2014 NBA Draft Early Entrants: March 28, 2014

This will be updated and reposted as more names declare, or decide to return to school.

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Updated: 3/28/2014

Syracuse freshman PG Tyler Ennis declares

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Declaring

PF Noah Vonleh, Fr, Indiana
6'10, 240 lbs
Hometown: Haverhill, MA
2013-2014 Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg, .523 FG%






Noah Vonleh definitely could have used an additional year at Indiana to hone his offensive game, but no one can blame him for leaving. He has great size, was one of the best rebounders in college basketball and shoots a high percentage. Some scouts prefer him to Julius Randle. Randle is by far the better offensive big man, but Vonleh has the skills to grow into a very good all around center if a team chooses to develop him in that route. A project to be sure, but his skills and rebounding assures he will be a top ten pick.

Projected draft range: Lottery.

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PG Tyler Ennis, Fr, Syracuse
6'2, 180 lbs
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
2013-2014 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.4 apg









The Orange were on top of the basketball world until a late season swoon and an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Tyler Ennis had a fantastic freshman season for Syracuse, providing a steady and productive influence at point guard. He is not a great shooter or terribly athletic, two things scouts really look for in a starting point guard. He is a great leader, ball handler and distributor, however, and has the look of a Mike Conley-like point guard. Depending on needs, he should be a mid to late lottery pick.

Projected draft range: Mid to late lottery.

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SF TJ Warren, So, North Carolina State
6'8, 215 lbs
Hometown: Durham, NC
2013-2014 Stats: 24.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .525 FG%






TJ Warren exploded as a sophomore, finishing third in the entire nation in scoring. So he should declare and be picked in the top ten, right? Well, scouts want wing players who can stroke the ball, stretch defenses and score in a variety of ways, and right now, Warren is not a great shooter or a particularly good defender. He gets most of his points off mid range and in, and that could be more difficult in the NBA level. Still, teams are always looking for scoring, and Warren could work his way into a Thaddeus Young-like role at the NBA level.

Projected draft range: Mid to late first round, early second.

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SF LaQuinton Ross, Jr, Ohio State
6'8, 220 lbs
Hometown: Jackson, MS
2013-2014 Stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 447 FG%






LaQuinton Ross helped make up for the scoring DeShaun Thomas took with him, and hopes to parlay that into a first round selection. Right now I see him more as an early to mid second rounder. He can definitely score and is a nice shooter with size, but he is indifferent at times and does looks to be bench fodder at best. Scouts will also shy away due to lack of defensive intensity. Shooting is shooting, however, and he should be drafted.

Projected range: Early to mid second round.

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PG Juwan Staten, Jr, West Virginia
6'1, 190 lbs
Hometown: Dayton, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 5.6 rpg







Juwan Staten, the former Dayton transfer, became a team leader for the Mountaineers and put together a fantastic junior season. However, he is a bubble second round pick right now. He is not overly athletic, does not have great size, nor is he a good three point shooter. Scouts need one or two of those attributes if they are to draft a point guard.

Projected draft range: Late second round to undrafted.

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SF/PF Jakarr Sampson, So, St. John's
6'9, 214 lbs
Hometown: Akron, OH
2013-2014 Stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg







Jakarr Sampson is a good athlete who can rebound and block shots, but he is similar to a million tweeners before him who have been unable to carve out a role in the NBA. He is too small and skinny to handle the four, but not a good enough shooter to play small forward. Likely undrafted.

Projected draft range: Undrafted.
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Returning

SF/PF Dario Saric, Croatia. Saric has top ten talent but has been wishy washy on coming to the NBA in the past, and most likely will not declare this year. He may never want to come to the NBA, which could kill his draft stock once automatically eligible.

SG/SF Wayne Selden, Fr, Kansas. Selden struggled to find a niche playing with Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Perry Ellis. I still thought he would have been a mid first round pick, but returning to Kansas and excelling in a bigger role will really help his stock for 2015.

Jonathan Carrano

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