NBA Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft with NCAA Tournament Underway
With the 2015 NCAA tournament underway, it's only right thoughts shift to the upcoming NBA draft.
The best talents, of course, are on display. Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and more headline the Big Dance. Whether anyone likes it or not, individual performances on such a stage do come into play on draft day.
Just ask Shabazz Napier.
As the round of 64 and beyond continues, take a moment to brush up on a fresh mock draft, which helps to organize draft stock, team need and standings into one digestible area.
2015 NBA First-Round Mock Draft
| 1 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 2 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Congo |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Detroit Pistons | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn) | Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 11 | Boston Celtics | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 14 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 15 | Charlotte Hornets | Kevon Looney, SF/PF, UCLA |
| 16 | Indiana Pacers | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 18 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Devon Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Justin Anderson, SG, Virginia |
| 20 | Chicago Bulls | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 21 | Toronto Raptors | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 22 | San Antonio Spurs | Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt |
| 23 | Dallas Mavericks | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence |
| 25 | Boston Celtics (via LA Clippers) | Caris LeVert, SF, Michigan |
| 26 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 27 | Portland Trail Blazers | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | Memphis Grizzlies | Delon Wright, PG/SG, Utah |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
Highlighting Underrated Players to Watch in NCAA Tournament
Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
As far as underrated point guards go in this year's first-round conversation, Louisville's Terry Rozier leads the way. It's a loaded position this year, to say the least. One first thinks of Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and perhaps others.
Rozier is worth a close look, though. He comes in at 6'1" and 190 pounds and as a sophomore averages 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from the field.
Few potential first-round picks need a bigger tournament than Rozier. ESPN's Chad Ford explains this best while ranking him as his No. 23 player:
"Rozier is a combo guard who is trying to convince teams he's a real point guard. Like Harrell, his best attributes are toughness, athleticism and a strong motor. Few guards play harder on both ends than Rozier. Skills-wise, he's just an average shooter and doesn't see the floor as well as other point guards in the draft, but the scouts who love him see a young Kyle Lowry. He's in the 20-to-35 range.
"
It's hard to imagine Rozier not turning pro after the season no matter what happens in the Big Dance. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to go on a run in what appears to be a wide open East region and perhaps make the Final Four.
Score-first guards are a much-needed commodity at the next level, so scouts will have a close eye on Rozier. His usual scoring habits, presence as a facilitator and some team success will boost his stock.
Justin Anderson, SG, Virginia
A recent injury isn't doing Virginia's Justin Anderson any favors.
The junior owns averages of 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Even more impressively, he shoots 47 percent from the field and a gaudy 47 percent from deep.
As CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein points out, though, a recent injury has hurt Anderson's production:
In the same vein, Anderson's name takes a bit of a hit in the stock department.
Still, before the injury the Montross, Virginia native showed an uptick in production that was impossible to ignore. The numbers speak this well enough:
| 2014-15 | .466 | .469 | 12.3 |
| 2013-14 | .407 | .294 | 7.8 |
| 2012-13 | .420 | .303 | 7.6 |
The fact Anderson never regressed back to the mean in shooting says quite a lot about the work he has put into his game over the course of the past few seasons.
It may not be enough, though. Anderson will need to rediscover his shooting touch in the Big Dance to ensure the second-seeded Cavaliers don't bow out of the tournament in upset fashion.
Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
Back to those underrated point guards.
Kris Dunn is not a household name just yet, but it might be if he can lead Providence on a strong run in the Big Dance.
He's capable, to say the least. Dunn touts prototypical size at 6'3" and 205 pounds and this year as a sophomore seems to be free of the injury bug, averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He's improved as a shooter, too, knocking down 48 percent of his shots.
Dunn's ascension to prominence has been slow, but as Scout.com's Evan Daniels points out, each high-profile player travels a different path:
There seems to be no turning back.
Dunn is a great defender with pro size and athleticism. As for his ability to run an offense, one could argue he does it better than any other prospect in the class.
With his stock at an all-time high, it's hard to imagine Dunn staying in school another year. Should he add a deep tournament run to his resume, he may even sneak into lottery talk by the end of the tournament.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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