2015 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the Top 10 NBA Prospects in the Sweet 16

2015 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the Top 10 NBA Prospects in the Sweet 16

By Seth Lassen

March 23, 2015

Ranking Top 10 NBA Prospects in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Duke Blue Devils, Jahil Okafor — Only 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament and there's an incredible amount of NBA talent scattered throughout the eight Sweet 16 matchups. These players aren't just playing for a chance to win a National Championship, but also auditioning for NBA teams expected to make selections in the draft lottery.

Only 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament and there's an incredible amount of NBA talent scattered throughout the eight Sweet 16 matchups. These players aren't just playing for a chance to win a National Championship, but also auditioning for NBA teams expected to make selections in the draft lottery.

10. Devin Booker, Kentucky

Kentucky Devin Booker

10. Devin Booker, Kentucky

Kentucky Devin Booker — Incredibly, Booker will still be 18 years old at the time of June's draft. The 6-foot-6 freshman guard has averaged 10.1 points in 21.5 minutes per game for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats this season. Booker is an elite shooter with a high basketball IQ. He needs to work on his ball handling and he's not overly-athletic, but as one of the youngest players in the country, he's got a lot of time left to develop.

Incredibly, Booker will still be 18 years old at the time of June's draft. The 6-foot-6 freshman guard has averaged 10.1 points in 21.5 minutes per game for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats this season. Booker is an elite shooter with a high basketball IQ. He needs to work on his ball handling and he's not overly-athletic, but as one of the youngest players in the country, he's got a lot of time left to develop.

9. Jakob Poeltl, Utah

Jakob Poeltl

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9. Jakob Poeltl, Utah

Jakob Poeltl — Poeltl averaged 9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Utah this season. Born in Vienna, Austria, the seven-foot, 230-pound center anchors the Utes No. 11-ranked scoring defense. Poeltl is incredibly sound defensively and a great rebounder with impressive athleticism for a man of his size. If he can add some strength and improve his post game offensively, the sky is the limit.

Poeltl averaged 9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Utah this season. Born in Vienna, Austria, the seven-foot, 230-pound center anchors the Utes No. 11-ranked scoring defense. Poeltl is incredibly sound defensively and a great rebounder with impressive athleticism for a man of his size. If he can add some strength and improve his post game offensively, the sky is the limit.

8. Trey Lyles, Kentucky

Kentucky Trey Lyles

8. Trey Lyles, Kentucky

Kentucky Trey Lyles — Lyles is one of several of the incredibly athletic forwards on the Kentucky team. He's 6-foot-10 with a nice inside-out offensive game and possesses a soft touch around the rim. Lyles can stretch his jumper out to three-point range and has some handles for a tall, 19-year-old power forward. Lyles needs to add strength to his long frame and improve defensively to become a complete prospect.

Lyles is one of several of the incredibly athletic forwards on the Kentucky team. He's 6-foot-10 with a nice inside-out offensive game and possesses a soft touch around the rim. Lyles can stretch his jumper out to three-point range and has some handles for a tall, 19-year-old power forward. Lyles needs to add strength to his long frame and improve defensively to become a complete prospect.

7. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin

7. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin — Unlike the first three players on this list, Kaminsky is not a freshman. The senior seven-footer is one of the best players in the country and has led Wisconsin to a 33-3 record. Kaminsky is especially gifted offensively and can torch defenses from both the inside and the outside, with shooting range extending out to the three-point arc. He's not a great rebounder for his size and will likely struggle defending the athletic big men in the NBA.

Unlike the first three players on this list, Kaminsky is not a freshman. The senior seven-footer is one of the best players in the country and has led Wisconsin to a 33-3 record. Kaminsky is especially gifted offensively and can torch defenses from both the inside and the outside, with shooting range extending out to the three-point arc. He's not a great rebounder for his size and will likely struggle defending the athletic big men in the NBA.

6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Kentucky Willie Cauley-Stein

6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Kentucky Willie Cauley-Stein — Cauley-Stein is one of the few upperclassmen on the Kentucky roster. The center stands seven-feet tall with a condor-like wingspan. Cauley-Stein is freakishly mobile and athletic for his size, and dominates defensively by swatting away shots on a consistent basis. He's very raw on the offensive end, but will be a top-10 pick in June for his defensive prowess and athleticism.

