Who will enter the NBA draft from last night's championship game and who will stay in school? Most likely, a championship or a championship appearance makes the decision to leave a little easier, given how hard it is to even reach the title game. Plus, deep tournament runs give prospects extra attention from scouts during a period when they're presumably playing some of their best basketball. Below is a list of Kentucky's and UConn's NBA prospects and my prediction on where they'll be next year (from most likely to declare to least likely) and beyond.
1. Shabazz Napier: One of the few players ever to win a title as a freshman and senior, he's forced to either enter the NBA draft or find another job. NBAdraft.net has him going in the late first round. Personally, I think he's better than that (and better than fellow point guard prospect Tyler Ennis). He probably has the best handle in the NCAA, while few of his contemporaries are as explosive. He also has an NBA-ready jump shot. His knocks are his light frame and sometimes questionable decision-making (like in the second half of last night's game).
2. Julius Randle: Someone compared Randle's game to Zach Randolph's, mostly because the two are beefy lefties and share the first two letters of their last name. Randle isn't quite as nifty around the hoop, but that's because he doesn't have to be. Even at his size, he's startling explosive. At the next level, where three point specialists and less intense defense widen lanes, Randle is going to be a star, especially when he develops his rarely used, but finely formed jumper. He should be the third player taken behind Wiggins and Parker. I also think he'll turn into a better pro than Joel Embiid.
3. James Young: The league needs more lefties. They'll get a solid one next year in Young. Amid Randle and the Harrisons, Young was the team's forgotten man -- and their most consistent performer. NBAdraft.net doesn't rank him elite in any one category, which could be his problem as a professional. Still, he's only 19 years old with good size, a nice jumper, and what appeared to be poise throughout the NCAA Tournament. I like him as the late first rounder he's projected to be. He smells like the type of player the Knicks have recently scored on after selecting shooting guards Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway, Jr. in similar draft positions.
4. Willy Cauley-Stein: There's little chance Cauley-Stein, a sophomore, returns next year. Too many players like him have left early and have still been drafted high. I don't have a great read on his game other than he's big and athletic. That's probably enough for NBA teams.
5. Harrison twins: No chance one stays and one leaves. If that was a possibility, they probably wouldn't have attended the same college. Likely, they'll wait and assess their stock before declaring. Because of their size, I think they get the grade they want and are taken somewhere in the teens (with Andrew, the point guard, going before Aaron, the shooting guard).
6. DeAndre Daniels: On the strength of his tournament performance and size, there's an outside chance the junior declares. Whatever the case, he'll be an NBA player one day.
7. Ryan Boatright: He looked great in the championship game, probably his best of the tournament. He didn't, however, have a great year statistically. Plus, next season he'll finally be the main guard. See you in Storrs.
8. Forwards Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee: They'd probably leave if they could. Next year will be their chance to make an NBA name for themselves.
9. Amida Brimah: The 7-foot freshman didn't score a bucket in the championship game. As usual, however, he had an impact on defense. A few more years of seasoning at UConn could make him NBA-ready.
10. Niels Giffey: I like the German's (and senior's) quite but confident game. I'm not sure if he's good enough to even make the D-League, but maybe he'll play overseas next year.