This is a little change of how I have been doing things but I want to go over Kentucky's roster. They are extremely talented at the college level and I want to talk about their pro potential and where they fit in the NBA.
Aaron Harrison - Shooting Guard
He made some really tough shots last year during the NCAA Tourney but wasn't overly consistent and that's where I see his game in the NBA. With the way the game is played in the NBA he has to be a 3 (3 point shooter) and D (defensive specialist) guy and I don't think he shoots it well enough. Will probably be a early to mid 2nd round pick.
Andrew Harrison - Point Guard
Physically dominant at the position. Helps to be 6'5" and strong. Can he run a NBA team? I'm not so sure about it. I honestly think he'll be a career backup and could do well on a bad team. Late first round to early 2nd round pick.
Marcus Lee - Power Forward
Has the height and length to be a power forward. Doesn't have the perimeter skills that most NBA teams are looking for in the 4 position. At his best he would be John Henson (Bucks) or Brendan Wright (Celtics). Will be drafted higher than he should. Should be in the 20's in the 2016 draft.
Willie Cauley-Stein - Center
After three years, I saw him finally make a post move. He is a crazy athlete and oozes potential. Will be drafted in the top 10 this year but Nerlens Noel is a better pro. Better comparison is probably Larry Sanders minus the fighting in the club.
Karl-Anthony Towns - Center
Great skill set that I don't think we've seen all of it yet. Right now, I believe he lingers on the perimeter too much, in part because of UK's personnel, he needs to assert himself more down there. If people say he is a young LaMarcus Aldridge they are crazy. He won't be that good. Definitely a top 5 pick this year.
Devin Booker - Shooting Guard
Great size and a great shooter. Not a spectacular athlete but his shooting makes him look more athletic than he is. I think he has a little Danny Green in him and is probably a better shooter at this point in his career. Eventually he'll be a late lottery to early 20's first round pick.
Tyler Ulis - Point Guard
Really controls the tempo for UK. They are better when he is on the floor. I believe he can be a career backup in the NBA. Nothing is wrong with that but he is just too small for most NBA teams to take a chance on. Will probably be in an Aaron Craft situation when he gets done. He'll get some shots in the NBA, just a matter of what team falls in love with him.
Trey Lyles - Power Forwad
He wants to be a 3 and is playing it for UK but is clearly a 4 in the NBA. Why? He can't cover any 3's in the league. He has a good skill set but is a classic tweener in the NBA. He'll get drafted in the first round, I just don't know when.
Alex Poythress - Small Forward
Another tweeter at the NBA level. He is a good college player and probably would've been a star at another school. He can't shoot, and that's a huge issue with the position he has to play in the NBA. He isn't Kenneth Faried. I don't think he ever cracks the first round or even sticks in the NBA.
Dakari Johnson - Center
I've heard about him since he was a freshmen at St. Patrick's in Elizabeth, NJ. I just don't see it. He is big and decently skilled. His ceiling is low because he isn't very athletic. Al Jefferson is a comparison athletically. He isn't close to him physically (thin shoulders) or skill wise. He'll be drafted in the teens if he comes out after next year. A team will take a flyer on him because of his size.
I know I'll get, "You don't think they are good? They will go undefeated." In my opinion, they don't have guys that will be NBA All-Stars. More "potential" with this group than any Kentucky team in the past couple of years.
Duke evals will be next.
