7 replies to this topic

[Superiorblogman]

It's NCAA Tourney time and with that in mind. Here are some players I am watching in regards to what I perceive to be NBA skills and ability and how they would fit in with the Hawks. Remember we only have 1 or maybe 2 2nd round picks depending on who you ask.

William Buford SG plays for Ohio State something about this guy just reminds me of Wes Matthews.

Corey Fisher PG plays for Villanova something about this guy just screams Klye Lowry.

Rick Jackson PF plays for Syracuse I am not high on this guy but he does average 10.6 rebounds and did that in the supposed best conference.

Darius Morris PG plays for Michigan He has been showing up in mock drafts for some reason. I don't see why he would leave but he definitely has potential he averages 6.7 assists to just 3 TO's and is just a sophmore. Teague never average a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio in college + Morris is 6"3 to 6"4 kind of reminds me of a young Andre Miller.

Scotty Hopson SG/SF plays for Tennessee Not huge on this guy but I do think he can be as good as Rodney Carney who had his moments in the league.

Demetri McCamey PG plays for Illinois dude has good size for a PG 6-3 or so and has maintained a 2 to 1 assist to TO ratio for the last 2 years as I said before that's something that Teague was never able to accomplish. He has average 6 and 7 assists the last 2 years.

John Jenkins SG Vanderbilt I heard some announcers commenting on Jenkins thinking he was ready for the league. I am not so sure of that. Add that he does not have what I would consider good size for a SG this is the type of guy that could jump in too early and end up falling to 2nd round. I think he is a bigger Eddie House from day 1 though because you can't take away the fact that he is a knockdown shooter. He may have a little more upside than House down the line depends on how he measures out if he comes out, but the fact is he will be drafted as a one-trick pony, knock down shooter.

Kenneth Faried SF/PF Morehead State averages 14.5 rebounds a game as a senior. Averaged 13 rebounds a game both his sophmore and junior years. Some really think he will be a 1st round pick and he could but most undersized PF's drop to 2nd round or go undrafted. Check Reggie Evans, Big Baby, and Dejuain Blair for proof.

Nikola Vucevic PF USC you have to take notice of a 6"10 guy that can get you 10 rebounds a game. I am not a fan but I would keep and eye on him.

Jujuan Johnson PF Purdue He is basically a pick and pop PF at the next level. He reminds me of Solomon Jones physically. I don't think he is what the Hawks need but he is worth noting.

Chris Singleton SF/PF Florida State announcers swear this guy is some great defender. I think he looks long and has good size for the NBA SF position but I have never seen any eye popping skill he displays. A lot of people have him as a 1st rounder but I think he could drop and could help a little. He is no better than Devin Ebanks who fell to the Lakers last year though.

Jon Leuer PF Wisconsin He is another pick and pop guy in the NBA which is really not what the Hawks need but he is worth noting if I am going to note Jujuan Johnson even though Johnson is much more athletic.

Jordan Taylor PG Wisconsin He averages a 4 to 1 assist to TO ratio this year and averaged a 3 to 1 assist to TO ratio last year. Could be a good pick. I think he could be like Earl Watson with a better jumpshot.

Elias Harris SF Gonzaga This guy could have been a 1st rounder easy in a draft that was considered stronger last year. The perception of his ability has changed this year but he looks like an elite athlete that can carve out a niche at times. Would not be a bad 2nd round pick on principle alone.

Keith Benson PF Oakland He is a 6"10 maybe even 6"11 guy that has good athleticism. He has been inconsistent in my opinion which is telling considering he did not play against greatest competition but I think if he gains weight he can end up in the league and be as good as Larry Sanders who the Bucks drafted early last year.

Remember to be reasonable when assessing talent we only have 1 or maybe 2 2nd round picks depending on who you ask.

Tourny begins Tuesday.

Edited by Superiorblogman, 14 March 2011 - 03:54 AM.

[coachx]

Nice list of 2nd round prospects.
Here are a couple of  2nd round prospects that are not showing up in mock drafts that I like. these are all guys that I have seen play many games......not just names I plucked off a 2nd round mock draft.

Dee Bost - PG from Miss St. Quick as lightning.......more of a scorer then a pure PG but still found away to average over 6 apg. Turnovers are a concern with him but no late 2nd round pick is going to be perfect.


