With less than 100 days until the start of the NBA season, now seems like the perfect time to make some early award predictions. Today we are focusing on the young guys, the rookies just entering the NBA. From no. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, all the way to the no. 60 overall pick Tyrone Wallace, all of the recently drafted promising talents have a chance to win the NBA Rookie Of The Year Award.

The NBA Rookie of the Year Award was first handed out after the 1952-53 season to power forward Don Meineke of the Fort Wayne Pistons. Last season Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns won the award. Towns won the award unanimously, becoming only the fifth player in NBA history to do so.

Now with the history lesson out of the way, we can get right into the predictions.

Early Frontrunners For NBA Rookie Of The Year

1. Ben Simmons – Forward – Philadelphia 76ers

This year’s first overall pick, Ben Simmons, is one of the most naturally gifted players to be taken first overall in years. Standing at 6’10” Simmons has the ability to play either small or power forward. But what is considered most intriguing about Simmons is his ability to handle the ball. Simmons has the body of a power forward, but the mind of a point guard. This will lead to Simmons becoming Philadelphia’s leader statistically at both ends of the court.

At LSU Simmons averaged 17.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Simmons also notched 23 double-doubles, showing that he can fill the stat sheet at both ends consistently. Some doubt Simmons’ ability to shoot the ball well, but that really shouldn’t stop him putting together a strong effort in his rookie year. Plus remember Magic Johnson and LeBron James couldn’t shoot when they entered the NBA.

Simmons is definitely the favorite to win the NBA Rookie Of The Year Award. He has shown the 76ers that not only can he control a game, but he can also dominate it as well.

2. Brandon Ingram – Small Forward – Los Angeles Lakers

With the second overall pick in this year’s draft, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak gave Lakers fans hope. Brandon Ingram is a player who could potentially steal Ben Simmons’ thunder and take the prize as NBA Rookie Of The Year. Ingram is a great and very natural shooter who drew comparisons to Kevin Durant during the draft process.

Ingram will join a Lakers team with some good young talent, but Ingram may not see a lot of starting minutes in the first half of the season. With the Lakers signing NBA veteran Luol Deng, Ingram could see himself coming off the bench a lot. This could also hinder Ingram’s chances of winning NBA Rookie Of The Year. Seeing as Simmons will be starting for Philadelphia, Ingram will need a strong second half of the season to compete for the award.

At Duke, Ingram averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He may have the reputation of being a shooter, but he also brings great length to the Lakers on defense. Ingram has a 7’3” wingspan and averaged 1.4 blocks in college. Defense is something the Lakers really need and off the bench Ingram gives them exactly what they need.

Ingram may not start enough games to win NBA Rookie Of The Year, but he is certainly a strong contender for it.

3. Kris Dunn – Point Guard – Minnesota Timberwolves

Kris Dunn will attempt to achieve something no NBA player has done. Dunn was drafted by the Timberwolves No.5 overall, and he will try and become the third straight Timberwolves player to win NBA Rookie Of The Year. With Andrew Wiggins winning the award in 2015 and Towns replicating Wiggins’s achievement last season. Dunn does posses the ability to make NBA history, but he faces tough competition.

Dunn was drafted by a young Minnesota team looking to add the final piece of the puzzle, a point guard. Ricky Rubio can’t stay healthy, so Dunn could potentially see himself starting within his rookie season. With this Timberwolves team being so young and ambitious, Dunn shouldn’t find it hard to fit in.

At Providence, Dunn averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 assists and 5.3 rebounds. Dunn is an all around point guard capable of contributing all over the court. Dunn will make his case for NBA Rookie Of The Year, and he will push Simmons and Ingram all the way.

4. Jamal Murray – Guard – Denver Nuggets

Jamal Murray is a combo guard, capable of scoring from anywhere. Murray was drafted by the Nuggets seventh overall, and he should be a perfect fit in Denver. Murray completes what looks like a very promising back-court, alongside Emmanuel Mudiay. He hasn’t joined a team that is looking to be a contender next season, but he will play a significant role in helping the Nuggets win more than last season’s total of 33 games.

Murray is a good three-point shooter, shooting just over 40% from behind the line in college. But Murray can also attack the rim well, meaning he doesn’t have to rely on just one dimension of his game. Murray can easily assert himself and take over games with his outstanding ability to score. Denver will benefit from his scoring impact and may have finally found a dominant scorer to replace former Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.

At Kentucky, Murray averaged 20.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Murray’s 20 points per game are the most by any freshman in Kentucky basketball history. Head coach John Calipari said in the build-up to this years draft that he thinks Murray should go first overall; that’s high praise from Murray’s college coach.

If Murray fits in quickly in Denver, then there is no reason why he can’t be the NBA Rookie Of The Year.

5. Buddy Hield – Shooting Guard – New Orleans Pelicans

Buddy Hield’s position on the court sums up his nature, “Shooting” guard. That’s what Hield does best, shoot and shoot well. If Ingram and Murray are labeled natural shooters, then Hield deserves to be in that category too. Hield can provide high volume scoring from range in New Orleans. Hield will also be in the mix to start right away for the Pelicans. With an injury-prone Tyreke Evans his main competition, Hield is in the same boat as Dunn for starters minutes.

Last season the New Orleans Pelicans had their year ruined by injuries. Player after player went down with a multitude of ailments. From starters to backups, new head coach Alvin Gentry had no luck at all. Hield is exactly what this Pelicans team needs: a quality guard who can play well and often. With the loss of scorers Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, Hield will get plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the basket.

At Oklahoma, Hield averaged 25.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. Hield shot an impressive 50.1% from the field in college. At Oklahoma, Hield played with skill and swagger. Pelicans fans hope he brings that attitude with him to The Big Easy.

Hield may be a great shooter, but if one trait is going to win Hield the NBA Rookie Of The Year Award, it will be his confidence.