Terrence Jones

School: Kentucky  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 20  |  Born: January 9, 1992  |  Position: SF/PF
Height: 6’9”  |  Weight: 252  |  From: Portland, OR  |  Best Case Scenario: Josh Smith
 

 
After a strong freshman season in 2010-11, Terrence Jones deferred entering the 2011 draft and returned for his sophomore season, which culminated in a Kentucky Wildcats National Championship. After being voted a preseason All-American, Jones failed to live up to his lofty preseason expectations, but was able to put together a solid sophomore campaign, most notably shining as a key contributor during the intense pressures of the NCAA Tournament. Despite being projected as a potential top-5 selection in last year’s draft, Jones could go anywhere from picks 5-20 depending on his performance in individual workouts.

A big-bodied “tweener” forward, Jones possesses a remarkable resemblance to Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 252 pounds with a big frame, he possesses a tremendous wingspan of 7’2.25” and an impressive vertical leap. Jones has a very rare combination of size, strength, explosiveness and foot agility that stretches opposing defenses while making him a matchup nightmare. With the ability to play against 3s, 4s, and even smaller 5s, he truly is a dynamic player on both ends of the court. However, Jones has not been without critics and received negative press for his lack of concentration on the court at times and immaturity when confronted with adversity during his short collegiate tenure.
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Austin Rivers

School: Duke  |  Year: Freshman  |  Age: 19  |  Born: August 1, 1992  |  Position: SG
Height: 6’4”  |  Weight: 200  |  From: Winter Park, FL  |  Best Case Scenario: Rodney Stuckey
 

 
Austin Rivers, son of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, was one of the most highly touted freshman recruits in the country following his eye-popping high school campaign. Headlining a strong Duke recruiting class, Rivers failed to live up to his lofty expectations and became best known for his inconsistencies as a scorer in his lone college season, eventually declaring for the 2012 NBA Draft following Duke’s early exit in the NCAA tournament.
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Kendall Marshall

School: North Carolina  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 20  |  Born: August 19, 1991  |  Position: PG
Height: 6’4”  |  Weight: 195  |  From: Dumfries, VA  |  Best Case Scenario: Rajon Rondo, Ricky Rubio
 

 
Kendall Marshall was a vital piece to UNC’s success during his two seasons at Chapel Hill. Unfortunately for North Carolina, Marshall fractured his wrist during the team’s win over Creighton as they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The team eventually lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight, and the loss of Marshall’s playmaking abilities were greatly felt. Standing at 6 foot 4 inches, he is very tall for the point guard position. His height gives him the ability to see the floor better than many other PG prospects, and he has an incredible knack for creating opportunities for his teammates. Despite his prototypical size, Marshall has an average wingspan on 6’4” and average athleticism. A true pass-first PG, Marshall does not need to score in order to leave his mark on opposing defenses.
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Damian Lillard

School: Weber State  |  Year: Junior  |  Age: 21  |  Born: July 15, 1990  |  Position: PG
Height: 6’3”  |  Weight: 195  |  From: Oakland, CA  |  Best Case Scenario: Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford
 

 
Damian Lillard was the second leading scorer in the NCAA this past season, averaging a whopping 24.5 points per game for the Weber State Wildcats. Lillard is considered by many to be the top point guard in a relatively weak PG draft class. He has decent size (6’2” 195 lbs) and impressive athleticism with a big frame. Possessing a 6’9” wingspan and a good vertical leap, Lillard’s success stems from his explosiveness and ability to create his own shot. Critics will point to the generally weak mid-major competition that he played against in the Big Sky Conference and his failure to lead his team to a NCAA Tournament berth this past season, but Lillard displayed some serious pro potential in his 3 years at Weber State.
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Royce White

School: Iowa State  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 21  |  Born: April 10, 1991  |  Position: SF/PF
Height: 6’8”  |  Weight: 240  |  From: Minneapolis, MN  |  Best Case Scenario: Lamar Odom

 
Royce White will be one of the biggest wild cards of the 2012 NBA draft class come draft night. The 6 foot 8, 240 pound point-forward had a dominating lone season at Iowa State following his transfer from the University of Minnesota due to legal troubles. The Minnesota high school superstar won state championships with both De La Salle and Hopkins high schools, and was a top-20 recruit when he committed to Minnesota. One stolen laptop and altercation with a Mall of America security guard later, White found himself transferring to Iowa State, led by new coach and former T-Wolf Fred Hoiberg. Hoiberg, a player in the NBA for 10 seasons, says that White is as good of a dribbler for his size as any player he has seen, including NBA players. Leading the Cyclones in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, White exploded onto the NCAA scene with his extremely polished all around game and his high basketball IQ. Possessing an impressive wingspan of around 7 feet and a large frame, White already has an NBA body with some room to add mass. His potential need to put on increased muscle mass will depend on which position he plays in the NBA, SF or PF. He is hyper-athletic and boasts a strong vertical leap, and paired with his explosiveness, strength, and agility, it creates for a lethal combination.

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Bradley Beal

School: Florida  |  Year: Freshman  |  Age: 18  |  Born: June 28, 1993  |  Position: SG
Height: 6’3”  |  Weight: 207  |  From: St. Louis, MO  |  Best Case Scenario: Eric Gordon

 
After ending his freshman season with a loss in the quarter finals to Louisville in the final minutes, Bradley Beal chose to enter the 2012 NBA Draft and will be a potential top 5 pick. A shooting guard with good size and average height standing at 6’3” and 207 pounds, Beal has an above average wingspan for his height at 6’8” and a decent vertical leap. He has the potential to be a high volume scorer in the NBA due to his tremendous shooting mechanics and success scoring both off the ball and off the dribble. Most importantly, Beal is an extremely mature player and plays the game with rare composure and high basketball IQ.

After being dubbed the best shooter in his high school class, Beal was inconsistent this season from three-point range. However, he possesses excellent shooting technique and has a consistent release point while rarely missing left or right. His shot requires very little space and time to get off, and whether he is shooting spotted up or off of the dribble, he is able to consistently square his body up to the basket. Off the drive, Beal is able to make a move and stop his momentum on a dime to get enough separation to get shots up over his defender. His midrange game is still improving, but his ability to get separation from his defender and get shot looks virtually anywhere on the floor make him a potentially lethal scorer shooting the ball. Beal is also able to use the floater effectively when driving into crowded lanes and has soft touch around the basket. When driving, he is able to absorb contact due to his compact strength. His lack of height and athleticism make it difficult for him to score through traffic, but his motor and strength allow him to draw fouls and to get to the free throw line at a reasonable rate.
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