NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Pro-Player Comparisons for Top Class of 2016 Stars

It's still more than a year before they'll play a game of college basketball, but the top players from the 2016 recruiting class are already being compared to those in the professional ranks.

Though so much can still happen in terms of their growth and development, at this point we have a chance to project what kind of pros they'll be. Using their skill sets, size and approach to the game, each has a current NBA players whose game is similar to theirs.

Here's our look at the top 20 players in the 2016 class and who their game is closest to among the pro ranks.

PF Edrice Adebayo

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Pro comparison: Kenneth Faried

Nicknamed Bam, Edrice Adebayo is getting plenty of attention for his hard-nosed play and physicality as he moves closer to a college choice. The No. 14-ranked player in the 2016 class is known first for his defense and shot-blocking, but he's showing improved development on the offensive end every time he hits the court.

The 6'9" Adebayo compares favorably in this regard to 6'8" Faried, who was unheralded as a high school recruit but at Murray State became a star because of his fierce and aggressive play. In four seasons with the NBA's Denver Nuggets, Faried has averaged 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

SG Rawle Alkins

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Pro comparison: Lance Stephenson

We don't know if he has a fondness for blowing in opponents' ears, but there's plenty of other things about how Rawle Alkins plays that is reminiscent of Stephenson. This starts with a similar body, as Alkins is already 6'5" and 210 pounds compared to the 6'5" and 230 that Stephenson played at this past season for the Charlotte Hornets.

Alkins also has a similar game in how he explodes to the basket, which he showed this weekend at the Adidas Uprising Gauntlet in Atlanta by leading the New York Rens to the championship.

The top prospect from New York and the fourth-best shooting guard in the 2016 class, Alkins is getting looked at by plenty of top-tier programs. They might only be getting him for just one season, though, if Alkins continues to emulate Stephenson, who played just one season at Cincinnati before turning pro.

PF Jarrett Allen

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Pro comparison: Tim Duncan

Since we wanted to go with someone who has already established themselves in the NBA to compare to Jarrett Allen, we aimed high. In reality, though, the Texas product has a similar skill set to the No. 1 draft pick from this past June, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been called a new age Duncan by some experts.

It should come as no surprise then to hear Kentucky head coach John Calipari is interested in plucking Allen out of Austin in what right now seems like a lock to Texas, per 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictor. The 6'9", 210-pound recruit hasn't narrowed down his choices to a list of finalists, though he did tell Chris Fisher of 247Sports that Kentucky is his "standout school."

Allen has shown a lot of the same attributes that made Towns the top pick this year, as Duncan has shown for two decades, by being a mobile big man who can shoot and defend.

PG Lonzo Ball

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Pro comparison: Michael Carter-Williams

UCLA grabbed an early commitment from Lonzo Ball, pulling the 6'6" point guard from Chino, California, into its class in January. More people have since seen what drew the Bruins' eye, which includes a game that uses some of the best passing in recent memory.

"He is a magician with the ball and can make breathtaking passes with either hand," according to Ian Powers of NBADraft.net. "The game comes easily to him and it almost looks like he’s not trying but when you look up he has 35."

Ball could quickly develop into UCLA's next dynamic point guard—somewhat like how Kyle Anderson was from 2012 to 2014—as one who plays the 1 but can handle other positions because of his athleticism.

C Marques Bolden

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Pro comparison: Al Horford

He's still a mostly raw product at this time, but if Marques Bolden is able to continue building on what's already a strong foundation as a solid back-to-the-basket player, there's no reason to think he can't live up to being considered one of the best centers in the NBA. Horford was a standout at Florida and has been a solid presence for the Atlanta Hawks for eight seasons.

Bolden, from DeSoto, Texas, plays for the same AAU team that Julius Randle starred in before he went to Kentucky for the 2013-14 season. Randle showed Bolden the ropes as far as being able to handle himself close to the basket, and that's paid off with great improvement this summer.

"He's really learned how to score around the basket," Evan Daniels of Scout.com told Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "And it starts with his footwork and his hands and his touch. He's got crisp post moves. It's just rare to see out of guys his age. He's clearly been taught and he's clearly been coached, because there's just not a lot of dudes who have that type of footwork."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/07/11/3940951_uk-recruiting-marques-boldens.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

SF Miles Bridges

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Pro comparison: Jason Richardson

Miles Bridges played this past season for Huntington Prep in West Virginia, but he grew up in Michigan, resembling the type of player that state has produced over the years. Many of those guys ended up at Michigan State during Tom Izzo's long run in East Lansing, including one of his first stars in Richardson.

Now a valuable veteran reserve in the NBA, Richardson made a name for himself as a reliable scorer who could hit the outside shot as well as when he'd take it to the rim. Bridges has been lauded for the same kind of offensive motor, but he's also an adept defender and rebounder.

