While there are still discussions over who will be the top selection on Thursday, sometimes the difference between an average team and championship contender can come in the second round choices. Former second round picks Manu Ginobili, Danny Green and Patty Mills all played crucial roles in the San Antonio Spurs' title run this past season to prove it.

Lance Stephenson and DeAndre Jordan have grown as raw talents into key NBA players on playoff teams. Isaiah Thomas has gone from an undersized point guard drafted with the final pick to the second leading scorer for the Sacramento Kings. Here’s a “starting five” of high-risk, high-reward prospects projected to go in the second round on Thursday.

PG: Jahii Carson, Arizona State

Only 5-foot-11, Carson may be the best pure athlete in the draft. He has elite quickness and leaping ability that helps compensate for his lack of size. Carson is a crafty ball handler who has improved his jump shot over the past season. He’s now a legitimate threat in the pick-and-roll while his ball handling and quickness allow him to create for himself in isolation situations. Carson is a good passer who finds his teammates, but isn’t a pass-first point guard. As an undersized lead guard, his size will always be a question mark. There have also been questions raised about his attitude and coachability. He’s an electrifying playmaker, but it will be interesting to see how Carson translates to the NBA style of play.

SG: Jabari Brown, Missouri

Brown is one of the better three-point shooters in this draft. He torched nets in the SEC this season, averaging 19.9 points per game while shooting 46.7% from the field and 41% from three. In addition, Brown has improved his dribble-drive game this past year and rounded out his overall scoring skill set. The question at the next level will be if Brown can play within his role. He’ll likely be a player off the bench who will need to improve as a passer and defender. There were also reports of a weak work ethic at the combine and individual workouts. He’ll need to prove that he can play hard on both ends of the floor in the NBA, no matter how many minutes he is given.

SF: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Delaware 87ers

His younger brother, Giannis, turned out to be a steal for the Milwaukee Bucks this past season and now Thanasis looks to join him in the NBA. He won’t be drafted as high as Giannis, but Thanasis still has second round intrigue due to his ceiling. Standing 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Antetokounmpo is an elite athlete who plays with great energy. He’s a quality defender who can defend the perimeter due to his physical attributes and motor. The question comes in his offensive skill set. He only averaged 12 points per game in the NBA Development League with a 30.9% showing from behind the arc. Like his brother, there’s still a lot of room for Thanasis to improve. If he can become a good enough shooter to space the floor, he should have no issue finding his way in an NBA rotation, but there’s a chance he can become something even more. Will he reach his full potential?

PF: Johnny O’Bryant, LSU

O’Bryant took a major leap in his junior season. He broke onto the national scene in January when he scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds against a nationally ranked Kentucky squad. The 6-foot-9 power forward added muscle and an improved mid-range jumper to stretch a defense. O’Bryant is a good post player with the ability to score with either hand. On the defensive end, he can defend the post and has the athletic ability to stop the pick-and-roll. What he’ll need to improve is his consistency. He’d have games as successful as his Kentucky performance, but he also had showings where he lacked aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. He’s also considered undersized for the power forward position. If O’Bryant continues to improve his shooting and raise his intensity, he has a chance to be a second round steal.

C: Aaric Murray, Texas Southern

Once considered a four-star recruit and nationally recognized prospect out of high school, Murray averaged 21.6 points and 7.5 points per game for Texas Southern in his senior season. He has the size at 6-foot-11, but has a skinny frame that will need some added muscle. Murray was a versatile center who shot 49.1% from the floor but perhaps even more intriguing was his 33.7% shooting from three-point range. He had a 48-point outburst versus Temple this season where he was 20-of-28 from the floor. Murray clearly has NBA talent, but there are off the court issues plaguing his draft stock. After committing to La Salle out of high school, he had issues with the coaching staff and eventually transferred to West Virginia. At West Virginia, he was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and eventually transferred again to finish his career at Texas Southern. He hasn’t had any issues during the past season, but will a team be willing to select a player with the history of Murray?