Roy Hibbert - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.2 bpg, 1.7 t/o's, 61% FG, 65% FT

About Him: Roy Hibbert has turned himself from a 7'2" stiff to a potential lottery pick in his four years at Georgetown. His offensive repertoire has expanded dramatically. He now has an array of moves he can go to in the post. His bread and butter is his hook shot, which he is automatic with going righty, and very consistent going lefty. He can also hit this shot in a variety of ways - off a drop step, as a sky hook going across the lane, off of a spin move. He is pretty good at establishing position on the block, and when he does uses his bulk to hold the seal well. The rest of his offensive game is solid as well. He has range on his shot to the college three point line (where he was 3-3 this year), he is an excellent passer, and doesn't turn the ball over. His rebounding numbers are low, although the pace at which Georgetown plays at and the fact Hibbert only played 26 mpg factor in here, he still is not very aggressive on the boards and does not dominate them as he should. Defensively, he is very good at playing a big man 1-on-1 in the post. He is strong and has long arms, so he doesn't get pushed around much and can block or change the shot. He can take some charges and is decent at rotating over to block shots, but some of that was hidden in Georgetown's defensive style. The biggest question marks are Hibbert's athleticism (or lack there of) and his conditioning. Although he has toned his body up, he still never played more than 26 mpg at Georgetown, and that was even at a snails pace offensively. He also is not explosive in the paint, rarely dunking the basketball, and is still too slow laterally to get out and defend a pick-and-roll or a more mobile big man.

Comparisons: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (stretch), Joel Pryzbilla

Bottom Line: Hibbert is too slow, too unathletic and too passive to turn into the great NBA player that scouts are going to want him to be. He is a very hard worker, however, and is still young for his age (he turned 21 during his senior year), and given that he improved this much in the last four years, he may not be done developing his game. Someone will probably take a chance on him at the end of the lottery, but he probably isn't much better than a late-first rounder. Continue reading...

Josh Shipp - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 43% FG, 77% FT, 32% 3's

About Him: Josh Shipp is a very good role player for a college system. When he has his feet set, he can knock down open three's, but he struggles when he has to shoot on the move - he has a tendency to lose his balance when he comes off of screens or shoots off the dribble. He still shoots a lot of three's though - more than five a game and 55% of all of his shots - and does not shoot a high percentage - 32%. He has a pretty solid handle on the perimeter and can play a little bit of point. He also has a good dribble drive game, getting to the rack pretty easily. He is a decent finisher, but struggles when he is forced to use his left hand. He has a knack for being able to sneak out in transition, getting a lot of easy buckets off of long outlet passes from Kevin Love. His size (6'5", 220lb) and athleticism are good for a college wing man, but he may be too big and too slow for the NBA. On defense, he is pretty good fundamentally after playing in Ben Howland's system, but he struggles when he is forced to keep someone in front of him 1-on-1 because he is not very quick laterally. He does have good hands and good timing, which allows him to pick off some passes, and he size helps him in that he can guard bigger players.

Comparisons: smaller Rick Fox, Bonzi Wells

Bottom Line: Shipp needs to improve a lot of his game. Right now, he is probably close to going undrafted, but given his size and all around game, if he can develop a more consistent jump shot (especially on the move) and get quicker, he can be a good NBA role player. Continue reading...

Hasheem Thabeet - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.5 bpg, 60% FG, 70% FT

