Breaking down the NBA draft
Published 9:57 pm Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A thumbnail look at potential first-round selections for the NBA draft to be held Thursday:
Solomon Alabi, c, Florida State
7-1, 251. … 11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.3 bpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long and athletic. … Has an immense wingspan and can jump better than most centers. … Excellent shot blocker. … Can hit medium to short range shots. … Has a basic post game on offense. … Needs to bulk up and improve ball-handling skills.
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Cole Aldrich, c, Kansas
6-11, 245. … 11.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg
A junior early entry. … A long-armed, mobile center. … Has strong rebounding and defensive skills. … Improve his shot blocking this past season. … Has limited offensive skills and needs to work on his shooting mechanics.
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Al-Farouq Aminu, f, Wake Forest
6-9, 215. … 15.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long and athletic, can create matchup problems for opponents. … A competitor with a strong work ethic. … Runs the floor well. … Strong rebounder with a massive wingspan. … Inconsistent shooter. … Needs to improve his ball handling and perimeter game.
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James Anderson, g, Oklahoma State
6-6, 215. … 22.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg
A junior early entry. … The Big 12 Player of the Year. … An impressive offensive talent. … Fluid athlete. … Can run off a screen or create his own shot. … Has NBA 3-point range. … A below average defender.
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Luke Babbitt, f, Nevada
6-9, 225. … 21.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Smooth offensive player. … Has a very good basketball IQ and feel for the game. … Can create his own shot. … Can hit the midrange shots and hits 3-pointers regularly. … Defensive game needs work, especially lateral quickness.
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Eric Bledsoe, g, Kentucky
6-1, 190. … 11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg
A freshman early entry. … Has a point guard’s body and played off the ball, next to John Wall. … Super athlete with a long wing span. … Limited offensive skills: ball handling, perimeter shot and playmaking. … Had a high turnover rate in college.
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Craig Brackins, f, Iowa State
6-10, 230. … 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Has a soft touch around the basket. … Has a great wingspan. … Improved his rebounding. … Needs to add weight and muscle to play the post at the next level. … Settles for jump shots too often. … Decision to return for his junior year may have cost him several draft spots.
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Avery Bradley, g, Texas
6-2, 180. … 11.6 ppg, 2.1 apg
A freshman early entry. … Great defender. … Good leaper and quick. … Shooting guard may be a better fit because of the his 6-foot-7 wingspan. … Impressed the scouts at the camps. … Excellent defender. … Needs to improve playmaking skills.
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DeMarcus Cousins, f, Kentucky
6-11, 270. … 15.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Huge frame, a presence in the post. … A true center with excellent skills. … Can score with back to the basket or facing it. … Has a great wingspan. … Some concern about his conditioning. … Needs to improve passing and lateral quickness.
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Ed Davis, f, North Carolina
6-10, 225. … 13.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg
A sophomore early entry. … Missed the last 13 games with a broken left wrist. … Excellent frame and athlete. … High basketball IQ. … Solid hands, great touch around the basket. … Needs to improve offensive skills, very raw. … Needs to get stronger for the post game.
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Devin Ebanks, f, West Virginia
6-9, 215. … 12.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Long lanky frame makes him tough on defense. … Very competitive. … Terrific rebounder. … Must improve his perimeter game and ball-handling skills. … His play on the court is inconsistent. … His off-court issues may be cause for concern.
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Derrick Favors, f, Georgia Tech
6-9, 246. … 12.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg
A freshman early entry. … Has a great wing span. … Athletic power forward. … Excels as a rebounder and defender. … A huge upside, as his offensive game is improving. … Needs to be more assertive in his game.
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Paul George, f, Fresno State
6-8, 210. … 16.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Great scoring instincts. … Terrific from the perimeter. … Athletic and physical attributes cause matchup problems. … Inconsistent on defender. … Average ball-handler. … Court decisions are suspect. … Turnover prone.
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Gordon Hayward, f, Butler
6-8, 207. … 15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Solid offensive skills with great size. … High basketball IQ. … Solid perimeter game. … Effective in transition. … Limited defensive game. … Average athlete. … Needs to add weight for next level.
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Xavier Henry, g, Kansas
6-6, 220. … 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Has the size to play shooting guard or small forward. … A solid understanding of the game. … Has deep range on his jump shot. … Needs to improve on creating his own shot. … Lateral quickness needs to get better.
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Damion James, f, Texas
6-7, 225. … 18.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg
Senior. … Solid athlete with an NBA body. … Plays hard, excellent work ethic. … High energy on the court. … Good in transition. … Excellent on the boards. … Solid defensively. … Doesn’t stand out in any one area, but isn’t lacking in any.
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Armon Johnson, g, Nevada
6-3, 195. … 15.7 ppg, 5.6 apg
A junior early entry. … Impressive athlete with an outstanding frame for the point. … Explosive first step. … Aggressive player. … Excellent body control. … Has the defensive tools. … Needs to work on shooting mechanics.
