NBA Draft Profiles: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State

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Stats: 17.3 ppg, 14.5 rpg (5.7 off.), 2.3 bpg, 1.9 spg, 62.3% FG

Age: 21, senior

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 225 lb
• Official: 6'6" (no shoes), 6'6.75" (with shoes), 7'0" (wingspan), 9'0" (reach), 225 lb

Strengths: You know what you are going to get with Faried. There may not be a harder worker in the country than Faried. He runs the floor, he dives on the ground for loose balls, he is a willing and capable defender (although this was tough to judge, Morehead State played zone), and -- most notably -- he is a voracious rebounder, setting the NCAA's all-time record in that category this season. While Faried feasted on OVC competition throughout his career, he had more than enough big performances against quality competition -- for example, the 20 points and 18 boards he had against Florida or the 15 points and 12 boards he had despite foul trouble against Ohio State -- for NBA-types to be comfortable in assuming that Faried's success wasn't just a manifestation of the level he played college basketball at.

Weaknesses: Faried is a sensational rebounder, but sensational rebounders and blue-collar heroes do not an NBA star make. Faried is under 6'7" with shoes on, which makes him closer to the size of a shooting guard than the size of an NBA post player. He's a very strong young man, but he still only checks in at 225 lb. That lack of ideal size can be overlooked given Faried's length, athleticism, and aggressiveness, however. What is more disconcerting is that Faried doesn't have much of an offensive game beyond dunking the ball. He's got a decent right-handed hook, but beyond that he doesn't have many post moves and he has almost no mid-range or face-up game.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: The obvious and glaring comparison is Dennis Rodman. The Worm was outsized every time he stepped on the floor, but he still ended up being one of the best rebounders and defenders at his position during his career. That's a high ceiling for Faried. A more realistic best-case is probably somewhere around a Udonis Haslem, an undersized four that does a lot of dirty work.


• Worst Case Scenario: A player of the Mark Madsen, Louis Admundson ilk. A hard-working energy guy off the bench that sees minutes in short spurts.

Outlook: Faried is already a success story. An under recruited prospect out of the hood in Newark, NJ, Faried ended up at Morehead State, which was one of the only schools to offer him a scholarship. All the success he has at at the Kentucky school has come while his mother is back home battling a bad case of Lupus with her wife. The fact Faried has made it from Newark to Morehead State to the first round of the NBA Draft is incredible in its own right. But don't expect this young man to quit while he's ahead. I've paid close attention to Faried the past three years, and there are few players I've seen that consistently play as hard as him. Yes, he'll need to add to his offensive repertoire to ever be more than role player, but there are not many players in the NBA willing and able to defend, rebound, and win the 50-50 balls.

Draft Range: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "For the past two years, we've listed Faried in the "sleeper" category. No more. NBA scouts know him well, and many believe he'll be a lottery pick on draft night. His energy and knack for grabbing rebounds is elite -- some go so far to say Dennis Rodman-esque."


• Draft Express: "Slightly undersized, limited offensively, and inexperienced defensively, Faried has a fair share of question marks. However, he has a clear NBA-level skill, and the type of motor coaches dream of, which can't be said for every prospect. Expecting him to come in and emerge as a major impact player early in his career is a stretch, but Faried certainly seems to have the tools to fill a Louis Amundson-type role for a team looking for a workhorse to infuse their team with energy off the bench. If he works on his weaknesses and adapts to the professional game, Faried could live up to the lofty expectations he's set for himself with his outstanding college career."


• Swish Scout: "Excellent combination of length, strength, athleticism, and motor that helps him excel on the boards and defensive playmaking. Undersized for an NBA post player and very raw offensively, but should be a solid hustle player in the league."

Highlights:




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Kenneth Faried the next Dennis Rodman?

Mark Adams of ESPN.com wrote a terrific piece on the underrated Kenneth Faried of Morehead State.

Faried is a 6'8" 230 lb post player that is putting up some fantastic numbers this season -- 18.5 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg, and 2.8 bpg, including 20 points and 18 boards against Florida and 15 points and 12 boards against Ohio State. His last two times out, he's finished with 20 rebounds. He's been on the radar for college hoops fans since the Eagles put a scare into Louisville in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

He's also been drawing the attention of NBA scouts, who no doubt love his hustle, his length, and the fact that he won't need to have plays called for him at the next level. Finding a player that is willing to go out, defend, and attack the glass is rare in the league these days.