About Him: Hasheem Thabeet, in only his sixth year of organized basketball, made huge strides between his freshman and sophomore seasons. The biggest difference was confidence and emotion. Even at 7'3", as a freshman Thabeet layed the ball in way too much and was nowhere near aggressive enough at the rim. This year was a much different story as he dunked just about everything he caught within three feet of the hoop, and actually looked like he was having fun playing basketball (yelling and screaming after dunks or blocks, playing to the crowd). The problem is that he has terrible hands, but they are getting better. He still has trouble because he doesn't expect some of the passes he gets from guys like AJ Price and Doug Wiggins, but that may just be a result of him being a late-bloomer. He has great tools and potential (7'3", 260lb, long arms, pretty good athleticism and explosiveness), but skills-wise he is still very raw. He back to the basket game is pretty much non-existant, although he did show a nice little baby hook that he used with either hand towards the end of the season. He is not a good passer at all, and at times has trouble just swinging the ball on the perimeter. He shot has improved, and he has the green light to shoot out to about 10 feet, and hit just under 70% of his free throws this year, up 20% from his freshman campaign. Defensively, he is a great shot blocker. Length aside, he has great timing and feel for getting blocks. He reads penetrators well and blocks shots coming from help-side, but also blocks the shot of the guy he is guarding in the post very often. The key is that he almost never bites on a pump fake, staying on his feet until the last possible moment. He also goes for blocks with his left hand, which means he received some coaching early on in that area. He has problems defending the pick-and-roll because he is not quite mobile enough yet, but improved a great deal through out the season (although where he ended up is still not great - he was horrific early on).

Comparisons: Dikembe Mutumbo, Samuel Dalembert

Bottom Line: Thabeet is probably making a good decision, assuming he continues working out as hard as he has been the past two years. If he continues to improve, he will be a top 10 pick in 2009, and depending on how much he improves, he could go as high as top 3. If he left, he probably could have snuck into the late lottery if he had some good workouts, but likely would have been a mid-to-late first rounder. Continue reading...

Joe Alexander - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 16.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.5 bpg, 46% FG, 81% FT, 27% 3's

About Him: Junior Joe Alexander is very raw. He is a solid 6'8", 230, has long arms, is a great athlete, and has a ton of potential, but he is still a bit of a project. Alexander had the most success towards the end of the season and into the post-season when Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins started playing him on the block. There, he could post up smaller players, using his height and athleticism to shoot over them. If a bigger player was switched onto him, he would bring the defender out 15-17 feet from the basket and use his perimeter skills to go by him. He is a much improved shooter, very consistent out to about 17 feet, and he has always been a great finisher. He is probably a three at the NBA level.

Comparisons: Linas Kleiza, Lamar Odom (stretch).

Bottom Line: He relies too much on mismatches to score. He probably will get picked in the end of the first round, especially with his stock being high thanks to a late season surge, but he could probably use another yea to solidify being a 1st round pick. Continue reading...

Danny Green - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg, 47% FG, 87% FT, 37% 3's

About Him: Danny Green is one of those players that does everything well. Offensively, the strongest part of his game is his perimeter shot, which is a huge improvement over last year for him. He shot 37% from deep, taking more than 3.5 per game. He has a bit of an awkward looking release, he kind of pushes it from his chest, but its a consistent and quick release, which is just as important as form. He is not quite as good at shooting off the dribble, but he is still effective. He is not just a one-dimensional player either - he uses a pump fake very well to get defenders in the air, and usually takes a quick pull-up and a floater, which he is pretty good at making. He is not an overly athletic or explosive player, but plays within that offensively. He scored 11.5 ppg in just over 22 mpg, so he is a pretty solid offensive player all around. But that is not what is going to get him into the NBA. He is a great defender. At 6'6", 215lb, he has great size for an NBA wing and a frame (broad shoulders, long arms) that is ideal. He really likes to get up into the man he is guarding, and forces a lot of turnovers that way. He does not have great lateral quickness, but is extremely fundamentally sound. He always seems to be in good position, and takes great angles when he goes for a steal or a block. He is a very tough guy with a nose for contact and is willing to give up his body - whether that means taking a charge, diving for a loose ball, etc.

Comparisons: Bruce Bowen, Trenton Hassell

Bottom Line: Green is not talented or athletically gifted enough to be a star at the next level, but teams are always looking for a glue guy - someone who will lock his man down, won't turn the ball over, and brings unselfishness to the table. He might sneak into the first round if he wows at the draft camp and workouts, but is likely a second round pick this year. Still, look for him to have a nice NBA career, whenever it starts. Continue reading...

