This year's NBA Draft class has a number of intriguing talents. Here are the five prospects with the most potential to blossom into perennial All-Stars.
It's no secret that every NBA team armed with a lottery pick was hoping to land the first pick to nab generational prospect Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs saw luck smile on them to land the No. 1 overall selection, but Wembanyama isn't the only prospect in this year's draft class who can drastically improve a team's long-term fortunes.
Talent-starved teams armed with picks in the top 10 still have a great chance to nab a potential All-Star. The key is to avoid the hype of prospects with big-time reputations in favor of players with room to improve. The first prospect on this list made a big impact during his single season in college but will head to the NBA with a lot of space to expand his game.
NBA Draft prospects with the highest ceilings: 5. Anthony Black
Black's lack of a proven three-point jump shot is going to push him out of the top five. That gives teams drafting in the back half of the top 10 a terrific chance to land one of this year's most talented prospects.
Black is a big athletic guard with solid athleticism. More importantly, he already flashed a good understanding of how to operate the pick-and-roll during his time at Arkansas. That's going to serve him well as a rookie no matter where he lands.
Black may lack the prototypical handles of a starting point guard at this stage of his development, but his size and defensive chops make him a great pairing with any sort of backcourt mate. Don't be surprised if he finds his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation if he lands with a team that's willing to put the ball in his hands.
NBA Draft prospects with the highest ceilings: 4. Cason Wallace
This wasn't a vintage year for Kentucky basketball, but that wasn't Wallace's fault. He heads into this year's draft as an underrated prospect due to his team's lack of collegiate success.
It's hard not to think about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when watching Wallace's college tape. He didn't display an elite shot from distance in college, but the stroke is clean and projectable. What Wallace did do at a high level for the Wildcats was use his exceptional length to be a nightmare for opposing guards.
Wallace also has more craft with the ball in his hands than scouts are giving him credit for. He's not going to blow by anyone with elite quickness, but he already understands how to use angles to squeeze his body into the lane. Once he gets there, his exceptional length allows him to get off quality shots at the rim.
Wallace needs to refine his jumper from three if he's going to turn into a high-level starter, but if he does that then there's no reason he won't be selected for multiple All-Star games in his career. That's an exceptional outcome for a guy who most mocks have landing outside the top five.
NBA Draft prospects with the highest ceilings: 3. Scoot Henderson
Henderson has been the consensus No. 2 player in this class until Brandon Miller's surge in the NCAA Tournament. The idea that a prospect of Henderson's quality could fall to the third pick is a testament to the strength of this year's class.
The one major blemish to Henderson's game is the lack of a reliable three-point shot. The good news is that he did improve his stroke during his time with G-League Ignite. That makes it a shot that can be projected to improve at the next level.
It's much more fun to discuss what Henderson can do with the ball in his hands. He possesses a quick first step and an uncanny ability to explode to the rim with the ball in his hands. It's possible he may need to add a floater to his arsenal to diversify his game at the next level but there are serious prime-Derrick Rose vibes to his game when he attacks the rim.
Henderson is never going to be a great defender due to his lack of size, but he shows a willingness on that end of the floor. Combine that with his upside as an elite perimeter scorer and it's simple to understand why teams all around the league are interested in stopping his projected miniature fall on draft night.
NBA Draft prospects with the highest ceilings: 2. Brandon Miller
Miller's status as an elite prospect relies on a front office's comfort with his off-the-court issues. His involvement with a firearm used in a murder during his time at Alabama should give teams a lot to research.
On the court, he's a very clean prospect in terms of his path to success. He is a big wing who can score individually or as part of a team concept. It's easy to see why every team in the league would be interested in his services given how the league is going.
Miller may never be an elite scorer off the dribble, but he already has an exceptional feel for shooting the ball from a variety of setups behind the three-point line. That ceiling as an elite second scorer for a good team makes him worthy of any selection behind Wembanyama at No. 1.
One underrated aspect of Miller's game is his defensive acumen. He wasn't a shutdown defender for the Crimson Tide but he used his length and athleticism to get his hands on plenty of balls. Elite offensive production combined with disruptive abilities on the wing makes Miller an easy projection to earn a max contract in the NBA.
NBA Draft prospects with the highest ceilings: 1. Victor Wembanyama
The term unicorn is overused in NBA scouting circles but it absolutely applies to Wembanyama. If he stays healthy there's no reason he won't rack up a bushel of All-Star appearances en route to a Hall of Fame Career.
Wembanyama's exceptional size is the first thing that jumps out at scouts when watching him on film or in person. It's not just that he measures in at 7-foot-3. He also has a wing span that stretches well over eight feet. That combination makes him an exceptional rim protector on the defensive end.
Perhaps more importantly, it also makes his jump shot virtually unblockable. He makes the height Kevin Durant produces on his jumpers look pedestrian by comparison. Wembanyama is a good shooter who can get his shot off anywhere, anytime against any opponent. That makes him a potential No. 1 scoring option early in his NBA career.
It might take Wembanyama some time to really contribute to winning with the Spurs, but he'll show incredible flashes on a nightly basis during his rookie season. He has the ceiling to be one of the best to ever play the game if things break right for him. Fans in San Antonio are hoping for another Tim Duncan or David Robinson-type player for their hometown team. It's not inconceivable he could end up as the best of that vaunted trio.
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