Foot issues for potential No. 1 overall pick Joe Embiid and fellow freshman phenom Julius Randle have infused Thursday’s NBA Draft with uncertainty and plenty of drama to unfold. Teams holding Top 10 picks now must weigh potential versus the risk factor in a deep draft class.
The top 100 prospects for the 2014 NBA Draft, compiled by The Sports Xchange Senior NBA Draft Analyst Tyler Jamieson.
1. Andrew Wiggins, SG/SF, Fr. Kansas. Had Wiggins been allowed to enter last year’s draft he was widely considered to be the top pick. After a year at Kansas, he still has a tentative hold on the top spot with Duke’s Jabari Parker in the mix following Embiid’s injury.
2. Jabari Parker, SF/PF, Fr. Duke. After just one year at Duke, Parker’s size & skill has drawn comparisons to Carmelo Anthony.
3. Joel Embiid, C, Fr. Kansas. An athletic 7-footer with 7-foot-5 wingspan, Embiid has scouts salivating over his already proven shot blocking ability and offensive potential. However, foot surgery that will sideline him for 4-6 months – and potentially all of his rookie season – could lead to a draft day slide out of the top five… or further.
4. Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Soph. Oklahoma State. After a volatile year that included a suspension, Smart is still one of the top guards in the draft and has been impressive in pre-draft workouts.
5. Dante Exum, PG/SG, Int. (Australia). Exum is considered a wild card by many because he is not well known. His size and athleticism has people around the NBA intrigued, but pre-draft workouts will play a big part in where he lands.
6. Julius Randle, PF, Fr. Kentucky. Randle was considered a potential top 5 pick entering last season due to his size and finesse. After a standout season at Kentucky concerns about a foot injury that might need surgery might affect his draft status. Randle insists he is pain-free and has no lingering issues with the foot.
7. Noah Vonleh, PF, Fr. Indiana. Vonleh is just 18 years old and sports a 7-4 wingspan; he’s considered by many to have the best natural rebounding instincts in the draft.
8. Aaron Gordon, PF, Fr. Arizona. Also just 18 years old, Gordon is extremely athletic for his size and has drawn some comparisons to Blake Griffin.
9. Doug McDermott, PF, Sr. Creighton. McDermott’s stellar senior year combined with his size and offensive polish should land him in the top 10.
10. Dario Saric, SF/PF, Int. Croatia. Would have been a first-round pick in last year’s draft but withdrew to stay in Europe. At 6-10 and extremely coordinated, many people believe he is the most versatile player in the draft.
11. Gary Harris, SG, So., Michigan State. A very good all-around guard whose stock was helped by a good end of the year and tournament run by Michigan State.
12. Kyle Anderson, SF, So., UCLA. A unique 6-9 jack-of-all-trades type. Scouts love his ball handling and passing for his size.
13. Nik Stauskas, SG, So., Michigan. Sharpshooting guard from Michigan whose stock increased due to an increased role in Michigan’s offense last season.
14. Tyler Ennis, PG, Fr., Syracuse. After one year at Syracuse, Ennis’ natural instincts and maturity are what make him stand out as one of the best point guards in this class.
15. Zach LaVine, SG, Fr., UCLA. A wildly athletic prospect who probably should have stayed at UCLA for another year. Will most likely take a couple years to develop, but the payoff could be huge.
16. Elfrid Payton, PG, Jr., Louisiana Lafayette. Coming from Louisiana Lafayette he’s flying under the radar for most, but his almost 20 ppg and above average defense have caught the eyes of scouts and he has worked out well since the season ended.
17. James Young, SG/SF, Fr., Kentucky. Highly touted freshman whose play during Kentucky’s deep tournament run aided his decision to declare for the draft.
18. Rodney Hood, SF, So., Duke. The 6-8 southpaw from Duke has the look of a prototypical NBA wing player.
19. Jerami Grant, SF, So., Syracuse. An intriguing athlete whose combination of size, quickness and explosiveness around the basket separates him from other wing players.
20. Adreian Payne, SF, Sr., Michigan State. Payne’s ability to shoot the college 3-pointer at his size was a big reason why Michigan State was so successful last season.
21. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Int. (Bosnia). Not well known but a surprise player in Europe earlier this year. Has been ranked as high as a lottery pick by some and as low as late second round by others.
22. T.J. Warren, SG, So., North Carolina State. An elite wing scorer with nothing left to prove at the college level.
23. Clint Capela, PF, Int. (Switzerland). Nineteen-year-old 6-11 Swiss born big man currently playing in France. Not a lot of scouts have seen much of him, but his ability to block shots stands out.
