Last season was a bit of down year for power forwards. Kristaps Porzingis and Trey Lyles were lottery picks, but only one other 4 was taken in the top 25.
This year looks stronger. We have three power forwards ranked in the lottery and another five ranked as potential first-rounders, more in line with traditional norms.
The players below are the best NBA prospects at the power forward position at the moment. To compile this preseason ranking, I spoke to NBA general managers and scouts. As college games begin and the season develops, players will move up and down the list.
You can visit our Top 100 prospects list for the latest updates.
Potential NBA superstars
1. Dragan Bender
Croatia
Age: 19
6-foot-11, 211 lbs
Bender has been on the NBA radar for a while, but got a significant bump in his draft stock a few weeks ago when his Maccabi Tel Aviv team played two exhibition games against Milano in Chicago and New York. Bender was terrific in both games while matched up against Allesandro Gentile, a player who's likely to be in the NBA next year.
His versatility is a big plus. While his offensive game is still rounding out (as is his body), he can play the 3, 4 and 5 on offense -- much like Porzingis in the Liga ACB last year. Bender's 3-point shot is improving and he shows terrific athleticism. What's not to like?
"I think the biggest takeaway from those two games was that Bender is going to get significant playing time for Maccabi," one GM said. "That's huge. If he can play big minutes in the Euroleague and make the impact that we saw him make early, he's got a shot at the No. 1 pick.
"He's a skilled 7-footer that can score from anywhere and defend three positions. Those guys don't come along very often.
"I'd probably put Ben Simmons and Skal Labissiere in front of him. Maybe Brandon Ingram too. But if he has a big year in Europe, I might be inclined to go with Bender. Especially if Porzingis ends up having a big year in New York."
Potential NBA starters
2. Henry Ellenson
Marquette
Freshman
6-10, 228 lbs
Ellenson broke his hand in March, robbing him of the opportunity to show off his game to scouts at the McDonald's All American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit. Otherwise he would be more front of mind in NBA circles.
He's the rare big man with such a complete offensive package: great athletic ability, the strength to dominate in the post, the shooting ability to stretch the floor and terrific ballhandling skills. He dominated in a four-game trip to Italy for Marquette in August, averaging 21 points and 7.5 rebounds. In other words, he can be an instant impact player.
Concerns about his defense abound. And there were conditioning questions until he slimmed down during the past year to a svelte 228. Overall, he's the closest thing we've seen to Kevin Love since Love.
"He's the most underrated kid in this draft class," one NBA scout said. "His game and his body have improved so much the past year. Offensively, there isn't anything this kid can't do.
"He's a bit of a defensive liability right now, but there's no reason he has to be. He's got great mobility and long arms. He just needs to learn how to play on that end, too. I think he'll pick it up on that end with time. I wouldn't be surprised if you have him in your top five in June."
3. Cheick Diallo
Kansas
Freshman
6-9, 220 lbs
Diallo is still waiting to hear whether he'll be cleared by the NCAA to play for Kansas. If he is, he'll be an immediate impact player, especially on the defensive end.
There isn't a player who plays with more energy or toughness than Diallo. He uses his elite athleticism, long arms and speed to protect the rim and harass players on the perimeter.
On offense, he's unpolished. He's been playing basketball for only five years and his game is still coming along. But scouts who watched him closely this spring all say the same thing -- his game is developing rapidly on that end, too.
"He's my favorite player in the draft," one GM said. "I'm not saying he's the best player. Just my favorite. I love guys that go [all] out on both ends for 48 minutes. They guy just doesn't stop. Bill Self is going to love him. He's going to have a major impact at Kansas on both ends.
"And I think if his offense ever catches up to his defense he could be a star. He's got the physical tools and the work ethic and the right demeanor to be one. I love him."
4. Ivan Rabb
Cal
Freshman
6-10, 215 lbs
Rabb is one of the harder freshmen to rank. For much of high school, he was a consensus top-five player in his class. By the end of his senior season, scouts had cooled a bit, as they wondered whether Rabb was a center trapped in the body of a small forward.
He has tried to address both of those issues this summer. By August he had put on 11 pounds of muscle. He's been working on refining his face-up game.
The rest of his game is NBA-worthy. He's a very good athlete with great length, he plays hard and he's one of the best rebounders in his class. He might be behind the other top freshmen in this class, but he has the talent of a lottery pick.
"He might need two years," one NBA GM said. "But he's a really talented kid. He's just skinny and he's still figuring out what his game is. But I love guys with his athleticism and his ability to rebound. Rebounding translates and he's as good of a rebounder as any freshman in the country."