Jeffrey Taylor - SF from Vanderbilt. Dude is oozing potential.  He may make a better pro then the sweet shooting and more hyped John Jenkins since Taylor is fay more athletic and can also shoot from the perimeter. He is not as 1 dimensional as Jenkins and Taylor is the better defender. He will probably stay for his senior year and get a solid degree from Vanderbilt but you never know what he may decide if he get a 2nd round guarantee from a team close to home.

Festus Ezeli - He is not mentioned in mocks now but if he comes out he will be taken before our 2nd rounder comes around.

[Superiorblogman]

coachx, on 14 March 2011 - 11:03 AM, said:

Nice list of 2nd round prospects.
Here are a couple of  2nd round prospects that are not showing up in mock drafts that I like. these are all guys that I have seen play many games......not just names I plucked off a 2nd round mock draft.

Dee Bost - PG from Miss St. Quick as lightning.......more of a scorer then a pure PG but still found away to average over 6 apg. Turnovers are a concern with him but no late 2nd round pick is going to be perfect.


Jeffrey Taylor - SF from Vanderbilt. Dude is oozing potential.  He may make a better pro then the sweet shooting and more hyped John Jenkins since Taylor is fay more athletic and can also shoot from the perimeter. He is not as 1 dimensional as Jenkins and Taylor is the better defender. He will probably stay for his senior year and get a solid degree from Vanderbilt but you never know what he may decide if he get a 2nd round guarantee from a team close to home.

Festus Ezeli - He is not mentioned in mocks now but if he comes out he will be taken before our 2nd rounder comes around.

Dee Bost is not in the NCAA tourny and that is what this thread is dedicated to.

Nikola Vucevic from USC sucks. I don’t care how he measures at the combine if he comes out. The guy could not even dominate the mid major VCU. He may come out but does not have that dog in him to dominate even when he has a clear mismatch.

[Superiorblogman]

Festus Ezeli is not NBA ready. His numbers looked good in the game against Richmond as they were sent packing but he does not finish well enough even around the rim when he has the advantage every night in college. He also does not rebound outside his area which leads me to wonder about his motor and does he really like basketball or if he just has nice size to play the sport and is taking advantage of this chance to get ahead financially in life. I am not a fan.

Edited by Superiorblogman, 17 March 2011 - 06:10 PM.

[Superiorblogman]

John Jenkins had a decent game in the tourny. He is what he is. He can score off of picks and screens and is a knock down shooter. I think he could give someone a quality 12 to 15 minutes a night  in the league.

Jeffrey Taylor is a athlete not a basketball player. He is not a great athlete when facing tough competition or contact either. He had his shot blocked several time against Richmond as they were sent home. His jumper is streaky at best and he does not use that athletic ability to play superb D. He needs to stay in school or he will end up out the league 3 years max.He is not a NBA player right now.

Edited by Superiorblogman, 18 March 2011 - 12:03 AM.

[Superiorblogman]

Corey Fisher did nothing to hurt his stock as Nova was put out of the tourny. I think he is going to be a Kyle Lowry clone down the road. He may be more of a scoring PG which will be a knock on him by some but he can play.

Trey Thompson for Georgia is a big time player. He dominated against the smaller Washington front line even though Georgia was sent packing. The only knock I can see on him is that he does not offer any resistance at the rim on defense. He does everything else pretty well.

Travis Leslie for Georgia did nothing to change the perception that he is pretty much a athlete not complete basketball player yet.

Scotty Hopson for Tennessee looked as bad as the rest of his teammates. The guy looked like he would rather be somewhere else and I don't understand how you do that in the NCAA tourny. If you want a guy to bring it no matter what he is not worth a pick.

Keith Benson for Oakland did nothing to answer the questions about him simply being the best player in a weak Mid Major conference. He got outplayed by Texas big men all day no matter what his stats say. Tristan Thompson beasted him. He is not use to playing against player that are even close to his size. He is truly a project and could spend more time in the D League and overseas than NBA.

[Walter]

After watching Jamie Skeen against KU and Butler today, I would LOVE to grab him with our 2nd rder.  

W

[gurpilo]

I think we should target either of

Marshon Brooks - "he who's name shall not be mentioned" II
Keith Benson - Legit center, needs to add strength but a good shotblocker
Jeremy Tyler - Big with good potential
Demetry McCamey - Good PG, has not had a brilliant season but could become a good backup

I think we have good chances of having at least one of them wih our 2n rounder, any of them could contribute next season, perhaps Jeremy Tyler could need some time to develop