Roundball Direct

Harrison Barnes; Credit AP

By Nick Carpenito

There are some promising players entering the NBA draft this year at the small forward position. On our top-5 list there are two stone-cold-lead-pipe locks that everyone knows will be true NBA talents, but the potential of the remaining three spots lies in the beholder.

Here are our top-5 small forwards, again in no particular order, entering the 2012 NBA Draft

Harrison Barnes, UNC, 6’8” 223 lb
To get one of the two locks out of the way, Harrison Barnes out of North Carolina will be an asset to whoever selects him in the draft. Barnes is a shooting threat from anywhere on the floor. His high release and shot range drove defenses crazy during his college years and those factors should continue to do so at the next level. Additionally, at 6’8” 223, Barnes’ build could not be more perfect for his position. One factor that may cause him to slide down slightly in the draft is his less than stellar performance in the tournament this year. However, if any team passes on him solely because of that they will more than likely regret it down the road.