a couple of NBA teams were asked about each player and these are the answers they gave
Kentucky
Freshman guard Malik Monk
"He's a special scorer, and his shot is much better than we thought it would be. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, but sometimes he doesn't do it often enough. He can rebound and defend, but he hasn't really figured out how to do it consistently yet. He'll go somewhere in the top seven, maybe as high as No. 2."
"He's got an incredible combination of skill and athleticism, but I'm just worried he's going to be a volume guy at our level. He needs to play smarter, and I'd like to see him be more aggressive attacking. He falls in love with his outside shot, and that worries me."
"He's the guy that makes them go, really their only true shooter. But I like him because, despite his lack of size at his position, he finishes over the rim. I'd be shocked if he doesn't go in the top five."
Freshman guard De'Aaron Fox
"He's starting to figure it out, and he's really just scratching the surface. He's a very good passer and is so fast, but he's got a clear weakness: shooting the ball. That will probably keep him from going in the top five."
9:30 AM MT
"The early-season matchups are great for us," one NBA general manager told ESPN. "But this one is much better because it's much more difficult to evaluate some of these freshmen in November or even December. Playing in a game like this -- in late January -- is meaningful for us."
We spoke (anonymously) with multiple NBA executives to get their thoughts on the prospects who will be on the floor Saturday in Lexington:
Kentucky
Freshman guard Malik Monk
"He's a special scorer, and his shot is much better than we thought it would be. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, but sometimes he doesn't do it often enough. He can rebound and defend, but he hasn't really figured out how to do it consistently yet. He'll go somewhere in the top seven, maybe as high as No. 2."
"He's got an incredible combination of skill and athleticism, but I'm just worried he's going to be a volume guy at our level. He needs to play smarter, and I'd like to see him be more aggressive attacking. He falls in love with his outside shot, and that worries me."
"He's the guy that makes them go, really their only true shooter. But I like him because, despite his lack of size at his position, he finishes over the rim. I'd be shocked if he doesn't go in the top five."
Freshman guard De'Aaron Fox
"He's starting to figure it out, and he's really just scratching the surface. He's a very good passer and is so fast, but he's got a clear weakness: shooting the ball. That will probably keep him from going in the top five."
"The thing I love about him is his quickness and his ability to impact the game on both ends. He's the quickest point guard I've seen in years, maybe even faster than John Wall."
"I wouldn't put him in the class with Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, but he's not that far off either. He's different. I think he'll wind up being a top-10 point guard in our league at some point, but he needs to develop a decent jump shot."
Freshman forward Bam Adebayo
"He'll have value in the NBA because he's a guy who can switch all pick and rolls. In our game, that's huge. Offensively, he's actually further along than I thought he'd be. I think he'll be OK because he can roll and dunk."
"He is a physical specimen, but I'd like to see him do a better job rebounding. He runs the floor well, but he should be a dominant rebounder -- and he isn't. That worries me, because generally that doesn't change."
"I just see him as a role guy in the NBA. He won't be a guy you can throw the ball to, but can he be a Tristan Thompson type? Someone who plays hard, is defensive-minded and rebounds."
Sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe
"I think he'll wind up playing in our league. He can get into the paint, can guard the length of the court. Now he makes free throws. I think he's a second-rounder."
"It will be interesting whether he stays or not. He started the season well, but a lot of the games he did well in were against bad teams. He just overwhelmed them with his physicality. But when he plays against length, he has trouble."
"To me, he can make a roster as a third point guard. He'll probably be picked in the second round and will have a chance to make a team because he's tough and can defend."
Freshman forward Wenyen Gabriel
"It's not time to talk about him. He should go back to school."
"I like his energy, but he's got a long way to go. He's a tweener forward who needs to figure out what he wants to be -- and he should take his time to figure that out."
"He's not even on our board for this year."
Kansas
Freshman guard Josh Jackson
"He's athletic, can pass, defend and will be able to play in the pick and roll. I like him because he does so much and is special on the defensive end. The only thing that worries me is his shooting. But he's a guy who will go in the top five to seven."
"He makes plays with the ball in his hands and is a versatile wing. He's also really tough. I'm not sure he'll be the No. 1 pick, but he's in the discussion, especially because he's different than all the other guys in the conversation."
"He has size, enough skill and all the intangibles. What has really impressed me, though, is his feel for the game. That's where I think he'll separate himself from guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Justise Winslow."
Junior guard Devonte' Graham
"He's got good size and kind of reminds me of Mario Chalmers. He doesn't play the point all the time because of [Frank Mason III], but he's more of a natural point, and he makes big shots."
"I think he's a second-rounder, especially with all the point guards who are going to be taken early in this draft. He has a chance to slip in late in the first, but I'd say it's more likely he goes in the second."
"He needs to come back to school, because with Frank Mason leaving, he'll be the guy next season. He'll have the ball in his hands, and next year's draft won't be loaded with point guards. I like him, but don't love him."
Senior guard Frank Mason III
"I love his toughness. He's really, really tough and wants to take the big shot. But he's small and isn't a great athlete. That's not a great combination. I think he gets drafted, maybe mid-second round -- but he could wind up going undrafted also."
"Give him credit. He's really improved. Maybe he makes a team in our league, but I think it's just as likely he winds up overseas. What does he do great?"
"Terrific college player, but I have too many questions. Is he fast enough? Big enough? I just don't see it, but I guess he could be a third point guard on a roster."
Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
"He needs to stay in school. He can shoot it, and he's gotten better in other aspects of his game, but he needs to get much better before he leaves Kansas."
"If he leaves now, he's going to end up in Europe. He'll make a lot of money there, but he may as well stay another year and try and prove he's an elite shooter. He's a very good shooter, but he needs to show he's even better than he's been. That's the only way he gets to our league."
