Complete list: Who's in, who's out of 2008 draft?
Updated: April 15, 2008, 1:32 PM ET
IN THE DRAFT
Players who officially have declared for the 2008 NBA draft
* To preserve eligibility, player has not hired an agent
Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia*
Ryan Anderson, F, Cal*
Anderson is one of the best offensive players in the country. He's a big forward who can score inside and out. However, he's stuck between positions. His lack of athleticism hurts his ability to guard 3s and his lack of strength limits his chances of guarding 4s. He's stuck on the first-round bubble right now.
Jerryd Bayless, G, Arizona
Bayless didn't come with quite the rep of some of the other freshman guards like
Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo and
Eric Gordon, but he's had a spectacular freshman season. Bayless has great athleticism, can score of the dribble and from deep three-point range and proved that he could play the point, at least part time, in the pros. His lack of pure playmaking skills and the fact that he's a little undersized to play the two will hurt his stock a little, but overall Bayless looks like he'll fall somewhere between 3 and 8 in the draft.
Michael Beasley, F, Kansas State
He may have had the best freshman season in college basketball history -- even surpassing what Kevin Durant did last year. He's got great size, athleticism, can score anywhere on the floor and is a beast of a rebounder. Scouts claim that character issues from Beasley's high school days still haunt him. But, barring some surprise revelation or injury, Beasley will be either the first or second pick in the draft.
Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona*
He has great size for his position, is an explosive athlete and can shoot the lights out, but he's been criticized for being too passive and not always using his athletic ability. However, NBA GMs still see him as a potential lottery pick ... falling somewhere in the 10-15 range.
Derrick Caracter, F, Louisville
He is big, physical and athletic, and has soft hands around the basket. But he's racked up such a rap sheet at Louisville, there's a great chance that every team in the league will decide to take a pass. He's good, but he's probably not worth the trouble.
Earl Clark, F, Louisville
Clark is a long, athletic, versatile forward who played his best basketball in the NCAA tournament. He's a point forward type with excellent rebounding skills and can be awesome in the open court. Clark is still a little raw, especially on the offensive end and he could add some strength to his wiry frame. However, scouts love the potential. He's got the potential to go somewhere in the mid to late first round.
Eric Gordon, G, Indiana
Gordon has many star qualities. He's an excellent athlete, has an NBA body, is explosive going to the basket, an excellent defender and, until the last few weeks of the season, was a dead eye from long range. His struggles since injuring his wrist in January and losing head coach Kelvin Sampson, have been well documented. He couldn't hit a shot and he, and the Hooisers, went down in flames. While his performance in the last quarter of the season didn't help his draft stock, teams still see him as a Top 10 pick.
Donte Greene, F, Syracuse*
Greene is a long, athletic forward who can play both inside and out. He had a very strong start to the season before hitting the wall in the second half. Teams love his talent, but he's still raw and finding a position. He could go anywhere from the late lottery to mid-first round.
Richard Hendrix, F, Alabama*
Despite Hendrix's NBA body, athleticism and excellent numbers in the SEC this season, scouts aren't totally sold on him. They believe he is undersized for his position and needs polish on the offensive end. Still, Hendrix is smart to test the waters. He's a junior and he can give teams a free look. If he impresses, he could go anywhere from the late teens to mid 20s. If he doesn't impress, he can return to Alabama for his senior season.
J.J. Hickson, F, North Carolina State*
Hickson has the NBA body and athleticism, and he put up great numbers as a freshman at NC State. But he is going to be a bit of a project and could really use another year in college. If he stays in the draft, look for him to go in the 15-25 range.
DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M*
As a physical specimen, Jordan is a high lottery pick. He's huge, strong and athletic. However, he's pretty raw on both ends of the floor. His lack of production, especially in the second half of the season, has hurt his stock. However, big workouts could move him up again. He could go anywhere in the 5-12 range.
Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
Brook Lopez has the physical tools and offensive abilities to be an excellent NBA player. He has great size, length and above-average athleticism. He's an effective scorer in the paint and can stretch the defense away from the basket. Right now he projects as the top center in the draft and a potential Top 5 pick.
Robin Lopez, C, Stanford
Robin Lopez is more athletic and has a better motor than his brother. He's an active rebounder and excellent shot-blocker. He lacks any real polish on the offensive end of the floor, but he has improved in that area this season. Right now teams see him as a defensive stopper in the Anderson Varejao mold. He's probably a late first to early second-round pick.
O.J. Mayo, G, USC
Mayo's stock has been all over the place -- he was a potential No. 1 pick last summer and slipped to a late lottery pick early in the season. However, Mayo's steady play in the second half of the season won over scouts who see him as a potentially dominant scorer in the NBA. He should go anywhere in the 3-7 range.