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Wesley Johnson, f, Syracuse
6-7, 205. … 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Has the physical tools for the small forward position. … Explosive, excels in transition. … Great footwork. … Solid shooter with a nice touch. … Plays like he has something to prove. … Needs to improve ballhandling.
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Dominique Jones, g, South Florida
6-4, 215. … 21.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
A junior early entry. … An aggressive slasher who gets to the foul line often. … A combo guard with size and strength. … Can create his own shot and scores in bunches. … Terrific man-to-man defender. … Needs to improve his perimeter jump shot.
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Gani Lawal, f, Georgia Tech
6-9, 234. … 13.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg
A junior early entry. … Excellent wingspan. … Tremendous work ethic. … Runs the floor well. … Finishes around the rim. … Needs to continue to improve his low post footwork, jump shooting, and passing. … Not polished but shows great potential.
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Greg Monroe, f, Georgetown
6-11, 253. … 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Has the size and length to play center. … Has a solid all-around game in the post. … Likes to face the basket. … Excellent court vision and instincts. … Terrific passer … Average rebounder and defender. … Needs to improve perimeter shooting.
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Daniel Orton, c, Kentucky
6-10, 255. … 3.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Great physical tools. … Wide frame and great wingspan. … Above average athlete. … Did not play much behind DeMarcus Cousins. … Some think he should have stayed in school one more year. … Will be picked on potential.
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Patrick Patterson, c, Kentucky
6-9, 235. … 14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg
A junior early entry. … A versatile forward. … Aggressive inside player. … Finishes around the rim. … Solid jump shooter. … Rarely turns the ball over. … Needs to improve his footwork. … Needs to improve his rebounding, he relies too much on his athletic skills.
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Quincy Pondexter, f, Washington
6-6, 225. … 19.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Senior. … Efficient scorer. … Can pull up for the jumper or finish strong at the rim. … Long and athletic. … Solid rebounder and defender. … Improved his game as a senior. … Needs to improve ball handling and his perimeter shot.
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Stanley Robinson, f, Connecticut
6-9, 210. … 14.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg
Senior. … An athletic combo forward. … Has the physical tools to play the half-court or transition game. … A good rebounder and defender. … Excels in transition. … Play was inconsistent most of his collegiate career. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot.
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Larry Sanders, f-c, Virginia Commonwealth
6-11, 235. … 14.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.6 bpg
A junior early entry. … Has the tools to be a force in the paint on the defensive side. … Terrific wingspan. … Made great strides in his three years at VCU. … Plays with energy, runs the floor well. … Limited offensive skills. … A project.
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Kevin Seraphin, f-c, Cholet (France)
6-9, 264. … 5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Early international entry, born in 1989. … Used as a rebounder and defender for the best team in France. … Muscular big man, long, athletic. … Offensive game needs work. … Will be picked on potential.
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Lance Stephenson, g, Cincinnati
6-5, 212. … 12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
A freshman early entry. … New York State’s all-time leading prep scorer. … Good length and a strong frame for shooting guard. … Excellent passer. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot. … Needs to work on his strength and conditioning.
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Evan Turner, g, Ohio State
6-7, 205. … 20.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 6.0 apg
A junior early entry. … May be the most versatile player in the draft. … The national player of the year. … Can play any backcourt position. … Impressive midrange game. … Dynamic shot creator. … Needs to improve his perimeter shot.
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Ekpe Udoh, c, Baylor
6-10, 240. … 13.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.7 bpg
A junior early entry. … Set the Big 12 single-season record for blocks (3.7 per game). … Versatile. … Fluid around the rim. … Can step out to the midrange. … Needs to improve ballhandling and passing. … Needs to become stronger in his lower body.
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John Wall, g, Kentucky
6-4, 195. … 16.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.3 rpg
A freshman early entry. … May be the most dynamic player in the draft. … Extremely quick point guard. … Aggressive with good instincts. … Unselfish with the ball. … Needs to improve perimeter game. … His ability to operate in the half-court needs work.
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Willie Warren, g, Oklahoma
6-4, 203. … 16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Explosive, gets to the rim and finishes. … Solid pull-up jumper. … Has outstanding scoring instincts. … His draft stock took a hit with some setbacks this season. … Turnovers are a problem. … Needs to work on defense.
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Terrico White, g, Mississippi
6-5, 213. … 15.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Has a terrific shooting stroke, especially at midrange. … A physical specimen. … Lacks a defined position. … Needs to be more aggressive on the offensive end.
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Hassan Whiteside, c, Marshall
7-0, 235. … 13.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 5.4 bpg
A freshman early entry. … Led the nation in blocked shots. … Has length and ability to rise above the competition. … Has nice touch near the basket and can step out beyond the top of the key. … Needs to show that he’s more than a dynamic weakside defender.
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Elliot Williams, g, Memphis
6-5, 180. … 17.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Athletic combo guard. … Has great scoring instincts and shot-creating ability. … Gets to the foul line often. … Solid defender. … A lefty, who struggles going right.