|
Blake
Griffin 6-10 PF Oklahoma / Sophomore |
|
Highly fluid and coordinated power forward with great strength
and body control. Can create his own shot impressively and has
no problem playing inside. Explosive finishing around the rim,
but is capable of playing a finesse game too. Competes extremely
hard and is an excellent rebounder. Has a great feel for the
game and is a very good teammate. Skills facing the basket are
improvable, not a great defender, but clearly has a big upside
to continue to improve. Dominating college basketball in impressive
fashion. |
| Comparison:
Carlos Boozer |
Stats:
23.0 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 1.7 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,983,480 |
Ranking:
1st Power Forward / 1st Sophomore |
|
James
Harden 6-5 SG Arizona State / Sophomore |
|
Versatile lefty shooting guard who is equally effective creating
shots for himself and others. Extremely efficient player with
terrific scoring instincts both shooting the ball from the perimeter
or getting to the basket and drawing fouls. Very advanced player
with an outstanding feel for the game, really understands how
to move without the ball and find open teammates unselfishly
thanks to his excellent court vision. Solid defender with long
arms and a good physique. Has average size for his position
and is not incredibly explosive to compensate. Ball-handling
skills are improvable, especially with right hand. Polished,
mature player with good, but not great upside, even though he’s
extremely young for his class. |
| Comparison:
Brandon Roy |
Stats:
23.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.2 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,458,840 |
Ranking:
1st Shooting Guard / 2nd Sophomore |
|
Hasheem
Thabeet 7-3 C Connecticut / Junior |
Enormous
big man with outstanding physical tools, including a fantastic
frame and wingspan. Mobile center who can run the floor well
and get off his feet impressively. High-percentage player
from both the field and the free throw line. Draws a great
deal of fouls just by being on the floor. A game-changing
presence defensively thanks to his outstanding shot-blocking
ability. Much improved rebounder. Limited offensive player
with poor hands and an underwhelming skill-set. Poor passer.
Questionable lateral quickness and balance, making him a liability
on pick and roll. Only playing basketball for a few years,
and made huge strides from freshman to junior year. True age
a question mark. |
| Comparison:
Samuel Dalembert |
Stats:
14.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.5 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,004,160 |
Ranking:
1st Center / 1st Junior |
|
Stephen
Curry 6-3 PG Davidson / Junior |
|
Incredible shooter/scorer who exploded onto the national scene
with an amazing NCAA tournament run, leading his team all the
way to the Elite Eight. Highly efficient and productive player
who is clearly the most deadly perimeter shooting threat in
college basketball. Hits tough shots with the greatest of ease,
and is extremely difficult to shut down. Extremely poised and
confident player with an excellent feel for the game, loves
the big moments and is not afraid to take responsibilities.
Upside is limited by his poor physical tools, showing average
size, a thin frame, and underwhelming athleticism to compensate.
Defensive potential is a concern. Excellent assist numbers at
point guard position this season make his transition to the
NBA much easier to swallow. |
| Comparison:
Mike Bibby |
Stats:
30.0.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.7 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,610,080 |
Ranking:
1st Point Guard / 2nd Junior |
|
Jrue
Holiday 6-4 PG UCLA / Freshman |
|
Versatile combo guard with an outstanding feel for the game
and the poise of a veteran. Can score in a multitude of ways,
but is just as comfortable giving the ball up. Can shoot the
ball with range and is an outstanding defender. Complete player
who knows how to play winning basketball. Shows the potential
to play point guard down the road. Excellent on the pick and
roll. More of a role player than a star? Good, not great athlete.
Upside is solid, but not out of this world. |
| Comparison:
Rodney Stuckey |
Stats:
10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.9 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,269,160 |
Ranking:
2nd Point Guard / 1st Freshman |
|
Jordan
Hill 6-10 PF Arizona / Junior |
|
Super athletic power forward with a big upside. Likes to play
inside, and has the size and length to operate efficiently in
there. Runs the floor and moves off the ball well. Has great
hands and the ability to finish everything around the basket.
Excellent rebounder who competes on every possession and can
also block the occasional shot. Developing a mid-range jumper,
but lacks polish on his entire offensive game. Average defender
due to his lack of strength and awareness. Only playing basketball
for a few years now, still has plenty of room to develop. Made
huge strides in junior season. |
| Comparison:
Chris Wilcox |
Stats:
18.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.7 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,969,280 |
Ranking:
2nd Power Forward / 3rd Junior |
|
Earl
Clark 6-9 SF Louisville / Junior |
|
Versatile 4/3 with great natural tools and considerable potential.
