First
Round Scouting Reports
(Foreign Players Not Included)
Point
Guards
D'Angelo
Russell, Freshman SG Ohio St.
D'Angelo
Russell is the player most ready to make an impact in the NBA right
away. He's a
scoring
machine who puts the ball in the basket in every way imaginable, but
he's much more than just a scorer. He's a tremendous ball-handler
with great vision, and he throws every pass with the perfect timing
and proper amount of velocity. He has an extremely high basketball
IQ with the instincts to make the right play on the fly. Russell is
a great 3-point shooter, and he'll make you pay nearly every time if
you give him a clean look. He can get to the rim and finish with
precision touch, or stop short with a pull-up jumper or floater.
He's quick enough to get by you, and crafty enough to get you off
balance and out of position. He can pretty much get whatever he
wants whenever he wants on the offensive end.
His
Ohio State team lacked a lot of other offensive options, so he often
saw double and sometimes triple teams. While he did force some shots
when his team was struggling to score, he usually made the right
decision and found open teammates. Unfortunately they usually missed
the shot.
D'Angelo
is a fierce competitor with extreme confidence, and he always wants
the big shot and thrives on the big stage. This kid has star
potential written all over him, and a lot of what he does reminds me
of Steph Curry. He's long and has good instincts defensively, but I
think he's only beginning to scratch the surface of what he could do
on that end of the floor. He showed the ability to dominate
defensively at times this season, and I believe he has the potential
to be great in this area as well. Russell is the kind of guy you can
build a team around, and I'd seriously consider taking him with the
#1 pick in this year's draft.
Jerian
Grant, Senior PG Notre Dame
If
D'Angelo Russell is off the board and I'm looking to draft a point
guard in this year's NBA draft, Jerian Grant would be at or near the
top of my list. After Russell he's the most ready to play in the NBA
right away. He's the only other point guard who has developed all
the skills necessary to succeed at the highest level right now, and
I'd feel very comfortable taking him to run my team.
Grant
makes great decisions and has a tremendous feel for the game. Very
few players instinctively make the right play nearly all the time,
and Grant is one of these players. He understands the nuances of the
game, and has the ability to mold the floor to get what he wants.
He's
extremely long and athletic with tremendous ball handling skills.
This allows him to get pretty much wherever he wants whenever he
wants offensively, an attribute that opens up tons of options for
everyone on the team. He can easily get by his man, and once he does
he has the ability to hurt the defense in every way imaginable.
Grant
is an explosive athlete who can drive to the basket and finish above
the rim. He also possesses a good floater and a deadly mid-range
pull-up game, complete with all kinds of off-balance shots and angled
finishes. He has the ability to make difficult shots from all over
the floor, and I believe he'll be a very good 3-point shooter in the
NBA as well.
If
the help rotates to Jerian, he has a great ability to find the open
man. Grant has elite vision and just knows where the ball needs to
go, and he usually makes the optimal choice. He has a very good feel
for knowing what his team needs from him at a given time, and he's
not afraid to take over at the end with the game on the line. He's a
very good rebounder from the point guard position, and stuffs the
stat sheet with steals and assists on a nightly basis. At times he
can be a lock-down defender, but this statement leads me to my one
concern with Jerian Grant.
He
can be too passive for my liking at times. Sometimes it seemed like
Grant was content just being out there, passing the ball around
offensively and sagging back off his man defensively. While he still
played with a high IQ during these stretches, he failed to impose his
will on the game. Since I believe that relentless aggression and
the will to dominate all the time is a trait that the very best
possess, this is the one area where Grant is limited.
Cameron
Payne, Sophomore PG Murray St.
Cameron
Payne is also a candidate for my #2 point guard spot. He's very long
with good size and length, but his extreme competitiveness and
confidence is what makes him elite. Payne wants to win as much as
anyone, and he imposes his will on the game like very few players do.
He may have games where he doesn't shoot well or turns it over too
often, but you'll never see Payne playing too passively or lacking
belief in himself.
Much
like Russell Westbrook, Cameron Payne can be overaggressive at times
and get himself in some tough spots. He sometimes tries to do too
much, but I'd much rather have a guy like him then someone who
doesn't always play hard or seemingly doesn't care. You can be sure
you'll never have to question his effort or fight.
Cameron
Payne is very athletic and possesses nearly every skill you'd want
from a starting point guard. He's great off the dribble, and once
he blows by his opponent he has an array of options at his disposal.
