Monday, December 31, 2007

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.

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