http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2005/columns/story?id=2080997&num=0

Banks, Anderson show their stuff

By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider



CHICAGO -- The first full day of game action went down Wednesday at the Chicago predraft camp, and the verdict was nearly unanimous -- this year's group in Chicago is among the best, and most evenly matched, in a long, long time. "There are 40 guys here who could be drafted," one scout told Insider. "The point guard talent and the bigs are really impressive. There just [aren't] really any 2s or 3s of note."

However, a little context is in order. Being drafted is great, but no one is talking about any of these players changing the league.

Who helped and hurt themselves Wednesday? Insider talked to numerous NBA scouts and GMs after the games and breaks down who's hot and who's not after the second day in Chicago.


HOT
Sean Banks, SF, Memphis
The line: 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists on 8-for-12 shooting in 24 minutes
The skinny: We said Tuesday that Banks was the best player in the camp, and he did nothing to disappoint. He has improved his body and his outside jumper (3-for-6 from 3-point range) and ran the floor like a guard on the break. He has the size and athleticism to be a good NBA small forward. However, he's a little one-dimensional (where are the rebounds and defense?) and all the red flags he has earned in college are still on everyone's mind.

Jason Maxiell, PF, Cincinnati
The line: 8 points, 3 rebounds on 3-for-8 shooting in 24 minutes
The skinny: Maxiell didn't have the greatest game, but his work in the scrimmages must have impressed someone. Maxiell pulled out of the camp after the game, with NBA sources claiming he got enough positive feedback to convince him that he was firmly in the first round.


Alan Anderson, SG, Michigan State
The line: 24 points, 2 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting in 22 minutes
The skinny: Anderson led the camp in scoring Wednesday, but he got the majority of his points at the line. Anderson did a great job attacking the seams and drawing fouls and shot an impressive 14-for-16 from the foul line. If he could straighten out that jumper, he'd be a very good prospect.


David Lee, PF, Florida
The line: 12 points, 5 rebounds on 4-for-7 shooting in 21 minutes
The skinny: His numbers will never jump out at you, but his hustle, size and athleticism really stood out among the bigs. Lee took a chance by playing here, and I think it's paying off. He might never be a star in the NBA, but he could be a nice rotation player in the mold of Bo Outlaw.


John Gilchrist, PG, Maryland
The line: 15 points, 2 assists, 1 steal in 19 minutes
The skinny: He tried his best to play like a point guard, play under control and be supportive of his teammates. His shot was falling; he got players involved; he played defense; and his team won the game. That's all good news for a guy who got such a bad rap this season.


Will Bynum, G, Georgia Tech
The line: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 20 minutes
The skinny: Bynum was the last guy to get into Chicago, but he really shined. Defensively, he was all over anyone he guarded, and offensively, he played under control. I'm not sure what position he should play in the pros, but he really stood out Wednesday.


Luther Head, G, Illinois
The line: 14 points, 1 assist, 2 steals on 5-for-9 shooting in 20 minutes
The skinny: Head was aggressive getting to the basket, disrupted passing lanes and looked pretty good running the point when given a chance.


Ronny Turiaf, PF, Gonzaga
The line: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists on 4-for-9 shooting in 20 minutes
The skinny: Turiaf is never going to be the type of player who wows you, but his game just seemed more mature than that of most of the players he went up against. He had some great moves in the paint, was active on the boards (five of his six rebounds where offensive) and was solid from the free-throw line. He looks much better in this environment than in workouts.


Anthony Roberson, G, Florida
The line: 15 points, 2 assists on 6-for-12 shooting in 31 minutes
The skinny: Not sure whether he showed he's really a point guard, but he's one of the best scoring guards here. However, I think scouts already knew that.


Pops Mensah-Bonsu, PF, George Washington
The line: 20 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds on 3-for-6 shooting
The skinny: His numbers weren't huge, but scouts loved the way he ran the floor and defended aggressively. He has the physical tools to be an intriguing project.


