The Prospect Post: Future Pros on Duke and Kentucky

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Updated on November 18, 2015 7:33PM EST

The two teams that kicked off the Champions Classic Tuesday night in Chicago may be the two teams that average fans like to hate the most, but they are also the two teams that consistently churn out the most NBA talent. Excluding foreign players, six of the first 10 players selected in last year's draft hailed from Duke or Kentucky, so even NBA fans who don't care about college basketball should be paying attention whenever these two teams face off. It's a glimpse of what is coming.

To be fair, last year these two teams were about as flush with lottery-caliber talent as any two teams can be, so naturally this year's rosters were not quite as ridiculously loaded. But there were still plenty of future NBA players, and a few future lottery picks in action.

Brandon Ingram (F)

Ingram was the best athlete on the floor Tuesday night. He looks a little like rapper Wiz Khalifa, with the hair and tats, and most notably, a similarly slight frame. Ingram has supposedly gained 30 pounds since committing to Duke, but his frailty is still a major knock. He is an extreme raw talent who can handle the ball at 6-foot-9, while guarding almost any position on the other end. It was not a particularly impressive night for the freshman, as he shot just 1-for-6 from the field while playing just 19 minutes, but he should not be expected to dominate early in the season. In fact, he may not look dominant at all as a freshman. He's just one of those guys who will take some time. Still, he should improve immensely with more coaching as the season goes on. In order for Duke to be a title contender, they will need him to make strides, so look for him to remain in the mix. This is a future top-10 pick.

Grayson Allen (G)

Yes, Allen will play in the NBA, and it would not be surprising for him to be a first-round pick. He is not Greg Paulus or Jon Scheyer. This guy has NBA-caliber athleticism and scoring ability. He was a McDonalds All-American and a big-time recruit, and it just so happened that Duke didn't need him last year until the title game. It won't always look pretty for Allen this season against elite competition, because he doesn't have much NBA talent around him, particularly in terms of others who can create offense. He will at least be a seventh or eighth man in the NBA as a scoring two guard off the bench, and he could develop into a starting two guard if he can shoot around 40 percent from three-point range in the NBA, which is not out of the question. Right now he's trying to do a little too much. He should go between picks 20 and 35 in the NBA draft.

Amile Jefferson (F) and Marshall Plumlee (C)

Both will probably spend time on NBA rosters at some point. They have the size, basketball IQ and desire to compete at the highest level. However, neither guy is a future first rounder, and they could be back and forth between the NBA and the D-League -- or playing overseas.

Skal Labissiere (C)

The battle between Labissiere and Ben Simmons for who will go No. 1 overall in next year's draft will be interesting to follow all season long, but it seems like that title is Simmons' to lose. That's not a knock on Labissiere, but he is a bit more raw than many may have expected, given his prospect pedigree, and the Kentucky centers who have come before him and dominated as freshmen. He has a smooth stroke and can definitely play away from the basket, and given his wiry frame, he's more of a power forward than a center at this point. He needs to add muscle, but moves well enough to be versatile in the frontcourt. His body looks closer to Nerlens Noel's than any of the other Kentucky centers, but his offensive potential is much more exciting. He should be an excellent shot-blocker in time, but it doesn't quite come naturally to him yet. He made a lot of mistakes one would expect a player lacking his experience to make in games like this one. In time he could be an across-the-board fantasy contributor who qualifies at center, but he is still a work in progress. Labissiere will be a top-2 pick next year.

Jamal Murray (G)

It's possible that Murray will be both overrated and underrated throughout the year. He is probably more important to Kentucky than Labissiere right now, but he won't be a better pro. He has good strength already for a two guard. On Tuesday, Murray showed that he is a good cutter and fearless when he attacks. He loves to finish with one hand. In the second half he had a poor man's Dr. J one-handed reverse:

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Murray is willing to set up his teammates when the opportunity is there, and he is naturally a good passer, but he can be a chucker at times, which is not what Kentucky needs. It is not a picturesque stroke, but he gets good arc and can get his shot off in close quarters. The 6-foot-5 Murray played 38 minutes and finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals Tuesday, so the hype train will undoubtedly be picking up steam, but he was also seven of 17 (41.2 percent) from the floor, so it wasn't the most efficient 16 points. Murray will probably lead Kentucky in scoring this year en route to being a top-10 pick in a mediocre draft class next year, but he looks like more of a third or fourth option in the pros.

Isaiah Briscoe (G)

It is pretty clear that Briscoe and Murray will be giving opposing backcourts fits all season with an attacking defense that picks up at halfcourt. At just 6-foot-3, he is not as physically imposing as Murray, but he can create off the drive and is an excellent finisher with a nice touch around the rim. Briscoe is a very difficult guy to project at the next level, as he is the kind of player any coach would love to have, given his basketball instincts and ability to attack with a strong first step. Unfortunately, his size basically dictates that he either needs to be an elite defender or an elite shooter, considering he probably can't play the point, in order to be useful at the next level. The elite defender part seems doable, and then he would just need to be a 36-38 percent three-point shooter to make the package work. He should go between picks 10 and 25 in the NBA draft.

Tyler Ulis (G)

Ulis was the best player on the court Tuesday, and that should be the case for many of the Wildcats' games this season. He is a special college point guard -- the kind that a coach desperately wants with the ball in his hands in a tight game, or at the line shooting a pair of free throws to ice a big win. At 5-foot-9 his limitations are obvious, but it would be unwise to underestimate him. He is actually a very good on-ball defender for his size, and he is an elite penetrator, constantly probing the defense until he finds a weakness. Ulis played all 40 minutes Tuesday, scoring 18 point on 6-of-13 shooting, while dishing out six assists and committing zero turnovers. Considering his minutes and usage, that 6:0 assist:turnover ratio is astounding, but it really speaks to his command of the position. He should be a mid-to-late second-round pick whenever he decides to declare, and should be able to carve out a role in the NBA for a few seasons, despite his size.

Marcus Lee (F)

A great rim protector and hustler, Lee will be a crucial piece in helping Kentucky return to the Final Four. He put up a 10 and 10 with two blocks in 22 minutes Tuesday, which speaks to his ability to impact the game in short bursts. Lee could make it as one of those uber-efficient backup NBA bigs in a Brandan Wright mold. Staying in school was a good move by him, as he needs to show he can excel in a bigger role. He doesn't have the offensive game to be very interesting in fantasy, but he should still go at the back end of the first round in next year's draft.