Kentucky Recruit Anthony Davis and the 15 Most Pro-Ready College Hoops Freshmen

Sure, we still haven't had the 2011 NBA Draft yet, and we're still months away from the 2011-2012 college basketball season, but is it ever too early to start looking at the 2012 NBA Draft?  Of course not.

And with a ridiculously loaded freshman class about to descend on college campuses all across the nation, what better way to start looking into the future than with a look at the at 15 freshmen to be that are the most ready to make the jump to the NBA.

As with any list such as this, a few caveats right off the bat.  This is a list of the guys most ready for the NBA right now.  As in today.  This is not a projection of who will have the best NBA career or even the best freshman season in college.

I looked at a player's ability, of course, but also things such as their body size for the position I think they will play in the NBA as well as how much they might improve over the course of a college career.

So without further ado, here is the list.

15. Chane Behanan (6' 7" 230 Lbs.; Louisville)

And we start with a shocker for many, I'm sure, right off the bat.  But after seeing how well Chuck Hayes has transitioned to the NBA, I can't help but think that Behanan can also be a very productive player in the league.

Behanan, like Hayes, has a very wide base and may be the strongest of the incoming freshmen from the waist down.  His offensive game needs improvement (but don't almost all freshmen need some refinement), but he is already a space eater in the paint and a bruiser on the glass.

So why is he one the most NBA ready players of his class when almost nobody thinks he's one of its top 15 players?  It's simple: He already has the skills he will need and be asked to show in the NBA, and nothing about college is going to change that.

Behanan is probably never going to be a focal point of an NBA offense, but he will be asked to defend and hit the boards.  With his already impressive physical tools, he could step in and do that almost immediately.  Any offensive fine tuning that he gets in college will just be a bonus.

Would he be better staying in college for a couple of seasons?  Obviously, as is the case with almost every player on this list, that is a yes.  But for what he will be asked to do in the future, Behanan is already pretty much up to those tasks.

14. P.J. Hairston (6' 5" 220 Lbs.; UNC)

P.J. isn't going to blow anyone away with his athleticism, but the fact of the matter is that he does have prototypical shooting guard size for the NBA.  And more importantly, he is a deadly accurate long range shooter with probably the best looking form in his class.

While he needs to work on his overall quickness and ability to create off the dribble, he already has an NBA level jumper that should have shooter-needy NBA GMs salivating next summer.  And though not particularly long for his height, he is a very solid 6'5" and can handle the banging and grinding of the NBA game.

Hairston also seems to be a very mature player that blended in well with other star studded teammates on the all-star game circuit, which bodes well for his ability to come into an NBA locker room willing to find his niche as a designated shooter early in his career.  He could be a bit of a defensively liability initially in the league, but with his hard working demeanor, that shouldn't be too much of an impediment for his readiness for the league.

13. Cody Zeller (6' 11" 210 Lbs.; Indiana)

I have to admit that some of my reasoning here is because I have been impressed with his brother Tyler's game, which I think translates very well to the NBA, and I think Cody will be very similar.  But let me also be clear that if this were strictly a ranking of who will have the best career, Cody wouldn't touch this list.

As it is, though, I feel that Cody is one of the 15 most NBA ready players, because like his brother, he can already excel at the pick and pop game, which has become a must have skill for most NBA big men.  With very few Shaquille O'Neal sized guys out there anymore, more and more NBA teams are relying on a more European style system that needs a big man to consistently knock down 15-20 footers.

And like his brother Tyler, Cody can knock down that shot with regularity.  He needs to bulk up a lot, but he already has a nose for the ball off the glass and is a pretty good shot blocker on the defensive end.

While he has a lot to work on to be a good NBA player, Cody probably has almost all of the skills he needs and will ever have to have to be the best NBA player he can be.  All he needs to do is hit the weight room...which is much easier to do once you are a professional as opposed to a college player.

Again, much like Chane Behanan, there are better players out there, but not necessarily more that have an NBA ready game.

12. Myck Kabongo (6' 2" 170 Lbs.; Texas)

Starting a flurry of point guards on the list, Kabongo is maybe the best pure point guard in his class.  And with the NBA seemingly becoming a point guard driven league more and more as the years go by, Kabongo should be a highly coveted prospect after his one year at Texas.

