NBA Draft Prospects: Avery Bradley, Texas

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Stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 37.5% 3PT, 1.5 t/o's

Size:

• Listed: 6'3", 180 lb, 19 yrs old
  
• Combine: 6'3 1/4" (with shoes), 180 lb, 6'7 1/4" (wingspan)
  

About Him: Avery Bradley entered this season with a ton of hype, even being ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit by ESPN over John Wall. And while its difficult to talk negatively about a freshman averaging almost 12 ppg, Bradley did not quite live up to expectations in his one season in Austin. While some of that was a result of being on a Texas team that simply could not figure out their issues, the major reason Bradley disappointed some people is because of the type of player he is.

Bradley is not a great offensive player. He's an excellent shooter off the catch or pull-ups off of one or two bounces, but that is about the only area he really excels offensively. He's not a great passer or shot creator. In fact, when he put the ball on the floor this past season, it was a virtual certainty that a shot was going up. He simply does not see the floor well at all.

This would not be a huge issue if Bradley was a great scorer, but he isn't. He really struggles once he gets inside about 10 feet. An exceptional athlete in terms of quickness and explosiveness, he seems to be the kind of player that can only get off the ground when he has a runway to do so. He struggled at finishing in and around the rim this year and he was very poor at drawing fouls and getting to the line. Some of this can be remedied by improving his upper body strength (he was only able to bench 185 lb twice at the combine) and teaching him how to elevate in traffic. What Bradley really needs to do is develop a floater and short runner. If he struggled to finish at the rim in college, it won't get any easier at the next level.

Players with Bradley's size generally project as point guards or combo-guards. Both of those roles require the ability to create shots, either for yourself or others. Bradley does not excel at either of those two facets of the game.

Where Bradley does excel -- and where he will have to find his niche in the NBA, at least in the early years -- is as a defender. He may very well be the best one-on-one defender in this draft. He's exceptional defending off the ball, capable of fighting through screens and keeping the ball out of the hands of a star. If that player does get the ball, Bradley has great length (over a 6'7" wingspan) and extremely quick feet. At the college level, he made life difficult for each and every player for which Bradley drew the assignment. Difficult to get the ball in a position to score, and difficult to make a move or get a shot off once that player made the catch.

The problem is that in the NBA, if Bradley is ever going to be a starter, he will have to be an off-guard. Will he be able to defend when night-in and night-out he is checking bigger and stronger players? Quick feet don't help when you are backed down to the block and you watch someone four inches taller take a turnaround jumper over you.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: Comparing Avery Bradley with a guy in the NBA is difficult to do, because there really aren't that many players with his skill set. Russell Westbrook is a decent comparison, but even the raw Westbrook is a better offensive player than Bradley, and he's a point guard. Maybe a more athletic George Hill? ESPN is comparing him to Monta Ellis, which I like in regards to athleticism, but not as much in style of play.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: Again, its really tough to compare Bradley to anyone given his skill set. Who is a lock down defender and 12 ppg scorer in Spain's top division?
  

Outlook: Bradley will likely get chosen somewhere near the mid-to-late first round, and I have a tough time envisioning him ever becoming a starter in the NBA. He's not a point guard, and he's not big enough to be a shooting guard. But he does play defense. He relishes that end of the floor, and I'm sure there are teams out there that will keep him around simply to lock down a back court player that gets hot. If he can find a spot where he can play along side a bigger point guard -- i.e. a Tyreke Evans, a Dwyane Wade, or a Baron Davis -- which allows him to be a spot up shooter and a defender, he should be able to play a role for someone in the league.

Highlights:





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Three college stars will be keeping their names in the NBA Draft pool

News leaked yesterday that three players will be keeping their names in the NBA Draft pool. One made the right decision, one was easy to predict, and one leaves us college folks scratching our heads.


Avery Bradley, Texas, G: Bradley probably made the right decision here, as reports have him signing with agent Dan Fegan. A consensus top five recruit coming out of Findlay Prep in Nevada, Bradley didn't exactly have the type of freshman season that would make people think he was a potential one-and-done kind of player. He averaged 11.6 ppg, but was inconsistent offensively and, at just 6'2", its unclear if he will ever be able to play point guard.

Avery Bradley's best attribute is his defensive ability.
(photo credit: Flickr)

But there is no questioning his talent. There are few that get after it on the defensive end like Bradley does, as he has quick feet and is a strong and athletic kid. Offensively is where the issue lies. Like the rest of his Texas teammates, he was inconsistent to a fault this past season. He went for 20 five times, but there were also games where he was a complete non-factor on the offensive end. But for a freshman on a team with as big of a question mark at the point as Texas had this past season, isn't that to be expected?

