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Insider - top 25
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martin
Posts: 68500
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5/14/2002  11:26 PM
Chad's picks...

NBA Draft Top 25
Yao Ming or Jason Williams?

Now that the deadline for underclassmen to declare has passed, and a scouting trip to Europe complete, here's the first substantive look at the top 25 players eligible for the draft.

This is not a mock draft. I'm merely ranking the best players available in the draft regardless of team needs.

This edition adds a number of European players like Bostjan Nachbar, Jiri Welsch and Boris Diaw-Riffiod. Fatih Solak, David Andersen, Luis Scola and Mario Stojic aren't on the list, but they're still possible first-round picks.

Speaking of international players, this edition also has Georgian 7-footer Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Brazilian power forward Maybyner "Nene" Hilario on the rise. I traveled to Treviso, Italy to watch Tskitishvili work out and came away extremely impressed. He has the outside jumper, coordination, athleticism and ball-handling skills of a shooting guard, despite his height. While there's no doubt he's raw and needs to add strength, how many 7-footers with these types of skills come along?

Hilario is also on the rise after he measured 6-foot-10 and 260 at recent workouts in Chicago. Nene's agent, Michael Coyne, told me he's confident that he'll have Nene's contract situation resolved before the draft. If that's the case, he could rise all the way into the mid lottery.

I have Casey Jacobsen and Sam Clancy slipping out of the top 25. Clancy suffered a dislocated left knee cap that will really hurt his chances of sticking in the first round. Jacobsen is being edged out by other swingmen like Fred Jones, Nachbar and Diaw-Riffiod.

It also looks like Gonzaga's Dan Dickau and Duke's Carlos Boozer are slipping into the late first round.

The big question is whether Yao Ming or Jay Williams will nab the No. 1 pick. It all depends on whom you ask. If the Warriors, Nuggets, Cavs, Hawks, Heat, Wizards, Clippers or Bucks win the lottery -- put your money on Williams.

If the Grizzlies, Rockets, Knicks or Suns win it, they'll likely go with Yao.

The Bulls are the big wildcard. You can make an argument for both players. While Williams is the safe pick, the early word out of the Chicago says Krause is in love with Yao.

Insider interviewed several pro scouts along with four NBA league executives to compile this latest peek at the top 25 players eligible for the NBA.

I'll compile my first mock draft after the NBA Draft lottery is held Sunday, May 19th.

Click here for a full list of who is In and Out of the NBA Draft.
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martin
Posts: 68500
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
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5/14/2002  11:26 PM
The Top 25
1. Jason Williams, PG, Duke
The Skinny: 6-foot-2, 195 lbs. 21.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.2 apg, 46 percent shooting.
No longer a consensus No. 1 pick, but he still has the edge over Yao and Dunleavy. Fantastic scorer, great range on his shot, nice court vision, outstanding handles, an NBA-type body. Poor free-throw shooter. Questionable shot selection. Still, the fact that he'll be able to have an immediate impact in the league keeps him on top.

2. Yao Ming, C, Shanghai Sharks
The Skinny: 7-foot-5, 283. 29.7 ppg, 18.5 rpg; 69% shooting (in 24 games)
He's 7-foot-5. All of the doubts about his toughness, his athleticism and his ability to adapt his game to the NBA are overshadowed by the fact that he's a giant. Period. His workout in Chicago didn't help his stock, but it didn't hurt it either. If the team drafting No. 1 or No. 2 needs a big man, he's far and away the top choice.

3. Mike Dunleavy, SF, Duke
The Skinny: 6-foot-9, 220 lbs, Junior. 17.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 48 percent shooting.

Already hearing comparisons to Larry Bird and even Grant Hill, he can do it all. He's a lethal outside shooter, great ball handler, good rebounder and because of his versatility, creates matchup problems wherever you play him. Despite his lanky frame, is surprisingly effective in the paint. Picked up a "soft" label. Needs to toughen up, hit the weight room but teams say he's got the best feel for the game of anyone in the draft.

4. Chris Wilcox, PF, Maryland
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 230 lbs, Sophomore. 11.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 50 percent shooting from the field..

Has got an NBA body already and the frame to grow even more. Great athleticism and strength, runs the floor well and is a powerful finisher. Very raw. Gets by on his athleticism, but doesn't really have a great feel for the game yet. Drew Gooden is more polished, but scouts were impressed by Wilcox's domination of Gooden in the Final 4.

5. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F, Benetton Treviso (Italy)
The Skinny: 7-foot, 220.

A 7-footer who can shoot the ball, has excellent handles and can run the floor but still is very raw. Can play the two-guard position. Quicker and more athletic than Dirk Nowitzki, but doesn't have the low-post game yet. Scouts from every team have made the trip to Treviso and they've all come away impressed. Has the potential to play four positions in the NBA, that's why he's getting all of the attention.