He attacks the rim with fearless aggression, but he also has a nice
floater and pull-up game. He's a very good 3-point shooter as well,
but he doesn't always take good shots. He's capable of making tough
shots from all angles and distances, and his decision-making will
surely improve with age and experience. He's a gifted passer as
well, and if he works extremely hard to learn the nuances of the game
he can be one of the better point guards in the league.
Payne
craves the big moment, and he often rises to the occasion when his
team needs it most. He plays with incredible energy and competitive
fire on both ends of the floor. He's on the attack at all times in
every game. His passion for the game and will to win is at the
highest level possible, and a player who wants it as bad as Cameron
will continue to find ways to improve and win games.
Delon
Wright, Senior PG Utah
I
first noticed Delon Wright early in the 2013-2014 season, and I
thought he had huge potential. He's extremely long and athletic,
comparable to a Rondo-type but even taller. He finishes very well
around the rim with that length with a variety of releases, and he's
great at using his body to keep defenders at a distance off the
dribble. He rarely loses the handle, and he knows exactly when to
release a pass to put his team in the optimal position. He's
extremely unselfish, but he can definitely score and knows when he
needs to get a bucket. Wright is a phenomenal rebounder and
defender, and he's a threat for a triple-double every night. He also
gets an extraordinary amount of steals and blocks.
Wright
has a very high basketball IQ, my only complaint being that he's a
little too unselfish and lacks assertiveness at times. He's great at
manipulating defenses to get wide open looks for his teammates,
changing speeds effectively to get what he wants. His size allows
him to see over the defense, and he almost always makes the right
play. He's lightning quick at top speed, but he realizes when to
turn it on or off. I think his outside shot is decent as well, but
he doesn't take many right now. He's a spot up 3-point shooter,
rarely taking it but I think he will be a solid threat to knock down
open 3's.
Wright
is a really smart player, and he was clearly the leader of a very
good Utah team. His play set the tone for everyone else. He needs
to work on his shot and mid-range shots off the dribble, but when he
takes them they look pretty good so he may not need as much work as
people think. He often waits too long to get aggressive, choosing to
try to get his teammates involved first. The problem at Utah was
that they weren't great scorers, and he needed to look to dominate
earlier in the game. Can he assert himself all the time for a
maximum impact on the game? I know he will be much better when
surrounded by players who can finish consistently, but his lack of
aggression offensively at times gives me slight reason for concern.
Joseph
Young, Senior SG Oregon
Joe Young plays with extreme passion and intensity, and
he was one of the best competitors in college basketball this season.
He's a phenomenal shooter from any position, and he's capable of
finishing from a wide array of angles. He has a ton of confidence
and willed his team to success late in the year, using his much
improved point guard skills to drag his team to the second round of
the tournament.
His small stature sometimes makes it hard for him to
impose his will, but he never lacks for effort or belief and has
always led good teams. Young is an aggressive knock-down shooter who
will find a place in the league.
Terry
Rozier, Sophomore SG/PG Louisville
Terry
Rozier reminds me a lot of Eric Bledsoe. He's extremely tough and
physical with explosive athleticism. He plays with relentless
aggression at all times in all areas of the game, and he stuffs the
stat sheet in every category.
Rozier
is a great rebounder for his size, and his strength and aggression
make him a very good defender as well. He's lightning quick off the
dribble, and he has the ability to get to the rim and finish or
pull-up for a mid-range J. He'll be able to make the NBA three, but
it might take him a few years before he's a legitimately good shooter
from that range.
I love Rozier's competitiveness and his ability to
impose his will on the game, and you can be confident he'll always
bring 100% effort to every minute of each game. He'll need to
continually improve his passing and point guard skills, but he's
solid in this category and should continue to get better. He could
definitely be a starter for a good team, but he's perfect for scoring
punch off the bench.
Derrick
Marks, Senior PG Boise St.
Derrick
Marks is a winner. He plays the game with fire and intensity, and he
really has a complete game on both ends of the floor. He has a great
post game as a guard, but he also has a good handle with the ability
to get by his man. Once there he can finish at the rim or with a
floater, pull up for a mid-range jumper, or find the open man. He
also improved his 3-point shot dramatically this season, turning it
into a dangerous weapon to go along with the other aspects of his
game.
Marks
typically made the right play even though he was playing with much
less talented players, and he was incredibly clutch in the big
moments. Marks isn't the most explosive guy in the world, but he
finds a way to get it done and should at least be a reliable backup
in the NBA.