Marreese Speights - NBA Draft Preview

Numbers: 14.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 24 mpg, 62% FG, 69% FT

About Him: Marreese Speights is a late developing prospect. He was not highly recruited coming out of high school, and spent last year playing behind top 10 picks Al Horford and Joakim Noah. But in the limited minutes Speights had last season, he really impressed and built on that this year. Speights has some impressive physical tools. He is 6'10", 240lb, but very mobile and light on his feet - he gets off his feet quickly and can get up and down the floor pretty well. His strength allows him to seal defenders under the basket, where he tries to dunk hard when he gets it that close. He also has a very nice touch around the rim. He can use a jump hook with either hand and has a nice little turn around jumper that he uses when he spins off defenders. His jump shot looks to be developing nicely - he shot 69% from the foul line and Billy Donovan allowed him to shoot out to about 15 feet. His long arms and great timing allow him to be a very good rebounder and defender. Fundamentally, however, Speights has a way to go. He still doesn't react to defenders in the post - he has a tendency to make his move regardless of where the defender is, almost as if he decides on the move he is going to make before he gets the ball. That will develop with playing time however (as I said, Speights was a late-bloomer). He also needs to develop his handle, which will allow him to use his superior quickness and athleticism against bigger, slower defenders. The biggest knock on Speights right now is that he doesn't always give 100% effort. He sometimes seems to just cruise up and down the court, not hustling for rebounds, playing lazy defense, and not establishing position in the post. If he had the motor of Joakim Noah, he would probably be a top 10 pick.

Comparisons: Al Jefferson (stretch), Brandon Bass

Bottom Line: If Speights continues to develop his offensive game, he could be a reliable low-post presence in the NBA, but he will need to greatly improve on defense in order to become a starter or someone that plays a lot of minutes. Most people have in projected at the end of the lottery to the low 20's. Continue reading...

Courtney Lee - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 20.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 2.3 t/o's, 48% FG, 82% FT, 40% 3's

About Him: Courtney Lee played at Pike High School in Indianapolis with the likes of Chris Thomas (Notre Dame), Justin Cage (Missouri, now NFL), and Robert Vaden (Indiana, UAB), but poor grades scared off the big time schools, and Lee wound up at Western Kentucky where he shined for four years. The strongest part of Lee's game is his jumpshot. He is an excellent shooter from deep, making them at a 40% clip this season with range out to the NBA line, but is even better at hitting his jumper off the dribble. He is a good ball handler for his size as well, which allowed him to run the point for the Hilltoppers his sophomore year. He doesn't have the flashy cross over moves, but does not turn the ball over much and has a really tight handle, especially when attacking the basket. He likes driving left even though he is right handed, but can go either direction well. He is not incredibly explosive, but is pretty good at finishing at the rim and absorbing contact, mainly because his frame is NBA ready (6'6", 210lb). He also has developed a floater that he can hit consistently to about 12 feet, and gets it off very quickly. Defensively, WKU played a lot of zone this year, but Lee has all the tools necessary to be a good defender at the next level. He has good lateral quickness and he is strong, but the general consensus is that he will be a good defender because he has good court sense defensively. He also has a knack for getting into the passing lanes (averaging at least 1.5 steals per game).

Comparisons: Keith Bogans, Kevin Martin (stretch)

Bottom Line: One of the things that makes Lee so attractive to scouts is his unselfishness. He is the kind of player that will slide right into a role an accept his spot as a third or fourth option. If he stays aggressive (which has been a problem for him in the past) he can be more. Probably a late first round pick. Continue reading...

Ryan Anderson - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 21.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 49% FG, 87% FT, 41% 3's, 1.9 3pg

About Him: Just a sophomore, Ryan Anderson emerged as one of the premier offensive players in the country. On the perimeter, he is deadly - he shot 41% from three this year. He has a high release and NBA range, but he tends to fall in love with his jumper - he shot almost five three's per game. He is deceptively quick on the perimeter, and has enough ball handling ability that he can go by bigger defenders. On the block it is a different story. He has a pretty strong base which allows him to establish position, but he doesn't seem comfortable playing with his back to the basket, which can result in poor decision making. His biggest question mark is his defense. He is big/strong enough and smart enough to hold his own on the block against an NBA power forward, but he does not have very quick feet and will struggle to defend quicker players, especially on the perimeter.

