This is the time of year when college players declare their intentions for the NBA draft. The general rule is that if a player is projected as a lottery pick, the chances of him declaring for the draft are very high.
There are always exceptions. Last year, Latvia's Kristaps Porzingis, Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein and Louisville's Montrezl Harrell decided to return to school (or in Porzingis' case, back to his Spanish league team) despite being ranked as potential lottery picks. In 2013, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart decided to return to school despite being ranked No. 2 on our Big Board.
In far too many cases, players ranked in the top 10 watch their draft stocks dip -- and in some cases plummet -- by staying in school another season.
The April 26 deadline for underclassmen and international players to declare for the 2015 NBA draft has passed, and the NBA has released an official list of who's in the draft. Here's our take on every significant college player that declared for the draft. Also of note: June 15 is the early entry withdrawal deadline.
IN THE DRAFT
Players who have officially declared for the 2015 NBA draft
Cliff Alexander, PF, Fr., Kansas
Alexander began the season ranked as a potential lottery pick. He's blessed with elite strength, athleticism and a terrific motor, and scouts expected him to dominate weaker, less athletic bigs in college. Alas, Alexander's lack of basketball IQ and height (just 6-foot-8) caused him to struggle, and for the most part, he was not a huge part of the Kansas offense. An NCAA investigation into his eligibility ended his season early, and it's likely that the investigation was a primary factor in his decision to declare for the draft, as Alexander risked being ineligible next season. Despite his question marks, some NBA teams still believe he has upside. He could go anywhere in the 20-to-40 range.
Alexander's 360-degree draft profile
Justin Anderson, G/F, Jr., Virginia
Anderson has the athleticism to be a very good NBA wing. The question is whether he has the jump shot. Anderson shot the lights out from three for most of his junior year before an injury slowed him down. The question is: was that hot shooting an anomaly or did he just dramatically improve after shooting a much lower percentage as a freshman or sophomore? His shooting in workouts will likely determine his stock. He should go in the 20 to 35 range.
Anderson's 360-degree draft profile
Brandon Ashley, F, Jr., Arizona
Ashley has the length and athleticism to play in the NBA. It's his "tweener" game that has NBA teams stumped. He lacks the strength and rebounding ability of an NBA power forward, yet also lacks the perimeter game of an NBA small forward. He's likely to go in the 45-to-undrafted range.
Devin Booker, G, Fr. Kentucky
Booker may be the best 3-point shooter in the draft. He has deep range on his jumper and has a high basketball IQ, which means he rarely takes bad shots. His lack of elite athleticism and just average size for his position limit his upside some, but scouts believe he'll get drafted in the 13-to-20 range.
Booker's 360-degree draft profile
Willie Cauley-Stein, F, Jr. Kentucky
Cauley-Stein may very well turn out to be the best defender in the draft. He has been ranked as a lottery pick since his freshman year, but took his game to another level as a junior. While his offensive game is still a work in progress, his ability to guard all five positions is what makes him so coveted by NBA scouts. He should go in the Nos. 6-10 range.
Cauley-Stein's 360-degree draft profile
Sam Dekker, SF, Jr., Wisconsin
Dekker more than anyone helped his draft stock in the NCAA tournament the past few weeks. After spending the past couple of years in the 18-to-25 range on our Big Board, he played himself into a potential lottery pick with his hot shooting and aggressiveness scoring. When Dekker plays with swagger and when his shot is falling, he looks like one of the best players in the draft. When he's passive and struggling with his shot (he was 32 percent from 3-point range the past two seasons), he looks more like a late first-rounder. Thus, his draft range is pretty wide, likely between 13 and 22.
Dekker's 360-degree draft profile
Michael Frazier II, SG, Jr., Florida
Frazier began drawing serious interest from NBA scouts during his sophomore season when he averaged 12 points per game and shot a terrific 45 percent from 3-point range. However, his game stagnated a bit as a junior. His scoring average dipped slightly and his 3-point percentage slipped to 38 percent. Not terrible numbers, but not the normal progression scouts typically want to see. He lacks elite size for his position and is a bit one-dimensional, but his 3-point shooting will get him serious looks in the second round. Look for him to land in the 40-to-60 range in the draft.
Olivier Hanlan, SG, Jr., Boston College
Hanlan's decision is an interesting one. He's unlikely to be drafted in the first round but given his age (22) and a strong junior season, his draft stock may be as high as it's going to get. Hanlan is a bit of a 'tweener. He's an undersized shooting guard without the elite athleticism that could make up the difference. Some scouts think he might be able to play the point in the NBA. If he can convince scouts, his stock rises considerably.
