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NBA Draft: Which Aussies are in the mix?

With the NBA season over, all eyes turn to Friday's (9am AEST) Draft - or as it's more affectionately known, NBA Christmas.

Although this year's talent pool may not feature any high-profile locals such as Ben Simmons and Thon Maker, Division 1 colleges are flush with Australian talent, many of them ready to contribute in the NBA next season.

So, who is a chance to get drafted, and who might sneak their way onto a roster via Summer League?

Lock them in

Deng Adel, Louisville, small forward , 6 ft 7, 91kg, junior
Hometown: Melbourne, VIC
2017-18: 15 points per game, 5.2 rebounds pg, .448% field goal
NBA comparison: Jaylen Brown

Adel's junior year with the Louisville Cardinals was not exactly seamless. Following the FBI's "pay for play" investigation that resulted in the firing of coach Rick Pitino, the focus becoming less about the student-athletes and more about the scandal. However for those watching the basketball, Adel's ability to lead his team despite the circumstances was admirable - the versatile small forward topped his team in scoring, and ranked second for rebounds and assists.

Adel is perfectly suited for the modern NBA, showing in his time at Louisville University an ability to run the offence like a traditional point forward, score from the wing like a traditional three-man, and post up larger players like a traditional big.

There's no doubt the 22-year-old has the versatility to be drafted, but that will depend on what teams in the second round are after. There are more polished players at his position and range, such as George King and Bonzie Colson, but as far as potential goes, Adel has them covered.

Prediction: Late second round

Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor, center, 7 ft 0, 102 kgs, senior
Hometown: Melbourne, VIC
2017-18: 14 ppg, 8.6 rpg, .514% field goal, 1.9 blocks pg
NBA comparison: Steven Adams

One truth regarding basketball will always hold strong: you cannot teach seven feet zero inches tall, and Jo Lual-Acuil has that, which teams have noticed - notably the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, who have all worked him out this month.

Lual-Acuil was voted All-Big 12 this season - no mean feat considering the conference was considered the most competitive in college hoops. He lives above the rim, which teams like, crashing the boards regularly and possesses the ability to make a block from the strong or weak side.

'JLA' is also a natural athlete, running the floor well and setting strong screens -- both highly translatable skills at the next level which teams covet in young bigs. His post game is coming along nicely, albeit still featuring the tendency to miss shots wildly at the rim, which we saw a few times this year.

The kind of sides that have already worked Lual-Acuil out means he's definitely on the radar for at least the middle of the second round. That would be a great result for the 24-year-old, and a credit to how teams view his skillset at the NBA level.

Prediction: Mid-to-late second round

Jock Landale, St. Marys, center, 6 ft 11, 116 kgs, senior
Hometown: East Malvern, VIC
2017-18: 21.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, .640% fg
NBA comparison: Nikola Vucevic

Such is Landale's talent and production, many had him in the Wooden Award conversation until late in the season; some media outlets even described him as the best big man in college basketball.

Landale's offensive skillset is excellent for a player of his size and age. He can face up larger players and take them off the dribble, or back them down low with a deadly array of polished post moves. He's also shown capability to combat the double-team, which he saw plenty this season in the WCC.

The concerns for a skill and size-based centre such as Landale surround his athleticism, which is not in the same tier as Lual-Acuil's. This may not completely inhibit his wide-ranging offensive game at the next level, but it may show up his defensive shortcomings.

It would be a big surprise to see Landale go undrafted - he's simply too talented, and there are not many players his size found in his range of the draft. The concern would be whether teams opt for more athleticism (Lual-Acuil) or even more size (Isaac Haas) over what Landale has to offer.

Prediction: Mid-to-late second round

Fringe picks

Xavier Cooks, Winthrop, swingman, 6 ft 8, 84 kgs, senior
Hometown: Wollongong, NSW
2017-18: 17.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, .504% fg, 2.1 bpg
NBA comparison: Harrison Barnes

Whether or not he gets drafted, what Cooks did this season at Winthrop is nothing short of outstanding. The Big South is not often looked to for NBA talent, but the wiry swingman willed his draft stocks up the boards on his way to winning conference Player of the Year.

What Cooks lacks in shooting ability, which in itself has improved out of sight, he absolutely makes up for with the rest of his game. Despite being only 6-8, Cooks pulled down an impressive 8.8 rpg and swatted 2.1 shots per game. He also recorded a 20 point, 20 rebound game - again, at just 6 ft 8.

Playing massively in Cooks' favour is the fact that the NBA is headed straight for players such as him, who can play as a big in a small ball setup, and switch everything defensively. Could he nail them from deep, he'd be a lock to be drafted, but with teams lining up already, he's a good chance.

Prediction: Late second round/Summer League

Emmett Naar, St. Marys, guard, 6 ft 1, 88 kgs, senior
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
2017-18: 9.5 ppg, 7.9 assists pg, .397% three-point
NBA comparison: J.J. Barea

While Naar may have the least-impressive statistical resume on this list, there are two things he can do which all modern NBA organisations covet: pass and shoot.

Naar is also the only current professional on this list, having last month signed with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL.

However that hasn't stopped NBA teams running their eyes over him for this year's draft, as he worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers a few weeks ago.

Naar's pedigree as a potential NBA player is certainly there. He recently broke his school's assist record previously held by Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills, two NBA rotation players not unlike himself. There is a market in what he brings as a player, and given the shot, he could impress.

Prediction: Summer League

Long shots

Chima Moneke, UC Davis, forward, 6 ft 6, 101 kgs, senior

Moneke certainly has the statistical dominance to warrant NBA teams investigating his game in person, but as a career power forward, he would be undersized at the next level. He'll play Summer League somewhere, but will have to impress with his work ethic and motor to earn an NBA roster spot.

Duop Reath, Louisiana State, big, 6 ft 11, 111 kgs, senior

Reath does not suffer from some of the same afflictions as the other players on this list; he plays at a big school, dominates against good competition, and has the size and production to believe he can be a contributor at the next level.

The main concern for Reath is that Louisiana State were terrible this season. Will that stop him from getting drafted, or garnering some Summer League attention? Maybe, maybe not.

William McDowell-White, Brose Bamberg (Germany), guard, 6 ft 5, 84 kgs, professional

William McDowell-White may have withdrawn his name from this year's Draft, but there's still a chance he makes it to the NBA for next season. After working out for a number of teams, reports indicated the Queensland guard was receiving mainly draft-and-stash capital, which could be a large reason why he elected not to go through the draft process.

However, don't be surprised for his production to be good enough for a team to add him to their Summer League roster, and offer him a spot on the team that way.

Matur Maker, Mississauga Prep (Mississauga, ON), power forward, 6 ft 10, 91 kgs, high school

The brother of the Milwaukee Bucks' Thon, Matur Maker had plenty of teams intrigued until he recently withdrew from this year's draft alongside 'WMW'. Like his brother, he opted to forego college for another year of high school and it will be interesting to see whether that improves his stock or not. Judging from his frequent 40-20 games this season, it may increase them.