Kabongo seems to possess a very high basketball IQ and displays it not only on offense but also as a defender.  While perhaps not having a single elite level skill, Kabongo is very good at almost everything he will be asked to do.

He will probably never be the scoring threat that a Chris Paul or Derrick Rose is, but Kabongo will be a great leader on the floor and can facilitate an offense as good as anyone on the college level next year. 

His shot will need to see work to avoid becoming a liability on offense, but even at that, we aren't talking about a Rajon Rondo type of issue.  And it's not like Rondo isn't a great player anyway.  But even with a slight shooting issue, Kabongo has shown to be an adequate spot up shooter when necessary.

In a lot of years, Kabongo would probably be either the number one or number two point guard in a draft.  In this class, he is probably number three.  But he's still more ready for the NBA than just about anyone else out there, and thus, he makes the list.

11. Marquis Teague (6' 2" 175 Lbs.; Kentucky)

Teague, listed by most as the top point guard in the freshman class, is my second most NBA ready point guard.  While displaying unmatched speed off the dribble in his class and having NBA adequate size, it's a few deficiencies in his game that keep Teague from being my most NBA ready point guard in the class.

But first the good, and that has to start with Teague's speed.  Teague has blinding speed both with the ball in his hands and without.  And while he sometimes seems to be out of control when he gets going too fast, with some seasoning, he should be devastating in John Calipari's dribble drive offense, which seems to be tailor made for Teague.  At his best, Teague simply cannot be kept out of the paint.

Defensively, Teague is probably the top point guard in the class and he is a true menace all over the court.  NBA GMs will love Teague's on the ball defense, but his speed also ought to help him become a great off the ball defender as well.  I can't imaging anyone making quicker defensive rotations on the perimeter than Teague.

Teague must improve his shooting and decision making to be a truly elite NBA guard, but he has all the tools to get the job done.  Combine that with the fact that almost all of Calipari's point guards seem to be NBA ready by the end of their freshman year, and Teague definitely earns a place on this list.

10. Tony Wroten, Jr. (6' 4" 206 Lbs.; Washington)

With Wroten, one thing stands out above all else for purposes of this list.  NBA ready body.

Wroten has great size for a point guard and often overwhelms smaller guards with his size and sheer athleticism.  While not possessing the speed of Marquis Teague, Wroten is almost as effective getting to the basket through his agressive play and awesome physical tools.

Wroten seems to be a better shooter than many of his point guard peers, and he is also a very good passer.  While he sometimes struggles to get teammates involved, he has the ability and seemed to thrive doing so once he hit the all star circuit.  Perhaps playing with equally and/or more talented peers has helped Wroten elevate his own game.

Wroten can also be a great defender when the mood suits him.  While not unusual for a high school star, Wroten will have to improve his defensive desire to be a truly great NBA player.  But he can definitely do it if he so chooses.

Wroten was not the most highly ranked point guard in his class, but due to his physical attributes and his aggressive style, he is probably the most NBA ready of them all.  And as confident as Wroten is about his own abilities, I'm sure he agrees.

9. Khem Birch (6' 9" 210 Lbs.; Pitt)

Birch, while a bit slender for the NBA, already possesses the ability to be a great defensive player in a one on one environment, a terrific rebounder and a very raw but capable garbage bucket man.  And Birch is a phenomenal help defender with great shot blocking ability.

Offensively, Birch is still somewhat of a liability, which will only get more accentuated on the college level.  As far as the NBA game goes, he's nowhere close to being ready offensively.

But Birch is such a good defender that I had to place him pretty high on the list.  Birch may be the quickest leaper in the class, which is pretty rare for someone of his size.  It's so rare to find someone of this size and coordination that even though his offense needs work, his defensive potential is so great that I have to say he is more NBA ready than almost all of his peers.

Birch will also benefit greatly from playing in the rough and tumble Big East next season, and come this time next year, will likely find himself as a lottery pick if he chooses to leave school after only one year.  I'm thinking a more athletic Tyson Chandler type player is his NBA future.