Montrezl Harrell, PF, Jr., Louisville
Harrell has been consistently ranked in the late teens to early 20s since his freshman year. Despite his steady improvement over the three years, his lack of elite size for his position and a somewhat limited offensive game limit his upside somewhat. What he does bring, however, is great length, an NBA body, explosive athleticism and a terrific motor. His offensive game has improved over the years and includes an emerging midrange game. He's not likely to be an NBA All-Star, but he could be an important rotation player on a good team. Look for him to go in the 15-to-25 range.
Harrell's 360-degree draft profile
Aaron Harrison, SG, So., Kentucky
Aaron Harrison was projected as a late-first-round prospect entering his freshman season. And although he's hit plenty of huge, clutch shots for Kentucky over his two years in Lexington, he's been an inconsistent 3-point shooter. Given that shooting is his only real NBA attribute right now, that's concerning. He likely goes in the 45-to-undrafted range.
Aaron Harrison's 360-degree draft profile
Andrew Harrison, PG, So., Kentucky
Andrew Harrison was projected as a lottery pick entering his freshman season. However, his struggles the past two seasons have caused his draft stock to plummet. He played much better in the second half of the 2014-15 season and has earned some late-first-round buzz thanks to his elite size for his position and improved shooting. However, there are a lot of question marks surrounding Harrison's ability to get by people at the next level and his leadership abilities. His hot-mic moment after the Wildcats' loss in the Final Four didn't ease scout's concerns about his maturity. He's probably more in the 25-to-45 range.
Andrew Harrison's 360-degree draft profile
Tyler Harvey, SG, Jr., Eastern Washington
Harvey is one of the best scorers in the country and is especially lethal as a 3-point shooter, hitting 41 percent of the 3s he took despite taking nearly 10 triples per game. He also possesses a high basketball IQ, sees the floor well and knows how to create his own shot. On the downside, he's a bit undersized for his position and lacks elite NBA athleticism. Scouts have been warming up to him all season and it's not out of the question that, with great workouts, he ends up in the mid-to-late first round. Right now Harvey's draft stock is all over the place. Some NBA scouts have him as high as No. 15 while others have him in the 40s. It may take a little more time to totally gauge it, but if I were to bet, I think he lands somewhere in the first round.
Harvey's 360-degree draft profile
Mario Hezonja, SF, 20, Croatia
Hezonja may not get the pub of several of the other top wings in the draft, but he's equally talented. Blessed with size, athleticism, a great shooting stroke and strong competitive streak, he's a very gifted player. He only averaged about 8 ppg in Euroleague play, but when he got regular minutes, he was capable of exploding. Look for him to go in the 5-to-10 range.
Mario Hezonja's 360-degree draft profile
Jerome Hill, G, Jr., Gardner-Webb
Likely to go undrafted
Charles Jackson, PF, Jr. Tennessee Tech
Likely to go undrafted
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F, So., Arizona
Hollis-Jefferson is one of the two or three best perimeter defenders in college basketball. Blessed with elite athleticism, a long wingspan and speed, he can guard 1s, 2s, and 3s and even smaller 4s. Offensively, he's great in transition and finishing at the basket. It's his jump shot that is really holding him back from being a lottery pick. Still, he brings just about everything else to the table and should be drafted in the 18 to 25 range.
Hollis-Jefferson's 360-degree draft profile
R.J. Hunter, SG, Jr., Georgia State
Hunter's stock blew up last spring after he was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year as a sophomore over Elfrid Payton, an eventual lottery pick in the 2014 NBA draft. The buzz continued over the summer after a strong performance at the LeBron James Skills Camp, where scouts compared him to a young Klay Thompson. Hunter suffered through a major shooting slump this season, which dinged his draft stock some, but his play in the NCAA tournament -- which included a last-second, game-winning shot to upset Baylor -- showed why scouts were high on him in the first place. Virtually every shot he took this season was contested, and that should ease in the NBA. Add great size (6-foot-5), a high basketball IQ, good floor vision and a knack for playing the passing lanes, and Hunter should be a top-20 pick in the draft. His lack of elite athleticism is the only other real knock against him.
Hunter's 360-degree draft profile
Vince Hunter, F, Soph., UTEP
Hunter wasn't highly ranked coming out of high school, but won freshman of the year honors in Conference USA last season and showed major improvements across the board in 2014-15. Hunter is a 6-8 combo forward who can guard wings and power forwards thanks to his explosive athleticism and length. Right now his calling card has been rebounding. He needs to get stronger and improve his shooting, but he's an intriguing player likely to go in the 40-to-60 range.
