Chad Ford's Top 15 Prospects

It's never too early to look at the projected rookie class for next year, and for all those fanbases with a lackluster CSL team to root for, the draft always gives them something to look forward to. The few looks we've got into the 2015 draft class have been promising so far, and maybe the next CSL superstar is hiding in here somewhere.

1. Dante Exum - SG - Australia
Admittedly, it's tough to get the best look at Exum as he hasn't played a lot of top-level competition. However, what we saw in the FIBA U19 Championships this past summer has really excited all of us. He plays with a smoothness that reminds me of Tracy McGrady, he's got great scoring instincts, he can attack the basket or hit the jumper, he finishes through contact well and gets to the foul line, and he's even a plus defender. He may not be the floor general some were hoping for him to be, but that's the only blemish I can see on an otherwise stellar player report.

2. Joel Embiid - C - Kansas
Recently, my colleague Stephen A Smith raved about how much he loved Embiid on his show ESPN First Take. I gotta say, I can't help but agree with him. When everyone first started comparing him to Hakeem, I couldn't believe my ears. But watching him play, I find myself seeing it more and more. He's a terrific defender with a knack for blocking shots, cleaning up the boards, and has some pretty good offensive ability too. It's still rough around the edges, but with work, he could be a dominant post player on both ends of the court.

3. Steven Adams - C - Pittsburgh
If I could only have one player on my team that was good at defense, I'd pick a center, and that is exactly why scouts are falling in love with Steven Adams. Everything you want in a defensive anchor, he brings to the table. He's a great one on one defender, he's a great help defender, he blocks shots, he grabs boards, and he does a great job of doing all that without fouling too much. While his offense is certainly not as advanced as his defense, it's by no means a liability either, making him a very solid prospect.

4. Noah Vonleh - PF - Indiana
I hope you need big men at the top of the draft, since this draft is big-heavy. Vonleh is another fantastic PF prospect, his effort level and motor are unmatched and he has the skills to back it up. He's started off the season red-hot, scoring from everywhere, and I mean everywhere. He's hitting 3s at a solid clip, and this is a big man who can also dunk over anyone. He's rebounding the ball like a madman, and best of all, his defense is elite. I think he's playing a bit over his head right now and will come down to Earth soon, but if he keeps this level of play up, he could contend for the #1 overall pick.

5. Jerami Grant - SF - Syracuse
Grant has shown an exceptional ability to create his own shot and finish around the rim, attacking the basket relentlessly and scoring at a high rate. He's a great offensive rebounder which speaks volumes about his hustle on the court. He's the kind of guy who just leaves everything on the floor. Grant is another player who's certainly raw, especially on the offensive end where his lack of a jumper has limited his efficiency, but he's been nothing short of outstanding for the Orangemen.

6. Boris Dallo - PG - France
Dallo is the first of two PGs here, but really they are equal as I couldn't decide who I liked better. I gave Dallo the edge because he's shown a better ability to defend and score, and at 6'5", that will translate better to the CSL. He's a capable floor general at this point in his career, and if he can be taught better how to run an offense, he'll have the entire package offensively when it comes to what teams want in a point guard.

7. Dominic Artis - PG - Oregon
Like I said, for me, these guys were neck and neck. Artis is the best floor general in the draft, and he's also a total pest on defense, with his quick hands and feet leading to plenty of steals. He's not quite the defender Dallo is, but he's not a liability either. He looks to attack the basket and while he isn't quite the scorer he could be yet, he's shown good instincts in terms of creating and hitting shots.

8. Zach LaVine - SG - UCLA
This is a project pick, because LaVine is definitely not CSL ready right now. However, he projects to be an elite shooter with great defense and an ability to attack the basket. What isn't there to like about that sentence? He reminds me a lot of a lite version of Kyrie Irving, but with defense.

9. Clint Capela - PF - France
Capela is a bull in a China shop, don't even try to get in his way. He's a big, athletic forward who attacks the basket without fear and will put anyone in his path on a poster. He is not afraid of contact and will fight for loose balls, rebounds, anything really. He's definitely not the most graceful or skilled of players, but then again, neither is Dwight Howard.

10. Aaron Gordon - PF - Arizona
What separates Gordon from a lot of the other players is how intelligent and well-coached he is. He's always making the right play on the court and hardly ever strays from the game plan. Coaches love this kid. He's not the most athletic and isn't the best player from a physical standpoint, but he's got great ability and most of all, he knows how to use it. He's the kind of player who makes the best of what he's got.

11. James Young - SG - Kentucky
I've never had a player remind me more of Manu Ginobili than this guy right here. He's such a crafty scorer, a great outside shooter, and he plays that smart, old man defense. He knows the tricks to force turnovers, get in your face, annoy the hell out of you. He can handle the ball and he crashes the boards. His lack of explosive athleticism as well as his almost one dimensional offensive game limits him a bit, but he's got the skills to pay the bills.

12. Montrezl Harrell - PF - Louisville
Harrell is the perfect hustle big man. He's not out there looking for his own shot, but he's out there hunting rebounds, shots to block, setting hard screens, putting back offensive boards. He does all the dirty work, and every team needs a garbage man like him. He's an excellent shot blocker as well.

13. Olivier Hanlan - PG - Boston College
One of the nation's best scorers, Hanlan feasts on attacking the basket and pulling up in mid range. He's easily this draft class's best scorer from inside the arc. He handles the ball very well, which helps him create open shots, and he does an excellent job of drawing contact and hitting his free throws. He hasn't shown much in the way of being a point guard, but that might be because his team has no other capable scorers for him to pass to.

14. Luka Mitrovic - PF - Serbia
Mitrovic is a plug and play type player, in that he's definitely ready for the CSL right now, but on the other hand, he probably doesn't have much growing left to do. He's a bit of an older prospect, which will turn some GMs off, however, he's a great scorer and a versatile offensive player. He can score inside, he can score outside, he can put the ball on the ground and attack the basket, he can rebound, he can defend, he can draw fouls, he does pretty much everything at least average to above average, which makes him so useful.

15. Nik Stauskas - SF - Michigan
It was tough to pick the last guy as there were plenty of candidates for this Top 15 list, but I ultimately went with the player that every organization would love to have. Stauskas has the best intangibles in the draft, and has both a great shot and a well rounded game to boot. He's not just a gunner like his role at Michigan would have you believe, but he's also shown a willingness and an ability to do all of the other little things on the court.

I'm curious about this Dallo guy, really peaking my interest.

Joel Embiid #1 pick. No doubt about it.

Didnt read it in detail only checked the names as we got no picks. But there are only a really few names I know:D..
Sad you cant watch college basketball in europe.

Yeah. Embiid sure looks like #1 lock.
He and Exum are on a class of their own as it seems, being both 2-way players who can do it all.
I'm really interested to see what the scouts could possibly say about Noah Vonleh and James Young, they both seem to fit nicely on my team. But won't be easy to snatch them at the draft. Let's see what we can do here.

Wow I would hate to be in the 3-7 range of this draft because you are not finding much help at all.

This is cute, Chad.  But how about we stop sugar-coating some of these top prospects in an effort to generate more "Insider" subscriptions.

Weekly Insight with Grant Hill

If you're looking to buy your scouts plane tickets soon, I'd read the above first.

Aaron Gordon isn't athletic ? Wait....WHAT ???? Pfft. I expected Blake Griffin 2.0