Tyrese Maxey

Saddiq Bey is set to be the latest Villanova player chosen in the NBA draft, but just like other prospects before him, he is not considered to be a marquee first-round pick.

The sophomore forward is viewed by most experts as a mid-round selection, but he could end up as one of the top rookies from the draft class.

Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey fits that mold as well, as he is projected to be a fringe lottery pick at best from a program that has produced many NBA stars under John Calipari.

                    

2020 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks

4. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

5. Detroit Pistons: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton

6. New York Knicks: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

7. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn

8. Charlotte Hornets: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, SG/SF, Florida State

10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

11. San Antonio Spurs: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

13. New Orleans Pelicans: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova

15. Orlando Magic: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn): Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

17. Boston Celtics (from Memphis): Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

18. Dallas Mavericks: Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL

19. Milwaukee Bucks (from Indiana): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

20. Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia): Jaden McDaniels, SF, Washington

21. Denver Nuggets (from Houston): Josh Green, SG, Arizona

22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford

23. Miami Heat: Tre Jones, PG, Duke

24. Utah Jazz: Jalen Smith, PF/C. Maryland

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Denver): Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State

26. Boston Celtics: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B

27. New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Clippers): Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington

28. Toronto Raptors: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas

30. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee): Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota 

                    

Underrated 1st-Round Prospects

Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova

Bey could follow in the footsteps of Josh Hart, Omari Spellman, Donte DiVincenzo and Mikal Bridges as a first-round pick out of Villanova in the past four years.

Bridges was the only top-10 choice of the quartet, but each player developed into a solid contributor for his team.

Bey recently confirmed his status in the draft pool by signing with an agent, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Bey would land at No. 16 to Minnesota in his latest mock draft.

He took a major step forward as a sophomore by increasing his points per game by 7.9 and his three-point numbers by 20.6 percent.

His trajectory is similar to those of other Villanova players who entered the program as unheralded recruits and were transformed into NBA prospects by Jay Wright and his coaching staff. Bey's 45.5 three-point percentage and improved defense could intrigue teams at the back end of the lottery, like the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers, if they do not qualify for the postseason.

The fringe playoff contenders in the Western Conference may benefit the most from Bey's skill set as they look for immediate impact players from reputable college programs.

Prediction: No, 14 overall to Portland.

                            

Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

Maxey's one-year spell at Kentucky started with a 26-point outing versus Michigan State at the Champions Classic and closed with eight double-digit outings in nine games.

The freshman guard did a bit of everything for a Wildcats team that lost only once after February 4. He averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and shot 42.7 percent from the field.

Maxey has a good chance to extend Kentucky's streak of at least one top-15 pick that dates back to 2010. Wasserman, who had Maxey at No. 15 in his latest mock draft, said there are "opinions varying" on what type of NBA player Maxey can be.

Although he put up some promising numbers in a talented backcourt, Maxey only shot 29.2 percent from three-point range. If he improves beyond the arc and keeps up consistency across offensive stat categories, he could be a solid addition for any of the teams that leave Orlando, Florida, without a postseason berth or a playoff series victory.

The Orlando Magic could be in the market for backcourt help if Evan Fournier declines his player option for next season.

Even if Fournier opts in, the Magic could take Maxey and develop him behind the 27-year-old and Terrence Ross to provide depth for a potential push above the No. 8 seed next season.

Prediction: No. 15 overall to Orlando.

                     

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.

Kentucky Wildcats freshman guard Tyrese Maxey is signing with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN on Thursday. 

Maxey declared for the 2020 NBA draft on April 6.  

"My thoughts were that we would be playing for a national championship [today]," he told Malika Andrews of ESPN after his announcement. "Although we're unable to do that due to what our country is experiencing, I felt like this was the day to declare for the draft to make it as special as I thought today would be."

Kentucky head coach John Calipari praised Maxey after the prospect made his announcement, saying he pushed the freshman harder than any of his teammates:

I was harder on @TyreseMaxey than any player this season, and there’s a reason. One, he’s a great kid with a confidence in his ability that does not waver. Two, he has a potential that he has only begun to realize. And three, Tyrese needed to be challenged to take that next step. https://t.co/4sM2JMGL0N

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) April 6, 2020

Maxey responded by averaging 14.0 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 42.7 percent from the field—though just 29.2 percent from three. But he showed enough potential to be a projected lottery pick in the 2020 draft. 