Stanley Johnson, G/F, Fr., Arizona
Johnson came into the season as a potential top 10 pick and for the most part, that's where his stock has stayed all season. While scouts have concerns about his ability to finish at the rim and some inconsistent effort, he has an NBA body, shot better than expected from the field and when he's locked in, he's a fierce competitor. He should go in the 8-to-13 range in the draft.
Johnson's360-degree draft profile
Dakari Johnson, F, So., Kentucky
Johnson has spent the past two seasons stuck on the proverbial first-round bubble. He has NBA size and strength, but his production at Kentucky hasn't lived up to expectations. While he got in better shape this season, he could stand to improve his conditioning as he primarily plays below the rim. Look for him to go in the 25-to-40 range.
Johnson's 360-degree draft profile
Tyus Jones, PG, Fr., Duke
Jones may very well be the best pure point guard in the draft. Blessed with remarkable floor vision, steadiness and leadership, he's every coach's dream. The Final Four's most outstanding player isn't just a pass-first guy -- he can get to the basket and showed he was a threat from beyond the arc, as well. His lack of elite size and athleticism for his position is the only thing keeping him from being a top-five pick. Look for him to go in the 17-25 range.
Jones' 360-degree draft profile
Trevor Lacey, SG, Jr., NC State
Lacey, a transfer from Alabama, had a strong junior season for the Wolfpack. When he gets it going, he can score from anywhere on the floor. However, he's very undersized for an NBA 2-guard, in terms of height and length. He'll argue that he can play the point, but not very many scouts agree. He likely will go in the 45-to-undrafted range.
Kevon Looney, F, Fr., UCLA
Looney's draft stock is all tied to upside. He's a long, athletic forward who can play both the 3 and the 4. He led all freshmen in the NCAA in double-doubles this year and was especially effective on the offensive glass. He's also a good shooter from 3, shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc (albeit with a small sample size). He needs to get stronger and figure out what position he'll ultimately play in the NBA, but his upside will be too tantalizing for teams to pass in the lottery. Look for Looney to go somewhere in the No. 7 to 14 range.
Looney's 360-degree draft profile
Trey Lyles, F, Fr. Kentucky
Lyles played more of a complementary role on Kentucky this season, but that hasn't stopped scouts from drooling over what he might become once he starts playing power forward, his true position, in the NBA. He's an old-school power forward who makes up for his lack of elite athleticism with a high basketball IQ, an array of moves in the post and a very solid midrange game. He should go somewhere from No. 13 to No. 20.
Lyles' 360-degree draft profile
Jarell Martin, F, So., LSU
Martin will reportedly forgo his final two seasons at LSU and enter the draft, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Martin has sat on the first-round bubble his entire freshman and sophomore seasons. He's an excellent athlete who has an NBA body and a versatile skill set. His lack of elite length or size for his position and just a so-so 3-point shot are the things that limit his upside. But with Ben Simmons, a candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, coming to LSU next season, it was probably time for Martin to move on. Simmons plays the same position and is a better prospect. Look for Martin to go somewhere in the 25-to-40 range.
Martin's 360-degree draft profile
Chris McCullough, PF, Fr., Syracuse
McCullough announced several weeks ago that he'll return to Syracuse for his sophomore season. However, multiple news outlets recently reported that he had changed his mind and was declaring for the draft. McCullough got off to a hot start to his freshman season at Syracuse and flew up draft boards to the point that many scouts and GMs saw him as a late lottery to mid-first-round pick. However, he began to struggle as the season moved on, then tore his ACL, prompting a subsequent slide down the draft board. His decision to declare is a puzzling one. He is a bubble first-rounder this year, but, had he returned healthy for his sophomore season, he likely would've been back in the lottery-to-mid-first-round range. Look for him to go in the 20-40 range.
Jordan Mickey, PF, So., LSU
Mickey is a long, athletic shot-blocker who after a strong freshman season was considered a potential late-first-round pick by some scouts. However, scouts didn't see major progress between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. His scoring average went up while his shooting percentages and turnovers went down. While Mickey projects as an elite shot-blocker, his lack of strength and so-so offensive game project him as a second-round pick at best. Look for him to fall in the 45-to-undrafted range.
Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
Mudiay became eligible for the draft the minute he signed a contract this past summer to play pro ball in China. He played a total of 12 games there, averaging 18.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game -- good for an 18-year-old, though offensive stats in China tend to be a bit inflated. What was more impressive to scouts was his poise both on and off the court. As a pro prospect, Mudiay has just about everything -- elite size and athleticism for his position along with a great feel for the game. His jump shot still needs some work, but he's the top-ranked point guard on our Big Board and should go somewhere between No. 1 and No. 4 on draft night.
Jahlil Okafor C, Fr., Duke
Okafor began the season as the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. While he's been even better than advertised offensively -- the most polished big man we've seen in some time -- his pedestrian defense and lack of explosive athleticism have put his No. 1 status in doubt. He still has a shot at it, but he's more likely to go No. 2 or 3.
Okafor's 360-degree draft profile
Kelly Oubre Jr., G/F, Fr., Kansas
Oubre has top-five talent. He's crazy long for a wing (a 7-foot-2 wingspan), is an excellent athlete, possesses a sweet 3-point stroke and under Bill Self turned himself into a committed defender on the perimeter this season. However, the lefty was pretty inconsistent in 2014-15 and needs to add strength. He's further away than the other wings in his draft range -- Justise Winslow, Mario Hezonja and Stanley Johnson -- but he may have the highest ceiling of any of them if he continues to work on his game. Look for Oubre to go in the seven-to-14 range.
Oubre's 360-degree draft profile
Ashton Pankey, PF, Jr., Manhattan
Likely to go undrafted
Cameron Payne, PG, Soph., Murray State
Payne is one of the hottest point guard names in the draft and is capitalizing on a strong run in the NIT that has put him in the mix for a mid-first-round pick. He has a very high basketball IQ and has a great balance between scoring the basketball and finding his teammates. While he needs to add strength, he may very well be the best point guard prospect not named Mudiay or Russell. Look for him to go in the 13-to-23 range.
Payne's 360-degree draft profile
Terran Petteway, SG, Jr., Nebraska
Petteway has been a scoring machine the past two seasons at Nebraska, but has struggled with his efficiency -- especially this season when he shot less than 40 percent from the field and just 31 percent from 3-point range. While scouts love his attacking mentality, he can sometimes play out of control. Look for him to go in the 45-to-undrafted range.
Walter Pitchford, PF, Jr, Nebraska
Likely to go undrafted
Bobby Portis, F, So., Arkansas
Portis has been one of the steadiest players on our Big Board. Although he doesn't do any one thing at an elite level, he's one of the most well-rounded big men in the draft. He can score in the post, step out and hit the 3, rebound, and protect the rim. If he were a little taller, a little more explosive or a little more dominant at any of those skills, he'd be a top-five pick. But as it stands, he's more likely in the 13-20 range.
Portis' 360-degree draft profile
Kristaps Porzingis, PF, 19, Latvia
Porzingis entered the 2014 NBA draft and soared up the Big Board as NBA scouts traveled to Spain to see him play. Despite being a likely late lottery pick, he withdrew just before the deadline in the hopes that he'd go even higher in 2015. He bet correctly. He's been in our top five all season and draws rave reviews from scouts who love his combination of size, athleticism, rim protection and shooting ability. He should go somewhere between No. 3 and No. 6 on draft night.
Porzingis' 360-degree draft profile
Michael Qualls, SG, Jr., Arkansas
Qualls has the athleticism of a lottery pick. He's an explosive leaper who is an excellent finisher at the rim. According to Hoop-Math.com, he shot 71 percent at the rim this season. The problem is that he's a 2-guard and his jump shot is still a major work in progress. He shot just 28 percent on 2-point jumpers and 33 percent from 3-point range. His lack of a jump shot lowers his draft stock tremendously. Look for him to go in the 35-to-50 range in the draft.
Terry Rozier, G, So., Louisville
Rozier had his breakout this summer at the LeBron and Adidas Nations camps, and with a major increase in minutes, saw his production dramatically improve from his freshman to sophomore seasons. He has great athleticism and toughness, plays with a terrific motor, and can be a hound defensively. His lack of a consistent 3-point shot, poor shot selection at times and questions about his ability to run the point in the NBA make him a somewhat controversial prospect. All of those weaknesses were on display in Rozier's last game against Michigan State on Sunday and may have dinged his draft stock a bit. Some scouts think he's worthy of a late lottery to mid-first round pick. Others see him more in the late first round to second round. Thus his draft range right now is pretty wide -- think 18 to 35. Workouts will likely be key for Rozier to separate himself from a slew of other point guard prospects in a similar range.