Comparisons: Austin Croshere, Mehmut Okur (stretch)

Bottom Line: He really only has one NBA-ready skill - his jump shot - and as most teams are not looking for three-point shooting out of their fours, he is not a lock for a 1st round pick. Probably smart for him to come back for another year. Continue reading...

Darrell Arthur - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 54.3% FG, 70.2% FT

About Him: Darrell Arthur did not put up overly impressive numbers during his sophomore year. The knock on Arthur his entire career has been his inconsistency - some nights he just doesn't show up. Look at his numbers from Jan. 26th through the end of the season - how many times does he follow up an 18 and 9 game with a 6 and 5 game? I know all the arguments - he was foul prone (not a good thing), he played on a very balanced and unselfish team with a loaded front-court (not as bad), but his inconsistency is still something GM's will worry about. He has all the tools - he is 6'9", very athletic, and is stronger than his 215lb frame would make you believe. Arthur is a very good finisher at the rim, and also has a pretty solid post game. His go-to move is a fade-away jumper (he hit about four of these in the NCAA Final). He will probably go some where between at the end of the lottery and the early 20's.

Comparisons: Stromile Swift (if he doesn't care), Antonio McDyess in his prime (if he does).

Bottom Line: With Arthur, it will always be about 'want' - how badly does he want to be good? And he can be very good - he has the tools to be a perennial all-star. If he had Hansbrough's heart, he would be a top-5 lock, but he doesn't so he could drop as far as the 20's. Ironically, I think that falling out of the lottery could be the motivation that turns Arthur from a guy with upside to an all-star. Continue reading...

Jerryd Bayless - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 19.7 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.7 rpg, 46% FG, 41% 3's, 83% FT

About Him: As a freshman, Jerryd Bayless didn't have the hype coming in that some of the other freshman did, but few had a more impressive season. Offensively, he's got it all there. He can get to the rack on just about anyone (he shot more than 7 FT's per game last year), but has some trouble finishing at the rim (he's 6'3" but only 199lb). As a result, Bayless tends to pull-up when he creates some space, which is a high percentage shot for him from 15-17 feet especially since he is a phenomenal athlete and can elevate over defenders. He is also a great three-point shooter with NBA range. Bayless has the ability to take a game over (he had 39 of Arizona's 54 in a game this year), but also has some point guard skills in him. With Arizona's lack of depth and injury issues this year, Bayless had to carry a lot of the scoring responsibility, but he is a talented playmaker that can set-up teammates. Since he is only 6'3", NBA scouts are going to want to see that playmaking ability out of him as he will have to play some point guard. Defensively, Bayless is very good when matching up with someone, but can get a bit lost off-the-ball and when defending screens and the pick-and-roll.

Comparisons: Ben Gordon, Monta Ellis.

Bottom Line: Bayless proved himself during the season. He can score in a variety of ways and has NBA range and athleticism. Look for him to go in the top 10. Continue reading...

Michael Beasley - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 26.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 1.3 spg, 53% FG, 38% 3's, 77% FT.

About Him: After what Kevin Durant did last year, did you think you would ever see a freshman come in a be MORE dominating, let alone the next year? Beasley has once in a generation-type talent. Where do I start? He is can score any way you can think of. He has three-point range. He can finish equally well with either hand. He can score on the block (although his post game is still developing. He got a lot of his baskets using his advantage with strength, athleticism and long arms, something that won't be as much of an advantage in the league.) He can put the ball on the floor and go by bigger defenders. He gets a ton of easy buckets off of offensive rebounds - he is a monster on the glass. He is also an underrated defender, averaging more than a steal and a block per game. He definitely has all the skills and tools that you look for in an NBA forward (he can probably play the three or the four, but right now he is much better defender in the post). The question with Beasley is his motivation. With how smooth his game is and his lack of emotion, it sometimes looks like he is coasting.

