i love the buzz that faried is getting -- lets face it, knicks were one of the worst rebounding teams last year, drafting someone who can crash the boards would be a huge PLUS. in reading up on gary williams retiring from maryland i came across a line about how "double-double machine jordan wiliams declared" so i checked him out.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jordan-williams

williams is only a sophomore coming out of maryland. he averaged 17/12 last year for maryland.

against elite competition:

v. pitt -- 14/8
v. duke -- 23/13
v. nova -- 25/14
v. duke -- 20/10
v. FSU -- 11/11
v. UNC -- 16/19 (including 7 o-rebounds against what's likely to be 3 NBA guys on their frontline)
v. duke -- 16/16

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/gamelog?playerId=45916

this is a clip of him as a freshman. runs the floor real nice and can FINISH! there are a few other clips of him going up and JAMMING on people.

has apparently approved a lot since HS which means he's hard working and hasn't reached his potential yet.

i would work out faried against williams. williams is 6'10 260. faried is only 6'8 225. but i think in a workout with 2 other guards and have them play 2 on 2 it'd be a good matchup. who rebounds better? who has a more developed offensive game?

haven't heard much about this guy but i think he is definitely a candidate at 17.

anyone seen him play?

I've seen him play when he was in high school and I caught a few games this season. I like him, I think he will be good. I mention him in my "Knicks Have only one way forward: Player Development" thread.

http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=39149

But he's a project. He wont come in right away and make in impact, imo. he is big but doesn't jump high at all. he's got a soft body and needs to tone up and work on his conditioning. He'll have to improve to be effective in the post in the NBA.

And let me add that all of the above criticisms means he is a 2nd round pick. He's not a kid you use #17 on. If he were 7 feet the conversation might be different.

interesting.

maybe going big in the draft is better than going for a point guard?

lock a big with potential into a super cheap rookie contract.

...but im just not sold on trusting the point guard position to chauncey and toney again...