The 76ers arrive at the All-Star break with a 21-35 record. The strides made by Brett Brown's team are evident — it's already more than doubled its win total from last season.
And Joel Embiid isn't the only reason for that improvement; the 76ers are 6-7 in their last 13 games without Embiid. This is a young, promising group that enjoys playing with one another. Add in the eventual debut of Ben Simmons (either this season or next) and it's clear to see the Sixers are trending in the right direction.
Despite all of the good vibes, the Sixers still have the fifth-worst record in the NBA with 26 games left in the season. So, odds are they'll be drafting high in the lottery for a fourth straight year. In addition to their pick, the Sixers also own the rights to the Lakers' top-three protected pick and have the option of swapping first-round picks with the Kings if Sacramento ends up higher in the draft order.
The 2017 draft class comes at the perfect time for the 76ers, whose logjam at the center position is well-documented. They desperately need to balance out their roster with difference-makers on the perimeter. This year's draft is brimming with elite backcourt prospects, particularly at the point guard position.
Below is my list of the top 10 NBA prospects in college basketball. This group does not include international prospects — only college players I've watched extensively this season. It's a talented bunch and unprecedented in the sense that it's comprised entirely of freshmen. It's a safe bet that the Sixers will end up with at least one of the players listed below.
1. Markelle Fultz — Washington, freshman guard, 6-4/195
Like Simmons a year ago, Fultz is poised to become the first pick of the NBA draft. And like Simmons, he is toiling away for a horrific college basketball team. Washington enters this weekend riding an eight-game losing streak and is just 2-12 in Pac-12 competition. The Huskies' struggles are certainly no fault of Fultz's — he's averaging 23.0 points, 5.9 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He's also efficient, shooting a shade under 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point territory.
Fultz is the total package that NBA talent evaluators covet. He has good size for a guard, explosive athleticism, polished offensive skills and a reliable jump shot. Still three months shy of his 19th birthday, there is also plenty of room for improvement. Fultz's commitment on defense isn't what it should be, but his offensive abilities more than atone for any defensive deficiencies. He's as complete of a perimeter prospect as you'll find on the offensive end. Fultz is capable of playing either guard position and will elevate whichever team is fortunate enough to draft him for years to come.
2. Lonzo Ball — UCLA, freshman guard, 6-6/190
Ball is a Jason Kidd clone in size, appearance and skill set. As unorthodox as it is, Ball's shooting stroke is far more effective than Kidd's was at the college level. Ball is shooting better than 55 percent overall and 43 percent from three-point range. He's averaging 15.4 points, 7.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals for a UCLA team on the short list of national championship contenders. Ball's best attributes are his length, athleticism, ball-handling and court vision. He's an oversized floor general in the Magic Johnson mold, with the accompanying sense of showmanship.
There's no getting around Ball's odd shooting form — he brings the ball almost across his face before releasing it. It works in college but questions persist as to whether he can get his shot off effectively on the NBA level. But that's where the question marks end with Ball. He's an elite playmaker who can disrupt opponents' game plans on either end of the floor. He has All-Star potential and is a lock to be one of the first two or three names called on draft night.
3. Jayson Tatum — Duke, freshman forward, 6-8/205
I've been higher on Tatum than most throughout the year. But quite a few people have jumped on the bandwagon following his 28-point, 10-rebound performance in Duke's win at Virginia on Wednesday. Like the entire Duke team, it took Tatum some time to round into form after missing the first eight games of the season with a foot injury. But he's healthy now and shooting up draft boards with each dominant performance. He's scored 18 or more points in nine of his last 17 games.
Tatum is an elite athlete with a competitive drive to match. He plays hard on every possession and has the size and skills to thrive in the NBA. He's averaging 16.3 points and 7.1 rebounds and shooting better than 37 percent from beyond the three-point arc for the season, with the potential to become a lockdown defender. Tatum is only picking up steam as the college basketball season kicks into high gear. I'd be surprised if he doesn't insert himself into the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick by the end of March.
4. Josh Jackson — Kansas, freshman forward, 6-8/205
Like Tatum, Jackson is a terrific two-way player with off-the-charts athleticism. He's averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds for a Kansas team currently ranked third in the national polls. Jackson's skill set is tailor made for the NBA — he can score in the half court and is lethal in transition. He puts in the work on a consistent basis on the defensive end, as well. Bill Self has been cranking out high lottery picks in recent years at Kansas, and Jackson is next in line.