Has a great frame and is a superb athlete. Likes to face the
basket and put the ball on the floor. Can score around the rim
cutting off the ball or beating players in the post thanks to
his quickness. Has a very inconsistent jumper with range out
to the 3-point line. Solid rebounder and emerging defender when
he puts his mind to it. Lacks considerable polish offensively
and isn’t as prolific a scorer as you might hope. Has
a tendency to coast at times and may lack some mental toughness.
Upside upside upside. |
| Comparison:
Marvin Williams |
Stats:
13.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.3 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,710,560 |
Ranking:
1st Small Forward / 4th Junior |
|
Brandon
Jennings 6-1 PG Lottomatica Roma (Italy) / Freshman |
|
Flamboyant and exceptionally talented lefty point guard with
a flair for the spectacular and the demeanor of a star. Terrific
athlete and flashy ball-handler who can change gears on the
fly and create shots with a wide-array of impressive moves.
A natural passer with exceptional court vision, makes incredibly
difficult assists look simple. Shows nice potential as a scorer
as well, with the ability to knock down shots off the dribble
or beyond the arc. Shot-selection and decision making look questionable
at times. Poor defender with a slight frame and below average
size. Gaining terrific experience playing for a Euroleague team
straight out of high school. |
| Comparison:
Sebastian Telfair |
Stats:
8.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,483,280 |
Ranking:
3rd Point Guard / 2nd Freshman |
|
B.J. Mullens 7-0 C Ohio State / Freshman |
|
Highly intriguing big man with outstanding natural tools—size,
strength, athleticism, great hands, and the ability to play
inside or out. Can knock down jumpers smoothly or finish with
either hand around the basket. Doesn’t always play hard,
fails to box out or compete defensively, seems to go through
stretches of unproductiveness. Superbly gifted and appears to
have huge potential, but still has a lot to prove as well. Could
be a big steal or a huge bust—all depends on his work
ethic and drive. |
| Comparison:
Chris Kaman |
Stats:
7.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,282,640 |
Ranking:
2nd Center / 3rd Freshman |
|
Demar
DeRozan 6-6 SG USC / Freshman |
| Freakishly
athletic wing player with all the natural tools and physical
attributes NBA scouts look for in a potential star. Excellent
in transition, shows a smooth looking stroke, and appears to
have a world of talent at his disposal. Still raw in the half-court,
not a great ball-handler or shot-creator, struggles from beyond
the arc, tends to coast at times, and is an average defender
at best. Clearly has a huge upside, but is far from being productive
even at the college level. |
| Comparison:
Gerald Green |
Stats:
11.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,168,520 |
Ranking:
2nd Shooting Guard / 4th Freshman |
|
Ty Lawson 5-11 PG North Carolina / Junior |
| True
point guard who might be the quickest end to end player in college
basketball. A master at igniting fast-breaks after made baskets.
Has excellent strength, ball-handling skills, footwork and body
control, and is especially impressive in transition. Court vision
is solid, although has a tendency to over-do things at times,
particularly with his decision making in the half-court. Loses
focus and is still inconsistent as a floor general. Gets to
the basket extremely well, and uses his strength to score even
with contact. Possesses poor shooting mechanics, particularly
off the dribble, and no real mid-range game. Gets in the passing
lanes defensively, but lack of size and effort hurts his NBA
potential on this end of the floor. |
| Comparison:
Raymond Felton |
Stats:
15.7 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.3 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,060,040 |
Ranking:
4th Point Guard / 5th Junior |
|
Kyle
Singler 6-9 SF Duke / Sophomore |
| Oversized
wing player with a high skill-level and a very nice feel for
the game. Versatile offensively, has a terrific looking stroke
and can put the ball on the floor and create shots for himself.
