NBA Draft Prospects: Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest

Click here to find all of our 2010 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns.

Stats: 15.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg (4.3 off.), 1.4 spg, 1.4 bpg, 44.7% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 3.2 t/o's

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 210 lb, 19 yrs old
• Combine: 6'8 1/2" (in shoes), 216 lb, 7'3 1/4" (wingspan)

About Him: Aminu is one of the bigger question marks in this draft, in my opinion. In terms of tools, he is one of the more appealing prospects. At almost 6'9" in shoes, Aminu has the size to play the four and the athleticism to play the three, which is the way the NBA is trending these days (think Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace, etc). He's got long arms, he has a frame that should fill out nicely, he's quick enough to defend on the perimeter, and he was able to hold his own in the post defensively this year. He has a world of potential, which becomes all the more impressive when you consider he is a year younger than most in his class -- he's two weeks older than John Wall and a month older than DeMarcus Cousins.

The problem is that Aminu's skills have a long way go to catch up to his talent. As a shooter, he has a long way to go. He made just 27% of his threes this year, and was just as bad in the mid-range. When he was forced to shoot off the dribble, it was even uglier, as Aminu's "shot" looked more like a shotput at the rim. He hit 70% from the line, so clearly the potential to be a good shooter is there, but he has a long way to go to improve the consistency of his form.

Off the dribble, Aminu was just as questionable. He has a tremendous first step, which allowed him to beat his man off the dribble quite often. But if he was unable to get to the rim in one or two dribbles or he was forced to change direction, things got a little uglier. Travels, charges, and losing the handle weren't uncommon. As you might expect, he had a fairly low FG% and a fairly high turnover rate. These are fixable problems, however.

Aminu does have a decent back to the basket game. His length makes his jump hook tough to defend, and he was pretty consistent in being able to make that shot. He has good footwork and coordination, and as he adds some strength to his frame and develops a couple more moves, this aspect of his game will only get better.

Where Aminu really excelled was when his athleticism took over. He's a very good rebounder, using his length and athleticism to aggressively attack the glass, especially on the offensive end, where he averaged over four boards per game (10.3 rpg on the season). He had trouble finishing in the paint -- off of offensive rebounds or off of a post move -- but like his post game, added strength should help rectify that problem.

The best part of Aminu's game right now is his ability in transition, and it may not be close. For someone his size, Aminu can really get out and run the floor, and he is a highlight-reel waiting to happen on the break. As we mentioned, his handle still needs to be improved, but it is good enough right now that he was capable of taking a defensive rebound and going coast-to-coast or leading a break. In the early stages of his career, Aminu will probably be the most effective on an uptempo team.

Defensively, there is a lot to like. He's got the tools -- length, quickness, footwork -- to defend a three on the perimeter. But he also has the size -- and eventually the strength -- to defend a four in the post. He averaged almost a steal and a half and a block and a half this season.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: Anyone of the multitude of athletes making all-star teams as a combo-forward -- Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace. A more athletic Jeff Green, Thaddeus Young, and Marvin Williams are more reasonable comparisons.
• Worst Case Scenario: How about a poor man's Jamario Moon?
  

Outlook: Al-Farouq Aminu has the tools to develop into a very good player in the NBA. He has enough upside to possibly make an all-star team one day, and most reports say that he has the work ethic to one day fulfill that potential. And keep in mind, he's essentially the same age as the freshman in this draft class. A big question mark in my mind with Aminu is his mindset. There were games this season where he absolutely checked out. He had zero points (on just two shots) and four boards in 28 minutes in a loss at Florida State that, at the time, seemed like a must-win for Wake Forest's NCAA Tournament hopes. He had 11 points and 7 boards in a blowout loss against Miami in the first round of the ACC Tournament. There were times when Aminu took over this year, but there were also times where he seemed really uninterested in the outcome of the game.

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Al-Farouq Aminu to go pro

Al-Farouq Aminu has decided to go pro and will hire an agent, ending his collegiate career. Its a good decision, as Aminu is likely going to end up somewhere in the top 10-15 picks.

