A FEW OF THE TOP NBA PROSPECTS
It’s playoff time in the NBA where the greatest season in recent memory get ready to unveil the second act of this magnificent season. The stories that will be written over the upcoming two months will be filled with splendour, as teams look to crank up the intensity even higher. Can the Celtics, led by this generations version of the big three, recapture the glory not seen in Beantown hoops in 20 years? Can Bron, Bron take the next step towards greatness and successfully defend Cleveland’s Eastern Conference crown? Or is it the Pistons turn to chase the championship they feel should be theirs?
In the Western Conference, can MVP favorite Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers to the title? Can Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs repeat? Is New Orleans to new and inexperience to be a real threat? Let’s not forget about the Big Cactus in Phoenix and some Kidd named Jason in Dallas.
But for other teams all of these things mean nothing. For teams like Miami, Memphis, Charlotte, LA Clippers, Sacramento, New York and New Jersey and Chicago the second season starts not withplayoffbasketball, but with gearing towards next season. There will be free agents to study on film and attempt to persuade to join their ballclub. There will be countless number of college and international players flown in for interviews and workouts. And this process has already started.
Here are some college basketball players that will more than likely be offering their skills and services to NBA franchises.
MICHAEL BEASLEY 6′10, 235LBS 
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: KANSAS ST
ANALYSIS:Beasley is a combo forward withtheability to put the ball on the floor and shoot withcollege three point range. Good ability to create shots both from perimeter and on the blocks. Not as advanced offensively as Kevin Durrant, but has a much stronger body and more willing to play up to his size. Must get better on defense. Questions also about maturity and off court history.
DERRICK ROSE 6′3 205 LBS 
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: MEMPHIS
ANALYSIS: Point guard with a point guards mentality. Great size and athleticism for his position. Always been a winner. Needs to continue mature as a point guard as he goes to the next level. Needs to become a more consistent shooter from 17′ feet and out.
O.J MAYO 6′4 210 LBS 
AGE:20
COLLEGE: USC
ANALYSIS:Been on the national scene since he was in 7th grade. One of the most hyped and scrutinized high school players in recent memories. Was dominant in his class early, but seemed to fall back to the pack as the other players caught up to him from a physical standpoint. A player who seems to have a solid game but does not great in any one area. Doesn’t have a penchant to get to the foul line and seems not to like contact. Potential says he could be an important part on a good team, but not one who you build around.
ERIC GORDON 6′4 215LBS 
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: INDIANA
ANALYSIS: Plays basketball with a football players mentality. Functional strength with a thick body, can absorb a hit and still finish around the basket. Streaky but has deep NBA range. Tremendous athleticism to compensate for an undersized shooting guards by NBA standards. Could be compared to anyone from a poor man Dwayne Wade (bast case scenario) to Ben Gordon.
DONTE GREEN 6′10, 225LBS 
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: SYRACUSE
ANALYSIS:Excellent perimeter skills for his size and age. Can play the small forward position and has the athleticism to do so. Can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim if he wants to. Needs to play with more maturity and purpose. Tends to rely to much on outside shot and can disappear for long periods of time.
JERRYD BLAYLESS 6′3, 190 LBS 
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: ARIZONA
ANALYSIS: A talent who was born to score. Great athlete whose on court mentality is to get the ball in the basket by any means possible. Everything about his game screams hunger and intensity. Showed he could play the point guard when Nic Wise went downwith an injury, but is much more effective playing off the ball. Needs to pattern his game after Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas because he’s not big enough to play the shooting guard exclusively.
BROOK LOPEZ 7′0 260 LBS 
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: STANFORD
ANALYSIS:Part of the twin towers part deux withhis brother Robin at Stanford. A legit seven footer. Not a huge fan of his as his offense is robotic and limited. Main move is a turnaround jumper on the right block. Has decent face up range from 17′ feet and can get to the basket with only two-three dribbles. Doesn’t have mean streak or intensity on defense that his brother has. Needs to be more aggressive on offensive and defensive boards.
KEVIN LOVE 6′9, 260 LBS 
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: UCLA
ANALYSIS:Projected by many to go anywhere between the early to late lottery, I see red flags when it comes to Love. First the positives…Extremely skilled big man with polished low post moves, excellent footwork and a strong basketball IQ. Strong body with great hands. The negatives deal with his weight. He needs to lose around 15 pounds but has the body type that could be susceptible to back injuries. Not athletic at all and has to rely on smarts and guile to score against bigger and more athletic centers. Doesn’t have the speed, quickness or stamina to keep at pace of a NBA game.
