Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum Are Top 3 Selections in 2017 NBA Draft

Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum were the first three players selected in Thursday night's NBA draft. 

Fultz went No. 1 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers, Ball was selected second by his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, and Tatum was scooped up by the Boston Celtics at No. 3 after they swapped picks in a blockbuster with the Sixers to acquire a future first-round pick in either 2018 or 2019. 

Fultz, a former standout at the University of Washington, was the draft's biggest prize after he averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds and shot 41.3 percent from three during his freshman season in the Pacific Northwest.

Now he'll head to Philadelphia and join forces with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to form the league's most compelling young superstar trio. 

Ball, meanwhile, projects as the Lakers point guard of the future after 2015 No. 2 overall pick D'Angelo Russell was reportedly shipped to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. 

A 6'6" floor general with stellar vision, Ball was one of the unique talents the college game had to offer last season. During his lone campaign with the UCLA Bruins, the 19-year-old averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals on 55.1 percent shooting from the field, including 41.2 percent from three. 

The Celtics rounded out the top three by adding Tatum to their win-now core. 

Considered the most polished scorer in this year's draft class, Tatum should provide the Celtics with an immediate scoring boost on the wing alongside Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and 2016 No. 3 overall pick Jaylen Brown. 

As a freshman at Duke University, Tatum flashed inside-out scoring chops en route to averaging 16.8 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.2 percent shooting from three. 

Given their pedigrees and top-tier status in this year's draft, Fultz, Ball and Tatum should be considered the front-runners to take home 2017-18 Rookie of the Year honors.