Players like Anthony Davis, Jared Sullinger, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Lamb and John Henson stood out during the opening day of the college games. And currently NBADraft.net has the Nuggets selecting Henson with their first pick in the draft.

Henson is an intriguing prospect and it is easy to see that he’d be a player that George Karl would like. For one, he is a playing for Karl’s alum North Carolina. He is also a defensive-first player and quite versatile – with the size, athleticism and length to play both small forward and power forward in the NBA.

Against Michigan State, Henson totaled 12 points, seven rebounds and career-best nine blocks. He has been compared to both Andrei Kirilenko and Hakim Warrick due to his length and athleticism, which allows him to make a major impact on the defensive side of the ball.

Sullinger, however, would be the ideal fit for the Nuggets, who lack a consistent scorer in the post. Sullinger, who is a throwback player, led Ohio State with 19 points and nine rebounds. He lacks great athleticism, but is very skilled in the post and has monster size (6-foot-9, 281 pounds). But as of right now, Sullinger is projected to be a top-five pick, along with Barnes, Davis, Andre Drummond and James McAdoo. Drummond (zero points, 4 rebounds and 1 block) and McAdoo (4 points, 3 rebounds) weren’t overly impressive in their college debuts.

The draft will be loaded with talented swingman, led by Doc Rivers’ stud son, Austin Rivers. Rivers scored 16 points, with a wide variety of impressive moves. Scoring by driving to the basket, in transition and also from behind the arc. Lamb continues to impress scouts. He scored a career-high 30 points, he hit five treys and picked up four steals. Lamb’s 7-foot-1 wingspan may be more impressive.

Michael Gilchrist also played well in his debut for Kentucky. He finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and with a pair of steals and blocks. Gilchrist has great work ethic and character to go along with his athleticism, which makes him a sleeper in the draft – especially if he falls to the later round of the draft.

Wilson Chandler, JR Smith and Kenyon Martin have all agreed to contracts to play in the China Basketball Association, which doesn’t provide clauses to opt out and return to the NBA before the end of the CBA season.  (more…)