Rozier 360-degree draft profile
D'Angelo Russell, G, Fr., Ohio State
Russell began the season as an intriguing combo guard known for his knack for scoring. With a great season, many scouts thought he could be a first-round pick. He has dramatically outperformed those early expectations to the point that he's been in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. Russell's elite 3-point shooting and floor vision have increased his draft stock. Overall, scouts love Russell's feel for the game and his approach. He projects as a potential dominant scorer/ball handler at the next level. However, his lack of hyper-athleticism projects him just below the other top prospects in the draft. Look for Russell to go in the No. 2 to No. 4 range on draft night.
Russell's 360-degree draft profile
Satnam Singh, C, IMG Academy
Singh's 7-foot-1 and that could attract some NBA teams to him in the late second round. But most likely he goes undrafted.
Jherrod Stiggers, G/F, Jr. Houston
Likely to go undrafted
Deonta Socks, G, So., West Georgia
Likely to go undrafted
Aaron Thomas, G/F, Jr., Florida State
Likely to go undrafted
J.P. Tokoto, F, Jr., North Carolina
Tokoto's decision to declare for the draft is a bit of a surprise. While he possesses elite athleticism, is an amazing on-ball defender and sees the floor very well for a forward, his lack of a jump shot and his inability to get his own shot have relegated him strictly to second-round status. He'll try to position himself as a lockdown defender at the next level and hope it gets someone to bite in the second round. Look for him to go in the 30-to-50 range.
Karl-Anthony Towns, F, Fr., Kentucky
Towns has been ranked in our top three all season and is currently No. 1 on our Big Board. The move to the draft is a no-brainer. Blessed with size, agility and the ability to dominate the game on both ends of the floor, he's the most complete big man in the draft and should go either No. 1 or 2 on draft night.
Towns' 360-degree draft profile
Myles Turner, F/C, Fr., Texas
Turner announced via YouTube that he'll declare for the draft, though the announcement isn't a huge surprise. Turner has been ranked in our top 10 all season and has the talent of a top-five pick (especially when judged by analytics). He's long, mobile, an elite rim-protector, good rebounder and has an offensive game that includes a terrific 3-point shot. His lack of strength, wild inconsistency and concern about how he runs keep his draft stock out of the top five right now, though teams may fall in love with him during upcoming workouts -- especially if his knees check out. Look for him to go in the six-to-12 range.
Turner's 360-degree draft profile
Robert Upshaw, C, So., Washington
Upshaw's decision was made for him when he was kicked off Washington's team this season. He has the size and shot-blocking ability to be a first-round pick, but his off-court issues may land him in the second round.
Rashad Vaughn, SG, Fr., UNLV
Vaughn was touted as one of the best scoring freshman guards in the country, and for the most part lived up to the expectations, averaging 17.8 PPG for UNLV. A torn meniscus ended Vaughn's season prematurely, but he should be fine by the draft. The question is where will he go? At the start of the season, a number of scouts saw him as a potential late first-rounder. Over time his stock has slipped into the second round as teams worry a bit about his lack of elite length and efficiency for his position. Once the draft field clears up a bit he should be in the 25-to-45 range.
Chris Walker, F, So., Florida
Walker was considered a potential lottery pick as a freshman at Florida, but his lack of production over the past two years has hurt his stock dramatically. While he's clearly a NBA-level athlete, even an elite one, he's a tweener that hasn't really impacted the game on either end. A team may take a flier on him in the second round, hoping he develops, but he could also go undrafted.
Justise Winslow, F, Fr., Duke
Winslow is the highest-rated wing on our draft board and has seen his stock soar over the last month of the season. He's blessed with an NBA body, athleticism, the ability to shoot when he gets his feet set and an attack mentality that makes him a beast on both ends of the floor. His ability to shoot off the bounce is his biggest question mark at the moment; other than that, he's a very good NBA prospect who draws comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Look for him to go in the No. 4 to No. 6 range.
Winslow's 360-degree draft profile
Christian Wood, PF, So., UNLV
Wood recently entered our Top 30, and there is upside for him to rise higher with great workouts. He is an athletic big man who runs the floor, blocks shots and can even step out and hit jumpers. The fact that he's just 19 also works in his favor. If he gets stronger and improves his shot selection, he could be a big-time talent. While his stock is in the 20-to-30 range right now, he could work his way into the late lottery or middle of the first round if he wows in workouts. He has that kind of talent.
INTERNATIONAL
International players under 22 years old who have declared.