Cauley-Stein is one of the few upperclassmen on the Kentucky roster. The center stands seven-feet tall with a condor-like wingspan. Cauley-Stein is freakishly mobile and athletic for his size, and dominates defensively by swatting away shots on a consistent basis. He's very raw on the offensive end, but will be a top-10 pick in June for his defensive prowess and athleticism.

5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona

Stanley Johnson Arizona

5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona

Stanley Johnson Arizona — The Arizona freshman small forward's strength, aggressiveness, and tenacious on-ball defense remind NBA scouts of Ron Artest/Metta World Peace. At 18, Johnson already has an NBA-ready body and an excellent motor to go along with it. The elite defender is always in attack mode, but needs to become a more consistent shooter if he wants to be an All-Star type of player at the next level.

The Arizona freshman small forward's strength, aggressiveness, and tenacious on-ball defense remind NBA scouts of Ron Artest/Metta World Peace. At 18, Johnson already has an NBA-ready body and an excellent motor to go along with it. The elite defender is always in attack mode, but needs to become a more consistent shooter if he wants to be an All-Star type of player at the next level.

4. Kevon Looney, UCLA

Kevon Looney UCLA

4. Kevon Looney, UCLA

Kevon Looney UCLA — Looney suffered a facial fracture in the Pac-12 Tournament just over a week ago, but it hasn't slowed him down through UCLA's first two games in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-10 freshman forward had a double-double against UAB by scoring 10 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Looney is a versatile big man and an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. Offensively, Looney needs to continue working on his improving jump shot.

Looney suffered a facial fracture in the Pac-12 Tournament just over a week ago, but it hasn't slowed him down through UCLA's first two games in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-10 freshman forward had a double-double against UAB by scoring 10 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Looney is a versatile big man and an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. Offensively, Looney needs to continue working on his improving jump shot.

3. Justise Winslow, Duke

Justise Winslow Duke

3. Justise Winslow, Duke

Justise Winslow Duke — The Duke freshman is a bit of a tweener without a real position at this point, but he will be drafted based on what he could ultimately become as he develops. Winslow is incredibly competitive and has all the tools to become an elite defender in the NBA. A lack of a reliable jump shot is all that's missing from Winslow's well-rounded game.

The Duke freshman is a bit of a tweener without a real position at this point, but he will be drafted based on what he could ultimately become as he develops. Winslow is incredibly competitive and has all the tools to become an elite defender in the NBA. A lack of a reliable jump shot is all that's missing from Winslow's well-rounded game.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

Karl-Anthony Towns Kentucky

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky — Towns closed the gap on the No. 1 player on this list as the season progressed. It's nearly impossible to get a clean shot off against the 6-foot-11 freshman. Town's an elite shot-blocker who used his 7-foot-4 wingspan to block 2.4 shots in just 20.9 minutes per game this season. He's polished offensively and has an excellent shot that can stretch out to three-point range. Towns has the highest ceiling of all players expected to be in the draft.

Towns closed the gap on the No. 1 player on this list as the season progressed. It's nearly impossible to get a clean shot off against the 6-foot-11 freshman. Town's an elite shot-blocker who used his 7-foot-4 wingspan to block 2.4 shots in just 20.9 minutes per game this season. He's polished offensively and has an excellent shot that can stretch out to three-point range. Towns has the highest ceiling of all players expected to be in the draft.

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke

Jahlil Okafor, Duke

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke

Jahlil Okafor, Duke — The Duke freshman has a full arsenal of post moves and there's no single player in college basketball that can stop him. He's not a great shooter, but he's shown touch out to 15 feet and has a naturally soft touch around the rim. The only knock on Okafor is a lack of athleticism and explosiveness usually seen from a No.1 pick. Anyone excited for a potential Okafor-Towns matchup in the the National Championship Game?

The Duke freshman has a full arsenal of post moves and there's no single player in college basketball that can stop him. He's not a great shooter, but he's shown touch out to 15 feet and has a naturally soft touch around the rim. The only knock on Okafor is a lack of athleticism and explosiveness usually seen from a No.1 pick. Anyone excited for a potential Okafor-Towns matchup in the the National Championship Game?

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