Kenyon will fully recover by next year. And other tidbits from espn.

Here is an article to calm some of those fears that Martin will be damaged goods.


Martin's injury shouldn't damage draft status

By Andy katz
ESPN.com

Kenyon Martin's draft status will not be affected as long as his recovery from his broken fibula is on schedule.

Martin is expected to be in a cast for weeks and will likely be out of competition until spring. But Martin wasn't expected to attend the NBA draft camps in Portsmouth (Va.) or Phoenix in April or Chicago in June.

Martin was predicted to be the top pick in the draft, and that won't change unless a team gets new information on his injury.

"If a team were on the fence on Kenyon and another player then it could affect him for the No. 1 spot, but that would be the only way," said R.C. Buford, the San Antonio Spurs' director of scouting.

The book on Martin is that he plays harder than any other player in the nation. Martin's work ethic has NBA teams banking on his ability to come back faster from this injury than most players. His skill level has improved each season, especially offensively. He added more moves and was a consistent finisher during the regular season. His performance against DePaul in Chicago sold any doubters on making him the No. 1 pick in the draft.

"He's the consensus No. 1 pick in college basketball and that won't change," said Larry Harris, the Milwaukee Bucks' director of scouting. "He plays with a ton of energy. He's a true testament to staying four years because he's gotten better. Kenyon Martin wasn't the No. 1 pick a year ago. He is now."

Doctors in Cincinnati have been quoted saying they don't expect Martin's injury to linger into next season. That has calmed any fears among NBA teams, but most will likely run another check before they unload millions at Martin's feet.

Looking deeper
NBA scouts have been turning up at high school games more often this season than ever.

Their job is to get a read on the potential talent in the draft. And even if the top five prep players don't declare, scouts want a three-year read on a player. Normally, the three years runs from their freshman to junior or sophomore to senior years in college.

But with fewer elite players staying all four years, the cycle begins as early as junior year in high school and could end after a freshman year.

That's why scouts have visited 6-foot-5 DeShawn Stevenson (Washington Union High, Fresno, Calif.), 6-9 Alton Ford (Milby High, Houston), 6-9 Eddie Griffin (Roman High, Philadelphia), 6-7 Gerald Wallace (Childersburg, Ala.) and 6-9 Darius Miles (East St. Louis, Ill.) on the chance that any one of them declares for the draft.

Wallace's family still wants him to go to Alabama. Griffin has been adamant that he will be at Seton Hall when school starts in August. Ford signed at Houston, while Miles still needs to qualify at St. John's and Stevenson isn't eligible yet after signing with Kansas. Certainly, any player who isn't eligible could sit out next season, but that seems to be a heinous punishment in the pampered high school world.

For that reason, scouts have to be ready.

"You've got to check them out," said one scout from the West. "It's becoming more frequent to look at high school players. You don't want to get caught short not seeing a guy play. You've got to get a gauge on players. I'd be shocked if scouts haven't seen all these guys."

Even though all the high school players should go to college, all of the above listed players would likely get into the first round, making it a part of the decision process before the May 14 early-entry deadline.

Until then, NBA scouts have put together their lists of seniors and underclassmen but they'll still head out on the road in the NCAA Tournament in case they missed a part of someone's game.

But not everyone can change their draft position. A number of players are stuck or, locked into, specific spots, regardless of how well they play in the tournament.

Here's ESPN.com's list, according to NBA scouts, of players in the NCAA Tournament who have already cemented their draft status and of players who need help (underclassmen listed have sent out feelers about leaving early, but that doesn't mean they will).

