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2015 NBA Draft Small Forward Rankings

Posted By Chris Ransom

Last Updated: November, 22, 2014 Following Our monthly 2015 NBA Mock Draft

Stanley Johnson: SF, Arizona Projected Round: Top 5 Pick

Stanley Johnson may have the best wingspan among any of the incoming NBA scorers. At 6-foot-7 and 245-pounds, Johnson has the ideal size to play small forward.

Johnson is a four time CIF state champion. He guided his high school to four consecutive championships. Arizona had an excellent recruiting class. Outside of Kentucky and Duke they are my third favorite team in the Nation this season in terms of overall talent.

Johnson is a tremendously gifted athlete with exceptional strength and an outstanding wingspan. He looks like he will be the best forward to enter the NBA from a defensive standpoint in quite some time. Kind of reminds me of Carmelo Anthony with his ability to score as well.

For some reason I always develop a man crush on Arizona’s forward prospects. I was high on Derrick Williams when he entered the NBA in 2011 and thought highly of Aaron Gordon as well. Now I am sold on Stanley Johnson being an excellent two way player for years to come.

Johnson will be considered a bust if he does not start away like Willaims or Gordon. For now Johnson gets the benefit of the doubt.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: SF, Arizona Projected Round: Top 10 Pick

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the other 5 star recruit at small forward that Arizona brought in. Hollis-Jefferson dunked over a 7-foot 6 center who is the tallest player in the nation. That alone makes him a top 10 pick. Hollis-Jefferson reminds me of Derrick Williams. If he stays another season at Arizona he could be a Rudi Gay type player. For now I will compare him to Williams.
Kelly Oubre: SF, Kansas Projected Round: Top 10 Pick

Kelly Oubre is an incoming freshman and the successor to Andrew Wiggins the #1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Oubre had a rocky game against Kentucky on Tuesday.

Oubre reminds me of Jeff Green on the Boston Celtics. Oubre could groom himself into a decent small forward with more seasoning.
Sam Dekker: SF, Wisconsin Projected Round: 1st Round

Sam Dekker weighs 6-foot-9 and 220-pounds. He has amazing size for a small forward. It is not just that. The best thing about Dekker is his consistency as a shooter.

Dekker averaged 9.6 points per game as a freshman. Then he improved on that by posting 12.4 points per game while leading Wisconsin to the Final 4. So far in 2014-2015, Dekker averaged 17.3 points per game.

Dekker reminds me of a more polished version of Gordon Hayward who plays small forward for the Utah Jazz. Dekker is a guy that is talented enough to go in the top 15 overall.
Winston Shepard: SF, San Diego State Projected Round: 1st Round

Winston Shepard is the best small forward to play at San Diego State since Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard was a lottery pick that slipped to San Antonio.

Shepard is 6-foot-8 and 210-pounds. He scored 11.6 points per game in 2013-2014. His numbers are down slightly in 2014-2015. The one number that has improved is 3 point percentage. Shepard shot .184 from 3 point range in 2013-2014. This year he has a 3 point shooting percentage of .500 meaning Winston Shepard is making 50 percent of the 3 point shots he took in 2014-2015.
Le’Bryan Nash: SF, Oklahoma State Projected Round: 2nd Round

Le’Bryan Nash was a 5 star recruit in the class of 2011 with Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Austin Rivers. Nash is now a senior at Oklahoma State.

Nash weighs 6-foot-7 and 225-pounds. In all four seasons at Oklahoma State, Nash has averaged 13.3 points per game or more. Some have speculated he would be a second round pick, but he has returned to school each year hoping to convince scouts he is first round material. Every draft class got more competitive and he should have gone pro in 2013, but he wanted to stick around with Marcus Smart returning to school believing Oklahoma State could contend for a spot in the final 4.

Nash reminds me of Ron Artest also known as Metta World Peace. Nash played with Marcus Smart and point guards usually make sure their teammates have self control. That was not the case with Nash.
Alex Poythress: SF, Kentucky Projected Round: 2nd Round

Poythress is the successor of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He is not as touted as Kidd-Gilchrist heading into Kentucky. Then again, Kidd-Gilchrist is now a bench player in the NBA, and I expect Poythress to be a bench player in the NBA too.

Poythress posted 11.2 points per game as a freshman and probably should have declared for the 2013 NBA Draft. Returning to school has not worked in his favor. At the end of the day, Poythress is unselfish and his goal is to win a National Title under John Calipari.
Dustin Hogue: SF, Iowa State Projected Round: 2nd Round

Dustin Hogue started all 36 games at Iowa State after playing two seasons of junior college. Hogue needs more experience to display his consistency. At this point he kind of reminds me of Florida small forward Corey Brewer.
LaDontae Henton: SF, Providence Projected Round: 2nd Round

LaDontae Henton a 6-foot-6 and 215-pound small forward at Providence. The four year starter has averaged 13 points per game in each of his first four seasons. He also posted nearly 8 rebounds per game in each of his first three seasons.

Henton has averaged 1 assist per game in each of his four seasons as well. Henton has a field goal percentage of .403 or better in all 4 seasons with the Friars. His best statistic is the fact that he has posted a free throw percentage of 60 percent or better in all 4 seasons at Providence.

Right now the Friars are 3-0. Henton reminds me of Paul Pierce coming out of Kansas. Benton looks like a steal if he keeps playing at such a high level.
Branden Dawson: SF, Michigan State Projected Round: 2nd Round

Branden Dawson had a sloppy game against Duke. He kind of reminds me of Evan Turner coming out of Ohio State.

He will not start right away or be a first round pick like Turner. Both Dawson and Turner can dominate on offense, but both struggled on defense. I think Dawson is a decent pick for a team looking for a solid depth player at small forward.