1. Josh Jackson / SF / Kansas

    No it’s not Markelle Fultz, and it’s not Lonzo Ball. The top player in this year’s draft is the do-everything forward from Kansas. Josh Jackson will not be the best scorer to come out of this class. Instead, he offers a unique combination of skills that allow him to participate in every aspect of the game. The first time I truly noticed his talent at the top of this class was during Kansas’ Elite Eight matchup with Oregon (which they lost 74-60). With about 12 minutes left in the game, Dillon Brooks made a layup (off a Jackson turnover, no less) that put the Ducks up 57-41 going into the TV timeout. Jackson was having an awful shooting night up to that point, having scored zero points and missing a couple of free throws. But it was Jackson, not All-American guard Frank Mason, who showed up at the end of the game. He started to take over the game on both ends of the floor. On defense, he was making things difficult for Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey. Offensively, he poured in all 10 of his points as well as multiple offensive rebounds and assists over the final 11:30 of the game. They didn’t win, but that stretch pronounced Jackson’s basketball gifts and desire to win.

    What makes Jackson the top prospect is his combination of athleticism, passing ability, and fiery competitiveness. You’ll hear about many players in this draft having the “physical tools” to be a good defender, but they don’t have the IQ yet or don’t try hard enough. Jackson lacks neither, one of the few players who wants to shut down his opponent. He carries that competitiveness to the boards where he averaged 2.3 offensive boards per game. Jackson is also the best passer out of all the non-point guards in this draft. He played somewhat of a point-forward role at Kansas, making extra passes in transition and on the block, to the tune of 3 assists per game. Athletically, Jackson explodes to the basket in space, making him a threat to score in transition and off the ball. Jackson has solid groundwork for a reliable post game, with turnaround jumpers and hooks in his arsenal. His biggest weakness is by far shooting. While Jackson actually shot 37.8% from downtown in college, there is a clear hitch in his shot that needs correction at the next level.

    Jackson is the best all-around player, and the most competitive player in this draft.

  2. Markelle Fultz / PG / Washington

    Straying from the pack on Fultz was an extremely difficult decision. He offers much of what you look for in a guard prospect. Fultz possesses a 6’10” wingspan to go with his 6’5″ frame. Both elite measurements for a point guard. But he also may be the most skilled point guard in the draft. While he’s not quite a quick-twitch athlete, Fultz is a smooth operator who uses short area quickness and footwork to move around defenders, getting where he wants on the floor. He’s also an adept rebounder and passer, averaging nearly 6 per game in both categories.

    Above all else, is Fultz’s ability to hit shots off the dribble. The majority of his shots where jumpers, and he shot them at a surprisingly high rate for an 18-year old freshman guard. Especially given the volume of shots (17.6 per game) and the fact that he was the defense’s focus make his efficiency impressive. Fultz shot 47.6% from the field and 41.3% from the field, while being responsible for nearly 50% of Washington’s offense. There is no doubt that Fultz will be a scorer at the next level. The only reason I dropped him to #2 is I don’t know how competitive he really is. Expecting Washington to have a winning record this past season is unreasonable, but seven of their nine victories came against weak out of conference opponents. They only won two PAC-12 games, and one was against the 5-27 Oregon State Beavers.

    Is expecting an 18-year old point guard to carry a team to more than nine wins asking too much? Perhaps. I hope Fultz proves me wrong.

  3. Dennis Smith Jr. / PG / N.C. State

    There is one thing that annoys me more than any other story line leading up to this year’s draft. Why is Dennis Smith labelled as the guy who can’t win, when his Wolfpack team went 15-17 in the toughest conference in college basketball, but Markelle Fultz gets a free pass?

    In general, Smith is getting overlooked in an admittedly deep talent pool at the top. Smith offers something that none of the other guards in this class do, explosive athletic ability. There are the reports that Smith posted a whopping 48-inch vertical at his Lakers workout. It seems absurd, but all you have to watch is the below to believe it.

    https://youtu.be/Wi5UxRw_64k?t=2m58s

    It’s not just the athleticism though. Smith displayed many of the same abilities as Fultz, carrying his N.C. State offense by averaging 18.1 points and 6.2 assists per game. Smith’s shooting ability was also better than expect, knocking down 35.9% of his three pointers and shooting 45.5% from the field. At the next level, expect Smith to be a score-first point guard in the mold of Damian Lillard.

  4. De’Aaron Fox / PG / Kentucky

    With all the talk about Fultz and Ball, the one player being overlooked the most in this draft is De’Aaron Fox.

    Besides Josh Jackson and Frank Ntilikina, Fox has the highest defensive upside in this year’s draft. He wasn’t always consistent with his effort, but most of the time Fox was able to speed up the opponent’s ball carrier and force action.

    The biggest knock against Fox is perhaps the most correctable. He did shoot a putrid 24.6% from three, but his shooting woes are overstated. Fox’s shooting form is actually compact and quick, his biggest problem is that he slings the ball, bringing it too far back, instead of starting his shot at around a 90 degree angle.

