Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is the biggest prize. Griffin is an athletic marvel who is explosive, has great feet and hands and will continue to improve.
Hasheem Thabeet, UConn: I rank Thabeet as the second-best prospect in this draft. I see him as a shot-blocker and rebounder who can be a rim and lane protector and can block and change shots without fouling.
James Harden, Arizona State: The best things about Harden are that he knows how to play, is physical and seeks out contact.
Tyreke Evans, Memphis: In today's NBA game, the defense cannot lay a hand on a driver, and that will allow Evans to get into the paint and make plays. He is not a shooter, but he is a creator and an open-court guard. He can play point and has outstanding potential.
Ricky Rubio, Spain: Rubio is a magician with the ball, but he is slight of build and is not a shooter. He is mature beyond his years and is rattled by nothing that will be thrown at him in the NBA. The only thing that tempers my enthusiasm about Rubio is that he is not a great athlete and not a good defender.
Brandon Jennings, Italy: The young American lefty point guard has terrific athleticism and skill, but he is still young and still wild. To date, he is more concerned with his own game than whether his team wins, but he is still just a kid.
Ty Lawson, North Carolina: No player in this draft is faster end to end than Lawson. He may be small, but he is strong and has proven to be a good shooter with time and his feet set. Lawson is one of the very best point guards from free throw line to free throw line and in the open floor. He can change the pace of the game but may not be proficient in pick-and-roll action.
Jrue Holiday, UCLA: This young man has talent and ability, and he has the chance to be special. But I have grown rather tired of how his lack of production has been mindlessly blamed on UCLA coach Ben Howland [...] he didn't hold Holiday back. The truth is, Holiday is just a kid. He will get better and better, but he underachieved last year as a freshman and is being drafted on his potential.
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest: Nobody I have seen can stay in front of this kid. Teague has great ability, especially in the open court. There are legitimate concerns about his commitment and ability on the defensive end
Terrence Williams, Louisville: How is it that UL's Earl Clark is considered the more skilled of the two Cardinals teammates and has more upside? Williams is a better rebounder, better off the bounce, better on the defensive end, a better passer and is tougher.
DeMar DeRozan, USC: He is a big-time athlete who is still scratching the surface of his ability. He is not a great shooter, but he has size, finishing ability and a knack for getting to the rim.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh: Blair is a beast. He may be only 6-foot-7, but his arms stretch across the street, and he has a special skill. He can go get the ball and rebounds at the highest rate among this year's draft class, especially on the offensive end, where his productivity is off the charts. Blair has great feet and keeps the ball alive with his second-jump rebounding ability.
Stephen Curry, Davidson: OK, Curry is not the best athlete in the draft. And he turns the ball over too often. But find me a better shooter or a guard who understands how to play as Curry does. This kid has a feel for the game that few in this class have and will not fail at the NBA level. He is a crafty scorer and is much better on defense than he gets credit for.
Austin Daye, Gonzaga: Long, lanky and very skilled, Daye is an average athlete and lacks toughness and maturity. Could he put it all together and figure it out? Yes. After all, he is just a kid and is a good kid. But he has a long way to go before he can contribute.
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina: This is a player who has been consistently underrated, and he is exactly why players should stay in school until they are prepared. Ellington would have been a second-rounder last year or undrafted. This year, he will be a first-round pick. An outstanding shooter and underappreciated finisher
