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The 2014 NBA Draft is five days away. Many are calling it the best crop of talent in quite some time. International prospects and the diaper dandies of 2013 fill the top of the draft board. That’s a common correlation to countless NBA drafts.

What makes this draft elite is the handful of talented 22 and 23 year old prospects. Typically players this age are ruled out of the first round. They’re usually the type of players that could be counted on as a second option on their college teams their junior and senior years. Players categorized in this age group are usually second round picks. Some fight through the first cuts and get an initial rookie NBA contract. The ceiling usually involves bouncing around the league for four seasons before settling in overseas.

This draft is going to change that. Many of the players in this age group are going to play in the NBA for a long time. Some may even be in consideration for rookie of the year. Here is quick look at expected first round picks at age 22 or 23.

Shabazz Napier
I’ve been big on Napier since his freshman year at UConn. Both of his college coaches, Kevin Ollie and Jim Calhoun, gave him the freedom to play his game. It caused some poor stretches but also gave him the confidence to carry his team in 2013-2014. A two time college champion is not one to take lightly on the professional level. Napier will be a perfect fit to a team’s second unit in 2014 and 2015. Before long he’ll have a starting role.

Adreian Payne
Payne is a bit of a different story. At 23 years old, he caused his fortune to be put on hold. At times in his career he was overweight. Before last season he dedicated himself to getting into shape. It paid off even through a season of injuries. He showed the ability to dominate inside and on the perimeter. There aren’t too many big men currently in the NBA that have his offensive skill set.

CleAnthony Early
Early’s story is also a bit different. The 22 year old did not receive the high scholarship offers out of high school in New York. Most talented players on small schools take a few years to get noticed. Early was noticed last year as Wichita State burst onto the scene. He made the right move in coming back last year. Improvement was noticeable in all facets of his game. March only benefitted his draft stock.

Doug McDermott
McDermott has been labeled a shooter and scorer selectively. Creighton’s team was an offensive juggernaut in the newly formed Big East. But when it faced defensive minded teams it struggled. McDermott’s transition to the NBA might be more of a challenge than his eye-popping stats show. Nonetheless, a role will be formed for him. He has the size at 6’8 to build a niche even if his defensive efforts force him to 20 minutes or less a game.

CJ Wilcox
The Pac-12 is the most under covered big conference by the media. Wilcox in my estimation was one of the best college basketball players last year at creating his own shot. He can score baskets in a hurry while doing the little things that add to a team. He’ll likely fall to the early second round and land on a team that will be boosted immediately. Wilcox offers the biggest bang for his likely draft position of anyone in the draft.