Shooting
Guards
Justise
Winslow, Freshman SG/SF Duke
Winslow
is extremely strong and athletic, and he plays with a toughness and
aggression level that I absolutely love. He's a fierce competitor
who clearly wants it more than pretty much anyone, and because of
this most loose balls find their way into his hands. He's incredibly
dangerous in transition, and by the end of this season he was a great
3-point shooter as well. He has a very good handle with the vision
to find open teammates, and there's really not much he can't do
offensively. If there's one area he needs to work on it's his
shooting off the dribble, but someone with his level of intensity and
drive will continually get better year after year.
Defensively
Winslow is spectacular. His strength and explosiveness make him a
terror in the passing lanes and on the ball, and he's a beast on the
boards. He's very active in every facet of the game, and he can
guard positions 1-4. He reminds me a lot of Jimmy Butler, but he's
far ahead of where Butler was at his age. His potential is scary,
and he's a no brainer if you're looking to draft a wing player #1.
Devin
Booker, Freshman SG Kentucky
Devin
Booker is a deadly shooter with an extremely high basketball IQ. He
understands the game at a level well beyond his years, and you can
almost always find him in the right spot on both ends of the floor.
He finishes very well around the rim and in transition. He can score
in a wide variety of ways, only some of which were really showcased
with consistency this season at Kentucky.
The
ball domination of the Harrison's and overshadowing by other big
names at the school kind of kept Booker under the radar for most of
the year. Coach Calipari never decided to start Booker, a move that
I think was definitely a mistake. If Booker had been more of a focal
point he could have been one of the stars of this team, but the
platoon system ensured that no one would be the go-to guy on this
year's version of the Wildcats. You can never say it was a huge
error since they went undefeated in the regular season, but I do
believe Kentucky's failure to put their best lineup on the floor for
much of the season came back to haunt them in the tournament.
Booker
is also great defensively. He plays with aggression and competitive
fire at all times, and he wants to win more than most. He needs to
work on his ball handling, but he's a smart and thoughtful player and
has the size and skillset to be a starting 2-guard in the NBA for a
long time.
Michael
Qualls, Junior SG Arkansas
Michael Qualls might be the most freakishly athletic
player in college basketball. He uses his extreme length, quickness,
and leaping ability to dominate opponents on both sides of the floor.
He's very competitive, and he plays with a fiery aggressive edge at
all times. Qualls is able to sense when his team needs a bucket or
defensive stop, and he ratchets up the intensity even further in
these moments. He craves the big shot in crunch time, and he has the
ability to deliver in a wide variety of ways.
Qualls is a very good 3-point shooter and a tough
finisher at the rim. He can often be seen throwing down vicious
momentum-turning dunks, or skying for rebounds amongst the trees. He
is able to take his man off the dribble to get his own shot or take
it to the basket, and his mid-range jumper is deadly. If there's one
thing he needs to improve on it's his ball-handling, but I'm
confident he'll do just that.
He could also stand to improve his decision-making.
Qualls' Arkansas team didn't play very smart basketball a lot of the
time. His teammates were often reckless with the ball, and the
offense never really flowed in a way that made its players look
great. I believe Qualls was less to blame for this than anyone else
on the team, and for this reason I think he will be underrated coming
into the draft.
Qualls plays with great energy and passion on the
defensive end as well. He's strong and physical, and even at 6'6”
he's a very good rim defender. His vertical jump is off the charts,
and he challenges any shot within his range. He's obviously an
extremely hard worker, so I believe he'll have the will and drive to
continually work on his game and improve year after year. Qualls can
definitely be a starting shooting guard or small forward in the NBA,
and if I'm looking for a wing he'd be one of my top choices.
Treveon
Graham, Senior SG VCU
Traveon
Graham played much of this season with an injured ankle, and for this
reason I think he'll be overlooked in this year's NBA draft. Graham
is a great competitor with all the skills you'd want from a shooting
guard. He can score in a wide variety of ways from nearly any place
on the floor. He has a solid handle with the ability to beat his man
off the dribble. Once he does he can get to the rim and finish,
pull-up and score with a floater or jump-shot, or find the open man.
He's a good shooter with 3-point range, but it may take him a few
years to really get consistent from the NBA line. He's good off the
dribble, coming off screens, and in transition. I love the overall
versatility of his offensive game.
Graham
plays with tremendous effort and intensity, traits that help make him
a great defender as well. He understands the game well, and he's
usually in the right spot on the floor. Traveon steps up when his
team needs him most a,nd I think he has the potential to be a starter
on a very good NBA team.
Justin
Anderson, Junior SG/SF Virginia
Justin
Anderson is a great competitor and lock-down defender. He played on
a Virginia squad that was the best defensive team in the country, and
he was a major reason why. Anderson has a high basketball IQ, and
he's usually in the right spot to make a play. He's a phenomenal
athlete with explosive jumping ability and movement. Combine that
with his aggressive mentality and ability to anticipate and you have
one of the nation's best defenders.
