Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Who are the players to watch for in the 2015 NBA Draft?

Jahlil Okafor

Much of the coverage of the 2013 NBA Draft at the time was centered around the fact that it didn’t stand up to the 2014 NBA Draft. That’s what happens when Anthony Bennett goes No. 1 while Andrew Wiggins getting ready for a season at Kansas.

That won’t be the case for the 2015 NBA Draft, as it doesn’t have the same kind of hype as this year’s draft crop. That said, here are 16 names you NBA fans want to keep an eye on:

Jahlil Okafor, Duke: Okafor right now is my pick to go No. 1 in the 2015 draft. Between his size (6-foot-11, at least 250 lbs), his footwork and his soft touch, he’s got all kinds of potential as a low-post scorer.

Cliff Alexander, Kansas: You’ll see a lot of people comparing Alexander to Montrezl Harrell over the course of the offseason, and that’s actually not that bad of a comparison, only ... Alexander dunks angrier. Way angrier. He’s as powerful of a front court player as you’ll find next season.

Kelly Oubre, Kansas: Oubre might end up being the best wing in the country next season. His game is fairly reminiscent of James Young, an athletic, 6-foot-7 lefty shooter. For my money, however, Oubre will actually be a better player -- shooter, specifically -- as a freshman that Young was.

Chris Walker, Florida: Walker is a freak athlete at 6-foot-10, a top ten recruit in the Class of 2013 that couldn’t enroll at Florida until the second semester and then had to deal with an NCAA-mandated suspension. He’s got world’s of potential, but his development this summer is going to be a key. He was uninspiring down the stretch last year.

Emmanuel Mudiay, SMU: Mudiay will play his freshman season at SMU, as he chose him hometown school over Kentucky. He’s a big, strong, athletic lead guard and he will be leading a Mustang team that has the pieces to push for a top ten ranking in the preseason.

Stanley Johnson, Arizona: If Oubre isn’t the best wing in college basketball next season, there’s a good chance that is because Johnson earned the title. He’s a 6-foot-7 bulldog, a wing that I’ve seen run the point for his team while defending an opponent’s center. He’s cut from the same cloth as guys like Marcus Smart, Aaron Gordon and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. One assistant at a top 25 program told me Johnson’s elite because he’s one of the few players whose position can simply be labeled “junkyard dog”.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona: RHJ is a terrific athlete blessed with good size and a great wingspan. He can pass, he can make plays defensively and he’s great around the rim. But will he learn how to shoot the ball?

Justin Jackson, North Carolina: Jackson is going to be the best offensive threat for North Carolina next season. He’s a 6-foot-8 sharpshooter with one of the best mid-range games -- his floater is lethal -- you’ll see.

Karl Towns, Kentucky: I think Towns is probably Kentucky’s best NBA prospect heading into the 2014-2015 season. He’s a seven-foot center with three-point range.

Caris LeVert, Michigan: LeVert had a terrific year playing in the shadow of Nik Stauskas as a sophomore and should thrive for the Wolverines in his absence this season. The lanky, 6-foot-6 wing is a streaky-but-dangerous three-point shooter that has proven he can take games over.

Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin: Kaminsky exploded on the scene as a junior with a 43-point outburst early on in the year and carried his play over into the NCAA tournament, where he was one of the break out stars. He could have been a first round pick this season. He’s a seven-footer with three-point range, post moves and the handle and mobility to put the ball no the floor. He’s limited, however, as he isn’t all that quick or athletic.

And five more:


  • Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
  • Justise Winslow, Duke
  • Bobby Portis, Arkansas
  • Delon Wright, Utah
  • Dakari Johnson, Kentucky