Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com
After years of preparation and countless hours spent in various gyms across the world, 60 prospects will accomplish the ultimate goal on Thursday night. Before the evening is over there's sure to be trades, surprises and plenty of memorable fashion moments. With the 2015 NBA Draft taking place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, here's a look at a handful of prospects that could hear their names called when the Toronto Raptors make the 20th pick.
Kevon Looney
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Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 222 pounds
Age: 19 years old
Looney is a long and athletic player with lots of potential and raw ability. He's got great length with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and has the tools to be a good defender. He's a solid rebounder as well, an area of concern for the Raptors this season. While Looney didn't put up big numbers offensively in his freshman season at UCLA, he played the role assigned to him.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
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Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 211 pounds
Age: 20 years old
A small forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Hollis-Jefferson finds a way to be everywhere on the court and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He is athletic and explosive, plays with lots of energy and gets to the line often. While his shot and handle will need to improve, Hollis-Jefferson already boasts the defensive skills that Dwane Casey is looking for.
Jerian Grant
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PG, Notre Dame senior
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 22 years old
Grant had a stellar senior season with Notre Dame before getting ousted from the NCAA tournament in an Elite Eight in a thriller against Kentucky. The 22-year-old is an excellent floor general with great court vision and decision-making skills. He's a solid pick and roll player and shot 34.5 percent from beyond the arc in college. Grant's age and maturity are another attractive asset when considering young pieces like Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira already on Toronto's roster.
Justin Anderson
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SF, Virginia sophomore
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 231 pounds
Age: 21 years old
Anderson is an athletic wing who will fill the 3-and-D role that is becoming more and more valuable in today's NBA. Explosive and energetic, Anderson can guard multiple positions and upped his three-point percentage to 45 percent in his junior year. For a Raptors team in need of defence and three-point shooting to stretch the floor, Anderson would be natural fit.
Sam Dekker
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Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 219 pounds
Age: 21 years old
Dekker is a versatile scorer with excellent size on the perimeter. He can score in the open floor as well as in the half court and can play above the rim. His size and speed also allow him to guard multiple positions. Dekker averaged 13.9 points per game in his junior season with a Wisconsin team that lost to Duke in the NCAA Championship game and would provide depth at the small forward position for the Raptors.
Montrezl Harrell
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Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 253 pounds
Age: 21 years old
Harrell is an undersized power forward who makes up for his lack of height with a ridiculous 7-foot-4 wingspan. Often compared with Denver's Kenneth Faried due to his energy and athletic ability, Harrell is a strong defender with a limitless motor. Like Faried, he's able to get his hands on rebounds other, taller players cannot because he's outworked and out hustled them.