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie had him as the No. 12 player on his April 2 big board, and B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected him to be the No. 12 selection, to the Sacramento Kings, in his most recent mock draft. 

Wasserman noted Maxey has "clear shot-making skills" and added "previous Kentucky guards have blossomed with more NBA space." He also noted that his "lack of explosiveness and playmaking lower his perceived ceiling, but his pull-up game, floater, advanced finishing and NBA body hint at a high floor."

As for Kentucky, his departure was just one of many in an offseason exodus that few teams could recover from easily:

• Immanuel Quickley: NBA
• Tyrese Maxey: NBA
• Nick Richards: NBA
• Ashton Hagans: NBA
• EJ Montgomery: Entered NBA draft
• Nate Sestina: No more eligibility
• Johnny Juzang: Transferred to UCLA
• Kahlil Whitney: Left school in January, entered NBA draft https://t.co/x3cDNP8Tvs

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 15, 2020

But the Wildcats also have an incoming class that features three 5-star recruits (Terrence Clarke, BJ Boston and Devin Askew) and three 4-star prospects (Isaiah Jackson, Lance Ware, Cam'Ron Fletcher), per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Never underestimate Calipari on the recruiting trail. 

It will be a while until the NBA draft lottery sorts itself out.

Given the Association's current suspension, it's unclear when (or if) this campaign will resume. For clubs concerned with lottery odds, they have either done all the losing they can do or they will be granted another opportunity to race to the bottom during whatever time the revised schedule has left.

But with three-quarters of the schedule in the books, we have a good enough idea of which teams will be in the mix. We also know what type of talent is available at the top of this draft class.

                      

NBA Standings

Updated Lottery Outlook

1. Golden State Warriors (15-50)

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-46)

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45)

4. Atlanta Hawks (20-47)

5. Detroit Pistons (20-46)

6. New York Knicks (21-45)

7. Chicago Bulls (22-43)

8. Charlotte Hornets (23-42)

9. Washington Wizards (24-40)

10. Phoenix Suns (26-39)

11. San Antonio Spurs (27-36)

T-12. New Orleans Pelicans (28-36)

T-12. Sacramento Kings (28-36)

14. Portland Trail Blazers (29-37)

                  

Predictions

Anthony Edwards Will Be No. 1 Pick No Matter What

The 2020 draft class isn't great, and that has led to some fluidity in the prospect rankings.

Over time, though, Georgia's Anthony Edwards started separating from the pack for his blend of physical gifts and potentially high-level scoring skills. He's not quite a consensus choice, but among the nine mock drafts used to create HoopsHype's aggregate mock, seven feature Edwards at No. 1 (the others have LaMelo Ball in the first spot).

"It's difficult to find efficient shot-creating wings at the NBA level, and Edwards has all the natural ability to grow into that type of player, with the right level of nurture," SI.com's Jeremy Woo wrote.

For a near-consensus No. 1 prospect, Edwards has more risk than you'd think. His on-court specialty is scoring, which makes his unsightly shooting rates (40.2 overall, 29.4 from three) a little more glaring. He also has the tools to be a lockdown defender, but his motor at that end is too inconsistent.

Edwards reminds some of Andrew Wiggins, which isn't the harshest criticism (he's a career 19.7 points per game scorer) but is absolutely not a compliment. Wiggins was the top pick in 2014, a class in which he now ranks 15th in career win shares.

There are a wide range of outcomes for Edwards' career, but his ceiling reaches the highest, and his floor sits several stories above disaster. He'll almost certainly hear his name called first whenever this draft happens, regardless of which team is on the clock.

                   

Kentucky Won't Have a Lottery Pick

John Calipari's program has functioned like an NBA assembly line.

The Wildcats have produced at least one lottery pick in each of the last 10 drafts. They had multiple lottery picks in six of those drafts, topping out at an incredible four in 2015: Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker.

