NBA Draft Watch: College Basketball Game of the Day, February 16th (#1 Tennessee at #5 Kentucky) Preview/Prospects of Note

Grant Williams, Tennessee and PJ Washington, Kentucky will probably see plenty of each other again in the post tonight

A super Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup is scheduled for Saturday night, as two teams ranked in the top five of the country collide in what is one of the biggest games of the college basketball season to date. 1st ranked Tennessee riding a 19-game winning streak will head to Lexington looking to take down 5th ranked Kentucky in a game set to tip-off at 8 PM EST.

Standing at 23-1 on the season, Tennessee is one of the most efficient teams in college basketball on both sides of the floor, making them a complete team worthy of being the top-ranked team in America. With five players scoring in double figures between 11.5-19.5 points per game, the Volunteers average 85.4 per contest with a 51.5 field goal percentage. Defensively, the athletic squad holds opponents to 67.5 points per game on 39.1 shooting from the floor. 

With just one loss on the season coming to Kansas back on November 23rd of last year, when the Jayhawks were then the 2nd ranked team in the country, Tennessee will look to run their amount of consecutive wins to 20 with a victory against Kentucky. They are currently at the top of the SEC with an 11-0 record in conference. 

Coming off a devastating home loss, 73-71, on Tuesday at home on a tip-in at the buzzer against LSU, Kentucky will have an excellent opportunity to rebound with a victory against the top team in the country. 

They come into tonight averaging a healthy, for the college level, 78.4 points per game on a quality 47.5 field goal percentage, as they have four players that score in double figures on average. The Wildcats are also a solid defensive squad allowing just 65.5 points to their opponents each game, keeping them to 40.7 percentage on shots from the floor. 

Prior to their loss on Tuesday evening, Kentucky was arguably the hottest team in the country behind Tennessee having had won 10 straight games. At 20-4 overall on the season the Wildcats will look to draw closer to the top of the SEC standings as they currently stand at third place, behind tonight's opponent and their previous opponent, LSU — with an in-conference record of 9-2.

As two of the top teams in college basketball, both Kentucky and Tennessee have a high-level of talent on their roster that figure to further their careers at the next level. On the floor, tonight combined between both rosters will be nearly double-digit players who have a legitimate chance at a future in the NBA. Including a handful of individuals who are likely to hear their name called in the first round of the NBA Draft, as soon as this year. 

In the drop below you may take a peek at the plethora of prospects who are most probable to appear in an NBA uniform in the near future. 

• Jordan Bone, Tennessee

Starting at point guard for the top-ranked squad in the country, Bone controls the tempo on offense and loves to get the Tennessee team out in transition. The junior guard has the speed to get from end to end in a hurry and can blow by defenders off the dribble in the halfcourt for layups at the basket, as well. A streaky shooter, the 6'3, 205-pound playmaker will force the defense to play him out past the arc on occasion but does most of his work from in-between the rim and the 3-point line as an effective pull-up, pop midrange jump shooter. 

• Jordan Bowden, Tennessee

Coming off the bench, Bowden has established himself as a difference maker serving to be one of, if not the best 6th man in the country. At 6'5, 193 pounds, he brings a lot of athleticism and energy to the Tennessee team when entering the game and flourishes in the open floor as a shooter on the wing or can capably fill the lane for layups and dunks, with his excellent leaping ability. The junior wing is a consistent catch and shoot option out on the perimeter and can capably step inside the 3-point line and sink a midrange look as well. He also carries his sound shooting ability to the free throw line as one of the most successful shooters from the stripe in the country. 

• Admiral Schofield, Tennessee

Standing a strong and chiseled 6'5, 241-pounds as a unique prospect who plays the wing, Schofield has become one of the best players in college basketball during his four years. Now in his senior season, the starting shooting guard for Tennessee is the team's second leading scorer at 16.7 points per game and does so effectively making shots from each level of the floor. With a consistent shot from out beyond the arc, Schofield can step inside the 3-point line and set himself up for a shot from midrange, taking what the defense gives him. He also will dictate what he'll decide to take from the defense as a big guard who can put smaller defenders on his hip and score from the post with power and touch. 

