2013 NBA Mock Draft: Setting the stage

Indiana's Cody Zeller could follow Anthony Davis as the next No. 1 overall pick. (US Presswire)

Some have gone with Nerlens Noel, others have projected fellow freshman Shabazz Muhammad. Not us. Instead, we've decided to go with a skilled big man who can do virtually everything -- Indiana sophomore big man Cody Zeller.

The youngest of the trio of Zeller brothers sits atop our 2013 Mock Draft and NBA Draft Top 101 while we have Muhammad lower than just about everyone else. We're not quite buying into the hype of a big, strong wing who isn't an exceptional athlete -- or a lights-out shooter. Instead, size dominates the top spots in our mock draft.

It's yet again a weak point guard crop -- with an underrated big floor leader cracking the lottery -- but it won't be nearly as lackluster on the European front. In fact, don't be surprised if a handful of imports crack the first round on June 27, 2013.

We've seen as many of these kids in person as anyone else, whether it's in the AAU or in college. We've watched no shortage of tape, talked to NBA personnel and college coaches. Check here throughout the season for continuous updates.

2012-13 NBA Mock Draft
#		#
1	Cody Zeller, 7-0, 240, C, Soph., Indiana	31	Pierre Jackson, 5-10, 180, PG, Sr., Baylor
2	Nerlens Noel, 6-10, 228, C, Fr., Kentucky	32	Gorgui Dieng, 6-11, 245, C, Jr., Louisville
3	James Michael McAdoo, 6-9, 230, PF, Soph., North Carolina	33	Michael Carter-Williams, 6-6, 185, PG/SG, Soph., Syracuse
4	Rudy Gobert, 7-0, 230, PF/C, 20, France	34	Rakeem Christmas, 6-9, 240, C, Soph., Syracuse
5	Alex Poythress, 6-7, 239, PF, Fr., Kentucky	35	Deshaun Thomas, 6-7, 215, SF/PF, Jr., Ohio State
6	Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6, 225, SG, Fr., UCLA	36	Patric Young, 6-9, 249, PF/C, Jr., Florida
7	Isaiah Austin, 7-1, 220, C, Fr., Baylor	37	Kaleb Tarczewski, 7-0, 245, C, Fr., Arizona
8	Tony Mitchell, 6-8, 235, PF, Soph., North Texas	38	Doug McDermott, 6-8, 225, PF, Jr. Creighton
9	Adonis Thomas, 6-7, 240, SF, Soph., Memphis	39	Trey Burke, 6-0, 190, PG, Soph., Michigan
10	Lorenzo Brown, 6-5, 185, PG, Jr., N.C. State	40	Christian Watford, 6-9, 232, PF/SF, Sr., Indiana
11	Alex Len, 7-1, 225, C, Soph., Maryland	41	Aaric Murray, 6-10, 245, C, Jr., West Virginia
12	Archie Goodwin, 6-4, 198, SG, Fr., Kentucky	42	LaQuinton Ross, 6-8, 220, SF, Soph., Ohio State
13	Steven Adams, 7-0, 250, C, Fr., Pittsburgh	43	Mike Moser, 6-8, 210, PF, Jr., UNLV
14	Dario Saric, 6-10, 225, SF, 20, Croatia	44	Phil Pressey, 5-11, 175, PG, Jr., Missouri
15	Ben McLemore, 6-5, 195, SG, Fr., Kansas	45	Trevor Mbakwe, 6-8, 245, PF, Sr., Minnesota
16	Le'Bryan Nash, 6-7, 230, SF, Soph., Oklahoma State	46	Michael Snaer, 6-5, 202, SG, Sr., Florida State
17	Anthony Bennett, 6-8, 240, PF, Fr., UNLV	47	Marcus Smart, 6-4, 225, SG/PG, Fr., Oklahoma State
18	Otto Porter, 6-8, 205, SF, Soph., Georgetown	48	Rodney Purvis, 6-4, 190, SG, Fr., N.C. State
19	C.J. Leslie, 6-9, 200, PF, Jr., N.C. State	49	Przemek Karnowski, 7-1, 280, C, Fr., Gonzaga
20	B.J. Young, 6-3, 180, SG/PG, Soph., Arkansas	50	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 6-5, 200, SG, Soph., Georgia
21	Jeff Withey, 7-0, 235, C, Sr., Kansas	51	Jarnell Stokes, 6-8, 270, PF, Soph., Tennessee
22	Willie Cauley-Stein, 7-0, 220, C, Fr., Kentucky	52	Erik Murphy, 6-10, 238, PF, Sr., Florida
23	Alex Abrines, 6-5, 190, SG, 19, Spain	53	Myck Kabongo, 6-1, 180, PG, Soph., Texas
24	Mason Plumlee, 6-10, 235, PF, Sr., Duke	54	Brandon Ashley, 6-8, 200, PF, Fr., Arizona
25	Isaiah Canaan, 6-1, 195, PG/SG, Sr., Murray State	55	Adreian Payne, 6-10, 230, PF, Jr., Michigan State
26	C.J. McCollum, 6-3, 185, SG, Sr., Lehigh	56	Sergey Karasev, 6-7, 205, SF, 19, Russia
27	Andre Roberson, 6-7, 210, BF, Jr., Colorado	57	Khem Birch, 6-9, 240, C, Soph., UNLV
28	Kyle Anderson, 6-9, 235, SF/PG, Fr., UCLA	58	Alex Oriakhi, 6-9, 255, PF, Sr., Missouri
29	Grant Jerrett, 6-10, 220, PF, Fr., Arizona	59	Wayne Blackshear, 6-5, 230, SG/SF, Soph., Louisville
30	Jamaal Franklin, 6-5, 195, SG, Jr., San Diego State	60	Alec Brown, 7-1, 225, C, Jr., Green Bay