There was some speculation Calipari's lottery streak might be in jeopardy last year, but both PJ Washington (12th) and Tyler Herro (13th) made the cut. This year, Calipari's margin for error might be even slimmer.

While five Wildcats cracked Woo's 80-player big board, only two made the top 60. And if this board holds true in the actual draft, the second player in that group, sophomore point guard Ashton Hagans, won't hear his name called until the 32nd selection.

The streak, then, rests on the shoulders of freshman combo guard Tyrese Maxey, who holds the seventh spot on this big board. But that's higher than you'll find him on most mocks.

Maxey goes 12th on the latest offering from ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz. That's the same spot B/R's Jonathan Wasserman slotted Maxey in March.

"Maxey's lack of explosiveness and playmaking lower his perceived ceiling, but his pull-up game, floater, advanced finishing and NBA body hint at a high floor," Wasserman wrote.

He is right on the lottery bubble, but that lack of perceived upside could stop Calipari's streak. Maxey shot just 42.7 percent overall and 29.2 percent from three during his one-and-done run with the Wildcats.

Much is in flux regarding the NBA right now, but as things stand, the league's June 25 draft isn't on that list. 

While the future of events such as the rest of the regular season, playoffs and even free agency are being considered during the coronavirus pandemic, all signs point to the NBA draft going ahead as scheduled. Whether it will be in-person or done virtually like the upcoming NFL draft is still to be determined, though.

The league's pre-draft process, which typically includes interviews, individual and group workouts, as well as the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, will likely have to be shifted almost exclusively to a digital platform.

According to The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania, teams will be allowed four hours of virtual meetings with a player (but no more than two in any given week), but live workouts and/or requests for watching a player work out virtually are prohibited. 

That should make for an interesting process for teams and potential draft picks, particularly with no set end date attached to these rules.

With the combine scheduled to begin May 21, it's hard to envisage a scenario in which teams will get to see any prospects in person, meaning they'll almost certainly have to rely on game film from this season and/or past years to make their physical evaluations. 

As more and more of the country's top men's college basketball players declare their intentions to test the NBA waters, here's a roundup of the most recent mock drafts and a few players to keep an eye on. 

Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky

While it was essentially a given that Tyrese Maxey would be another one-and-done at Kentucky, the former McDonald's All-American declared his intentions to join the draft pool Monday.

The Wildcats guard, who is listed as the No. 8 prospect in the ESPN Top 100 available prospects, averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his lone season with the team.

The questions around his shooting ability weren't put to rest, though. Maxey shot just 29 percent from behind the arc, a surprising development considering his ability to shoot at the high school level.

He does, however, possess the ability to score with ease at the other two levels, and despite lacking top-end athleticism, he's crafty enough to beat defenders.

In NBADraft.net's latest mock, the 19-year-old is projected to drop all the way to Brooklyn at No. 19. That's a little hard to believe considering the weakness of the class, but anything is possible.

Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, meanwhile, has Maxey teaming up with former Kentucky star Devin Booker in Phoenix at No. 10, and Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has him at No. 12 going to Sacramento to join another former Wildcat, De'Aaron Fox. 

Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State

One of the biggest risers over the course of the 2019-20 season was Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton.

After averaging a respectable 6.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a freshman at ISU in 2018, the 6'5" guard broke out this year. He led the Cyclones with 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game while shooting better than 41 percent from behind the arc.

In the meantime, the Cyclones point guard rose from draft afterthought to a potentially high lottery pick. 

There will likely be some questions about his durability—especially with the uncertain draft process and an injury that cut his season short—but Haliburton will be near the top of a deep group of point guards in this year's class.

NBADraft.net has him as the fifth PG taken in the top 12 picks—after LaMelo Ball, Cole Anthony, Theo Maledon, and Nico Mannion—where he's projected to land with the Kings and Fox.

If Haliburton is willing and able to play both guard spots, Sacramento could be a good fit for him, though it seems something of an odd fit given his passing abilities.

