8 College Teams That Will Steer the 2016 NBA Draft
For those looking to scout for the 2016 NBA draft, there are eight college teams to focus on.
These are the schools that pack the most pro talent or one signature player expected to generate tons of attention.
Kentucky and Duke unsurprisingly each have can't-miss freshmen projected to leave after a year. But there are a few other surprise programs you wouldn't anticipate with potential top-10 picks to showcase.
One school that isn't traditionally associated with producing NBA talent will dress a guard who just might be the top returning prospect in the country.
For each team, we highlighted its main attraction for scouts, as well as other first-round options and sleepers who'll be worth watching.
There is ultimately a chance that the following eight teams represent more than half of the 2016 first round.
LSU Tigers
1 of 8
Main Attraction: Ben Simmons, Freshman, SF/PF
Ben Simmons alone makes LSU a routine must watch for NBA evaluators. Odds are he starts the year atop many draft boards.
Projected bottom-of-the-barrel teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic should consistently have scouts present at Tiger games and practices.
Simmons is ultimately one of the more unique prospects we've seen, thanks to unparalleled versatility driven by power forward size, point guard ball skills and above-the-rim athleticism.
Entering the season, the big questions should revolve around his usage—whether he'll operate as LSU's primary facilitator or traditional forward— as well as his effectiveness playing off the ball.
Simmons' SEC matchups with Kentucky should ultimately draw a ton of attention from NBA scouting departments. Expect LSU to remain in the spotlight all year long thanks to its star freshman and potential No. 1 pick.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Antonio Blakeney, Freshman, SG
Behind Simmons, Blakeney was LSU's second big recruiting get. He's a major offensive weapon capable of scoring in bunches. At 6'4", Blakeney is a bit undersized for an NBA 2-guard, but he has bounce, a handle and a threatening outside stroke.
There is a decent chance scouts determine he'll need more than one year at LSU. Blakeney—an occasional ball-stopper—could have trouble with shot selection and efficiency adjusting to a more methodical college game.
Still, he offers long-term potential worth monitoring during his first year with the Tigers.
Kentucky Wildcats
2 of 8
Main Attractions: Skal Labissiere, Freshman, PF/C and Jamal Murray, Freshman, PG/SG
Just as it did in 2010, 2012 and 2015, Kentucky could represent two of next year's top six picks.
Skal Labissiere will enter the season as a No. 1 overall candidate. He blends 7'0" size and fluid athleticism with mid-range touch, high-to-low-post scoring and rim protection.
Labissiere went for 21 points and six blocks in April's Nike Hoop Summit before double-doubling in the Jordan Brand Classic.
When asked about the most desirable college player, one NCAA coach told CBS Sports' Gary Parrish:
"If you asked this question to NBA scouts instead of college coaches you'd get a lot of votes for Skal. They know how talented he is. But most college coaches haven't seen him much because he didn't play much high school basketball, and he bounced around different teams in the summers.
"
With the departure of Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson, Labissiere should see plenty of minutes for Kentucky.
The same goes for Jamal Murray, who just averaged 16 points in the Pan American Games after winning MVP of the Summit.
Murray is an outstanding offensive guard who can handle the ball or slide off it at the 2. Though not the most explosive athlete, he's dangerous from outside and crafty off the dribble, where he can pass or separate into jumpers, floaters and layups.
Nobody's stock has risen more than Murray's over the 2015 summer. Expect the buzz to follow him from opening night to the NBA combine.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Isaiah Briscoe, Freshman, PG
At 6'3", 216 pounds, Briscoe is a physical, scoring playmaker who'll share the ball with Murray and Tyler Ulis.
He's no one-and-done lock, but with a high-enough skill level and standout NBA body, teams could certainly view him as a professional backup ball-handler.
Marcus Lee, Junior, PF/C
Playing behind lottery picks like Julius Randle, Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Lyles, Marcus Lee hasn't had much of a chance to sell himself. That will change in 2015-16.
Minutes will finally be available to Lee, who's only flashed potential in spurts and doses.
He's a bouncy athlete and active presence around the rim, where he finishes, puts back misses and blocks shots.
This year, scouts will look to see if Lee has developed anything more in terms of post moves and shooting touch.
Worth Watching
Alex Poythress, Senior, PF
A torn ACL knocked Poythress out early in 2014-15. Relocating to the first-round radar, which he hasn't been on for a couple of seasons, seems unlikely.
However, assuming he can return to full strength, there is a chance an NBA team values Poythress' cutting, rebounding and overall activity.
Duke Blue Devils
3 of 8
Main Attraction: Brandon Ingram, Freshman, SF
General managers playing for the lottery will be tuned into Duke primarily for Ingram, a big-time high school recruit loaded with NBA potential. It stems from his 6'8" size and polished face-up scoring repertoire. Ingram has a good-looking shooting stroke, as well as the ability to separate one-on-one into pull-up and step-back jumpers.
He could actually end up playing a similar go-to role as the one Jabari Parker played for Duke two years ago.