Aminu is a physical specimen, a perfect fit for the NBA's trend towards combo-forwards. He's 6'8" and athletic with a long wingspan and the ability to defend inside and on the perimeter. Aminu is at his best right now when he can allow his athleticism to take over -- crashing to offensive glass and getting out on a wing in transition -- and playing as a face-up four. He jumper and ball skills need some serious work, but keep in mind he is just 19 years old.

For the second straight season, Wake Forest is losing players to early entry.

Last year, it was sophomores James Johnson (16th pick) and Jeff Teague (19th pick) that went pro early. There also a chance that guys like Ishmael Smith and Chas McFarland this year, and Tony Woods and David Weaver down the road, end up getting drafted.

My question?

How can Wake Forest struggle as much as they do with this much talent?

Clearly, the Demon Deacons were the better team last season, at one point reaching No. 1 in the country. But that Wake Forest team lost five of nine at one point, finishing with an 11-5 ACC record before losing in the opening round of both the ACC and the NCAA tournament. That's quite the collapse.

This season, Wake climbed to within a half game of the ACC lead before losing four of five to end the regular season and getting blown out by Miami FL in the opening round of the conference tournament. They followed that up with a 30 point second round loss to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

All told, Dino Gaudio won just a single tournament game in two years with at least three first round picks on the roster. Both season's his teams collapsed late. What does that tell you about Gaudio? His teams do exceed expectations early in the season, but flameouts at the end of the year are not the way to get a contract renewed.

I like Gaudio. He seems like a good guy. I think it is also pretty obvious the guy can recruit. But if he wants to keep that job, he needs to start winning in the postseason.

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
There are the power forwards.

Best Freshman:

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
• DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
• Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State
  

Best of the Rest:

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
• Stanley Robinson, UConn
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech
• Deon Thompson, UNC
  

Top 10:

• 10. Matt Howard, Butler: Howard is a guy that doesn't get a lot of press playing for Butler. But make no mistake, Howard is as good as any four in the country. Howard is what you might refer to as a land warrior - he isn't going to outquick or outjump anyone in the country, but he is so strong. An excellent rebounder with a solid back to the basket game, Howard's strength offensively is his ability to seal and hold position in the post. He is the rock for a talented Butler team.
  


• 9. Damion James, Texas: A lot was expected out of James last season, but he didn't quite live up to the hype he received in the preseason. A big reason for that is James was asked to play more minutes on the perimeter with the emergence of a big front line for Texas. The biggest strength of James' game is his ability to rebound the ball on the offensive end and how well he cuts to the basket and finishes at the rim. His back to the basket game is decent, but playing more minutes on the perimeter will limit his touches inside. James is dangerous offensively because he is not only able to shoot the ball, but he has some ability to put the ball on the floor and go around a bigger defender. James is forever a tweener - not really big enough to be a four, but lacking the true perimeter skills to be a three.
  


• 8. Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Last year, all anyone talked about when it came to Marquette was their guard play. While those three were definitely talented, Hayward might have been the most valuable player on the roster as the only real big man. Hayward, who is a converted small forward, in dangerous because of his perimeter skills. Without much in the way of a post game, Hayward does his damage shooting the ball and taking advantage of the mismatches when a big forward guards him on the perimeter. Also an excellent rebounder, expect big numbers out of Hayward this year as Marquette's go-to player offensively.
  

Lazar Hayward is counting to be counted on heavily by Marquette.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• 7. Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks is as raw as a prospect comes. In terms of tools, there are few forwards that match him. He has the wingspan of an albatross, can run the floor, has above average athleticism, and plays hard. All of that made him an excellent defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. But the rest of his game still needs to be developed. His ball handling ability is not much more than the one or two dribbles it takes to for to get to the rim. His jumper was so inconsistent last year that he himself actually decided that he would not longer shoot outside jumpers. But with Alex Ruoff gone, and an offseason of developing his skills, Ebanks should be ready to turn into one of the best forwards in the Big East.
  


• 6. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu is another guy I'm not completely sold on. Right now, he relies almost exclusively on his tools. He is long, athletic, plays with energy, and has excellent body control. Last year he was at his best when he was able to get out in the open court and outrun the defense. His skills were quite raw, however. While his handle and his jump shot no doubt improved with an off-season of working out, Aminu has a long way to go before he can be considered "talented" skillwise and a threat in the half court. All that said, we are talking about a guy that averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg on a team with a big front line, Jeff Teague, and James Johnson. Imagine what he will do as the first offensive option.
  

