What NBA prospects from SEC must show

The 2017 NBA draft combine ends today, having pitting several of college basketball’s best against each other in a series of physical and skill tests.

SEC basketball was well represented.

Kentucky had four of the SEC’s seven NBA draft prospects invited to the workouts in Chicago. That doesn’t include Malik Monk, who turned down an invitation. It’s common for top prospects to skip out if they believe they have nothing left to prove.

Here’s what each SEC basketball prospect needs to show to make the NBA:

Bam Adebayo School: Kentucky 2016 stats: 13.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 59.9% FG

Adebayo was able to dominate lesser opponents with his physical skills, but that won’t fly in the NBA. In the final two NCAA Tournament games, against UCLA and North Carolina, Adebayo combined to go 5 of 13 from the field and score 15 points. That’s not encouraging for his skill set against true NBA talent.

Isaiah Briscoe School: Kentucky 2016 stats: 12.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.2 APG

Despite being a consensus 5-star prospect coming out of high school, Briscoe had an inconsistent two-year college career.

The NCAA Tournament was a good example. Briscoe scored 17 points on 11 shots against Northern Kentucky. He then combined to score 17 points on 17 shots over the next three games. The inconsistency is killer.

Hamidou Diallo School: Kentucky 2016 stats: n/a

Diallo is one of the most interesting prospects. After taking a postgraduate semester, Diallo enrolled at Kentucky and redshirted the spring semester. The plan was for him to use this as a development year and then be one of the most physically ready true freshmen in the nation.

Diallo has the body to play in the NBA, but he had to show major signs during 5-on-5 drills to prove he’s ready to play at the highest level.

PJ Dozier School: South Carolina 2016 stats: 13.9 PPG, 4.08, RPG, 2.8 APG

Dozier was part of the Final Four run at South Carolina. His play on both ends was critical. Dozier averaged 15.6 points during the tournament while anchoring the Gamecocks’ aggressive perimeter defense throughout March. He must prove he can score in different ways against athletes he can’t physically overwhelm.

De’Aaron Fox School: Kentucky 2016 stats: 16.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.6 APG

Fox is perhaps the quickest player in this NBA draft cycle. He put it to good use several times during the season, but in no game more than against UCLA. Facing top-two draft prospect Lonzo Ball, Fox cooked him to the tune of 39 points on 20 easy shots. Fox will need to prove he can finish through contact.

Devin Robinson School: Florida 2016 stats: 11.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG

Robinson and Dozier have similar allures to NBA scouts. Rated a 5-star prospect out of high school in 2014, Robinson measured out at 6-foot-8 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan at pre-college recruiting camps.

However, Robinson’s shooting must be exceptionally good to mitigate strength concerns.

Sindarius Thornwell School: South Carolina 2016 stats: 21.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.8 APG

Perhaps no player improved his draft stock in the NCAA Tournament more than Thornwell.

Originally considered a borderline NBA draft pick, Thornwell forced himself into the first-round discussion with a devastating March Madness run to the Final Four. Testing well in agility drills could help him rise.

ANDY LYONS / GETTY IMAGES Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe (center) had four points in the SEC championship game and was inconsistent over four NCAA Tournament games.

ROB CARR / GETTY IMAGES Devin Robinson has the height and reach to excel as a defender but must improve his strength and shooting ability.