Not satisfied with your favorite NBA teams’ newest draft pick? Don’t worry the 2008 draft is just 356 days away. Here’s an early look at some of the projected top picks.

The Returnees

C Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Player Comparison: Joel Przybilla

Had he entered this year’s draft, Hibbert probably would have been a top ten selection. He had a great NCAA tournament, helping lead the Hoyas all the way to the championship game. Next year, however, his job will get a little harder. While most of Georgetown’s roster is returning, forward Jeff Green is not. Without Green, the number five selection of the Seattle SuperSonics, Hibbert will be counted on to score more; that could help him develop more NBA ready post moves. Hibbert is the premier big man in college hoops right now, and a strong senior season could mean a top 5 pick in June.

PG Darren Collison, UCLA
Player Comparison: Kevin Johnson

So Jordan Farmar leaves after leading UCLA to the final four two years ago. What do the Bruins do at point guard the following season? Well, they replaced him with Collison, was probably better in his sophomore season then Farmar ever was. Collison is more of a facilitator then a scorer, and reaches light speed as fast as anyone this side of Tatooine. Think of him in the Tony Parker mold of a point guard. The only real knock on Collison is that he’s only 6’1, but his ability to be a shutdown defender should erase most of those concerns. He’ll head into the season as the country’s top returning point guard, with a good junior season he’s a top ten pick for sure, possibly top five.

SF Chase Budinger, Arizona
Player Comparison: Darius Miles

Perhaps no returning college player has as much upside as Arizona’s Budinger, a freakish athlete who honed his skills on the volleyball court in high school. Budinger can straight fly, the kind of athleticism rarely seen in the college game. He has a decent shot too, if he perfect that he could challenge for a top three spot. His weakness is defensively, where he has all the tools to be a lockdown defender but was a liability for the Wildcats often last season. If he leaves school after his sophomore year, he has a good chance to be the first returning college player taken.

The Freshmen

PG Derrick Rose, Memphis
Player Comparison: Dwayne Wade/Gary Payton

Like this year’s class, the strength of next year’s draft once again relies on impact freshmen. Memphis guard and Chicago product Rose may be the country’s best incoming player, a combo guard with solid size who can score but also dish the rock. He’s drawn comparisons to Jay Williams, maybe the most dominant college guard of my lifetime, and has a chance to do some special things at Memphis next season. The Tigers are preseason #1 for a lot of people, and it’s because Rose gives them another dimension.

SF Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Player Comparison: Carmelo Anthony

If Rose is the most polished of the freshmen, then Beasley has the most upside. A small forward who already has a complete offensive repertoire, Beasley could dominate for the Wildcats next season. While it’s impossible to project Kevin Durant like numbers, Beasley has that type of offensive potential. Scouts say all he has to work on is his maturity, if he can do that, he has a shot at being the #1 pick.

PG OJ Mayo, USC
Player Comparison: Gilbert Arenas

I first heard about Mayo after his freshmen year in high school, the kid has been touted as much as LeBron or Oden. But unlike those guys, the hype got to Mayo’s head. He’s a great ball player, but seems to be a complete head case. There’s the story of how he ended up at USC, having one of his friends walk into Tim Floyd’s office and tell him Mayo was interested in playing there next year. Floyd thought it was great and asked for Mayo’s phone number but the friend responded, “OJ doesn’t give out his cell number, he’ll call you”. There is also the famous video of final high school game, taunting the other team and getting thrown out before the game ended. Think of how much you hate Vince Carter…yeah, you’ll probably hate Mayo even more. Despite his character problems, he’s a lock to be a top five pick (as far as locks for something 350 days away go), and possibly number one.

All player comparisons from the great nbadraft.net

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