Does anyone know anything about this guy? Sounds like he could be like Ty Lawson
Knicks draft watch: Germany's Dennis Schroeder offers elite athleticism; may have first-round promise
Alex Raskin, NJ.com By Alex Raskin, NJ.com The Star-Ledger
Follow on Twitter
on June 11, 2013 at 2:33 PM, updated June 11, 2013 at 2:38 PM
It's generally accepted as fact that Knicks coach Mike Woodson prefers veterans who don't need a lot of coaching on the basics of basketball. It's also an accepted fact that the team could use some youthful energy off of what has become a geriatric bench.
And that's what makes Dennis Schroeder such an intriguing draft prospect. The German point guard is known for his speed, ball handling and his ability to get to the hole.
The problem is, Schroeder is raw—even for a 19-year-old—and is still mastering the English language. Woodson's patience would naturally be tested with an immature prospect who is still learning the language, but Schroeder possesses athleticism that Raymond Felton and soon-to-be free agent Pablo Prigioni can only dream of.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford:
He wowed NBA teams all week with his quickness and his scoring ability in the paint during practice, but scouts wondered if he could do it against elite high school prospects like Andrew Harrison. Schroeder delivered. He was fantastic controlling the tempo for the World Team, got to the line whenever he needed and ended up with 18 points and six assists. His play not only elevated him into first-round discussions, he's now heavily in the mix with Shane Larkin, Pierre Jackson, Myck Kabongo and Phil Pressey for the first point guard off the board after Trey Burke and Michael Carter-Williams.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, Schroeder—a score-first guard with a 6-7 wingspan—skipped the Chicago pre-draft combine with what he called a "toothache." Naturally that prompted speculation that he's already received a first-round promise.
There is always the chance that the Knicks—owners of the 24th overall pick—are the franchise that extended the guarantee. New York would be a tremendous market for Schroeder, who promises to have an international audience (his mother is from Gambia).
However, there have been rumors that Schroeder may have received his promise from the Boston Celtics.
HoopsHype.com:
Rumors persist that Schroeder has a promise, and our sources have indicated that Boston is the team that has promised him. Obviously the team already has [Rajon] Rondo, but no one is expecting most of the players from this draft to instantly become starters.
Schroeder averaged 12 points and 3.2 assists per game while making 40 percent of his 3-point attempts for Phantoms Braunschweig of the Bundesliga last season (ironically, that team also goes by the name "New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig").
© NJ.com. All rights reserved.
http://blog.nj.com/knicks_main/print.html?entry=/2013/06/knicks_draft_watch_germanys_de.html
6/16/2013 6:22 PM