His
elite athleticism allows him to finish easily above the rim, while
also defending opponents' attempts. Anderson is a very good 3-point
shooter, and I think his shot will extend to the NBA three. He needs
to work on his ball-handling and shooting off the dribble, but he's a
hard worker and I think he'll do just that. He could definitely be
an NBA starter at the 2-guard position.
R.J.
Hunter, Junior SG Georgia St.
R.J.
Hunter is a coach's son who really understands the game at a high
level. He's nearly always in the right position on both ends of the
floor, and he's a great shooter with deep range. He's slight of
build and extremely long, and he runs to shoot off screens in a
manner similar to Reggie Miller. I don't think he's the same kind of
competitor that Reggie was, and he can definitely stand to get
stronger and tougher. His lack of strength and aggression kept him
from imposing his will on the game at times this season, but he could
flourish as a knock-down shooter and role player at the shooting
guard position in the NBA.
Hunter
has a very good handle, and his tremendous vision allows him to play
the point guard role at times. His length and high IQ make him a
very solid defender, but I'm a little concerned that his lack of
toughness could keep him from reaching his potential in the NBA.
Small
Forwards
Stanley
Johnson, Freshman SF Arizona
Stanley
Johnson has great size and athleticism. His power allows him to get
anywhere on the court whenever he wants, and once he refines his
skills he'll be able to better take advantage of this rare ability.
His combination of size, strength, quickness, and athleticism make
him a terror in nearly every aspect of the game. I would love to
see him stay in college one more year and truly dominate before
taking his game to the next level, but I can't blame him for bolting
after one season.
Johnson
is deadly in transition and on the boards. He's a natural scorer,
but right now he's not polished. His outside shot is inconsistent,
and his ball handling needs a lot of work. His touch around the rim
isn't where I'd want it to be either, but I have no doubt that
Stanley will work relentlessly to improve in every area of the game.
He's very raw offensively, but he has as much upside as anyone in
this draft.
Despite
all the physical gifts Stanley possesses, what I love most about him
is his competitiveness and will to win. Johnson plays aggressively
at all times on both sides of the floor, a trait the best players all
have. He attacks loose balls and usually comes up with them. He'll
be a lock-down defender throughout his career, and he has a chance to
be a dominant player on both sides of the floor. Stanley Johnson is
willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win every game, and
it's guys like him that help teams win NBA championships.
Right
now Johnson is a little out of control at times and doesn't always
make great decisions, but in a few years he has a chance to be an NBA
all-star. I'm confident he'll make huge leaps each season, and if
I'm looking for a small forward he'd be on the top of my list.
Kelly
Oubre, Freshman SF Kansas
Bill
Self really made Kelly Oubre earn his minutes this season, as it took
him until mid-season to crack the starting lineup. While he
certainly wasn't dominant, Oubre showed flashes of what he could be
at the next level. He has great length and athleticism, and he has
the beginnings of every skill you'd want from a wing.
Oubre
is a well-rounded offensive player with a wide array of abilities in
his arsenal. He has a really nice floater, and a solid pull-up
jumper. He has a pretty good handle and can get to the rim off the
dribble, and he also has range out to the 3-point line. He can shoot
spotting up or coming off screens, and he's a good enough passer to
find the open man when the defense collapses. Oubre has the skill
level to do it all, but he was inconsistent this season mainly due to
youth and inexperience.
Oubre's
tremendous length and athleticism makes him a good defender as well,
and I imagine his lack of playing time early was partly Self's way of
teaching him how to bring it on that end on a consistent basis. I'd
love to see Kelly come back for one more season and dominate the
college game, but I can't blame him for leaving after his freshman
season. It may take him a few years to figure things out in the NBA,
but he definitely has star potential down the road.
Rondae
Hollis-Jefferson, Sophomore SF Arizona
I
love Hollis-Jefferson's toughness, athleticism, and extreme
competitiveness. He's absolutely everywhere, and he consistently
out-hustles everyone on the court. He'll be an extremely valuable
asset for any team that takes him.
Rondae
Hollis-Jefferson is an elite defender. He's able to guard positions
1-3, and possibly even the four. His combination of length, speed,
and aggression make him an absolute pest. He's a great rebounder,
and he comes up with nearly every loose ball anywhere close to him.
He's in tremendous shape, and he plays as hard as anyone in the game.
