NBA Draft position-by-position rankings

NBA Draft position-by-position rankings

Published Jun. 27, 2012 11:55 a.m. ET

Point Guards

1. Damian Lillard, 6-3, Weber State. Top-notch scorer who looked good in individual workouts. Possesses a strong handle, too.

2. Kendall Marshall, 6-4, North Carolina. Good size and vision, takes care of ball and gets it to open man.

3. Tony Wroten, 6-5, Washington. Solid in all aspects with great size. Reminds some of former SuperSonics PG Nate McMillan.

4. Marquis Teague, 6-2, Kentucky. Nothing fancy here, but a true point guard who quarterbacked a stacked NCAA champion.

5. Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, Kansas. Strong defender who can run an offense. Must do a better job of taking care of ball.

Shooting Guards

1. Bradley Beal, 6-3, Florida. Sturdy build with 6-7 wingspan and outstanding athleticism. Can get to basket or pull-up with picture-perfect form.

2. Austin Rivers, 6-4, Duke. Explosive scorer who possesses strong ball-handling skills. Intelligent, but inconsistent.

3. Dion Waiters, 6-4, Syracuse. Another combo guard who can run the point in a pinch. Scorer who also plays well off the ball.

4. Jeremy Lamb, 6-5, Connecticut. Great leaper with a feathery outside touch. Scouts question demeanor and overall aggressiveness.

5. Jeff Taylor, 6-7, Vanderbilt. Probably won’t be much of a scorer at NBA level, as perimeter shot is lacking. Likely to make his name on defensive end.

Small Forwards

1. Harrison Barnes, 6-8, North Carolina. Strong perimeter shooter who finds ways to get open. Tested well athletically, but not great at putting ball on floor and getting to basket.

2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Kentucky. Excels in the open court, slashing to basket and defense. Superb athlete who needs tons of work on his jumper.

3. Terrence Ross, 6-8, Washington. Swing-type who’s equally effective at shooting guard. Excellent finisher, dynamic dunker and strong passer. Lacks a conscience when it comes to shot selection.

4. Moe Harkless, 6-9, St. John’s. Possesses great reach and good skills around the basket. Won’t scare anyone when shooting from beyond 12 feet.

5. Quincy Miller, 6-10, Baylor. Pretty ripe offensively, but owns big upside that intrigues scouts. Good size and length.

Power Forwards

1. Anthony Davis, 6-10, Kentucky. Very fluid, great length and owns agility of a guard. Game-changing shot-blocker with 7-5 wingspan, constantly improving offensively.

2. Thomas Robinson, 6-10, Kansas. Strong with good athleticism, uses his body to score with relative ease in paint. Very talented when facing basket, too.

3. John Henson, 6-11, North Carolina. Nothing overly flashy, an exceptional athlete who never forces anything. Alters shots and rebounds, but a little on the soft side offensively.

4. Perry Jones III, 6-11, Baylor. Almost more of a small forward, talented in every area. Consistency and effort big question marks.

5. Arnett Moultrie, 6-11, Mississippi State. Powerful near basket with an endless motor. Could be a steal if he falls out of lottery. Can play center, too.

Centers

1. Andre Drummond, 6-11, Connecticut. Physically gifted, owns outstanding size, strength and mobility. Outstanding finisher. Post-up game still fairly raw.

2. Tyler Zeller, 7-0, North Carolina. Runs floor better than any big man in draft. Good athlete who finishes well. Needs work in halfcourt.

3. Meyers Leonard, 7-0, Illinois. Fluid for a 7-footer, developing skills but solid enough to make a difference. Hangs out on the perimeter too much.

4. Fab Melo, 7-0, Syracuse. Athletic and very strong, still learning the game. Not likely to score much from outside of 5 feet.

5. Festus Ezeli, 6-11, Vanderbilt. Strong NBA-ready frame who can clog the lane. Doesn’t possess great athleticism, could use some polish offensively.

Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO


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