Right now, Bradley still has some potential that he can capitalize on, but if he came back for his sophomore season and had the same problems, his stock might drop. He looks like he will be a late first rounder, possibly sneaking into the back end of the lottery, which isn't bad for an undersized two guard that isn't a big time scorer. He likely won't ever be a star at the next level, but if he can land in the right situation -- i.e. playing alongside a big playmaker (Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans, Dwayne Wade) that can defend the two, he should have a solid career in the pros.


Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F: We've already touched on the problems with Ebanks as a pro prospect. He has some intriguing tools, but right now there is more talk about his weaknesses than hype about his strengths.

Ebanks is long and fairly athletic. He can rebound the ball, is developing as a scorer, and has the tools to make him a decent defender. But it seems as if Ebanks has a long way to go towards understanding how to play basketball. Everyone in the NBA has tools. Length and athleticism will only get you so far. To be honest, I'd be surprised if a team used a first round pick on Ebanks, which is saying a lot considering that he was a potential lottery pick coming into the season.

Ebanks could have benefited from another season of learning the game, but sometimes a player just wants to go pro.


Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F: This is the decision that leaves me scratching my head. Simply put, Samuels is not a great pro prospect. His skill set is that of a center. He is a strong post player with a nice back-to-the-basket that understands how to use his body to hold a seal and create angles in the paint.

The problem is that he just doesn't have the size to be an NBA center, as Samuels is listed at just 6'8". Players his size have had success in recent drafts -- Paul Millsap ad DeJuan Blair immediately come to mind -- but Samuels doesn't have near the athleticism of Millsap and is not a rebounding machine or nearly as strong and aggressive as Blair (Blair also has the wingspan of a pterodactyl).

Samuels could have come back and been a favorite to win Big East player of the year. But even with a season of averaging 20 and 10, I doubt his draft stock would improve all that much. I wouldn't be surprised if he went undrafted this year.

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News and Notes: Oliver Purnell, Steve Donahue, and a couple guards on the move?

Quite a bit of non-Duke and non-Butler news has broken over the last 24 hours. while the college basketball season is over, keep in mind that now is prime time for early entry into the NBA Draft and that the coaching carousel is in full swing.

• There was quite a bit of speculation as to who was DePaul was going to get as a head coach. From Jamie Dixon to Ben Howland to Isiah Thomas to Craig Robinson to Chris Lowery (the list goes on), it seemed like every name that popped up was either out of DePaul's league or simply would not have been a good fit. Which makes it all the more surprising that late after Monday night's national title game DePaul announced that they had finally come to a decision, signing Clemson's Oliver Purnell to a seven-year, $15 million contract.
  
  Now this one leaves you scratching your head a little bit. Like the Steve Lavin hire at St. John's, Purnell doesn't have a whole lot of connections in Chicago. In fact, Mike Irvin, the CEO of the Mac Irvin Fire -- a Chicago-based AAU program that is one of the best in the country -- told ESPN.com that "I've never seen him. I've never seen a Clemson coach. That's bad, because in Chicago it's about the relationships, the ties. Chicago's a different animal, a different city." Combine that with the fact that DePaul had more Big East wins the last two seasons -- one -- than Purnell has career tournament wins, and you see why people are left scratching their head at this one.

• Al Skinner got the axe just over a week ago at Boston College, and while the Eagles coaching search focused on former assistants Ed Cooley and Bill Coen, as well as Richmond's Chris Mooney, word is that BC will announce the hiring of Cornell's Steve Donahue today.
  
  It makes perfect sense. Donahue built Cornell from an Ivy League cellar dweller into a Sweet 16 team this past season. But this Big Red team had nine seniors on it, including Louis Dale, Ryan Wittman, and Jeff Foote. If Donahue was ever going to have a chance to move up to a high-major conference, this was it.


• Texas freshman Avery Bradley will enter his name into the NBA Draft, but he will not be hiring an agent, according to Jeff Goodman. Many expected this, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Bradley is guaranteed to be a high draft pick. A very good defensive player, Bradley is a bit of a tweener. Is he big enough to play the two? Can he be an NBA point guard? Does he have the offensive skill set to be worthy of a first round pick? Draft Express currently has Bradley listed as the 28th pick in the draft, while NBADraft.net puts him at 25th.


