2004: Preps-to-pros prove their worth

Originally published: June 27, 2005
Updated: June 27, 2006

1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005

Editor's note: We asked ESPN Insider John Hollinger to evaluate every NBA draft pick since 1995 and tell us what the lottery teams during those years should have done, based on what we know now about each player. For more on John's methodology, click here.

The 2004 draft is still a very difficult one to rate because so many of the best players came directly out of high school. Even without those eight players it was a fairly young draft class, as several college underclassmen also made the leap.

While the group is only starting to take shape, a few elite players have already risen to the top, led by Orlando phenom Dwight Howard. Here's a closer look at how the teams would pick if they could do it again today:

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