Woo projects him at No. 4 to Atlanta to play alongside Trae Young, Clint Capela, Cam Reddish and De'Andre Hunter, and Wasserman has him going at No. 11 to San Antonio to join Dejounte Murray. 

 

R.J. Hampton, G, New Zealand Breakers

Sticking with the guard-heavy theme because, well, it's the NBA, and one of the more intriguing—yet hard to project—prospects is R.J. Hampton.

The 6'5" guard, who was a consensus top-five recruit in the 2019 class, opted to play professionally overseas for a season rather than going the traditional college route. 

And it's hard to say whether that hurt or helped his stock significantly. Hampton averaged 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.9 minutes per game for the NBL's New Zealand Breakers, but arguably the most damning stats were his shooting numbers: 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from three.

The 19-year-old has a multitude of athletic tools and was known as a scorer, and if he can tap into those at the pro level, he could be a nice addition for a lottery-level team.

Woo has him going to Portland at No. 14 as a backup to CJ McCollum, while Wasserman has him going No. 8 to Charlotte, and NBADraft.net has him dropping to Boston at No. 17. 

Follow Keegan on Twitter, @ByKeeganPope. 

All NBA drafts have their strong spots.

The 1996 talent grab overloaded the league with star guards, like Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Ray Allen. The 2003 iteration changed frontcourts forever with the arrivals of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.

The 2020 draft is almost certainly not having that kind of impact, but it has its own strengths all the same. Guard play, in particular, appears the early needle-mover, as our latest mock draft (featured below) counts four backcourt prospects among the top six projected picks.

But to get extra opinions on the matter, we'll review how B/R's Jonathan Wasserman, SI.com's Jeremy Woo and ESPN's Jonathan Givony handled the top guards in their most recent mocks.

    

2020 NBA Mock Draft

1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks

4. Atlanta Hawks: Isaac Okoro, SF/PF, Auburn

5. Detroit Pistons: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

6. New York Knicks: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

7. Chicago Bulls: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

8. Charlotte Hornets: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton

9. Washington Wizards: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

11. San Antonio Spurs: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

12. Sacramento Kings: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

13. New Orleans Pelicans: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C, Olympiacos

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, Washington

15. Orlando Magic: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

17. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

18. Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, SG/SF, Arizona

19. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova

20. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers): Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State

21. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL

23. Miami Heat: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

24. Utah Jazz: Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, Barcelona

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Robert Woodard, SF, Mississippi State

26. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington

27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Tre Jones, PG, Duke

28. Toronto Raptors: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

                 

Anthony Edwards Alone at No. 1

Georgia's Anthony Edwards is by no means a perfect prospect. The late bloomer noticeably lacks polish, as he finished his one-and-done season with the Bulldogs shooting just 40.2 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from distance.

But he's still the consensus expert choice to be the first prospect taken. That's where Wasserman, Givony and Woo all slot him, and most mocks you'd find from other sources will start the same way.

"His production, youth and high-end physical tools create a compelling case as the draft's top prospect," Woo wrote. "The hope is that given time, Edwards develops into a capable, high-usage shot-creator on the wing, and that he will also add value defensively."

Edwards has the length, strength and bounce to look the part of a budding basketball star, and he flashes that ability with pull-up threes, explosive finishes and crafty playmaking. But he's a long way from putting everything together.

It's more risk than teams would prefer at No. 1, but in a class this shallow, his upside is probably worth it.

                

LaMelo Ball Goes Top-5

LaMelo Ball might be the most recognizable name in this field, which shouldn't be possible when college basketball fans never saw him. The 6'7" playmaker bypassed college hoops to join the professional ranks in Australia, but he was already a near-household name before he left the States because of his famous family and early exposure.

That's not the reason that all three experts agree he's a top-five pick, though. His size, skills and unique table-setting ability all make him one of the most intriguing players in this draft.

"Ball's signature strength early will be playmaking, but there is still plenty of scoring upside to unlock from his creativity, floater game, finishing package and confident three-point shot-making," Wasserman wrote.

The 18-year-old's game needs a lot of work at both ends, and he'll battle skepticism around his shot selection and defensive effort. But he'll be a gifted distributor out of the gate, and his deep shooting range points to a potentially special set of offensive skills.

