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Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA
UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad is likely to say goodbye to college basketball after the 2013 NCAA tournament, after which he'll be an NBA lottery pick. The Observer's Rick Bonnell looks at Muhammad and other underclassmen who could be of interest to the Charlotte Bobcats, owners of the NBA's worst record. He also tells you how to see them play as they wind down their college careers in the NCAA tournament. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Ben McLemore, Kansas
Ben McLemore, a 6-5 freshman shooting guard at Kansas, opens NCAA tournament play against Western Kentucky Friday night around 10 p.m. (on TNT). McLemore is often compared to current Miami Heat shooting guard Ray Allen -- solid shooting range, but also able to beat defenders off the dribble. His size is a bonus, considering his perimeter skills. He’d offer the Bobcats some insurance in case restricted free agent-to-be Gerald Henderson ends up elsewhere. (Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/MCT)
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Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Marcus Smart, a 6-4 freshman point guard at Oklahoma State, opens NCAA tournament play against Oregon on Thursday at around 4:40 (on TNT). He creates abundant scoring opportunities for himself and others off his penetration. Crafty with the ball, he's a competitor with size and toughness. THe Bobcats have already invested a lot of playing time in Kemba Walker, currently their best player, so Smart might be a repetitive talent. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown
Otto Porter Jr., a 6-8 sophomore small forward at Georgetown, opens NCAA play with the Hoyas against Florida Gulf Coast at 6:50 Friday night (on TBS). Porter has both the size and the skill to play small forward in the NBA, like a Tayshaun Prince. But since the Bobcats used the second overall pick last June on Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the 2012 second-round pick on Jeff Taylor, they have plenty of young small forwards. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
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Cody Zeller, Indiana
Cody Zeller, a 6-11 sophomore power forward/center at Indiana, plays at about 4 p.m. Friday versus the winner of Wednesday night’s LIU-Brooklyn-James Madison game. He’s a more athletic version of big brother Tyler, who was at North Carolina before becoming a Cleveland Cavalier. One scout said Cody has more “bounce’’ in his game than Tyler and more offensive moves. The Bobcats needs some sort of scoring threat in the post, because the fact that no Bobcats big man demands a double-team is a basic flaw in this roster. (Roberts Willett - rwillett@newsobserver.com)
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Anthony Bennett, UNLV
Anthony Bennett, a UNLV forward, is often compared to former Charlotte Hornet Larry Johnson. It’s that same brutish strength/perimeter skills model that makes him somewhat a small forward and somewhat a power forward. The Rebels play California Thursday at about 7:30 on TruTV. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
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Victor Oladipo, Indiana
Victor Oladipo, an Indiana guard/forward, has a great motor and fine athleticism. He outhustles most everyone and excelled in the Big Ten, the top conference this season. The Hoosiers play Friday against the James Madison vs. LIU-Brooklyn game at about 4:10 p.m. on TBS. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA
Shabazz Muhammad, a UCLA small forward, is a long, strong left-handed scorer. Has obvious gifts, but some scouts question if he understands the game well enough to make teammates better. The Bruins play Minnesota Friday around 10 p.m. on TruTV. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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Nerlens Noel, Kentucky
Kentucky freshman big man Nerlens Noel is recovering from surgery to correct a severe knee injury he suffered this season, and his injury was a big factor in the defending champion Wildcats missing the NCAA tournament. Had Noel stayed healthy, he might be a frontrunner right now to be the No. 1 overall pick. That’s how impressive his shot-blocking was. Even with the injury, Noel might be a high pick if he enters the 2013 draft. His shot blocking would be welcomed by any NBA team, the Bobcats included. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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