The NBA Draft Combine is heading to Chicago from May 10-17, and this year's event is packed with drama. At the top, stars like BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Duke's Cameron Boozer, and UNC's Caleb Wilson are battling for the No. 1 spot. Sunday's lottery winner could shift everything.

But the real action might be in the middle of the draft. This year, only 71 players entered early—the fewest since 2003 and a huge drop from 363 in 2021. That tells you how much college programs are now paying to keep talent. Guys like Duke's Patrick Ngongba II, UConn's Braylon Mullins, and Florida's Thomas Haugh all chose to return to school for big paydays instead of testing the NBA waters.

That leaves a fascinating group of prospects in the "murky middle"—players who can make or break their draft stock with a strong week in Chicago. Through interviews, private workouts, and live five-on-five action, they have a real chance to impress decision-makers and climb up boards. Of course, the opposite is also true.

Here are five players with the most to prove at the combine:

Nate Ament (Tennessee)
Stats: 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 32.8% from three on 4.0 attempts per game.

Opinions on Ament are all over the map. Some scouts love the idea of a 6-foot-10 forward with great size and real shooting touch. Others worry he's too skinny and didn't take over games consistently. He shot just 47% at the rim this season, partly because Tennessee played with two bigs and left him little space. Everyone agrees he'll need patience to develop, but his interviews should go well—his character gets rave reviews. The workouts, though, could make or break his draft night.