Top Players Available

This NBA Draft is known as Tim Duncan and Everybody Else among scouts and general managers. Quite simply, after the Wake Forest center gets picked first overall by San Antonio, there are no other sure things. Finding anyone who can even make an impact after the first 15 picks is a gamble. Here is a look at the candidates to be picked in an unpredictable first round:

CENTERS

Tim Duncan, 6-10, 252, Wake Forest - Consensus top pick in draft.

Adonal Foyle, 6-9, 250, Colgate - At 6-9 is a natural power forward with no shooting range. Shot just 49 percent from foul line for career.

Kelvin Cato, 6-11, 255, Iowa St. - MVP of Nike Desert Classic is a top shot blocker.

Chris Anstey, 7-0, 250, Australia - At 22, is top foreign big-man prospect.

Jason Lawson, 6-11, 235, Villanova - Scouts like his shot blocking and rebounding potential but Big East fans know better.

Marc Jackson, 6-10, 270, Temple - Big bodied early entry knows how to push people around.

Paul Grant, 7-0, 245, Wisconsin - Scouts like this big kid’s intensity and hands, but he had trouble getting off the bench at BC two years ago.

Serge Zwikker, 7-2, 275, North Carolina - Big and strong, but also a stiff.

POWER FORWARDS

Tony Battie, 6-11, 230, Texas Tech - Slim big man needs weight but is premier post prospect who could go second to 76ers.

Keith Van Horn, 6-10, 220, Utah - Offensive talent who can run all day won’t last past the top four picks. A favorite of Celts GM Chris Wallace.

Tim Thomas, 6-9, 230, Villanova - May be most talented frontcourt prospect but coasts at times. Is a top-10 lock.

Austin Croshere, 6-9, 235, Providence - Friar star’s versatility could make him a top-dozen pick.

Danny Fortson, 6-7, 260, Cincinnati - A quick bruiser who may not be tall enough to defend post players and has no shooting range.

Maurice Taylor, 6-9, 250, Michigan - Stud athlete with skills would be top-five pick if he stayed in school.

John Thomas, 6-9, 260, Minnesota - NBA body has scouts intrigued.

Kebu Stewart, 6-8, 240, Cal State Bakersfield - Rebounder supreme used to star at UNLV.

Gordon Malone, 6-11, 220, West Virginia - Talented enigma who scored 28 vs. Boston College and zero in loss at Providence.

SMALL FORWARDS

Ron Mercer, 6-7, 210, Kentucky - Versatile athlete with questionable shooting range could fall to Celts sixth pick.

Tracy McGrady, 6-8, 210, Mt. Zion Christian (N.C.) - High-school prospect can play here or either guard spot and is projected as Scottie Pippen type.

Johnny Taylor, 6-9, 220, UT-Chattanooga - Versatile big man whose stock is rising fast.

Marko Milic, 6-6, 235, Slovenia - Top European prospect with shooting range.

Jerald Honeycutt, 6-8, 248, Tulane - Overrated banger who lacks shooting range.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Anthony Parker, 6-6, 215, Bradley - Best pure shooter in draft.

Derek Anderson, 6-5, 195, Kentucky - Injured knee scares some teams but still will go in top 20.

Olivier St. Jean, 6-7, 216, San Jose St. - France native who helped himself in Chicago draft camp and now is projected top-20 pick.

Ed Gray, 6-3, 220, California - Prodigious scorer whose foot injury has hidden him from scouts in post season.

James Cotton, 6-5, 206, Long Beach St. - Scorer who should stay in school.

Reggie Freeman, 6-6, 202, Texas - No conscience shooter who lacks overall game may slip to second round.

Shea Seals, 6-5, 220, Tulsa - Stock had dropped after subpar senior year.

POINT GUARDS

Chauncey Billups, 6-3, 200, Colorado - Scoring point guard may be second pick overall. Rick Pitino covets this 20-year-old.

Antonio Daniels, 6-4, 195, Bowling Green - Top point guard prospect is rising to top-five selection.

Brevin Knight, 5-10, 170, Stanford - Size poses defensive questions but very quick and a decent shooter.

Jacque Vaughn, 6-1, 195, Kansas - Questions about shooting range, quickness and strength hound this All-American.

Bobby Jackson, 6-1, 185, Minnesota - Rock solid, physical player who’s a better rebounder than passer.

God Shammgod, 6-0, 178, Providence - Only Knight gets in lane better, but lack of jump shot keeps him out of draft’s top 20.

Andre Woolridge, 6-1, 200, Iowa - Scouts aren’t sure how much better this Big Ten star will become. Showed up overweight in Chicago.

Kiwane Garris, 6-2, 187, Illinois - Prep phenom will play in the league but doesn’t merit high pick.

OTHERS

Mark Blount, 7-0, Pitt; James Collins, 6-4, Florida St.; Charles O’Bannon, 6-5, UCLA; Mark Sanford 6-9, Washington; Charles Smith, 6-4, New Mexico; Scott Pollard, 6-11, Kansas; Stephen Jackson, 6-8, Butler City (Kan.) J.C.