He's always reminded me a bit of Louis Admunson, formerly of the UNLV Rebels. Billy Donovan made another in the Adams article that stood out to me:

"That's Dennis Rodman all over again," Donovan said. "If I was an NBA general manager I'd be taking him with my pick. That's what a next-level guy looks like. He just totally destroyed our frontcourt. ... That was definitely an incredible performance by a terrific player."

Its an interesting comparison. The Worm didn't care about his point. He was willing to defend and hit the glass with the best of them. He was also a bit undersized, like Faried, and came out of a small school. Let's just hope that Faried never colors his hair like Rodman did.

Faried will be one of the more intriguing prospects at this June's draft.

For those that haven't had a chance to see Faried play lately, his Morehead State squad will be taking on fellow Ohio Valley powerhouse Murray State tonight at 8:00 pm on ESPN3.com.
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It's all about the flow: A season worth of ridiculous hairdos

The golden rule of athletic competition is as follows: "To play good, you have to look good." Everything from color coordination of your shoes and socks, to how many buttons you snap up on your warm-up pants. Being a male-dominated sport, you would think that hair care would be one of the appearances that isn't strongly taken care of by guys running up and down a court for 40 minutes. Needless to say, hoops players are expressing themselves more than ever via the hairdo.

In the 1970s, hoops was dominated by black players with afros and white players with crew cuts and flowing locks. The 1980s saw the rise (and subsequent fall) of the fade, the mustache and afro. The 1990s were an era of change. The early part of the decade was dominated by the gheri-curl and high top fades. But sometime exactly after Allen Iverson entered the NBA, cornrows became the hairdo rage throughout the Association. I'm not going to say A.I was the developer of the cornrow, but he definitely was a pioneer. Yeah that's right, Allen Iverson was a pioneer of athletic hairstyle.

But Something happened in the new millennium. Players started to not give a damn, and thus, we were given some of the most bizarre hairdos we had ever seen. Maryland's Bambale Osby and Illinois State's Osiris Eldridge immediately come to mind. This season has been no different. Players from across the country are spending time off the court preparing their domes for game day. Some of the hairdos are cool, some intriguing, and others are down-right hilarious.

We here at BIAH pride ourselves on researching the unnecessary or unimportant. That is why it gives me great honor to present you with our list of the most ridiculous and intriguing hairdos of the 2009-2010 season. If you find any hairdos that you think deserve recognition, email contactBIAH@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter.


Alex Richman - Prairie View A&M

Alex Richman has the most ridiculous hairdo in college basketball. End of story. Take a look at this guy, and come back to this post and convince me that you didn't fall over laughing when looking at this guys picture. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Richman whatsoever, but this is just ridiculously absurd. What are those? dreadlocks? cornrows? extensions? If Alex Richman wasn't born in a hippie commune, then we have some serious questions that need to be answered.


I mean first of all, he's white. Now, not that white athletes cannot sport cornrows/dreadlocks/extensions, but if you are going to go that route, you have to be damn sure you can pull it off, and unfortunately, I don't think our friend here can. Second of all, even if he were not white, this hairdo would still look ridiculous. It looks like he has beads woven in at the bottom of each dread a la the Williams sisters in the late 90s. But despite what we think about Alex Richmond's hairdo we must be able to recognize that his is the best in all of college basketball. It doesn't matter if he got it braided on a spring break cruise to the Bahamas or not. It's just ridiculous.

But in all fairness, Richman should get some recognition for his basketball skills. He hit eight 3-pointers in a game last year against, wait for it, Southwestern Assemblies of God University. I'm not sure if he takes that as a compliment or an insult.


Sean Atupem - Mt. St. Marys

Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor, nay a privilege, to introduce you to Sean Atupem. If you are unfamiliar with Atupem's work, don't be discouraged because, as the fourth leading scorer (which actually doesn't make you a leading scorer at all) for Mt. St. Mary’s his game doesn't exactly get him nationwide recognition. However, Atupem is the owner of the one of the best heads of hair in the entire college hoops world. A cross between Nino Brown from New Jack City and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Atupem's hair is single-handily bringing the mid-80's signature hairdo back in style. I had a chance to see Atupem live in action, and I spent 40 minutes staring at nothing but his awe-inspiring hairdo. Seriously people, it's a sight to see. Somewhere in the world Wesley Snipes is shedding a single tear.