Plays multiple positions at the college level, and has excellent
instincts as a scorer and passer. Very competitive player, but
struggles defensively due to his average length and lateral
quickness. Has all the makings of a terrific role player for
a smart, half-court oriented NBA team. |
| Comparison:
Mike Miller |
Stats:
15.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.5 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,957,080 |
Ranking:
2nd Small Forward / 3rd Sophomore |
|
Chase Budinger 6-7 SG/SF Arizona / Junior |
| Athletic
wing with excellent size and leaping ability. A very good perimeter
shooter, both spotting up and coming off screens, thanks to
his picture perfect mechanics. Intelligent player who knows
how to move off the ball, find the open man with heady passes,
and is very unselfish. A former world-class volleyball player
who is still only scratching the potential on his basketball
potential. A poor ball-handler--lacks the ability to create
his own shot effectively, and has almost no mid-range game.
Doesn’t utilize his athleticism effectively enough, and
hasn’t shown go-to scoring mentality at this point. Lateral
quickness and defensive intensity are questionable. Still, has
all the makings of an excellent complimentary player. |
| Comparison:
Brent Barry |
Stats:
17.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.9 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,859,160 |
Ranking:
3rd Shooting Guard / 6th Junior |
|
Gani Lawal 6-8 PF Georgia Tech / Sophomore |
| High-energy
power forward who is in the midst of a break-out sophomore season.
Not incredibly tall, but extremely long and athletic with a
great frame to compensate. The stereotypical hustling role player.
Very active around the basket, gets his hands on plenty of loose
balls, an excellent offensive rebounder and a talented shot-blocker
to boot. Makes plays around the rim, quick off feet and very
instinctive. Gets to the free throw line but does not convert.
Poor passer and all-around decision maker offensively. Work
ethic, character are reportedly superb. Still raw, but with
a big upside. |
| Comparison:
Leon Powe |
Stats:
16.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,766,280 |
Ranking:
3rd Power Forward / 4th Sophomore |
|
Patrick Mills 6-0 PG Saint Mary's / Sophomore |
|
Exceptionally quick point guard who helped his draft stock considerably
this summer with the Australian national team in the Beijing
Olympics, leading his team in scoring. Small, but fearless playmaker
who is exceptional in transition and excellent at taking his
man off the dribble. Very poised and mature player. Has a decent
stroke from beyond the arc, and can make shots from that range,
but needs to work on his consistency. Tends to fall in love
with his jumper, and does not get to the free throw line. Playmaking
skills, decision making ability need work. Too small to finish
in traffic on occasion, lack of size may hurt his long-term
potential. |
| Comparison:
Mo Williams |
Stats:
19.9 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.7 rpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,677,840 |
Ranking:
5th Point Guard / 5th Sophomore |
|
Andrew
Ogilvy 7-0 C Vanderbilt / Sophomore |
|
True center with impressive scoring and passing ability. Has
great hands and the ability to score with his back to the basket,
possesses impressive touch with either hand, and draws fouls
at a very high rate. Hits his free throws at an excellent clip.
Fundamentally sound and capable of playing in the high or low
post-- knows how to find the open man and shows some sparks
of potential putting the ball on the floor or hitting a mid-range
jumper. A relatively average athlete who could still improve
his strength and toughness. Not a great rebounder or defender.
Struggles stepping out and guarding the perimeter. Will have
to wow NBA decision makers with his production, more-so than
with his upside. |
| Comparison:
Brad Miller |
Stats:
16.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,594,080 |
Ranking:
3rd Center / 6th Sophomore |
|
Darren
Collison 6-1 PG UCLA / Senior |
|
Athletic point guard with an excellent feel for the game. Very
poised, disciplined playmaker who executes in the half-court
and gets out in transition well. Reads the floor and is fantastic
running the pick and run. Terrific man to man and team defender
who puts tremendous pressure on the ball. Shoots an excellent
percentage from behind the arc, but will he be able to hit NBA
3’s with his awkward mechanics? Small and skinny. Not
an amazing offensive threat, gets passive at times, especially
finishing around the rim. A likely role player at the next level. |
| Comparison:
Chris Duhon |
Stats:
15.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 1.9 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,514,280 |
Ranking:
6th Point Guard / 1st Senior |
|
Patrick
Patterson 6-8 PF Kentucky / Sophomore |
|
Strong, high-energy power forward who produced in impressive
fashion from day one at Kentucky. Undersized, but possesses
long arms, a great frame and solid athleticism to compensate.
Very aggressive inside, uses his body effectively, can operate
with his back to the basket with great touch, and is a terrific
finisher around the hoop. Draws fouls at a nice rate and shoots
a solid percentage from the stripe. Can knock down a mid-range
jumper with decent accuracy. Very active player who really competes.