• Grant Williams, Tennessee

The reigning SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams has looked like the best player in the country at times during the season. While his offensive ability certainly deserves a good deal of attention, so does his effort defensively. At 6'7, 236 pounds the junior forward is effective in the painted-area using his brawny build to box out opponents and using tremendous timing, plus anticipation to serve as an effective shot blocker and in forcing turnovers. On offense, he translates his sound rebounding ability into second-chance scoring opportunities, following both his teammates and his own misses with regularity. He is both a strong and skilled scorer from the post and in the paint, while also maintaining the ability to attack the defense off the bounce as a face-up option or sink a mid-range attempt. Another underrated aspect of Williams' game is his playmaking ability, as he will find just about any open teammate when receiving regular attention from the defense while around the rim.

• Ashton Hagans, Kentucky 

Having taken over the reins of the starting point guard position for Kentucky on December 8th, Hagans has been a high-quality option for the team since that time. A strong on-ball defender, he harasses opposing point guards when they're handling the ball and will pluck them if they aren't careful to create fastbreak opportunities the other way. On offense, the 6'3, 192-pound freshman loves to find his way into the lane with his quickness where he can adjust his body in the air to finish at the basket or feed one of his teammates near the rim, as well as being able to collapse the defense and kick out to a shooter on the perimeter for an open shot. 

• Tyler Herro, Kentucky 

Exhibiting a high basketball IQ, Tyler Herro has improved throughout the course of his freshman season having come to Kentucky seen by some strictly as a shooter. The 6'5, 195-pound shooting guard will still force the defense to extend out to him past the 3-point line but has found ways to fill the scoring column by stepping in and taking advantage of the middle of the floor. Exhibiting an ability to score near the rim with skill, showing off floaters, as well as filling the lane in transition. A Milwaukee-native, Herro has also emerged as a quality defensive player who will impact the game with effort both on and off the ball. 

• Keldon Johnson, Kentucky

Arguably the most consistent player all season for Kentucky, Johnson has scored at least 8 points in all but one contest and has put up double-figures 19 of the 24 games he's played this season. A high effort player with adequate size and athleticism on the wing at 6'6, 211 pounds he has surprised some with his steady shooting from the perimeter, yet remains at his best when slashing and driving to the rim both in a halfcourt set and in the open floor. Defensively, Johnson will jump into the passing lane on occasion, but provides more of a presence as a solid rebounder along with Kentucky's options in the frontcourt. 

• Nick Richards, Kentucky

Still raw and refining his offensive ability, Nick Richards remains the most reliable rim protector for Kentucky as an athletic 6'11, 244-pound center coming off the bench. While he'll receive an occasional pass in the post when in the game, he does his best work offensively to collect his teammates misses, utilizing his effective energy and length to follow up for shots near the basket for himself. He may not play major minutes in many contests as sometimes the second big man off the bench for the Wildcats but will provide a big boost when he works his way into the game, with his play around the rim and as someone who can move his feet well enough to hedge and recover on high ball screens out on the perimeter. 

• Reid Travis, Kentucky

The rare senior starter for Kentucky, Travis has taken a leadership role for the young squad in his sole season for Big Blue Nation. A transfer from Stanford, the 6'8, 238-pound forward is a powerful presence in the painted-area who is productive from the post and in grabbing offensive rebounds for high percentage putback opportunities. Though he will rise above the rim from time-to-time, Travis plays well while grounded, understanding how to use his strength to establish position against opponents on both ends of the floor, before and after the shot is put up.

• PJ Washington, Kentucky

One of the most improved players in the country, PJ Washington has been a physically imposing presence for Kentucky in the paint while also effectively extending his game out to the perimeter. The 6'8, 228-pound forward wills his way in the post where he can finish with either hand or raise above the rim to finish with both. He also has worked hard to tighten up his shot and will make the defense pay when they leave him open out on the perimeter. Coupling with teammate and fellow member starting in the frontcourt for Kentucky, Reid Travis, Washington is a quality rebounder on both ends of the floor. The sophomore will also use his expansive wingspan (7'2.5) and high effort, plus physicality to pluck extra possessions away from opposing teams while adding them to the tab for the Wildcats — where he is difficult to prevent from converting on second-chance scoring opportunities. He also protects his teammates back and the rim with pride, as an honest help-side defender who can turn away opponents shot attempts.