| | Over the next five months, ESPN.com will be charting the progress of potential NBA draft picks through conversations with scouts, GMs and college coaches.
The lists are broken down by position, with the following categories: lottery locks, something to prove (to lock up a spot in the first round), sleepers (to get draft attention) and underclassmen (only those who have made overtures about possibly leaving or those who are high on scouts' lists should they go). As players develop, we'll add a newcomer list as NBA scouts and general managers turn their attention to new targets.
The first round will likely include three to five foreign players, who we'll check in on as the draft nears. The list will also change during the three predraft camps -- Portsmouth (Va.), Phoenix and Chicago -- before the draft takes place June 28 in Minneapolis.
Lottery locks
Kenyon Martin, 6-8, Cincinnati: He might have locked up one of the
top two spots during his summer play with the World University Games team.
His offensive intensity matches his shotblocking. Don't expect him to fall out of the top five.
Hanno Mottola, 6-10, Utah: He came back from his knee injury and
went on a scoring tear, improving his stock among scouts. He still needs to
create better, but his ballhandling has improved.
Etan Thomas, 6-9, Syracuse: His shotblocking has always been a
mainstay but now he's scoring, too. Thomas should be in the top 13 picks,
assuming he continues to progress the second half of the season.
Something to prove
Jason Collier, 7-0, Georgia Tech: He's a load in the post but he has to do a better job defensively. His lateral quickness is a negative.
Mark Madsen, 6-9, Stanford: He's tough, he boards, he's the best
teammate anyone can have, but can he score in the NBA? That's the question
that will haunt the Mad Dog.
Brian Cardinal, 6-8, Purdue: See Mark Madsen.
Lamont Barnes, 6-10, Temple: He's still too soft at times. He needs
to continue to be a presence in the lane. He's a wide body and that will get
him a serious look. He could pull a Lari Ketner and play well in the spring
to move up in the draft.
Gabe Muoneke, 6-7, Texas: He's strong inside but still bullies his
way to the basket. It could work in the NBA but he needs to display more touch before he gets picked.
Kenny Younger, 6-9, Houston: He has the scoring ability and can
board, but he'll need a strong showing in the spring.
Sleeper
Ryan Fletcher, 6-8, Cincinnati: He might end up sneaking into the second
round if he plays well in the camps. He has a decent shot, can board and
bang.
Underclassmen
Stromile Swift, 6-9, Fr., LSU: With his shotblocking and inside-outside game, he has the tools to be taken in the lottery. He told ESPN.com that the draft decision could be tough in the spring. If LSU doesn't make the tournament, that could expedite his decision.
Jerome Moiso, 6-11, Soph., UCLA: The UCLA coaching staff believes
Moiso wants to go, so they're on a mission over the next two months to convince him otherwise. Moiso showed moves in the post against North Carolina that would give credence to an early departure. But he's still learning the game and needs another year or two of schooling.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kenyon Martin cleans up in the paint.
avi: 689 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Hanno Mottola takes the ball strong to the hoop.
avi: 543 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Etan Thomas takes the steal in for the dunk.
avi: 621 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jason Collier takes it to the Stanford defense.
avi: 1006 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Brian Cardinal battles on the boards for the basket.
avi: 675 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Gabe Muoneke rumbles in the layup against Sooners.
avi: 869 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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