Reputation earned

Courtney Alexander, Sr., G, Fresno State: A shooter and a scorer, set for the lottery.
Brian Cardinal, F, Sr., Purdue: You know you're getting a banger and a hard worker.
Chris Carrawell, Sr., G, Duke: Slasher and scorer and the opinion won't change.
Khalid El-Amin, G, Jr., Connecticut: Opinion won't change if he declares. His body won't change -- his winning attitude won't, either.
A.J. Guyton, G, Sr., Indiana: Big Ten player of the year award should solidify his first-round status
DerMarr Johnson, Fr., G, Cincinnati: Versatility has him in the lottery if he declares.
Ryan Fletcher, F, Sr., Cincinnati: Still a second round pick..
Marcus Fizer, Jr., F, Iowa State: Played himself into lottery if he comes out early.
Ken Johnson, C, Sr., Ohio State: He's a shot blocker. Not much will change.
Mark Karcher, F, Jr., Temple: Proven he can be an inside-out scorer.
Mark Madsen, F, Sr., Stanford: A banger and rebounder who will get picked in the first round.
Jamaal Magloire, C, Sr., Kentucky: Stock soared with scoring, rebounding this season. He can't do anymore.
Kenyon Martin, Sr., C, Cincinnati: Still No. 1 draft pick.
Chris Mihm, Jr., C, Texas: Top low-post threat if he declares.
Hanno Möttölä, F, Sr., Utah: Scouts won't take points off for his injuries.
Mike Miller, F, So., Florida: A lottery because of his versatility if he declares.
Terence Morris, Jr., F, Maryland: If he declares, his talent makes him a lottery.
Eduardo Najera, F, Sr., Oklahoma: A warrior with a coach's heart.
Scoonie Penn, G, Sr., Ohio State: Can he do anything else to change a mind? No. He's a winner.
Chris Porter, F, Sr., Auburn: Didn't get a chance to change his reputation, thanks to being ruled ineligible.
Pepe Sanchez, G, Sr., Temple: Not going to be assertive scorer. He is still an exceptional playmaker.
Jermaine Tate, F, Sr., Cincinnati: See Ryan Fletcher.

Reputation still developing

Glendon Alexander, F., Sr., Oklahoma State: Continues to be a sleeper but still lacking a position.
Erick Barkley, G, So., St. John's: Shooting could help his stock.
Lamont Barnes, C, Sr., Temple: Tournament could help opinion on his offensive game.
Mateen Cleaves, G, Sr., Michigan State: Still watching his shot and his rehab in the tournament.
Eric Coley, F, Sr., Tulsa: Still searching for a position.
Ed Cota, G, Sr., North Carolina: Inconsistency has sent him spiraling in the first round.
Richie Frahm, G, Sr., Gonzaga: His shot will get him drafted.
Dan Gadzuric, F, So., UCLA: Not ready but could feed off tournament run if he declares.
Jason Hart, G, Sr., Syracuse: see above.
Brendan Haywood, C, Jr., North Carolina: Has to shed the soft label if he wants to be drafted high.
Johnny Hemsley, G, Sr., Miami (Fla.): Stock rising, and can climb even more with deep run.
Brandon Kurtz, C, Sr., Tulsa: Needs to show he can score.
Desmond Mason, F, Sr., Oklahoma State: No one quite sure where to play him.
Jerome Moiso, F, So., UCLA: See Dan Gadzuric.
Mamadou N'diaye, C, Sr., Auburn: Offensive disappearance has hurt his place in draft.
Morris Peterson, G, Sr., Michigan State: Consistency in shot could move him up.
Michael Redd, G, Jr., Ohio State: Scouts still not sold on his spot if he declares.
Quentin Richardson, G, So., DePaul: Poor shooting has scouts questioning any decision to leave.
Doc Robinson, G, Sr., Auburn: Erratic play puts him in second round.
Matt Santangelo, G, Sr., Gonzaga: See Richie Frahm.
Alex Scales, G, Sr., Oregon: An unknown who showed his athleticism despite first-round exit.
Jabari Smith, C, Sr., LSU: Strength and stamina will be a question in the tournament.
Etan Thomas, C, Sr., Syracuse: Consistency and monster run will help his stock.
Jake Voskuhl, C, Sr., Connecticut: Every day is a tryout for his post skills.


------------------

 

Dermarr Johnson just officially declared for the draft. Terence Morris just officially returned to Maryland for his senior year.

------------------