NBA Mock Draft 2011: Who's Replaced Harrison Barnes as the No. 1 Overall Pick?
With the 2010-11 NBA season almost halfway through, everyone is beginning to pay closer attention to the incoming draft prospects for the next year.
Before the collegiate season tipped off, Harrison Barnes was considered by and far the consensus No. 1 pick based off potential alone. Now, Barnes finds himself as a top-tier pick, but he's not atop the list any longer.
Let's take a look at the projected lottery picks for the 2011 NBA Draft.
1. Terrence Jones, F Kentucky; Freshman
Drawing regular comparisons to Atlanta PF Josh Smith, Jones is versatile enough to play either forward spot in the pros and has no problem going against guys both bigger and smaller than he.
2. Kyrie Irving, PG Duke; Freshman
A talented scorer who is lightning fast with the ball, Irving has shown great poise and maturity running the offense for Coach K.
3. Harrison Barnes, G/F UNC; Freshman
He's a prototypical wing player in the NBA, but he hasn't quite lived up to the hype that surrounded him entering the season.
4. Enes Kanter, PF Kentucky; Freshman
Whether or not he ever suits up for Kentucky, Kanter is firmly locked in as a top lottery pick and stands to benefit any team that selects him in a big way.
5. Perry Jones, PF Baylor; Freshman
Think Anthony Randolph. Jones has loads of potential and oozes talent, but he's going to need to add significant weight to body up and play at the physical level that the league demands.
6. Jared Sullinger, PF Ohio State; Freshman
Sullinger has been an absolute beast for the Buckeyes this season, and he should be a more prolific version of DeJuan Blair.
7. Josh Selby, PG Kansas; Freshman
Selby has been a very hot name as of late, and he should adapt to the NBA level with ease. He's going to be a better version of Jerryd Bayless, because he'll actually get the playing time that he deserves.
8. Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky; Freshman
One of the most recruited (if not THE most recruited) seniors out of high school, Knight is a surefire bet to get taken in the lottery. Although he hasn't been terribly impressive in his first (and only) collegiate season, Knight should blossom into a solid NBA talent.
9. Kemba Walker, PG UConn; Junior
Walker has certainly been fun to watch this season as he looks to lead the entire nation in scoring. There's no doubt that he's done a ton for his draft stock with his very solid play.
10. Derrick Williams, PF Arizona; Sophomore
Williams has great fundamentals and a soft touch around the rim. With his unique skill set and solid size, he's going to get a look from every team in need of help along the front line. He may never blossom into a star, but he should be a very good player for a very long time.
11. Alec Burks, SG Colorado; Sophomore
The best prospect that nobody is talking about, Burks can handle the ball and comfortably play off of it, a rare skill for a player at his level. It will be interesting to see if his insane athleticism can translate into success at the next level.
12. Trey Thompkins, F Georgia; Junior
A fantastic post player, Thompkins has been playing against a high level of competition since his high school days at Oak Hill. He needs to add a little weight, but Thompkins could be among the league's leading rebounders sooner rather than later.
13. Donatas Motiejunas, F/C; International
He's been a hot name for a couple of years now, and it seems likely that he'll finally enter the draft this season. Comparable to Andrea Bargnani, Motiejunas is anything but your traditional big man in the middle, despite standing 7'0" tall.
14. Jan Vesely, F; International
Vesely could have made himself a lot more money by entering the draft last year, but it looks like he'll come stateside in 2011. Similar to Motiejunas, he can stroke it from just about anywhere and his intriguing length makes him a very promising prospect, even if his numbers are down in Euroleague play.
On the Bubble: Kyle Singler, F Duke; Tristan Thompson, PF Texas; Tobias Harris, SF Tennessee; Jonas Valanciunas
