Projecting NBA Outlooks of Every Prospect at 2015 McDonald's All-American Game
The 2015 McDonald's All-American Game, which takes place April 1 in Chicago, features some of the top high school prospects across the country. Many of them figure to take their games from college to the NBA someday.
The 2016 No. 1 overall pick very well could emerge from this senior class. In all likelihood, it will wind up being either Jaylen Brown, who still has yet to commit anywhere, or Ben Simmons, who will be attending LSU this coming fall.
Here's a look at the top prospects' games and NBA outlooks, as well as some of the second-tier players who haven't received as much attention.
East Team: Jaylen Brown, Undecided, 6'7", SF
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Top Two
At 18 years old, Jaylen Brown physically looks the part of an NBA pro. It shouldn't be long before he becomes one. By this time next year, we'll likely be referring to Brown as a potential 2016 No. 1 overall pick.
With a strong 220-pound frame and smooth, effortless athleticism, Brown projects as a two-way scoring wing.
He's a runaway freight train on the way to the rim, yet he's light on his feet when it comes to exploding up toward the basket. Brown is impossible to stop in the open floor in high school, and that strength is likely to carry over to college and straight into the NBA.
On the perimeter, he has great shooting mechanics, and when his feet are set, Brown can knock down jumpers from anywhere.
He also has textbook defensive tools when you take into account his 6'11 ½" wingspan, strength and quickness.
Other than improving his shooting consistency, there really isn't much to nitpick.
Brown talked to Scout.com's Evan Daniels regarding his future:
"I don’t want to come into a situation like the NBA and have to develop for two or three years. When I come in I want to be a superstar. Coming in I want to be on superstar status. Coming in I don’t want to have to wait two years. It’s going to take development and it’s going to take hard work. I know I can make the business move and be a top five, top 10 or top 15 draft pick if I just had a solid year in college and left.
"
East Team: Ben Simmons, LSU, 6'9", SF
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Top Two
Ben Simmons should enter his freshman year at LSU as a strong contender in the 2016 No. 1 overall conversation.
Named the 2014-15 Naismith Trophy Boy's High School Player of the Year, as well as the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Simmons likely already has a spot on every pro scouting department's radar.
A unique blend of smooth athleticism and mismatch versatility ultimately fuels his NBA upside. Simmons has the size of a power forward, the face-up mobility of a wing and the vision and ball skills of a guard.
Chances are he'll end up playing small forward as a pro, where he can handle the ball and make plays over the defense.
Simmons' feel for the game is just on a whole other level. There may not be a more exciting prospect to watch in 2015-16. By the time he's peaked physically and fundamentally, we could be talking about one of the most unique players in the NBA.
West Team: Ivan Rabb, Undecided, 6'11", PF
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Top 10
Ivan Rabb is loaded with upside thanks to some electric athletic ability for a 6'11" big man. He's an explosive finisher around the basket, as well as a developing post scorer from the elbows to the block.
At 225 pounds, he's on the skinny side, but he's also a lot quicker and lighter on his feet than most big men. Rabb gets off the ground with ease, and if given room in a face-up situation, he can rip through and beat his defender with a first step and drive to the hole.
Rabb also has a knack for pulling down boards. He converts activity into offensive rebounds, tips and second-chance points.
He needs to add strength, but his frame looks capable of packing on some extra muscle.
Rabb ultimately has NBA-starter upside worthy of top-10 consideration.
East Team: Henry Ellenson, Marquette, 6'10", PF
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Top 10
Henry Ellenson won't play in the McDonald's game after breaking his hand earlier in the month. However, we could easily be talking about a one-and-done prospect at Marquette in 2015-16.
Ellenson is highly skilled for a big man with a refined inside-out scoring repertoire. He's bound to draw Kevin Love comparisons based on his style of play and polish.
At 6'10", Ellenson has power forward size and a natural shooting stroke that is likely to translate to a pick-and-pop, stretch-4 role in the pros. He can knock down jumpers out to the three-point arc, but he can also put it on the floor and handle the ball, even in traffic.
In the post, Ellenson has clean footwork and a strong feel for creating angles and finishing over the shoulder.
There is a lot to like. He'll be an impact player right away at Marquette with a skill set built for the pros.