Comparisons: Carmelo Anthony, Rasheed Wallace, Derrick Coleman.

Bottom Line: Beasley has all the tools to be a sure fire all-star for years to come, if he wants it. I think he does. Beasley probably will be the top pick in the draft. Continue reading...

Chase Budinger - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 17.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 45% FG, 72% FT, 38% 3's

About Him: Chase Budinger showed some flashes during his freshman season, but the biggest knock on him was that he was too passive at times - not using his considerable talent to take over games. It was much of the same thing during his sophomore campaign. Granted, much of that was because of the emergence of Jerryd Bayless, Budinger didn't have to take games over. Budinger projects to be an off-guard in the NBA, and he has great size (6'7") and athleticism for the position. He also has a deadly jump shot, and range beyond the NBA three-point line. His biggest problem right now is his defense. He has no lateral quickness which means he gets beaten off the dribble, he is not a physical defender, and has trouble playing off the ball defense and getting around screens. Most projections have him as a mid first-rounder, but he has a tough decision in front of him. Lute Olsen is returning next year after taking a season off, and with Bayless gone, Budinger will have to take over the team and could propel himself into the lottery.

Comparisons: Mike Dunleavy Jr., Ray Allen (stretch)

Bottom Line: Budinger is going to be a solid NBA role player when he finally gets to the league. His passive demeanor and defensive struggles mean that he probably won't be a star but he could have a nice, long career. If he leaves (which he probably will) he will be a first round pick, maybe even sneaking into the end of the lottery. Continue reading...

Derrick Caracter - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 8.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 16.9 mpg, 55% FG, 63% FT

About Him: Derrick Caracter has a long way to go before he is an NBA player. He is a load on the block at 6'9", 265lb, and does have very soft hands, however he is too small to defend NBA post players. He is also very careless with the ball, averaging 1.8 turnovers in just under 17 minutes per game. The biggest problem with Caracter is his (ignore the pun) character. He had numerous run-ins with Louisville coach Rick Pitino, almost getting himself kicked off the team this year. NBA teams will put up with that if you are an all-star or top 10 pick, not if you're a guy who will be lucky to get drafted. It's a long fall for a guy who was so highly touted as a high school freshman.

Comparisons: Jackie Butler (skills-wise), Zack Randolph (personality-wise)

Bottom Line: Caracter has already signed with an agent, so his college career is officially over. It's too bad, because he is probably going to end up in Europe or the D-League (if he's lucky). Continue reading...

CJ Giles - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 6.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 42% FG, 67% FT, 10 games

About Him: CJ Giles has all the makings of a lottery pick. He's 6'10", athletic, and long (7'4" wingspan). His 220lb body is stronger than he looks, and his bulking up in college has not affected his athleticism. Offensively, he has a decent post game and a jump shot out to about 16-17 feet. Defensively, he has great timing, and combined with his length and athleticism, he has all the makings of a great defensive NBA center. The problem with Giles is that he has been trouble everywhere he has been. He got kicked off of the Kansas team in 2006, then transferred to Oregon State where he was kicked off their team after just ten games. Is he mature enough to be an NBA player?

Comparisons: Tyrus Thomas, Stromile Swift

Bottom Line: Giles has the potential to be a good NBA player for a long time, but he has been kicked out of two colleges and is 22 years old. He's probably not worth a first round pick, but should go in the second round. Continue reading...

