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martin
Posts: 76297
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
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From LA Times (Mark Heisler):
A More Abroad-Minded Draft
In our annual salute to the NCAA tournament, here's a mock draft of everyone, although, after last season's horrors, we're no longer going younger than 18.
The top six are no scoop, because everyone is in general agreement, but after that everyone is on their own.
This will be a big draft for international players, a record six of whom were first-round picks last spring. The colleges have been picked clean of big men and the pros are leery of 6-foot-8 widebodies such as Mississippi State's Mario Austin and Georgetown's Mike Sweetney. As a general manager said, "With those guys, it's pick your poison."
Without early entry, of course, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Amare Stoudemire, Jonathan Bender, Eddie Griffin, DeSagana Diop, Steven Hunter, Zach Randolph, Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox, Jared Jeffries, Chris Borchardt, Carlos Boozer, Jamal Sampson and D'Angelo Collins would be in college and it would be a different story.
Even with general managers now going abroad personally, after years of trusting local bird dogs, it's hard to project foreign players, who typically make big moves on the pre-draft circuit.
In other words, I probably didn't get it right this year either, but it gave me something to do. Thanks to the six pro guys who helped me.
1. LeBron James, 6-7, 231, St. Vincent-St. Mary High, Akron, Ohio. His senior year was off the hook (kid talk), but he's no hype. Athleticism, skills, a grown man's body and poise make him the most advanced prep ever.
2. Darko Milicic, 7-0, 245, Hemofarm Vrsac, Serbia and Montenegro. Young, skilled, needs a year or two, but has a big upside.
3. Emeka Okafor, 6-9, 240, sophomore, Connecticut. Game-changing shot blocker (4.7 a game) who's coming on offense (7.9 as a freshman to 15.5). Says he'll stay for his junior year, after which he'd be the top pick in the draft.
4. Carmelo Anthony, 6-8, 220, freshman, Syracuse. If freshmen got player-of-the-year consideration, he'd be it. Scores (23 a game), rebounds (10, a lot in college, especially for a small forward) and handles the ball. Could become Glenn Robinson or better.
5. Chris Bosh, 6-10, 210, freshman, Georgia Tech. Doesn't have pro body, but he's already a standout with the one he has.
6. Chris Kaman, 7-0, 255, junior, Central Michigan. We haven't seen a late bloomer like this in a while. Think: a faster Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
7. T.J. Ford, 5-10, 165, sophomore, Texas. Mind-blower. The pros scorn tiny point guards who can't shoot but flat-out, to a man, love him. Think of a playmaker version of Allen Iverson. Says a general manager: "There are very few personalities who impact winning and losing like T.J."
8. Mikael Pietrus 6-7, 201, Pau Orthez, France. Rangy, do-everything wing player.
9. Pavel Podkolzin, 7-4, 300, Varese, Italy. Old enough to make himself eligible for the draft, although he hasn't said he will. Very young (just turned 18), very large prospect.
10. Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, 190, senior, Kansas. Efficient point guard who shot 42% on three-pointers.
11. Travis Outlaw, 6-9, 195, Starkville (Miss.) High. Major athlete, thought to be coming out.
12. Dwyane Wade, 6-4, 210, junior, Marquette. Came from off the radar screen. Athlete who does everything except shoot (30% on three-pointers), although that's worrisome for a shooting guard.
13. Luke Ridnour, 6-2, 175, junior, Oregon. Size and strength are concerns. Admirers see a coach's-son version of Jason Williams, with swagger, good fundamentals and range (46% on three-pointers over his last 12 games).
14. Reece Gaines, 6-6, 205, senior, Louisville. Move to the point set up Cardinals' season, and Coach Rick Pitino loves him. Pros are split between those who agree and those who think he's just a nice player.
15. Jarvis Hayes, 6-7, 230, junior, Georgia. Shot 42% on three-pointers. Limited ballhandler, which is a problem, because he'll probably be a guard.
16. Nick Collison, 6-9, 255, senior, Kansas. Limited but had great season. All-around game and, unlike your laid-back, Raef LaFrentz-type Jayhawk, throws himself all over the court.
17. Brian Cook, 6-10, 240, senior, Illinois. Toughness is a question after three deferential seasons and breakout senior year. Legit size and skills.
18. Boris Diaw, 6-6, 200, Pau Orthez, France. That's some backcourt because the other guard, Pietrus, is projected as a first-rounder too. Diaw is supposed to be a Jason Richardson-level athlete.
19. Anderson Varejao, 6-10, 230, FC Barcelona. Young Brazilian power forward. Opinions vary on skill level. Says a European scout: "When he works out, he's going to stun people."
20. Kendrick Perkins, 6-10, 285, Beaumont (Texas) Ozen High. Pros are flocking to next week's McDonald's All-Star game to see how all the "Baby Shaqs" compare.
21. Josh Howard, 6-6, 203, senior, Wake Forest. Made a big move as a senior.
22. Zarko Cabarkapa, 6-11, 220, Buducnost, Serbia and Montenegro. Compared to Denver's Nikoloz Tskitishvili, last season's No. 5 pick who wasn't ready.
23. Wayne Simien, 6-9, 255, sophomore, Kansas. Despite all his injuries, a general manager says: "He's a major talent. If he came out, you'd have to check him out, but if he was OK, he'd go in the first round."
24. Ronny Turiaf, 6-9, 228, sophomore, Gonzaga. Played in France with Tony Parker, regarded as comer in his own right.
25. Sofoklis Schortsianitis, 6-9, 253, Iraklis Salonica, Greece. He was "the Greek Baby Shaq," until scouts saw he wasn't 6-11. Now they want to know if he's 6-9.
26. David West, 6-9, 232, senior, Xavier. Sentimental favorite who stayed and was productive. Will play at the next level, just not as productively.
27. Ricky Paulding, 6-5, 212, junior, Missouri. Big, athletic guard who broke out last spring, had so-so season and went off again in this tournament.
28. Chris Thomas, 6-1, 180, sophomore, Notre Dame. Averaged 19 during the season, 22 in the first two games of tournament.
29. J.J. Redick, 6-4, 200, freshman, Duke. This is fast company for a spot-up shooter, but what a shooter! One scout compares him to '60s hoop icon Rick Mount.
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