Bridges, rated as the No. 3 small forward in the 2016 class, could find himself playing anywhere from the 2 to the 4 in college and potentially may be a hybrid player in the NBA as well.

SF Terrance Ferguson

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Pro comparison: Kevin Martin

The most recent glimpse we got of Terrance Ferguson was with Team USA, as he was a part of the under-19 unit that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships in Crete. Though not as heralded as fellow class of 2016 stars on the team such as Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum, Ferguson still made his mark by hitting some clutch outside shots along the way.

That's similar to how Martin, a 39 percent career three-point shooter in the NBA, has made his mark over the years.

Ferguson is more than just a shooter, though, as he has great hops to go with a long and lean 6'7", 180-pound frame. What he does not have right now is a school to play for this winter—Dallas' Prime Prep was shut down last year—and he's currently a free agent.

PG De'Aaron Fox

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Pro comparison: Kyrie Irving

Though he's currently rated by 247Sports as the third-best point guard in his class, it wouldn't be a surprise to see De'Aaron Fox move up and take the top spot at his position after the way he's played in the past month. He led the EYBL in assists and is one of the top-scoring point guards in the country, a blend that the NBA will love because it's become big on small guys who can score.

Fox isn't tiny, however. At 6'4" he can see the floor greatly, which enables him to distribute and create for himself. His play is reminiscent of the way Irving can take over a game on the scoreboard or be the man facilitating for the likes of LeBron James and others with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PF Harry Giles

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Pro comparison: Dwight Howard

The No. 1 overall player in the 2016, Harry Giles was magnificent during the USA under-19 team's run to the FIBA title in Crete. He averaged 14 points and 10.6 rebounds in the seven games in just 21.1 minutes per contest, often playing center instead of his natural power forward position. That versatility should cinch his place atop the rankings, while it also solidifies the comparisons to Howard.

While Howard might not get much props for his free-throw shooting, he does for the rest of his game including his ability to score inside and defend the paint. This is the same for the 6'10" Giles, and it's why he has an impressive list of finalists: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, Syracuse, UNLV and Wake Forest.

There has been talk that he and No. 2 prospect Jayson Tatum would be a package deal in college, and if that's the case, Giles will be a Blue Devil since Tatum committed to Duke on Sunday, according to Cam Smith of USA Today.

SF Jonathan Isaac

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Pro comparison: Kevin Durant

He's got a long way to go, but if the super-long Jonathan Isaac can continue to progress at the rate he has the past year, it's not hard to imagine he could live up to comparisons to one of the NBA's most unique athletes. At 6'10" but only 185 pounds, Isaac has a similar body to Durant, and his game is mirroring that of what Durant did at the high school level.

"His length and athleticism will make him a dynamic two-way force, capable of flexing between the 3 and 4 positions depending on game situations," Bleacher Report's Matt Fitzgerald wrote after Isaac committed to Florida State in June.

PG Frank Jackson

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Pro comparison: Damian Lillard

Now that Duke is involved, Frank Jackson has officially become one of the biggest names of the 2016 recruiting class. One of the strongest guards in the class, the 6'3" Utah product was previously committed to BYU but backed out of that pledge in the winter after interest in his game increased.

As more people started to notice Jackson, that also allowed them to see how his play is similar to Lillard in how he doesn't allow others to dictate what he does on the court. Rodger Bohn of SLAM Magazine tweeted that Jackson "is one of those deceptively strong guards who the D simply bounce off of whenever he attacks."

SG Josh Jackson

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Pro comparison: Andrew Wiggins

Josh Jackson has risen to No. 2 in 247Sports' composite rankings, and if not for Harry Giles, he would have a chance at the No. 1 spot. But even as second best, it's not hard to see why he's getting compared to Wiggins.

"With his rare combination of elite tools, athleticism, and IQ, Jackson has the potential to be one of the faces of the NBA in coming years," Evan Tomes of NBADraft.net wrote about the 6'8" prospect, who is from the Detroit area but now plays for Prolific Prep in California.

Jackson plays the 2 but could easily transition to the frontcourt with more bulk, though he already possesses the strength to handle bigger defenders.

CG Joshua Langford

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Pro comparison: Jimmy Butler

A recent commit to Michigan State, Joshua Langford is a combo guard who was getting strong interest from Kentucky, as well as Arizona, Duke and Texas. All of them were interested in grabbing a player who could fit into any of three different positions, including small forward thanks to Langford's sturdy 6'5", 200-pound frame.

Langford averaged 24.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists last season for Madison Academy in Alabama, and if he can continue to produce at that level, he'd fall into line with what Butler has become for the Chicago Bulls. Butler is coming off a great year, averaging 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

PF T.J. Leaf

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Pro comparison: Ryan Anderson

Arizona's latest future frontcourt star is T.J. Leaf, another highly rated California prospect who pledged to the Wildcats in November. Since then, he's continued to work on his overall game, making the 6'9", 215-pound move closer toward being a potential standout post player at the NBA level.

