14 hoops stars to watch before they jump to the NBA

If the season ended today, the Bulls would have the 20th pick of the NBA draft.

That seems low, but don't forget that last year they traded up to get Creighton's Doug McDermott, so anything could happen.

With that in mind, here's a list of draft prospects to watch in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. There are a few likely lottery picks missing from this list, mainly guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who played professionally in China this season.

Karl Anthony Towns, 7-0, C, Kentucky, Fr.

His numbers aren't spectacular - 9.7 points, 6.7 rebounds - but in Kentucky's platoon system, he averages just 20 minutes per game. Town's post moves are still developing, though he's shot an eye-opening 81 percent at the foul line this season. The New Jersey native attended the same high school as ex-Bull Jay Williams and Andrew Bynum.

Jahlil Okafor, 6-11, C, Duke, Fr.

The Chicago native is more polished than Towns, but some scouts seem to think he has a lower ceiling. Platoons are not an issue at Duke, where Okafor averages 17.7 points and 9 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game. Free throws are an issue. He's shooting 51.5 percent at the foul line, compared to a field-goal percentage of .669.

D'Angelo Russell, 6-5, SG, Ohio State, Fr.

The Big Ten's second-leading scorer (19.3 ppg), Russell does everything well. He averaged 5.1 assists, shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range and 46 percent overall. Some of his pinpoint bounce passes went viral this season and lead people to believe he could eventually play point guard in the NBA.

Stanley Johnson, 6-7, SF, Arizona, Fr.

This muscular, defensive-minded forward has drawn some comparisons to Ron Artest. His defense may be ahead of his offense, but Johnson averaged 14.1 points for Arizona this season. He won four California state titles in high school at Mater Dei. His mother, Karen Taylor, played professionally in Europe.

Willie Cauley-Stein, 7-0, C, Kentucky, Jr.

Raw skills, but he's an impressive athlete who played defensive back and wide receiver on his high school football team. Cauley-Stein was named the SEC defensive player of the year. He grew up in the small, western Kansas town of Spearville, then lived with former NFL player Will Shields near Kansas City for the final years of high school.

Justise Winslow, 6-6, SF, Duke, Fr.

Duke's third-most highly-touted freshman, Winslow quickly blossomed into an NBA prospect. Winslow resembles Jimmy Butler with his solid frame, great athleticism and attention to defense. He's averaging 12.3 points for the Blue Devils. His father, Rickie Winslow, played for Houston's famed Phi Slamma Jamma teams and was drafted by the Bulls in the 1987 second round.

Kelly Oubre, 6-7, SF, Kansas, Fr.

Oubre is averaging just 9.3 points this season, but he has the athleticism and 7-foot-2 wingspan to draw scouts' attention. Maturity is often listed as a strength. At age 9, he moved from New Orleans to Houston after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Frank Kaminsky, 7-0, C, Wisconsin, Sr.

It's possible no one has ever improved this much over four years of college. The Benet Academy grad barely played as a freshman, averaged 4.2 points as a sophomore, then turned into a likely first-team All-America selection. Kaminsky averaged 18.2 points and 8 rebounds this season. He can put the ball on the floor, and he shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range.

R.J. Hunter, 6-5, SG, Georgia State, Jr.

Hunter is billed as one of the best shooters in college, but shot just 30.4 percent from 3-point range this season. His father is Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter - yes, the guy who tore his Achilles tendon celebrating his team's victory in the Sun Belt Tournament. Ron Hunter played at Miami (Ohio) with former Bull Ron Harper, and coached Pacers guard George Hill at IUPUI.

Bobby Portis, 6-10, PF, Arkansas, Soph.

Portis is a power forward who likes to run the floor. Portis is averaging 17.5 points and 8.6 rebounds this season. He grabbed just 2 rebounds, though, in the SEC title game against Kentucky.

Trey Lyles, 6-10, PF, Kentucky, Fr.

This Kentucky big man is billed as more of a high-skills, low-athleticism player in the mold of Carlos Boozer. He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before his family moved to Indianapolis when he was seven.

Kevon Looney, 6-9, PF, UCLA, Fr.

Perhaps the nation's best freshman rebounder, Looney gets many of his points on the offensive glass. He also played point guard at Milwaukee's Hamilton High School. UCLA was a controversial pick for the tournament, so this is Looney's chance to prove doubters wrong.

Montrezl Harrell, 6-8, PF, Louisville, Jr.

Harrell's bulk and athleticism jumps out on the court, but his lack of height might keep him from being a lottery pick. He is averaging 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Cardinals.

Jerian Grant, 6-5, PG, Notre Dame, Sr.

Another son of Harvey Grant, and nephew of Horace, Jerian Grant averaged 16.8 points and 6.6 assists for the third-seeded Irish this season. He shot 41 percent from 3-point range as a junior, then dropped to 32.6 percent this season.