8. LeBryan Nash (6' 7" 230 Lbs.; Oklahoma State)

With the perfect size for an NBA small forward, Nash is one of my personal favorite prospects in his class.  And Nash may also be the guy already playing the closest to his potential among all of the players in his class.

Part of that is due to the fact that Nash is one of the older players in his class, already having reached 19 years old.  Age aside (it's not like we're talking about an old man or anything), Nash really is one of the most developed players in the incoming freshman class.

As already stated, Nash has the size of an NBA player right now and the explosive game to boot.  He's a fantastic offensive player with an array of moves around the basket and a more than passable jump shot.  And when he gets to the foul line, he has shown the ability to capitalize.

As you can tell from the picture, Nash is one of the most fun-loving members of his class.  But even as one of the older members, he can also be one of the most immature players.  When Nash keeps his head, he can be great, but he often loses focus on defense and can sometimes lose his head and get out of his own game.

Still, Nash has a fantastic game and a pro body.  He's easily one of the most NBA ready players in the nation.

7. Quincy Miller (6' 9" 210 Lbs.; Baylor)

If looking at talent alone, Miller would be much higher on this list.  He has great size and athleticism and reminds many of Kevin Durant with his fluid game.

Whether out on the perimeter or driving to the hole, Miller really doesn't have many holes in his offensive repertoire.   His mechanics aren't flawless and could probably use some work, but then again, Reggie Miller didn't have the perfect shot and he was pretty good, no?  While unorthodox, this Miller also just gets buckets.

I only have two concerns with Miller and his ability to go to the NBA.  One is his weight.  Miller is a rail and has to get bigger to be a true NBA superstar.  He has all of the skill to go to the league, but would just get pushed around right now.

Second is his lack of playing time over the last year and his recovery from a torn ACL.  I haven't see Miller play since he tore his ACL this past season, and I'll be interested to see how much athleticism he retained post surgery.

Prior to the injury, Miller could have been the best player in the class and a definite one and done.  I still think that will be the case, but you never know with a major knee injury.

Miller also needs to take his defense more seriously, but with his length and athleticism that he always has had, I don't see that being a huge question mark going forward.  He also needs to clean his room every once in a while.

6. Adonis Thomas (6' 6" 210 Lbs.; Memphis)

A very exciting player to watch, Thomas is one of those guys that may have a more limited ceiling than other players, but is ready to go for the NBA.  Playing anywhere from the shooting guard spot to power forward, Thomas is one of the most versatile incoming freshman in the nation.

Thomas is already quite accomplished off the bounce and has greatly improved his spot up shooting this past year.  While not on the level of a P.J. Hairston, Thomas is still a very good shooting guard option with the most defensive potential of any guard in his class.

Thomas is also a physical presence unlike most high school guys, and his size would help him more easily adapt to the pro game than many of his peers.  Thomas may not have the upside of some of the other guys on this list, but he should have a solid and very long NBA career.  Thomas might just put up the best all around stats of any freshman next year.

5. Bradley Beal (6' 4" 205 Lbs.; Florida)

Shooting?  Check.  Size?  Check.  NBA ready?  Check.

Beal has great size for a shooting guard, and by most accounts is still growing, which would be a bonus.  He has great range, maybe the best range in the class, and has the best mid-range game in the class.

The only downside to his mid-range game is that on occasion, Beal is too hesitant to try and take the ball all the way to the hole.  With his stroke, you would like to see him get to the free throw line a lot, and his game may not be conducive to that on the college or pro level.  But on the rare occasions that he does go all the way to the hole, he is a very good finisher.

Beal is not a long defender, but he is very strong an plays harder on the defensive end than a lot of high school stars do.  He is also a very smart player and a very good team player.  Every team in the country would be lucky to have a Bradley Beal on their squad.

Truthfully, I don't see a lot of improvement in his game with one year in college.  He's already skilled enough and hard working enough for the NBA, and that's not going to change at Florida.  Reminds me of Eric Gordon.

4. James McAdoo (6' 8" 216 Lbs.; UNC)

Yeah, it's subjective and can't really be defined, but I'm going to throw it out there anyways.  James McAdoo is the best basketball player on the list.  Maybe not the most talented or the "best" in terms of production, but from a knowing how to play the game standpoint, he is the best.