Leaf averaged 27.4 points and 14.2 rebounds per game last season for Foothills Christian in El Cajon, California, and though he didn't make the USA under-19 team led by his future coach, Sean Miller, he did shine for the USA Select Team earlier this year at the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy.

Like Anderson, who has become a reliable frontcourt scorer for the New Orleans Pelicans, Leaf has shown he is more than just a big body but one who can contribute from all over the court.

PF Thon Maker

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Pro comparison: Kevin Garnett

One of the most talked-about recruits in the 2016 class is one who spent a few months out of the mix while giving consideration to moving up to 2015 and starting his college (and professional) clock a year earlier. Ultimately, Thon Maker decided to stick with his original class, and that's paid off with a monster summer where he's gaining even more praise than before.

That includes plenty of NBA comparisons, including most of the great stretch 4s in the past 20 years. Garnett would be the ultimate ceiling for his potential, and while it will take a lot for the 7-footer to get there, he's on the right track.

Maker, who was born in Africa and raised in Australia before coming to the United States several years ago, now plays out of Canada.

SG Malik Monk

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Pro comparison: Brandon Knight

Following an impressive Peach Jam performance with Wings Elite, Malik Monk now returns to the focus of being one of the most sought-after recruits from the state of Arkansas. Kentucky's coach John Calipari has zeroed in on him as one of his top priorities for 2016, and Monk is feeding off that interest in terms of how he sees himself.

"I feel like I'm the best," Monk told Cam Smith of USA Today. "There's a lot of other things going on (with the rankings), but I think I'm the best."

Calipari has had a knack for getting players of that level during his time at Kentucky as well as Memphis, but also for turning them into some of the best around. The 6'3½" Monk could be his next great guard, someone like Knight.

CG Kobi Simmons

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Pro comparison: Shaun Livingston

The top-rated combo guard in the country, 6'5" Kobi Simmons cut his list to six schools (Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State and Xavier) on Sunday. Whoever lands this prized recruit will be getting someone with NBA-ready skills who could jump to the pros now—if that were allowed.

He'll have to wait another two years, though, unlike what Livingston was able to do by going straight from high school to the 2004 NBA draft. Injuries have kept Livingston from having a strong pro career, but there are similarities between his style and what Simmons brings to the court.

The most notable thing about Simmons' game is how he can be so in control even when going at full speed.

C Omari Spellman

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Pro comparison: Zach Randolph

A hefty specimen who still hasn't finished out, Omari Spellman is a beast in the paint who fights tooth and nail for every ball he can get his hands on. It's eerily similar to the way that Randolph played in his one year at Michigan State and throughout his productive NBA career.

Villanova got a commitment from this 6'9", 269-pound Ohio prospect in February. He's the kind of bruiser down low that the Wildcats have been missing the last few seasons, as well as the type of player that most NBA teams will be looking for if he continues to work on becoming a complete offensive player. At this point, he's mostly a dunk-and-layup guy, though he's also shown good transitional moves for a player his size.

PG Dennis Smith

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Pro comparison: Stephen Curry

Dennis Smith is the nation's top-ranked point guard for the 2016 class, and that kind of prestige is what you'd expect from a player being recruited by Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville and North Carolina. The game he brings now is reminiscent of one of the hottest shooters in the NBA, despite the fact Curry was an unheralded prospect coming out of high school.

Both North Carolina natives, there's more than just playing style that leads to the comparison. Smith also has a tenacity and drive that you don't see in most prep players, and he showed that by going up against Curry at his elite guard camp earlier this summer.

"He picks his spots very well," Smith said of Curry, per Evan Daniels of Scout.com. "I tried to translate that into my game."

The 6'3", 180-pound Smith is hoping to put on weight in order to become stronger, though at this point he's managing to handle himself well despite the lack of size.

SF Jayson Tatum

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Pro comparison: Nicolas Batum

We can't know for sure what kind of a pro Jayson Tatum will be, but at least we know who to compare him to on the college level now that the No. 3 overall player has committed to Duke. At 6'8" he has the same length that former Blue Devils greats Jabari Parker and Grant Hill had, though he's closer to Hill in the overall size department. He actually most closely resembles incoming Duke freshman Brandon Ingram.

But Tatum has his own game as well, one that saw him average just under 14 points a game for Team USA at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships last week. It was there, as well as during this weekend's Peach Jam, that we saw how he can dominate a game via his 24.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest.

For pro purposes, we went with Batum because he and the 6'8" Tatum are similar in their abilities to swing from a perimeter player to a frontcourt producer.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.