2014 NBA Mock Draft: Top 5 Prospects – Andrew Wiggins the #1 NBA Draft Prospect

2014 NBA Mock Draft: Top 5 Prospects – Andrew Wiggins the #1 NBA Draft Prospect: The 2013-14 NBA season is winding down, and while several teams are fighting for the final playoff spots, there is also a tight race going on for the worst record in the NBA as several franchises attempt to position themselves to pick near the top of the 2014 NBA Draft. Of course, the reason that so many teams have been willing to throw away the season is because of the talent level of the players that could potentially be available. With the NCAA tournament still in full swing, few of the top prospects have officially declared for the draft, but the smart money is on most of the highly-touted underclassmen moving up to the next level. With that in mind, here is an early look at the top NBA prospects.

1.      Andrew Wiggins, Small Forward, Kansas Jayhawks

He got off to a bit of a slow start and ended with a dud in Kansas’ loss to Stanford in the Round of 32, but in between, Wiggins’ athleticism and all-around skill were on full display. He finished the year averaging 17.1 points per game, and he was able to score in a variety of ways. In addition to his above-the-rim exploits, Wiggins knocked down 1.2 3-pointers per game at a 34.1 percent clip and got to the foul line 6.5 times per game. He was also active on the defensive end, averaging 1.0 block and 1.2 steals per game. If you watched the West Virginia game when he finished with 41 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks, you know exactly why he could be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

2.      Joel Embiid, Center, Kansas Jayhawks

The 7’0″ center is just oozing with potential, and in addition to being a major force on the defensive, his offensive game improved throughout his freshman season. All told, Embiid averaged 11.2 points on 62.6 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game for Kansas this season. At just 19 years old, he has a chance to become a dominant big man in the NBA, especially on the defensive end. In fact, the only thing keeping from being the top prospect in my mind is the fact that he is only 19 and us already having back issues.

3.      Jabari Parker, Small Forward, Duke Blue Devils

Assuming Parker enters the draft, he instantly becomes my pick for Rookie of the Year. He is already that polished on the offensive end, and his defense isn’t bad either. Parker averaged 19.1 points per as a freshman for Duke, and he showed his toughness by chipping in 8.7 rebounds per game for the undersized Blue Devils. He shot a respectable 35.8 percent from beyond the arc this year, and in addition to getting to the foul line more than six times per game, and showed the ability to take slower defenders off the dribble and take smaller defenders in the post. He might not have the super-elite athleticism of some of the other prospects, but he is going to be able to score at a high level at the NBA level.

4.      Julius Randle, Power Forward, Kentucky Wildcats

On one hand, Randle doesn’t jump out of the gym, and he doesn’t have the range that so many forwards have these days. However, he does have an NBA body and attitude to go along with a variety of post moves. Plain and simple, Randle is a physical beast that isn’t afraid to mix it up. He seems to love contact and is able to punish and wear down opponents on the block. Randle is averaging 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Sweet 16-bound Wildcats, and he figures to be a double-double machine at the next level, as well.

5.      Noah Vonleh, Power Forward, Indiana Hoosiers

Vonleh flew under the radar this year in large part because of the struggles of Indiana as a team. That being said, the 6’10” forward has an intriguing set of skills that will get him plenty of notice from NBA teams. He averaged 11.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers this year despite playing just 26.5 minutes per game. Vonleh also has great touch for a big man, shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 48.5 percent from beyond the arc and 71.6 percent from the foul line. He will need a bit of polishing, but the versatile Vonleh has the size and strength to man the paint at the next level and the offensive finesse to play alongside a defensive-minded big man.

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