The 2015 NBA Draft just ended and people still need to process what players are going to their favorite teams, so what better time is there to think about which top players teams might tank for. It’s fun to look at the future and what players people need to lookout for going into the next year of NCAA and NBA basketball. There are some guys at the top who have been top prospects for years but this 2016 NBA draft class isn’t entirely too deep as it has been the last two years.
There are always some surprise players that shoot up draft boards after stellar seasons, much like D’Angelo Russell and Justise Winslow in the 2015 draft and other guys who fall from the top all the way down, like Cliff Alexander also in the 2015 draft, so where some of these guys might end up landing could change in years time.
Here are some guys that might become household names one year from now. Oddly enough, all of them are incoming college freshman.
1. Ben Simmons, F, LSU, 6’10”, 240
Former high school teammate of number 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft D’Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons will be the name talked about the most going into the next year of basketball. The Australian talent, who has been close to Dante Exum since he was seven years old, has the ability to do it all and he’s not shy about showcasing it.
Simmons has been long regarded as a top prospect for many years now and his profile has grown to advanced levels as more and more scouts have seen him play. Luckily for LSU, he’s landing right in their laps. Simmons has it all, size, skill and the right attitude to go into the NBA and take it by storm. Some have labeled him as the next great ‘can’t miss’ talent that should definitely go number one if all goes well at LSU.
Aussie forward with a versatile skill set … High level athlete with a smoothness to his game … Has a chance to be special … Lefty shooter with feathery touch and excellent release … Grew up around the game, and shows a feel for the game that cannot be learned on the fly … Adept at creating shots for himself and can spot up or pull up off the dribble … Very good at creating offense for himself or others … Has a tremendous basketball body with a big frame, wide shoulders, enormous hands and long arms … Strong family background has made him a hard working kid with a strong work ethic … High level vision and passing skills. His passing ability is rare for a forward … Great first step and knows how to use ball fakes to get his man off balance … Shows the competitiveness to raise his level of play in clutch situations and when he’s challenged … Solid defender. Gets a low base. Good lateral speed. Stays in front of his man. Doesn’t gamble … Great maturity/composure. Rarely rushes things and gets out of control. … Has avoided being coddled by the AAU scene … His game is very advanced/complete for such a young player, doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses.
2. Skal Labasierre, C, Kentucky, 7’0″, 220 lbs
Labasierre is following a long line of shot blocking big men at Kentucky. He’s following in the footsteps of DeMarcus Cousins, Nerlens Noel, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein. The difference with Labasierre and some of those guys is his offensive ability.
He can space the floor out, much like Towns, and he has some great footwork in the post, much like Cousins. Somehow, some way, John Calipari did it again and it bringing in a top talent to Kentucky. The one issue with Labassiere, much like Kristaps Porzingis or even Towns, is that for being a 7 foot tall big man, he will need to put on some weight.
7 foot forward/center that can score from anywhere on the floor … Smooth shooting mechanics. Gets great elevation on his jump shot. Excellent pull up jumper. Has a high release point, hard for defenders to contest … Can score off the catch or dribble … Scores and passes out of double, even triple teams. Sees the floor well for a bigman … Great frame, will add strength with time. His shoulders and legs show excellent muscle tone and have improved considerably over the past 2 years … Rare ability to create own shot for a player with his size … Great attitude and work ethic. Vocal leader and very coachable … Great footwork and advanced scoring arsenal for a such a young player, doesn’t rely on physical tools … Good defender, has shot blocking instincts and gets off the ground well, doesn’t leave his feet on shot fakes … Rebounds in his area … Stays poised, doesn’t get rattled under pressure … Great ambidexterity … Student of the game … Possesses a great attitude. Great work ethic, and extremely coachable …
3. Jaylen Brown, G/F, California, 6’6, 220 Lbs
Watching him drive to the basket or body up defenders in the post just goes to show the physicality he has built with his 6’7″ frame. At the same time, his quickstep, turnaround and ability to create space goes to show his natural athleticism and quickness as well. His combination, of strength and speed, is rare and will help hasten his development as a player. To go with his athleticism and strength is his ability to finish at the rim. Despite only being a HS Senior, Jaylen is as good as it gets when it comes to absorbing the contact and still getting a shot. He has an uncanny ability to be able to split two defenders, drive into the lane and create for his teammates or finish the drive himself. More often than not, you will see him finish off a drive with a spectacular dunk. He does use his strength and speed when he attacks the basket but he also surveys the defense as well. Its evident that he plays off what the defense gives him and is not adamant about finish a play a certain way. He’ll lower his body and out muscle you to the basket, if he feels that your giving him no space he’ll spin off you to create an open shot. Jaylen has clearly surpassed his competition at the HS level.
Not much to be written about here except that he has all the tools and attributes to be an elite defender at the college level and beyond. His frame allows him to guard 3 or 4 positions. His athleticism allows him to stay in front of any play he is guarding. His strength allows him to body up with any player that decides to post up against him. His strength/athleticism/finishing allows him to create havoc when running in transition and his defense allows him to create turnovers to start them. Jaylen’s game still flourishes in the transition game and is where most of his strengths are on display.
4. Brandon Ingram, F, Duke, 6’9, 196 lbs
Ingram has crazy long arms. I feel sorry for every high school player who had the task of guarding this young man. He has the length of a power forward and uses it to effectively block shots. Has a similar build to Kevin Durant only he is not as tall. Can pull up from 3 in a moment’s notice and knock it down with ease. His mid-range game is just as smooth as his perimeter game. Ingram uses his size and length to shoot over defenders like it is child’s play. He has an effective dribble that gets him where he needs to go on the court. His athleticism is what you would expect when you first lay eyes on him, he’s not the most explosive leaper but a good enough leaper to where he can play above the rim effectively.
Ingram is above average in every aspect of his scoring ability. His passing and play-making abilities are still a bit under-developed but he plays with a high basketball IQ, and is capable of being an extremely pesky defender as his length makes him a nightmare for opposing guards as well as small forwards. Ingram will have to bulk up as he will be pushed around at the next level by players that have any semblance of a post game, a college weight-training program will do him wonders.
5. Malik Newman, G, Mississippi State, 6’4″, 179 lbs
6’4 scoring guard with great speed and scoring instincts … Intense competitior … Great work ethic. Student of the game … Best scorer in the 2015 high school class, and one fo the top shooters … Gets great elevation on jump shot. Has range out to NBA 3 … Can create for himself on offense with an advanced scoring arsenal for such a young player, step backs, pull up jumpers, floaters, etc … Great midrange skills … Polished in the ISO game and creating off the dribble … Scores in bunches … Knows how to play in transition and in the half court … Picks his spots well in where he wants to score from … Does a great job seeing the court, avoiding traps and double teams … Plays with patience … Always squared up to the basket and ready to score … Can get to the rim and challenge a bigger defender at the rim. Great body control and footwork … Great basketball IQ and feel for the game … Very tough mentally … Active and willing defender … Good rebounder for a guard … Quick first step. Can stop on a dime.
Honorable mention
Ivan Rabb, Daniel Hamilton, Dragen Bender, Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert
(All scouting reports courtesy NBADraft.net and SBNation)
