NBA Draft 2013: Cavaliers Hoping No.1 Overall Pick Anthony Bennett To Become The Next LeBron James

The 2013 NBA Draft wrapped up a shocking night at the Barclays Center with the Cleveland Cavaliers using their no.1 overall pick to select UNLV Rebels small forward Anthony Bennett.

It was indeed a wild and very unpredictable draft with consensus no.1 draft prospect Nerlens Noel slipping down to no.6 pick for the New Orleans Hornets, which eventually traded Kentucky's shot-blocking artist to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jrue Holiday.

So far, there have been mixed reactions about the Cavs' surprising selection, but majority of sports fans question Cavs GM Chris Grant and the front office for picking an unheralded player in Bennett.

But who really is Anthony Bennett?

Born in Brampton, Ontario Canada, the 6-foot-8, 240 pound Bennett has been on the radar of NBA ball clubs since he was in high school. In fact, ESPNU 100 rated Bennett no.1 overall in the class of 2012, while Scout.com and Rivals.com rated the burly forward as the no.7 and no.12 overall prospect in the class, respectively.

He's widely compared to former NBA All-Star Larry Johnson and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James because of his body stature and the versatility to play multiple positions, especially as a small forward and power forward. Aside from his solid offensive game in the post, Bennett also has a good stroke from the outside and the ability to rebound the ball well.

Bennett played one season with the Rebels, averaging 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 21 minutes of playing time. He shot .533 percent from the field and .701 percent from the free-throw line.

Several basketball analysts believe Bennett will perfectly complement the game of All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving because he's good in playing pick-and-roll on the offensive end. His presence will give the up-and-coming Cavs another legitimate offensive weapon, giving Irving the space he needs to operate on the floor.

Other scouting reports indicate Bennett has the highest upside among the draft prospects, high enough for him to reach near or even match the production of LeBron.