The newest generation of NBA stars is on the horizon and several Latino players are in the mix.

Hispanics have had a more visible presence in the league in recent years with many becoming critical role players, team superstars, NBA All-Stars and even world champions, and they all got their start in the draft.

Some were drafted in the top 10. Others, including a few surprise superstars, were taken in late-round steals that no doubt have teams kicking themselves and several teams smiling at their good fortune. All of them have left their mark on the game as the influence of Hispanics on hoops continues to grow.

LatinPost.com takes a special look at some of the top Latino NBA Draft picks of all time:

Carmelo Anthony, Brooklyn, New York (father from Puerto Rico), 2003 /Round: 1 / Pick: Third overall

Half-Puerto Rican from his late father's side, Melo, who led Syracuse to the NCAA championship in 2003, was the third pick in the famous 2003 NBA Draft that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. He has since become a seven-time NBA All-Star and won the league scoring title last season. Now, Anthony is one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this summer. Could the biggest stars of the Class of '03 reunite, perhaps in South Beach with the Miami Heat?

Manu Ginobili, Argentina, 1999/ Round: 2 / Pick: 57th overall

It seems hard to fathom that a future two-time NBA All-Star, four-time NBA champion and Sixth Man of the Year winner would fall so far down in the draft, but the sharpshooting Ginobili, who may be one of the greatest Latino NBA players of all time, was overlooked 56 times before the San Antonio Spurs drafted him in the 1999 draft.

The New York Knicks could have drafted him that year but passed him over for Frederic Weis, who never played a minute of NBA basketball. Yikes.

Meanwhile, since that time, Ginobili has helped San Antonio build a dynasty as part of their Big Three, and he played a critical role in this year's NBA Finals as he helped the Spurs pick up Title No. 4. He is easily one of the biggest steals in NBA Draft history.

Al Horford, Dominican Republic, 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: Third overall

The athletic Horford, who made a splash in college with the Florida Gators, was swooped up by the Atlanta Hawks with the third pick, and he has paid immediate dividends for Atlanta. Horford has helped them make the NBA playoffs in all seven of his NBA seasons while garnering two NBA All-Star Game appearances along the way.

Nene, Brazil, 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: Seventh overall

Continuing a tradition of NBA Draft ineptitude, the Knicks selected the 6-foot-11-inch Sao Carlos, Brazil native with the seventh pick in the 2002 draft, making Nene the first Brazilian player to ever be selected in the first round of the draft. The team then turned around and gave him to the Denver Nuggets for Antonio McDyess, who failed to make an impact on their roster after a slew of injuries. Meanwhile, the defensive powerhouse Nene helped Denver become a strong team out West for years to come, the Nuggets even making the Western Conference Finals in 2009 with Nene's help. Now, at age 31, he's helping the Washington Wizards do the same. Nene helped power the up-and-coming Wizards into the semifinals of the playoffs this past spring.

Rolando Blackman, Panama, 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: Ninth overall

This Brooklyn, New York native by way of Panama City, Panama was taken with the ninth pick of the 1981 draft by Dallas. With his sharp shooting, an explosive step to the basket and phenomenal quickness, Blackman helped the Mavs reach the playoffs six times in his 11 seasons with the team before he headed to New York, where he became a role player that helped the Knicks reach then NBA Finals in 1994, after which he retired. Scoring a whopping 17,000-plus points in 13 seasons, the dynamic Blackman is ranked No. 69 on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Oscar Schmidt, Brazil, 1984 / Round: 6 / Pick: 131st overall

A legend across the globe in basketball, the wildly-talented, sharpshooting, emotional Schmidt may be the greatest player never to have played a minute in the NBA. Schmidt, who went on to be inducted into the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame class, was drafted by the then-New Jersey Nets in the legendary 1984 draft that featured greats like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and Hakeem Olajuwon, but declined to play in the league after he discovered that as an NBA player, due to the rules at the time, he would be ineligible to represent his country as a member of the Brazilian National Team during international competition. The man they called "Mao Santa," or "The Holy Hand," went on to cement his legacy in international basketball, scoring more than 49,000 points in 26 years of play; for those of you keeping score at home, that's roughly 11,000 more than legendary all-time NBA scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His most legendary accomplishment? Scoring 46 points for Brazil as he led them to a 1987 Pan-Am Games victory over a U.S. team that featured future Hall of Famer David Robinson and two-time NBA All-Star Danny Manning.

Anderson Varejao, Brazil, 2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 30th overall

This 6-foot-11-inch monster from Brazil was picked in the second round by the Orlando Magic in 2004. These days, he's known for his hustle, relentless attacking on the boards, and his unique, wavy hair while he plays center for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who he helped reach the 2007 NBA Finals.

Brook Lopez, California (father from Cuba), 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall

A deadly scorer and an improving defender in the paint, this North Hollywood, California star, who has Cuban roots, has been getting better with each season since the Nets drafted him in the top 10 of the 2008 draft, becoming a major staple of the Nets in recent years while earning an NBA All-Star selection in 2013. His brother, Robin, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, is also a solid player in his own right.