Alberto Abalde, F, Spain
Dimitrios Agravanis, PF, Greece
Wael Arakji, G, Lebanaon
Eleftherios Bochoridis, G, Greece
Beka Burjanadzem, F, Spain
Nedim Buza, SF, 19, Bosnia
Alexandre Chassan, F, France
Andrey Desyatnikov, C, Russia
Moussa Diagne, C, Spain
Lucas Dias Silva, F, Brazil
Ognjen Dobric, G/F, Serbia
Simone Fontecchio, F, Italy
Danilo Fuzaro, G, Brazil
Marc Garcia, SG, Spain
Humberto Gomes, G, Brazil
Kevin Harley, SG, France
Guillermo Hernangomez, C, 20, Spain
Juan Alberto Hernangomez, F, Spain
Mouhammadou Jaiteh, PF, 20, France
Alpha Kaba, PF, France
Vladislav Korenyuk, PF, Ukraine
Dusan Kutlesic, F, Serbia
Jonghyun Lee, F, Korea
Nikola Milutinov, C, 20, Serbia
Aleksej Nikolic, G, Spain
Miroslav Pasajlic, G, Serbia
Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
Oriol Pauli, F, Spain
Cedi Osman, PG, 19, Macedonia
George de Paula, 18, Brazil
Nikola Radicevic, G, Spain
Djoko Salic, F/C, Bosnia
Marko Tejic, PF, Serbia
Juan Pablo Vaulet, G/F, Argentina
Aleksandar Vezenkov, 19, Cyprus
Adin Vrabac, SF, Germany
Rade Zagorac, SF, Serbia
Sergiy Zagreba, C, Ukraine
Alexandr Zhigulin, SF, Spain
Paul Zipser, SF, Serbia
OUT
Players who have officially announced they will skip the 2015 draft
Ron Baker, G, Jr., Wichita State
Baker has been on the NBA radar screen since the end of his freshman season, but hasn't been able to move off the first-round bubble. Scouts that see him as a point guard think he might be worth a first-round pick. Scouts that see him as a two guard think he's undersized. A strong senior year might help him get off the bubble.
James Blackmon Jr., G, Fr., Indiana
Blackmon had a terrific freshman season at Indiana. NBA teams are really intrigued with his shooting range and his ability to get his shot off the bounce, but his lack of elite size and athleticism hurt his upside. If he could show some point guard skills as a sophomore, his draft stock will rise into a potential first-rounder.
Amida Brimah, C, So., UConn
Brimah is a terrific shot-blocker. But he still lacks much in the way of offense at the moment and has struggled against other big, athletic players. Another year of polish could put him in the first round.
Kris Dunn, PG, So., Providence
Dunn's decision to return to Providence is a bit of a surprise. He was rated by NBA scouts as a late lottery to mid-first-round pick, and given his age (he's already 21), this seemed like the time to enter the draft. However, there is plenty Dunn can improve. If he can shoot the 3 with more accuracy and cut down on turnovers, he could still be a lottery pick in a 2016 draft without a lot of great point guard options.
Yogi Ferrell, PG, Jr., Indiana
Ferrell is coming off a strong junior season that saw his shooting percentages nudge up across the board and his turnovers go down. He's clearly one of the best college point guards in the country. But his lack of elite size for his position has always limited his upside among scouts and had he declared, he would've likely been a second round pick. If he can pull a Shabazz Napier and lead IU deep into the tournament next season, he has a chance to improve his draft stock.
A.J. Hammons, C, Jr., Purdue
Hammons has the size and athleticism NBA teams are looking for in a center, but his production has essentially stagnated since his freshman season. If he gets in great shape, he's capable of climbing much higher on our draft boards as a senior, but his age (he turns 23 in August) is really working against him.
Nigel Hayes, F, So., Wisconsin
Hayes rapidly climbed draft boards in the second half of the season. He has long arms, an NBA body, athleticism and an emerging perimeter game, and some scouts think he has the most long-term NBA talent of anyone on the Badgers. If he declared for the 2015 NBA draft, he likely would've been a mid-to-late first-round pick. However, in 2016 he has a shot at cracking the lottery if he continues to improve his 3-point shooting and picks up his rebounding.
Buddy Hield, SG, Jr., Oklahoma
Hield sat firmly on the first-round bubble all season but was never able to crack it. He's a good athlete and a terrific scorer; now he just needs to find a way to take his game to the next level. A big senior year, and he's a first-rounder.
