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Where will Kentucky’s seven players will go in the NBA Draft?

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 21, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) and guard Andrew Harrison (5) during the game against the Auburn Tigers in the second half at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Auburn Tigers 110-75. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) and guard Andrew Harrison (5) during the game against the Auburn Tigers in the second half at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Auburn Tigers 110-75. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seven Kentucky players have declared for the 2015 NBA Draft, with each one having a good shot to hear their name called on June 25.

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While Kentucky is used to revamping its roster every offseason under John Calipari, the 2015 team will undergo more overturn than any before it.

The top seven scorers from Kentucky’s 38-1 squad declared for the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday, including three freshman. If all seven players are drafted, and there’s a good chance of that happening, it would be the most selections from one school in a single draft in NBA history.

Three teams have had six players selected, including the 2012 national champion Wildcats. While the 2015 team is unlikely to match the feat of having the first two players selected overall, it could have just as much impact around the NBA, if not more.

Predicting exact fits is difficult until the lottery is complete, but each Wildcat has a range of selections they seem to fit into. Five Kentucky players are all but guaranteed to be drafted, at least four will go in the first round, and anywhere from two to four will be lottery selections.

Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) drives to the basket against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) drives to the basket against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C

Towns is the only Kentucky player with a legitimate chance of being the first overall selection. While it’s hard to weigh individual stats due to the Wildcats’ depth, Anthony-Towns was the second leading scorer, leading rebounder and leading shot blocker on the team this season.

At 7-0 and 250 pounds, Anthony-Towns has the size to play either center or power forward at the next level. He struggled with his post offense early in the season and was inconsistent on that end for much of the year, but showed flashes of talent that suggests he has the ability to dominate.

Anthony-Towns is much more developed on the defensive end though, where he projects as a potential difference maker already. Grabbing 6.7 rebounds and blocking 2.3 shots in just over 21 minutes per game should have scouts very intrigued, and Towns’ length should allow him to keep being a strong rim protector moving forward.

The biggest choice for the lottery winner will be between Anthony-Towns and Jahlil Okafor, who is more polished offensively but struggled at times on the defensive end. Anthony-Towns deserves to be the slight favorite to go first overall after stringing together a number of strong tournament games.

It’s close either way, as Okafor is more to contribute now, while Anthony-Towns has the higher ceiling. Either way, don’t expect Anthony-Towns to fall past the second pick.

Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Willie Cauley-Stein, C

Cauley-Stein is a tough player to figure in terms of his potential at the next level. He has the potential to be an elite defender, but doesn’t figure to contribute much offensively.

At 7-0 240 pounds with a standing reach of over nine feet, Cauley-Stein has great size with freakish athleticism. Cauley-Stein showed enough explosiveness to guard players on the perimeter and enough size to handle the low block.

That’s going to make NBA scouts believe he can be a defensive anchor as a rim protector, which will earn Cauley-Stein a lottery selection. His overall potential is limited, as Cauley-Stein can’t do much on the other end besides finish above the rim.

If Cauley-Stein even had a marginal offensive game, he would be the first overall pick in this draft. Still, expect him to fall no lower than 10th, and he could draw some interest as high as fourth.

Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) dribbles the ball against Florida Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) dribbles the ball against Florida Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Trey Lyles, PF

The aforementioned two big men overshadowed Lyles a bit, but he has plenty of potential at the NBA level, perhaps even more that Cauley-Stein. Lyles has a great 6-10 250 pound frame with a 7-4 wingspan, which just about guarantees that he will be selected in the top half of the first round.

Kentucky’s lineup forced Lyles to play a bit out of position as a small forward this season. That may work in his favor, as he showed impressive versatility all year long on the offensive end.

Lyles can score in the post, finish at the rim well and has a solid outside shot for his size. There’s nothing he does extremely well, which limits how high he will be drafted, but Lyles has all the makings of a solid role player at the next level with the potential to be much more with additional experience.

Don’t be surprised to see Lyles go somewhere in the 7-10 range, and he won’t slip any lower than the first couple of non-lottery picks.

Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) brings the ball up court against Tennessee Volunteers guard Josh Richardson (1) during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) brings the ball up court against Tennessee Volunteers guard Josh Richardson (1) during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Devin Booker, SG

Rather than relying on size and length like most of his Kentucky teammates, Booker will be an NBA player due to his shooting ability. Booker shot 47 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from beyond in the arc during his freshman season at Kentucky.

His long range shot started to go a little cold towards the end of the season, so teams will have to decide if that was a fluke or more representative of Booker’s skill level. But Booker’s mechanics are sound, and he has all the makings of a solid 3-and-D shooting guard at the next level.

Booker’s skill level in other areas is currently limited, and he probably could have improved his draft position with another year in college. Still, he has the shooting ability to sneak into the late lottery, and should be selected comfortably within the top 20.

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) reacts after the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) reacts after the 2015 NCAA Men /

Dakari Johnson, C

Great size will always give a player a strong chance to be selected in the NBA Draft. At 7-0 255 pounds with over a seven foot wingspan, Johnson has exactly that.

Johnson didn’t give a ton of chances to showcase his skill set at Kentucky, but he’s still one of the biggest players in the draft, meaning some team will take a chance on him as a project pick. As Johnson is not a great athlete, his upside is limited, but he’s shown good footwork on the defensive end and a soft touch at the rim, shooting over 50 percent from the field.

A late first round pick in the 28-32 range would make some sense here, as Johnson wouldn’t be ready to contribute right away, but could develop into a rotational big man.

Mar 13, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) drives against Florida Gators forward Devin Robinson (3) during the first half of the third round of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) drives against Florida Gators forward Devin Robinson (3) during the first half of the third round of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports /

Andrew Harrison, PG

Andrew Harrison is the first Wildcat who has a minor chance of going undrafted. Still, he has the physical skills and untapped to play at the next level, meaning some team will likely spend a second round pick on him.

At 6-6, 210 pounds, Andrew Harrison has excellent size for a point guard, which should be enough to get drafted. His three-point shooting was also improving slowly but surely throughout college, and he showed an ability to get to the free throw line consistently.

There’s questions about the demeanor from both Harrisons’, and Andrew isn’t going to be the lottery pick many envisioned coming out of high school. Still, his measurables are fantastic, making a selection in the 31-40 range likely.

Mar 8, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari talks with guard Aaron Harrison (2) against the Florida Gators during the second half at Stephen C. O
Mar 8, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari talks with guard Aaron Harrison (2) against the Florida Gators during the second half at Stephen C. O /

Aaron Harrison, SG

Aaron Harrison is going to be a difficult player for scouts to figure out. He hasn’t shown much in college that would indicate having the ability to play at the next level and certainly didn’t live up to the hype coming out of high school.

Still, Aaron Harrison was highly touted entering college for a reason and NBA minds will remember him hitting some of the biggest shots in NCAA history during Kentucky’s 2013 run. His size isn’t as good relative to his position as his brothers’,  but Aaron still has a strong 6-6 212 pound frame.

That should be enough to get Aaron Harrison selected with one of the final 5-10 picks of the draft, or at least scooped up as an undrafted free agent.

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