6. Justin Patton, Creighton
There should be no questions about the work ethic of Justin Patton, after he came to Creighton as an unheralded recruit and leaves after a redshirt year and one season on the court, likely bound for the first round of the NBA Draft.
Compared to previous players of the same mold, like Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan, Patton looks much more polished and skilled. Both of those future stars were raw as rookies, needing time and reps to learn how to become the kind of rim protector and screen-and-roll participant that they’d both later develop into.
Patton has a better jump shot and feel for the game as a teenager than Chandler or Jordan did. He even occasionally flashes some fancy footwork and a nice post move. Still, he’s a bit of a project overall. The freshman looked lost at times on defense this season or found the bench during games when he’d disappear from the stat sheet.
If that project pays off, he can be a really unique weapon, with the ability run at the rim hard for dunks, or step out for pick-and-pop jumpers.
You may start to notice a theme in these rankings, as the back half of this year’s first round should feature a host of big men without classic skillsets (post moves, jump shots), but with real athletic ability and high-motor effectiveness.
Adebayo was absolutely the latter in his only season at Kentucky.
As a college freshman, Bam already features a broad chest, monstrous shoulders, and unreal verticality. He’s an absolute bully on the boards and can score if he gets the ball in the right position.
Early in his career, he’ll be valuable as a screener and physical defender in the paint. He’ll grow his value if he can develop a decent jump shot or enough offensive craftiness to attract some attention in the pick-and-roll.
8. Ivan Rabb, Cal
After a good, but not stellar freshman year at Cal, Rabb joined the long list of players throughout recent history who declared for the draft one year after peaking. As a sophomore, many thought he plateaued and failed to build on his skills. His shooting percentage plummeted from 62 percent as a freshman alongside Jaylen Brown and future Gonzaga transfer Jordan Mathews to an ugly 48 percent as a sophomore.
He had a tough year offensively and likely proved he isn’t going to be an offensive star at the next level. Even so, he averaged 10.5 rebounds per game and has always proven himself to be spectacular on the glass.
Placed back into an offensive role that better suits his skills, Rabb should shine as a rebounder, active defender, and finisher around the rim. Going late in the first round should give him the benefit of joining a good team who can place him in the right position.
9. Harry Giles, Duke
Everyone knows the name of the Duke top recruit, but no one knows which team is willing to gamble on Giles and his knees.
Giles sat atop most mock drafts when he arrived in Durham, but after two ACL tears in high school and a third arthroscopic knee procedure just before this season, Giles looked undeniably different. The once bouncy big man who drew comparisons to a young Chris Webber looked grounded and stiff. He adjusted and had some productive moments at Duke, though nothing that would be worth a first-round pick.
If someone is going to select Giles, it will be because their scouts loved him as a high schooler and their medical team feels good about his knees moving forward. That won’t be easy, but with Giles’ talent, someone will take the chance and hope they strike gold.
After entering Texas as a five-star recruit, Allen had a nice season for a bad Longhorns team. He showed NBA scouts why he was so highly recruited out of high school.
He stands 6-foot-10, with a long 7-foot-5 wingspan and a 35-inch vertical leap. Needless to say, he’s a factor at the rim defensively. Unlike some of the other players on this list, his body will require some real growth in order for him to contribute in the NBA. He’s still gangly and thin, likely getting him pushed around in the paint by bigger players.
Offensively, Allen has some skills but also had a tendency to disappear at times at Texas. He had more games where he failed to earn a trip to the free throw line (three times) than attempted double-digit foul shots (zero times).
His offense will be a work in progress, and he’ll earn his stripes on defense.
Honorable Mention: Tony Bradley, Jordan Bell, Johnathan Motley, Alec Peters, Caleb Swanigan
Shane McNichol covers college basketball and the NBA for Larry Brown Sports. He also blogs about basketball at Palestra Back and has contributed to Rush The Court, ESPN.com, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @OnTheShaneTrain.