• It appears Mike Rosario, the Rutgers sophomore who averaged 16.7 ppg this season, will be looking to transfer. According to Zagsblog, places he is considering include Florida, USC (where he would join high school teammate Jio Fontan), and Michigan State.
  

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No. 3: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Texas Longhorns

2008-2009 Record: 23-12, 9-7 Big XII (t-4th)

Key Losses: AJ Abrams (16.6 ppg, 40% 3's), Connor Atchley (4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Key Returners: Damion James (15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Dexter Pittman (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Gary Johnson (10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Justin Mason (6.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.0 apg)

Newcomers: Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton, Shawn Williams, J'Covan Brown

Damion James' versatility will be a major factor in the Longhorn's success this season.

The last three season's, Texas has essentially ridden the coattails of their star. From Kevin Durant, to DJ Augustin, to AJ Abrams, the offense that Rick Barnes has run during that span has not been much more than a variety of clearouts or one-on-one opportunities. Lacking a great go-to scorer this year, Texas is going to look quite a bit different this year.

For starters, they are going to be big. Really big. It will start with 6'10", 290 lb Dexter Pittman. Pittman has the talent to be an absolute monster in this league. Arguably the strongest player in the league, Pittman is very good at establishing position in the post. When he gets the ball within seven feet, Pittman has a soft touch, which combined with his nimble feet (especially when you consider his size) make him an excellent low block scorer. Pittman's problem is, and has always been, his endurance. He was only able to log 17 mpg last season, which is not a good thing when you consider Pittman was able to average double figures in those limited minutes. If he can get into better shape (which he reportedly has been), not only will it help improve his athleticism and explosiveness but it will allow him to spend more time on the court.

Pittman, as good as he can be, won't be the best front court player for the Longhorns. That will be Damion James. For the numbers James has put up throughout his three years in Austin, he really doesn't get the national credit he deserves. The reason is probably because James has never really developed into much more than a role player, albeit an extremely good one. James is as good of an athlete as you are going to find. A strong 6'8", James is one of the better rebounders in the country despite being more of a combo forward than true power forward. Offensively, James is a threat to knock down a three, but he is most effective when putting his athleticism to work; be it cutting to the basket or attacking the offensive glass. Texas does not really have anyone that is going to be a real threat in the half court this season. If James can develop into a guy that can create his own shot, it will make Texas just that much better.

Gary Johnson is another guy that has not really received much attention during his time at Texas. Despite being just 6'6", Johnson is a load to handle inside. He is an athletic and strong kid with energy to burn, but he also added a decent 12-15 foot jumper to his repertoire last season. Johnson will likely see some time as a starter this season.

Not only will Texas be big this season, they will be deep. Three more guys will see time in the front court. Alexis Wangmene, a 6'7" sophomore, will be back after suffering a season ending knee injury last year. Wangmene is long and fairly athletic, but he is still quite raw and needs to develop a better feel for the game. Clint Chapman, a 6'10" junior, showed some signs of being an impact player last season. He is athletic, has a great motor, and plays with a lot of energy, but he needs to improve his decision making. Matt Hill is a 6'10" junior that had a promising start to his career, but has battled injuries and may struggle to really crack the rotation.

The Longhorns are going to be just as deep in the back court, but the key this season is going to be at the point. Last season, Texas had issues as no one ever emerged as a point guard capable of leading the team. Justin Mason was probably their best option last year, but he is not a point guard. He is their best perimeter defender, an excellent rebounder, and a capable play maker from the wing, he just simply never seemed to feel comfortable in the point guard role. Being able to drive and draw a defender is a a far cry from the ability to run a team. Simply put, he is most effective playing off the ball.

This season, there will be four guys competing for minutes at the point. The best of the bunch may be freshman J'Covan Brown. Brown was supposed to join Texas last season, but he had trouble gaining eligibility and ended up sitting the year out. The reason Brown might be the Longhorns best option is that is he dynamic with the ball. He can score and he can create, and on a team that will be lacking offensive explosiveness, that will be a valuable trait. Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida who will be eligible for the second semester, is probably their second best option. The son of John Lucas and brother of Oklahoma State's John Lucas III, Jai is much less of a pure scorer than Brown is expected to be, but he may be a better true point guard.

Varez Ward and Dogus Balbay were the two guys that handled the point for Texas down the stretch last season. Ward is a solid player - pretty good at setting up the offense - but he is not a great scorer or shooter and may end up being the guy lost in the shuffle. Balbay, on the other hand, can create and get to the rim, where he will finish with reckless abandon, but he is such a bad shooter that teams defended him inside the foul line when he had the ball at the top of the key.