Potential NBA rotation players
5. Zhou Qi
China
Age: 19
7-2, 209 lbs
Since Yao Ming took the league by storm in 2002, we have awaited the next star from China. Yi Jianlian looked the part when playing against a chair, but in the NBA he struggled. Since then the talent pipeline from China has dried up. Until now.
Scouts are in agreement that Zhou has the potential to be a very good NBA player. He's got an arsenal of offensive moves and the size and athletic ability to succeed. He can be an absolute menace as a shot-blocker. He just has to get stronger -- a lot stronger to survive the NBA.
"If he could pack on 30 or so pounds, I see a lot of Kris Porzingis in him," one GM said. "He's so skilled in so many ways. But he's 7-2, 210 pounds. He's got a long ways to go. I'm glad he stayed in China another year. It might need to be another two years. But talent-wise? He's got lottery-type talent."
6. Nigel Hayes
Wisconsin
Junior
6-7, 250 lbs
Hayes was a popular player among NBA scouts last year during a breakout sophomore campaign. Not only is he a versatile forward who can score from anywhere on the floor, he's got a world-class personality on and off the court.
The question is, with Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker now both off to the NBA, can he transition from role player to leading man at Wisconsin? If he can make the leap, we have him too low, but there are plenty of skeptics that fear he'll get exposed under the spotlight.
7. Domantas Sabonis
Gonzaga
Sophomore
6-10, 230 lbs
Sabonis drew lots of praise from NBA scouts last year. While he doesn't yet have the elite basketball IQ of his legendary father Arvydas Sabonis, he's still an intelligent player who made an immediate impact off the bench for Gonzaga as a freshman.
He was one of the best rebounders in college basketball last season. He's strong and can score in the paint. But his lack of a consistent jump shot and his below-average length and athleticism for his position raise questions about his NBA upside.
8. Carlton Bragg
Kansas
Freshman
6-9, 220 lbs
Bragg was ranked just 21st among our ESPN 100 top high school seniors. But the near-universal consensus among scouts who've traveled to Lawrence to watch Kansas practice is that he's going to be a NBA player someday.
The question is when. His athleticism and offensive versatility (he can score from anywhere on the floor) can make him an attractive prospect. But he still lacks a high basketball IQ, his intensity level can wax and wane and currently he's stuck behind Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor in KU's rotation at the 4. He might not break out until next season, but scouts will be watching closely anyway.
9. Robert Carter Jr.
Maryland
Junior
6-9, 235 lbs
Carter spent two years at Georgia Tech putting up solid numbers before deciding to sit out a year so that he could transfer to Maryland. At Georgia Tech, scouts saw a talented power forward who excelled as a rebounder and had the ability to stretch the floor and score in the post. But conditioning issues and maturity dogged his draft status.
Now Carter is in the best shape of his life (down to a slim 235 pounds, according to his coach) and seems to have matured. Scouts visiting College Park say he could be ready for a breakout year and a shot at the first round of the draft.
10. Alpha Kaba
France
Age: 19
6-9, 225 lbs
Kaba drew serious interest this summer after a stellar workout in Santa Monica, California, in front of a horde of NBA scouts. The big man with a huge 7-foot-3 wingspan played in just eight games last season for Pau-Orthez in France. If he can get more run this year, he's going to be intriguing.
He can run the floor, and he has a soft touch and the length and athleticism to thrive at the position. But he needs to develop his basketball IQ and motor.
Others to watch: Petr Cornelie, 20, France; Marcus Lee, Jr., Kentucky; Egemen Guven, 19, Turkey; Marquese Chriss, Fr., Washington; Chase Jeter, Fr., Duke; Lauri Markkanen, 18, Finland; Martynas Echodas, 18, Lithuania; Shawn Long, Sr., Louisiana Lafayette; Caleb Swanigan, Fr., Purdue; Brice Johnson, Sr., UNC; Rico Gathers, Sr., Baylor; Jordan Bell, So., Oregon; Jalen Reynolds, Sr., Xavier; Joel Bolomboy, Jr., Weber State; Perry Ellis, Sr., Kansas; Kyle Wiltjer, Sr, Gonzaga; Devin Williams, Jr., West Virginia; Octavius Ellis, Sr., Cincinnati; Ryan Anderson, Sr., Arizona; Jameel McKay, Sr., Iowa State; Bonzie Colson, So., Notre Dame; Jameel Warney, Sr., Stony Brook.