The NCAA tournament feels even more loaded with potential NBA prospects this year than it did in 2014, with one of the most heralded draft classes of all time. Maybe it's the battle to be No. 1 pick, or the constant shuffling of those in the lottery, or the fact that 33 of ESPN's top 40 prospects are all on teams that made the field. Maybe we just love this time of year regardless of prospect quality.
In any case, there are 74 prospects in the tournament ranked in the top 100 by either ESPN, DraftExpress or both. What follows is a list of prospects to watch on the Kentucky Wildcats, because yes, they do have enough NBA prospects to warrant their own edition.
EAST | WEST | SOUTH | MIDWEST | Kentucky
Potential Lottery Picks
Karl-Anthony Towns - ESPN: 2, DraftExpress: 2
Towns has been pushing Duke's Jahlil Okafor hard for the No. 1 spot in June's NBA Draft, taking appreciable strides as the season has progressed. Whereas Okafor was NBA-ready on offense but not a sure-fire defender, Towns has always been considered a potentially elite defensive center, and with his offensive development expedited, the overall gap between the two is imperceptible.
The main thing holding Towns's stock down in the public eye is his modest statistical production, because the insanely deep Wildcats only task him with playing 20.7 minutes per game. In those minutes, you'll see a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 9-foot-5 standing reach working to their maximum potential on the defensive end. Offensively, Towns already has a deft touch in close and most think he could eventually develop range out to 20 feet.
Willie Cauley-Stein - ESPN: 7, DraftExpress: 7
Kentucky's embarrassment of riches is no secret, but possessing two defensive aces at the pivot is borderline criminal. Like Towns, Cauley-Stein is an elite defender, turning away shots, collecting steals, rebounding well and flashing the versatility to protect the rim or seal off ball-handlers in the pick-and-roll, switching on to just about anyone on the floor. As far as NBA defenses go, there are few systems in which Cauley-Stein wouldn't fit perfectly.
The concern with Cauley-Stein is that his offense hasn't improved much in his junior year, as he still scores in single digits. That his 58.8-percent mark from the floor is a career-worst, and that he plays only 25.5 minutes per game, are worth noting, but he still lacks a consistent mid-range game and doesn't have a go-to move inside. Even if he doesn't add much offensively at the next level, he's a potential All-NBA big man - a player type that doesn't slide out of the top 10.
Potential 1st-Round Picks
Devin Booker - ESPN: 15, DraftExpress: 15
With the draft, and the lottery in particular, thin on shooters on the wing, Booker has inched up draft boards thanks to a 42.9-percent clip from outside. He doesn't do much else quite yet - he averages 1.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.5 steals, and 50 percent of his field-goal attempts come from outside - but he's an adequate defender and an intelligent player off the ball.
Trey Lyles - ESPN: 17, DraftExpress: 25
Lyles won't be extending the recent trend of Canadians going No. 1 overall, but the 6-foot-10 power forward is the top player in the draft from north of the border. While his ultimate potential is limited some by deficiencies in quickness and strength, which impact his defense, he's a big man who can handle the ball, stick a mid-range jumper and create for himself and teammates from the block.
Potential 2nd-Round Picks
Dakari Johnson - ESPN: 34, DraftExpress: 38
The third near-7-foot center on the roster, Johnson, too, could be a quality defender, though his shot-blocking instincts aren't yet refined. He could probably help his stock with a junior season, but if he declares, his size and rebounding will get him looks late in the first round.
Tyler Ulis - ESPN: 43, DraftExpress: 86
At 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Ulis is all about pushing the pace and forcing chaos on opposing defenses. Obviously his size is a concern at the next level, so his stock is sure to vary by team and scout, but he's a quality defender and creator who has flashed 3-point range.
Marcus Lee - ESPN: 76, DraftExpress: 58
An incredible athlete who fits the standard profile of a long, bouncy, rebound-and-run power forward, Lee's played little as a sophomore. A junior season is probably a necessity, as he hasn't been given the opportunity to show his physical gifts can translate into production.
Andrew Harrison - ESPN: 75, DraftExpress: 60
The slightly-better Harrison brother continues to show a knack for creating for others, even if at 6-foot-6 he's unlikely to play point guard at the next level. His second consecutive season shooting well below 40 percent is troubling, but at least his 3-point shot has taken a step forward.
Others to Watch
Aaron Harrison - ESPN: 77, DraftExpress: N/R
Alex Poythress (injured) - ESPN: 78, DraftExpress: N/R
