By Adam Kiefaber
With the NBA Draft Lottery about a week away, I feel that it is appropriate to take a quick look at the top 14 prospects.
You have to consider that there are only 60 total draft picks in the June 26 NBA Draft and a total of 91 players that have filed as early entry candidates for the draft. If you sprinkle in the graduated seniors, you have to figure many of those underclassman that filed for early entry will return to their schools.
The full list of 2008 NBA Draft’s early entires is full of names that you wouldn’t think are ready for the NBA. Thus there are many early entry NBA Draft prospects that have not hired an agent, which means that they could decide to back out, but have to that by June 16.
One underclassman that is ready for the NBA Draft is Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose (above). In addition to Rose, there are numerous other freshmen that are ranked in the top 14. Luckily due to NBA’s new draft rule that forces high school seniors to be one year removed before entering the draft, a college basketball site like CBR can discuss the draft.
Here is a look at my current top 14.
1. Derrick Rose - Memphis (6-foot-3 205 lbs.)
This 19-year-old prospect played only one season, but became a starter on a Memphis team that didn’t have any room for a new one. Last season, Rose averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. Almost every scout expects Rose to be the great young point guard and be mentioned in the same breath as Chris Paul and Deron Williams. No one is disagreeing that Rose would be an NBA All-Star, he does need to limit his turnovers, which sometimes hurt the Tigers early last season.
2. Michael Beasley - Kansas St. (6-foot-10 235 lbs.)
Similar to last year’s NBA Draft, there will be two freshmen at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots that people will argue about who should be the first pick chosen. Both Beasley and Rose will provide an immediate impact to any NBA team, however I expect that Beasley will be able to contribute at higher level right away. Overall, Rose could be the better prospect to build around, but I see Beasley being able to score around 20 points and pull down about 10 rebounds in his rookie season. Last year, Beasley, who turned 19 years old in January, averaged 26.2 points (third in the nation) and led the nation with 12.4 rebounds. The thing that excites me the most about Beasley is his range, last year he shot 37.9 percent from beyond the three-point line.
3. Jerryd Bayless - Arizona (6-foot-3 199 lbs.)
If the team that ends up in this slot needs a point guard, they would be foolish not to draft Bayless. Like Rose, he needs to cut down on his turnovers, but he has to do that since he is only 19 years old. Not only a great scorer (19.7 ppg), Bayless is also a great passer dishing out four assists per game. Reminds many of Gilbert Arenas and former Zona guard Mike Bibby in that he can score and play the point.
4. Brook Lopez - Stanford (7-foot-0 260 lbs.)
Many draft self-called experts consider Lopez to be the safer pick at No. 3, but his potential of being a superstar. My question is, if you are picking at No. 3, wouldn’t be trying to get a superstar and not a safe pick? However, it is a tricky question because most team’s would take a solid 7-footer to contribute 15 ppg and 10 rpg, in my mind that is a superstar when consider the lack of talent at the position. I don’t think teams need to worry about Lopez, he was a solid player (19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) in a tough conference and also played his best under pressure.
5. Kevin Love - UCLA (6-foot-10 271 lbs.)
Don’t laugh, if you paying attention to mock draft boards already than you already know that no one has Love rated this well. Personally, I don’t understand why. Love can score inside and outside, even though it aggravates many college basketball fans to hear this, but he is really a terrific passer. Early indications have Love being selected around the middle of the first round, I think his stock should inch into the top ten by draft night, if it doesn’t one team is going to get a steal and a potential All-Star power forward.
6. O.J. Mayo - USC (6-foot-5 200 lbs.)
Almost every draft follower will agree when someone says that Mayo will be a better pro than collegiate ball player. That is probably because of his turnover problems trying to lead a USC team, while in the NBA he will be given the opportunity to play the shooting guard the entire game. Personally, I would like to see Mayo challenge himself and become a No. 1, but that is really up to the team that drafts him. Last year, Mayo averaged 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds. The team that selects Mayo will be get a solid scoring option.
7. Anthony Randolph - LSU (6-foot-11 220 lbs.)
I can envision Randolph’s stock going up and down. Because of LSU’s poor season, many fans don’t know much about the prospect, but he is an athletic power forward that score and rebound. He is one of those prospects that NBA scouts love, but GMs might be afraid to gamble on and would rather have a name that the fan base can get excited about. Randolph averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds last year.
The bottom seven:
8.) D.J. Augustin - Texas (6-foot-0 180 lbs.)
Augustin might slip in this draft because he is not as athletic as the other freshman, but he might the most NBA-ready point guard in the draft, however he might have to be a backup in his first year. Last year, he averaged 19.2 ppg and 5.8 apg.
9.) DeAndre Jordan - Texas A&M (7-foot-0 255 lbs.)
Hasn’t hired an agent yet, but scouts love his size and athleticism. Last year, he averaged only 7.9 points and 6 rebounds a game.
10.) Russell Westbrook - UCLA (6-foot-3 189 lbs.)
Most projections have Westbrook rated better than his teammate (Love). He definitely earned some more fans this year, as he received more playing time. Last year, he averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and shot 46.5 percent from the floor.
11.) Eric Gordon - Indiana (6-foot-4 215 lbs.)
Like Mayo, people expect Gordon to be a better NBA player rather than the player he was in college. His turnover/bad decisions gave IU fans fits last year, but the kid could score and averaged 20.9 points a game.
12.) Danilo Gallinari - Italy (6-foot-9 220 lbs.)
Gallinari seems to be the top athlete from Europe. Stock could rise as the draft approaches. Supposedly has a great jumper.
13.) Darrell Arthur - Kansas (6-foot-9 230 lbs.)
Arthur could be the most athletic forward in this class. Is only 6-9 and is skinny, but has extremely long arms and plays taller. Last year, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.
14.) didn’t want to pick so I’ll leave it open for debate:
JaVale McGee (Nevada), Chase Budinger (Arizona), Nicolas Batum (France), Joe Alexander (WVU), Robin Lopez (Stanford), Donte Greene (Syracuse), Kosta Koufos (Ohio State), Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis), Brandon Rush (Kansas), Mario Chalmers (Kansas), Wayne Ellington (UNC) or Roy Hibbert (GTOWN)
That 14 spot is hard to pick, there should be some steals in the middle of the first round depending who stays in school and who stays in the draft pool
3. Minnesota
Due to the new rule (in second year) that forces players to be one year removed from high school before being eligible for the draft, many of the early entries are college freshmen.
UCLA Center Kevin Love 6-9, 260 - Love doesn’t have the size to be a center in the NBA, but he will make a great power forward. Love averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds a game last season and should be a Top 10 pick.
Everyone is getting on Memphis about its free-throw shooting. It isn’t good and it will cost the team, but not now. Michigan St. doesn’t impress me and I’m actually surprised that it is even in the Sweet 16. I expect Memphis to win by 10 points.