ESPN NBA

Most college post players who attempt to make the transition to playing on the perimeter fail. Usually, it's because if it hasn't come naturally at an early stage of their basketball development, it will be difficult to add that aspect to their game later. And, when a college player is effective in the lane, he usually relies on that strength as a security blanket.

However, if a player can add some aspects of a perimeter game, it enhances his value to NBA teams. Think about Robert Horry, who was an outstanding rebounding and shotblocking power forward at Alabama who made only 9 of 30 3s as a rookie. By the end of his career, he became a very reliable outside shooter who will be forever known for his clutch bombs in playoff crunch time.

Here's a look at five players who have tried to add perimeter skills this year, and how that process has turned out.

Patterson is in the midst of a very good career at Kentucky as one of the country's best low-post scorers. When John Calipari arrived in Lexington with his "dribble-drive" offense, there was some thought that it would help Patterson diversify his game by improving his perimeter skills. That would be a boon since there is some concern from NBA people that Patterson is not long enough to score in his accustomed manner at the pro level.

To see exactly what Patterson, Stanley Robinson, Kyle Singler Luke Babbitt and Luke Harangody are working on and whether they've helped their draft stock, you must be an ESPN Insider.