The hairdo phenomenon that swept through college basketball last year was that ridiculously stupid fo-hawk that everybody and their mothers had. But this year, we are seeing a surprising amount of flat-tops, a much more appropriate hairdo selection for college hoops, hearkening back to the age of hi-socks, hi-tops, and booty shorts. Sean Atupem could never score another basket for the rest of his career and I would be totally satisfied with the contribution he made to college basketball.


Stanley Robinson - UConn

If it not for our previous two entries, "Sticks" would be in total control of "Best Head of Hair". He has a combination of creativity and style. He likes to mix up his hairdo, sometimes rocking long cornrows that run down his neck, the "Allen Iverson" cornrow swirl, and even his current concoction, "the thoroughbred". Seriously, I saw Robinson up close earlier this month and his head looks like a manicured mane of a race horse. But "Sticks" does just about whatever he wants on the court, so I won't further question his style.



Steven Gray - Gonzaga

Often confused for Lionel Ritchie, Gray has one of the more impressive heads of hair in the country. At the beginning of the season, he chose to wear his hair out, in a lightly-picked afro/beard combination that got two thumbs up from yours truly and made some question how long he's been secretly starring in the Geico caveman commercials. Currently, Gray is experimenting with some sort of LeVance Fields-esque cornrowed dreadlocks. Nonetheless BIAH supports all decisions made concerning hair follicles of Steven Gray.


Gary McGhee - Pittsburgh

When the Panther's big man stands on the court, people notice him. Not because of his boxed 6'10, 250lb frame, but because he has the same head of hair that made Medusa famous. Seriously it looks like he has garter snakes coming out of his head. One would think a hairdo like this would become troublesome trying to control it on the court, but McGhee seems to be doing just fine. He does keep his tuft of hair wrapped up pretty tight, and it almost looks like a big broccoli stalk you get at the grocery store. I like McGhee's 'do because he keeps it under control. If the braids were any longer, they would sway back and forth and get in peoples eyes and other not-very-fun aspects of playing sports against people with long hair.


Take a good look at McGhee, and tell me you don't immediately think of the "predator".


Kenneth Faried - Morehead State

Kenny Faried has more hair per volume than anyone in the country. I used to confused him with Whoopi Goldberg. From a far it might look like Faried has the full "Steven Segal" jet-black pony-tail. But up close, his head of hair looks like it belongs on a Marley.


Matt Bouldin - Gonzaga

Steven Gray's partner-in-crime is also the owner of the trademark Gonzaga shag. If you are white, a good shooter, and play at Gonzaga, you are responsible to carry on the tradition that is the Gonzaga shag. Dan Dickau had it, Adam Morrison had it, and for what seems like 7 years, Matt Bouldin has had it. The hairdo is about as much of a staple of the Gonzaga program as winning the WCC is. Bouldin's hairdo is somewhere to the right of the lacrosse flow and to the left of the Frodo Baggins bowl cut.


My problem with his hairdo is that it always looks like a wet mop. I mean, I sweat a lot, but I swear, Bouldin's hair is soaking wet well before tip-off every game. But I don't know, maybe he's just a sweaty guy. As somebody who perspires just waiting for take-out food, I can tell you, some people don't need a reason to sweat. It just happens. There is no answer for the question "why do you sweat so much?" I don't know, can you direct that question towards my endocrine system? My personality isn't in control of that function. This seems to be the same case with Bouldin, I think. But I digress. No more lecturing on perspiration. I swear.


Edgar Sosa - Louisville

The senior guard at Louisville makes this list for one reason: his shape-up. Over the years I have become enamored with Edgar Sosa's head. I kid you not, every time Sosa steps on the floor, he has a brand new, freshly-cut shape-up. Sosa's guard play has been shaky at times, but we cannot question his loyalty and commitment to making sure he looks fresh-to-death when he steps on the court. Often confused for hip-hop sensation Drake, Sosa is "last name ever, first name greatest" when it comes to looking fresh on the hardwood.



Brock Young - East Carolina

I'm not going to lie to you. I don't know that much about Brock Young. I stumbled across his name doing some research and I was pleasantly surprised. Young has a lot of hair, like some of previous entries. What makes Young different is that he decided to not really do anything special with it. Young is clearly being economic. He knows it costs money and time to have his hair done, so he instead slicks it back, tightly supports it and goes to work. I like this guy's style.


