Top Three Basketball Draftees of 2008

March madness is around the corner, which means the NBA Draft is just around the corner and that you need to start familiarizing yourself with some of the big names you'll see in this summer's draft. Here are the three players most like to take those first few picks in July.

Michael Beasley, Kansas State, 6'9", PF - After Kevin Durant you probably did not think that we would see another college basketball player, nevermind a freshman, come in and average 25+ points and 10+ rebounds for quite some time, huh? Wrong! Michael Beasley is the truth, and right now, he just looks like a man playing amongst boys. He is an all-around player who can play on the perimeter with the quick players and in the post with big boys. He shoots the three ball with great precision, and with his strength and demonstrated range, his college 3-point % of 41.4% won't drop too much when the line moves back in the NBA. That range on his shot also helps him dominate low. Defenders have to respect his shot, and when they overcommit, he uses his strong frame (235 pounds) to get right to the hoop for the strong finish.

Derrick Rose, Memphis, 6'4", PG - While everyone was busy talking O.J. Mayo as the best guard entering the college ranks, Derrick Rose slid under the radar...until his first game! Rose has dominated from the point guard position, averaging 4.3 assists in just 28 minutes of playing time per game. In Memphis's share-happy offense, you won't see this, but in the NBA, you can expect him to be a ball-controlling point guard with a style very similar to Deron Williams. Rose has the same explosiveness going to the rim and is very adept at finishing in the paint whether it's for the pass or for his own shot at the goal. He is only shooting 33% from the college 3-point line, so he'll need to work on his shooting at the next level, but his 45% 3-point percentage in high school suggest that there is a shooter in there somewhere.

Eric Gordon, Indiana, 6'5", SG - Lost in some of the controversy surround Kelvin Sampson is a man who I consider to be the best pro-guard prospect in the nation. Gordon is a do it all guard, who will be able to play both point guard and shooting guard at the next level. He is so explosive with the ball in his hand that demands the attention of all five defenders on the court, and yet even with the defense keyed in on him, he still manages to score 21 points every night. And while he is very athletic and has no problem finishing in the paint, he still has a wonderful shot and mid-range game, which is why he shoots 47% from the field, 86% from the free throw line and 40% from behind the arc. He will have to work on his passing at the next level, as right now, he turns the ball over 1.4 times for every assists, but his knowledge of the game is so high that many scouts think he can play the point guard if that's what he is asked to do.