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Updated 2001 NBA Draft Report
By Gene Huh Update: Curry is not as advanced as either Kevin Garnett or Chris Webber were as prep big men, but he is ahead of where Shaquille O'Neal was coming out of high school. His physical tools make him as much of freak as anyone who has been drafted during the past five years. 2. Yao Ming (7-6 265 C, China) Ming is an unknown quantity because he plays against inferior competition in China. However, there has never been a big man with his combination of size, skill and athleticism. Ming can shoot from the perimeter and also shut down the paint with his imposing shotblocking. Ming appears to have the frame to put on weight, unlike Shawn Bradley, and has a passion for the game that Bradley definitely lacks. In time, Ming could develop into a taller version of a young Arvydas Sabonis. Update: It is looking like Ming will be in this year's draft. His lack of strength and inexperience works against him, but teams will find it impossible to pass up on someone with his height and skill level. 3. *Jason Williams (6-2 190 PG, Duke) Williams plays like a bigger, more explosive Tim Hardaway. He is a money shooter in crunch time and can blow past defenders using a devastating crossover dribble. Unfortunately, at times Williams looks a step slow defensively and does not quite have the playmaking skills to run an NBA team right now. However, he has the ballhandling ability, passing skill and brainpower to eventually develop into a fine lead guard. Update: Williams' stock continues to rise due to his performances in the NCAA tournament. He is a polished player with very little left to prove in college basketball. However, he continues to reiterate his intention to stay at Duke for four years. 4. *Eddie Griffin (6-9 205 SF, Seton Hall) Although it is true that Griffin racked up his most impressive statistics against inferior competition, he has shown even against Big East competition, that he has the tools to be a franchise player. His expansive wingspan and great leaping ability permit him to play like a 7-footer, dominating opponents with his shotblocking and rebounding. Offensively, he relies too much on his perimeter game, taking far too many tough, contested turnaround jumpers. He does however have a good post game when he chooses to use it. The one glaring negative is the anger management problem that he has yet to conquer. Update: Griffin has declared for the draft. The thing really hurting Griffin right now is the fact that his physical attack on teammate Ty Shine has been isolated as the cause of Seton Hall's disappointing season. 5. *DaJuan Wagner (6-2 180 PG, Camden HS (NJ)) Wagner may actually become the best player out of all of the players I have listed when all is said and done. He is a great athlete with every skill that an NBA guard could ever need. He can dominant a game with his scoring much as Stephon Marbury or Allen Iverson can. Some experts feel that Wagner's jump shot lacks backspin, but it definitely goes in most of the time and he can shoot it from very long range. However, since his father is now an assistant with the University of Memphis, the chances are good that Wagner will honor his commitment to attend Memphis for at least one season. Update: Wagner moves up a notch after his superb performance in the McDonald's game. 6. *Richard Jefferson (6-7 220 G/F, Arizona) If Richardson is the best pure athlete in the nation, then Jefferson is the second best. Not just a high-flying dunker, Jefferson also has a smooth jumper with three-point range. His ballhandling and passing skills are very underrated and will allow him to make the smooth transition from college forward to NBA shooting guard. As the fourth option on a very talented Arizona squad, Jefferson has yet to tap into his virtually unlimited potential. Update: Jefferson's spectacular performances in the NCAA tournament have sent his stock skyrocketing upwards. Particularly impressive was his domination of Jason Richardson. However, Jefferson has professed a desire to return to Arizona for his senior season. 7. *Tyson Chandler (7-1 230 SF, Compton Dominguez HS (CA)) Chandler has small forward skills to go along with a center's height. Basically, he has the physical ability to become a player in the mold of a Kevin Garnett, combining perimeter shooting with shotblocking. However, he is a spoiled kid who has been living off of Nike shoe money for many years now. Chandler does not play hard and floats around the perimeter too much, but it will be very difficult for an NBA GM to pass on this potential franchise player, especially in light of how well Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady have done in the NBA. Update: Since Chandler skipped the McDonald's game, his value has not changed. 8. Shane Battier (6-8 230 SF, Duke) Battier may end up going much lower in the draft because of the perception is that he is an overachiver who has already "maxed out" his physical tools. However, Battier is already a player who can help many NBA teams. His defensive prowess has become legendary due primarily to his willingness to draw charges. However, his shotblocking and ball thievery are equally as brilliant. Offensively, he can drill the three-pointer, post up or put the ball on the floor. The only major hole in his game is his mediocre rebounding. Battier's intelligence, intangibles and outstanding character will make him a fine complimentary player in the NBA from day one. Update: Battier's leadership during the NCAA tournament has bolstered his value. Battier will definitely have an immediate impact in the pros. 9. *Rodney White (6-9 230 SF, Charlotte) White is an athletic forward with long arms and excellent leaping ability. He shoots the ball with three-point range and can handle the ball well enough to