He shouldn't wait long to hear his name called. Wasserman slotted him third, Givony ranked Ball fourth and Woo had the point guard as his fifth prospect selected.

            

Split Opinions on the Others

Both Wasserman and Givony view Edwards and Ball as the top two guards in this class. Woo has Ball third among backcourt players, but he's still among the top five selections.

The experts don't have the same kind of agreement about the other players in the guard pool.

Wasserman's third guard to go is North Carolina's Cole Anthony as the sixth overall selection. Woo slotted Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton fourth overall and second among guards. Givony adds another name to the mix with Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey, who declared for the draft Monday, ranking as his third guard and sixth pick.

"Maxey had a strange freshman season in the sense that he was outstanding in many of Kentucky's biggest and most visible games, but he struggled with inefficiency and inconsistency for much of the year," Givony wrote.

A 6'3" combo guard, Maxey shot just 42.7 percent overall and 29.2 percent from deep for the Wildcats. But his jumper looks like it will come around, and he's already shown the ability to work on or off the ball. If he blossomed in a better-spaced NBA offense, he'd hardly be the first Kentucky guard to do so.

Former 5-star point guard Tyrese Maxey will leave Kentucky to enter the 2020 NBA draft, he confirmed to ESPN's Malika Andrews. 

Maxey played just one season at Kentucky. The Garland, Texas, native averaged 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34.5 minutes across 31 games (28 starts) for the 25-6 Wildcats in 2019-20. The college basketball season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, with the NCAA announcing the cancellation of the men's and women's Division I NCAA tournaments on March 12.

I was harder on @TyreseMaxey than any player this season, and there’s a reason. One, he’s a great kid with a confidence in his ability that does not waver. Two, he has a potential that he has only begun to realize. And three, Tyrese needed to be challenged to take that next step. https://t.co/4sM2JMGL0N

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) April 6, 2020

.@TyreseMaxey can handle the ball, he can shoot, he’s got great athleticism and he really defended as the season went on. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of what @BeMore27 was able to do and we know how well he’s done in the @NBA. I’m so happy for Tyrese and his family.

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) April 6, 2020

Maxey had to split his time on the floor with Immanuel Quickley and Ashton Hagans. Quickley was the team's leading scorer at 16.1 points per game, and Hagans was the leading distributor with 6.4 assists per game.

Hagans announced Sunday he's moving on to the NBA:

Always a Wildcat. #BBN thank you for everything these last two seasons. 💙 pic.twitter.com/zsbtYYgzQX

— ashton hagans (@H23Ash) April 5, 2020

It was Maxey who led the Wildcats back from a 14-point deficit to beat Vanderbilt 78-64 on Feb. 11, however, and head coach John Calipari saw Maxey's 25 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks as a pivotal step in his overall growth.

"The best thing that happened is for the first time this year, Tyrese Maxey played with a toughness to win, vs. just playing basketball," Calipari told reporters. "Now you have to understand I've been all over this and all over him and not settling. That was a good sign."

Calipari added: "Another thing he did, he had six deflections in the second half with 10 minutes to go. Where's that guy been? He told on himself. You mean you can play that way? 'Yeah, but it’s really hard. Can I just get more shots?' Trying to get these guys to do what the hardest thing is has been the challenge this year."

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Maxey to go 12th overall to the New Orleans Pelicans in his Feb. 7 mock draft: 

"He's become a more likely option in the late lottery for a team that values his shot-making versatility, secondary playmaking and defensive toughness, even if he lacks the size (6'3", 198 lbs) and athleticism to dominate in any one area.

[...]

"And from Devin Booker to Tyler Herro, there have been recent Kentucky guards who've been able to flash more in NBA space."

Maxey could become the 15th Wildcat to go in the first round since 2015.

The SEC has a history of producing top NBA draft talent.

But what the league is not used to is seeing those stars come from somewhere other than the Kentucky Wildcats.

Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards will be one of the most hyped collegiate players in the coming months because of his projected status at the top of the 2020 NBA draft.