Danuel House, F, Jr., Texas A&M
House is a long, athletic wing who got some passing interest from scouts after a strong junior season. If he can continue shooting at a 40 percent clip from 3 as a senior, he could get some looks in the late first to second round in 2016.
Justin Jackson, SF, Fr., North Carolina
Jackson is an intriguing NBA prospect. He has great size for his position, is highly skilled, possesses a killer midrange game and after a very slow start, really started connecting on his 3-point shot in March. His lack of elite athleticism and strength are issues. Scouts will want to see him get stronger and shoot more consistently from 3 as a sophomore. He would've been a bubble first-rounder in 2015. Look for him to project as a late lottery to mid-first round pick in 2016.
Demetrius Jackson, PG, So., Notre Dame
Jackson is coming of a terrific sophomore season that dramatically raised his profile among NBA scouts. Playing off the ball to make way for Jerian Grant, Jackson was able to show off both his slashing and shooting abilities this season. He has an NBA body and strength and now that he'll be running the show, he should be set up to have a huge junior year. He would've been in the 20 to 30 range had he stayed in this year's draft. Next season, he has a chance to be a lottery pick and perhaps the first point guard off the board.
Brice Johnson, PF, Jr., North Carolina
Johnson is an athletic forward who posted excellent numbers this season and likely would have been a second-round pick had he declared for the draft. However, scouts believe he needs to continue to add strength and toughness to improve his post game. If he can do both, he has a chance to improve his draft stock as a senior.
Damian Jones, C, So., Vanderbilt
Jones is a long, athletic big man who drew significant attention from NBA scouts this season. He saw a slight improvement across the board this season in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, but still hasn't developed as much as scouts would like. He would've been a likely second-rounder had he declared. With another year of skills improvement, he definitely has the talent to be a first-round pick in 2016.
Jake Layman, F, Jr., Maryland
Layman has the athleticism and burgeoning perimeter game of an NBA small forward. While he improved considerably as a junior, he was too inconsistent, and most teams had him projected as a bubble first-rounder. A strong senior season should plant him firmly in the first round.
Caris LeVert, G/F, Jr., Michigan
LeVert began the season ranked as a late lottery to mid-first round pick, but a stress fracture combined with a so-so junior season saw his draft stock dip into the late first round. He's a young junior (he doesn't turn 21 until late August) and given his upside, another year in school shouldn't hurt him. Look for him to go in the No. 15 to 25 range with a big senior year.
Mamadou N'Diaye, C, So., UC Irvine
N'Diaye is a draft prospect for one singular reason: He's enormous, standing 7-6 with a monster 8-1 wingspan (the longest ever recorded for an NBA draft prospect). That's not to say he isn't a basketball player. He has emerging skills on both ends of the floor and, by sheer virtue of his size, is a tremendous rim protector. But he desperately needs more experience and to continue to get into better shape. Another year in Irvine could make him a serious contender to be a first-round pick.
Georges Niang, F, Jr., Iowa State
Niang is a versatile forward who draws raves from scouts because of his high basketball IQ and ability to score in a variety of ways. He improved his 3-point shooting and rebounding as a junior, but his lack of elite size or athleticism for his position really dampens his draft stock. He was a potential second-round pick this year, but likely would've gone undrafted. A strong senior season could help his stock, though given his physical limitations, the first round still feels like a stretch.
Chris Obekpa, C, Jr., St. John's
Obekpa is one of the most talented shot-blockers in college basketball. He's an athlete of NBA caliber and has a 7-4 wingspan, but his lack of offensive production and so-so rebounding numbers speak to a still-low basketball IQ. Another year playing at St. John's under Chris Mullin should help him move into a potential second-round pick in 2016.
Marcus Paige, PG, Jr., North Carolina
Paige came into his junior season as a potential first-round pick. But he struggled to match, let alone improve on, his 2014 season. His draft stock was firmly planted in the second round. With so few elite point guard prospects in next year's draft, he probably made a wise decision to return to UNC for his senior season.
Gary Payton II, PG, Jr., Oregon State
Payton had a terrific year for Oregon State and quickly moved from an unranked NBA draft prospect into the middle of the second round. His age will work against him (he turns 23 in December), but if he can be a more consistent 3-point shooter, he has a chance to crack the late first round next year.
Jakob Poeltl, C, Fr., Utah
Poeltl's decision to return is an interesting one. He was likely a late lottery to mid-first-round pick in 2015. However, NBA teams knew he'd be a work in progress until he added about 20 pounds of muscle. He just lacks the strength to be an effective post defender at the moment. If he can return to Utah, add strength and continue to crash the boards and show skill around the basket, he should be a top-10 pick in 2016. However, if his body or game doesn't develop, he could end up sliding. There's some risk in returning, but given his upside, there's some reward as well.
