Jeremy Lamb

School: Connecticut  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 19  |  Born: May 30, 1992  |  Position: SG
Height: 6’5”  |  Weight: 185  |  From: Norcross, GA  |  Best Case Scenario: Rip Hamilton

 
Jeremy Lamb is an extremely long and athletic shooting guard that played an integral part to UConn’s 2011 NCAA Championship title as a freshman last season. As a freshman, Lamb had tremendous success playing off the ball with Kemba Walker running the offense. During the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Lamb proved himself a very clutch player and excelled with the game on the line. He is the son of former NBA player Rolando Lamb, which has contributed to his high basketball IQ and great feel for the game. This year as a sophomore, the versatile guard assumed much more of the ball handling duties with Kemba Walker in the NBA, and went from a mainly off the ball type player to more of a combo guard. Coming off last year’s championship title, Lamb and the rest of the talented UConn team had high expectations that they fell far short of. Struggling to completely adapt to his new role in the offense, Lamb was still able to have a good season and had flashes of his enormous potential at the NBA level.

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Jared Sullinger

School: Ohio State  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 20  |  Born: March 4, 1992  |  Position: PF/C
Height: 6’9”  |  Weight: 280  |  From: Columbus, OH  |  Best Case Scenario: Al Jefferson 2.0

 
Jared Sullinger very well may have been the first pick in the 2011 NBA draft had he chosen to leave school early, but instead chose to return for his sophomore season with NCAA championship aspirations and a chance to continue to hone his game. A little undersized at 6’9”, Sullinger makes up for his height with his big body and large arms. At 280 pounds with a 7’2” wingspan, he has been a force to be reckoned with ever since playing his first game last year with Ohio State. However, he does not possess above average athleticism compared to NBA power forwards and his 32” vertical leap is nothing to boast about. He understands the limitations of his game and does not attempt to play outside of what makes him successful.

Sullinger does the majority of his damage on the low block. Due to his strength and low center of gravity he is very good and getting and maintaining inside position. He consistently puts himself in position to fight for offensive rebounds and has great intensity fighting for balls on the offensive glass. He scores mainly with his back to the basket, as he has continued to improve his post moves and footwork in the paint. Sullinger does not possess elite athleticism and tends not to finish above the rim in traffic, and he is not a superb alley-oop candidate. He has developed confidence using either hand on hook shots and also has a good midrange jump shot that extends out to the NCAA three-point line. As he progresses, he will need to learn to score faced up with his defender.
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Thomas Robinson

School: Kansas  |  Year: Junior  |  Age: 21  |  Born: 03/18/1991  |  Position: PF
Height: 6’9”  |  Weight: 240  |  From: Washington, DC  |  Best Case Scenario: Kevin Love

 
Thomas Robinson is a hyper-athletic, enormous power forward with great build, standing at 6’9”, 240 pounds with a 37” vertical leap. He has an excellent frame and has already filled in very well, possessing NBA level strength while having room to gain around 10 more pounds of muscle over the next few years. Robinson is known for his inspiring leadership and team mentality, having an excellent motor, always hustling after loose balls and never giving half effort. He really makes the most of his strength by keeping a low center of gravity, making him an unmovable object for opposing teams.

Great at getting inside position, gets the ball close to the hoop and uses his strength to overpower his opponent. He can catch the ball on the high post and put the ball on the floor and get to the rim with great efficiency. He does not shy away from contact and is excellent when finishing through multiple defenders. His athleticism makes him a constant alley-oop threat, and his amazing dunking ability gives him an ability to finish at the rim that few other players have. His post up game is very developed for a college player; his extra time spent at Kansas has helped him to develop into arguably the best offensive player on the low block. He uses a large repertoire of post moves that he mixes up well to keep his defender guessing. Robinson uses the shot fake extremely well, keeping his defender off balance, and is able to use both the left and right-handed hook shot effectively. He does not waste time to make a move when getting the ball on the block.
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Perry Jones III

School: Baylor  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 20  |  Born: September 24, 1991  |  Position: SF/PF
Height: 6’11”  |  Weight: 235  |  From: Duncanville, TX  |  Best Case Scenario: Kevin Durant

 
Perry Jones III remains an enigma. Possessing arguably the highest ceiling of any player in the 2012 NBA Draft class, Jones has flashed brilliance at times in his first two seasons at Baylor, but has ultimately been unable to elevate his game to the next level and begin to unleash his seemingly unlimited potential. A “tweener” forward, Perry Jones III stands at 6’11” and weighs in at 235 pounds. He possesses an impressive 7’3” wingspan and has excellent agility, having very long running strides. He has a good frame which will allow him to continue to add mass and strength, and he will definitely need to fill in more in order to compete against NBA forwards.

