JaVale McGee - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 14.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 53% FG, 53% FT, 33% 3's

About Him: JaVale McGee has an unbelievable upside. He is a full 7 feet and has a wing span of 7'6". He is an explosive athlete that can run the floor. Although he is fairly slender right now, he has the broad shoulders and the frame where he could bulk up. He has great hands and a soft touch in the paint, with a decent array of hook shots and turnarounds which he finishes with great extension. Defensively, he has great timing and uses his athleticism and length very well blocking shots, especially when coming over from help side. The problem is that he has a very long way to go until he fulfills his potential. He is very weak when it comes to establishing position in the post, and as a result is settles for bad, off-balance shots way too often. He cannot pass out of the post at all, and his assist-to-turnover ratio is a horrendous .25:1. He is lazy defensively, gambles for steals, doesn't finish plays, doesn't hustle, cannot move his feet and gets pushed around on the block. According to Synergy's "PlayType QuickTable's stats", McGee was scored on 66% of the time when the man he was defending got the ball in the post (and that was playing in the WAC, not a conference with overwhelming post players).

Comparisons: Patrick O'Bryant, Andrew Bynum

Bottom Line: McGee is an NBA player, the question is how good will he be. If he works hard at improving his strength and his ball skills, he could become an all-star center. He could also be out of the league after his rookie contract. Continue reading...

Wayne Ellington - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 16.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.7 t/o's, 47% FG, 83% FT, 40% 3's

About Him: Wayne Ellington has emerged as one of the best shooters in all of college basketball - he shot 47% from the field on the year, which is incredible for a guy that takes over five three's per game. He has a very quick release and needs only a split second to get his shot off when he is spotting up. His range extends beyond the NBA three. Elligton also is very good in the mid-range. He has added a pull-up jumper and a step-back jumper, which he can hit with consistency to beyond the college three point line. He also has a knack for being able to create space by making contact with a defender and then hitting a fade-away. Coming off screens he is deadly. He changes speeds well when coming off screens, but he is always moving. He is able to stay low to the floor so it is difficult to tell if he wants to shoot or curl off of a screen. He can hit every jump shot an NBA two needs to make, but that is about all he can do at the NBA level now. His ball-handling needs significant improvement and he has a tough time finishing at the rim. But he does have a quick first step and he makes good decisions with the ball (1.7 t/o's), so there is potential if he keeps working on his game. Defensively, he is not good. He loses focus, is out of position too often, and doesn't fight through screens (on the ball or off the ball). He will need to greatly improve this aspect of his game.

Comparisons: Ray Allen (stretch), Roger Mason

Bottom Line: Ellington needs another year in college to help develop his game, but if he leaves this year and has some really good workouts, he could sneak into the end of the first round. If he stays, next year he could be a top 10 pick if the rest of his game develops. Continue reading...

Tyler Smith - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 13.6 ppg, 6.7 rpb, 3.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 2.2 t/o's, 54% FG, 71% FT, 38% 3's

About Him: Tyler Smith is one of the most versatile players in the country. He can play both the wing and the post offensively and defensively at the college level, although given his height (6'7") and mobility he probably projects as a wing in the NBA. The biggest knock on Smith's game right now is his lack of a jump shot. Although his shooting was greatly improved from his freshman season at Iowa (up to 54% from the field and 38% from deep), his mechanics still look fairly awkward, and he only took wide open jumpers (he took one 3 per game). Smith is a very good rebounder, using his athleticism to attack the glass on the offensive end. He is also effective in transition because he can run the floor and finish. But the most impressive aspect of his game offensively is his passing ability. He has great court vision and awareness and can make any pass. He can pick up assists passing out of the post as well as he can throw no-look passes leading a fast break. Defensively, he is very active and can defend in the post or on the wing. He's not quite as effective in the post because of his size, but he is good at using his quickness to get around and front his man. On the perimeter, he could still use some work on his lateral quickness, but he is pretty good at positional and help side defense (he picks up a good amount of charges) and he uses his long arms to get in the passing lanes.

Comparisons: Josh Howard (stretch), John Salmons

Bottom Line: Smith could have snuck into the back of the first round if he had decided to come out, but most likely was a second round pick. But if he can improve his jump shot enough over the course of his junior season he can sneak into the lottery in the 2009 draft. Continue reading...