Al-Farouq Aminu will need to rely on more than just athleticism this season.
(photo credit: freewebs)

• 5. Trevor Booker, Clemson: Booker is one of the best athletes in the country. While there are a number of guys at the power forward position that have more talent than Booker, there are few that play with his aggressiveness and determination. Every second he is on the court, he is going hard - whether it is defensively, posting up, hitting the glass, cutting to the rim. Booker seems to have an endless supply of energy. He doesn't have the best back to the basket game, relying heavily on his physical tools (strength holding position, jumping over a defender) to score. Where he has become more effective, and where he needs to improve to make it at the next level, is in his perimeter game. If he can continue to get better putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket and keep improving his jump shot, Booker has a shot at winning the ACC player of the year award.
  


• 4. Greg Monroe, Georgetown: Monroe is the perfect fit for the Princeton offense that JTIII likes to run. Standing 6'11", Monroe has the offensive skills of a point forward. He can use the dribble to get to the basket, he can knock down a perimeter jumper, and he has excellent court vision and passing instincts. There are really three aspects of his game that Monroe needs to improve to become a dominant forward in the Big East. He needs to improve his ability with his right hand - he struggles dribbling and finishing in that direction. He needs to improve his strength and toughness in the paint offensively, defensively, and on the glass. Most importantly, he needs to be able to assert dominance on a game. There are few players with the talent that Monroe has, but how many times last season did you find yourself thinking "Greg Monroe has taken this game over"?
  


• 3. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins, at the college level, is a match-up nightmare. Standing 6'10", Brackins has the ball handling and the quickness to get by bigger defenders that try to come out and guard him on the perimeter. If you don't guard him, or if a smaller, quicker defender is on him, Brackins is a very dangerous shooter out to about 17 feet. Where Brackins has really developed during his first two seasons is with his toughness and his aggresiveness. He came with 17 rebounds of averaging a double-double last season, and has the makings of what could turn into a solid back-to-the-basket game.
  


• 2. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Patterson proved last season to be one of the most dominant and efficient players in the country. Patterson's just 6'8", but his length, his athleticism, and his strength make him so difficult to handle on the block. He has a solid righty hook and an above average turn around jumper, but his ability in the post centers around how good he is at establishing position. He seals hard, and really understands how to use his body to hold off his defender. He showed some improved ball skills last season, and if he can develop a consistent jumper this season, Patterson will be near unstoppable this year.
  

Harangody's biggest improvement during his career has been his jumper.
(photo credit: basketme)

• 1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: If there is an argument against Luke Harangody as the best power forward in the country, I cannot think of it. The guy can average 25 and 12 this year, and I won't be surprised. By now, you should know Gody's game. An underwhelming athlete, Gody struggles going against bigger opponents with his back to the basket. But over the course of his career, the big fella has developed an excellent face-up game. He has developed range out beyond the three point line (and showed NBA three point range during the draft process). The biggest improvement in his game is his fitness - Gody looked as svelte and in shape as he ever has during the draft process.
  

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2009-2010 Team Preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2008-2009 Record: 24-7, 11-5 ACC (t-2nd)

Key Losses: Jeff Teague (18.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.5 rpg), James Johnson (15.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 spg)

Key Returners: Al-Farouq Aminu (12.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Chas McFarland (8.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), LD Williams (8.0 ppg)

Newcomers: Ari Stewart, Konner Tucker, CJ Harris

Wake Forest caught a break when Al-Farouq Aminu decided to return to school.
(photo credit: Slam)

Wake Forest lost Jeff Teague and James Johnson to the NBA after their sophomore season's, but that doesn't mean that the Demon Deacon's off-season was a bust. Dino Gaudio caught a huge break when Al-Farouq Aminu, who many believed could have been a lottery pick this past season, decided to return for his sophomore campaign.