In addition to Edwards, Auburn's Isaac Okoro could go off the board before a single Kentucky player hears his name called.

The 2020 regular-season champion will have players like Tyrese Maxey chosen, but other SEC sides will be represented higher up the draft board this summer.

                          

Final SEC Standings

1. Kentucky (25-6 overall, 15-3)

2. Auburn (25-6, 12-6)

3. LSU (21-10, 12-6)

4. Mississippi State (20-11, 11-7)

5. Florida (19-12, 11-7)

6. South Carolina (18-13, 10-8)

7. Texas A&M (16-14, 10-8)

8. Tennessee (17-14, 9-9)

9. Alabama (16-15, 8-10)

10. Missouri (15-16. 7-11)

11. Arkansas (19-12, 7-11)

12. Ole Miss (15-16, 6-12)

13. Georgia (15-16, 5-13)

14. Vanderbilt (11-20, 3-15)

                  

Top Player Stats

Points Per Game

1. Mason Jones, Arkansas (22.0)

2. Breein Tyree, Ole Miss (19.7)

3. Anthony Edwards, Georgia (19.1)

4. Saben Lee, Vanderbilt (18.6)

5. Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama (18.5)

              

Rebounds Per Game

1. Reggie Perry, Mississippi State (10.1)

2. Austin Wiley, Auburn (9.3)

3. Nick Richards, Kentucky (7.8)

4. Kerry Blackshear Jr., Florida (7.5)

5. Rayshaun Hammonds, Georgia (7.4)

              

Best NBA Draft Prospects

Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia

Edwards' name was being mentioned in draft circles before he stepped foot on campus in Athens, Georgia.

He is projected as the No. 1 overall pick by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.

If the Golden State Warriors land the top selection, they could add the Georgia freshman as a scoring complement to their veteran guards.

Although the Bulldogs did not have the success they expected this season, Edwards still stood out on a regular basis. He led Tom Crean's side with 19.1 points per game and stood out down the stretch with 36 points versus South Carolina and 26 against Arkansas.

Even though he was on a sub-.500 team, Edwards showcased his athleticism around the rim and scoring prowess on plenty of occasions. He finished his first, and likely only, college season with 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a 40.2 field-goal percentage.

Edwards will improve even more once he gets to the NBA, and whoever lands him will be getting as close to a complete prospect as you will get in this draft class.

                       

Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn

Given the latest talk about Okoro's draft status, he could give Auburn back-to-back top-20 picks after Chuma Okeke was chosen at No. 16 in 2019.

In his freshman campaign, the forward put up 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Wasserman has Okoro landing at No. 10 in his most recent mock draft, which is above Maxey and a few other SEC stars, such as Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith.

While his offensive numbers are nice, Okoro should make his living off his defensive abilities. If he continues to impress with his lockdown defensive play, he could become a valuable player to teams at the back end of the lottery.

Where he lands could be dictated by his offensive improvement and the needs of certain teams, but he has the physical skill set to be a lottery selection.

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.

The NCAA tournament is typically a place for NBA prospects to potentially boost their draft stock, but this year's event could be different, assuming it even takes place.

If the event is held, it could still occur without most of the top prospects on the board. From James Wiseman to LaMelo Ball, Deni Avdija to RJ Hampton, a good chunk of this draft class isn't even connected to men's college basketball. Beyond them, players such as Anthony Edwards and Cole Anthony will likely see their teams miss the cut.

So which players would have a shot at climbing the draft board? After laying out our latest mock first round, we'll spotlight the top three prospects in position to compete at March Madness.

                    

2020 NBA Mock Draft

1. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

4. Atlanta Hawks: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks

5. Detroit Pistons: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

6. New York Knicks: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

7. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, SF/PF, Auburn

8. Charlotte Hornets: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton

9. Washington Wizards: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

11. San Antonio Spurs: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

12. Portland Trail Blazers: Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, Washington

13. Sacramento Kings: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

14. New Orleans Pelicans: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C, Olympiacos

15. Orlando Magic: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

17. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

18. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers): Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State

19. Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, SG/SF, Arizona

20. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova

21. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL

23. Miami Heat: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

24. Utah Jazz: Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, Barcelona

25. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington

26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Robert Woodard, SF, Mississippi State

27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Tre Jones, PG, Duke

28. Toronto Raptors: Zeke Nnaji, C, Arizona

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

                

Top Prospects in NCAA Tournament

Isaac Okoro, SF/PF, Auburn

Isaac Okoro isn't much of a scorer, averaging a solid-but-unspectacular 12.9 points per game. He's not a three-point marksman (29.0 percent), nor a standout rebounder (4.4) or shot-blocker (0.9).

