The 2015 NBA Draft Combine got started on Wednesday in Chicago as prospects from around the country showed up to record their official anthropometric statistics.
As there are every year, some prospects saw an early stock boost thanks to the Day One measurements, whether it be because of their height, body fat percentage, or their wingspan.
Here are five players who benefitted the most early on:
Kelly Oubre Jr., Shooting Guard, Kansas: Oubre Jr. projects as a shooting guard at the NBA level, and his measurements at the combine reinforced what many have thought, that his size is what makes him such an intriguing prospect. He measured in at 6’6.75″ with shoes, and a 7’2.25″ wingspan. Those numbers are ridiculous, and give a lot of merit to those who thought the pre-Draft process would give him a chance to rise higher on Mock Draft boards.
Sam Dekker, Small Forward, Wisconsin: We’ve known for a while that Dekker had good size, but no one quite knew whether he was 6’7, or 6’8. On Wednesday, he measured in at 6’9” with shoes, flashed off a chiseled 7.5% body fat reading, and stretched a 6’11.5″ wingspan. With his athleticism, he’s a perfect body type for new-age NBA SFs.
Robert Upshaw, Center, Washington: After a tumultuous college career, Upshaw needs all the good news he can get before Draft night. His first day at the combine resulted in just that, as he measured in at 7’0” with shoes, and showed off a 7’5.5″ wingspan, the longest of anyone there. Now, he did show a 12.5% body fat reading, but given his absence from a formal team environment, that wasn’t surprising.
Anthony Brown, Small Forward, Stanford: Thought of as a mid-second round pick, Brown came in with much more impressive size, 6’8.5″ with shoes and a 6’11.5″ wingspan, than many thought. Now, he has great size for his NBA position.
Tyus Jones, Point Guard, Duke: Jones’ size has always been in question, as it pertains to what kind of defender he can be once on the court in the NBA. Measuring in at 6’2” with shoes and showing a 6’5” wingspan, the first day of the combine was a win for Jones.
