THE FRONT ROW: Wildcats cash in

DRAFT BUZZ: In a matter of hours, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger are going to be very rich young men.

Both former Wildcats are expected to be taken in the first round of tomorrow night’s NBA draft (4-9 p.m., ESPN), with Hill rumored to go as high as No. 5 to the Washington Wizards.

ESPN.com’s Chad Ford has him going No. 7 to Golden State and Ian Thomsen has him going to Toronto at No. 9.

Aran Smith, President of NBADraft.net, thinks Hill is one of the real gems of this year’s draft. He told me that Hill reminds him a lot of perennial All-Star Chris Bosh and should find a spot in the middle of the lottery.

“This is a guy who will continue to get better as his body fills out,” Smith said. “He’s on a steep development, having improved as much as anyone in the past year. And while he lacks great strength to play inside right now, he should be very effective in a year or two. He can easily become one of the top three or four players out of this draft.”

As for Budinger, he could go as high as No. 14 to the Phoenix Suns, but most expect him to find a home in the 20s.

“Budinger is one of the top shooters in the draft,” Smith said. “He has excellent intangibles with the ability to pass the ball. He’s an excellent teammate, very unselfish and should be an excellent pick in the mid-first-round area. He still has some upside left to develop, as well, despite being a junior and older than a lot of the top prospects.”

Hill and Budinger will find themselves alongside former UA standouts Gilbert Arenas, Andre Iguodala, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, Jerryd Bayless, Luke Walton, Channing Frye, Salim Stoudamire and Richard Jefferson in the NBA.

Speaking of Jefferson, the eight-year NBA veteran was traded to the San Antonio Spurs yesterday in exchange for three expiring contracts (Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas). After spending last year trapped on an injury-riddled Milwaukee Bucks squad, Jefferson joins a perennial contender, where he’ll have an excellent opportunity to compete for an NBA championship.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747