So, why is he generating top-10 draft buzz? Because modern basketball requires multipositional stoppers, and the 19-year-old might be the most versatile defender in this draft.

"Okoro's initial value comes on the defensive end, where he can shift seamlessly between the 1 and the 4 at 6'6", 225 pounds, with a sturdy frame and tree-trunk legs," ESPN's Mike Schmitz wrote. "... He's quick-footed, hard-playing and technically sound with the mentality to develop into an All-NBA defender and defensive player of the year candidate."

Okoro isn't a one-way player. Even if his jumper never materializes, he adds value as a slasher, finisher, ball-mover and glass-crasher. His handles, passing and vision are all potentially special (especially for his size), and he could play his way into the top five.

                    

Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton

Obi Toppin is a walking bucket, and the steep nature of his ascension (combined with that of his Dayton Flyers) has generated loud national-player-of-the-year talk.

"Opposing defenses just don't have many answers for a 6'9" guy who can score virtually at will in the paint (his 2-point percentage borders on being Zion-like) but can also step out and hit one 3 per game with accuracy," ESPN's John Gasaway wrote.

The 22-year-old has everything teams want in a frontcourt scorer: He explodes off the ground, his hands are soft, he runs the floor well, he can score from all three levels and finish over smaller defenders or speed around bigger ones.

Toppin's defensive outlook isn't nearly as bright—staying in front of NBA athletes will be a challenge—but if it was, he'd be a lock for the top three. Maybe a scoring binge on a national stage will get him in that conversation anyway.

                     

Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

It wouldn't be the NBA draft without at least one Wildcat on the board, right?

Tyrese Maxey probably won't be remembered among the best players to pass through John Calipari's program, but he's nevertheless traveling the familiar one-and-done path.

As B/R's Jonathan Wasserman noted, the 19-year-old at least offers consistency and stability, and he may develop into more with time:

"A worst-case scenario still shows a valued role player who's capable of driving and finishing through contact, making tough shots, willingly passing and competing defensively. Best case, he's a deadlier shooter than his 28.3 three-point percentage suggests. Like former Kentucky guards Devin Booker and Tyler Herro, Maxey could prove a more creative scorer and playmaker with increased NBA space and freedom."

Maxey's three-ball could be his swing skill. He's not an elite athlete or the most discerning distributor, so much of his appeal is tied to scoring and hustle. If he's doing a lot of that scoring inside the arc—as a 6'3" combo guard—he won't wow scouts. But if he goes on a heater from distance, his stock could climb in a hurry.

Tennessee overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to pull off an 81-73 upset over No. 6 Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

John Fulkerson scored a career-high 27 points for the Volunteers on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and a 7-of-7 showing from the free-throw line.

#Vols coach Rick Barnes on John Fulkerson’s performance tonight: One of the best I’ve seen from anyone I’ve ever coached.

— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) March 4, 2020

He was part of an efficient offense for the visitors, who shot 52.8 percent overall while scoring 50 points in the second half.

It added up to the biggest win of the year for the 17-13 squad.  

Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points for Kentucky (24-6), which suffered its second home defeat of the season and its first since a November loss to Evansville.

It appeared as though the Wildcats were heading toward an easy win in the first half while building a 42-31 advantage by intermission. The team then scored the first six points of the second half to go up 48-31 with the home crowd behind it.

However, Tennessee stormed back and eventually took the lead on a Josiah-Jordan James three-pointer with under seven minutes remaining. 

