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NBA Draft: Buddy Hield, Brice Johnson And The Most Improved

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts after a play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Highlighted by breakout stars Buddy Hield and Brice Johnson, a number of NBA Draft prospects have dramatically improved their stock in 2015-16.

Jan 4, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles assistant coach Dennis Gates congratulates North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) after their game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The North Carolina Tar Heels won 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles assistant coach Dennis Gates congratulates North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) after their game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The North Carolina Tar Heels won 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /

With 2016 underway, NBA Draft season has commenced. The proverbial solstice has come and passed, and the time to evaluate the top international and college basketball prospects has officially arrived.

While many had an idea of what the prospect list would look like at this point of the 2015-16 season, very few predicted that the following players would break out as potential NBA Draft stars.

This list isn’t reserved for players who have simply benefited from an increase in playing time. Instead, it consists of players for whom the statistics tell a story, but fail to represent the entire story of their development.

Related Story: NBA Draft: Best Player Ever Selected in all 60 Spots

These athletes have improved fundamentally, shaking off the criticism of 2015 to become viable prospects in 2016. Leading that group are two of college basketball’s most recent breakout stars: Buddy Hield of the Oklahoma Sooners and Brice Johnson of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The question is, who joins Hield and Johnson as those who have utilized a powerful work ethic to develop into significantly better players than they were just a season ago?

Next: From No One to Someone