Mario Chalmers - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.5 spg, 1.9 t/o's, 52% FG, 75%, 47% 3's

About Him: Mario Chalmers has developed into a very good point guard. He is one of the best shooters in the country - 52% from the field, 47% from behind the arc while taking over four a game. Part of the reason he shoots a such a high percentage is he doesn't take many bad shots. If he does take a bad shot, it is normally a result of him over-penetrating. He is not a great finisher because he is not very explosive and does not have great athleticism, so when he gets in the lane he tends to force shots. He does not have a great mid-range either, and his handle could use a lot of improvement. Defensively he has phenomenal length and timing, which makes him a great defender. He gets in the passing lanes and uses his length to play much bigger than 6'1". He manages to contest just about every shot and pass the guy he is guarding makes. The biggest issue is that Chalmers is not a pure point guard. He is very good at running an offense because is very unselfish (which is good for a player that projects as a back-up), but he is not a great play maker and just doesn't have great point guard instincts. He averages 4.3 apg, but that is more a result of the complex offenses that Kansas runs.

Comparisons: Daniel Gibson, Derek Fisher, Chris Duhon (with a jump shot, minus driving ability)

Bottom Line: Chalmers is probably going to be a career back-up, or at least career role player. But his unselfishness will allow him to slide into that role perfectly. He may not be a great playmaker down the road, but he will always be able to shoot and defend. He's probably a second round pick right now, but in a year he could be a mid first rounder. Continue reading...

Ty Lawson - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.7 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 2.2 t/o's, 52% FG, 84% FT, 36% 3's

About Him: Ty Lawson may be the quickest guy in all of college basketball. There is no one in the country that can stay in front of him in transition. He is a phenomenal ball handler with great body control and the ability to weave through defenders in the open floor. He is quick enough to turn a made basket into a break. UNC's offense was so much more potent with him in the line-up than when he missed a few weeks with the sprained ankle. And he does more than just lead the break and find people (which he is very good at). He can take it coast to coast and finish in the paint with anyone (according to Draft Express, he made 72% of his shots at the rim. That's more than OJ Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Derrick Rose, DJ Augustin, Darren Collinson, or Eric Gordon). He is strong and built like a full back, which helps him clear space, and he is so quick off the bounce that normally gets a good step and a half past his defender and beats the help side rotation. With how good he is in transition, he still struggles in the half court. He has no mid-range game to speak of, and while he can make three's, his release is slow and low, meaning that he rarely has time to get it off. He isn't as good at beating people in the half court as he is when he has a head of steam, but he can still get to the rim. The problem is that in the half court, he has a tendency to hold onto the ball and the offense stagnates (although this could just be a result of UNC focusing on playing in transition). Defensively, he could be very good with the quickness of his hands and feet and his anticipation, but he tends to get lazy, like most of the UNC team. He is strong enough to battle with bigger point guards, but his height is going to be a problem because NBA points will be able to shoot over him.

Comparisons: TJ Ford (but stronger), Jamaal Tinsley (but not crazy), Raymond Felton (minus the J)

Bottom Line: Lawson, more than just about anyone in the draft, needs to land in the right system. If he gets drafted by a team that likes to run, he could slide right in and have a productive career. Look for him to land somewhere near the end of the first and start of the second round. Continue reading...

Jeremy Pargo - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.1 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.4 spg, 3.4 t/o's, 50% FG, 68% FT, 27% 3's

About Him: Jeremy Pargo is a much different player than his brother, Janerro Pargo, who is a two-guard and a lights-out shooter. Jeremy is point guard that loves to attack the rim. He is an exceptional athlete (search Jeremy Pargo on Youtube, you'll see) with great explosiveness and a quick first step. He is 6'2" and a strong 220lb, which allows him to bully his way past smaller defenders. He also has a very good handle with a variety of cross-overs, spins, and hesitations, and utilizes these to get to the rim where he is a very creative finisher. He is also a very good distributor, averaging 6.0 assists this year. But he has a tendency to be over-aggressive when he goes to the basket, forcing shots and causing turn-overs too often - he is not a great decision maker. He does not have much of a left hand when finishing. He also needs to develop his jump shot. He is not very good at shooting off the dribble, and is very inconsistent when shooting from deep (26%), which is strange because he has pretty good form. He can hit four or five threes in a row, but also could shoot 0-12 for the game. Defensively, he is above average. His size and strength both project well, and he has show a desire on the defensive end that you don't see in college guys too often - he fights through screens and gets up in the face of his man. He also anticipates passes pretty well and comes up with some steals on cross court passes.

Comparisons: Antonio Daniels, poor man's Baron Davis

Bottom Line: Pargo is a second round pick (if he even gets drafted) this year, and should probably return for another year to work on his jump shot. If he can consistently knock down perimeter jumpers, he could find himself having a nice NBA career. Continue reading...