Greivis Vasquez - Maryland

Vasquez just recently re-adjusted his hairdo so he is some-what of a late addition. It appears that he is now rocking some sort of reverse mullet/mohawk. Perhaps it was the change in hairdos that has sparked Vasquez's resurgence as one of the best guards in the country. I've never been a fan of Greivis, but this new hairdo of his gets two thumbs up from yours truly. Now I won't be as hesitant to change channels when the Terps are on. Plus, Cristiano Renaldo would be very jealous.


Michael Dixon Jr. - Missouri

Here we have a more controlled version of Alex Richman's disaster. Mr. Dixon sports nine thick cornrows that run from forehead all the way to his neck. I've never been a fan of these type of cornrows, as I would prefer a picked-out afro instead. But whatever, it's not my decision. If Michael Dixon wants to look like Da Brat, that’s fine with me.


Alex Tyus - Florida

I imagine this is what Gary McGhee's hair would look like if he didn't keep it under control. Tyus makes the list because he has added a nice goatee to go along with his wildman hairdo. I would not want to have to fight for a rebound with this guy, for fear of getting whipped in the face by 20 pairs of shoelaces. But the best part about the Tyus mane is his receding hairline. Seriously, at some point, some has to sit down with this young man, and explain to him that he is losing his hair. I find myself wondering if they fall out one braid at a time.


Marquis Navarre - Montana State

Oh man is this an awesome hairdo. It slightly resembles Sean Atupem's but clearly, Mr. Navarre's hairdo is much taller and more extravagant than Atupem's. I mean, this guy has the gusto to use this haircut as his everyday hairdo, and I commend him for that. I imagine that Kid n' Play do as well. Anyone up for a House Party?


I mean, Sean Atupem's hairdo is awesome, but Marquis' might actually be better. It's got to be at least five inches in height, but it stays the same thickness the whole way, plus he's got the solid delineation between scalp and hair line. I didn't go to barber college, but in my best guesstimation, I'd say that Marquis Navarre has terrific hair.


Doneal Mack - Memphis

Mack has become the NCAA poster boy for shaved head designs. It is very hard to keep up with Mack, because it seems like every game he has a new portrait etched onto the back of his skull. If anyone has insight as to what exactly is on the side/back of Doneal Mack's head please let us now, as it is likely to change soon.


Ater Majok - UConn

In his second year as a member of the Huskies (first as a contributor), Majok decided to step his game up. Not only on the court, but in the presentation department. He got rid of his tight afro in favor of a cornrow style once supported by Stanley Robinson. But Majok's dome is much larger than Robinson's so the hairdo looks completely different.


At a first glance, my initial reaction was that Majok played the alien alongside Sigourney Weaver (which made his matchup with Gary McGhee last week Alien vs. Predator, how did ESPN not market this?!?), but after watching Majok play more often, I have determined that he best resembles another killing machine: DeeJay from Street Fight II. Then again, DeeJay hails from Jamaica, and Majok is from Australia via Sudan. So once again my reference is not at all close. Oh well, I tried.


Derrick Caracter - UTEP

By no means is Caracter the only player in the country sporting this hairdo. In fact, too many players are sporting this hairdo. Caracter makes the list because his mohawk is more defined than any other in the country (of course, I challenge you to prove me wrong). I hate these "fo-hawk" hairdos. If you are going to rock the mohawk, you have to give it 100%. Great Americans like Mr. T represented the mohawk with dignity and class. You wouldn't want to piss off Mr. T, would you?


Derrick Caracter pities all you fools for doubting his comeback.


Devin Booker - Clemson

The younger brother of power forward Trevor Booker, Devin has done a tremendous job stepping out from behind big brother's shadow. How you ask? By sporting one of the coolest hairdos of the season.



(I couldn't find a better picture, but either trust me or watch a Clemson game, because the party is definitely in the back.)

Like I mentioned early, fo-hawks are pretty lame, but properly done mohawks can be spectacular. What Devin has created on his dome-piece is of spectacular design and quality. B.A Baracus would be very very proud of what Devin has done to his head. I'm a big fan of eccentric mohawks having tried one myself during my sophomore season in college. In Fact, Booker's haircut is probably the closet thing I've seen that resembles the mohawk I created. The one knock on Booker's hairdo is that the actual 'hawk on the top isn't that defined. Regardless, I commend Devin for even attempting something this bold, so I will look past the meager 4 ppg that he's averaging and just applaude him for his rediculously awesome haircut.