Chris Douglas-Roberts - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 54% FG, 71% FT, 41% 3's

About Him: Chris Douglas-Roberts finished a great junior year where he helped carry Memphis to the NCAA title game. In fact, CDR may be the most efficient player in the draft. According to Draft Express when compared to all legitimate guard prospects, CDR is the leader in FG%, top 5 in FT%, 3PT%, PER, points per possession, true shooting percentage, effective shooting percentage, and eighth in turnovers per possession. He has greatly improved his mid range game from last season. Last year, he got almost all of his points by putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. This year, he added a very good mid range game and three-point range. His strength is still his slashing ability. He has an uncanny knack for being able to get to the rim. He isn't great at squaring up a defender and going by him, but when he catches the ball on the move he is very tough to guard. He can use both hands on the dribble and finishing at the rim. He isn't an overly great athlete, isn't a great rebounder, and isn't a great playmaker, but he can put the ball in the basket. He also has great size for a shooting guard and is a more-than-capable defender after playing in Calipari's system at Memphis.

Comparisons: Tayshaun Prince, Manu Ginobili (stretch)

Bottom Line: CDR has a diverse and potent offensive game, but he is not an NBA level player doing anything besides putting the ball in the basket. He's probably a mid to late first round pick, but he has the potential to be a solid NBA player for years. Continue reading...

Eric Gordon - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 20.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 43% FG, 83% FT, 34% 3's.

About Him: Eric Gordon has all the makings of a star at the NBA level. He already has an NBA body and is an excellent athlete. He is incredibly explosive getting to the basket and can finish at the rim because he is strong enough to absorb the contact. He is a dead eye three point shooter with range way beyond the NBA three, although after hurting his wrist in January, his seemed to lose his stroke. That also coincided with the firing of Kevin Sampson, when Gordon seemed to lose all his desire to play. This performance down the stretch didn't help his draft stock, but it also didn't hurt him too badly. The biggest question mark with Gordon is whether or not he can be a combo guard - can he play the point. He is only 6'3", so he does not have the ideal size for a NBA two-guard, but he makes up for that a bit with his strength and toughness.

Comparisons: Paul Pierce (but shorter), Ray Allen/Ben Gordon

Bottom Line: Down the stretch, Gordon couldn't hit a shot and has he struggled, so did the Hoosiers, who went from a top 10 team to an eight seed losing in the first round. He still is probably a lock to be a top 10 pick, however, given how good he looked at the start of the year. Continue reading...

Donte Greene - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 17.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.6 bpg, 42% FG, 71% FT, 35% 3's

About Him: Donte Greene is one of those guys that is still searching for a position. He is big enough to play in the paint, but he loves standing outside and shooting three's (7.5 3's attempted per game, more than half his shots on the season). Early on in the season, he was hitting them. But after Eric Devendorf tore his acl, which forced Syracuse to play their starters just about the entire game, every game, Greene seemed to lose his legs a bit. His shot got flat and he started forcing off balance shots. His stroke is about as pure as any you will find. At 6'10", and with his high and quick release, he is able to get the shot off any time he wants, which has been his biggest problem at times. Greene doesn't remember his last shot, meaning that regardless of how well/poorly he is shooting, is he gets a look he is firing. This is great when your shooting well, not so great when you aren't. Since Syracuse plays a zone, it is tough to tell how good he is defensively, but he is athletic and mobile enough to play the wing in the NBA, and his length would allow him to play a bit off of NBA small forwards and still get a hand up, meaning that he can get away with a lack of lateral quickness.

Comparisons: Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis (stretch)

Bottom Line: Greene is one of those guys that NBA scouts love - he is tall, mobile, althetic, and can shoot. He's dripping with potential, but still has a ways to go. He is a first-rounder, and could even sneak into the lottery. Continue reading...