Kentucky never led again and suffered one of its most heartbreaking losses in years:

Via @ESPNStatsInfo: Kentucky had been 129-0 over the last 10 seasons when leading by double digits at halftime. https://t.co/irQnVQU111

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 4, 2020

No. 6 Kentucky led by as many as 17 points in their 81-73 loss to Tennessee on Tuesday.

Kentucky last squandered a 17-point lead in a game they went on lose on Feb. 2, 2016...at Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/wzfjpw9iU4

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 4, 2020

The Wildcats got a lot of production from the usual suspects as Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, Ashton Hagans and Nick Richards all reached double figures, but the rest of the team only combined for 14 points in the loss.

The role players from the Volunteers provided much more help even with a quiet night from leading scorer Jordan Bowden (11 points on 3-of-8 shooting). Yves Pons was just a 32.5 percent three-point shooter coming in but hit all three of his attempts Tuesday, while James scored 16 points with seven rebounds and five assists.

It was a complete team effort to help Tennessee keep its postseason hopes alive.

Kentucky will now try to bounce back in its final game of the regular season, on the road Saturday at Florida. Tennessee will look for another upset while hosting No. 17 Auburn.

In the NCAA men's basketball season, it's time to put the Madness into March.

The Kentucky Wildcats celebrated leap day by clinching the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship outright with a 73-66 win over the Auburn Tigers. It was Kentucky's first SEC title in three years (49th overall) and sixth under head coach John Calipari.

Now, with one week left in the regular season, the Wildcats (24-5, 14-2) are locked in with the No. 1 seed leading into the SEC tournament.

Auburn and LSU are ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while Mississippi State and Florida are tied for No. 4.

South Carolina, Texas A&M and Tennessee each have a shot at jumping into one of the top four seeds before the tourney, which will be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to the tourney schedule, the first round will begin on March 11 with the No. 12 and No. 13 seeds facing off in Game 1 at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Game 2, which features the No. 11 and No. 14 seeds.

The winners from the first day of action will advance to the second round, which will feature the No. 5  through No. 10 seeds. Game 3, which features the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds, begins on March 12 at 1 p.m. ET.

The top four seeds don't enter the fray until the quarterfinals, which will be held March 13. Then it's on to the semifinals and championship round, which are slated for March 14 and 15, respectively.

Kentucky needs three straight wins to take home the trophy, while the bottom 10 teams will need to go on an impressive four- or five-game run to win it all.

Auburn (11-5) is tied with LSU for second place in the SEC standings. Luckily, they hold the tiebreaker and could secure a double bye for the SEC tournament with a win over Texas A&M on Wednesday. The Tigers, led by seniors Samir Doughty and Austin Wiley, will face the Volunteers on Saturday.

LSU lost five out of seven games in February, so they're looking to bounce back with wins over Arkansas on Wednesday and Georgia on Saturday to close out the regular season.

For the 49th time we’re @SEC Regular-Season Champs.#TGT - - 𝗧he 𝗚reatest 𝗧radition 😼🏀 pic.twitter.com/gQfNVus3Xy

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 29, 2020

Predictions

Kentucky is on a roll this year. UK has won eight straight and 12 of its last 13 games. That spells dominance heading into the conference tournament.

The Wildcats, led by Immanuel Quickley (16.3 points per game) and Ashton Hagans (11.5 points, 6.4 assists per game), are the No. 6 ranked team in the nation and for good reason.

Auburn won the SEC title last season and still have the tools to get it done, but Kentucky looks like it's on a mission since its 76-64 upset loss to Evansville in November.

The Wildcats bonded after that national undressing over meals, and Camp Cal and hasn't looked back. Kentucky assistant coach Joel Justus told reporters:

"This is a group that really came together over Christmas. The Camp Cal days have changed with some new rules from the NCAA. What we were able to do was feed them and I think this group really came together over meals.

"It's amazing, when you look at it from our perspective, what meals can do for teams, what meals can do for families, and that has never been more obvious than with this team and how they came together after what I think we all would say was a rough Las Vegas trip."

Kentucky will leave Nashville with the SEC tournament title and then focus on dancing in the NCAAs.

      

Follow Maurice Bobb on Twitter, @ReeseReport