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Why pick Daniel Orton in the first round of the upcoming NBA draft?

The statistics mean very little: 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 53% from the field in only 13 minutes a game.

There is that old line which says you can't teach 6-feet-10-inches and 255 pounds.

Two recent NBA draft sites have the former UK backup center going in the first 20 selections.

One writer who covers the Detroit Pistons has his take on why he would take Orton:

"Why he fits: Because he's probably already better than Kwame Brown, right? Orton might be the most raw big man prospect in this draft. Not much tape exists of him because he didn't play much. But personally, I think that will help him rather than hurt him. I expect him to climb into the top 15 or so by the draft. At just 19-years-old, he has a big frame (built very similar to teammate DeMarcus Cousins - thick and strong, but a little doughy). He's athletic, he finishes strong in traffic and his 1.4 blocks in just 13 minutes per game project very well. The big difference between he and Cousins is the back-to-the-basket game. Orton doesn't really have one to speak of yet. That's not necessarily a bad thing - big men take much longer to develop than guards, and Orton, with his strength and long arms, will get there if he puts the work in."

"Why he doesn't fit: It's a stretch to believe Orton will provide short-term help to any team who drafts him. Considering he was viewed as kind of a project player at Kentucky, he'll most definitely be the same thing in the NBA. Doesn't mean he's not worth a look, but the Pistons, as we know, have a great need for rotation players up front."

"Why I'd draft him: Let's face it, projects or not, most of the bigs in this draft are going to help. Most fans would be against taking a project player, but it's all about risk/reward. If Orton shows a better work ethic than some of the other bigs available, Detroit is a good spot with a veteran locker room and, in particular, Ben Wallace as a model when it comes to teaching how to work like a NBA big man. Orton could be a bust or he could be really good, just like several of the high ceiling bigs available in the draft. Pre-draft workouts are going to play a big role in ranking these guys, who are all pretty close talent-wise."

UK has big year with attendance: For the fifth consecutive season and 14th time in the last 15 years, UK men's basketball led Division I in average home attendance

The total of 433,989 fans that packed Rupp Arena in 18 home games this season was the most by any school since 1993.