Athletic and highly skilled with mismatch height for the position, Ingram should start the year in the top-five conversation. Scouts will just want to make sure his 196-pound frame doesn't set off any alarms.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Derryck Thornton, Freshman, PG
Thornton doesn't scream one-and-done, but his point guard skills and overall fundamentals could be worth tracking.
He operates with a tight handle and strong vision off the dribble. And though not overly explosive, Thornton can make tough shots on the move or stop-and-pop jumpers off two feet.
Guiding Duke to wins as its lead guard could only further enhance his image.
Grayson Allen, Sophomore, SG
Allen opened eyes with a pair of explosions late last season. He hung 27 points on Wake Forest March 4 before scoring 16 big points against Wisconsin in the national title game.
A fearless, high-flying athlete with a sweet stroke, Allen can shoot it from deep or attack in line drives. For scouts, he'll be worth keeping tabs on as his role expands in 2015-16.
California Bears
4 of 8
Main Attraction: Jaylen Brown, Freshman, SF
East Coast scouts won't get as much sleep next year, thanks to a California roster loaded with NBA talent.
While there are a handful of reasons to watch the Bears in 2015-16, none are bigger than Jaylen Brown, their top recruit and most prized NBA prospect.
At 6'7", 222 pounds, he already looks the part of a pro wing. Brown is a terrific athlete, automatic on the break and smooth yet physical in the drive-and-slash game.
And he can get his team a bucket working one-on-one by separating off the dribble into drives or pull-ups.
With strong defensive tools and the ability to score from all three levels, Brown's two-way potential is bound to generate top-five buzz in 2016.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Ivan Rabb, Freshman, PF
By the time Brown committed to California, Rabb, another McDonald's All-American, had already done so.
Rabb is an excellent athlete with 6'10" size and promising mid-range shooting touch. He's capable of facing up, ripping through and attacking his man off the bounce, and he'll give the Bears an active presence under the boards.
Rabb is still somewhat raw offensively, and at 215 pounds, he might need two years in college. But with Rabb, there is no questioning the talent that's there for coaches to develop.
Tyrone Wallace, Senior, PG/SG
Wallace negated an eye-opening start to his junior year with an ice-cold final 10 weeks. It won't eliminate him from the first-round conversation—Wallace's 6'5" size, athleticism and playmaking ability didn't go anywhere. But scouts will be tuned in to see whether his jumper made strides or looks capable of actually improving. Wallace's ugly 48.4 percent true shooting percentage in year No. 3, per sports-reference.com, is a red flag worth worrying about.
Worth Watching
Jabari Bird, Junior, SG
If it's going to happen for Bird, this has to be the year. Though he's been fairly underwhelming through two injury-plagued seasons, Bird showed signs last season that highlighted his physical tools and shot-making ability. Bird may be running out of time, but there is still some hope left for the former McDonald's All-American.
Maryland Terrapins
5 of 8
Main Attraction: Diamond Stone, Freshman, Center
Stone might not be the focal point of Maryland's veteran, well-rounded offense, but for NBA scouts, he's the main attraction.
Nobody on the Terps' roster offers more upside than Stone, a 250-pound 18-year-old with a tremendous basketball body and excellent hands.
He goes to work with his back to the basket, where he can score over the shoulder or drop-step into layups. And in spurts, he's even flashed some outside touch.
Stone's monster frame and power naturally translate to finishes, rebounds and blocked shots as well.
Physically, he looks like a pro big man today. Depending on how much skill and polish he demonstrates, we could be talking about the second Maryland center to find the lottery in the last three years.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Melo Trimble, Sophomore, PG
In 2014-15, only two players in the country converted more free throws than Trimble, who averaged 16.2 points as Maryland's lead guard. He's a fearless attacker off the dribble and a lethal shooter from downtown, having made 61 threes at a 41.2 percent clip.
Unfortunately, he plays mostly below the rim and finished last year with a 3-2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
This year, scouts will be looking to see if Trimble's floor game and passing have caught up to his scoring.
Jake Layman, Senior, SF/PF
Layman didn't add much to his game last year—he just played it more efficiently. He shot 55.7 percent inside the arc after making just 44.4 percent of his twos as a sophomore. Layman also continues to showcase a promising three-point stroke (37.8 percent) for a big.
At 6'9" with athleticism and shooting range, it wouldn't be crazy if Layman received first-round looks from teams that value his versatility and stretch 4 potential.
Kansas Jayhawks
6 of 8
Main Attraction: Cheick Diallo, Freshman, PF/C
It's still unclear as to when the NCAA will allow Kansas' headliner to hit the stage. Diallo remains ineligible due to possible issues regarding his former private school. But assuming he's eventually given the green light, scouts will be there to see what he does with it.
Diallo, who took MVP honors at both the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic (co MVP), is easily the Jayhawks' top NBA prospect.
At 6'9" with a giant 7'4" wingspan, Diallo's blend of athleticism, energy and motor translates to easy buckets, rebounds and blocks. He's the type of big man who doesn't require touches to make an impact.