Footwork and overall offense polish still improvable. Relies
too much on his natural tools at times, particularly on the
defensive end. |
| Comparison:
Drew Gooden |
Stats:
19.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.2 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,438,680 |
Ranking:
4th Power Forward / 7th Sophomore |
|
DeJuan
Blair 6-7 PF Pittsburgh / Sophomore |
|
Undersized big man with a tremendous wingspan. Outworks the
competition regularly inside the post thanks to his fantastic
motor, toughness and intensity level. Arguably the best rebounder
in college basketball. A tremendous interior defender who is
terrific at getting in the passing lanes. Extremely efficient
and highly productive offensively as well. Sticks to his strengths
and will battle inside all day—especially on the offensive
glass. Still needs to improve his perimeter skills, both offensively
and defensively, is somewhat of a man amongst boys at the collegiate
level. |
| Comparison:
Paul Millsap |
Stats:
14.7 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 2.1 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,373,880 |
Ranking:
5th Power Forward / 8th Sophomore |
|
Eric
Maynor 6-2 PG VCU / Senior |
|
Smooth, versatile point guard who has improved dramatically
through his four years of college. Possesses more than adequate
size and athleticism for the NBA. An excellent scorer for VCU--
shows deep range on his jumper, hits a high percentage of his
shots, and gets to the free throw line at a great rate. Also
a very natural playmaker, reads the floor well and does a great
job making teammates better. Plays the game at his own pace
and has a terrific feel for the game. Shows huge cojones in
end of game situations and has put together an extensive compilation
of clutch plays throughout his career. Below average defensively,
a poor finisher around the rim, and too turnover prone at times. |
| Comparison:
Sam Cassell |
Stats:
23.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.0 rpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,318,920 |
Ranking:
7th Point Guard / 2nd Senior |
|
Jonny
Flynn 6-0 PG Syracuse / Sophomore |
|
Small, but jet-quick point guard with excellent ball-handling
skills and a great flair for the game. Confident playmaker who
can really score the ball, both creating his own shot and making
outside shots. Highly instinctive, likes to play at a fast-tempo
and is fairly unselfish, but really struggles with his decision
making skills at times. Shows poor shot-selection and is very
turnover prone. Lack of size is clearly a hindrance, both finishing
around the basket and especially defensively, where he struggles
badly at times. |
| Comparison:
Earl Watson |
Stats:
17.5 ppg, 5.3 apg, 1.8 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,266,120 |
Ranking:
8th Point Guard / 9th Sophomore |
|
Willie
Warren 6-5 SG Oklahoma / Freshman |
|
Compact scorer with all the tools scouts look for at the shooting
guard position. Strong, athletic freshman with a nice frame
and long arms. Extremely instinctive offensively. Can create
his own shot and takes the ball strong to the basket, and has
solid range on his jumper. Needs to work on his mid-range game,
has a tendency to get out of control at times and take questionable
shots. Lacks experience and at times effort on the defensive
end. Needs to improve his all-around polish. |
| Comparison:
Rashad Mccants |
Stats:
14.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,215,480 |
Ranking:
4th Shooting Guard / 5th Freshman |
|
Tyler Hansbrough 6-9 PF North Carolina / Senior
|
|
The best player in college basketball? A beast around the basket--
relishes contact and makes a living with an incredibly soft
touch and some of the best post moves seen in the NCAA. Gets
to the free throw line at a superb rate. Unstoppable motor.