Offensively
his game needs a lot of work, but it's more than serviceable. He
makes tough shots around the rim, and despite how ugly his shot is,
it goes in more than you'd think. Hollis-Jefferson has the will to
dominate, and he's not afraid of the big moment. He'll likely
improve drastically every year, and I can easily see him being a Tony
Allen-type player. He plays a little out of control, and he needs to
continue to work on his shooting and ball-handling, but
Hollis-Jefferson will be a long-time NBA starter at the small forward
position.
Kevon
Looney, Freshman SF UCLA
Kevon
Looney is extremely long, and he really understands where to be on a
basketball court. These two qualities make him a phenomenal
rebounder and a disruptive defender, and he showed flashes of being
much more than that at times this season.
Looney
has a nice handle for a player his size, and he possesses a very nice
jumper with 3-point range. He's not gonna wow you with speed and
athleticism, but he plays with a high IQ and finds ways to get it
done. He's a good mid-range jump shooter off the dribble, and he can
finish inside with several different kinds of releases. Looney is
typically in good position defensively, and he blocks and changes a
lot of shots with his length.
There
were times when you didn't really notice Looney was out there both
offensively and defensively this season, and he's another player I
think would really benefit from another year in college. It will
likely take several years for Looney to develop, but he's got a
chance to be a long-time starter at the small forward position in the
NBA.
Sam
Dekkar, Junior SF Wisconsin
Sam
Dekkar had a phenomenal NCAA tournament and likely made himself a ton
of money. He has great size and a well-rounded skill-set at the
small forward position. He was absolutely on fire from 3-point range
in the tournament, and with the deep ball falling he was a very tough
cover. He was much better than the Sam Dekkar I saw for most of the
season.
Dekkar
has nearly every skill you could want. He has a high basketball IQ,
with the ability to make shots, handle the ball and drive to the
basket. At 6'9” he can easily see over the defense and make the
right pass. He can make the three and the pull-up jumper off the
dribble. He has a very versatile game, but to me it just feels like
something's missing.
Dekkar
is very good when he's an aggressive player, but that doesn't always
happen. His confidence is fragile at times, a very bad sign for a
guy about to make the jump to the NBA. He'll be playing against
great players that are close to his size on a nightly basis, and I'm
afraid he'll get discouraged and fade into mediocrity. He already
doesn't rebound how I'd like someone of his size to board , so
there's a good chance I wouldn't be taking Sam Dekkar in this draft.
Sir'Dominic
Pointer, Senior SG/SF St. John's
I
haven't heard a lot about Sir'Dominic Pointer coming into this draft,
but to me he's an elite athlete who could play a big role for an NBA
team. He plays with extraordinary effort at all times, and his size,
strength, and athleticism allow him to make a huge impact on the
game. He's a stat-sheet-stuffer and a phenomenal competitor, and I
think he'll be one of the most underrated players and biggest steals
in this draft.
I
think Pointer was a slow learner at times in his college career, but
he played on a team that struggled to play together. It's been a
problem with St. John's teams for several years now, where they have
some great individual athletes but can't seem to play as a single
unit. This is just another example of it.
Sir'Dominic
is extremely dangerous in several facets of the game. He's a beast
on the boards, and he can take the ball off the backboard and start
the fast break. His strength and speed make him very difficult to
stop in transition, and he's a good finisher at the rim. He has a
solid handle and mid-range game, and he can find the open man off the
dribble. He's a great defender as well, as his all-out effort makes
him very difficult to deal with.
He
definitely needs to work on his outside shooting and get a little
more under control, but he has a great skill set and physical gifts
that you just don't find every day. There has to be a place for him
somewhere.
Vince
Hunter, Sophomore PF/SF UTEP
Vince
Hunter is an extremely tough and fiery competitor. He's a great
rebounder who plays as hard as anyone. He has the ability to take
the ball off the boards and push it up the floor. His game is that
of an undersized 4-man, but he's a fighter in the mold of Draymond
Green. Green has proven that this type of player can succeed in the
right situation in the NBA, and I think Vince Hunter will be a
similar player. Hunter stood out at the combine, and I look for him
to be a steal in this draft.
Power
Forwards
Bobby
Portis, Sophomore PF Arkansas
Bobby
Portis is one of the most competitive players in this draft. He
plays with great intensity at all times, and he wants to win more
than just about anyone. This is an essential trait for greatness in
the NBA, and there's no question Portis has it.
Portis
has great size and athleticism at the power forward position. He's
an extremely versatile player with a tough inside/outside game. He
has a very good post-up game with the ability to use both hands to
finish around the rim. Portis has a very nice mid-range jump-shot,
even showing the ability to make the three this season.