Staying in school was a great decision for PJIII and it really displays his maturity and will to be successful in the NBA. At the end of last season, Perry was suspended for allegedly receiving improper benefits from an AAU coach during high school. However, this year it has publicly came out that PJIII was homeless throughout much of his life growing up and an AAU coach loaned his family money to pay for necessary bills to keep them off of the streets, which his family paid back in full within a year.

Still a very raw player, PJIII does not appear to have above average basketball IQ. He seems to be holding back a bit, and has not brought out consistent aggression and intensity when playing. NBA scouts continue to wait for Jones to unleash himself, and to the confusion of many he has seemed to disappear over long stretches in some games, more so in games against ranked teams this season.
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

School: Kentucky  |  Year: Freshman  |  Age: 18  |  Born: September 26, 1993  |  Position: SG/SF
Height: 6’7”  |  Weight: 232  |  From: Somerdale, NJ  |  Best Case Scenario: Andre Igoudala

 
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (MKD) is quickly becoming a scout and fan favorite playing for Kentucky this season. Kidd-Gilchrist is an extremely mature individual, years ahead of his age. What makes MKD so great is not his offensive prowess, but the intangibles and relentless motor that he brings to the floor every single game. Already a lockdown defender, MKD plays with tremendous composure and a fire that is seen in very few individuals. Standing at 6’7”, 232 lbs, MKD is an incredibly versatile player, and he projects to be a shooting guard in the NBA but could be effective at small forward as well.

Kidd-Gilchrist possesses excellent athleticism and strength for his position, and his frame should allow him to continue to increase his mass and strength. At 232 lbs, MKD is able to bang down low with larger college players and combined with his relentless pursuit he is a great offensive rebounder. He has an above average wingspan for his size at 6’11”.
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Harrison Barnes

School: North Carolina  |  Year: Sophomore  |  Age: 19  |  Born: May 30, 1992
Position: SF  |  Height: 6’9”  |  Weight: 225  |  From: Ames, IA  |  Best Case Scenario: Luol Deng, Rudy Gay

 
Harrison Barnes is a long, athletic wing that possesses great footwork and foot speed. He has very good acceleration and burst to create space to get shots off with a man on him, and his first step and athleticism make him a threat driving from the wing. Barnes possesses prototypical dimensions for the small forward position, although lacking an elite-level wingspan and athleticism, he has an excellent frame that should allow him to add extra mass and strength.

Barnes is very skilled at dribble-penetrating and navigating around multiple defenders. Possessing great patience, Barnes does not try for things that are not there and this is seen in his very low turnover rate. Barnes tends to rely on his jump shot, but he has the ability to have success scoring mainly off of driving to the rim.
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Anthony Davis

School: Kentucky  |  Year: Freshman  |  Age: 18  |  Born: March 11, 1993  |  Position: PF
Height: 6’10”  |  Weight: 220  |  From: Chicago, IL  |  Best Case Scenario: Chris Bosh 2.0

 
Anthony Davis is a physical specimen for the power forward position, possessing a 7’4” wingspan and incredible shot-blocking instincts. Davis thrives when running in transition, having great mobility, agility, and quickness for a big man. He is a great outlet passer and can look over the court to find teammate running, hitting them in stride for easy baskets. Davis catches anything thrown up to him near the hoop, and he has soft hands that allow him to finish in traffic around the basket. Davis is an excellent rebounder, who does not always get perfect inside position on his man, but compensates for it with his extraordinary length and athleticism.

Davis is blessed with very high intelligence and knows exactly where to be at all times on the court. He makes things easy for his teammates, bailing out the team by alley-ooping virtually anything thrown to him. He has the ability to turn nearly any broken play into points.
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