24. Shabazz Napier, PG, Sr., Connecticut. Nobody benefited more from a strong tournament than Napier. Considered a second rounder most of last season, Napier’s hot tournament looks to have propelled him into the first round.
25. C.J. Wilcox, SG, Sr., Washington. One of the best pure shooters in the draft, Wilcox is deadly in spot up and catch-and-shoot situations.
26. P.J. Hairston, SG, Jr., Texas Legends NBDL. Played in the NBDL after being dismissed from North Carolina. Has NBA 3-point range and can score in bunches.
27. Cleanthony Early, SF, Sr., Wichita State. One of the elder statesmen in the draft at 23 years old, Early clearly benefited from Wichita State’s success the past two seasons.
28. Deonte Burton, PG, Sr., Nevada. Not well known coming out of Nevada, Burton has a pro style game and is a 20 ppg scorer.
29. Mitch McGary, PF/C, So. Michigan. An important piece to Michigan’s 2012-’13 team, McGary had last season cut short with a back injury and declared following a positive test for marijuana.
30. Glenn Robinson III, SF, So. Michigan. Son of former NBA player the “Big Dog,” Robinson is an above average scorer who does most of his damage from the perimeter.
31. K.J. McDaniels, SF, Jr., Clemson. Very good athlete and high flying leaper; possesses an all-around game that should translate well in the NBA.
32. Walter Tavares, C, Int. (Cape Verde). Raw 7-3 prospect with a long wingspan and big hands. His defensive prowess and shot blocking has people interested. Could find his way into the first round.
33. Jordan Adams, SG, So., UCLA. A natural scorer who plays with a high basketball I.Q. Finds ways to get shots and scoring opportunities despite being labeled an average athlete.
34. Patric Young, PF, Sr., Florida. A rough and tumble 6-9 brute with very good quickness who could fit in nicely in the right role in the NBA.
35. Spencer Dinwiddie, SG, Jr., Colorado. Had he not tore his ACL midway through last season, Dinwiddie would probably be higher on this list. Has the potential to jump up with a healthy knee and good pre-draft workouts.
36. Nick Johnson, PG/SG, Jr., Arizona. Undersized for a shooting guard and will need to improve at the point, but possesses elite athleticism and leaping ability.
37. Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG, Int. (Serbia). Led his team in scoring at 15 ppg in the Euroleague last season and also made a mark as a solid contributor for the Serbian National Team.
38. DeAndre Daniels, SF, Jr., Connecticut. Much like Napier, Daniels’ draft stock rose with Connecticut’s national championship run. His biggest strength is his ability to shoot from the perimeter.
39. LaQuinton Ross, SF, Jr., Ohio State. Ross, like Ohio State, failed to meet most people’s expectations this year. However, he has shown enough ability to potentially be an NBA role player.
40. Russ Smith, PG, Sr., Louisville. After explosive but erratic play in previous years, Smith returned for his senior year at Louisville to show scouts he could play point guard and earned First Team All-American status.
41. Vasilije Micic, PG, Int. (Serbia). At just 19 years old, Micic has established himself on the international basketball circuit as a top point guard since he was 16 years old.
42. Jordan Clarkson, PG/SG, Jr., Missouri. A Tulsa transfer, Clarkson was a key component to Missouri’s hot start to last season and went on to be named second team All-SEC.
43. Johnny O’Bryant, PF, Jr., LSU. A lack of exposure from LSU’s inability to make the NCAA Tournament while he was there has hurt him. He is a former McDonald’s All-American who ranked among the SEC’s best big men.
44. Jarnell Stokes, PF, Jr., Tennessee. A big man with the potential to rise up the board due to his ability to compete and produce against top flight competition while at Tennessee and playing for U19 USA Basketball.
45. Dwight Powell, PF, Sr., Stanford. Powell’s senior year wasn’t as impressive as his junior campaign, but he was still able to put up good numbers and display an adept offensive game.
46. Khem Birch, PF, Jr., UNLV. Forgoing final year of eligibility after winning consecutive Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards.
47. Jahii Carson, PG, So., Arizona State. Carson burst onto the scene as a freshman and followed it up with an up and down sophomore year in 2013-14. He might be the quickest player in the draft and his ability to change speeds and direction is a problem for anyone in man defense.
48. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, SF, Int. (Greece), Delaware 87ers NBDL. Brother to Milwaukee’s “Greek Freak” Giannis, Thanasis decided against staying in Greece to play in the NBDL this past year and it should pay off with a second-round selection.
49. Artem Klimenko, C, Int (Russia). Athletic, rangy 7-footer has emerged from obscurity since announcing his intention to enter the draft.
50. Nikola Jokic, C, Int. (Serbia). The 6-11, 19-year-old Serbian stands out on the offensive end of the floor, where he possesses a natural feel for the game.