He's another one of those guys that doesn't really have a single skill that just wows you, but he is really, really good at everything.  And add that to the fact that he has one of the more NBA ready bodies in his class, and McAdoo is a no-brainer for this list. 

Another thing that distinguishes McAdoo from most of his peers is his attitude and demeanor on the court.  McAdoo just really knows what he is doing on the floor and exudes confidence from the opening tip no matter the competition.

McAdoo has a very good post game and an improving perimeter game, and plays very smart and heady defense.  He does need to get a little stronger before he gets to the NBA, but he's getting there and is already close.  McAdoo has the skill and ability to be a very good player at either forward position in the NBA.

3. Michael Gilchrist (6' 7" 210 Lbs.; Kentucky)

Only the need to improve his perimeter game prevents Gilchrist from leapfrogging the two guys ahead of him on the list.  But everything else about Gilchrist is off the charts.

Start with his body.  Gilchrist is an absolute rock, with great size, length and strength to be the ideal small forward.  He is so strong that he is almost impossible to keep out of the lane and does a great job of finishing once he gets into the lane.

Gilchrist is also the best defender in his class by far, and with his strength and length, Gilchrist can capably guard any position other than center better than almost anyone and could probably guard most college centers very well.  He guards all over the floor and has the best motor in the class.

His ceiling is almost limitless if he can improve his shot, but it's already adequate enough for him to be a force as soon as he steps foot in the NBA.  Throw in an incredible attitude and you have the makings of an absolute dream to coach.  NBA GMs would be drooling over the prospect of drafting the 17-year-old Gilchrist this season...so just wait until next year.

2. Austin Rivers (6' 4" 189 Lbs.; Duke)

If you're an NBA GM and you need scoring heading into next year's draft, you probably can't do much better than to get Austin Rivers on your team.

Rivers is a scoring machine and can basically score in any way imaginable.  While not having the most textbook shot of the class, Rivers knows how to get it done and get buckets.  You could call him a streaky shooter, but if that's the case, then he gets on a whole bunch of streaks.

Can he make threes?  Easily.  Can he hit the floater in traffic?  No doubt.  Can he finish at the rim?  Of course.

Rivers is also a very smart player, no doubt enhanced from being the son of former NBA player and current Celtic Coach Doc Rivers.  Sometimes, though, he might think he's too smart, as he tends to complain a lot if he doesn't get calls, and sometimes, it seems to take him out of his game.  But, he is just an incoming freshman, so a little immaturity isn't the end of the world.

Defensively, Rivers has all of the ability in the world, but he just has to want to defend, which he doesn't always seem interested in.  But I don't doubt that Coach K will be able to get that out of him.  Even if he doesn't defend, though, Rivers is far and away the most NBA ready scorer in the class.

1. Anthony Davis (6' 10" 210 Lbs.; Kentucky)

A picture of Davis blocking a shot is probably appropriate, seeing as how he ought to have enough blocks for a whole team next season at Kentucky.  And his defense is just one reason why Davis is the most NBA ready incoming freshman for next season.

I could easily see Davis starting on an NBA team next season for his defense alone, because even though he is a bit slim and would have trouble with the physicality of the NBA, he's such a good help-side defender that he would still have great value on the floor.

Davis is also one of the hardest workers in his class with the most freakish size and athleticism.  That's quite the combination.  And even though he is nearly seven feet tall at this point, he has maintained much of the skill and ball-handling that he had when he was a guard barely more than one year ago.

And, to be totally honest, even though this list is about the here and now, it is hard to completely ignore his potential as well when considering Davis.  Seeing him on the fast break is a sight to behold, and he's already a great finisher above the rim, a very good shooter for his size and a very smart player.  But he's only hit the tip of the iceberg with how good he can be.

Yes, Davis is not only the best long term prospect of his class, but with his defensive prowess and offensive variety, he is also the most NBA ready member of the class as well.  The guy can flat out score, defend and rebound with the best of them in his class.  Look for him to be picked number one in next year's draft (pending a new two year waiting period of course) and to be an immediate force in the NBA.