| | 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
Mamadou N'Diaye, 7-0, Auburn: N'Diaye's offense improved at the Pete
Newell camp. His defense has never been in question. Because he's tall has long, rangy arms and can move laterally, N'Diaye is a lock for the lottery.
Something to prove
Jamaal Magloire, 6-10, Kentucky: If this had been written a month
ago, Magloire wouldn't have been a lock for the first round. But he's been on a
roll since the middle of December. He's finally realized that he needs to
stay in the block and rebound. Now, it definitely looks like the right
decision that Magloire returned for his senior season.
Brad Millard, 7-3, Saint Mary's: He's had disciplinary problems
recently, but it's his lack of aggressiveness and assertiveness at both ends
of the court that hurt his draft status. The broken feet will be a
major concern for any team that takes a chance on Millard.
Souleymane Wane, 6-11, Connecticut: He's athletic inside and could
make a roster because of his shotblocking and defense. He won't wow teams
with his offense but he has a shot at making an impact.
Jake Voskuhl, 6-11, Connecticut: Voskuhl is big. That's enough to
give him a look. He can defend and rebound when he stops looking for style
points. His offense won't improve, but he can make a roster.
Dan McClintock, 7-0, Northern Arizona: He has the size, the soft
hands and decent feet, but he'll need to play well in the spring to be considered as a
second-round pick.
Stefan Ciosici, 6-11, Lafayette: Ciosici is still slowed by an ACL
injury. Scouts are down on his movement, but someone could take a chance on
him because of his size. He could end up playing overseas before the NBA
takes another crack at him.
Jabari Smith, 6-11, LSU: His stock has soared now that he's added moves in the
post. He's a wide body who can defend and rebound. That should be enough for
him to get a decent look in the first round.
Sleeper
Mate Milisa, 6-11, Long Beach State: He's improved each season at
Long Beach. Look for him to shine at the spring draft camps. He can score
and defend in the post.
Underclassmen
Chris Mihm, 7-0, Jr., Texas: He's either No. 1 or No. 2 overall because of
his soft hands, agile feet, ability to score in the post, run the floor and defend. But he'll wait until April to make up his mind.
Joel Przybilla, 7-1, Soph., Minnesota: He can block shots, and now,
Przybilla can actually score. He's a long way from contributing in the
NBA, but he'll go if Minnesota gets hit by harsh NCAA postseason sanctions.
Earnest Brown, 6-11, Soph., Indian Hills (Iowa) JC: Financial reasons
have him thinking about the draft. If he doesn't, he'll be at Iowa State next season.
Brown is a force in the middle who could become a better scorer with more
games.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
ALSO SEE
Draft: Mihm's the word
Point guards
Shooting guards
Small forwards
Power forwards
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jamaal Magloire hits the fade-away jumper against the Spartans.
avi: 855 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Texas' Chris Mihm takes control of the paint with two blocks.
avi: 846 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Joel Przybilla throws down the alley-oop slam.
avi: 591 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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