West Team: Brandon Ingram, Undecided, 6'8", SF
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Top 10
Brandon Ingram offers a towering NBA ceiling with mismatch size for a wing and a polished perimeter-scoring arsenal. Outside of Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons, you could argue Ingram has as much upside as anyone in the McDonald's All-American Game.
He has a great feel for separating into jumpers off the dribble, as well as the range to stretch the floor and knock down threes.
Ingram is awfully skinny at 190 pounds, but he's long and exceptionally skilled in terms of creating shots and scoring.
Adding strength is an obvious must, but his offensive skills are sharp for a 6'8" forward. If I'm picking a sleeper to emerge into the 2016 top-five conversation, it's Ingram.
East Team: Diamond Stone, Maryland, 6'10", PF/C
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Lottery
Diamond Stone has been a man among high school boys. He projects as a power player and an overwhelming presence in the paint.
At 6'10" and 250 pounds, Stone is a beast with his back to the basket, where he can bully his way for position and finish over his shoulder. With big, soft hands and quick feet, Stone finishes at tough angles around the basket, either over the top, through or around the interior defense.
And though he's known more for his strength, he's comfortable facing up to attack, pass or knock down mid-range jumpers.
"To further boost his stock in the minds of NBA scouts, he’ll need to prove he possesses the lift and the craft to finish in traffic," wrote Scout's Rob Harrington.
Either way, Stone's physical tools and aggression are bound to attract lottery attention. Expect him to make noise at Maryland from Day 1.
West Team: Malik Newman, Undecided, 6'3", SG
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 Lottery
At 6'3", Malik Newman is a combo guard who can light up a scoreboard. He's an offensive machine with the ball in his hands—a player capable of taking over stretches of games and putting up points in bunches.
Highly athletic, Newman can slice to the rack, as well as heat up from outside, where he's a threat to separate and knock down jumpers from 25 feet out.
Though undersized for an NBA shooting guard, Newman's ability to handle the ball and create off the dribble could allow him to thrive as a Monta Ellis-type playmaker.
East Team: Cheick Diallo, Undecided, 6'9", PF/C
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 First Round
Cheick Diallo's game revolves around his athleticism and motor around the hoop, where he projects as an interior specialist in both college and the pros.
He rebounds and protects the rim with quick feet and a 7'3" wingspan. He's also a strong finisher inside off dump downs, lobs and offensive rebounds.
Diallo isn't particularly skilled offensively in terms of creating shots or scoring, and at 6'9", he's fairly undersized for an NBA center.
But his instincts, energy and length translate to all sorts of activity down low.
West Team: Stephen Zimmerman, Undecided, 7'0", C
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NBA Draft Outlook: 2017 First Round
With effortless mobility and athleticism, Stephen Zimmerman covers a ton of two-way ground for a 7-footer.
He's ultimately at his best facing up, where he can take advantage of his foot speed and skills from the high post. Zimmerman has a nice touch on his mid-range jumper, as well as the ability to put the ball on the floor and score on the move.
He's also a high-IQ passer from the elbows and out on the perimeter, which has helped fuel some Josh McRoberts comparisons.
Zimmerman isn't a big man who's going to bang down low as a back-to-the-basket bully. However, his versatility should draw plenty of NBA attention when the time is right.
I'd peg him as more of a two-year college player. He'll need to get stronger and more aggressive in the paint before declaring for the draft.
East Team: Antonio Blakeney, LSU, 6'4", SG
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NBA Draft Projection: 2016 First Round
Antonio Blakeney is a dynamic offensive weapon who can score from all three levels (behind the arc, mid-range, at the rim).
At 6'4", he's slightly undersized for an NBA 2-guard, but his ball-handling skills and high-flying athleticism help make up for the inch or two he lacks in height.
Blakeney oozes confidence. He can create his shot from any spot on the floor, particularly with a pull-up jumper that's tough to contest.
The safe projection for him in the pros is as a microwave scorer off the bench, a la Jamal Crawford.
East Team: Isaiah Briscoe, Kentucky, 6'3", PG
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NBA Draft Projection: 2017 First Round
At 6'3", 215 pounds, Isaiah Briscoe is a physical combo guard with a strong upper body he uses to plow through traffic.
He makes up for quickness and explosiveness with a 6'9" wingspan (awesome for a ball-handler) and strength. Contact just bounces off Briscoe, the way it used to off power guards like Deron Williams and Baron Davis.
