Who are some of the front-runners BESIDES Jason Williams? I know he cannot be the only player that every NBA team is looking at. Who are some of the good big men still in college since a lot of em' went into the NBA.
How's the draft depth looking this year? Below-average? Anyone got some early, early prospects? A solid 4-5 would be nice, since I don't have faith in Cato and doubt will change my mind about this. In my opinion, it's silly to hold on to Cato unless he can become a legitimate starter, and as far as I'm concerned, he'll always be more of a liability than an asset.
Boozer from Duke and Owens of Texas are a couple of PFs that may be around when the rocks pick. Owens compared to KT is probably just a little taller, comparable range, better ballhandling, worse footwork, more of a north and south attacker in the key, has much mad hops, better shotblocker, and weaker. UT doesn't go thru him enough. The weakness of Owens has to be holding his position. He looks strong enough but still got pushed around last year. Against Zona, he held his position well. This will determine if he plays NBA ball or not.
Chris Marcus at Western Kentucky is looking good. as a side note, a couple of the local big men here in d.c. aren't bad (Sweetney from g-town), Baxter (from Umd.) this is a great draft class.
Lonnie Baxter has been a player that has intrigued me for a while. He doesnt have the prototype height to play the 4 spot, but the guy just gets after it. Baxter is very aggressive and active around the hoop, is a burly 260 pounds, runs the floor, moves well and has good hands. He is in the 6-7 to 6-8 range so that could cause him to fall. However, interesting player to watch and keep an eye on. Drew Gooden is another player I like a lot tho not really for the Rockets. Considering the Rockets picked up Griffin and Morris last yr, I dont think there would really be a need for a player like Gooden on this team. However, in NBA terms, I think he will be a very good versatile forward with a nice inside-outside game that rebounds and moves well. I like Chris Owens as a college player, but I dont think he has the game to make it in the NBA. I wish I could speak more highly of a fellow Longhorn, but this guy's game just doesnt translate well into NBA terms. I was hoping that last season he would develop more into a SF and become one of the guys that can be a real effective inside-outside force, however I didnt see this. I dont think he can bang with NBA caliber PFs or match up against the long and lanky frontcourt players that populate the NBA nowadays.
no, I'm not...anyone who has been around here knows I hardly post...Every once in a blue moon, I might post in more than 2 or 3 forums...apparently it's a slow day and (so my name showed up and remained) your quick to condemn me while sounding like a stupid parrot...If you got beef with me too bad...put me on ignore or whatever...
Dickau!!! is the best college pro prospect out there. he will go #2 behind yao ming. The rockets should try and trade to get him. but unfortunately it will probably take two of either francis, mobley, griffen or taylor to get him.
Dickau is Christ reborn. Words can't describe his perfection. In all seriousness, Chris Marcus has impressed me greatly, leading Western Kentucky over a top 5 team in interstate foe Kentucky. He's a stud.
Well here goes ... from Maryland: Dixon who could develop into a good backup PG/SG. He's got icewater in his veins and can shoot the lights out but is undersized for the NBA. Baxter, who's an interesting prospect, he's very good down low but doesn't have great range on a jump shot. He's very solid and doesn't get moved around in the post. At 6-8 260 he's got good quickness and footwork. He needs to learn to pass out of the post when he's in trouble more often and could be overwhelmed by NBA PF/C's that are much taller than he is. Wilcox, he's currently a sophmore at Maryland and probably the best NBA prospect we've had since Francis. At 6-10 220 he's got great size and strength and can get up and down the court remarkably fast. He's got good hands and is beginning to show range to about 15 feet on offense. He can block shots and jump through the roof. The problems he has are that he hasn't had much time last year with the glut of big men we had, and the bigger issue that it is uncertain whether he'll come out this year. If he does he'll be a fairly high pick I think but one that we should keep an eye on. Around the rest of College: Jason Williams, Will probably go too high Chris Duhon and Mike Dunleavy, both may not come out this year Carlos Boozer, very similar to Baxter but with a greater range on his shot but less of an interior presence. Chris Marcus, another player who will go top 10 I assume. Udonis Haslem, Another Baxter like player, a bruiser inside who has good touch inside. I haven't seen him play much but has a good deal of talent. Preston Shumpert, A very talented scorer, a reliable three point threat with range past the NBA 3. At 6-6 200 he's got good size and is an outside expert like Rice. A little bit of a liablility on the defensive end. Tayshaun Prince, A prototypical NBA 3 6-9 215, he has a game very similar to Morris' but a more polished offensive player with more confidence in his shot. Not the most reliable defensive player. Dan Gadzuric, 6-11 240 I don't know a whole lot about him, he's been at UCLA for ever and has the size to do well at the next level. I don't know about his offensive tendancies but is a player to keep an eye on. Thoughts: If Wilcox comes out, he'd be a very very solid pickup for the Rockets. I think the majority of the true center's may have been picked up by the time we get a pick. If that's the case there are a couple of options on the more PF/C players that could get picked up. Boozer, Haslem, Baxter all have very similar games but each do something a little bit better than the other. Depending on what we need later in the year these guys could be a reliable pickup. I'm a pretty big college basketball fan and go to the University of Maryland so I'm most familiar with those players. But I try to keep with the rest of the schools as well. If they're any question's I can answer I'd be happy to try
I just graduated from Georgetown and got the opportunity to see Wilcox play a couple of times as well, he has some big time potential. As for Dixon and Baxter, unfortuantely neither has an NBA body but they should make credible backups. Kareem Rush is a heck of a player and Dejuan Wagner looks unreal. My favorite player in the college basketball right now is Casey Jacobsen..I think he'll be an all-star and will be available in mid first rounds.
I think Jacobsen is a very solid player but after watching him play, most specifically in the Maryland Stanford game in the Tourny last year. I think he has trouble with people defending him who are a little taller and more physical. He is a smart ballplayer with an awsome shot, but I don't see him as being a multiple time all-star. I think he'll have difficulty creating his own shot and will be a solid contributor but not the leader on a team.
I'd take Lo Bax if available in the 2nd round. He brings some much needed muscle. I'd also like Lynn Greer to replace Moochie as the backup PG. Vincent Yarbrough could be around for our #1 pick. I would like him to be the SF of the future. He is really athletic and can "D" it up. A Shawn Marion clone? I'd love for us to draft Dunleavy, if he comes out. He's a probable Top 10 pick, since he's fundamentally as sound as any ala Battier.