Kentucky
Freshman guard Malik Monk
"He's a special scorer, and his shot is much better than we thought it would be. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, but sometimes he doesn't do it often enough. He can rebound and defend, but he hasn't really figured out how to do it consistently yet. He'll go somewhere in the top seven, maybe as high as No. 2."
"He's got an incredible combination of skill and athleticism, but I'm just worried he's going to be a volume guy at our level. He needs to play smarter, and I'd like to see him be more aggressive attacking. He falls in love with his outside shot, and that worries me."
"He's the guy that makes them go, really their only true shooter. But I like him because, despite his lack of size at his position, he finishes over the rim. I'd be shocked if he doesn't go in the top five."
Freshman guard De'Aaron Fox
"He's starting to figure it out, and he's really just scratching the surface. He's a very good passer and is so fast, but he's got a clear weakness: shooting the ball. That will probably keep him from going in the top five."
9:30 AM MT
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Jeff GoodmanESPN Insider
"The early-season matchups are great for us," one NBA general manager told ESPN. "But this one is much better because it's much more difficult to evaluate some of these freshmen in November or even December. Playing in a game like this -- in late January -- is meaningful for us."
We spoke (anonymously) with multiple NBA executives to get their thoughts on the prospects who will be on the floor Saturday in Lexington:
Kentucky
Freshman guard Malik Monk
"He's a special scorer, and his shot is much better than we thought it would be. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, but sometimes he doesn't do it often enough. He can rebound and defend, but he hasn't really figured out how to do it consistently yet. He'll go somewhere in the top seven, maybe as high as No. 2."
"He's got an incredible combination of skill and athleticism, but I'm just worried he's going to be a volume guy at our level. He needs to play smarter, and I'd like to see him be more aggressive attacking. He falls in love with his outside shot, and that worries me."
"He's the guy that makes them go, really their only true shooter. But I like him because, despite his lack of size at his position, he finishes over the rim. I'd be shocked if he doesn't go in the top five."
Freshman guard De'Aaron Fox
"He's starting to figure it out, and he's really just scratching the surface. He's a very good passer and is so fast, but he's got a clear weakness: shooting the ball. That will probably keep him from going in the top five."
"The thing I love about him is his quickness and his ability to impact the game on both ends. He's the quickest point guard I've seen in years, maybe even faster than John Wall."
"I wouldn't put him in the class with Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, but he's not that far off either. He's different. I think he'll wind up being a top-10 point guard in our league at some point, but he needs to develop a decent jump shot."
Freshman forward Bam Adebayo
"He'll have value in the NBA because he's a guy who can switch all pick and rolls. In our game, that's huge. Offensively, he's actually further along than I thought he'd be. I think he'll be OK because he can roll and dunk."
"He is a physical specimen, but I'd like to see him do a better job rebounding. He runs the floor well, but he should be a dominant rebounder -- and he isn't. That worries me, because generally that doesn't change."
"I just see him as a role guy in the NBA. He won't be a guy you can throw the ball to, but can he be a Tristan Thompson type? Someone who plays hard, is defensive-minded and rebounds."
Sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe
"I think he'll wind up playing in our league. He can get into the paint, can guard the length of the court. Now he makes free throws. I think he's a second-rounder."
"It will be interesting whether he stays or not. He started the season well, but a lot of the games he did well in were against bad teams. He just overwhelmed them with his physicality. But when he plays against length, he has trouble."
"To me, he can make a roster as a third point guard. He'll probably be picked in the second round and will have a chance to make a team because he's tough and can defend."
Freshman forward Wenyen Gabriel
"It's not time to talk about him. He should go back to school."
"I like his energy, but he's got a long way to go. He's a tweener forward who needs to figure out what he wants to be -- and he should take his time to figure that out."
"He's not even on our board for this year."
Kansas
Freshman guard Josh Jackson
"He's athletic, can pass, defend and will be able to play in the pick and roll. I like him because he does so much and is special on the defensive end. The only thing that worries me is his shooting. But he's a guy who will go in the top five to seven."
"He makes plays with the ball in his hands and is a versatile wing. He's also really tough. I'm not sure he'll be the No. 1 pick, but he's in the discussion, especially because he's different than all the other guys in the conversation."
"He has size, enough skill and all the intangibles. What has really impressed me, though, is his feel for the game. That's where I think he'll separate himself from guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Justise Winslow."
Junior guard Devonte' Graham
"He's got good size and kind of reminds me of Mario Chalmers. He doesn't play the point all the time because of [Frank Mason III], but he's more of a natural point, and he makes big shots."
"I think he's a second-rounder, especially with all the point guards who are going to be taken early in this draft. He has a chance to slip in late in the first, but I'd say it's more likely he goes in the second."
"He needs to come back to school, because with Frank Mason leaving, he'll be the guy next season. He'll have the ball in his hands, and next year's draft won't be loaded with point guards. I like him, but don't love him."
Senior guard Frank Mason III
"I love his toughness. He's really, really tough and wants to take the big shot. But he's small and isn't a great athlete. That's not a great combination. I think he gets drafted, maybe mid-second round -- but he could wind up going undrafted also."
"Give him credit. He's really improved. Maybe he makes a team in our league, but I think it's just as likely he winds up overseas. What does he do great?"
"Terrific college player, but I have too many questions. Is he fast enough? Big enough? I just don't see it, but I guess he could be a third point guard on a roster."
Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
"He needs to stay in school. He can shoot it, and he's gotten better in other aspects of his game, but he needs to get much better before he leaves Kansas."
"If he leaves now, he's going to end up in Europe. He'll make a lot of money there, but he may as well stay another year and try and prove he's an elite shooter. He's a very good shooter, but he needs to show he's even better than he's been. That's the only way he gets to our league."
