2015 NBA Draft: Predictions and Projections for Top Senior Prospects
The senior superstar is an endangered species in college basketball.
With the allure of the NBA too enticing for the top collegiate prospects, each year it feels like the draft class gets younger and younger. 2015 is no different, with the top of the draft board being dominated by first-year products.
The natural talent of Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell allowed them to make the jump to the big leagues after just a year at the college level, but there are a fair number of prospects who saw their college careers through until the end and are likely to join the ranks of the NBA.
They might be growing rarer by the day, but here are some of the top senior prospects in the 2015 NBA draft class.
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State |
| 4 | New York Knicks | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from BKN) | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from NO) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Rondae Hollis Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (from HOU) | Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (from LAC) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from ATL) | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Delon Wright, G, Utah |
Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin
Whether it be Russell or Croatia’s Mario Hezonja, there are a number of elite offensive products in this year's NBA draft, but none are as versatile as Frank Kaminsky.
The Player of the Year last season, Kaminsky led Wisconsin to the NCAA tournament final with a rare combination of post scoring and three-point shooting:
At times last season, it felt Kaminsky was unstoppable on offense, averaging 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, both team-highs. He also knows how to perform on the biggest stage, averaging 22 points per game in the NCAA tournament and being named to the Final Four all-tournament team.
He also had success defensively against the smaller college centers he was matched up with, but the questions about how he will perform on that end of the floor in the NBA is likely what is keeping him from being a top-10 selection.
With a core of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors down low, the Jazz desperately need a big man who is capable of stretching the floor and hitting shots from anywhere on the floor.
Whether he is paired with Gobert or Favors, Kaminsky will benefit just as much from joining the Jazz, with his defensive shortcomings covered up by the other big man while he dominates offensively.
Prediction: Frank Kaminsky to the Utah Jazz at No. 12
Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
Very much a forgotten superstar when compared to the likes of Kaminsky and his fellow first-team All-Americans, Jerian Grant might end up being overlooked again when it comes to the NBA draft.
Grant took the Fighting Irish to incredible heights in 2014-15. Earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, Notre Dame was a Grant three-pointer away from upsetting Kentucky and heading to the Final Four.
Leading the team in points, assists and steals last season, it was Grant the team would turn to in times of need, and he regularly delivered. With great size for a point guard and a decent shooting touch, he will be an instant offensive boost to whichever team selects him:
There are some issues with toughness that could manifest themselves on the defensive side of the ball, but his size and speed will help hide any weaknesses.
Rajon Rondo is no longer a member of the Dallas Mavericks, and even if he were, it likely wouldn’t matter all that much, leaving an obvious hole for Grant to fill at No. 21.
Grant isn’t the most hyped point guard in the draft, but as his highlight film at Notre Dame can attest to, he is capable of being the centerpiece of a competitive team vying for a championship. With the Mavericks possibly looking at a rebuild in the near future, he could be exactly the type of player they need.
Prediction: Jerian Grant to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 21
Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Delon Wright isn’t going to steal any headlines when he goes in the late first or early second round of the NBA draft. But as a prospect, he has the skills to surprise the teams that pass on him.
The thing that makes Wright such an interesting prospect is that he does very little wrong on offense or defense. As a facilitator and defender, the point guard is one of the best players in the draft, with his passing in particular standing out:
As a scorer, he is a tiny bit underdeveloped, but it shouldn’t be enough to deter teams. When he puts his head down to get to the rim, Wright becomes almost impossible to stop if he isn’t spotting his teammate for an open three-pointer.
The only true issue in Wright’s game is that he struggles shooting the ball compared to those he will be measured against in the draft. But he has seen a steady improvement since joining Utah and should continue to grow once he enters the league.
If you’re the Golden State Warriors, a team that has dominated the NBA on both sides of the ball, there aren’t many glaring needs to fill in the draft this year.
So why not go for the best player on the board, one who can back up your MVP, who has a history of injuries? That is exactly what the Warriors will do if Wright is still around at No. 30, adding a talented two-way player who can fit into a second rotation with ease.
Prediction: Delon Wright to the Golden State Warriors at No. 30
