Top incoming freshmen prospects
March, 28, 2012
Mar 28
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By Chad Ford
Nerlens NoelJ.Anthony Roberts/ESPNHS.comNerlens Noel leads the top 10 potential prospects in the 2012 high school class.
March Madness has been the primary stage for NBA draft prospects the past couple of weeks. But with games on hiatus until Saturday, a huge contingent of NBA scouts and GMs traveled to Chicago this week to attend the practices for the McDonald's All-American Game.
In the coming weeks, the Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic will also feature the top high school players in the country.
This week I spoke with a number of NBA scouts, along with our own recruiting guru, Dave Telep, about which players from the high school Class of 2012 might be NBA players someday.
The consensus from scouts is that this class isn't particularly strong -- especially at the point guard position. ESPNU doesn't have one point guard ranked in its top 20.
Overall, scouts say that three or four players are serious one-and-done candidates and another five or six are potential NBA players down the road.
Here's a sneak peek at the top 10 high school NBA prospects in the country and the all-star events in which they'll participate.
1. Nerlens Noel, F/C, Uncommitted
Jordan, Hoop Summit
Scouts are hoping that Noel is Anthony Davis 2.0. Both are super-long, explosive athletes who are absolute menaces in the paint. Some scouts feel that Noel may be an even better shot-blocker than Davis, but Noel is even rawer on the offensive end. Right now he is a potential No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft. It looks like Noel has narrowed his schools down to Kentucky, Syracuse and Georgetown.
2. Shabazz Muhammad, SF, Uncommitted
McDonald's, Jordan, Hoop Summit
Muhammad is a super-athletic scoring machine who gets to the paint at will with NBA-level strength and explosive leaping ability. He plays hard on every possession on both ends of the floor. His outside shot has improved but can still use work. A number of scouts believe he could be the next Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He's a likely top-three pick in the 2013 NBA draft. According to Telep, Muhammad has narrowed his school choices to UCLA, Kentucky and Duke (with Kansas and UNLV still in the running).
3. Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
Jordan
Adams came over from New Zealand midseason to play for Notre Dame Prep. If he can get eligible, he's set to play for Pittsburgh in the fall. He has the size, athleticism and toughness to be a dominant player in the paint. A few scouts say that he reminds them a bit of Greg Oden back in his high school days. If Adams has a breakout season as a freshman, he's a potential top-10 pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
4. Isaiah Austin, F/C, Baylor
McDonald's, Jordan
Austin is one of the most unique players in this class. He's a 7-footer who wants to play like a guard. Baylor sure knows how to get these guys, huh? After Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller, you'd think coach Scott Drew might get a more traditional big guy, but Austin seems to bring more on the defensive end. He's looked very good in the McDonald's practice, showing a willingness to play defense in the middle. As far as his offensive game goes, he can score both inside and outside. A potential lottery pick if he plays well as a freshman.
5. Anthony Bennett, F, Uncommitted
McDonald's, Jordan, Hoop Summit
After those first four, the obvious NBA talent starts to drop off considerably. Bennett has an NBA body, is a beast on the boards and can score from everywhere on the floor, but his tweener status (he has the body of a power forward and the height of a small forward) may limit his ceiling somewhat. He's a potential mid- to late-first-round pick. Schools in the mix are Florida, Kentucky, Washington, Oregon and UNLV.
6. Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA
McDonald's, Jordan, Hoop Summit
Anderson is one of those super-skilled point forwards who can make everyone around him better. He's an excellent passer and can have a lethal midrange game. His lack of elite athletic ability and his streakiness from beyond the arc are the main things holding him back right now. He's also a potential mid- to late-first-round pick.
7. Kaleb Tarczewski, C, Arizona
Jordan, Hoop Summit
Tarczewski has the size and athletic ability to be a pro someday. He is an excellent athlete for his size, runs the floor well and is a good rebounder. He needs to add strength and refine his offensive game. Most likely he's not a one-and-done prospect.
8. Grant Jerrett, PF, Arizona
McDonald's, Jordan
Jerrett has been a bit of a late bloomer and has been shooting up the rankings this year. Jerrett is a stretch 4 who can spread the floor and score in the paint. He may not burst onto the scene immediately, but some scouts say he'll be the Wildcats' best player.
9. Cameron Ridley, F/C, Texas
McDonald's
Ridley struggled a bit in McDonald's practices, but he's one of the few true big men in the class. He's mostly an upside player right now, and scouts may have to temper expectations for the time being. But given his size and skill level, he's got a chance down the road.
10. Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
McDonald's, Jordan, Hoop Summit
Marcus Smart, SG, Oklahoma State
McDonald's
Scouts seem pretty evenly divided between Harris and Smart. Both are strong, athletic, undersized 2-guards who muscle their way to the basket and play physical defense. Neither player is much of a shooter. What could -- slightly -- set Harris apart is the belief, among some scouts, that he might be able to play point guard at the next level. Neither player is likely to make the jump after just one year of school, but both Harris and Smart are highly regarded among scouts.