He
gobbles up rebounds at a high rate, and he usually comes up with
50/50 balls in traffic. He's a fiery competitor who plays with a
toughness that I absolutely love, and I really believe Portis has
star potential in the NBA. He's shown the ability to handle the ball
and defend at a high level. He's given glimpses of every skill
necessary to be an NBA all-star, and if he's able to continually
improve his basketball IQ he just might reach that lofty level.
Portis
looked very smooth and fluid this year most of the time, but he also
seemed to lose focus and get frustrated on occasion as well. Given
the fact that Arkansas always has many of the same issues year after
year, I think Bobby Portis has the chance to really flourish under a
different coaching staff.
Trey
Lyles, Freshman PF Kentucky
Trey
Lyles was one of the most fundamentally sound players in college
basketball this season. Only a freshman, Lyles always seems to be in
the right spot to make plays. He's an extremely skilled player with
a very high IQ, and his mid-range jumper is probably the best among
big men in this draft.
Lyles
wasn't always as aggressive as I'd like, but he seems to be a quiet
guy who took a back seat on a team full of big name recruits. Lyles
has a great touch from inside and out, and he usually makes the right
play in all kinds of different situations. He reads the game
extremely well on both ends of the floor, and he plays with a
toughness and intelligence that will transfer to the next level
quickly. He has all the tools to be a starter in the NBA.
Montrezl
Harrell, Junior PF Louisville
Montrezl
Harrell plays with extraordinary energy and effort. While he's
slightly under 6'8”, he has tremendous length and athleticism and
finishes powerfully at the rim. I love his intensity, tenacity, and
will to get to the ball. He has a lot of room to improve his
basketball IQ, but his mid-range jumper is really solid now and he
has a chance to be a valuable piece on a winning team. He can make
the 3 and hit fadaway jumpers, and he's developed good vision with
his interior passing.
He's
a great on the ball defender who can defend almost anyone. He blocks
tons of shots and is usually first to loose balls. He may be a
little undersized, but he plays with a ferocity that makes up for it.
My one complaint is that he didn't demand the ball enough late in a
few important games, but he was playing with guards who liked the
ball in crunch time as well. Harrell really rounded out his game
nicely this past season, and he has a lot to offer any team that
drafts him.
Cliff
Alexander, Freshman PF Kansas
Cliff
Anderson had some problems this year at Kansas, and for this reason I
think he'll be extremely underrated in this year's NBA draft. I
don't know all the details of what went on, but I've heard rumors of
academic issues among other things that limited his time on the court
this season. While he may be a little undersized, Alexander is a
complete monster in the post and on the boards. He's very strong and
athletic, and he's also a tremendous competitor.
There
were times this season where Cliff looked very confused on the court.
He may have had trouble picking up different schemes and concepts in
the Kansas system, and it seemed to me that he was thinking way too
much out there. Alexander is a guy who just needs to play and let
his effort and instincts take over. He's obviously still learning
the game, but he has the drive to keep getting better and the will to
dominate his opponent.
Alexander
has a very nice mid-range jumper, and he's an absolute beast in the
post. He's a great defender as well, and he defends the rim with
ferocity. He doesn't always know where to be and definitely needs to
improve his basketball IQ, but that will come with time and
experience. He appeared to lose a little bit of confidence, and my
read on the situation is that he had a lot of off the court issues
that were distracting him from simply playing the game.
He
could have come back to school and improved his draft position
drastically, but I look for him to play with an even bigger chip on
his shoulder, and potentially develop into an NBA all-star at some
point.
Jerelle
Martin, Sophomore PF LSU
Jerelle
Martin is very strong and aggressive, but he was often reckless and
out of control. This is par for the course for players at LSU, so it
may have a lot to do with the coaching staff. Recent LSU teams have
often been stocked with talent, but its players typically make bad
decisions and don't play very well together. They're also usually
poor defensively, and Martin fit right into this category.
Martin
is extremely skilled and talented offensively, and he can do most
everything you'd want out of a power forward. He's a great finisher
around the rim, and he has a very nice baseline jumper. He's good in
the post, and he's a very good ball-handler for a big man. His
problem is that he often takes a few too many dribbles, then follows
that mistake with another and turns it over. Despite his immense
talent, he didn't make others better and was unable to carry his team
like I think he should be capable of doing.
Jerelle
has many skills that will translate, but he just wasn't very
efficient in his two years at LSU. His defense leaves a lot to be
desired, and he desperately needs to improve his basketball IQ. He
was often out of position on both ends of the floor, especially on
defense. He also got frustrated at times and let his effort slip,
but this should get much better as he matures.
