NBA teams are already starting to prep for the 2017 draft, and they love what they see.
Many think 2017 will be one of the strongest drafts in the past decade.
Let's look at the five hottest names and the top storylines to come.
1. Josh Jackson
Kansas
Guard/forward
Freshman
6-foot-8, 202 pounds
Jackson is an athletic, dynamic wing who excels on both ends of the court. His combination of length, athleticism and motor is outstanding. He's also a very good and willing passer who displays a terrific basketball IQ. He has a nose for the ball on both ends.
You'll find few players in this draft -- or any draft -- who play with his competitive fire at such a young age. He already looks like he's a consistent jump shot away from being a superstar in the NBA.
2. Harry Giles
Duke
Forward
Freshman
6-11, 222
Giles is Jackson's top competition for the No. 1 pick. Had Giles not suffered two knee injuries (one in the summer of 2013, the other in the summer of 2015), he'd be the consensus No. 1. It shows just how special he is that despite those two injuries, he's still ranked this high by most scouts.
That's in part because you can't teach Giles' combination of size (6-foot-11, 7-foot-3 wingspan), athleticism, motor and overall feel for the game. He has Chris Webber-esque talent. If he can show at Duke that he has bounced back from his injuries, he'll make a strong case for the No. 1 pick.
3. Markelle Fultz
Washington
Guard
Freshman
6-5, 186
Fultz is a late riser who has become the consensus top point guard prospect thanks to his combination of size, versatility and overall feel for the game. He's a smooth operator who can find a terrific balance between scoring the basketball and getting others involved.
Several scouts think he's a more athletic version of Kentucky's Jamal Murray.
4. Jayson Tatum
Duke
Forward
Freshman
6-8, 204
Tatum looks the part of an elite NBA wing, the same way guys like Rudy Gay and Harrison Barnes did. He has size, an NBA body, great athleticism and a refined midrange game.
However, his inconsistent 3 ball and lack of intensity on the court has hurt his stock a bit. The tools are there, but as with Gay and Barnes, the fire seems to be missing at times.
5. Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Guard
Freshman
6-5, 195
Ball is one of the more unique prospects to come along in a while. He's long and athletic and has some of the best court vision I've ever seen in an 18-year-old guard. He also has a penchant for launching Steph Curry-esque 3s.
Ball averaged a triple-double (26 PPG, 13 APG, 11.5 RPG) as a high school senior. He's part Shaun Livingston (before the injury), part John Wall (super-fast ) and part Curry (with a much uglier but still fairly effective jumper). Whether he becomes as good as those players or not, those are his comps.
If UCLA coach Steve Alford lets him play the way he's comfortable playing, he could end up in the top three by draft day.
Storylines to watch
Before we reveal our initial 2017 Top 100 -- which will debut in a couple of weeks -- here's a look at four key storylines:
1. This is a very strong freshman class
Freshmen continue to have a huge impact. NBA commissioner Adam Silver is trying to change that, but for now, one-and-dones are the true stars of the draft.
In 2016, five freshmen -- Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray and Marquese Chriss -- went in the lottery. In 2017, we are projecting a whopping 12 college freshmen -- Jackson, Giles, Fultz, Tatum, Ball, Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox and Edrice Adebayo, Florida State's Jonathan Isaac, Arizona's Terrance Ferguson, North Carolina State's Dennis Smith and Omer Yurtseven and Texas' Jarrett Allen -- for the lottery.
Several other freshmen -- Duke's Marques Bolden and Frank Jackson, Kentucky's Malik Monk, Michigan State's Miles Bridges and Arizona's Lauri Markkanen -- are possible first-rounders as well.
Clearly the numbers are there. But how about the quality? Yes, that, too. I think only Simmons and Ingram would've cracked the top 10 in 2017. That's impressive.
2. The sophomore and junior classes look depleted
Only a small handful of talented players decided to skip the 2016 draft and return to college. Just about everyone with a shot at the first round threw their hat into the ring, thanks in part to the strength of the incoming freshman class. Only one returning college player -- Cal's Ivan Rabb -- will be in the first edition of our top 15 for next year.
However, there are a number of interesting returning players -- including Syracuse's Tyler Lydon, Indiana's Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby, Kansas' Carlton Bragg, Duke's Grayson Allen, USC's Bennie Boatwright, San Diego State's Malik Pope and SMU's Shake Milton -- who could all end up in the middle of the first round or possibly higher with excellent seasons.
3. We should have a solid crop of international prospects
The 2016 international draft class was very strong. Overall, a whopping 14 international players went in the first round.
The 2017 international class doesn't look as strong, though Frank Ntilikina, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Belgium who took the Basketball Without Borders Camp by storm at the All-Star break, might end up being the best point guard prospect in the draft and a likely top-10 pick.
Germany's Isaiah Hartenstein and France's Jonathan Jeanne are other potential lottery picks. Latvian wing Rodions Kurucs, Belgium's Kosta Mushidi and Slovenia's Blaz Mesicek are other potential first-rounders.
4. Point guards and small forwards rule the draft
In 2017, point guards take five of the 10 spots in our top 10. That's welcome news for NBA teams who have seen a dearth of point guards in the draft the past several years.
Overall, we have seven point guards, nine small forwards (including three in the top five), six power forwards, five centers and three shooting guards in our top 30.
The hunt for elite centers will be especially difficult this year. We don't have one center ranked in the top 10 right now.
Draft pick inventory
Another key as we assess the 2017 draft: Who has their picks, who has multiple picks and who is out of the draft?
The Sixers will have another shot at landing that Lakers pick. The Lakers will be making significant moves to improve this summer, which should give the Sixers a much better chance of landing the selection. Philadelphia remains top-three protected in 2017. If the Sixers don't get the Lakers' pick in 2017, it becomes unprotected in 2018.
The Celtics could end up landing another high lottery pick via the Nets. They own the right to swap picks again (and own Brooklyn's pick outright in 2018 as well). Unless the Nets make significant improvements this summer via free agency, this could end up being another top-five pick for Boston.
The only team that is completely out of the draft next year is the Warriors -- both of their picks go to the Jazz. However, several teams might have to give up picks, depending on their records.
Here's a look at other first-round picks in 2017 that could be on the move.
The Sixers own the Lakers' pick (if it falls between Nos. 4-30) and the ability to swap picks with the Kings if Sacramento's pick falls inside the top 10.
The Celtics can swap first-round picks with the Nets.
The Nuggets get the Grizzlies' pick if it falls between Nos. 6-30.
The Bulls get the Kings' pick if if falls between Nos. 11-30.
The Magic will get the Sixers' pick if it falls between Nos. 12-30.
The Raptors own the Clippers' first-round pick if it falls between Nos. 15-30.
The Jazz own the Warriors' first- and second-round picks.
The Hawks own the Wolves' pick if it falls between Nos. 15-30.