51. James McAdoo, PF, Jr. North Carolina. Athletic 6-9 PF with long wingspan; strength is in his high energy style.
52. Isaiah Austin, C, So., Baylor. Gangly 7-footer from Baylor who has the size and mobility NBA teams are looking for but needs to add some weight.
53. Jabari Brown, SG, Jr. Missouri. Oregon transfer known for being a spot-up shooter used his junior season to upgrade offensive game.
54. Damien Inglis, SF, 6-8, 240, Int. (French Guinea). At 6-8, 240 with a 7’3″ wingspan, the just-turned 19 year old has NBA eyes and ears fixated on his potential.
55. Markel Brown, SG, Sr. Oklahoma State. 3-year starter at Oklahoma State and wingman to Marcus Smart the past two years; averaged a little over 17 ppg last season.
56. Joe Harris, SG, Sr. Virginia. The knock on Harris is that he’s not a great athlete, but he is a very good shooter who showed it at the NBA draft combine.
57. C.J. Fair, SF/PF, Sr. Syracuse. Used his last two years to turn himself into an offensive threat, leaving with a 16.5 ppg average.
58. Jordan Bachynski, C, Sr. Arizona State. 7-2 with a long wing span, Bachynski steadily improved over his four years at Arizona State, finishing with an NCAA tournament berth as a senior.
59. Devyn Marble, SG, Sr. Iowa. A 17 ppg game jump shooting scorer who was a focal point of Iowa’s offense last season.
60. Semaj Christon, PG, Soph, Xavier. Athletic 17 ppg scorer whose ability to lash and get to the rim has him feeling that leaving Xavier after two years is the best decision.
61. Aaron Craft, PG, Sr. Ohio State. Craft’s offensive prowess is a big question mark at the NBA level, but his leadership and defense will give him a chance to prove himself.
62. Lamar Patterson, SG, Sr. Pittsburgh. Four-year player who used his time at Pitt wisely, transforming from a role player to potential NBA player. Started senior season strong before tailing off.
63. Josh Huestis, SF, Sr. Stanford. Possesses good size for an NBA small forward and has played well in workouts since the season ended.
64. Cory Jefferson, PF, Sr. Baylor. Along with having NBA size and athleticism, Jefferson seemed to play his best against top competition his last two years at Baylor.
65. Shayne Whittington, PF, Sr. Western Michigan. Not known for his shooting prowess, the 6-11 Whittington took everybody by surprise at the Portsmith Invitational by showing off a smooth stroke and hitting from NBA 3-point range.
66. Sean Kilpatrick, SG, Sr. Cincinnati. Kilpatrick has a laundry list of personal awards and is a dangerous scorer, but is an older prospect at 24.
67. Keith Appling, PG, Sr. Michigan State. Wrist injury midway through his senior season hurt Appling’s naturally aggressive scoring ability and forced him to focus on distributing and play making.
68. Xavier Thames, SG, Sr. San Diego State. The Washington State transfer turned himself into an 18 ppg scorer at San Diego State.
69. Andre Dawkins, SG, Sr. Duke. Dawkins is a dangerous 3-point shooter who struggles to put the ball on the floor. Dangerous jumper will earn NBA looks.
70. Melvin Ejim, SF, Sr. Iowa State. Big 12 Player of the Year lacks prototype size for an NBA power forward, his natural position. Will have to show people he can play small forward.
71. Kendall Williams, PG, Sr. New Mexico. Solid 4-year player capped his senior year with a 16 ppg. average. Considered a tweener, scouts aren’t sure if he’s a PG or SG.
72. DeAndre Kane, PG/SG, Sr. Iowa State. Marshall transfer played one year at Iowa State for Fred Hoiberg and made it a stellar one, averaging 17 ppg and nearly 6 assists per game.
73. Juvonte Reddic, PF, Sr. VCU. Reddic’s offense took a step back in his senior year; will have to prove last year’s offensive stats were a fluke and that he can rebound and defend if he hopes to get a shot somewhere.
74. Max Kleber, PF, Int. (Germany). Another perimeter-oriented European big man who has scouts intrigued with his ability to shoot and run the floor.
75. Sim Bhullar, c, Soph. New Mexico State. The massive 7-5, 360-pound Bhullar decided against returning to New Mexico State for his junior year; will need lose weight and focus on conditioning to have any shot in the NBA.
76. Ioannis Papapetrou, SF, Int. Greece. After one year at Texas, Papapetrou opted to leave to return to his native Greece and play for powerhouse Olympiacos, where his length and athleticism have stood out.
