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Potential Stars
By Gene Huh
Last year, we saw quite a few players raise their games a couple of notches and
emerge as star performers. The last year's long list of breakout players included the likes of Jason Terry, Andre Miller, Richard Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis,
Peja Stojakovic, Dirk Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady. All of these players were previously highly regarded talents who
had not played with the consistency to be considered true stars until last season. In scouting for this year's
breakout players, we have compiled a list of players who have shown flashes of brilliant in the past, but not
the day-in day-out consistency to take their games to the next level. The players on the list have at
least one year of NBA experience, but have yet to establish themselves as true standout players.
Darius Miles (F-G, Los Angeles Clippers)
Height/Weight: 6-9/210
Age: 20
Key 2001 Stats: 9.4 points/g, 5.9 rebounds/g, 1.5 blocks/g, 26 minutes/g
Scouting Report: Despite jumping straight from high school to the NBA last season, Darius Miles is ready to start dominating
at the highest level. An explosive athlete with an expansive wingspan, Miles is cut from the same mold as
players such as Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett, in that he can dominate both in the paint and on the perimeter.
As Miles gets stronger and refines his ballhandling and perimeter shooting, he will become a player who can play virtually any position on the floor like T-Mac and KG.
Until this refinement comes, Miles will be expected to provide energy, rebounding and shotblocking from the small forward position.
That said, it is very obvious that if Miles continues to work on his game, he will develop into a true NBA all-star.
Rashard Lewis (F-G, Seattle Supersonics)
Height/Weight: 6-10/215
Age: 22
Key 2001 Stats: 14.8 points/g, 6.9 rebounds/g, 43.2% three-point pct.
Scouting Report: Last season, Lewis emerged as a solid scorer for the Sonics and also showed signs of becoming
much more. His three-point shooting stroke has become so accurate that he was invited
to last season's All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout. At 6-10, the very athletic Lewis is an impossible
matchup for most NBA wing players. He can post up smaller players, shoot over defenders with ease, and is improving his ability
to put the ball on the floor. However, before anyone gets carried away with comparisons to Kevin Garnett,
it should be pointed out that Lewis is neither a tenacious rebounder nor a devastating shotblocker, despite
possessing the physical ability to excel in both areas. Still, as Lewis becomes tougher and rounds out
his all-around game, he will develop into a consistent 20 point/game scorer.
Jermaine O'Neal (F-C, Indiana Pacers)
Height/Weight: 6-11/232
Age: 23
Key 2001 Stats: 12.9 points/g, 9.8 rebounds/g, 2.8 blocks/g
Scouting Report: After years of looking like the poster child for the perils of skipping college while rotting on the bench of a loaded Portland team, O'Neal emerged as a devasting
inside presence for the Pacers last season. A very athletic 6-11 player with long arms, O'Neal is already one of the
most disruptive shotblockers in the NBA. He also hits the boards very hard and despite his lack of
bulk, O'Neal will battle the behemoths in the paint. As an offensive player, O'Neal has shown steady
development and must now be respected down in the low post. His face-up jumper is solid and accurate to
mid-range. Portland will rue the day that they traded O'Neal in order to pick up aging Dale Davis, as O'Neal continues
his development into one of the premier big men in the game.
Hidayet Turkoglu (F, Sacramento Kings)
Height/Weight: 6-8/220
Age: 22
Key 2001 Stats: 5.3 points/g, 16.8 minutes/g, 32.6% three-point pct.
Scouting Report: When the Kings drafted Turkoglu a couple of years ago, I branded it a bad draft choice because what
they needed was an athletic swingman and not another tall Euro shooter. What I did not realize is
that Turkoglu is much more than just another jump shooter. Turkoglu is a very natural athlete
with a physique that is strong enough to withstand NBA-style banging inside the paint. His quick feet and long arms
serve him very well on the defensive end against both wing players and big men, and he has the
courage and toughness to take on elite players defensively. Offensively, Turkoglu is a dangerous shooter with range
and can put the ball on the floor to either create his own shot or take it to the rack with authority. His exceptional
ballhandling and passing skills allow him to fit in well on a Sacramento team filled with creative passers. Expect
Turkoglu to be a force off the bench for the Kings as a backup to both Peja Stojakovic and Chris
Webber. Turkoglu made a name for himself in the postseason against the Lakers, but he could
further establish himself this season while Webber is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Morris Peterson (F-G, Toronto Raptors)
Height/Weight: 6-7/218
Age: 24
Key 2001 Stats: 9.3 points/g, 22.6 minutes/g, 38.2% three-point pct.
Scouting Report: Although Peterson was arguably the best all-around player on the 2000 Michigan State squad
that won the NCAA Championship, for some reason he slipped down to the 23rd pick of the 2000
NBA Draft. The teams that passed on Peterson will start really regreting their decision this season.
The athletic Peterson is a rare combination of pure shooting ability and defensive toughness. He is physically and mentally
tough enough the guard an opposing team's top perimeter threat, without sacrificing his
scoring. On offense, Peterson is in
perpetual motion in the halfcourt and is lethal coming off of screens or spotting up to drill three-pointers. He is
effective slashing to the basket and uses his leaping ability to finish explosively in transition. Peterson
showed flashes of effective play last season and could emerge as a fine complement to Vince
Carter this season.