Tyler Hansbrough - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 22.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.5 spg, 2.1 t/o's, 54% FG, 81% FT

About Him: Tyler Hansbrough was this year's national player of the year, but he is one of those guys who seems to be cut out for college basketball. He is an unbelievably hard worker, which is the main reason he put up the numbers he did this year. He has some pretty good moves in the post, mainly relying on a half-turn-around half-jump-hook with his right hand (he almost shot puts the ball). This is also the move that gets him to the foul line so much (9.7 attempted per game) because it looks very blockable but he shoots it from such an angle (kind of behind his body) that it is very difficult to get to. He has a knack to being able to hit shots no matter how hard he is fouled or what kind of angle his body is at, but he has a tendency to rely too much on this. A lot of his buckets from a post up come as the result of him just being stronger and working harder than a defender, and this style of play won't work against bigger, stronger, and more athletic defenders in the NBA. His jump shot is also improved, and he probably has range out to the college three-point line. He can face up defenders as well, but has a tendency to just try and muscle his way to the rim. Hansbrough is also a very good offensive rebounder, usually outworking and outmuscling people trying to box him out. He has improved his athleticism this year, and is getting off the floor as well as he ever has, but he is still a so-so athlete. Part of this improved athleticism is that he stream-lined his body, dropping a few pounds, which has allowed him to become quicker as well. He still needs to improve defensively, including things like stopping the pick-and-roll and his close-outs on perimeter players, but it is tough to judge any UNC player defensively because as a team they just didn't seem to care.

Comparisons: David Lee, rich man's Mark Madsen

Bottom Line: Hansbrough is probably never going to be a great NBA player, and by coming back he really is not going to change is draft status all that much. He is probably a first round lock this year, but by coming back he can work his way into the middle of the first round, and maybe even the end of the lottery. Continue reading...

Bill Walker - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 16.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.6 t/o's, 47% FG, 74% FT, 31% 3's

About Him: Despite tearing his ACL twice, Bill Walker still has NBA athleticism. He is able to hang in the air, absorb contact, and finish strong at the rim. He has great strength and size (6'6", 230lb), which allows him to score on the block, but he also has the explosiveness to blow past a defender on the perimeter. He has all the athletic tools to be a good slasher in the NBA, but what is really holding him back right now is his lack of ball handling and shooting skills. He keeps his turn-overs down, but he still needs to work on keeping his dribble closer to him and controlling the ball better. He is also very inconsistent with his jump shot. He has really improved his mid-range and pull-up game over the course of the season, which was pretty much not existent early in the season. He is a streaky three point shooter that can knock down a few in a row, but is not consistent enough, only shooting 31% from deep on the season. Defensively, Walker is a very intense player. He doesn't pick up a lot of steals or blocks (he doesn't have great anticipation) but when guarding a player 1-on-1 he is a menace. He is a ball hawk when his man is in possession of the ball, and forces quite a few turn-overs as a result. He probably needs to lose some of his mass and improve his lateral quickness if he is going to be a good defender in the NBA.

Comparisons: Gerald Wallace, Fred Jones

Bottom Line: Walker has NBA size and athleticism, but needs to greatly improve his ball-handling and shooting if he wants to be a good NBA player. He is probably a second round pick this year, but could vault himself into the first round if he comes back, especially without Michael Beasley there next year. Continue reading...

Sam Young - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 2.4 t/o's, 51% FG, 69% FT, 38% 3's

About Him: Along with Russell Westbrook from UCLA, Sam Young may have been the most improved player in college basketball this season. Young has always had incredible physical tools. He is 6'6" and very strong despite only being listed at 215lb. He has a huge wingspan and his athleticism, explosiveness, and quickness are as good as anyone his size, and he can run the floor very well. As a sophomore, he was mainly a power forward, getting most of his touches at the high post or a little out side the block, and using his quickness to get past the bigger defenders. He still did the same thing as a junior, but this year added a very effective perimeter jump shot, extending out to the college three point line. He doesn't force this shot too much (just over three 3's attempted per game), instead waiting for when he is open and has his feet set. He is, however, a pretty consistent catch-and-shoot guy out to about 15-17 feet, and has an excellent, if exaggerated, pump fake that just about everyone bites on despite knowing its coming (he extends his fake like he is leaving his feet, but keeps the toe of his pivot foot down). His ball-handling is still a little bit shaky, but his first step allows him to make up for this. He doesn't change directions well, but has added a nice little floater when he can't get to the rim. When he does get to the rim, he is an excellent finisher because of his length and athleticism, and the fact that he loves contact. He is also a good rebounder as a result of this (his rebound numbers a fairly low, but that's more a result of DeJuan Blair and the pace Pitt played at). Defensively is where he will make his mark in the NBA. He has great length, lateral quickness, and toughness, and is very tough to get by on the perimeter, even for wings (often times if an opponent's best wing player was bigger, Young would move to the three and defend him). He still has a bit of trouble with defensive positioning (i.e. helpside, fighting through screens) but he can develop that.

