Ranking the 10 best power forward prospects in the NBA Draft

Power Forward #9: Jalen Wilson, Kansas

After testing the waters of the NBA draft last year, Jalen Wilson returned to the Kansas Jayhawks fresh off of an NCAA championship. Instead of the role player that he was last year, Wilson blossomed over the course of the season into a real NBA prospect by becoming a top option for a great Big 12 team.

Wilson almost doubled his scoring from last year, topping twenty points a game while maintaining solid efficiency on almost double the amount of shots as last season. That’s a hard needle to thread for prospects, but due to Wilson’s consistent mechanics and patient approach, he was able to take that step:

Wilson isn’t a great defender nor shooter, but his intangibles, touch, and rebounding at the position should help him play as a quality small-ball four in the NBA. He may get some first-round buzz, but it’s likelier that a lucky team will get to snap Wilson up in the second round.

Power Forward #8: Coleman Hawkins, Illinois

While he doesn’t have the flashiest stats of the other prospects on this ranking, Coleman Hawkins was often one of the biggest eye-catchers on Illinois tape. His game is simply too interesting and effective to overlook, even if he may need some time and seasoning to bring it completely to the NBA.

As a junior, Hawkins was a hulking combo forward for the Fighting Illini, showing a solid nose for scoring, a burly knack for rebounding, and great court vision in the half-court that resulted in averaging three assists a game. Hawkins is also big enough to be a legitimate power forward, which increases his viability at the highest level:

Hawkins will need to improve his defense at the next level alongside his shooting, but the outline of a productive short-roll offensive big man is there. It may take a few years in the G-League to get there, but a patient team with a good developmental program could do a lot worse than drafting him in the second round.