According to ESPN’s NBA Draft expert Chad Ford, Baylor forward Perry Jones has the pole position for the number one pick in the 2011 draft right now. Jones is not a household name and has not dominated in his freshman season like a lot of top picks do, but his talent is so tantalizing that NBA executives are drooling over his potential.  “He’s the most talented guy in the draft, and he also has the most upside,” one NBA executive told Ford.  ”Baylor doesn’t really know what to do with him, but all of my scouts feel he’s got the most potential; 6-10 players with that sort of athleticism are just hard to come by.”

North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes came into the 2010-11 season as the consensus number one pick, but he’s struggled throughout the first half of the year.  However, some scouts feel that Barnes can still go number one with a big second half.  “He’s struggled, but I believe he’s going to have a big second half of the season,” one scout told Ford.  ”He’s been a guy that just has been trying to find his rhythm with a different system and a team filled with returning guys.  I think North Carolina needs him to dominate to succeed in the ACC, and I think [coach] Roy Williams will help facilitate that.  If he blows up, he’ll be the No. 1 guy.”  Other players that could go number one include Kyrie Irving and Terrence Jones.

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