Because it makes sense. Every random person in the world can just click on ESPN and see who are the top draft prospects. I think it would make a lot more sense if just the potential was totally random and unknown, but their basic skills right now, if the "word on the street" thinks the best player in the draft is actually a totally hopeless 1 ball loserthen it is worthless.
the question is how accurate sources you know for div 2 NCAA basketball recruitment etc. Already the ranking for the top NCAA 1 talents ain't that good anymore. The attention to the NBA talents is higher because of the excellent standing of the NBA in wold, the question is it every buzzerbeater league like the NBA or maybe even none.
he other thing is that not only the media invest heavily in scouting also the NBA teams do, and surely didN't look on espn or draft express report who to pick,