With the NBA Draft just hours away, we take a look at all of the draft hopefuls from the ACC and predict when they will hear their name called.
Jabari Paker
Parker emerges from college as a player who will keep Duke and the ACC well-represented in the NBA for a long time. He was unsurprisingly invited to New York along with fellow Blue Devil forward Rodney Hood and is a guaranteed lottery-pick, and many pin him as the most mature prospect skill-wise in the draft. His expected smooth transition from the college game to the NBA is what makes him the most attractive pick in the draft to many of the teams picking at the top. The 6-foot-8 forward has potential to be a do-it-all player with his ability to nail shots from behind the arc and get in the paint, something that any NBA executive can appreciate. Although it was reported that Parker may not have performed well in a workout for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he still might have the best chance of getting his name called first in Brooklyn. There is little chance that the Chicago native will slip past the second pick—which belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks—unless a dramatic turn of events unfolds in the coming hours.
Projected Pick Range: 1-2
Rodney Hood
Hood proved to be just as explosive as Parker at forward and has slightly better ball-handling skills that could mold him into a shooting guard at the next level. With three years of college experience under his belt, he will showcase maturity on the court, especially with his shooting. The Meridian, Miss. native shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc last season and has proved to be consistent from the charity stripe. Like Parker, his size will give him the versatility to play more than one position on the court in the NBA. Hood will definitely hear his name called in the first round and should make an impact wherever he plays during his rookie season.
Projected Pick Range: Late lottery-mid first round
Andre Dawkins
Dawkins had a rocky college career that almost resulted in him not returning to Duke after his junior year, but he finished strong with a solid season as a graduate student in which he averaged 7.9 points per game in more than 13 minutes per contest. Dawkins has the ability to knock down deep 3-point shots, which has interested a number of NBA teams during the past two months. Although he is an average ball handler and defensive player, his sweet shooting stroke has been turning a few heads in NBA front offices. Chances are Dawkins will not be drafted, but that doesn't mean he won't get his name called after some time in the D-League.
Projected Pick Range: Undrafted
T.J. Warren
The Durham native declared for the draft this spring after being the third-best scorer in the nation last season and the best scorer in the ACC. Warren will be productive from the minute he plays on an NBA floor, but it remains to be seen if he can maintain the offensive efficiency he had when playing for N.C. State. Regardless, Warren can flat-out score and his athleticism will allow him to get to the rim against NBA defenses. He will be a mid-round steal for whichever team drafts him and has the tools to play small forward or shooting guard in the NBA.
Projected Pick Range: Mid first round
Tyler Ennis
Ennis emerged as a key player this year in Syracuse's talent-jammed starting lineup, but stood out with comparisons to point guards such as Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Ennis can score from all over the court, but most importantly, has demonstrated solid defense that allowed him to lead the NCAA in steals this past season. Ennis could emerge as a star player at the next level that can shut down opposing point guards and methodically shred them to pieces on the offensive end.
Projected Pick Range: Mid-late first round
Jerami Grant
The Maryland native is one the most athletic prospects in this year's draft class, which will likely prevent him from falling into the second round. However, Grant is not a gifted shooter and is too small to play center, which may present a challenge for him at the next level. But just because he isn't a prototypical big man doesn't mean he can;t play like one, as shown by his multiple SportsCenter Top-10 put-back dunks from a season ago.
Projected Pick Range: Late first round
K.J. McDaniels
A smaller version of Kenneth Faried, McDaniels led Clemson to one of its best seasons in recent memory, which included a win against the Blue Devils on Jan. 1. McDaniels, like Faried, can put up impressive rebounding numbers even against taller and bigger opponents. Faried has found a nice home in Denver and expect McDaniels to also find his name called by an NBA team that is craving an athletic and versatile forward that can hit the boards at any given moment.
Projected Pick Range: Late first round
Joe Harris
Like Dawkins, Harris is one the more notable sharpshooters in this year's draft class, as he nearly broke school records for career 3-pointers made and career 3-point percentage at Virginia. Harris is a fundamentally sound player that demonstrated solid leadership qualities in Charlottesville, but simply lacks the athleticism of his peers. This doesn't make him a priority for most teams, which explains why he will likely be drafted late in the second round.
Projected Pick Range: Late second round
Other ACC Prospects Who Have a Chance of Getting Their Name Called:
C.J. Fair, Forward, Syracuse
James Michael McAdoo, Forward, North Carolina
Akil Mitchell, Forward, Virginia
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