Renaldo Woolridge - Tennessee

The man they call "Swiperboy" has been playing tremendous basketball as of late, not to mention laying down some pretty popular tracks. But it wasn't his lines or his jumper that caught my eye. I'm not sure exactly how Woolridge got his dreads so small yet compact, but I imagine it took a considerable ammount of work.



I have so far been unable to think of anyone who has ever had a hairdo like this. Maybe Hasheem Thabeet? Baylor's Tweety Carter had small dreads, but they were a still allot longer than Woolridge's. Well regardless of it's originality, Renaldo's hairdo is pretty dope, to go along with his rising popularity and court pressence. I'd say that it's pretty good to be "Swiperboy" the past week or so.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Overlooked Stars

Utah State's Gary Wilkinson averaged 17 and 7 for the Aggies as they won 30 games last season and came a couple possessions away from upsetting Marquette in the NCAA tourney's first round.

Had you ever heard of him?

Dionte Christmas was one of the most explosive scorers in the country as a senior, averaging 19.5 ppg in leading Temple to the Big Dance with a season's worth of performance's like this.

But was he on anyone's all-american lists?

Craig Brackins averaged close to 20 and 10 for Iowa State as a sophomore last season, but I'm willing to bet the first time you will see Brackins play is when the Cyclones play Duke on ESPN2 in January.

Every season, the college basketball landscape is littered with talented kids that, for whatever reason, never make it into the national consciousness. Who will be this season's Overlooked Stars?

Evan Turner, Ohio State: I debated whether or not to put Turner on this list, as most pundits will have Turner somewhere on their all-american teams. I eventually decided to keep him here because, well, to the general public, Turner is still a fresh face. For a guy as talented as Turner is, it is a bit puzzling that he hasn't garnered more of a profile. The reason for that may be because Turner doesn't have a stand out skill. You hear about a guy like Stanley Robinson because he can dunk; Jarvis Varnado because he can blocks shots; Sherron Collins because he is a big time scorer, especially in the clutch. Turner's game is based on versatility - a 6'7" forward that averaged 17.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg, Turner will be playing a lot of minutes as Ohio State point guard this year. Turner is arguably the best all-around player in the country, a guy that deserves a spot as a first-team all-american. It is time he gets that much credit.

Despite being a 6'7" forward, Turner will see time running the point this year.
(photo credit: Times Union blog)

Terrico White, Mississippi: Ole Miss could not catch a break last season. They lost three players (two starters including star point guard Chris Warren) to season-ending knee injuries and head coach Andy Kennedy was arrested after hurling racial slurs, and then fists, at a cab driver in Cincinnati. But if those players had not gotten injured, Kennedy may have never found out what he had in Terrico White. White, who was the SEC's freshman of the year before an impressive performance for the U-19 national team, is a terrific athlete who managed to average 13.7 ppg while playing out of position as the Rebels lead guard. With Warren back in the mix, White's scoring numbers may not make a huge jump, but with an off-season's worth of work, expect White to be one of the best all-around two guards in the SEC.

Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: Last season, Matt Bouldin played on arguably the most talented Gonzaga team to date. With guys like Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt, and Austin Daye on the roster, Bouldin played more of a complimentary role, as he is a heady player and a good passer. With those three guys gone, this will be Bouldin's team. Offensively, Bouldin is one of the best all-around wings that you will find. His game is based off of his ability to put the ball on the floor. He has a good mid-range game, is a smart passer that significantly cut down his turnovers last season, and has developed a dead-eye three point shot. While Gonzaga maybe a bit down compared to the last few seasons, don't be surprised if Bouldin posts impressive numbers as the Zags make another NCAA Tournament.

Devan Downey, South Carolina: There are few players in the country that can post the numbers that Downey does - 19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.9 spg. While some of that can be attributed to the faster pace that Darrin Horn's Gamecocks play, it become all the more impressive when you consider Downey is all of 5'9". Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kid. He takes a lot of shots, and a lot of tough shots at that (he often settles for tough threes or forces shots in the lane), but when he is hitting them, he is one of the most fun players in the country to watch. Any given night, Downey can explode for 30.

Kenneth Faried, Morehead State: Faried was one of the best rebounders in the country last year. Despite playing at a low-major, Faried's length, athleticism, and incredible motor has him on NBA Draft boards after averaging 13.9 ppg and 13.0 rpg as a sophomore. Faried's offensive game could use quite a bit of development still, but expect another season chock full of double-doubles. Faried will get quite a test early in the season, as the Eagles open the season at Rupp Arena against Kentucky.