    Fox’s obvious strength is his speed and quickness. He was able to beat anyone off the dribble in college despite his poor outside shooting. If Fox is able to develop his outside shot, like I think he’ll be able to, he’ll end up being a better Mike Conley, which means he might actually make an All-Star game.

  5. Lonzo Ball / PG / UCLA

    Throughout the decision-making process, I had Lonzo ranked anywhere from the best player in the draft to the seventh. In the end, it ended up being somewhere in the middle. Ball has elite size and passing ability, but I’m worried about his ability to impact the game when things slowdown and he’s forced to run a half court offense. He never showed the ability to break down the defense without some sort of transition or momentum. Ball may end up improving his handle and post game and becoming the best player in this draft. But his lack of ability to create offense on his own, combined with his weak on-ball defense, have led me to drop him out of the top-3.

  6. Jonathan Isaac / F / Florida State

    Isaac is the most volatile player in the top-10 due to his combination of great measurables (6’10.5″ height, 7’1.25″ wingspan) for a small forward, or power forward. Isaac was a late bloomer who hit a growth spurt, so he’s retained some of his ability as a wing player. His best attribute is likely his defense as he average 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in 26 minutes per game. Isaac is also a solid, but not great outside shooter with a 34.8% mark from outside. Probably translates better as a power forward at the next level, Isaac’s floor is a defensive/rebounding forward who can hit the outside shot. He displayed flashes of offensive ability off the dribble and has the potential to be the best player in the draft. His offensive abilities were limited due to his role as a secondary scorer behind Dwayne Bacon at Florida State. Isaac was also timid in late game situations and projects as a more of a long-term prospect who can be an absolute nightmare in 3-4 years.

  7. Jayson Tatum / F / Duke

    Tatum is an elite offensive talent who is the closest thing the league has seen to Carmelo Anthony. What he has in offensive skill, he may lack in burst and athleticism. For this reason I couldn’t put him in the top-3, although he was there in multiple iterations of these rankings. Despite his relative lack of burst, Tatum has all the moves, jab step from the perimeter, jab into fade-away in the post, pull-up jumper. He also has very good size (6’8.25″ height, 6’11” wingspan) and is a willing defender and passer. Tatum could very easily end up being better than this ranking, but his upside is dependent on being an elite technician.

  8. Malik Monk / SG / Kentucky

    If there’s one thing Monk knows how to do, it’s get buckets. An interesting blend of shooting (39.7% 3PT on 6.9 attempts per game) and athleticism (42″ vertical) Monk has the ability to be a very good scorer in the NBA. While a lot of players are good shooters, the dimunitive (6’3″ height) Monk finds a way to get open with elite athleticism and gets necessary elevation to make up for his lack of size. The biggest worries about Monk are his ability to defend, and what else he brings to the table besides scoring. Still having a shooter who can reliably get open and hit shots is a valuable commodity in the NBA. Expect Monk to land anywhere between Lou Williams and Ray Allen on the shooting scale.

  9. Lauri Markkanen / PF / Arizona

    Markannen is a true 7-footer and a true shooter (42.3% 3PT). He’s not just one of these guys labelled as a stretch four who can kind of hit shots. He’s a legitimate hit shots off screens and dribble hand-offs, kind of shooter. A rare combination who will be unfairly compared to Dirk Nowitzki and Kristaps Porzingis, Markkanen will be the ultimate stretch 4 at the next level, think a better Ryan Anderson. His ability to defend, rebound, and create his own shot will determine if he can reach the lofty European expectations.

  10. Frank Ntilikina / G / Strasbourg

    The French Freak is a somewhat unknown commodity. Playing for a professional French team, Ntilikina got limited minutes off the bench as a lockdown defender, before turning into a starter late into the season. Ntilikina lacks quick-twitch burst but has elite size for a guard at 6’6″ with a reported 7’1″ wingspan. He is dedicated to being a great defender and could end up being the best perimeter defender in this draft. In addition, Ntilikina has great basketball IQ, generally making the simple play rather than forcing the issue. Frank has also greatly improved his shot, hitting over 40% of his 3PT shots. The biggest knock on Ntlikina is his inability to create his own offense, and somewhat timid approach at the rim despite his size. Frank is the second youngest player in this draft and possesses enigmatic upside.

  11. Zach Collins / PF-C / Gonzaga

    Zach Collins is still relatively raw and was likely helped by a late season boon during Gonzaga’s run at the title. Still, Collins is a legitimate 7-footer who has shown a foundation of skill level that could see him being an elite rebounder and solid rim protector. He has shown touch from the outside, but will need to improve his skill level from all areas of the court to be a reliable offensive weapon. The groundwork is there, but Collins will need to continue to build.

  12. John Collins / PF / Wake Forest

    The other Collins is an extremely athletic and efficient forward who could end up being toward the top of the league in scoring. So why is he down here at 12? Collins is a horrid defender without an outside shot, he’ll need to improve both to earn consistent minutes at the next level.

  13. Donovan Mitchell / SG / Louisville

    Despite being listed at just 6’3″, Mitchell has an elite 6’10” wingspan to go with a 40.5″ vertical and great end-to-end speed. Mitchell will end up being one of the better 3-and-D players in the NBA.

