Reaching New Heights

Looking ahead to the 2015 NBA Draft, which college sophomores and juniors could break out and be selected in the first round?

Just as it happens every year, the incoming freshmen will the headlining story to begin the college basketball season. Especially as it pertains to the NBA Draft, freshmen lead the discussion; and, conversations for the 2015 Draft will be no different. Each year, however, highly touted freshmen return to school for a sophomore campaign at the minimum, looking for a chance to breakout and increase odds of being taken high in the draft’s first round. In June’s draft, Marcus Smart, Nik Stauskas and Gary Harris were just a few of the sought-after sophomores who decided to take two years in school. Ultimately, it did not hurt their respective draft stocks.

Looking ahead to the 2015 Draft, and potentially beyond, who are the returning sophomores and juniors poised for a breakout season that will compel lottery teams to salivate over them?

Caris Levert, SG, Michigan (6-6, 185 lb)

Seeing a Michigan player on this list should be no surprise, as John Belein has become a master of producing two-and-done pros. Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas were both lottery picks as two-year college players, and Levert looks to join them on the list, albeit after completing his junior sesason. Blessed with good height for an NBA shooting guard, Levert enters his third season after posting nearly 13 points and three assists to go with four rebounds per game last season. Dealing with the losses of Stauskas and Robinson III, Levert will breakout as one of the Big Ten’s top scoring options.  If Levert can prove to be a defensive stopper against good competition, there is not much holding him back from hearing his name in the lottery.

Kasey Hill, PG, Florida (6-1, 181 lb)

The other player on this list to appear on my first big board for the 2015 Draft, Hill’s opportunities to be the lead guard will increase dramatically this season. Hill is a quick guard who can score and distribute, and has the benefit of playing next to one of the country’s best shooters in Michael Frazier II. The biggest obstacle to Hill becoming an All-American caliber point guard is his outside shooting, where he shot just 14 percent from 3-point range last season. Shooting aside, Hill will thrive in an expanded role in Billy Donovan’s pressure defensive schemes, and could lead the SEC in steals. Hill looks the part of an NBA guard that could help a lottery franchise.

Rodney Purvis, SG, Connecticut (6-4, 203 lb)

Many may have forgotten about Purvis, who began his career at NC State. Transferring after his freshman season to join Kevin Ollie’s squad, Purvis will start as the off-guard this season for the Huskies. Playing next to Ryan Boatright in the UConn backcourt, Purvis will be looked upon as a primary scorer and shooter. Shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, Purvis excels with his feet set from the extended elbow and corner, though he can also score off the dribble and distribute the ball as a secondary ball handler. Entering 2013, Purvis was on the radar as a potential first round pick, and he should regain that status with a breakout year in Connecticut.

Mamadou Ndiaye, C, UC-Irvine (7-6, 290 lb)

To say Ndiaye is massive would be a tremendous understatement. Standing at 7-foot-6 (yes, you read that correctly), Ndiaye patrols the paint for UC-Irvine, where he averaged eight points, six rebounds and three blocks per game while shooting over 70 percent from the floor. Ndiaye is incredibly raw, and scores most of his points off of his teammates’ creations, but has defensive potential that every NBA team will look at very hard in the late-first round. With a big season on the glass and protecting the rim, scouts will flock to Irvine to see the big man from Senegal. Keep an eye on this potential diamond in the rough.

Troy Williams, SF, Indiana (6-7, 206 lb)

Tom Crean has had a tough time finding an athletic wing player to stick in his rotation. Williams, who played just over 20 minutes per game as a freshman, looks poised for a big season. A phenomenal athlete, Williams has potential to be a lockdown defender at the college level, and he has the size that scouts look for to translate into a stopper at the NBA level. While he could still get stronger, Williams will pester opposing wings into a plethora of turnovers a sophomore. Offensively, Williams is a straight-line slasher, though not a great ball handler, and got most of his points off of put-backs and when assisted last year. Williams needs to focus on becoming a capable 3-point shooter, especially from the corner, and rebounding from the wing, where he could be one of the best in the country. The former Oak Hill product had a quiet freshman year, though with expanded opportunity could be one of the 2015 Draft’s best surprises.

Five more who could breakout: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG, Washington | Isaiah Taylor, PG, Texas | Josh Scott, C, Colorado | Patricio Garino, SG, George Washington | Marcus Lee, PF, Kentucky

Lottery teams who fall out of the playoff race shortly after the start of the season will turn their focus towards tanking or making moves to get better. Implications surrounding the 2015 Draft, and potentially the prospects listed above, will be taken into account regarding those decisions.