NBA Draft 2011: Projections for the Top Underclassmen Who May Declare
Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger turned a lot of heads over the weekend when he declared his intentions to remain in school for a sophomore season, a move that is almost unprecedented in today’s era coming from top prospects.
But while Sullinger will take his talents back to Columbus, a number of other highly-touted underclassmen will take their chances at fame and fortune in the NBA.
The current 2011 draft board looks to be one that consists mostly of raw power forwards and undersized scoring guards. Basically, none of the potential No. 1 picks jump out at you. You can make a case for a handful of different guys to go first overall.
Still, there is plenty of talent to go around over all three years of underclass players. No more than five seniors will go in the first round, in fact. So, while the Jimmer Fredettes and Nolan Smiths of the world know what the future holds, we can scrutinize which underclassmen will declare and how they will perform.
The Juniors
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The junior class is decent, but not as intriguing as the sophomore or freshman classes. Still, there are a couple of guys who will make an immediate impact if they declare.
Kemba Walker, PG, UConn
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Kemba Walker is almost certain to declare for the draft after his breakout season this year. He can score as well as anyone in college and makes great court decisions.
The only disadvantage Walker has against him is his height. At 6’0”, Walker will face questions about getting his shot off, etc. It shouldn’t be a major issue however.
Walker would benefit from going to a younger team in the draft, such as Sacramento or Toronto, but their selections may be a few picks too high to go after Walker.
Prediction: Utah, No. 6-8 pick
Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas
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The better of the two Morris twins will shoot up draft boards after he starts working out for teams. Morris plays a valuable inside-out game that’s sure to be an asset for the lucky team that selects him.
He may not be the flashiest guy out there, but he can contribute on both ends of the floor and start pitching in immediately.
Prediction: Phoenix, No. 13-14 pick
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Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas
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Markieff Morris is a good player, but not as good as his twin brother Marcus. He is the better rebounder and interior defender in the family though, and that should help his draft stock.
When you add his ability to hit the occasional outside three, Morris should find himself on a team who needs defensive help that is drafting in the early 20’s.
Prediction: Denver, No. 22 pick
Trey Thompkins, PF, Georgia
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In a draft where less options were available, Thompkins would have the chance to potentially be a lottery pick, but he’ll find his way to a team picking late in the first round.
A strong inside scorer who can rebound and block shots, Thompkins will most likely play sparingly during his rookie season.
Prediction: Dallas, No. 26 pick
Chris Singleton, PF, FSU
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FSU’s Chris Singleton helped gain some much-needed national exposure during the Seminoles' better-than-expected NCAA tournament run. Playing on one of the best defensive teams in the country, Singleton stood out, collecting 2.0 steals and rejecting 1.5 shots per game for the season.
While Singleton will be a competent defender in the NBA, his offense will surely come into question and wind up hurting his draft stock. A 6’9” power forward who has shot only 42 percent from the floor throughout his career is guaranteed to raise some red flags.
Prediction: New Jersey, No. 27 pick
The Sophomores
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There are a lot of talented sophomores who will almost certainly declare for the draft this year. Unlike the junior class, which is mostly made up of big men, the sophomores cover a variety of positions.
Don’t be surprised to see more sophomores go in the first round than juniors.
Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona
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Derek Williams is a force to be reckoned with after his showing late in the NCAA season. He’s big, can shoot and brings that “wow” factor with him onto the court.
Williams does most things well and is a projected top-three pick in June.
Prediction: Whoever has the No. 1 pick
Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
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Burks is another great scoring guard who could go anywhere from the No. 7 pick on in this year’s draft. He can create shots and get to the hoop, which really adds to his value.
It’s hard to find a negative in his game, but Burks could improve his long-range shooting. Regardless, he’ll wind up being a fantastic NBA two-guard.
Prediction: Cleveland, No. 8-9 pick
Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State
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Leonard helped put San Diego State on the map this season, leading the Aztecs to a No. 2 seed in the tournament.
The 6'7" small forward has amazing strength, evident by his 10 boards per game. This, and his scoring ability, will push Leonard into the lottery-pick range.
Prediction: Golden State, No. 10-11 pick
John Henson, PF, UNC
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Henson is one of the better rebounding forwards in the NCAA and should find success in the NBA, due to his size.
He’s also a great defensive player, but will probably have some questions surrounding his offensive abilities, since he only scored 11.4 PPG for the season as a Tar Heel.
Prediction: Knicks, No. 16 pick
Tyler Honeycutt, SF, UCLA
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Honeycutt may or may not be one of the top-five sophomore prospects, but since he has officially declared for the draft, he deserves to be rated here.
A nice-sized small forward, Honeycutt does a lot of things well on the basketball court. He may not score as much as most small forwards who will be in the draft, but he rebounds and can block shots with the best of them.
He’ll need to improve his shot and add mass at the next level, which makes him a hard player to predict, but he should be a first-round pick.
Prediction: San Antonio, No. 30 pick
The Freshmen
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Freshmen should dominate the early part of the draft again, but there aren’t any guys who really carry superstar value. Regardless, teams will take a shot on potential, even if it means passing on a player who can perform right away.
Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
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Irving was a key contributor to the Blue Devils in the early part of the season, until a toe injury forced him to miss the majority of the season. He managed to play in the NCAA tournament, but clearly wasn’t in top shape.
If he does declare for the draft, he’ll still be a high draft pick, but won’t contribute right away like a John Wall or Derrick Rose has.
Prediction: No. 2 pick
Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC
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Barnes has the talent to be a top-flight NBA player and came on strong towards the end of the NCAA season. What he lacks in physical power, he makes up for in athleticism.
Barnes still has a lot of room to grow, but all the tools are there, and he’ll be one of the top guys off the board during draft night.
Prediction: No. 3 pick
Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
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Jones is a supreme talent, but isn’t ready for the NBA yet. If he declares a team will snatch him up as a top-10 pick, but he won’t contribute at a high level for some time.
Off the court, Jones will be suspended for the first five games of next season if he stays in school, which will most likely be the reason that Jones leaves the underachieving Baylor Bears.
Prediction: Toronto, No. 5-7 pick
Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
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Brandon Knight will be a great player in the NBA, no doubt about it. He can pass, score and shoot almost at will it seems.
He may not wind up in the top 10, but will be a value pick for anyone, no matter where he winds up.
Prediction: Charlotte, No. 10-11 pick
Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
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Terrence Jones is pretty close to NBA ready. He’s a confident player, and that has translated to a successful first NCAA season.
At the next level, he’ll be able to produce. Don’t be surprised to see him starting midway through the NBA season.
Prediction: Houston, No. 14 pick
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