6. Caron Butler, SF, UConn
The Skinny: 6-foot-7, 243 lbs, Sophomore. 19.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 48 percent shooting

Already has an NBA body and the strength to go with it. Has the total package, inside toughness, a great mid-range jumper and NBA three-point range. Has worked hard on his outside game, but he'd be a natural at power forward if he grew a couple more inches. His stock is on the rise.

7. Drew Gooden, SF/PF, Kansas
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 230 lbs, Junior. 20.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 51 percent shooting from the field.

This ranking is pretty low for Gooden. Some teams still feel he's the third best prospect in the draft. But with Dunleavy and Wilcox declaring, and the recent buzz on Tskitishvili, his stock may be slipping a bit. Made dramatic improvements in all areas of his game. Has strong presence in the paint with some nice low-post moves and a soft shooting touch. A lethal combination of quickness and size that you don't see every day. He's deceptively strong and a very good leaper. Seems to have picked up the dreaded "tweener" label from some scouts. No one is sure exactly what his position will be in the pros.

8. Dajuan Wagner, PG, Memphis
The Skinny: 6-foot-2, 200. 21.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 39 percent shooting.

Scorer at heart with great handles and court vision. Has NBA three-point range. Can break down just about anyone off the dribble. Questions about his ability to play point guard in the pros hurt his stock. He could go as No. 4, but shouldn't slip much farther than eight.

9. Qyntel Woods, SF, Northeast Mississippi CC
The Skinny: 6-foot-9, 230 lbs.

Said to be the clone of Tracy McGrady. Averaged over 30 points per game and can jump out of the gym. Scouts say he's an excellent passer, has a killer jumper and a certain "knack" that just can't be taught. Off the court issues are causing his stock to slip a bit.

10. Curtis Borchardt, C, Stanford
The Skinny: 7-foot-0, 230 lbs, Junior. 17 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 58 percent shooting

He has a soft touch, is a good face up shooter and even has some three-point range. On the defensive end he's a fantastic shot blocker and can rebound with the best of them, but tends to get pushed around down low. Can disappear for long stretches. Has a history of injuries. Second rated center in the draft behind Yao.
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martin
Posts: 68500
Alba Posts: 108
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5/14/2002  11:28 PM
11. Maybyner "Nene" Hilario, PF, Brazil
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 260 lbs, 11.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 50 percent shooting from the field..

"Nene" as he's called is compared to Kenyon Martin and Shawn Kemp by scouts because of his strength and ferocity in the paint. Hilario is an incredible athlete, who runs the floor, blocks shots, rebounds and already has a polished low-post game. Scouts love his aggressiveness, especially on the offensive boards. Doesn't have much of a face-the-basket game. It looks like he can get out of his contract with Vasco de Gama.

12. Chris Marcus, C, Western Kentucky
The Skinny: 7-foot-1, 285 lbs, Senior. 16.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 54 percent shooting

At 285, he can bang with the best of them. While his primary strengths are on the defensive end, he's developed a nice arsenal of low-post moves over the past year that has scouts drooling. Needs to work on his conditioning. Still raw offensively. Could rise in the draft if he works out well.

13. Jared Jeffries, SF/PF, Indiana
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 215 lbs, Sophomore. 15.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 45 percent shooting.

A freak of nature. He does everything well. He can score, rebound, block shots, run the floor, handle the rock and dish it to an open teammate. Still needs to add another 20-30 pounds. Unselfish to a fault. Stock slipped just a bit after a shaky Final Four.

14. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Cypress Creek (Fla.) High School
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 240 lbs. 30 ppg, 16 rpg, 6 bpg.

He already has an NBA body. Is incredibly strong, a great rebounder and a premier shot blocker. However, he's very, very raw offensively. Used to overpowering everyone at the high school level. Stock dropped a bit after an unimpressive performance at the McDonald's game. A major project, but that isn't scaring teams away.

15. Marcus Haislip, PF, Tennessee
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 230 lbs. 16.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 52 percent shooting.

Super athlete. NBA body and speed. 40-inch vertical leap and can bench an amazing 400 pounds. Developed a low-post game this year, but it still needs a lot of work. Plays above the rim. Great work ethic. Has guard like skills, though scouts question whether he has three-point range. Still pretty raw.

16. Kareem Rush, SG, Missouri
The Skinny: 6-foot-6, 218 lbs, Junior. 20.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 43 percent shooting

A good athlete with a lethal jump shot, the ability to create off the dribble and a scorer's mentality. Very quick, great leaping ability. Every scout used the word "smooth" to describe his game. Struggled when teams began to focus their defenses around him this year. Tends to disappear for long stretches. Strong workouts can help his stock.