77. Alec Brown, C, Sr. Wisconsin Green Bay. Horizon League First teamer and Defensive Player of the Year winner has shown smooth shooting stroke that extends out to the NBA 3-point line.
78. Cristiano Felicio, PF, Int. (Brazil). 6-9, 240-pounder has drawn comparisons to Nene due to his Brazilian heritage.
79. Fuquan Edwin, SF, Sr. Seton Hall. After a solid junior year, Edwin’s offense regressed last season. However, he has shot well in workouts since the season ended.
80. Jordan McRae, SG, Sr. Tennessee. McRae helped lead the Vols to the Sweet 16 as their main perimeter scorer. At 6-5, his 7-foot wingspan also has scouts wondering about his NBA defensive potential.
81. Eric Moreland, PF/C, Jr. Oregon State. After leaving UTEP due to a coaching change and being forced to redshirt after injury his first year at Oregon State, Moreland turned himself into an intriguing big man prospect last year and has performed well in postseason workouts.
82. Akil Mitchell, PF, Sr. Virginia. After a productive senior year that saw him take a bigger role with UVA, Mitchell has continued his solid play in postseason workouts.
83. Richard Solomon, PF/C, Sr. California. Not overly flashy offensively or defensively, Solomon possesses NBA size with a good motor that could translate into some looks from NBA teams.
84. Jakarr Sampson, SF, Soph. St. John’s. The athletic 6-8 wing with long arms should probably stay another year in school to increase his draft stock, but has decided to leave St. John’s with two years of eligibility remaining.
85. Casey Prather, SF, Sr. Florida. Prather’s natural instincts always have been and will be in the open floor, where he slashes and finishes at the rim.
86. Cameron Bairstow, PF, Sr. New Mexico. Very similar to fellow Australian and current San Antonio Spur Aron Baynes when he was in college; overpowers opponents in the paint and will need to follow Baynes’ lead and become more agile.
87. Will Sheehey, SF, Sr. Indiana. Beloved Hoosier’s athleticism and four-year pedigree could earn him some looks.
88. Roberto Nelson, PG/SG, Sr. Oregon State. Explosive combo guard could get some looks from the NBA based on gaudy 20 ppg average, but will have to shed tweener tag.
89. Roscoe Smith, SF, Jr. UNLV. Undersized PF will have to adjust to playing SF, which could prove tough transition for a guy whose best assets are his hustle play and nose for the ball.
90. Scottie Wilbekin, PG, Sr. Florida. Solid but not spectacular Wilbekin has been a dubbed a “game manager,” and will have to make little to no mistakes to enhance his stature among scouts for a shot at the NBA.
91. Bryce Cotton, PG, Sr. Providence. Another PG who is going to have to focus on making other players look better in game settings to garner more attention.
92. Niels Giffey, SF, Sr. Connecticut. Two-time national champion, Giffey is a solid athlete who could make a nice role player at the professional level.
93. Nikola Milutinov, C, Int. (Serbia). 6-11 with lots of potential; should probably stay another year in Europe to develop as he has fallen off quite a bit since a strong summer last year.
94. Tarik Black, PF, Sr. Kansas. A Memphis transfer, a lot of people are buzzing about his potential … as an NFL-caliber tight end. Black is reportedly entertaining the idea of giving football a try should basketball not work out.
95. Joe Jackson, PG, Sr. Memphis. After what a lot of people dubbed disappointing freshman and sophomore years, Jackson burst onto the season with a solid junior year and followed it up with a nice senior season.
96. Cameron Clark, SF, Sr. Oklahoma. After a decline in offensive production his junior year, the 6-6 wing player finished his Oklahoma career with a 15.6 ppg average last season.
97. Brendan Lane, PF, Sr. Pepperdine. Finished he degree in 3 years at UCLA and after redshirting a year at Pepperdine earned WCC Defensive Player of the Year award to go along with 13.1 ppg and 7.1 rebs in his 1 year of eligibility.
98. Markel Starks, PG, Sr. Georgetown. 6-2 PG who polished off 4 years at Georgetown with a 17.3 ppg average his Senior year. He’s a scoring guard and has played well in workouts since the season ended.
99. Mike Moser, PF, Sr, Oregon. Once a NBA prospect at UNLV, Moser’s stock took a big hit after his played dropped off dramatically. He transferred to Oregon and appears to have gotten himself back on track with 13.2 PPG.
100. Jamil Wilson, SF, Sr. Marquette. Wilson was supposed to have a breakout year his Senior Season but didn’t perform up to expectations. However, at 6-7 with a long wingspan, Wilson has the physical prowess NBA teams love.
Tyler Jamieson (@ty3jamieson) is a former NBA scout and the Senior NBA Draft Analyst for The Sports Xchange.
