Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh senior center

Through no fault of his own, Gray is not likely to be a high first-round pick. In years past, a legitimate center with his size (7-foot, 265 pounds), rebounding ability (9.9 per game his last two collegiate years) and good touch around the basket would have been a top 15 pick. Times have changed, however, and teams are primarily looking for versatile, athletic players who can be deployed no matter who is on the floor for the other team.

Gray, who played well at the predraft camp, averaging 14 points and six rebounds per game, is likely to be a late first-round or early second-round pick. NBA teams still have a need for all the things he can do, but they are simply unwilling to pass on mid-sized athletes who offer multiple skills with better athleticism.

Stephane Lasme, Massachusetts senior forward

Any time someone breaks a shot-blocking record set by Marcus Camby, the NBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, attention must be paid. Lasme broke Camby's single-season and career shot-blocking records at Massachusetts, and he didn't slow down at the predraft camp.

Lasme blocked 13 shots in three games, a 4.33 average, approaching his season average of 5.1 blocks per game despite averaging only 20 minutes at the camp. Lasme was an equal opportunity rejection machine, blocking shots in man-to-man situations, as well as when playing help defense. Nate Thurmond once told me the shot-blockers he respected most did both. Big Nate got to the Hall of Fame for his defense, so that's good enough for me.

Lasme is not very tall, and he's a raw offensive player. But he is a great athlete, and with his jumping ability, could be developed into an adequate offensive player. He could sneak into the first round, but is more likely an early second round choice.

Ramon Sessions, Nevada junior point guard

Sessions was one of just nine players who entered the camp with the option of returning to college. And although he played very well and was one of the best point guards in camp, Sessions would probably be best served by returning to Nevada for his senior year. He hasn't quite pushed his way into this draft's first round.

Sessions made great decisions with the ball, compiling 13 assists against just one turnover. However, even though he scored well, averaging 13.3 points per game, he shot just 41 percent from the field, and his side-spin jump shot was noted by several scouts. If Sessions can improve the mechanics of his jump shot and improve his shooting percentage, he should be a sure-fire first round draft pick in 2008.

Daequan Cook, Ohio State freshman guard

For two games, Cook looked lost playing against the more experienced players comprising the predraft camp rosters. He didn't shoot the ball well (7-for-19, 36.8 percent) and didn't do any of the intangible things that would help a team win. One more performance like those two, and interested NBA teams might have rethought their interest in the shooting guard prospect.

But in his third game, Cook looked like the player who scored 14 or more points in seven of his first eight collegiate games. He got himself started with a gorgeous turnaround in the lane that showed off his balance. He then hit a baseline jumper, a three-pointer with one second left on the shot clock and passed to a teammate for a layup. When it was over, Cook had scored 22 points, 11 in each half. He made nine of 15 shots, including 3 of 4 from three-point range.

Cook's scoring outburst doesn't mean he is NBA-ready. He rarely did anything notable to help his team when he didn't have the ball, lacking intensity on defense and standing around on offense. Another season or two at Ohio State could round out his game, increase his basketball I.Q. and make him a more complete player. Remember, Cook didn't even start for the Buckeyes last season.

Cook could be chosen in the first round on his potential and still end up playing most of the season in the NBA Development League. What his final game did show was that Cook has the talent to one day be a competent shooting guard in the NBA. Whether that day comes sooner or later is up to Cook.

Ali Traore, Le Havre (France) power forward

Traore solidified his status as someone who will definitely be drafted with his play at the camp. The native of the Ivory Coast, who has been playing regularly at the top level in France the past two seasons, showed impressive strength and a reliable lefty jump hook all week long.

Traore averaged 14.7 points per game, the second-highest scoring average in camp, and shot a remarkable 70 percent from the field. Traore is not a great jumper and he didn't rebound all that well, but he demonstrated a lot of confidence in putting the ball on the floor for one or two dribbles and then lofting his hook shots from a spot in the middle of the lane. He also hit a couple of facing jump shots from 12 to 17 feet from the basket.

Traore could be very attractive to an NBA team because he is still developing and could remain in France for another season or two to expand his game. In recent drafts, teams like San Antonio (Ian Mahinmi in 2005) and Portland (Joel Freeland in 2006) have used first-round selections on players they did not want to bring to the NBA right away. It wouldn't be a shock to see Traore go late in the first round or early second round.