17. Melvin Ely, PF, Fresno State
The Skinny: 6-foot-10, 256 lbs, Senior. 23.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 56 percent shooting.

A true center. Great shot blocker, so-so rebounder. Good athleticism for his size. Great offensively around the basket but not much of a face up game. Scouts think he's closer to 6-foot-9, which means he'd struggle in the middle at the next level unless he develops a reliable jumper.

18. Bostjan Nachbar, SF, Benetton Treviso
The Skinny: 6-foot-9, 225 lbs, from Croatia. 14 ppg, 4.2 rpg on 60% shooting

Loves to play on the break, has excellent ball-handing skills and a dangerous mid-range jumper. Scouts say that he reminds them of a bigger version of Hidayet Turkoglu.

19. Freddie Jones, SG, Oregon
The Skinny: 6-foot-4, 209 lbs, Senior. 18.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 52 percent shooting.

Phenomenal athlete who plays above the rim. He has an explosive first step to the basket and will give you highlight-reel dunks when finishing the break. Improved his outside shooting. May be a lot closer to 6-foot-3. Doesn't have great ball handling or passing skills. Needs to prove he can consistently drain the three.

20. Frank Williams, PG, Illinois
The Skinny: 6-foot-3, 205 lbs, Junior. 15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.2 apg, 38 percent shooting.

A top-notch defender who earned a great rep in the tournament last year as the next "Glove." Incredibly strong, great size for an NBA point guard. He makes a lot of questionable decisions on the court. Uses his strength to overpower his opponent. Can he do that at the next level? Opinions of him vary wildly. He could slip into the late lottery or all of the way out of the first round depending on how the draft plays out.

21. Jiri Welsch, PG, BC Olimpija
The Skinny: 6-foot-7, 210 lbs, from Czechoslavakia. 15.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 2.2 apg on 50.3 percent shooting from the field

A combo guard who likes to take the ball to the basket or dish on the dribble drive. Excellent size for a point guard. He's got a sweet outside jumper, and is a solid decision maker and leader.

22. Dan Dickau, PG, Gonzaga
The Skinny: 6-foot-0, 170 lbs, Senior. 20.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 45 percent shooting.

Relentless. A top-notch shooter and playmaker. Difficult to guard because of his ability to sink the jumper or take it to the hoop. Very active on the offensive end; is deceptively quick. Struggles on the defensive end. Stock seems to be slipping a bit. He'll need to put together some strong workouts to keep the buzz alive.

23. Carlos Boozer, PF, Duke
The Skinny: 6-foot-9, 280 lbs, Junior. 18.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 5.2 apg, 66 percent shooting.

Has the NBA body to bang in the paint. He converts an incredible amount of shot attempts around the basket, really crashes the boards. Struggles to get shot off in traffic. Will have to make the transition from center to power forward. He's not great facing the basket. From what we hear, his stock is slipping.

24. Dan Gadzuric, C, UCLA
The Skinny: 6-foot-11, 248 lbs. 11.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 55 percent shooting.

An enigma. Four years of college and NBA scouts are still talking about potential. Has the athleticism and skill set to dominate in the post, but rarely does. Showed flashes of greatness versus Cincinnati in the tournament when he went off for 26 points and 13 rebounds. Injury problems scare scouts off even more.

25. Boris Diaw-Riffiod, SG, Pau Orthez
The Skinny: 6-foot-7, 210 lbs, from France. 7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 64 percent shooting from the field.

One of the few European players who likes to play above the rim. He's extremely quick, has explosive leaping ability but scouts question his toughness and outside jumper. Denver really likes him and may have promised to pick him with its 25th pick if he enters the draft.

Other players on the first round bubble: Chris Jefferies, F, Fresno State; Casey Jacobsen, G, Stanford; Sam Clancy, F, USC; Rod Grizzard, F, Alabama; Roger Mason Jr., G, Virginia; Fatih Solak, C, Turkey; David Andersen, F, Australia; Luis Scola, F, Argentina; Steve Logan, G, Cincinnati; Tayshaun Prince, F, Kentucky; Matt Barnes, F, UCLA; Jamal Sampson, F, Cal; Marcus Taylor, G, Michigan St.; Darius Songaila, F, Wake Forest; Vincent Yarbrough, F, Tennessee; Jason Jennings, C, Arkansas State; Juan Dixon, G, Maryland; Lenny Cooke, G, High School; DeAngelo Collins, F, High School; Tito Maddux, G, Fresno State; Lonny Baxter, F, Maryland; Kei Madison, F, Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC.; Theron Smith, F, Ball State; Aaron McGhee, F, Oklahoma; Randy Holcomb, F, San Diego St.; John Salmons, G, Miami
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Insider - top 25

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