Comparisons: Trenton Hassell, James Posey, Bruce Bowen

Bottom Line: Young will be able to hang around the NBA for a long time if he accepts a role as a glue guy offensively, setting screens, getting boards, and knocking down open jumpers, and a stopper defensively. Being that he is now 23, it probably was not in his best interest to return to school, seeing as his draft stock could not be much higher than it is now and NBA scouts already know what kind of player he will be. Continue reading...

DJ White - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 17.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 61% FG, 69% FT

About Him: DJ White has battled through numerous injuries in his college basketball career which have taken a toll on his athleticism, but he has managed to establish a nice role for himself. The best part about White's game right now is his back-to-the-basket ability, where he has developed a pretty good set of moves. His go-to move his is turnaround jump shot that he can hit out to about 10 feet pretty consistently, as well has a decent jump hook. Both of these moves lose some of their effectiveness against taller or bigger defenders. He is also strong enough to bull his way to the rim against smaller defenders, using a drop-step among other moves. His mid-range jump shot is better than it has been, he can knock it down to about 12 feet when open, but it is still not the most consistent part of his game. He is not much of a passer and his handle can use some improvement, but he moves without the ball very well. He has a knack for being able to slide to the rim (especially on pick-and-rolls) and can finish when he gets to the rim, usually with a thunderous dunk. He does a lot of damage on the offensive boards as well, mainly because he uses his big body to carve out space. Defensively, he has long arms and is a decent shot-blocker. He can get pushed around on the block (probably because of legs injuries that have kept him from improving strength), but is solid in help side and is a smart defender. He is good against the pick-and-roll, hedging aggressively, and looks good in a defensive stance, although he rarely gets tested because he played center at Indiana.

Comparisons: Kurt Thomas, Ronny Turiaf

Bottom Line: White's career at Indiana was really slowed down by injuries, but he still projects to be a decent NBA power forward. Though his athleticism is not what it used to be, he has developed enough of a back-to-the-basket game to be effective. He's probably a late-first round to second round pick. Continue reading...

Blake Griffin - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 14.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.3 t/o's, 57% FG, 59% FT

About Him: Blake Griffin is an outstanding athlete with all the physical tools needed to be a very good post in the NBA. He is 6'10", and a strong 240lb, which is impressive for someone who is just 19 years old. He has big hands, great length and outstanding athleticism, and a terrific motor on the offensive end. He is able to score in a variety of ways with his back to the basket, using a series of jump hooks, turn arounds, and drop step moves. His foot work is pretty polished for someone his age, and he can score using finesse or power moves equally well. He has a little Antawn Jamison in him, scoring from awkward positions under the basket with a variety of scoop shots. His face up game is less polished. His handle is not very good yet, although once in a while he will pull out a behind the back or between the legs move. His jump shot could also use a little work. His form isn't terrible, he just is inconsistent outside of about 10-12 feet, and he shoots only 59% from the free throw line. On the boards he is an animal, using his long arms and aggressiveness to go for everything within his reach. Defensively, he is inconsistent. He does not give the same effort he does on the offensive end or on the glass, letting opposing players establish position too easily and giving up space on the catch. He also is not as good of a shot blocker as you would expect from someone with his size, length and athleticism.

Comparisons: Carlos Boozer, shorter Amare Stoudamire

Bottom Line: Griffin probably would have been a lottery pick if he came out this year, but by returning, he has almost guaranteed himself a spot in the top 5 in the 2009 draft. Continue reading...

Jason Thompson - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 20.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.7 bpg, 1.1 spg, 56% FG, 58% FT, 32% 3's

About Him: Jason Thompson put up fantastic numbers this season, and although he did play for Rider (in the low-major MAAC) he still put 24 and 17 on Michael Beasley and 24 and 15 on JJ Hickson in early season play. Offensively, Thompson's game is pretty well-rounded. He has a nice back-to-the-basket game and uses an effective turn-around jumper and jump-hook, but he is much better going to his right than to his left. He was inconsistent finishing at the rim this year, and often times attempts moves that are beyond his skill set, which result in him either looking like a lottery pick or an undrafted free agent. He also has a decent perimeter game. His jump-shot does not have to prettiest form, but he is able to knock it down pretty consistently out to the college three. He also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. There are two knocks on Thompson's game right now. The first is that he does not always play hard, especially defensively. He is a capable defender on the block and has shown excellent shot-blocking ability despite now being a tremendous athlete, but he tends to get pushed around, does not hold his position well, and also struggles defending on the perimeter. The other problem with Thompson's game is that he has developed a tendency to try and bully his way through a defender going to the rim, something that probably developed playing against smaller defenders at Rider. He won't be able to do that at the NBA level, and will need to develop a Pau-Gasol-esque finesse game around the rim.