Kenneth Faried made a believer out of Rick Pitino in last year's first round.
(photo credit: MSU Eagles nation)

Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack, Butler: Sure, you may know that Butler is all over pre-season top 10 lists. But can you name their three stars? Howard is a 6'8" horse on the block that is as good in the low post as anyone in the country. Hayward is a lights out shooter, but as a 6'8" wing with less-than-ideal athleticism, he thrives on a wide variety of shot-fakes, jab steps, and crafty dribble moves. Mack is a tough point guard that defends and rebounds well, but also showed the ability to be a big time scorer for the Bulldogs. These three guys should be household names by February.

Talor Battle, Penn State: While the Nittany Lions did not quite make it back to the NCAA Tournament last season, they were actually relevant down the stretch for the first time in recent memory. A huge reason for that was the play of Talor Battle. Battle's game is based around his perimeter shot, and while he could stand to improve its consistency, one thing that you can't question is his ability to stick shots in the clutch. Battle runs the point for Penn State, and if he can improve on his passing ability, especially once he gets into the lane and draws an extra defender or two, he could be the best point guard in the conference not named Kalin Lucas.

Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt: Taylor was one of the best freshman you never heard about last year. Averaging over 12 points and 6 boards per, Taylor projects as more of a small forward despite playing a lot of minutes as Vandy's four last season. Taylor is one of the most athletic players in the SEC, and will provide the Commodores with defense and energy. But with an off-season to work on developing his offensive game, Taylor could turn into one of the best all-around forwards in the SEC. That potential is a big reason Vandy is picked as a sleeper in a deep SEC East.

Rodney Green, La Salle: A lot of people are predicting La Salle to make some noise in the A-10, and Green is a big reason why. Green is one of the best scorer's in the conference, averaging 17.8 ppg while using his size and strength to get to the rim and draw contact. Green stuffs the stat sheet - 5.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.9 spg, but also 3.3 t/o's, which is a bigger problem when you consider Green spent some time running the point. If he can cut down on some of those turnovers, La Salle could make a tournament run which would put Green in the conversation as the best player in Philly.

Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Delaney has been putting up solid numbers for a few years for Seth Greenburg, but he was overshadowed by talents like AD Vassallo and Deron Washington. As a junior, this Virginia Tech team will be Delaney's to lead. Delaney has talent to burn. At 6'3", he has excellent size and athleticism to be a combo guard. His quick first step allows him to beat just about any defender off the dribble in either direction. He also has an excellent three-point stroke, although he tends to force up contested shots from deep. Virginia Tech is down this season, but Delaney is talented enough to carry this team to the dance.

Malcolm Delaney will put up impressive numbers as the star of the Hokies this year.
(photo credit: flickr)

Jerome Randle, Cal: Most people are going to say that Washington has the best guards on the West Coast. While that may be true, there is a pretty good player down in Berkeley that should make some reconsider. Randle (who might be my favorite player in the country) is generously listed at 5'9", but he is blessed with outstanding speed and quickness. It is ability to change speeds, however, that makes him so effective. Difficult to stay in front of as you have to respect his jumper out to 25 feet, Randle is excellent at getting into the lane and finding an open man or finishing amongst the trees.

Others to watch:

• Trevor Booker, Clemson
  
• Aubrey Coleman, Houston
• James Florence, Mercer
  
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
• Troy Jackson, Alcorn State
  

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Way Too Early NBA Draft Post - Who Helped and Who Hurt Their Stock This Weekend

For the sake of this post, we are going to assume that everyone is declaring for the draft. Since we are discussing draft stock, we can assume that everyone is eligible because, well, they are. I'm a firm believer that a player's hype can influence their draft position because I feel like a lot of GM's will draft someone "hot" because it will appease their fan base. Right or wrong, a good NCAA Tournament, where a player excels in front of a national audience, can give people a false impression of how good that player will be. Think Joe Alexander.

Who Hurt Themselves:

• James Harden, Arizona State: Harden can score at the collegiate level. There is no doubt about that, as he has put up some phenomenal numbers in his two years in Tempe. There have really been two knocks on Harden throughout his career as a Sun Devil. The first is that he lacks the explosiveness to be a franchise caliber scorer in the league. He does not have a great vertical, and when he does score going to the rim, it is more the result of his craftiness than the ability to dunk on people (Gerald Henderson he is not). In the two games this weekend, he did not really finish around the rim, instead drawing fouls and getting to the line (he shot 17 free throws in the two games). Against more athletic defenders, he may not be able to draw these fouls.
  
