'5", PG/SG, Freshman

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It hasn't been the best two weeks for D'Angelo Russell, who had to cool off eventually.

Though he struggled at Michigan on Sunday with five turnovers and two assists on 6-of-15 shooting, we're not quite ready to knock him down the board. 

Few players in the country are asked to do as much as Russell, who's used in 29 percent of Ohio State's possessions (Duke uses Jahlil Okafor in 27.2 percent) as its ball-handler and off-ball scorer.

He currently leads all freshmen with 19 points a game, and he ranks third in assists (5.4 per game), just behind Duke's Tyus Jones.

Russell checks out analytically as well, ranking No. 1 in  Kevin Pelton's WARP (wins above replacement player for first five NBA seasons) projections.

There really just isn't much to question about Russell, whose vision, shooting stroke (42.8 percent from three) and leadership have each been rather convincing.  

I'd like to imagine he's going to get No. 1 looks from whoever wins the lottery. 

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke, 6'11", C, Freshman

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A sprained ankle cost Jahlil Okafor the Clemson game on Saturday. While coach Mike Krzyzewski expects him to play against Virginia Tech on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press via ESPN, it might have limited him down the stretch of Duke's epic win over North Carolina.

But not much has changed with regard to Okafor's draft standing. 

“He’ll be the first pick in the draft,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told DailyOrange.com's Phil D'Abbraccio after Okafor went for 23 points and 13 rebounds at the Carrier Dome February 14.

He's continually taken it to opposing front lines, and given his scoring average of 17.9 points per game and 66.1 percent field-goal clip, defenses clearly haven't had much of an answer outside of sending immediate help.

Among Okafor's size, footwork, body control and touch, it's been awhile since we've seen this tough of a one-on-one cover on the block. 

If there's an offensive weakness that needs addressing, it's his free-throw stroke, which failed on all six attempts against the Tar Heels (54.8 percent on the year). 

But at this stage, Okafor and his consistently dominant offensive game will remain atop our board. He'll just need to look out for Towns and Russell, who have each gained some ground.