As mentioned in the , Udoh is a possibility for the 14th pick. http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041310aaa.html
I like him and his tournament performance will make him a Top 15 pick. I'm a little skeptical though because well, he came out of nowhere.
I think that's because he only really played one year as a starter. He didn't get PT at Michigan, apparently, and transferred so he had to sit out a year. I think he's going to be a really good shotblocker in the NBA. He's disciplined and not incompetent on offense as well (actually has a 12-ft jumper from what I saw). As NBA ready as they come, I think. Poor man's Dikembe Mutumbo.
He is talented. He has a nice shooting touch (made a few 3's) & can board really well. Also, he is a beast at blocking and contesting shots. He can make the baby hook too. He will be a good starting 4..backup 5 at the next level.
Poor man's Dikemebe is a really bad comparison -- he has a lot of offensive skills. I'm not quite sure what his ceiling is because I haven't been able to watch him too much, so I'm not sure if he's capable or willing to take over games. But from what I saw, the kid has a perimeter jumper, pretty good handles for a big man and some nice offensive moves. Add that to his shotblocking, he's going to be a good player.. I'm glad he declared and hope he falls to the Rockets.
Hate to see him go but it's really an easy decision. Too much cash to pass up. It was fun watching him this year. Damn we would be sick with him down low next year. I'd love to see him in Rocket red next year.
I just saw some highlights and I do see great hops, hands, hustle. I'm curious about his feet and ball handling.
He just needs to fine tune his post up game, which is decent already. Everything else is pretty much good to go. He can put the ball on the floor, drive, and finish with his left.
The Dikembe comparison was in regard to defense. Udoh definitely has more range. I haven't seen enough of him to say how well his overall offense will translate into the NBA, but as I said he looks very NBA ready and that is what we need with Yao's window uncertain and somewhat of a project already in Jordan Hill at PF. Basically, the way I look at it, if you plugged in Udoh for Chuck this year our overall defense would have been substantially better just from having the shot blocking presence. And on top of that Udoh is already better offensively. I don't know how many other big's in the range of 14 would be that ready to make a difference. More than anything I'm just ready for us to have a skilled shot-blocker. Not sure what you're looking for at 14. Clyde Drexler is the only great player to ever get drafted in that position since the lottery started in 1980, followed by Tim Hardaway. The rest have been role players, busts, or projects. We have no room for projects in our frontcourt at this point.
Also the reason I'd rather draft a player that is Best available/project is because he would be an asset for possible sign and trades. If we resign Scola we will be packed at PF. Scola,Hill and Jeffieres (assuming Chuck is gone. Unless we trade Hill and Scola before the draft I can't justify drafting a player with a lower potential.
