NBA Draft Update: Zimmerman, McCaw on cusp of first round

With the conclusion of the NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday night, we are one step closer to June's 67th NBA Draft.

The following Mountain West non-seniors have declared for the NBA Draft:

• Derrick Jones, UNLV, Fr. (did not hire agent)
• Patrick McCaw, UNLV, So. (did not hire agent)
• Chris Obekpa, UNLV, Jr. (redshirted this season, hired agent)
• Goodluck Okonoboh, UNLV, So. (left program in November, hired agent)
• James Webb III, Boise State, Jr. (hired agent)
• Jalen Moore, Utah State, Jr. (did not hire agent)
• Cameron Oliver, Nevada, Fr. (did not hire agent)
• Malik Pope, San Diego State, So. (did not hire agent)

Although the Mountain West endured a difficult season in which only 14th-seeded Fresno State clinched an NCAA bid, the conference is anticipating at least two former players to be selected in this year's NBA Draft. UNLV's Patrick McCaw and Stephen Zimmerman have seen their names flirt with the first round line this spring. Here is where the main mock draft sources have pegged the Rebels in their latest mocks:

Bleacher Report (one round mock):

Stephen Zimmerman, #30, Golden State Warriors

USA Today (one round mock):

Patrick McCaw, #26, Philadelphia 76ers

"Another versatile wing, McCaw's combination of athleticism, size, shooting, and potential as a secondary play maker would fit in well for a Philadelphia team that has a lot of minutes available on the perimeter."

DraftExpress (two round mock):

Patrick McCaw, #31, Boston Celtics

"The 20-year-old sophomore showed a little bit of bounce in transition (particularly off of his right leg) and has all of the tools to continue to develop as his game matures, especially considering he wasn't exactly in the best developmental situation at UNLV. McCaw is a ways away from producing at the NBA level and has a very wide draft range, but he has the upside of a first-round pick and could turn into a versatile, two-way guard down the road."

Stephen Zimmerman, #35, Boston Celtics

"With many areas of legitimate potential, but also plenty of areas to improve, Zimmerman is the kind of guy who could have a wide variance in where he could go come draft night. If he can continue to make progress in his jump shot, get stronger, and convince general managers that he can overcome some of his flaws, he certainly has the potential to hear his name called in the first round by Adam Silver on draft night."

CBS Sports (one round mock):

Stephen Zimmerman, #27, Toronto Raptors

"Zimmerman's freshman season was limited by injury. But he still nearly averaged a double-double in the Mountain West Conference, and he remains a skilled 7-footer who was a consensus top-10 high school recruit. So, late in the first round, he's worth a flyer."

Former Boise State forward James Webb III (85th on DraftExpress' Top 100 list) and UNLV forward Derrick Jones Jr. (78th) are currently the only other Mountain West players in discussion of being drafted. Both players were invited to the NBA Draft Combine.

Two former Mountain West players (Rashad Vaughn and Larry Nance Jr.) were selected in last year's draft.