JaVale McGee, F/C, Nevada
McGee, a long lanky, ultra-athletic big man, has been solidly on NBA scouts' radar screen all season. He had a coming out party against North Carolina in December and from that point forward, has been considered a draft sleeper for anywhere from the late lottery to late first round. Right now we have him somewhere in the middle, but with great workouts, he has the potential to crack the lottery. You aren't going to find many prospects with his combination of size, length, athleticism and basketball skills.
Trent Plaisted, C, BYU*
Plaisted has the size and athleticism to succeed in the NBA, but he still battles inconsistency -- he had a promising freshman season, a disappointing sophomore season and an up-and-down junior season. Right now, he's on the first-round bubble, but with strong workouts he could be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
Anthony Randolph, F, LSU*
A big-time athlete, he has great size and is an excellent rebounder and an emerging offensive force. He needs to add strength and experience but many GMs believe he is one of the most talented players in the draft. He's been compared to everyone from Chris Bosh to Brandan Wright. Look for Randolph to go anywhere in the 5-10 range.
Marreese Speights, F/C, Florida*
Speights is one of the most efficient low-post scorers in college basketball. He's not especially flashy, but can be brutally effective in the paint, both scoring and grabbing rebounds. Scouts question his position a little and his conditioning, but overall they project him as a late lottery to mid first-round pick.
Ronald Steele, G, Alabama*
Steele was once considered a potential first rounder, but a subpar junior season and a season long injury this year have dramatically hurt his stock. He's going to try to go out and show NBA teams that he's 100 percent and hope for a miracle, but right now it looks highly unlikely that he'd be a first-round pick. Look for him to return to Alabama for his senior year.
Robert Vaden, G, Alabama-Birmingham*
Vaden transferred from Indiana to UAB this year and lit up Conference USA this season. Vaden is a deadly outside shooter, but doesn't do much else. He does have a good NBA body, but doesn't have great athleticism. Barring a lights-out performance at the Orlando predraft camp, he'll rank somewhere in the mid-to-late second round and return to UAB for his senior season.
Bill Walker, G/F, Kansas State*
Walker is one of the most athletic players in the draft, but he's still recovering from the ACL surgery he underwent last season. At times he looked like the old Bill Walker this season -- the high-flying, sweet-shooting Vince Carter clone. But other times he didn't look like NBA material at all. He's projected as a second-round pick, though someone may take him late in the first round based on his upside.
ONE FOOT IN THE DOOR
Players who are leaning toward declaring for the draft, but haven't officially announced their intentions
Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
Chris Douglas-Roberts, F, Memphis
Kevin Love, F/C, UCLA
Leo Lyons, PF, Missouri
John Riek, C, Prep School
Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas
Russell Westbrook, G, UCLA
50-50
Players who are still deciding about declaring for the draft
Ryan Anderson, PF, Cal
Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas
Nick Calathes, G, Florida
Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
Sherron Collins, PG, Kansas
Austin Daye, F, Gonzaga
Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina
Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
Josh Heytvelt, PF, Gonzaga
Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State
Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina
Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth
Scottie Reynolds, G, Villlanova
Tyrese Rice, PG, Boston College
Tyler Smith, SF, Tennessee
Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn
INTERNATIONAL
International players under 22 years old who have declared or who are likely to declare
Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
Nicolas Batum, SF, France
Omri Casspi, F, Israel
Vladimir Dasic, PF, Serbia
Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy
Serge Ibaka, F, Congo
Vyatcheslav Kravtsov, C, Ukraine
Boban Marjanovic, C, Serbia
Rudy Mbemba, PG, Sweden
Vladimir Golubovic, C, Serbia
Ante Tomic, C, Croatia
Artem Zabelin, C, Russia
OUT
Players who have officially announced they will return to college next year
Stephen Curry, SG, Davidson
Curry dominated the 2008 NCAA tournament and his stock has never been higher. Another great year at Davidson, this time playing point guard, could make him a lock for the first round in 2009.
Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma
Scouts compare him to Carlos Boozer. He's projected as a Top 5 pick in the 2009 draft.
James Harden, SG, Arizona State
He's a versatile scorer, but he isn't an elite prospect because of just so-so athleticism. Still, he projects as a mid-to-late first-rounder in 2009.
Davon Jefferson, F, USC
Jefferson is a great athlete, but he's still a raw player. He's already 21, so next season should be his last in college. He should go in the mid-to-late first round in 2009.
Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville
Williams is an amazing athlete and excellent rebounder for a swingman. He's very versatile on both ends of the floor. He'll do a little of everything. However, his inconsistent jump shot hurts his stock. So does the fact that he doesn't really ever take over games the way his talent suggests. He was probably not a first-round pick this year so it is a smart move to return to Louisville for his senior season.
Entire ESPN article:
ESPN - Complete list: Who's in, who's out of 2008 draft? - NBA
