The 2017 NBA Draft is still a full year away but team scouts and management never sleep and there really is no such thing as an offseason in the annual basketball cycle anymore. The next wave of top NBA talent appears very promising at this point and we took the time to look ahead to which prospects we feel will be the first off the board next summer. Here is a look at the top five prospects for the 2017 NBA Draft.
Harry Giles
Power Forward, Duke Blue Devils – Freshman
Giles tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee between his freshman and sophomore high school years but he’s a tremendous talent and if he can prove that he can stay healthy he will undoubtedly be among the top picks in next year’s NBA Draft. The 6’10’’, 230-pound Giles boasts a ridiculous 7’3’’ wingspan and an outstanding 9’1’’ reach so there is every reason to believe he can be a top rebound man and finisher under the basket. Improving on his jump shot will be among the keys to him going first-overall in next year’s NBA Draft but the biggest factor will be his ability to stay healthy at Duke this season.
Josh Jackson
Guard/Forward, Kansas Jayhawks – Freshman
Jackson’s diverse skill set will make him an intriguing candidate to go first-overall in next year’s NBA Draft. Widely considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the country at the high school level, Jackson is at his best in transition as a scorer and passer and he has developed a strong mid-range jumper. The one catch with Jackson is that he will turn 20-years-old next February but the talent is there and he can boost his stock even further with a strong season at Kansas.
Markelle Fultz
Point Guard, Washington Huskies – Freshman
The combination of size and scoring ability that Fultz brings to the table will have scouts monitoring his potential to go first-overall very carefully as they look to see if he can transition to the college game and excel at Washington this season. Fultz has shown his maturity and ability to create for both himself and his teammates from the point guard position and his exciting style of play will have him in the mix as one of the top picks on the board for the 2017 NBA Draft.
Jayson Tatum
Guard/Forward, Duke Blue Devils – Freshman
The 6’8’’, 204-pound Tatum has the measurements and offensive skills to produce at a high level from the outset at Duke. He has all of the tools to thrive as a versatile forward that can move around. Tatum needs to develop his three-point shooting but he is a very athletic player that can get to the rim and make plays. He needs to focus on being more aggressive rather than settling for jump shots. The Blue Devils coaches will help him to eliminate some bad habits at Duke and if he plays to his potential, Tatum could be a top-five pick next summer. He’ll get a great opportunity to shine at Duke this season playing for a Blue Devils team that should be among the best in the ACC.
Frank Ntilikina
Point Guard, France
Ntilikina showed off his pure point guard skills at the annual Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star weekend and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about his potential as a 17-year-old that is already ready to play in the NBA. Ntilikina is a pass-first player with outstanding natural instincts and strong defensive ability. If he can develop a more consistent jump shot, he could become a star at the next level. Early on, a lot of people are comparing him to another French point guard: Tony Parker. As you might recall, Parker came into the league with solid playmaking skills, great vision, but needed to work on his jump shot. It’s gotten much better and that encourages a lot of people who are considering drafting Ntilikina.
Ntilikina’s age, instincts and 6’5’’ size make him an intriguing prospect at the point guard position and it will be very interesting to see how high he is selected in the 2017 NBA Draft.