CHASE BUDINGER 6′7, 190 LBS 
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: ARIZONA
ANALYSIS:Good all around player with a strong vertical jump and good size for his position. Has excellent fundamentals, is very coachableanda willing team player. Didn’t enforce his will as much as he should at Arizona. Doesn’t play withany, “junk” or “Sauce” in his game and can be too fundamental. With his athleticism he doesn’t get to the foul line as much as he should. Plays like he’s allergic to contact.
ROY HIBBERT 7′2, 272LBS 
AGE:21
COLLEGE: GEORGETOWN
ANALYSIS: Should have declared last year as his stock have been droping his entire senior season. Great work ethic who knows how to play the game. A legit 7′2 who becasue of that will have a 10 year NBA career if he wants. A terrible athletic who was dominated by smaller yet better athletic players. Went several games being a complete non-factor in any area of the game.
ANTHONY RANDOLPH 6′11, 220 LBS 
AGE:18
COLLEGE: LSU
ANALYSIS: New age 6′11 player who wants to play on the outside and never step into the paint. Has loads of potential but not quite sure if he’s worthatop10 pick. Many players with the same attributes over the years (Jonathon Bender, Andre Blatche to name a couple) have not panned out.
DARREN COLLISON 6′1, 165LBS
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: UCLA
ANALYSIS: Very good college point guard who fits into a certain type of system. Shows good leadership and the ability to take and make big shots. Has improved every year in college. Translating to the NBA, will be nothing more than a back-up at best. Doesn’t have the size or strength to deal with the guards in the NBA. While his outside shot has gotten better, not good enough to justify quality minutes at the pro level.
TYLER HANSBROUGH 6′9, 250 LBS
AGE: 22
COLLEGE: NORTH CAROLINA
ANALYSIS:One of the hardest working players ever to come down the pike in college basketball. Physically dominating in college. Non stop effort and motor. Takes great care of himself and has a work ethic second to none. Unfortunately his game does not translate to success at the next level. Undersized power forward with limited NBA athleticism. Has a hard time against quality college big men (remember the beatdown Kentucky’s Randolph Morris gave him in 2006?) and a very raw, unpolished post up game and limited dribble drive and range on jump shot. Player most compared to his Mark Madson.
DEANDRE JORAN 7′0, 255 LBS 
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: TEXAS A&M
ANALYSIS:Potential, potential, potential…That’s the only thing a team would draft Jordan for. He really didn’t show much his one year in college that would warrant the type of draft position he’s getting. But he is a legit seven footer with good athleticism. If he were to stay in college until his junior year and work on his game he would the first pick with a bullet.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK 6′3, 189LBS
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: UCLA
ANALYSIS: Came out of nowhere to project as a lottery pick. Great athlete who is not shy about taking it to the hoop and dunking on seven footers. Primarily played the shooting guard but did a good job at the point when Collison was injured to start the season. Has improved in every aspect of the game. If he were to stay another year in college and continue to improve (or beg Ben Howland to play him at the point more) he would be a top five pick.
TY LASWON 5′11, 175 LBS
AGE: 20
COLLEGE: NORTH CAROLINA
ANALYSIS: Would have made a great wide receiver in football. Fastest player in college basketball with the ball in his hands and strong enough to finished at the rim against bigger players. Has improved his jump shot and plays with a pure point guard mentality (pass first, shoot only when necessary). Size might be a problem, but should be strong enough to be a valuable point guard on a good team.
HASHEEM THABEET 7′3 265LBS 
AGE: 21
COLLEGE: CONNECTICUT
ANALYSIS: When he first came into college many scouts thought he would be a top three pick. As the year went on and his flaws became more apparent, it became clear Habeet needed more grooming. He made major strides (esp. on offense) his sophomore year but still remains a work in progress. Defensively, he’s way ahead of any other part of his game. Offensively, he’ll never be a threat, but he can get much better. Like DeAndre Jordan and Russell Westbrook, if Habeet came back for another year and dominated the Big East from the defensive end (like many are projecting he would), he’s the first big man (maybe even player) drafted.
BRANDON RUSH 6′7 205 LBS 
AGE: 22
COLLEGE: KANSAS
ANALYSIS: Seems like Rush has wanted to declare for the NBA since his brother Kareem was playing for Quin Synder at Missouri. Great chance he would have declared last year if not for tearing his ACL before predraftcamp. Started slowly this season as he was not fully recovered from the injury but came on as he got better. Will likely go in the last half of the draft due to his injury history. Solid all around player with good size and skill for the shooting guard position.
Filed under: 2008 NBA DRAFT, NBA Draft | Tagged: 2008 NBA DRAFT, Add new tag, NBA, NBA Draft, NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS, Sports
