With the start of the SEC tournament upon us, some analysts are already looking at one current Gator as a possible NBA draft pick in April.

ESPN’s Chad Ford, the network’s basketball version of Mel Kiper, says that Nick Calathes has been unfairly been overlooked by some NBA scouts as the league has grown in favor of smaller point guards.

While the 6-foot-5 Calathes may not be as flashy as current vogue pros like Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, Ford says that he has the intangibles that many teams look for in a floor leader.

He also stated on his blog that several NBA front-office executives have said that if he declares for the draft after this season ends, he would likely be one of the league’s biggest steals around the end of the first round.

But as some former Gator players have seen in the past (see: Joakim Noah), a solid NCAA Tournament showing can do wonders for one’s draft stock.

Ford currently has Calathes listed as No. 29 on his top 100 players list.