  The other issue is that he is not aggressive enough. Harden has a tendency to "let the game come to him", meaning he does not utilize his tremendous talent by attacking defenders from the tip. He did not look aggressive in either game this weekend. It was less of an issue against Temple, because both Derek Glasser and Jeff Pendergraph were really clicking offensively. But against Syracuse he looked downright passive. Yes, a lot of that had to do with amount of focus he was being given by the Syracuse defense (Rihard Kuksiks and Ty Abbott both were left open all game by Syracuse, as the Orange decided to let the Sun Devils try and shoot themselves back into the game). He did not score a point in the first half against Syracuse, and although he did start to make things happen in the second half, it was too little too late. He is being projected by most places as a top-5 pick, which is a range where teams will try to find a franchise player, or at least a go-to scorer. Will a team be willing to use a pick that high on a guy that has not shown the ability (or desire) to take over a game when the team needs him to?


• Austin Daye, Gonzaga: Daye has all the tools that you would look for in a player. He is 6'10" and long with an inside and outside game. After a good freshman campaign, a lot was expected out of Daye this year. But he has been inconsistent, especially against quality competition. He went for 22 against Arizona and 20 against Tennessee this year, but he was a non-factor in the loss to Memphis, fouled out against UConn, and did not play well in any of the three games against St. Mary's.
  
  Yes, Daye has looked a bit less athletic than he did last year, but he did deal with some knee injuries in the off-season. And the lack of strength on his frame is always going to be a question mark, but he is just 19 years old (looks like he is 15) and that should improve as he continues to fill out (toughness is an issue as well. Watch the video of the end of the WKU game, and see who Pettigrew out hustles for the tip-in that tied the game). But the biggest issue has been his attitude. Daye has a tendency to to sulk when things aren't going his way, be it because he is missing shots or not getting calls. That is what was most prevalent about his two performances this weekend. Daye seemingly whined about every call that didn't go his way. If he can't handle it at this level, what is going to happen in the NBA, where unproven young players get even fewer calls?


• Jeff Teague, James Johnson, and Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Two months ago, all three of these guys seemed destined for the lottery. Wake was running people off the floor, and each of these guys were shining. But ever since teams figured out how to play Wake (pack it in defensively, slow the pace, and force them to shoot jumpers and score in the half court), the Demon Deacons were nothing more than mediocre. All three of these guys are fantastic athletes and damn near unstoppable in an open court, up and down game. But it has become apparent that they all need some serious work on their basketball skills - handle, shooting, etc.
  
  Teague has probably dropped the most of the three. He was on fire for the early part of the season, but his threes did not fall down the stretch. He also was exposed as a shaky ball-handler, play maker, and decision maker down the stretch. Case in point - he committed seven turnovers and was able to take just seven shots against Cleveland State in the biggest game of his Wake career.


• Hasheem Thabeet, UConn: There is no question that Thabeet is a defensive force in the paint unlike many others. But the question is his offensive ability and his toughness inside, especially against bigger, stronger players (see his 5 point, 4 rebound performance against DeJuan Blair in their first match-up). It was more of the same for Thabeet against a big, strong Texas A&M front line. He finished with just six boards, taking only two shots from the field, and, as he has been all too often against players with NBA size and strength, was basically a non-factor on the offensive end.


• Luke Nevill, Utah: Nevill has NBA size (7'2", 260 lb), but the numbers he put up as the MWC player of the year this season came against, well, the MWC. Nevill has a decent post game offesively, and while he can't really go left yet, a team might have taken a risk on him simply because of his size. But the biggest knock on Nevill is his lack of athleticism - he is not very quick, especially laterally, and can't jump all that high. Doubters have questioned whether or not he will be able to match-up with NBA big men. He had a chance to prove them wrong against the athletic front line of Arizona, headlined by potential top 10 pick Jordan Hill, but Nevill looked completely over matched. He was in foul trouble the entire game as he could not match-up with the athletic Hill.
  

