Guessing game for Hickson

Where will N.C. State's J.J. Hickson be chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night? Depends on whom you ask.

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said he has Hickson, a 6-9 power forward, rated 20th overall on his "best available list."

"He’s a big, tough kid,” Bilas said. “But does he play hard all the time? Does he want to be great? He’s big but he is still a kid."

Hickson, 19 said he had worked out for nine NBA teams. At least two teams, Toronto and New Jersey, asked him back for a second workout. The Raptors have the 17th pick in the first round and the Nets the 21st pick.

ESPN.com analyst Chad Ford has Hickson going to the Nets at No. 21. N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, who has many NBA contacts, believes Hickson will be selected between the 10th and 20th picks.

Another draft analyst, Chris Monter of collegebasketballnews.com, has Hickson rated the fifth-best power forward.

"Players like Hickson need more time to develop — raw, in need of more seasoning,” Monter said. “There are a lot of good players with size in this draft and Hickson is one of them."