Best players by position for the NBA Draft

5a/b. Ike Diogu, 6-8, 255, Arizona State; Wayne Simien, 6-8, 255, Kansas: These two may fall into the land of David West, Rodney Rogers, Kenny Thomas and all the other fours who have been called to small to play in the pros. Still, these guys both have that special something that might land them in the first round, or at the very least early second with a chance to stick on a roster. The wing span of the players will separate them from one another.

Centers

1. Andrew Bogut, 7-0, 242, Utah: No one doubts Bogut as the top true center prospect to enter the league in years, and he'll no doubt go first or second. The Australian has great hands, terrific back-to-the-basket skills and is a marvelous passer and shot blocker.

2. Martynas Andriuskevicius, 7-3, 240, Zalgiris (Lithuania): Andriuskevicius is a legit 7-3, which is a plus, but at 19, he's still a boy. He doesn't play with the tenacity of a Dwight Howard, and there are questions that he'll float too much around the perimeter and not take advantage of his height. Still, he's marvelously coordinated for his height, is being mentored by Arvydas Sabonis, and has size that's hard to pass up on. Expect him to go in the top 10, with the top five a definite possibility.

3. Johan Petro, 7-0, 260, Pau Orthez (France): An athletic shot blocker, Petro is the top prospect in France this year, which is pretty good for a country that's starting to develop a mini-pipeline into the league. Though extremely raw offensively, he's got a great wing span and can make a difference on the boards and on defense. The scouting report on him is that his footwork is a little suspect, but if he's as good an athlete as advertised, he'll be at the top of someone's draft board in the teens.

4. Channing Frye, 6-11, 245, Arizona: The Wildcats' big man put in his work and has really developed into a nice center. He's got some post moves, extended his shooting range, and most important, put on some weight. He still has a ways to go, but will go in the first round and could be a nice surprise given time to improve his skills.

5. Dwayne Jones, 6-11, 250, Saint Joseph's: A shot-blocking specialist, Jones played with current pros Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, anchoring the middle for Phil Martelli's Hawks. With the rookie guards gone this year, Jones' offensive production rose, but he still has miles to go in terms of development. He gets most of his points on putbacks, and is compared to Milwaukee's Dan Gadzuric of UCLA, who similarly has limited game. He won't retain an agent, opening the door for a return to Saint Joe's if he's not satisfied with his draft position.