Comparisons: Juwan Howard, Pau Gasol (stretch)

Bottom Line: Thompson definitely has the build and the skill set to hang around the league for a while. Depending on how he develops, he could eventually be a starter one day, and if he can add some more muscle he may be able to slide over and play some center. He looks like he's headed for the end of the first round. Continue reading...

DeVon Hardin - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 9.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 55% FG, 64% FT.

About Him: Hardin was considered a borderline first round pick last season (reportedly he had a guarantee from Detroit that they would take him in the first round) even after breaking his foot 12 games in, but this year looked even more imposing. He added 15 more pounds of muscle to bulk up to a rock solid 6'11", 250lbs. His athleticism and long arms are still there, and he is a much improved finisher around the rim (notorious for his thunderous dunks). He has developed a nice jump hook and turn around jumper, but he is still very mechanical when he catches the ball in the post. His best asset is his rebounding ability, given that he projects as a reserve/role player in the NBA. He averaged 12.7 rpg/40 this year, which was top 20 in the country. He is also a very good offensive rebounder, showing great timing and a tenacity for the ball that wasn't there in previous year's. He is a big body and a great athlete, and could provide front-court depth for any team in the league.

Comparisons: Hilton Armstrong, Nene

Bottom Line: Hardin has great size and athleticism, but the knock on him has always been that he's never been able to put it all together. At the very least, he should provide some energy and rebounding off the bench for someone, and could even sneak into the first round. Continue reading...

Stephen Curry - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 25.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 2.6 t/o's, 48% FG, 89% FT, 44% 3's

About Him: By now anyone that watches college basketball knows who Stephen Curry is thanks to his NCAA tourney performance where he carried Davidson to the Elite 8. Offensively, Curry has it all there. He is an unbelievable shooter, especially from three point land. He has a very quick release and needs almost not time and space to get his shot off. He has range out to about 26 feet, and can shoot it in any way possible - off the dribble right or left, off a screen, off a step back, off a curl, etc. Although he relies heavily on his three (mainly because it is so good, he shot 44% while taking more than 10 per game), Curry can also do other things with the ball. Although he is not overly quick, he is very smart and crafty, which allows him to use fakes and hesitations to get by defenders. He is not a outstanding finisher at the rim, but again very smart, instead using floaters, short pull-ups, or going reverse (using the rim to protect the shot) to avoid shot blockers. His handle is great and he is an much more efficient passer than his number indicate, mainly because he was playing with a great point guard in Jason Richards. He has proven that he can make the right pass off of a pick and roll, and is good for one or two great passes a game. Defensively, he is still small, and will struggle to guard two's in the NBA (although it is pretty obvious he is still growing into his body, and may get a couple more inches still). He does have quick hands and great anticipation which allows him to get steals, and he also is very good at moving his feet and keeping his man in front of him.

Comparisons: Jannero Pargo, Jason Terry (stretch)

Bottom Line: Although his draft stock and hype may never be higher than it is right now, Curry made the correct decision to come back. He needs to grow into his body, and he will also have a chance to prove his point guard skills with Richards graduating. If he gets a couple more inches as well, he could end up being a Kevin Martin/Ray Allen type prospect. Continue reading...

Earl Clark - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 11.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.0spg, 1.7 bpg, 2.3 t/o's, 48% FG, 65% FT, 23% 3's

About Him: Earl Clark is another one of those combo forwards that can play the three and the four that every NBA team is looking for right now. Clark is still pretty raw offensively. His ball-handling skills are pretty good for a 6'9" player when he is going straight ahead, but he still struggles when he is forced to change directions with the bounce. His footwork in the paint is not yet where it needs to be (part of the reason he turns the ball over as much as he does is he is good for a travelling call a game) but he already has great instincts down low and a nice touch, which is a good sign for him developing. Clark has phenomenal physical tools. His arms stretch forever, he is very explosive, he can run the floor like someone six inches shorter, and his is very quick and mobile. His is probably going to be a very good defender in the NBA because he can get out and cover a wing or a guard, especially on a pick and roll, and his reach will cause havoc. His athleticism allows him to be a great finisher at the rim. Unlike many of the other combo forward prospects, Clark is strong. He is not NBA strong yet, but he has broad shoulders and the kind of frame that can hold a lot of muscle. He is a very good rebounder on both ends, and has the potential to be a great shot blocker for his size, although his timing and anticipation is not great.

Comparisons: Danny Granger, Tim Thomas

Bottom Line: Clark probably made the right decision. He was going to be a mid-to-late first round pick this year, but by returning and improving his jump shot and handle, he could shoot up to the lottery, and will probably be projected as high as top 5. Continue reading...

