I went to the Eastern Regionals today in Greensboro, North Carolina. I had a chance to see a few players who are supposed to be NBA prospects: Ken Johnson/C/Ohio State: Forget it. Sorry NikeSTAD. Might be the second coming of Kelvin Cato. Played uninspired. Little hustle in his last game at OSU. Don't see any buzz about him. Jason Kapono/SF/UCLA: Over-rated. Looked slow afoot. Didn't get too many looks but then didn't make his own shot either. Nothing impressive there. Dan Gadzuric/C/UCLA: Looked like an NBA 4/5. A real hustler and an active banger. Offensive minded within a system. More impressive than I expected. I like him. Earl Watson/PG/UCLA: Wish this guy was 6'4"! Great player. Hustler. Good vision. Defensive intensity. Decent shooter. Should find a spot in the NBA eventually. Jason Williams/PG/Duke: Of course! Shane Battier/SF/Duke: Of course and still under-rated.... Future Rocket! Mike Dunleavy/SF/Duke: The next star! ------------------------------------- I saw a couple of decent players for Utah State which upset Ohio State in overtime. Missouri had a good-looking but raw big man from Nigeria (Soyoye, I think) who played with intensity. That Mizzou program is on the rise! The play defense with great intensity and so get some easy baskets. You can see Snyder's Duke roots at work. ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils. PowerbizOnline.com
Ken Johnson IS the second coming of Cato, just about 20 pounds of muscle skinnier. Primitive offense, fouls a lot, and a lukewarm rebounder. Terrific shotblocker, but that's it. He's a first rounder, because he's an athletic, defensive-minded 7 footer. But if his attitude is like Cato's, I wouldn't expect him to stick anywhere too long. Also, I hope the Rockets stay away from Gadzuric (who said last year he was coming out for the draft this year). He's an injury problem waiting to happen. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited March 16, 2001).]
Ken Johnson is not like Cato. KJ gets better each year. He does not have much of an offensive game but when he got the ball early in the game he was able to use the baby hook shot to score. Later on Utah St. doubled him and OSU couldn't hit an outside shot. Teh zone allows most teams to shut down an inside player in college. This guy petioned the NCAA to stay in school for a fifth year, because he knew he wasn't ready yet. If you saw him play year to year you would see he gets continually better each year. Is he the next Wilt, obviously not. He runs the floor well, he is athletic, his fram is big enough to carry alot more weight, and the guys wants to get better. Cato is athletic & lazy. There is a major difference between a work ethic & laziness. I truly believe in this guy. He has a great upside. Also he did have like 12 boards so his rebounding isn't too bad.
I hope I am wrong about Ken Johnson. I can see some ability but NO FIRE... even when you are being outsted in an overtime game in the NCAA tourney your senior year. I hope I have misjudged him, afterall it's only one game from the mezzanine! ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils. PowerbizOnline.com