His offensive skills need work, but between his physical tools, energy, nose for the ball and defensive potential, Diallo possesses unteachable strengths and a tremendous foundation to build off.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Sophomore, SG
Mykhailiuk didn't get much burn as a 17-year-old freshman, but between FIBA play and the Nike Hoop Summit, his talent is fairly well documented. Listed at 6'8", he has great size for a 2-guard or wing that can shoot it from deep and score in the mid-range.
With a bigger role as a sophomore, it would make sense to expect a more confident Mykhailiuk in 2016.
Worth Watching
Wayne Selden, Junior, SG
Selden, a former McDonald's All-American, has been underwhelming relative to expectations. He's shown little ability to create or connect from outside with any consistency.
Still, he sports an NBA physical profile with 6'5", 230-pound 2-guard size. And he's certainly capable of making shots, whether he's spotting up from deep, separating in the mid-range or finishing off one foot on the move.
He'll just need to become an every-game threat to restore some of his lost credibility.
Perry Ellis, Senior, SF/PF
Ellis is more of a second-round talent, but his versatility and offensive skills are worth monitoring. He's likely to lead the Jayhawks in scoring for the second straight year. Ellis demonstrates strong footwork, both facing up and back-to-the-basket, as well as promising shooting touch, having made 42.4 percent of his threes and 74.4 percent of his free throws since 2012.
Brannen Greene, Junior, SF
Greene doesn't offer any upside, but at 6'7" with a pure 40.4 percent three-point stroke, he could draw attention as a potential specialist down the road.
Providence Friars
7 of 8
Main Attraction: Kris Dunn, Junior, PG
With Kris Dunn returning to Providence, expect the scouts to follow. Dunn will be looking to build on last year's breakout sophomore campaign that saw him average 15.6 points and lead the country in assist percentage, per sports-reference.com.
Numbers aside, Dunn's 6'4" size, 205-pound frame, 6'8" wingspan and above-the-rim burst immediately stand out under the NBA lens. He certainly possesses the physical profile of a starting NBA point guard, along with some dynamic playmaking ability as a scorer and passer.
Dunn is electric in the open floor and a nightmare off the dribble thanks to great quickness, shiftiness, vision and body control. He'll return as arguably the toughest ball-screen cover in the nation.
This year, scouts will be mostly locked in on Dunn's decision-making, considering no player in college basketball committed more turnovers in 2014-15. They'll also be focused on his jumper—whether it's made progress or has the chance to in the future.
Dunn's choice to come back should automatically put Providence in the spotlight.
He could ultimately be competing with Kentucky's Jamal Murray, who's three years younger, for first guard off the board in 2016.
North Carolina Tar Heels
8 of 8
Main Attraction: Justin Jackson, Sophomore, SF
It took Jackson about three months to get going as a freshman, but from mid-February to late March, his first-round potential came to life. He averaged 13.4 points on 52.1 shooting over his final 12 games, after putting up 9.5 points on 43.6 percent shooting through his first 26.
Though rail thin, Jackson's 6'8" size works well out on the perimeter, where he can shoot with range over the defense. Jackson moves well without the ball, but he's also flashed the ability to put it on the floor and loft up floaters on the move.
This year, scouts will be looking for consistency from Jackson, as well as some more offensive creativity and confidence.
Potential First-Round Prospects to Scout
Theo Pinson, Sophomore, SG/SF
Even before breaking his foot in January, Pinson's role was fairly limited. With J.P. Tokoto gone, Pinson should get a much better opportunity to showcase his athleticism, attack game and playmaking.
Outside of Jackson, Pinson, a versatile 6'6" wing, has as much upside as any Tar Heel on the roster.
Kennedy Meeks, Junior, PF/C
Meeks stumbled down the stretch of last year, but overall, he showed progress. His strong 265-pound frame and excellent hands led to 12.6 boards per 40 minutes and a 56.2 percent field-goal mark. Meeks doesn't get off the ground very high, but he's flashed interior-specialist potential as a low-post scorer and physical rebounder.
Brice Johnson, Senior, PF
Johnson didn't make the sophomore-to-junior jump scouts were hoping he would, but at 6'9" with above-the-rim bounce, there is still talent to develop. He did convert an impressive 47.9 percent of his two-point jumpers last year, per Hoop-Math.com. This year, Johnson should look to extend his range and become a bigger one-on-one threat in the post.
Worth Watching
Marcus Paige, Senior, PG/SG
There isn't any debate regarding Paige's college basketball value. But he hasn't won over the NBA folks. At 6'1", Paige's lack of athleticism really hurts his outlook. In the half court, he shot a dreadful 41.9 percent at the rim last season.
On the bright side, Paige can still light it up on the perimeter, where he made over 85 threes and shot at least 38 percent from deep in back-to-back years. And though it was by a small margin, he also registered the best assist-to-turnover ratio of his career as a junior.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