play out on the wing. White can snatch high rebounds with power and explosivness, but is not a shotblocker yet. His poor performances in the NCAA Tournament seem to indicate that White has a lot of development ahead of him before he can make a major impact in the NBA. *10. Chris Marcus (7-1 285, C, Western Kentucky) Only a sophomore, Marcus has tremendous size and potential. He shoots the ball very well for a big man and is particularly effective on short turnarounds. Marcus also shoots a nice little hook shot. He is fundamentally sound and keeps the ball high on rebounds. Although he has good mobility for such a massive human being, Marcus is not a super quick and agile athlete like a Shaquille O'Neal and therefore, he probably will not be a dominating shotblocker at the next level. However, his combination of sure handedness and size will make a him a huge factor on the boards. Update: It appears that Marcus will stay in school for at least another year. 11. Loren Woods (7-1 245 C, Arizona) Woods is a gifted shotblocker with the agility and athleticism of a much smaller man. On offense, he displays a smooth midrange shooting stroke and has some nice post moves. Unfortunately, Woods lacks the strength and toughness to hold his own against more physical players in the paint. It is this softness that Woods must overcome in order to reach his full potential. Update: Woods was knocked around pretty badly in the NCAA tournament, but he was still a force due to his shotblocking ability and touch. His strength and physical toughness remain huge question marks. 12. *Jason Richardson (6-6 220 F/G, Michigan St.) Perhaps the best pure athlete in college basketball, Richardson can out-dunk any of the pretenders that were in this year's NBA Slam Dunk Contest. His athleticism makes him unstoppable in transition and impossible to keep off the offensive glass. If he can keep developing his already much-improved jump shot, Richardson could become a fine off guard in the NBA. Update: Richardson played very poorly in this year's NCAA tournament and looked totally outclassed when faced with a similarly athletic opponent in Richard Jefferson. He should definitely stay in school one more year to work on his outside shot. 13. *Zach Randolph (6-9 270 F/C, Michigan St.) Randolph is not an above-the-rim performer, but he has very nimble feet for a widebody and a good understanding of post play. His ability to stay in shape could become an issue down the road, but he definitely has the potential to develop into a major force in the post. 14. *Caron Butler (6-7 230 SF, Connecticut) Butler is complete player who can play in the post or shoot jumpers from the perimeter. He also has a very smooth handle and passes the ball extremely well. His quickness and leaping ability serve him very well on defense and in transition. In terms of playing style, Butler reminds some of Boston swingman Paul Pierce. UConn coach Jim Calhoun raves about Butler's leadership ablity, but he may not benefit from it for much longer. 15. *Joseph Forte (6-4 185 SG, UNC) Forte does not have the physical tools of the players listed above, but he has been a dominant player for UNC. Forte has a beautiful shooting stroke from long range, but he is not just a shooter. He can also drive and pull up for medium range jumper or get into the lane and hang in the air to convert difficult plays. His leaping ability also allows him to help out on the boards. The only major knock on Forte is his lack of ideal NBA size. Update: Forte did not have a good NCAA tournament, but his stock has not been altered significantly. 16. *Drew Gooden (6-9 230 PF, Kansas) Gooden is one of the most underrated players in the country. He has good explosiveness off the floor, which serves him well as a rebounder. Gooden also has a very good shooting touch, both as a face-up shooter and as a low post performer. As he gets bigger and stronger, Gooden could develop into a Brian Grant style player at the NBA level. Update: Gooden helped himself with strong performances in the NCAA tournament. His explosiveness and ability to score in the post has really opened some eyes. 17. *Gilbert Arenas (6-3 190 SG, Arizona) Arenas is greyhound who moves extremely well without the ball and defends aggressively. He has very good quickness and speed, which he uses to play the passing lanes and to get out in transition. Although he is not a pure shooter, Arenas has range and is dangerous from beyond the college arc. He is a superb finisher in transition and has the ballhandling skills to spend some time at the point. The only major negative is his less than ideal height for an NBA shooting guard. 18. DeSagana Diop (7-0 310 C, Oak Hill Academy (VA)) Diop is not a quick or explosive athlete, but he has massive size and awesome power. He plays physically, rebounds well, keeps the ball high and passes adroitly. With his back to the basket, Diop can score on nice turnarounds and jump hooks. Right now, Diop plays a lot like a young Stanley Roberts. Let's hope that he does not end up ballooning like Roberts did. 19. Brendan Haywood (7-0 265 C, UNC) Haywood has been one of the most maligned players in college basketball during his UNC career. Despite his immense frame and good athletic ability, Haywood has yet to develop into a consistently dominating performer. He has soft hands, excellent power and surprising agility in the post, but he does not have much range as a shooter. His propensity for bringing the ball down low while in the paint is a fundamental flaw that needs to be corrected and he definitely needs to gain more stamina. However, Haywood is younger than most college seniors so he definitely has time to develop. 