With
the right guidance, I believe Jerelle Martin can turn into a very
good role player for an NBA team and possibly even a starter. He's
got every offensive skill and even has 3-point range. He's a very
good rebounder with great instincts offensively, but it will take him
several years to improve his decision-making to an NBA level.
Chris
McCullough, Freshman PF Syracuse
Chris
McCullough is a little bit of a mystery. I was extremely impressed
by him early in the season, but he got hurt before we really got to
see a lot from him. He appeared to be a great passer with a very
high IQ, and his length and athleticism was obvious. I saw flashes
of a nice mid-range jumper, and he was extremely good defending the
rim and on the boards.
McCullough
is smooth and a great mover at his size. He was a little tentative
and lacked toughness at times, but I believe that was more a result
of his slender frame. Once he adds strength and gets a little more
experience under his belt, I think Chris McCullough could become a
starter at the power forward position.
I
don't really like his decision to leave after this season, and the
injury does concern me a bit. However, I expect him to drop late
into the first round, and if he does he'll be a risk that's
definitely worth taking. I think he has great long-term potential,
and if I'm looking for a big man I'm taking a long hard look at him.
Christian
Wood, Sophomore PF UNLV
Much
like LSU and St. John's, UNLV has had many great talents recently
that have had trouble developing because of poor team play.
Christian Wood is another one of these players. Wood is extremely
long and athletic, and he's shown flashes of every skill you'd want
from a big man at the next level. He's a great rim defender and
rebounder, even with his very slender frame. He'll need to put on
strength and weight to handle NBA big men, but I have no doubt he'll
do that over the next few years.
Wood
also showed a lot of skill offensively. He has a nice hook shot in
the lane, and he finished well around the rim. He also displayed an
ability to knock down long-range jumpers, but his shot selection and
decision-making was very questionable at times. I think this was
more a result of following his teammates poor decisions than his own
mentality, and I think he'll be much better when surrounded by
smarter players.
I
love his competitiveness and toughness, and I think he has a very
high ceiling. He needs to get stronger and make better decisions,
but I expect him to do that. It's probably going to take a few
years, but Christian Wood will be a starter in the NBA at some point.
Frank
Kaminsky, Senior C/PF Wisconsin
Frank
Kaminsky was absolutely dominant in college basketball this season.
He was Pau Gasol-like in his play, but he's not quite as big and
strong. He's got a deadly jumper with deep range, and a pretty quick
first step for a big man. Frank is a great finisher around the rim,
and he plays extremely hard with a sky-high IQ. He's a very good
passer and playmaker, and he generally makes the right decision.
Kaminsky is a smart team defender, and he'll continue to work
extremely hard to improve and find a place in the league.
While
I love his game, he's not the most athletic guy around and he really
struggled when matched against long players. He was typically much
taller than his opponent, but when he played someone his own size he
usually had a tough go of it. While he's very tall, he doesn't have
great length. This will hurt him and I think he'll have trouble with
NBA size and length, but he will fight hard to succeed. How his
career turns out will have a lot to do with who drafts him.
Rakeem
Christmas, Senior PF Syracuse
Rakeem
Christmas had one of the biggest improvements of any player I've seen
from one season to the next. He was a big name coming out of high
school, but he never did much until this season. That said, he
completely dominated the ACC in every facet of the game. He was a
great rebounder and finisher inside, and although he didn't shoot a
whole lot of jumpers, he showed a very reliable mid-range shot when
he did take them.
While
Christmas' offense improved dramatically this season, his defense was
great as well. He was a very good team defender while also defending
the rim at a high level. He's long and athletic, and he showed a
fiery competitiveness this season that had been lacking earlier in
this career. He was dominant at the combine, and I think Rakeem will
be a solid role player in the NBA for a long time.
Centers
Karl
Towns Jr., Freshman C Kentucky (Okafor comparison)
Towns imposes his will on the game at all times and
never takes a play off. He seemingly grabs every ball that comes
close to his area, and he dominates the glass in his 20 minutes per
game. This mentality wins games, and players who play like this work
hard to improve.
While Towns' offensive game isn't quite as smooth as Okafor's, it's not that far off. Okafor has better touch around the basket and is a little more coordinated at this point, but Towns is much better dealing with contact. Physical play can take Okafor out of position and out of his game at times, while Towns appears to thrive on it. Towns also knocks down his free throws, while Okafor is Shaq-like at the line.