Malik Pope, F, Fr., San Diego State
Pope is an interesting prospect. He has all the tools of a lottery pick, including crazy athleticism, length, deep range on his jump shot and ballhandling ability. However, he played limited minutes as a freshman after missing the last two seasons of high school with a broken leg. He needs to get stronger and play more minutes, both of which should happen in his sophomore season. He would have likely gone in the 13-to-20 range had he declared for the 2015 NBA draft. He's projected as a top-10 pick in 2016.
Alex Poythress, F, Jr., Kentucky
Poythress still has tremendous upside thanks to elite physical tools. As a freshman he was considered a lottery pick, but was never able to improve offensively to the point that he could stay in the draft range. He's one of the few seniors in whom scouts still see major growth potential. If he's big for Kentucky next season, he still could go in the mid-first round.
Domantas Sabonis, PF, Fr., Gonzaga
Sabonis came off the bench for Gonzaga this season, but his rebounding numbers, size and offensive poise were so impressive, numerous scouts had him pegged as a late first round pick had he declared this year. With news that Sabonis is returning, look for him to continue to add polish to his offensive game and work his stock into the mid-first round in 2016
Wayne Selden, SG, So., Kansas
Selden was heralded by some scouts as a potential lottery pick as a freshman before coming seriously down to earth in his two years at Kansas. When he's attacking, he still looks like a very good scoring wing with a good body and athleticism. But he can disappear for huge stretches and his jump shot is still a major work in progress. If he has a big junior year, he could work his way back into the first round.
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, G, Jr., Georgetown
After initially declaring for the NBA drafted, Smith-Rivera backtracked and elected to remain at Georgetown. Smith-Rivera is a good college guard. He can clearly score (16.3 PPG in 2014-15) and was the catalyst behind Georgetown's offense the past two seasons. But he's undersized for his position (6-3), isn't an elite athlete and doesn't really have an elite NBA skill. There are 25 guards in college just like him.
Kaleb Tarczewski, C, Jr., Arizona
Tarczewski has always looked the part of an NBA center. Blessed with size and good athleticism, he has the physical tools to be a very good NBA big man. But his production in three years at Arizona has been lacking and had he declared, he likely would've been a late first-rounder. If he has a strong senior year, look for him to play his way higher.
Isaiah Taylor, PG, So., Texas
Taylor was considered a potential first-rounder coming into the season, but a less than stellar sophomore year at Texas hurt his stock to the point that he was a bubble second-rounder. With Shaka Smart now at the helm, many scouts believe Taylor can play himself back into being a first-rounder as a junior. This was a good move.
Melo Trimble, G, Maryland
Trimble had a terrific freshman season at Maryland and quite possibly could have been a late first-round pick had he declared for the draft. But his ceiling as a playmaker is higher than that and by returning to school he should be firmly in the mix for the first round in 2016 -- especially with elite big man Diamond Stone set to join the Terrapins in the fall.
Tyler Ulis, PG, Fr., Kentucky
John Calipari announced that Ulis would be back in Lexington for his sophomore season. Many NBA scouts believed that Ulis, not Andrew Harrison, was the best point guard with the Wildcats this season. He clearly sees the floor more like a point guard and is less apt to try to play hero ball at the end of games. He's also quicker and a much better shooter than Harrison. However, his small stature (5-9, 155 pounds) creates some problems when trying to project him at the NBA level, and he likely would've been a second-round pick had he declared this year. Look for him to be a late-first-rounder to early second-rounder after he gets the keys to Kentucky's offense.
Fred VanVleet, PG, Jr., Wichita State
VanVleet rivals Tyus Jones as the best pure point guard in college basketball. Like Jones, if he were a few inches taller or more athletic he'd be ranked much higher. As it stands he was stuck in the second round of he declared this year.
Tyrone Wallace, PG, Jr., California
Wallace began the season red-hot before cooling in Pac-12 play. For a while he was considered a potential late first-rounder but as the season progressed he slipped into the second round. If he can play like he did early in his junior through his entire senior year, he has first-round potential in 2016.
Troy Williams, F, So., Indiana
Williams has the athleticism of an elite NBA wing, but his basketball skills are still catching up to his physical tools. While he would've been a bubble first-rounder had he declared for this year's draft, Williams could be a mid-first-round pick in 2016 if he improves his offensive game.