Keith Brumbaugh - NBA Draft Prospoects

Numbers: 36.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.1 apg, 4.8 spg

About Him: Keith Brumbaugh has traveled a long road during his college basketball career. In 2005, he was a top 15 recruit nationally, declared for the draft, but then removed his name and decided to attend Oklahoma State. But he was charged with shop-lifting, had issues with his ACT score, and as a result never played a game for Ok. State. He then went to powerhouse Chipola Junior College, where he was kicked out of school after getting arrested for marijuana possession. Overall, he was arrested six times over the course of 26 months, and twice had to serve jail sentences. But he can play - just look at his numbers (granted, it was against weak JuCo competition). He is 6'9", 205lb, and has great scoring ability. He is a good passer and ball-handler for his size, and has NBA range. He is not as strong as he could be, and will struggle in the paint against NBA defenders, but makes up for that being left-handed. He still settles for long three's too much, mainly because he still is developing his mid-range game, but has the ability to get to the rim. Defensively, he still needs work when defending 1-on-1, but he is adept at getting into the passing lanes and has a knack for getting steals. His arms aren't as long as you would think for someone his size, and his athleticism isn't off the charts.

Comparisons: Demarr Johnson, Hedo Turkoglu (stretch)

Bottom Line: He has the talent to be a first-rounder, but his off-the-court issues will probably drop him to the second round. Continue reading...

Richard Hendrix - NBA Draft Prospects

Number: 17.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.3 spg, 60% FG, 54% FT

About Him: Richard Hendrix dropped 20 pounds over the summer to streamline his now 6'8", 250lb body, but he did not lose any of his strength. Hendrix is a load on the block. His strength is his, well, strength. He is very good at getting position on the block, and has crafty moves when he gets the ball. His go-to move is a little righty jump-hook, but he has gotten better at finishing with his left. He's improved his range, and can now consistently hit jumpers to about 17 feet, and has even it a couple three pointer's this year. Hendrix is also very good defensively down-low. He is too strong to be backed down and uses his low center-of-gravity to knock people out of position. His is shorter than one would like, but he is long, deceptively athletic, and has great timing when it comes to blocking shots. His lateral quickness needs improvement if he is going to be able to cover quicker power forwards. His greatest asset for an NBA team right now is his rebounding ability. He is as good as anyone in the country at blocking out, and has a knack for getting rebounds in traffic against bigger opponents, mainly because he takes up so much space.

Comparisons: Paul Millsap, Charles Oakley

Bottom Line: Hendrix is never going to be a player that will be able to take over a game, but he plays hard and is very good at what he does. He could be a good, productive role player for the right team. He could go anywhere from the mid-to-late first round to early second round. Continue reading...

Davon Jefferson - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.0 bpg, 2.4 t/o's, 58% FG, 70% FT

About Him: Davon Jefferson first said that he was coming back to USC, then apparently changed his mind because he has signed with an agent. Jefferson is a very risky pick. He has incredible physical tools. He is 6'8" (but slender and weak) with out-of-the-gym athleticism, very long arms, explosive quickness, and a great ability to get out and run the floor. The problem is that his game is limited to what he can do physically. He is a poor ball-handler with almost no ability to dribble with his left hand, he does not have much of a jump shot to speak of (from mid-range or three), and does not have a feel for the game or understanding of the game at all. He averages less than an assist per game, turns the ball over three times as often, and routinely gets beaten and is out of position defensively. But what he does do well, he does very well. He has a terrific first step which allows him to get by defenders (either from the wing or the post - he played the four for USC this year, but probably projects as a three in the NBA) and uses his athleticism to allow him to finish at the rim. When he gets the ball, he normally is going straight to the rim, and draws a lot of fouls, but also picks up a lot of charges because he doesn't change direction or avoid contact. He does play very hard however, crashing the glass (especially offensively) and running in transition, the two aspects of his game where he picks up most of his points. His biggest question mark is work ethic - he failed to qualify academically in both the 2005-2006 season (with UNLV) and in 2006-2007 (with USC) and played a PG year, which means that although he was a freshman this year, he is almost 22 years old.

Comparisons: Tyrus Thomas, Wilson Chandler

Bottom Line: Jefferson will be a high risk pick if he goes in the first round, because even though his potential gives him a high ceiling, he looks like he has had so little coaching and needs so much development that he may not reach that point by the end of his rookie contract. There are a lot of 6'8" athletes that are much more polished right now. Probably a second rounder, but he could sneak into the end of the first if a team really likes him or he has a great Pre-Draft camp. Continue reading...