Three freshmen will be thrown into the mix in the back court. Avery Bradley looks to be the best of the three. Bradley has drawn praise from everyone that has seen him play for his efforts on the defensive end. When he and Mason share the back court, opposing guards are going to have a rough go of it. Offensively, he is a terrific athlete that excels when playing in the open floor and slashing to the rim. If he can add a consistent three point shot, forcing defenders to respect his range, he could end up being one of the best players in the country by the time he leaves Texas.

Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams are both tall (6'7") and talented wings. Williams is still basically just an athlete, although he has gotten recognition for his perimeter shooting ability. Hamilton, on the other hand, could be a very important piece for Barnes. A gifted scorer, he has the potential to be unstoppable offensively. He is quick, athletic, a good shooter, and has a feel for being able to score. Like I said with Brown, Texas lacks explosiveness offensively, and having a guy like Hamilton that can get his own shot will be valuable.

Outlook: Texas is going to be big, deep, and tough this season, especially on the defensive end. Where they are going to run into issues are on the offensive end. Is someone going to step up and take control of the point guard spot? Will guys like James, Hamilton, and Brown be able to create their own shots in the half court? Who is going to be the proverbial zone-buster - will there be enough perimeter shooting to force teams to come out of a zone? If Barnes can find a suitable answer to those questions, Texas will have the horses to make a run at not just the Big XII title, but a national championship.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Freshman

In the one-and-done era of college basketball, the role of freshman has begun to change. No longer are they brought in to school to develop into superstars. Instead, many of the best are expected to star for and carry their respective programs from day one.

Think Greg Oden and Mike Conley, or Michael Beasley, or Kevin Durant.

But there are still plenty of coaches who recruit to fill a hole in their line-upor simply have enough talent on their roster that the freshman are not going to be asked to do more play a role, regardless of their talent level.

These are the Jrue Holidays and the Ed Davis's of the world.

Who will be this season's freshman stars? Which freshman will play the most important role's for their teams?

IMPACT FRESHMAN:

• John Wall, Kentucky: Everyone in the country should know by now what John Wall is capable of (Jerry Stackhouse sure does). Wall is a big, athletic point guard with the ability to get by just about any defender on the perimeter and finish above the rim. Wall also has the ability to find an open man if he draws an extra defender. He isn't the greatest shooter in the world, but he is effective enough that it deserves respect. Wall is the perfect fit as a guard in John Calipari's dribble-drive offense, and while he may not be the best player on Kentucky (that honor goes to Patrick Patterson until further notice), he will arguably be their most important.

John Wall will be a star from day one.
(photo credit: WUOG)

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech: Many people (including myself) are predicting the Yellow Jackets to be much improved over last season's 2-14 team. Favors is the main reason for that. He could use some polish on his offensive game, but his athleticism and strength will allow him to succeed at this level. Teaming with Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech will have a front line that few teams will be able to match-up with.
• Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton, Texas: Texas will have one of the biggest and best front lines in the country this season, but with the departure of AJ Abrams, the biggest question for Rick Barnes team is going to be where they get their perimeter scoring from. Bradley and Hamilton were two of the most highly sought after recruits in the nation, and their ability to create points (and make shots) from the perimeter will go a long way in determining whether Texas is going to be a good team or a great team.
• Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati: Stephenson's high school troubles were well-documented over the past year. From an overbearing father to questions regarding his eligibility to an arrest for allegedly groping a female classmate, "Born Ready" became the pariah of the 2009 recruiting class. He ended up at Cincinnati, which is happens to be a great fit for him. Stephenson may be the best all-around scorer in the class of '09, and when paired with senior Deonta Vaughn, he gives Mick Cronin arguably the best 1-2 punch in the Big East.
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington: Gaddy, like Stephenson, had a roller-coaster recruitment. Many originally thought he was destined for Memphis, but after a booster (who happened to be the CEO of FedEx) placed a call to Gaddy's mother (who is a customer service rep for FedEx), the Tigers seemed to back off his recruitment a bit. Gaddy then committed to Arizona, but backed out as a result of the changeover that program is going through. He ended up at U-Dub, where he will thrive in the uptempo system Lorenzo Romar runs. More importantly, his addition will allow Isaiah Thomas to get more minutes playing off the ball where is more effective.

