| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Point guards
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Year
|
School
|
Comment
|
|
1. Mateen Cleaves
|
6-2
|
Sr.
|
Michigan St.
|
Toughness, leadership and playmaking skills put him atop the list. |
|
2. Craig Claxton
|
5-11
|
Sr.
|
Hofstra
|
He leaped to the second spot with his play in Phoenix and could still overtake Cleaves.
|
|
3. Erick Barkley
|
6-1
|
Soph.
|
St. John's
|
He still has the scoring ability and moxie to be in the top three.
|
Shooting guards
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Year
|
School
|
Comment
|
|
1. Courtney Alexander
|
6-5
|
Sr.
|
Fresno St.
|
He can score 20-30 but also go 2-for-10 on a given night. But he's still the best pure shooter.
|
|
2. Morris Peterson
|
6-6
|
Sr.
|
Michigan St.
|
Proven ability to score and NBA body make Peterson the choice over Johnson.
|
|
3. DerMarr Johnson
|
6-9
|
Fr.
|
Cincinnati
|
Scouts love his versatility and are calling him a poor-man's Lamar Odom.
|
Small forwards
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Year
|
School
|
Comment
|
|
1. Mike Miller
|
6-8
|
Soph.
|
Florida
|
This is the weakest but also the most unpredictable position. Miller will be the first to go because of his versatility and "upside."
|
|
2. Darius Miles
|
6-8
|
HS
|
East St. Louis, Ill.
|
The raw potential has scouts believing he's a lottery choice and the second-best bet at small forward.
|
|
3. Desmond Mason
|
6-6
|
Sr.
|
Oklahoma St.
|
He proved in Phoenix that he's the best athlete in the draft and has the perfect size to be a slashing small forward.
|
Power forwards
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Year
|
School
|
Comment
|
|
1. Kenyon Martin
|
6-8
|
Sr.
|
Cincinnati
|
Injury aside, Martin is still the class of this group because of his dominating performances in college.
|
|
2. Marcus Fizer
|
6-8
|
Jr.
|
Iowa St.
|
Fizer's a notch below because he hasn't been as consistent as long as Martin has in college the past two years.
|
|
3. Jerome Moiso
|
6-9
|
Soph.
|
UCLA
|
If Stromile Swift declares, he could be second or third but if he doesn't, then the raw Moiso has enough skills to be the choice.
|
Centers
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Year
|
School
|
Comment
|
|
1. Chris Mihm
|
7-0
|
Jr.
|
Texas
|
If he declares, he has the low-post skills to be the top pick.
|
|
2. Joel Przybilla
|
7-0
|
Soph.
|
Minnesota
|
He would be drafted on his potential. His offensive game in the post is still very raw.
|
|
3. Jason Collier
|
7-0
|
Sr.
|
Georgia Tech
|
His post moves would move him up to second if Mihm stays. If he does, then add 7-foot Russian Takobus Tsakalidis to the top three.
|
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA draft: First-round projections
Early-entry candidates for NBA draft
 |
