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martin
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6/6/2002  10:42 PM
1. Jay 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. He'd be the No. 1 pick for sure if Houston could get assurances that Yao would be able to play over here with limited interference from China. Right now, that's wishful thinking.

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

Three workouts, in New York, Houston and Memphis, have left three teams stunned. Teams knew about Butler's toughness, NBA body, athleticism and his ability to play both inside and outside. But his perimeter shooting, ball handling, and basketball IQ have blown them away. The word has spread fast that Butler may be, next to Duke's Jay Williams, the player most prepared to contribute immediately to his NBA team.


4. 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. The fact that he won't workout for anyone may be sinking his stock just a bit.


5. 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. His decision to skip private workouts may end up hurting him in the long run.


6. Maybyner "Nene" Hilario, PF/C, Brazil
The Skinny: 6-foot-11, 260 lbs, 11.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 50 percent shooting from the field..

"Nene" as he's called is compared to Ben Wallace and a young 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. His workouts have been phenomenal. Measuring 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, several teams are convinced he can play center in the league. That's why 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. Gooden is the most skilled four in the draft, but Wilcox and Hilario have a big edge on athleticism and Tskitishvili has an edge on upside. Still Gooden stands to be a top pick in the draft with a lethal combination of quickness and size that you don't see every day. He's deceptively strong and a very good leaper.


8. 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, but he seems to be wowing teams in individual workouts.


9. 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.


10. 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.


11. 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. No workouts has his stock slipping. Second rated center in the draft behind Yao.


12. 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. Unselfish to a fault. Stock slipped just a bit after a shaky Final Four. However, he has since beefed up and has been very impressive in workouts.
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martin
Posts: 67903
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
6/6/2002  10:44 PM
13. 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 are helping his stock.


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. 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.


16. 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. Compared to Brent Barry. Excellent size for a point guard. He's got a sweet outside jumper, and is a solid decision maker and leader. His stock is on the rise.


17. 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.


18. 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 back on the rise after a string of strong workouts.


19. 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. Hasn't worked out particularly well, causing his stock to slip a bit.


20. Chris Jefferies, SF, Fresno State
The Skinny: 6-foot-8, 215 lbs. 17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3 apg on 42% shooting

Trying to prove to teams that his knee is fine and that he could play shooting guard in the NBA. An exceptional athlete with a nice scoring touch. Will likely sneak into the first round somewhere as long as his knee is healthy.


21. 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. Workouts haven't helped things. He's been hot or cold depending on the day. He could slip into the late lottery or all of the way out of the first round depending on how the draft plays out.


22. Mladin Sekularac, SG, Yugoslavia
The Skinny: 6-foot-8, 235 lbs. 17.4 ppg, 54 percent shooting.

Another international sleeper. Sekularac is a 21-year-old shooter made in the mold of Peja Stojakovic. He comes with all of the standard Euro equipment: great handles, a killer jumper and solid fundamentals. Once he starts workouts next week, expect the buzz to begin.


23. 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, but teams say his workouts have been very impressive.


24. Tayshaun Prince, SF, Kentucky
The Skinny: 6-foot-9, 215 lbs, Senior. 16.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 46% shooting from the field..

Despite his frail frame and concerns about the release of his shot. Prince is still getting some consideration in the first round. He's not overly athletic, but still has the height and the scoring mentality to at least get a look. Think a poor man's Mike Dunleavy.


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.

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