Noah Vonleh Declares for 2014 NBA Draft

One of the most en vogue draft prospects is Noah Vonleh, freshman big man from Indiana who can do a whole lot of things well on the basketball court. The Liberty Ballers staff ranked him #7 on the first edition of the Big Board and it's lovely news after the first weekend of March Madness that saw Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, Doug McDermott, and Sharone Wright end their seasons -- Vonleh is definitely coming out.

Vonleh told CBSSports.com on Sunday that he will enter the 2014 NBA Draft.

"It's going to suck leaving college without an NCAA Tournament," Vonleh, a 6-foot-10 freshman, said by phone. "But I have to do what's best for me."

Very good. He was miscast on Indiana as a center that pretty much only stays around the basket and I don't trust Tom Crean to do anything to help his stock next year when he's already a lottery pick now.

"I've heard the fourth pick to the 12th pick is wide open," Vonleh said. "[I think I'll be selected] anywhere in that range."

Vonleh is my choice as the ideal power forward to slot next to Nerlens Noel for the next millennium of Sixers basketball. He's an athletic on-ball defender with great rebounding instincts and a projectable outside shot. Shame he was hidden on Indiana all year, but hopefully that allows him to slip down to where the Pelicans pick lands. I'd guess that at this point, Hinkie will have to move up a few spots to take him if he wants him bad. He figures to kill it at the Combine.

I expect we'll hear lots more of these in the coming weeks. Closing hard on 90 days until the Draft, less than 60 until the Lottery.