Briscoe can put the ball in the hole in a variety of different ways, from pull-up jumpers to off-balance finishes on the move from the foul line to the baseline.
Though more of a scorer than a facilitator, he's still a sharp passer, sound ball-handler and overall high-IQ player.
Briscoe doesn't jump off the court as a high-upside prospect. I'd peg him more as a two-year college player at Kentucky, especially with Tyler Ulis expected to come back.
But between his NBA body, sharp skills and offensive versatility, he'll likely generate first-round interest at some point in time.
Rest of the East Team
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Dwayne Bacon, Florida State, 6'6", SG/SF: Bacon is a high-flying scoring wing—he won the McDonald's All-American slam dunk contest Monday—who can handle the ball and create shots from all over the floor. He has first-round talent, though he'll likely need at least two years of seasoning at Florida State.
Thomas Bryant, Undecided, 6'10", C: Bryant has a monster 7'5 ½" wingspan and a ridiculous 9'4" standing reach, as well as a live motor and some impressive athleticism. He needs to polish up his post game and jumper, but it wouldn't be a complete shock if NBA teams were willing to reach based on potential.
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State, PG, 6'0": Evans is a natural facilitator who knows how to get his teammates involved. But since he's just 6'0", 175 pounds, the NBA isn't likely in Evans' immediate future.
Luke Kennard, Duke, SG, 6'5": Kennard can do it all offensively, from scoring and shooting to passing and ball-handling. He's capable of putting up points in bunches, though a lack of strength and athleticism clouds his NBA outlook.
Dedric Lawson, Memphis, 6'8", PF: Lawson is an interesting prospect due to his size and ability to face up and score from outside. He doesn't jump out of the gym or wow you with explosiveness, but his versatility will be something for scouts to keep an eye on at Memphis.
Rest of the West Team
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Carlton Bragg, Kansas, 6'9", PF: Bragg is a big-time athlete who can make the hoop look small with his ability to soar high above the rim. He's even developed a nice jump shot. However, Bragg will need another season or two to polish up his half-court scoring repertoire. He'll generate first-round interest one day if he can sharpen those offensive skills.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, 6'1", PG: A physical point guard and willing passer, Brunson's strengths lie within his ability to manage an offense and facilitate. He'll be a solid starter for Villanova, but a lack of athleticism and scoring ability limits his NBA appeal.
Deyonta Davis, Michigan State, 6'9", PF: Davis is athletic and mobile for a 6'9" power forward. He's at his best around the basket when crashing the glass and finishing, but to attract NBA attention, he'll need to become better in the post or more threatening on the perimeter.
P.J. Dozier, South Carolina, 6'6", PG/SG: Dozier is an intriguing prospect due to his versatility as a 6'6" scoring ball-handler. He can generate offense in a variety of different ways, both on and off the ball. Dozier isn't superquick or explosive, but his physical tools and skill set should at least translate well in the college game.
Chase Jeter, Duke, 6'10", PF/C: Jeter does most of his damage in the post, where he can score on a variety of different one-handed and over-the-shoulder shots. He's also a solid rebounder. If he can add strength and a jumper, Jeter could eventually enter the first-round conversation—just not in 2016.
Malachi Richardson, Syracuse, 6'6", SG/SF: Richardson has a giant 7'0" wingspan and some attractive shot-making ability on the perimeter. However, he isn't a great athlete or an explosive turn-the-corner driver. Richardson might contribute right away for Syracuse, but his NBA outlook isn't overly exciting.
Caleb Swanigan, Undecided, 6'8", C: At 6'8", 250 pounds, Swanigan has a massive frame, plenty of strength and the ability to score on the low block. He weighed in at 272 pounds at USA Basketball camp over the summer, so conditioning will likely be key. But at 6'8", he's a bit undersized for an NBA 4 who plays mostly inside.
Allonzo Trier, Arizona, 6'4", SG: Trier was a big-time scorer in the Nike EYBL. He can get to the rack, finish above the rim and generate offense with pull-up and step-back jumpers. He'll need to improve his shot selection, but 6'4" size for a pure scorer doesn't help his NBA outlook, either.
All heights via the McDonald's All-American Games roster. All other player measurables via DraftExpress.
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