The only concern in evaluating Jackson is his inconsistent jump shot. There are times when he is locked in from the perimeter and other times he can't buy an outside jumper. To his credit, his shooting has improved dramatically throughout the season. Jackson shot 23 percent from three-point range in Kansas' first 18 games but has upped that percentage to 46 percent in the last eight games. With his shot rounding into form, Jackson is a surefire top-five pick.
5. Dennis Smith, Jr. — NC State, freshman guard, 6-3/195
Smith is an ultra-explosive guard in the Russell Westbrook mold. His athleticism is made all the more impressive by the fact he's just 18 months removed from ACL surgery. Smith can relate to what Fultz is going through at Washington — NC State entered the weekend on a six-game losing streak and is 2-10 in its last 12 games. In fact, the school just announced that head coach Mark Gottfried will not return next season.
Of course, none of this falls on Smith, who is averaging 19.0 points, 6.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He's also shooting 38 percent from long range. Smith's draft stock soared following a win at Duke in late January in which he scored 32 points on 10 of 18 shooting and added six assists. Smith is a nightmare in the open floor and gets to the rim whenever he wants. His game translates beautifully to the NBA level.
6. Lauri Markkanen — Arizona, freshman forward, 7-0/230
Markkanen might be the most intriguing prospect in the 2017 draft class. The 19-year-old from Finland is a terrific all-around offensive player. He's averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for a very good Arizona team while shooting a remarkable 46 percent from three-point territory. That's an insane percentage for a perimeter player, let alone a 7-foot forward. NBA teams crave big men that can step out and drain the outside jumper with regularity, and Markkanen has certainly proved he can do that.
Markkanen’s presence creates tons of floor space considering opposing big men must account for him on the perimeter. That opens up driving lanes for everyone else, so it's not difficult to see why Markkanen is such a desirable commodity.
7. Malik Monk — Kentucky, freshman guard, 6-3/200
Evaluating Monk is a pretty straightforward process. He's a knockdown outside shooter who isn't afraid to take — or make — big shots. Monk headlines John Calipari's latest batch of "one-and-dones" at Kentucky and could make his way into the top five on draft night. He's averaging just under 22 points and shoots a shade below 42 percent from three-point range. Monk is an explosive scorer — he has six games this season with 25 or more points. His 47-point performance against North Carolina in December made him a household name.
In addition to his shot-making prowess, Monk is a very good athlete who has shown the ability to get to the basket. Love him or hate him, Calipari knows how to get his players ready for the NBA. He's done just that with Monk, who figures to have a long and very successful pro career on the horizon.
8. Jonathan Isaac — Florida State, freshman forward, 6-10/210
Isaac has been one of the driving forces behind Florida State's successful season. He's a versatile frontcourt player who can score inside and on the perimeter, averaging 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds on the season. His greatest strengths are on the defensive end of the floor, where he protects the rim and can guard multiple positions.
He needs to develop more consistently offensively — his 21-point performance against NC State last week was sandwiched between two- and- four-point outings against Clemson and Notre Dame, respectively. But Isaac's game is well-suited for the NBA style of play and that will make him a high-to-mid lottery selection.
9. Justin Patton — Creighton, redshirt freshman forward, 7-0/230
Patton seemingly came out of nowhere. The Omaha, Nebraska, native decided to stay close to home and committed to Creighton early in his high school recruiting process. He redshirted last year before bursting onto the scene this season. Patton averages 13.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting an incredible 70 percent from the field. He does the large majority of his scoring close to the rim on dunks and a wide array of post moves. Patton can score with either hand and is a very smooth finisher.
He'll need to fill out his frame and improve his jump shot, but the potential is clearly there. If he's improved this much in the past 12 months, it's easy to see that he's capable of taking many more strides in the years to come.
10. De'Aaron Fox — Kentucky, freshman guard, 6-3/190
Fox is often overshadowed by his partner in Kentucky's backcourt, Monk. Fox's athleticism and ability to get to the basket are his biggest assets. But his jump shot and penchant for turning the ball over are his biggest weaknesses. Fox has made just six three-point field goals all season and lacks the confidence to even attempt outside shots on a regular basis. He'll also need to add substantial bulk to his frame.
But there are plenty of positives when it comes to Fox's game — namely facilitating, slashing ability and finishing at the rim. His draft position could suffer because of the abundance of big-time point guards in this year's draft, but Fox is a likely lottery pick with a high ceiling at the NBA level.
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