What to expect on NBA Draft night for Duke, UNC, NC State players

Duke’s Brandon Ingram is expected to be the second selection in the NBA Draft on Thursday night. Brice Johnson, of North Carolina, is projected to go late in the first round. N.C. State’s Cat Barber is expected to be picked at some point in the second.

Which means that for the first time since 2014, Duke, UNC and N.C. State could have at least one player selected in the same draft. Well, OK – that wasn’t that long ago. But these kinds of drafts – one with representation from all three Triangle schools are somewhat rare.

That isn’t too unexpected, given the disparity among the schools in the number of their players who are drafted. Five Duke players, for instance, were picked in the past two drafts. Five N.C. State players have been selected overall, meanwhile, since Todd Fuller went 11th overall 20 years ago.

Before 2014, the 2006 draft was the last that included at least one player from Duke (Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick), UNC (David Noel) and N.C. State (Cedric Simmons).

And so nights like Thursday night – if in Barber is selected – don’t come around too often. Here’s a look at each of the draft-eligible prospects from Duke, UNC and N.C. State, and where they might be picked:

Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke, 6-9, 196

Best case: While there was some speculation, weeks and months ago, that Ingram might go first overall in the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly assured Ben Simmons that they’re taking him No. 1. It appears equally certain that Ingram will go to the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 2 pick.

Worst case: There is no worst case on draft night for Ingram, who a year ago was still a lanky teenager from quiet Kinston. He’s still not even 19 but is about to become the No. 2 pick in the draft, bound for one of the NBA’s most glamorous franchises.

[Kinston’s Brandon Ingram a Blue Devil from a Tar Heel town]

Bottom line: Ingram made the most of his one season at Duke, where he averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds, and he put himself in the conversation for becoming the top pick in the draft. That was an accomplishment in itself given the hype surrounding Simmons. Ingram can do it all offensively and is just beginning to reach his potential. There’s good reason he has been compared to Kevin Durant.

Cat Barber, PG, N.C. State, 6-3, 173

Best case: Barber has been projected as a second-round selection since he announced his decision to enter the draft after his memorable junior season at N.C. State. It’d probably be a pleasant surprise if he goes higher than in the middle of the second round, which seems like the best-case scenario for him.

Worst case: Draft projections are tricky business, and that appears especially true this year. The middle tier of draft-eligible players is wide and, given that, Barber isn’t necessarily a lock to be picked. There are only 60 spots in the draft and DraftExpress.com, perhaps the most respected pre-draft source, projects Barber as the 55th overall pick.

Bottom line: Barber carried the Wolfpack last season and earned first-team All-ACC honors while averaging 23.5 points per game. With the exception of his quickness, his measurables don’t jump off the page, though, and Barber has faced questions about his passing and his ability to finish at the rim. Still, he should be an attractive second-round option for a team looking for some backcourt depth and speed.

Brice Johnson, PF, UNC, 6-11, 209

Best case: Given his production his senior year at UNC and his athleticism, it’s perhaps somewhat strange that Johnson has been projected to be selected on the fringe of the first round. His stock has risen a bit recently and DraftExpress.com projected Johnson as the 25th overall selection, to the Los Angeles Clippers, in its most recent mock draft.

Worst case: The worst case for Johnson would be sliding out of the first round. Being a first round pick isn’t all about prestige – it’s also about money. And Johnson would lose out on a guaranteed contract if he’s not a first-rounder. Being picked late in the first round does have some advantages, though – namely that it increases the odds of landing on a good team with a better organizational culture.

Bottom line: Johnson last season became the player that UNC coach Roy Williams long expected him to be, but here’s the thing: Williams always believed that was just the beginning. If Johnson were a couple of years younger, he’d likely be a lottery pick. His age works against him but there’s still plenty of room for him to become stronger and better, particularly as a mid-range (and beyond) shooter.

Marcus Paige, PG, UNC, 6-2, 164

Best case: The best case for Paige on draft night would be to be drafted. He has been consistently absent from DraftExpress.com’s mock drafts, and the website lists him as its 64th-best overall draft prospect, which puts Paige just outside of the range of players who are most likely to be selected.

Worst case: While it seems more likely than not that Paige will go undrafted, that might not be such a worst case scenario. After all, going undrafted would allow Paige to pick his spot as a free agent. He’d have more flexibility about signing with a team that he believes could provide him the best opportunity to make an NBA roster.

Bottom line: Paige was never going to impress NBA scouts with his height and slender frame. There are questions about whether he could keep up athletically in the NBA. It’s cliché to say but it’s entirely true: What Paige lacks in physical attributes and athleticism, he makes up for in other, intangible ways. His intelligence and savvy will be among his best assets in his pursuit of a roster spot, and it seems that in time Paige should have a good chance to carve out a niche as a backup.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 6:13 PM with the headline "What to expect on NBA Draft night for Duke, UNC, NC State players."