NBA mock draft: Star's predictions of the first round

By Justin Spears, Dominic Baciocco / Arizona Daily Star

Tick, tick, tick.

The clock keeps ticking down, and no, we're not talking about the LeBron James free agency decision. The NBA Draft is nearing as 60 amateur players will wait to hear their name called Thursday night in New York.

While several NBA teams have concluded final workouts, some front offices are still working and could possibly create blockbuster deals either the day before or the day of draft night. 

For now, a few Wildcats hope to take the next step, including potential No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton. Will he stay in Arizona? Will he be UA's first ever No. 1 pick? The Wildcaster's Justin Spears and Dominic Baciocco predict how Thursday's first round will play out. 

Position: Center/Power forward

Height: 7-1

Weight: 260 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 61.2% FG, 34.3% 3FG

Position: Power forward

Height: 6-11

Weight: 235 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 61.4% FG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 42.2% FG, 36% 3FG

Position: Guard

Height: 6-6

Weight: 220 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 14.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 45.6% FG

Position: Center

Height: 7-0

Weight: 225 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 12.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.7 BPG, 54.1% FG

Position: Center

Height: 6-11

Weight: 235 lbs.

Age: 18

2017-18 stats: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, 44.7% FG, 33.6% 3FG

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 210 lbs.

Age: 21

2017-18 stats: 18.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 43% 3FG

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-9

Weight: 210 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 33% FG

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-10

Weight: 215 lbs.

Age: 18

2017-18 stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 34.1% 3FG

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.0 APG, 34.6% 3FG

Position: Center/Power forward

Height: 6-10

Weight: 250 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-6

Weight: 180 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 81.7% FT

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 220 lbs.

Age: 20

2017-18 stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 36.4% 3FG

Position: Center/Power forward

Height: 6-10

Weight: 240 lbs.

Age: 20

2017-18 stats: 10.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-0

Weight: 185 lbs.

Age: 21

2017-18 stats: 20.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.7 RPG, 43% 3FG

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 200 lbs.

Age: 21

2017-18 stats: 13.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 40.1% 3FG

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 230 lbs.

Age: 22

2017-18 stats: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 35.9% 3FG

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 55.6% FG, 45% 3FG

Position: Small forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 210 lbs.

Age: 18

2017-18 stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 40.8% 3FG

Position: Center

Height: 7-0

Weight: 250 lbs.

Age: 20

2017-18 stats: 16.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG

Position: Center

Height: 7-0

Weight: 223 lbs.

Age: 20

2017-18 stats: Skipped freshman year at Western Kentucky

Position: Shooting guard/Small forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 195 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 14.8 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.7% 3FG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190 lbs.

Age: 20

2016-17 stats: 8.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 43.7% FG

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 180 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: Skipped freshman year of college

Position: Combo guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 190 lbs.

Age: 21

2017-18 stats: 20.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.9% 3FG

Position: Wing

Height: 6-5

Weight: 200 lbs.

Age: 21

2017-18 stats: 13.0 PPG, 1.3 SPG, 42.7% FG, 37% 3FG

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 205 lbs.

Age: 19

2017-18 stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 40.2% 3FG

Position: Center/Power forward

Height: 6-11

Weight: 245 lbs.

Age: 20

2017-18 stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 52.8% FG, 39.4% 3FG