5 College Basketball Players Who Need To Stay Another Year

The trend among today's college basketball stars is to jump to the NBA as soon as possible, and this year there are several young guns who will turn pro. But there are a few underclassmen who need to stay in college for their own good.

It takes a well-rounded player to be effective in the NBA, and some players just aren't ready. Some have maturity issues, while others are still too one-dimensional. Another year of NCAA competition will help them improve their draft stock and prepare them to produce when they begin their pro careers.

Let's break down a few prospects who need to stick around in the college ranks a little longer.

Le'Bryan Nash

Oklahoma State freshman Le'Bryan Nash is an explosive athlete with an NBA-ready physique. But his offensive game requires a lot of polishing, and he needs a couple of years to mature in Oklahoma City if he wants to make an immediate impact as a pro wing player.

Nash is an exciting player to watch, but he is inefficient on offense (0.6 assists, 2.7 turnovers per game) and his ball-handling needs refining.

Also, his jump shot requires improvement if he wants to be a scoring swingman in the NBA. He's currently shooting 27 percent from three-point range and 39 percent from the field. Nash just needs time to mature as an all-around basketball player.

James McAdoo

North Carolina forward James McAdoo has the skills and potential to be a successful forward at the next level, but he needs another year at Chapel Hill to develop his offensive repertoire and defensive assertiveness.

He has a good feel for the game, but he lacks the collection of post moves to be effective on the interior, and he lacks the advanced ball-handling needed to be a true wing player. On defense, he needs to be more forceful to become a better rebounder.

When McAdoo sees more minutes and plays a more prominent role next season, he will undoubtedly improve in these areas. After his sophomore year, he'll be a lottery pick in the 2013 draft.

Myck Kabongo

Texas is lucky to have Myck Kabongo, a dynamic young guard who facilitates for his teammates. If he knows what's good for him, the Longhorns will be lucky enough to see him stay for another season.

The 6'1" freshman is a great team-oriented player on both ends of the floor, but he needs to stay another year to get ready for the rigors of the NBA.

Kabongo must bulk up a bit more, as he's not physically ready go pro. He also needs to improve his shooting if he wants to keep NBA defenses honest. He's shooting 27 percent from long distance so far.

Alex Oriakhi

Alex Oriakhi would be doing himself a huge favor by returning for his senior year, which is something few NBA prospects do these days.

If he turns pro too soon, there's a much higher risk that his career will end up looking like Hasheem Thabeet's. Oriakhi is still a one-dimensional player, with defense and rebounding being his strong suit. He doesn't have the post footwork or the jump shot to stretch the defense.

With Andre Drummond likely going pro this summer, Oriakhi will be able to play a more prominent role in the Huskies offense next season.

Another season of refining his skills would help him be an all-around contributor in the NBA.

Kendall Marshall

North Carolina fans have seen lefty Kendall Marshall become arguably the best floor general in the country this season. His tremendous court vision and deft passing are NBA-ready, but the rest of his game is holding him up.

He's not extremely athletic or skilled enough with his right hand to be a scoring threat, so he won't be dangerous in the NBA unless he improves. A third year with Roy Williams could help him develop his scoring skills and turn him into a lottery pick.

Marshall takes great care of the ball while making brilliant plays for the Tar Heels, but he won't be able to make a smooth transition to the NBA if he can't fill the hoop himself. Driving and finishing with his right hand should be on his to-do list for the next few months.