Shan Foster - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 20.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.7 t/o's, 52% FG, 76% FT, 47% 3's

About Him: Shan Foster may have been the best shooter in the country this season this side of Stephen Curry, although he does have an unorthodox release (think Michael Redd with a dash of Larry Bird). He has great length (6'6" with long arms) and elevates fairly high which gives him an extremely high release point, and can get it off very quickly with almost no space. He is excellent at coming off of screens, and has shown range well beyond the NBA three point line. He has shown the ability to hit tough, off-balance shots, and when he gets going he can hit eight or nine in a row (and that's not an exaggeration). Clearly, his jump shot is the best part of his game, but he has made great strides in other aspects as well. His ball-handling, while still not great, is much improved over last season. He turned the ball over less than two times per game this season, although that may be the result of the high number of shots he takes. When defenders run out at him on the initial catch, he is very good at throwing a pump fake, and taking a dribble in either direction and hitting a mid-range pull-up. He also can hit a floater going to his right out to about 8-10 feet. Although he does not have much of a first-step, he is a heady player and uses fakes to get my defenders. Defensively, he can use his length and size to make up for a lack of lateral quickness. He works hard and puts in effort, but his slight frame at times means he gets pushed around and stuggles to get through screens.

Comparisons: Jason Kapono, Kyle Korver

Bottom Line: Foster had a much better senior year than either Korver or Kapono, and has comparative size to both of them. He should be able slide into that same role with whoever picks him. Right now, he looks like a second rounder, but with good workouts he may be able to sneak into the end of the first. Continue reading...

Why College Basketball is the best sport

Last night the University of Pittsburgh knocked of Duke University 65-64 in OT. Now, I was only able to watch the last 10 minutes of regulation and overtime, but there is really only one word I can use to describe that game: exhausting. And I wasn't playing in it. I wasn't at the game live. I have no affiliation with either team. Hell, I really didn't care who won - I hate Pitt (one of my UConn Huskies' biggest rivals) but I also despise Duke (who doesn't). If there was any possible way for it to occur, I was rooting for both teams to lose.

The game, however, really was incredible (watch the highlights if you missed it). It was played at Madison Square Garden (a neutral site arena which is not every close to either campus), but it was sold out with a very bi-partisan crowd - there were just as many Duke fans there as Pitt fans. Both teams fought so hard to win, in a game that really did not mean too much. Yes, a win over a top 10 team looks good come tournament time, but it is only December. Both of these teams are going to get a top 3-seed in the NCAA tourney regardless of the outcome of last nights game, and whether or not they get a 1-seed will really depend on whether they win their conference and/or conference tournament. There is no long standing rivalry (like, for example, Wisconsin and Marquette who have a bitter a rivalry as there is and play every year, but are in different conferences) between these two teams - in fact this was their first match-up in 28 years. But the kids on either side played their hearts out.

The last two minutes of regulation had as much excitement, great plays, and clutch shots as any non-tournament game I've watched in a long time. Pitt battled all the way back from a 34-22 halftime deficit to take a a 54-51 lead on two Levance Fields free throws. The following five possessions went like this: Gerald Henderson of Duke drives around three Pitt players and finishes with a dunk; Sam Young finishes a tough drive by muscling a little 5 foot jumper up off the glass; Henderson gets into the paint and finds freshman Kyle Singler who burries a three to tie the game; Young knocks down a 15-footer from the corner off a ridiculously quick release for a big man with a hand in his face; Henderson burries a turnaround jumper from the corner (almost behind the backboard) to send it to OT. Overtime was more of the same - Duke goes up two, thanks in part to Demarcus Nelson's incredible up-and-under-and-1-reverse-lay-up, only to lose on a step back three from Fields where he shook a very good defender in Dave McClure with a beautiful cross-over. What a game.

Now tell me another sport where both teams will play this hard in a game not even midway through the season, especially with two of the best teams in that league playing. Certainly not the NBA. There were three games this week that pitted top five teams against each other - Suns vs. Spurs, Suns vs. Mavs, Celtics vs. Pistons. None of these games came close to the intensity of the Duke-Pitt game, with the exception of maybe the Mavs game. But Dallas has one of the best crowds in the NBA, and the whole Nash-Dirk-BFF thing has turned this game into a rivalry - two factors that were not prevalent in the game last night. In baseball, the fans take a regular season game much more seriously than the players - especially when New York plays Boston. But again - home fields and rivalries are what makes these games intense. I'll give you football, both college and NFL. But there is a difference since one loss can blow an entire season since there are so few games. The game last night will nor really factor into the success either of these two teams have in the post-season.