Gaddy may be the best guard in the Pac-10 this year.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• Kenny Boynton, Florida: Billy Donovan's team lost Nick Calathes to Greece during the off-season, which left a gaping hole at the lead guard spot. While Boynton has a very different skill set than Calathes, he should come in and provide the Gators with a dominant perimeter scorer that can pay either guard spot.

MOST IMPORTANT FRESHMAN

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma: Both of these freshman will play very important roles for Jeff Capel. Gallon is a big body that will be relied upon to replace some of the production the Sooners lost with the Brothers Griffin leaving. Mason-Griffin is a tough point guard that can run a team, lead a break, and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Oklahoma's biggest deficiency last season was their lack of a true point guard, and this addition will allow Willie Warren to slide over to the off-guard spot where he can focus on being a scorer.
• Andre Dawkins, Duke: Dawkins may actually be the most important freshman in the country. Duke was looking at coming into this season with just two guards on their roster, but Dawkins, who was originally committed to the Blue Devils for the class of '10, was heading into his fifth year as a high schooler. By taking summer school classes, Dawkins was able to graduate a year early and enroll at Duke. Not only will he provide some much needed back court depth, Dawkins can play. A big time athlete, he is able to provide a scoring punch on the perimeter for Coach K. His size may be his most important tool, as he will be able to play the two, allowing Jon Scheyer to slide over to the point, where he was more effectice this past season. If Dawkins lives up to his hype, Duke should be able to compete for the ACC crown.
• Dante Taylor, Pitt: Taylor will be instrumental in keeping Pitt's streak on NCAA Tournament appearances intact. After losing their entire starting front line (Sam Young, DeJuan Blair, and Tyrell Biggs), there are going to be plenty of minutes and shots available for Taylor. Coming into a program known for their grit in the paint, Taylor will have a lot of pressure on him to produce immediately. The McDonald's all-american should be up to the task.
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn: Like Taylor, Oriakhi is going to have some big shoes to fill along UConn's front line. Oriakhi is not the prototypical UConn center we have become accostomed to. Much less athletic and no where near as good of a shot blocker as guys like Emeka Okafor, Hasheem Thabeet, or Josh Boone, Oriakhi is more of a Jeff Adrien - a workhorse in the paint that will be a load to handle on the glass. He should see minutes right away as UConn's front court will be wide open this season, and if he is able to handle the rigors of a Big East schedule, the Huskies should not experience the drop-off they usually do after a Final Four run.
• John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: While Vanderbilt did not have a great season in '08-'09, they do return everyone off of that team. One of their biggest issues last season, however, was the lack of a scoring punch on the perimeter. Jenkins will provide that, as he may already be the best shooter in the country. Adding Jenkins to a team with AJ Ogilvy, Jeff Taylor, and Jermaine Beal makes the Commodores a sleeper in the loaded SEC East.

John Jenkins will be one of the best shooters in the country as a freshman.
(photo credit: Station Camp Basketball)

• Noel Johnson, Clemson: Clemson will begin this season without a proven scorer or shooter on their perimeter as KC Rivers graduated and Terrence Oglesby has left to play pro ball in Norway. Johnson, who originally committed to USC before the Trojans meltdown, will be the guy Oliver Purnell looks to as a replacement. He is a shooter with deep range and has shown the ability to create for himself when he puts the ball on the floor. The biggest question mark thus far will be his ability to play Clemson's full court press, but given his length and athleticism that should not be a problem if he commits himself
• Peyton Siva, Louisville: With Terrence Williams and Earl Clark leaving, Edgar Sosa is left as the only kid on the Cardinals roster with the ability to create offensively in the half court. As you know, Sosa has been wildly inconsistent during his three seasons in Louisville, which is why Siva is so important. Siva joins Pitino's program with a reputation for being able to ceate scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. If Sosa is unable to handle his role as the lead playmaker on this team, look for Siva to slide in and play a major role.
  
• Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson, Illinois: The Illini leaned so heavily on seniors Chester Frazier and Trent Meachem last season. Not so much in their ability to score, as big men Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale both developed into solid scoring threats. It was the little things. Those two defended, they knocked down open shots, and most importantly they were leaders. It is the little things that Bruce Weber will be looking for from Paul and Richardson. While Paul is probably a better offensive player at this point in their respective careers, it is Richardson's defense and toughness that Weber will covet. If these two can effectively replace the departed Illini back court, it will go a long way towards keeping Illinois out of the middle of the pack in a very good Big Ten.
  

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