Who Helped Themselves:

• Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich has the size, strength, and skill set to be a good NBA center, and he only reinforced those notions with his performance in the first two rounds. He was unstoppable on the block against North Dakota State, which was to be expected as the Bison have a small front line. It was already known, however, that Aldrich had an excellent upside as an offensive player - he has a great touch on his jump shot, is extremely coordinated for someone his size (think about all the difficult oops he has caught this year), and while he still is not a great scorer going 1-on-1 on the block, that can come with time. Against Dayton, however, Aldrich put up as dominating of a performance on the defensive end as we have seen all year (and that is including Thabeet). While no one is in Thabeet's league when it comes to defense, Aldrich is 6'11" with a huge wingspan and phenomenal timing (and the ability to avoid foul trouble - he averages just 3.8 fouls per 40 minutes). Aldrich has the potential to be an above average defensive center, and while he is still developing offensively, he good be a more appealing prospect than Thabeet because he can contribute on both sides of the ball.


• Ben Woodside, North Dakota State: Woodside was probably not on many people's radar before his 60 point game against Stephen F. Austin, but he has had an excellent career, averaging at least 16.4 ppg and 5.1 apg in every season at NDSU. This season was by far his best, as he was top 10 nationally were averages of 23.2 ppg and 6.2 apg. The problem was that he did it against poor competition playing in the Summit League (he did average 15 ppg and 8 apg against USC and Minnesota this season). But in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Woodside had a coming out party. He went for 37 points, going basket for basket with Sherron Collins. Woodside is not going to be a star in the league. He is small, even for a point guard, and will be a liability on the defensive end. But Woodside can be an effective player. While not all that fast, he is deceptively quick and has a knack for being able to get in the lane (he got just about any shot he wanted - be it a jumper or getting to the rim - against Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor, two fine defenders). He is a deadeye shooter off the dribble or the catch and can create for his teammates as well. I'm sure that some team will take a flyer on him in the second round or through free agency, and his performance against Collins will be a huge reason why. Is this guy another Jose Juan Barea?


• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State: Faried is in a similar situation to Woodside, in that he was a virtual unknown before a good tournament performance. Faried put up some great numbers this season, averaging 13.7 ppg and 13.0 rpg. He is an extremely active, high energy guy, and a capable defender (2 steals and 2 blocks per game). While he doesn't quite have ideal NBA size (he is only 6'8"), he has some serious hops and, as I said, plays with a ton of energy. Some people are comparing him to Louis Admunson, an energy guy that not many people had heard of outside of UNLV, but who has managed to latch on with the Pheonix Suns. Offensively, he is not much more than a dunker at this point (and may never be more than a dunker), but the 14 points and 21 boards he had in the play-in game, and the 14 points and 11 boards he had against Louisville, definitely put him on the NBA's radar. He is only a sophomore, so if he can continue to develop his strength (only 215 lb), you might be looking at a future pro.


• Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner is already considered a solid first round pick. He does so many things well. Despite the loss to Siena, Turner proved it on a national stage, as he finished the game with 25 points, 9 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Turner grew an inch between his freshman and sophomore years (he now stands at 6'7", great size for an NBA wing), and he has good length for his position. What makes him such a tantalizing prospect is how smooth he is. He is one of those guys that just makes everything he does on a basketball court seem effortless. He is not the most explosive guy in the world (he runs into trouble when he has to finish at the rim) but his mid-range game and pull-up jumper is already quite developed. He is a crafty player that utilizes fakes and hesitation moves to overcome his relative lack of quickness. Turner reminds me a lot of a guy like Danny Granger - a player that will fall through the cracks in the draft because he doesn't do anything great, but because he is so versatile and does so many things well, don't be surprised if he turns into a very good player at the next level, especially if he keeps improving the range on his jump shot. Turner said he is coming back after OSU lost, but don't be surprised if he changes his mind as the draft nears
  


• Demar Derozan, USC: Derozan may have helped his draft status as much as anyone over the last two weeks of his freshman campaign. He had a disappointing freshman year prior to March. You know about his off-the-charts athleticism, but he didn't seem to have the confidence in his ability. But he carried USC through the Pac-10 tourney (averaging 21 and 9 boards) and into the dance, where he put 18 on both Michigan State and Boston College. While he is still far from an NBA player because of his under developed offense repertoire (he can't really get to the basket in a half court set just yet, and his ball handling is very poor), he showed much improved aggressiveness, especially going to the glass. He also seems like the kind of player that will develop a very good jump shot down the road. He has great form, and he gets some serious elevation on his J, which will make it very difficult to defend. While he could really use another season at USC to continue his development on the offensive end, don't be surprised if his performance in March leads him to the draft, and even into the top 10.
  

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