Face-up game is coming around nicely. Lacks size, length, quickness
and explosiveness, which limits him defensively, and is a bit
more advanced age-wise than most players in his class. Average
passer. Production is what gets him in the first round, more
than potential. |
| Comparison:
Luis Scola |
Stats:
22.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.4 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,167,000 |
Ranking:
6th Power Forward / 3rd Senior |
|
Damion Jones 6-7 PF Texas / Junior |
|
Tough, athletic combo forward who is slowly making the transition
to playing on the wing full time. Monster rebounder who never
gives up on a single possession. Solid shooter with his feet
set, can make open 3-pointers at a very solid clip. Excellent
getting out in transition, moving off the ball and finishing
around the basket. Unable to create offense for himself due
to his poor ball-handling skills. All-around perimeter skill-set
still needs work. Horrendous free throw shooter. Versatile defender
who can guard multiple positions, but still needs work on his
fundamentals. |
| Comparison:
Carl Landry |
Stats:
14.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 spg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,120,200 |
Ranking:
7th Power Forward / 7th Junior |
|
Jerome Jordan 7-0 C Tulsa / Junior |
|
An impressive physical specimen at the center position, showing
great size, an incredible wingspan, an excellent frame and solid
athleticism—which combined puts him in a rare class of
prospects right off the bat. Wants to compete in the paint and
does a pretty good job on the defensive end, particularly on
the glass and as a shot-blocking threat. Extremely raw offensively,
possesses a very poor skill-level. Not particularly productive
even at the college level. Mostly a long-term project at this
point, but with a great upside to continue to improve down the
road. |
| Comparison:
Cedric Simmons |
Stats:
11.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.6 bpg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,075,440 |
Ranking:
4th Center / 8th Junior |
|
Tyler
Smith 6-7 SF/PF Tennessee / Junior |
|
Versatile forward with terrific physical tools—an NBA
body, wingspan and athleticism. Naturally instinctive, extremely
aggressive player who likes to face the basket from the power
forward position. Excellent passer and very efficient offensively.
Outstanding in transition—finishes well at the basket.
Very active defensively. Still making the transition to the
small forward position. Ball-handling skills are improvable,
especially going right. Doesn’t take many shots from behind
the arc. Plays out of control at times. What’s his bread
and butter in the NBA? Regardless, has a big upside. |
| Comparison:
Julian Wright |
Stats:
17.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.3 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,039,800 |
Ranking:
3rd Small Forward / 9th Junior |
|
Sam Young 6-6 SF/PF Pittsburgh / Senior |
|
Strong and extremely athletic forward with an NBA body and a
terrific wingspan. Gets his points mostly on the catch and shoot—where
he excels out to beyond the 3-point line, as well as in transition
and in the post. Loves to shoot turnaround jumpers. Excellent
rebounder and defender. Tough as nails. Still making the transition
to being a full-time wing player. Limited ball-handler. Struggles
shooting off the dribble. Not a very creative offensive player.
Projects as a role player who can knock down shots when needed. |
| Comparison:
James Posey |
Stats:
20.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,009,680 |
Ranking:
4th Small Forward / 9th Junior |
|
Terrence Williams 6-5 SG/SF Louisville / Senior
|
|
Incredibly versatile shooting guard who plays three positions
at the collegiate level. Outstanding athlete with a lightning
quick first step, terrific leaping ability, and a frame that
is tailor made for professional basketball. An excellent defender
first and foremost thanks to his physical attributes, length
and the hard-nosed style of play he brings to the court. Fills
up the stat-sheet with assists, rebounds and turnovers. Not
a prolific scorer, very inconsistent with his jumper but settles
regardless for bad shots from the perimeter. Doesn’t get
to the basket or free throw line enough. |
| Comparison:
Tony Allen |
Stats:
10.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.8 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,003,560 |
Ranking:
5th Shooting Guard / 4th Senior |
|
Omri
Casspi 6-8 SF/PF Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) / 1988 |
|
Big small forward with nice physical tools for an international
player. Shows good size, a solid frame, and above average athletic
ability. Confident, intense and highly aggressive scorer who
takes the ball strong to the rim and displays impressive toughness.
Wants to make plays and has the offensive instincts needed to
get the job done. Ball-handling, mid-range game and especially
perimeter shooting ability are still improvable to make the
full transition to the small forward spot. Has made strides
defensively, but still has a ways to go. Will have an opportunity
to contribute at a very high level in the Euroleague with Maccabi
Tel Aviv. |
| Comparison:
Matt Barnes |
Stats:
7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $996,240 |
Ranking:
5th Smal Forward / 1st International |
|
Vladimir
Dasic 6-9 PF KK Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) /
1988 |
|
Versatile international combo forward with intriguing physical
tools and skills. Athletic player with a very nice frame. Extremely
confident and aggressive. Capable of facing up from the perimeter
to take his man off the dribble or knock down 3-pointers. Terrific
at getting in the passing lanes and igniting fast-breaks. Still
working on polishing up his all-around skill-set to make the
transition to playing on the wing full-time. Shot-selection,
decision making questionable at times. Can he defend NBA small
forwards? |
| Comparison:
Vladimir Radmanovic |
Stats:
10.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 apg |
| Rookie
season salary*: $989,040 |
Ranking:
8th Power Forward / 2nd International |