20. *Michael Bradley (6-10 245 F/C, Villanova) This former Kentucky Wildcat has resurfaced at Villanova, complete with a vastly improved all-around game. Bradley has an inside-outside offensive game reminiscent of Christian Laettner's. He has good moves in the low post and can step outside to drill the long-range jumper. A much better athlete than people realize, a lack of mass and strength is the only thing holding him back. 21. *Casey Jacobson (6-6 210 SG, Stanford) Jacobson is a stone-cold gunner who has been compared to Paul Westphal as a player. He has excellent size and tremendous pure-shooting ability. Although he does not have great quickness, he has the size to be a factor defensively. However, as a Stanford player, Jacobson will probably stay in school for a couple of more years. 22. *Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (6-8 200, Duke) Dunleavy is a wing guard with the height of a power forward. A surprisingly good athlete with superb body control, Dunleavy is a lethal driver and a pretty good perimeter shooter. He also has pretty good playmaking skills. Dunleavy should definitely stay in school in order to fill out his frame, as he is currently not physically ready to play in the NBA. By his senior year, he could become a top 5 pick. 23. Ken Johnson (6-11 245 C, Ohio State) For the past three years, Johnson has been one of the most intimidating shotblockers in the college game. His long arms, quick leaping ability and exceptional timing allow him to guard the basket like a soccer goalkeeper. Unfortunately, the rest of his game is not nearly as advanced as his defense. Johnson is a mediocre rebounder and his offensive game is rather primitive. Overall, Johnson is a lot like Houston Rockets center Kelvin Cato when Cato came out of Iowa State. 24. *Carlos Boozer (6-8 270 PF, Duke) Boozer is a powerful player with good athletic ability and touch. He is ambidextrous around the basket and can hit the 15 footer. Boozer has good hands and a big-time physique, so he should be able to rebound and post up in the pros. However, Boozer does not possess quick leaping ability and his arms are not particularly long. A consistently intense Boozer would be an awesome force, but right now he tends to drift in and out of games. His chronic foot problems are also a concern. 25. *Jason Collins (6-11 255 C/F, Stanford) A fourth year sophomore, Jason Collins has surpassed his twin brother Jarron as a pro prospect. A big, strong player with decent mobility, Collins is a strong post up player who can hit the 20-foot face-up. He is also a strong rebounder and respectable shotblocker. However, Collins does not have great quickness or leaping ability. Update: Collins was badly outplayed by Maryland's much smaller Lonnie Baxter in Stanford's loss to Maryland in the NCAA tournament. 26. *LaVell Blanchard (6-7 205 G/F, Michigan) Blanchard has become lost in the mess that is the Michigan basketball program. On a team like Kansas or Duke, where he could run off of a complex array of screens, Blanchard would be absolutely lethal. He has a beautiful shooting stroke and the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. Pluse, his spectacular leaping ability allows him to rebound like a player 5 or 6 inches taller. Currently, Blanchard is not a good defender and needs to work on his ballhandling skill, but his overall game is very comparable to that of current Clippers rookie Quentin Richardson. Other Prospects: 27. *Dan Gadzuric (6-11 245 C, UCLA) Gadzuric runs the floor better than virtually any other big man in the country, but he often looks clumsy and awkward out on the floor. When he is on his game, he can dominate, but his fundamentals are poor and his play is very inconsistent. 28. Casey Calvary (6-8 215 F, Gonzaga) A very good leaper with three-point range, Calvary plays a lot like Indiana Pacer forward Austin Croshere. 29. Terence Morris (6-9 205 SF, Maryland) Morris is a terrific athlete with a pure jump shot, but his lack of strength and aggressiveness makes him a major question mark. 30. *Brian Cook (6-10 240 F, Illinois) Like Morris, Brian Cook is an extremely gifted big man who plays too softly to be a consistent force. Cook could really benefit from staying in school to get tougher. 31. *Kelly Wise (6-10 215 F, Memphis) Wise is an explosive athlete with long reach. For more information, check out Roger Morris' scouting report. 32. Jamal Tinsley (6-3 195 PG, Iowa State) Tinsley is an NYC point guard with a lot of savvy and moxie. He has improved as a shooter, but his lack of pure quickness is a big negative. 33. *Omar Cook (6-1 190 PG, St. John's) Another NYC point guard, Cook has excellent quickness and point guard instincts. However, he needs a lot of work on his decision-making and shooting. 34. *Vincent Yarborough (6-7 210 SF, Tennessee) Yarborough is a terrific athlete with a good outside shooting stroke. Unfortunately, he relies too much on his perimeter game and plays very softly. Plus, he is a truly terrible free throw shooter. 35. Jarron Collins (6-10 250 PF, Stanford) Jarron is smaller and slightly more mobile than his twin brother Jason. Overall, they have very similar games, but Jarron does not shoot as well from the perimeter. 36. Melvin Ely (6-9 240 PF, Fresno State) Ely is a good shotblocker and rebounder who plays a very physical game. His offensive game needs some work, but he has pretty good touch and footwork. A major sleeper. 37. *Troy Murphy (6-10 240 PF, Notre Dame) Murphy is a dominant player at the college level, but he appears to lack the athletic ability to continue his dominance in the NBA. A tough player with very good shooting touch, Murphy scores on turnaround jumpers and on midrange face-ups. However, Murphy lacks the quickness and leaping ability to match up with most NBA power forwards. |
Features Marbury for Kidd 2001-2002 Eastern Conference Preview Future Stars 2001 NBA Draft Grades 2001 NBA Draft Scouting Report Zoned Out
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