Brandon Rush, SG, high school
The line: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2-for-2 from 3-point range, 5-for-8 shooting in 18 minutes
The skinny: Rush looked out of his league in the scrimmages last night and in the first half. But in the second half, he caught fire and the increase in his confidence was palpable. He had the highlight dunk of the night, which should mean he'll be remembered.





NOT
Dee Brown, G, Illinois
The line: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists
The skinny: Brown actually got off to a great start playing the point, but an early injury turned out to be disastrous. Brown broke his foot, ending his dream of turning himself into a first-round draft pick and forcing him to return for his senior season at Illinois.

Keith Langford, SG, Kansas
The line: 7 points, 2 rebounds on 2-for-11 shooting
The skinny: If it isn't bad enough that he's undersized at the two (Langford is 6-foot-4), he also showed teams he isn't much of a shooter.


Mindaugas Katelynas, F, UT-Chattanooga
The line: 20 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound on 1-for-7 shooting
The skinny: Katelynas was one of the best two players in Portsmouth but looked awful here. He tried to do too much offensively and took several bad shots. He just wasn't as active on the glass or on defense as he was in Portsmouth. Maybe the change in competition was just too much.


Will Conroy, PG, Washington
The line: 0 points, 5 assists, 6 turnovers on 0-for-3 shooting.
The skinny: Scouts loved Conroy in Portsmouth and he looked really good in scrimmages, but he played a pretty uneven game Wednesday. He had some great moments running the point, but his overall impression was marred by the turnovers and the fact that he was the only guy in the camp not to score a point.


Ivan McFarlin, PF, Oklahoma State
The line: 5 points, 3 rebounds on 2-for-9 shooting
The skinny: It wasn't a great day for Portsmouth alumni. McFarlin was a beast on the glass in Portsmouth. On Wednesday, he was a mouse.


Chad Ford covers the NBA draft for ESPN Insider. Send him an e-mail here.




[Edited by - crzymdups on 06/09/2005 16:17:01]

Maxiel in the first round is a shocker to me...

Posted by crzymdups:

Maxiel in the first round is a shocker to me...

not really. Draft him in the late 20s and you have a low budget MAlik Rose for 4 years and $3mm.

Not too shabby.

Haha...I was just hyping Mindaugas on the other thread and he turns in a stinker. The kid has sick hops though and some tools to work with.

Pops Mensah seems like a poor man's Stromile with good leatping ability and some defensive intensity. Lee is definitely a guy I'm starting to be convinced we should really look at at 30. Bo Outlaw is a ncie comparison...also maybe Scott Pollard or Chris Anderson. An active backup PF/C with above average athleticism and work ethic.

Posted by VDesai:

Haha...I was just hyping Mindaugas on the other thread and he turns in a stinker. The kid has sick hops though and some tools to work with.

Pops Mensah seems like a poor man's Stromile with good leatping ability and some defensive intensity. Lee is definitely a guy I'm starting to be convinced we should really look at at 30. Bo Outlaw is a ncie comparison...also maybe Scott Pollard or Chris Anderson. An active backup PF/C with above average athleticism and work ethic.

Draft City has Mindaugas going fourth overall in the lotto about a month ago...one of the weirdest draft pools in years...so much parity.

Remember, most guys in the NBA are listed with the measurements with shoes on, so don't get too amped about how short these guys are without them on b/c they all play with them on and evens out anyway.

Maxiell kinda has some Ruben Patterson in him. Ruben's only 6'5 but very thick and athletic in the same way and you can see how he guards the perimeter. I'm not saying Maxiell is as good but he has to follow the Malik Rose or Ruben Patterson mode to be successful and it is possible.

I like Brandon Rush. Definitely worth a long look at 30.

WHo's his brother, Kareem Rush or JaRon Rush?

While I think we should always take the BPA, I wouldn't mind coming from this draft with a center, A TALL ALTHLETIC PF, and a SG/SF but like Briggs said a player with a high ceiling even know that is right up there with "lots of potential". I wouldn't be upset to get Pops at 30 either if is stock was moving up like that. LOL, someone has to be falling if guys are rising. There are still only 30 spots in 1st. Kareem Rush is intriguing pick for the 2nd round.