A highly anticipated draft class in 2014 is underway and there is so much potential all across the board. The college basketball 13′-14′ season has started and these players have lived up to the noise behind him thus far. The biggest headline so far was how can these freshmen live up to their potential. Freshmen including Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle are projected to go in the top 5 of Chad Ford’s ESPN’s Mock Draft.
Andrew Wiggins (Kansas, 6’8” , SF)
After the Duke and Kansas game, Wiggins clearly showed that he has NBA potential. Scoring 22 points and going 9/15 shooting, he showed the ability to score the basketball. 22 points on a good Duke team isn’t bad at all. He also contributed 8 rebounds and a block in that game as well.
He is averaging 19 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 1.0 apg in the first two games of the season. Kansas has a 2-0 start led by Mr. Wiggins. He has incredible athletic ability and showed that in the fourth quarter against Duke. There was a few times where he was being doubled team, leaving a man wide open for an easy basket.
Wiggins has been the off seasons hype around college basketball. Being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he has also been projected on being picked number one in the 2014 NBA draft. Is he still a number one pick? He may not be as NBA ready as Parker and Randle but he has a higher ceiling than those guys. That what makes him still the number one pick in the upcoming draft.
NBA Comparison: Tracy McGrady
Heres a clip of Wiggins highlights against Duke:
http://youtu.be/ZhTaImYwFHc
Jabari Parker (Duke, 6’8”, SF)
Did people forget about Mr. Parker? Remember he was the number one player in the nation before Wiggins reclassified.
Parker has the all-around game and seems like the most NBA ready out of the group right now. His ability to score is off the charts and he is averaging 23.3 ppg this season in the first three games. Parker has already set a Blue Devil record by being the first Duke player to score 20 points or more in their first three games.
Parker dropped 27 points against a good Kansas Jay hawk team and he showcased his skill on the big stage. He has various shots he take from the court by shooting off the dribble and he looks very easy scoring the basketball. Parker put on a show against Kansas by going 9/18 shooting and 4/7 from 3pt line. He also contributed 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 2 steals.
This season he is averaging 8.3 rpg and 2.0 rpg in the first three games. He can definitely be a NBA all star with the amount of potential he has. He is a threat for the number one spot in the upcoming draft. Don’t sleep on Mr. Parker!
NBA Comparison: Paul Pierce
Here’s a clip of Parker highlights against Kansas:
http://youtu.be/Rb-ghooJsBk
Julius Randle (Kentucky, 6’9”, PF)
Randle was a monster in the second half of the Michigan State game. Scoring 23 of his 27 points that half, Randle surely looks like a beast. There was some downfalls in his game but the good ones were definitely NBA potential. He has incredible size and strength to score in traffic in the low post area. He can finish and he seems absolutely unstoppable when he is feeling it from the field.
The freshman superstar is averaging 24.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg, and 1.7 apg. Against Michigan State, Randle totaled 27 points, 13 rebounds, and shot 64% from the field. On the downside, Randle had 8 turnovers that game. Most of his to’s came form being forced to the right and that’s where Randle needs to improve his game.
With the tremendous body that NBA scouts look for, Randle has the potential to be a threat for the number one spot in the upcoming draft.
NBA Comparison: Chris Webber
Here’s a clip of Randle’s highlights against Michigan State:
http://youtu.be/SdsY62qaCoA
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