While Towns' offensive game isn't quite as smooth as Okafor's, it's not that far off. Okafor has better touch around the basket and is a little more coordinated at this point, but Towns is much better dealing with contact. Physical play can take Okafor out of position and out of his game at times, while Towns appears to thrive on it. Towns also knocks down his free throws, while Okafor is Shaq-like at the line.
Towns is also the much better defensive player. He's an
intimidating rim defender, blocking over two shots per game in his
limited minutes. He uses his length and athleticism to deny
opponents around the basket, and he has the quickness to keep up with
smaller players on the perimeter. Towns is also far better when it
comes to being in the right position and helping his teammates
defensively. Jahlil is a great talent, but ultimately he plays soft
and lacks intensity a large amount of the time.
Towns runs the court extremely well, has a great jump
hook, and nearly always wins the battle for position down low. He's
even shown a very nice looking outside jump-shot. He's a great
passer with a high basketball IQ, and if he reaches his potential he
will play a lot like Tim Duncan. For all these reasons, Karl-Anthony
Towns holds down the #1 center spot.
Towns
needs to get stronger and more coordinated, but he plays very tough
and should eventually dominate the center position in the NBA. He's
a Tim Duncan-Anthony Davis type player, just not quite as polished as
those players were coming out of college.
Jahlil
Okafor, Freshman C Duke
Jahlil
Okafor has great size and agility, and is one of the most skilled
offensive big men I've seen in college basketball. He has tremendous
hands and he's probably the best finisher I've ever seen around the
rim at the college level. Offensively he has a very high IQ. He's
an extremely good passer out of double and triple teams, and he
nearly always makes the right decision with the ball in his hands.
He has every post-move in the book, and he runs the court very well.
Strictly skill-wise, there's no big that's better in this draft.
His
motor and defensive ability really concern me. In college Okafor was
often much bigger than his opponent, so he usually dominated in spite
of these concerns. This won't be the case at the next level. Okafor
was often taken out of his game when matched against physical
defenders, and he'll be facing this type of player night in and night
out in the NBA. He doesn't always play hard, and he doesn't have the
aggressive mentality that all the great players have.
Okafor
was exposed big time defensively in the pick and roll this season,
and he doesn't really defend the rim either. He doesn't dominate the
boards like I'd like my 7-footer to do, and his lack of toughness
would lead me to look elsewhere in the top of this draft. Jahlil has
a tendency to coast and go through the motions for big segments of
games, and if I was looking at big men I'd be more inclined to go
with Towns or Turner.
Myles
Turner, Freshman C Texas
Myles
Turner is very long and athletic with maybe the highest motor of any
of the centers in college basketball. Turner is always on the move,
constantly setting screens on offense and rotating on defense.
Defensively he's spectacular. He's one of the best help defenders in
college basketball, and his size and length make him a massive
obstacle for the opponent. He'll dominate the boards and defend the
rim at a high level in the NBA, and he'll be a great defensive anchor
for whichever team he lands on.
Turner
showed glimpses of most every skill you'd want from a big man
offensively, but he has a lot of room for growth in every area.
Ironically his best asset right now is probably his jump-shot.
Turner is a solid shooter all the way out to 3-point range, and he
knocks down his free throws. He's an extremely hard worker who plays
with great effort and intensity at all times, and I expect him to
continue to get better year after year.
While
Turner's post-up game needs some work, he has shown a nice turnaround
jumper and flashes of finishing inside. He'll also need to improve
his coordination, but he's extremely active and moves fluidly for a
man of his size. Myles Turner is a high IQ player who has a chance
to be a great player in the NBA. If I'm looking for a center in this
draft, I'm looking at Myles Turner right behind Karl Towns and in a
close contest with Jahlil Okafor.
Willie
Cauley-Stein, Junior C Kentucky
Cauley-Stein
has tremendous footwork (without the ball) for a big man. He’s
extremely long and athletic and a great defender, but his offense
definitely needs a lot of work. He blocks everything in sight when
he's motivated, but sometimes he just goes through the motions. You
might have to coach effort with him, and I don't like that.
The
year before last he was too tentative more often than not, but this
season he was a new player for much of the year. He played with
all-out effort much more often, and he was a terror on D. He
finished very well around the rim, and he was a solid rebounder. He
had great footwork and a better offensive game this year, but he
could still improve big time. For some reason I just wouldn't take
him, because I could see him getting complacent and not ever
improving to my liking. He's just not very skilled offensively, and
I can see him getting discouraged when he no longer towers over every
opponent like he did in college. He's been projected to go in the
lottery, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't take him anywhere in the
first round.