Aminu has a shot to be a special player for Wake. Combining excellent athleticism, body control, length, and a ton of energy, Aminu's potential leaves NBA scouts drooling. The problem is that Aminu is still too dependent on his tools. Last season he excelled when he was able to use his athleticism to his advantage - getting out and running the floor, crashing the offensive glass, or cutting to the rim, but when he was forced into half-court isolation situations, he was much less effective. The biggest problem is Aminu is stuck between being a power forward and small forward. He has the quickness to play on the perimeter on both ends of the floor, but unless his jumper, his handle, and his decision making and understanding of the game improves he will have to play the four. To be honest, he reminds me a bit of where James Johnson was after his freshman season (although Johnson who was two years older at the time, was probably a bit more advanced). With Teague and Johnson gone, Wake's season will depend on how well Aminu develops.

Wake will once again have one of the better front lines in the ACC. In addition to Aminu, the Demon Deacons return four guys standings 6'11" or taller. The best of the group is Chas McFarland. A starter the past two seasons, McFarland's role on the offensive end will expand this season. The seven footer has always had a really nice touch in the paint, with range out to the three-point line. His post moves are decent, and he is about what you would expect from an average seven-footer on the glass and blocking shots. The biggest issue McFarland has is decision-making and ability to pass out of the post - he turned the ball over almost two times per game last season despite playing just over 20 minutes per. If he is going to see his offensive workload increase, he needs to cut down on his mistakes.

The other three bigs are senior David Weaver and sophomores Ty Walker and Tony Woods. Woods and Weaver are the two that will probably see the most playing time. They are both essentially the same player - big, strong kids that will grab a few rebounds, block a few shots, dunk the ball when they are near the rim, and provide Gaudio with a lot of muscle up front. Walker has the most upside of the three, as he is athletic and very long, even for someone listed at 7'0". An excellent shot blocker, Walker was not strong enough to handle the physicality of major college basketball as a freshman. If he puts on some strength, he could become an excellent defensive presence at this level.

Perhaps the most important player for the Demon Deacons this year will be Ishmael Smith. Ish had an excellent freshman season, but over the last two years has seen his numbers tail off with Teague on the team. Now that he is a senior, Smith will have the ball in his hands a majority of the time. Looking at this roster, the Demon Deacons don't have a ton of guys that can create their own shots. Smith averaged 6.0 apg as a freshman, and Gaudio is going to count on his ability to create shots for his teammates, be it on the break or in the half court. Joining Smith in the starting back court will be LD Williams. Williams' role on this Demon Deacons team is as a hustler and a defender. There are not many players in the country with the overall athletic profile that Williams has, which makes him an excellent defender and a terror on the break.

Gaudio will add two freshman to the mix this season. The most highly touted recruit is Ari Stewart. Stewart, a 6'7" small forward that loves to run the floor and can jump out of the gym, will excel in the open court for Gaudio. Stewart's another guy that is still relies a bit too much on his tools, but he is more of a wing than Aminu as he has range out to the three-point line. CJ Harris is the other recruit. Harris is a lead guard, but it will be intriguing to see where Gaudio plays him as a freshman. Harris is a heady player with a high basketball IQ that gets praised for his leadership abilities and unselfishness. But he is also an excellent scorer and much less of a play maker than a guy like Ish Smith. Harris could be the next in the line of scoring point guards from Wake (Randolph Childress, Justin Gray, Taron Downey, Jeff Teague)?

One of Wake's biggest weaknesses last season was their lack of a consistent perimeter shooter. As a result, defenses were able to slough off their man, clogging the lane at times. Two guys - junior Gary Clark and sophomore JuCo transfer Konner Tucker - have the potential to fill that role.

Outlook: I like this Wake Forest team. They have a number of athletes playing different positions, a lot of size on the inside, and an underrated senior point guard. The problem is that unless Aminu realizes his potential this season, Wake is going to be without a go-to scorer. While they will no doubt be a tough defensive team and a pleasure to watch on the break, if you can slow them down I'm not sure they are going to be able to score in the half court. If Aminu can become that go-to scorer and Smith can regain the form he showed as a freshman, Wake could be a top 25 team. If not, they might be an NIT team. I'd lean toward the former, with Wake racking up 20 wins and a 10 seed come March.
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