Kenyon Martin (F, New Jersey Nets)
Height/Weight: 6-9/234
Age: 24
Key 2001 Stats: 12.0 points/g, 7.4 rebounds/g, 1.7 blocks/g
Scouting Report: Martin could have a huge breakout season -- if he can avoid
breaking his leg again. After having a glorious senior season at the University of
Cincinnati ruined by a freakish broken leg, Martin had a Rookie of the Year level season
destroyed by another broken leg. When healthy, Martin is an explosive intimidator inside the
paint who plays sort of like a smaller version of Alonzo Mourning. He is a terrific
shotblocker and is a solid shooter facing up from 15-17 feet. He is strong and should
develop into a solid low post scorer as he continues to work on his moves. If Martin can
stay healthy, he will become one of the cornerstones upon which the Nets will rebuild.
Wally Szczerbiak (G-F, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Height/Weight: 6-7/244
Age: 24
Key 2001 Stats: 14.0 points/g, 5.5 rebounds/g, 51.0% field goal pct.
Scouting Report: Szczerbiak has been a key contributor on playoff teams for the past two seasons. However, he
has shown enough glimpses of star quality to suggest he could take his game to the star level this
season. Coming out of college, I felt that Szczerbiak would be a defensive liability, unable to
defend the quick wing players he would be faced with at the NBA level. However, Szczerbiak
has proven to be a surprisingly effective defender thus far, using his toughness and intelligence
to stay between his man and the basket. Offensively, Szczerbiak has a pretty well-rounded game. He can
post up smaller players, put the ball on the floor and finish in traffic, and is a solid passer.
If he can finally become the lights-out shooter that he was supposed to be from day one, Szczerbiak
will develop into a big-time scorer that can take pressure off of Kevin Garnett. Don't bet against a guy who is such a fierce competitor
that he gets into fights with Minnesota franchise player Garnett during practices.
Eddie Robinson (SF, Chicago Bulls)
Height/Weight: 6-9/202
Age: 25
Key 2001 Stats: 7.4 points/g, 17.3 minutes/g, 53.1% field goal pct.
Scouting Report: The long, athletic Robinson has spent the past couple of seasons as a sparkplug off the bench for
the Charlotte Hornets. This season, thanks to a big new contract, Robinson will play substantial minutes at the small forward spot
for an undermanned Chicago Bulls team that will be missing the services of Ronald Artest for a significant portion of
the season. When healthy, Robinson is a superior run/jump athlete who plays a lot of energy. He is a major factor in transition
and slashing to the basket. In time, Robinson may also become a very good offensive rebounder. If
Robinson can develop a consistent midrange jump shot to go along with his superior athleticism, he
could emerge as a solid NBA starter at the 3 spot. Unfortunately, Robinson will not be able to
fully capitalize on the absense of Artest due to a toe injury that will keep him out for about a month.
Keon Clark (F-C, Toronto Raptors)
Height/Weight: 6-11/221
Age: 25
Key 2001 Stats: 7.9 points/g, 5.4 rebounds/g, 1.9 blocks/g, 21.2 minutes/g
Scouting Report: Up until now Keon Clark has been nothing but a big tease, due to his
inability to produce on a consistent basis. At his best, the athletic, long-armed Clark is a
devastating shotblocker and offensive rebounder in the mold of a Marcus Camby. Unfortunately, Clark has
perhaps the scrawniest legs and upper body of any frontcourt player in the NBA. This lack of
strength makes Clark more of a shot-blocking game changer off the bench than a legitimate starter at
this point in his career. Still, the left-handed Clark has the shooting touch and athletic ability to
eventually develop into a force in the paint, if he can improve his physical strength to an acceptable level.
Courtney Alexander (SG, Washington Wizards)
Height/Weight: 6-6/205
Age: 24
Key 2001 Stats: 17.0 points/g and 38.9% three-point pct. (as a Wizard)
Alexander is a great scorer who is already good enough to score 20 points per game if given the
opportunity. Unfortunately for him, the comeback of one Michael Jordan will ensure that he will
not get the opportunity to launch enough shots to approach that number this season. Alexander has the
ballhandling skills to break defenders down off the dribble and the shooting ability to pull up
and stick the midrange jumper or a bomb from beyond the arc. There are some lingering character
issues surrounding him, due to the circumstances of his dismissal from the University of Virginia men's basketball
team, but so far Alexander has been a model citizen off the court. The return of Air Jordan will prevent
Alexander from putting up the big numbers he is already capable of posting, but it will only
help his game to be able to learn from Jordan.
Tim Thomas (F-G, Milwaukee Bucks)
Height: 6-10/240
Age: 24
Key 2001 Stats: 12.6 points/g, 4.1 rebounds/g, 41.2% three-point pct.
Scouting Report: If Thomas had half of Szczerbiak's toughness and competitiveness, he would already be an all-star.
Unfortunately, Thomas is a soft player who has not yet played with the intensity necessary to
reach elite status. At his point, Thomas is almost exclusively a 6' 10" three-point shooter, despite
possessing the natural athleticism and size to be much more. A guy with his leaping ability and height
should not average 4 rebounds a game and shy away from contact in the low post. Still, player tall forwards with
pure shooting strokes and athleticism are very rare, and one of these days the light may finally
turn on for Thomas. If not, Thomas could find a career niche as a poor man's version of Clifford Robinson.
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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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