Analyzing Possible NBA Draft Lottery Picks at the Combine

The 2017 NBA Combine is taking place this week in Chicago, where 67 prospects are expected to go through drills, 5-on-5 games and interviews. In the past, projected top picks have opted to not attend the combine. This year, however, Markelle Fultz and De'Aaron Fox are breaking the mold. They aren't the only projected lottery selections who will be there either. 

Markelle Fultz, Point Guard, Freshman, Washington
DraftExpress projection: 1
Fultz is attending the combine as the projected No. 1 pick. Then again, he got an early start on getting familiarized with the NBA when he attended a Sixers game in April (see story).

"I might have a chance to go here, so I just wanted to come out and see how they play, stuff like that, the atmosphere," he told CSNPhilly. Read more on Fultz's game here.

De'Aaron Fox, Point Guard, Freshman, Kentucky
DraftExpress projection: 5
Fox is a projected top-five pick, but he too is making the decision to go to the combine as a highly ranked prospect. "Ever since I was younger, I've always wanted to go to the combine. It's a part of the draft process so I've always pictured myself going," Fox recently told ESPN.com. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and an SEC-leading 4.6 assists last season.

Zach Collins, Power Forward/Center, Freshman, Gonzaga
DraftExpress projection: 11
Collins left Gonzaga after his freshman year in which he averaged 10.0 points (65.2 percent from the field), 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. The seven-footer recorded a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double in the Final Four against South Carolina. Collins earned a selection on the All-Tournament Team.

Jarrett Allen, Center, Freshman, Texas
DraftExpress projection: 12
The 6-foot-11, 235-pound Allen was a strong presence in the paint for the Longhorns. He posted 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. How was Allen so active on the ball? His seven-foot-five-inch wingspan has something to do with it.

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OG Anunoby, Small/Power Forward, Sophomore, Indiana
DraftExpress projection: 13
Anunoby entered the draft in spite of suffering a season-ending knee injury in January. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16 games, his last being played on Jan. 18. Anunoby was a projected lottery pick prior to the injury, which hasn't kept him from being ranked highly on the mock draft boards.

Justin Jackson, Small Forward, Junior, North Carolina
DraftExpress projection: 14
The rare junior in the mix. Jackson's scoring average jumped to 18.3 points this past season, along with 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He improved his three-point shooting from 29.2 to 37.0 percent. Jackson posted 16 points, four boards and three assists in North Carolina's championship win over Gonzaga.

Terrance Ferguson, Shooting Guard, Adelaide 36ers
DraftExpress projection: 15
Ferguson took a unique path to the NBA. He originally committed to Arizona and decided to play professional basketball in Australia instead of the NCAA. Last season he averaged 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 15.2 minutes in the NBL. "When life gives you an opportunity like this, you can't pass it up," Ferguson said of his decision to go pro in the Player's Tribune last June.

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