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NBA Draft: Kentucky Basketball’s Bam Adebayo is climbing draft boards

By Frank Spencer

Nov 23, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) shoots the ball against the Cleveland State Vikings in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) shoots the ball against the Cleveland State Vikings in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bam Adebayo is one of the few Kentucky Basketball stars set to hear his name called in the NBA Draft.

As for Kentucky Basketball, all the noise is following De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk as the NBA Draft nears. The two guards have most certainly earned the right to get some attention. Bam Adebayo on the other hand, has had to work harder to make himself known.

In most mock drafts, entering the draft season, Bam was projected as a late first, early second round pick. Second round players generally begin their careers in the NBA D-League. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the D-League is the only place for them. But, on the other hand, second round guys generally find themselves earning their keep before they get the call up to the big leagues.

Bam Adebayo is making a name for himself in the pre-draft workouts. It goes without saying that Bam will make it out of the first round. The general consensus is teams love his athleticism, but his shooting ability coming out of college is sub-par.

Bam has been in the gym constantly since his freshman season at Kentucky. As the Wildcats ended their season in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament against, North Carolina, Bam has been on a mission to prove people wrong.

In terms of athleticism, there aren’t many people that can do what Bam can do. As a power forward in the NBA, he will look to become a defensive playmaker that rakes off the boards to earn extra possessions. His athleticism allows for him to run the floor and guard the perimeter in the new stretch four version of the NBA.

First Round Talent

There is definitely first round talent when it comes to Bam Adebayo. Draft Express has even bumped Adebayo into their first round mock. The popular NBA Draft website has the Kentucky Basketball big man going 19th overall to the Indiana Pacers.

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Bleacher Report’s latest mock has Adebayo headed to Portland with the 15th overall pick. Bam made an impression on the Trail Blazers in a pre-draft workouts. Also, Gary Parrish of CBS Sports has mocked Bam as the 26th pick in the draft. That pick also happens to belong to the Portland Trail Blazers. HoopsHype.com’s Mock Draft also has Bam being picked in the first round at pick number 17 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

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