Pre-Draft Player Rankings 26-30

It's that time of year again and the NBA Draft is right around the corner. The talent level is up from last year which adds to the excitement of watching this year's rookie class impact their respected teams next season. There is only one guarantee thus far and that will be Anthony Davis of Kentucky going first overall to the New Orleans Hornets. The rest of the draft is up in the air and that is where I'll be ranking the top 30 players and posting a mock draft of the first two rounds (barring any trades). Without further ado...



26. Meyers Leonard 7'1" C Illinois / Sophomore

I was disappointed to see Leonard's name listed as one of the many underclassmen to declare for this years draft. He is one year away from becoming an automatic lottery selection but I can't blame him after the tumultuous end to the Illini's season and subsequent firing of Bruce Weber. Leonard has just cracked his potential and whatever team selects him will have to expect him to take a year or two to form into the force he's capable of becoming. He has the size to defend any center in the game and will have to get stronger before he will get any playing time. During a game in Madison last season, I watched him run the floor for over ten minutes without touching the ball, something that should never happen to someone with his talent. He needs to be more assertive and demand the ball because he has the low-post moves to make plays. Obviously, I am a big fan of this guy and am excited to see what he can do in the NBA with the few centers in todays game.

27. Scott Machado 6'1" PG Iona / Senior

Scott Machado came out of nowhere this season, leading the nation in assists, averaging nearly ten per contest for Iona. In a point guard depleted draft, Machado should be taken in the first round. The pass-first point guard has exceptional vision and showed the ability to make plays in the half-court and in transition. The one limitation I see is his lack of quickness at his size. He will need this against the bigger point guards in the league, on both ends of the floor to avoid getting overpowered.

28. Doron Lamb 6'5" SG Kentucky / Sophomore

Another excellent shooter, Lamb showed he belonged in the first round with an impressive national championship game in which he led Kentucky with 22 points. The Oak Hill alum made the smart decision to return to school after his freshman year and was relied upon throughout the year as the knock down shooter and three point threat for the Wildcats, a role he will continue in the NBA. He showed the ability to handle the ball, taking over point guard duties many times but can always improve his ball handling if he wants to become a more versatile guard. He isn't overly explosive (his craftiness reminds me of a smaller Paul Pierce) but was still one of the most efficient players in college basketball during Kentucky's championship run.

29. John Jenkins 6'4" SG Vanderbilt / Junior

Arguably the best shooter in the draft, Jenkins leaves Vanderbilt a year early to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. He should be able to find his niche with a team as their spot up shooter, something he proved during his time in Nashville. He has a quick release that can be used to shoot off the dribble or from a pass. His knacks against him include his size, which will be an issue when defending taller shooting guards, and his athleticism as a shooting guard compared to others in the draft. Obviously, these two factors are hard to change so Jenkins has a lower ceiling than guards that will be chosen ahead of him.

30. Andrew Nicholson 6'9" PF St. Bonaventure / Senior

Nicholson never received much national television exposure so his name was never discussed as one of the better players in college basketball but his numbers over the past two seasons raised some eyebrows. He helped lead the Bonnies to an Atlantic 10 tournament championship, posting 26 and 14 and almost upset Florida State during the NCAA tournament. The canadian uses his length to make up for his relatively small frame but will need to continue to bulk up if he wants to guard the power forwards in todays game. The one thing that stood out to me when watching him play against Illinois earlier this year was the versatility he had on the offensive end, mixing up between low-post moves and mid-range shooting.