  14. O.G. Anunoby / F / Indiana

    Despite coming off a mid-season ACL injury, which will leave him off the court until October or November, Annunboy has exceptional athleticism and measurables. He can be a lockdown defender at either the 3 or 4, with potential to hit down the open three.

  15. Ike Anigbogu / C / UCLA

    Anigbogu is a very raw, athletic center whose ceiling is the next DeAndre Jordan. He has a 7’6.25″ wingspan and 32.5″ vertical.

  16. D.J. Wilson / PF / Michigan

    It took until his Junior year for D.J. Wilson to get consistent minutes at Michigan, but once he got there he displayed an intriguing level of athleticism and versatility. Wilson can really shoot it, 37.3% from 3PT and 83.3% FT, for his size, 6’10.5″ with a 7’3″ wingspan. Wilson is a late bloomer who can end up being a starting power forward in the NBA.

  17. Luke Kennard / SG / Duke

    Kennard is one of the top shooters in this draft, but is limited in other areas of his game. While he displayed solid ability to score and distribute off the dribble at Duke, he is limited athletically and will likely serve a smaller role at the next level. Still Kennard is a solid 6’5.5″ and shot a staggering 43.8% from three this past year. He will have a role in the NBA.

  18. Bam Adebayo / C / Kentucky

    Bam is being slightly undervalued in the draft because of his lack of an outside shot. Adebayo should end up being a quality big man who can defend the pick-and-roll and protect the rim. On offense, he’s primarily a lob target in the pick-and-roll, but has shown some touch from mid-range.

  19. Jarrett Allen / C / Texas

    Allen’s elite physicals, 6’10.25″ with a 7’5.25″ wingspan and 35.5″ vertical, would not allow me to drop him any farther. His committment to basketball has been questioned, and he’s got a ways to go before being a reliable NBA player. We’re looking at either the JaVale McGee we thought we were getting, or the one we currently have.

  20. Kyle Kuzma / PF / Utah

    Kuzma has the potential the be one of the better power forwards in this draft. Despite shooting just 32.5% from 3PT, Kuzma has a compact and quick shooting stroke which should only improve. He’s also very formidable in transition and was productive at Utah, averaging 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 30 minutes per game.

  21. Tyler Lydon / PF / Syracuse

    Lydon has solid athleticism and is a good shooter at 39.8% from downtown in his two years at Syracuse. Projects as more than just a stretch four, can be something like a Doug McDermott type player.

  22. Jawun Evans / PG / Oklahoma State

    Evans might be too small (5’11.5″) to be a guard in the NBA, but I hope not. Evans was a highly productive, and exciting, player to watch at Oklahoma State, averaging 19.2 points, 6.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. Evans is crafty enough, and a good enough shooter off the bounce, to make it at the next level.

  23. Wesley Iwundu / SG-SF / Kansas State

    Iwundu is a late riser in the draft boards, but he looks to be a late bloomer whose college numbers may not predicate his NBA success. Iwundu has great size (6’6.75″ height, 7’1″) for a shooting guard and is a fluid athlete. He could end up being an Iman Shumpert type defender.

  24. Terrance Ferguson / SG / Adelaide

    Ferguson had forgone college to play professionally in Australia and it may come back to haunt him. A great athlete, the 6’7″ Ferguson has a 38″ vertical and compact shooting stroke. At this point his shooting is inconsistent, and he doesn’t offer much more offensively.

  25. Justin Patton / C / Creighton

    Patton is another raw center, who has a lot of work to do before be becomes a productive player at the next level. He has the size (6’11.25″ height, 7’3″ wingspan) and athleticism to become a starting center, but he’s currently far from that projection.

  26. Tyler Dorsey / SG / Oregon

    Dorsey is one of the better shooters (41.6% career 3PT) in this class, who made big time shots in March for Oregon to advance them to the Final Four. Expect him to be a solid rotational player at the next level.

  27. Tony Bradley / C / UNC

    Bradley probably came out a year too soon, and his draft selection will likely reflect that. Still he has great size and frame – 6’10.75″ height, 7’5″ wingspan – and is one of the best offensive rebounders in the class.

  28. Jordan Bell / PF / Oregon

    Bell is a four-year senior who has the motor and athleticism to impact games on the defensive end, depsite his 6’8.5″ height. Expect Bell to be an energy defender and transition scorer who may be able to develop an outside shot.

  29. Isaiah Hartenstein / C / Žalgiris Kaunas

    Hartenstein is a big German center at 7’1.25″ with a 7’2.25″ wingspan and 250lb frame. He is crafty around the rim and has good vision finding teammates. If he continues to improve his mid-range jumper, Hartenstein should see time.

  30. Justin Jackson / SG-SF / UNC

    Jackson really improved his 3PT shot (37%) his Junior year, and has good height at 6’8.25″. It’s likely enough to push him into the mid-teens to early 20’s but I still have concerns about how much of a shooter he really is and if he’ll be consistent at the next level. Despite his size, Jackson will have issues on the defensive end due to his slow foot speed.