One more thing that I loved about this game. When Mike Cook went down last night, writhing in pain as a result of what looks like a season ending knee injury, Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon sent his team to talk with his assistant, while he knelt by Cook, holding his hand until the training staff could get him off the court. The coach looked close to tears after the game talking about Cook's injury. How often do you see a coach that is as close to his players as that? Continue reading...

More on State of Sports: Seats for Soldiers

In case your not familiar with this blog, about a month ago I wrote about how depressing news in the sports world was. Since then, I have made an effort to post about the great stories I hear or read about in the world of sports. Here is another.

I was watching the Suns-Mavericks game on Wednesday night when the announcers started talking about the Mavericks Seats for Soldiers night, where people that own courtside season tickets give their seats to soldiers that were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a great piece in the New York Times about it. Continue reading...

Basketball in Kentucky

The state of Kentucky is as much of a hot bed for basketball as anywhere in the country. Fans of the college game, be it of the Cardinal or Big Blue, are as die hard as any in the country. The University of Kentucky has as storied a basketball program as there is, and deals with more pressure to perform than any team, save maybe the New York Yankees. The University of Louisville is in the midst of a reemergence as a national power under the tutelage of former Wildcat coach Rick Pitino. But right now, Western Kentucky of the powerhouse Sun Belt conference looks to be the best team in the state. What is going on in the Bluegrass State?

Let's start with Louisville. The Cardinal returned all of there major contributors from last years Big East runner-up (12-4, 24-10), and were a trendy pick for the Final Four this year. So why have they gone 6-3 so far this year, with losses to Dayton, BYU, and Purdue? Long story short, there front line has been decimated by injuries and players missing time. Projected starters - Juan Palacios (torn knee cartiledge) and David Padgett (broken knee cap) - have both been out, and will still miss, significant amounts of time as a result of injuries. Derrick Caracter missed time as a result of continuing disciplinary problems. Reportedly, Pitino wanted to suspend Caracter (who wins the prize for most ironic last name) for Louisville's game against Dayton for violating team rules, but the team convinced their coach to let him play as long as he signed a contract, which included a curfew. He broke curfew the night he signed the contract, and was suspended for the Purdue game. Freshman George Goode (eligibility issues) and Clarence Holloway (open heart surgery) are also out for the season. Louisville has been left with senior Terrence Farley (who had a career highs of 3 points and 3 rebounds coming into the season), junior Terrence Williams, sophomore Earl Clark (both of whom are wings players/slashers more than big men), and Caracter to man the paint. Without Caracter on the floor, Louisville has no post presence. Against Purdue they were unable to get any penetration (because the Boilermakers were able to extend their defense out with the lack of an inside presence), which is what they survive on with playmakers like Williams, Clark, and Edgar Sosa. If Palacios and/or Padgett can return and provide a legitimate post threat, Louisville can contend for a Big East championship and a Final Four run. If not, if will be a long year at Freedom Hall.

Kentucky is in a much worse situation. They are starting with much less talent than Louisville, are trying to learn new coach Billy Gillespie's system, and also dealing with injuries. Sophomores Derrick Jasper (microfracture surgery on his left knee, most likely out for the year) and Jodie Meeks (stress fracture, finally returned Monday night vs. Houston) were both expected to be big time contributors. Don't get me wrong, the 'Cats have some very good ball players on their team. Joe Crawford, although he has not lived up to the expectations he had coming out of high school, is a very good scorer, Ramel Bradley is a better than average point guard, and Patrick Patterson is a beast inside. But Kentucky's role players are not very good. For example, Mark Coury, a 6'8" sophomore whose has started every game this year, is averaging only 3ppg and 3rpg, while reaching the foul just twice this season. No team can win in the SEC getting that little of production from someone in their starting frontcourt. Now, I personally think the biggest reason for the early season struggles of Kentucky is due to the coaching change. Let me explain. A star is going to be a star in any system. If a player is as good as Crawford or Patterson, they can be an above average player no matter who the coach is. So a coaching change (I know Patterson is a freshman, but he was most likely recruited by Tubby Smith) is not going to affect these guys as much. But depending on the style of play of a certain coach, they will look for different qualities in their role players. Billy Gillespie (if you look at his Texas A&M team from last season), puts together good defensive teams that win games by out toughing teams. Again I'm picking on Mark Coury, but can you really see a finesse guy like him beating up big men in the SEC like Joseph Jones or Antana Kavaliauskas did for the Aggies last year in the Big 12? I don't think so. Give Kentucky two years, let Gillespie get his recruits and his team into Lexington, and the Wildcats are right back in top 10 territory every year. Continue reading...

