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2016 NBA Draft: Top 10 Boom Or Bust Prospects

By Maxwell Ogden

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 18: Skal Labissiere #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats watches the action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on February 18, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 18: Skal Labissiere #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats watches the action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on February 18, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 17: Skal Labissiere #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after making a basket against the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 17: Skal Labissiere #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after making a basket against the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Skal Labissiere, Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Power Forward
Age: 20 (3/18/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11.75″, 216 pounds, 7’2.5″
Slash Line: .516/.000/.661
Season Averages: 15.8 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 ORPG, 1.6 BPG

No incoming freshman was expected to dominate for the Kentucky Wildcats quite like Skal Labissiere. In fact, prior to the 2015-16 season, many questioned whether it was Labissiere or Ben Simmons who was the true No. 1 prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft.

That question seems laughable given the current state of affairs.

Labissiere won’t be the No. 1 selection, but he’s safely projected as a lottery pick by a vast majority of draft analysts. That’s founded in his otherworldly upside, elite physical tools, established prowess as a shot-blocker, and range as a scorer.

The question is, how much faith can one truly place in one’s potential?

It’s not a stretch to say that Labissiere was awful during his freshman season at Kentucky. It wasn’t as much that he struggled with efficiency as it was that he was bullied on the boards and struggled to do much of anything offensively.

Labissiere has been likened to Anthony Davis, but in his current state, one could easily make the case that he’s not even ready to contribute.

Next: Marred By Injuries

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