NBA: Top-10 Players To Build Around Under The Age of 25

Jun 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders and number one overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns pose with his new jersey at Mayo Clinic Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

9. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

6’11” 250 lbs, 19-years-old

2014-2015 (KY) Stats: 10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 spg, 2.3 bpg, 56% FG, 81% FT, 25% 3PT, 31.4 PER

This is the only rookie to make the top-10, despite the rookie clause stated before. In Towns case, it was just impossible not to include him. Who knows, he probably even deserves to be ranked a little better, but with a limited sample size he falls slightly down the rankings.

Limited in John Calipari’s platoon system at Kentucky, it is hard to get a read on just how good Towns could be. His pre-draft workout certainly got a lot of people really excited.

His tantalizing skill-set and projected ceiling is through the roof. He is skilled, but still can play as a big man. With the small-ball era in the NBA being all the rage after the Warriors’ title run, he could symbolize the prototypical small ball big man because of his touch and agility.

Even draft expert Chad Ford fell in love with Kentucky big man prior to the draft and the hype ultimately led to Towns being selected No. 1 overall by Flip Saunders and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Towns has the potential to be a revolutionary type talent. His college stats do not factor in due to both the system he played in and his limited role. He did rise above that to shine at times during the NCAA tournament and that inevitably helped rise his stock.

Right now, his skills have to translate to the NBA and he has to continue to develop. The talent and potential are there for sure, but he must showcase a true work ethic for his potential to come to fruition.

For a 19-year-old, it is hard to imagine anyone else’s ceiling being higher.

Next: No. 8