Top 25 12/17

CO-PLAYERs OF THE WEEK: Robert Vaden, UAB
In the past week, Vaden averaged a stellar 25 ppg, shooting 46% from deep (12-26), in a 1-1 week for the Blazers. But it was his performance in the second half of Saturday's game against Kentucky ("neutral" court game, but at Freedom Hall in Louisville with 14,000 Wildcats fans in attendance) that earned him POY honors. Vaden scored 33 overall, with 28 points coming in the second half (his previous career high was 26). At 6'5", Kentucky had noone one quick enough to stay with Vaden, a transfer from Indiana, and big enough to prevent him from shooting over them. Vaden carried UAB in the second, helping them scrap back from double digit deficits multiple times, the last being 14 down with about 8:00 left.

DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Pitt faced their first real competition in going undefeated against Duquense, Washington, and Oklahoma State, and Blair was a huge part of that. He was one rebound shy (vs. Duquense) of recording three straight double-doubles, and averaged 16ppg, 11rpg, 3bpg, and shot 59% from the floor. Blair has been good all year, averaging 12ppg (2nd on team) and 9rpg (leads team) despite playing just 22 minutes per contest.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Arizona State
Only played one fame this week, but got a much needed signature win in blowing out a very good Xavier team 77-55. Led by freshmen Ty Abbott (19 pts, 6 boards) and James Hardin (16 pts), Arizona State really needed this one for their tournament resume after going 1-2 against their major conference opponents (W vs. LSU, L's vs. Nebraska, Illinois). I've had a chance to see the Sun Devils play three times this year, and I think that they can make some noise in a loaded Pac-10, especially with a favorable early schedule (5 of first 7 Pac-10 games at home).

Top 25 (no team comments this week, no real big matchups until this weekend):
t1. Memphis: (8-0)
t1. North Carolina: (9-0)
3. Kansas: (10-0)
4. Texas: (10-0)
5. UCLA: (8-1)
6. Georgetown: (8-0)
7. Washington State: (9-0)
8. Duke: (8-0)
9. Michigan State: (9-1)
10. Pittsburgh: (10-0)
11. Texas A&M: (9-1)
12. Marquette: (7-1)
13. Indiana: (9-1)
14. Tennessee: (9-1)
15. Clemson: (8-0)
16. Gonzaga: (8-2)
17. Vanderbilt: (10-0)
18. Butler: (9-1)
19. Villanova: (8-1)
20. Xavier: (8-2)
21. Miami: (9-0)
22. Oregon: (8-2)
23. Rhode Island: (10-1)
24. BYU: (9-2)
25. West Virginia: (8-1)


A couple of thoughts:

The Atlantic 10 has returned to prominence. Rhode Island (10-1), Dayton (8-1), Xavier (8-2), and UMass (8-2) all will garner top 25 and at-large bid consideration this season. Combined the four teams are 8-2 against the major conferences, including 7-0 against the Bigeast, with wins over Indiana, two over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome and Louisville. More on this conference in a column in a few days.

The injury bug has struck a few teams in the past week:
-Tennessee has lost forward Duke Crews indefinently after it was discovered he has a heart condition. Crews, Tennessee's starting power forward, was averaging 7ppg and 5rpg. Big hit to Tennessee's interior defense, as they weren't terribly deep there to begin with.
-Syracuse's Eric Devendorf blew out the acl in his left knee, ending his junior season. Devendorf was one of the leaders of a young and talented 'Cuse team, but the Devendorf and fellow junior Andy Rautins' knee injuries leave the Orange with minimal depth in the backcourt.
-Tyler Hanborough got a concussion against Rutgers taking a charge.

And some teams are getting players back:
-Stanford's Brook Lopez has been cleared to play after being academically ineligible for the first semester.
-Kentucky's Jodie Meeks could return from a stress fracture in his foot as early as this week.

Games to see this week:
12/19 - Bradley @ Butler: Good Bradley team really needs a signature win, whereas, after losing to Wright State, Butler is trying to prove they belong with the big boys.
12/20 - Duke @ Pitt: Pitt gets a big test for the first time against a very good Duke team. Interesting matchup as both teams are playing different styles than past seasons.
12/22 - San Diego State @ Arizona - Similar to the Butler game - SDSU needs a big win, and 'Zona is trying to shed the image of chronic underachievers.
12/22 - Tennessee @ Xavier - Overrated Tennessee squad heads to Cincinnati to take on the underrated Musketeers in a true road game.
12/22 - Texas @ Michigan State - Both teams are in the running for a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tourney, and a win in this game would go a long way towards that goal.
12/22 - Mississippi @ Clemson - Two undefeated teams looking to establish some credibility to that record.
Game of the Week: 12/22 - Georgetown @ Memphis - Two top five teams meet for the first time this season. Great clash in styles with Georgetown's slow paced, Princeton offense matching up against the full-court, fast break game that Memphis plays. Continue reading...