Every year guys come out of more or less nowhere to become the name everyone's talking about on draft night. From last year, Rodney White, Kedrick Brown, and Steven Hunter come to mind as the college players who were the 'draft darlings'. My early pick for this year is a freshman - Cal center Jamal Sampson, cousin of former Rocket Ralph. The guy is a super talented freshman who was dropped off of the McDonalds team because a virus prevented him from playing much, thus helping to slide him below the radar a bit. He comes in stature-wise at a listed 6'11" 235lbs. and is known as a super athletic rebounder/shotblocker who needs to put on a bit of weight. He played at Matter-Dey HS with UCLA freshman stud Cedric Boseman. Thusfar as Cal's starting center he's averaging 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and is shooting 62% from the field. While the 7 points may stand out as being low, it's a bit decieving, as for Cal the 7 players who are in the rotation are all averaging between 7 and 10 points. Any body else have a pick for draft sleeper?
Good call, Ottomaton. Sampson, by all accounts, also has a great work ethic for a youngster. One thing that I like about him is he's not hanging around the three point line jacking up threes like a lot of high school 7 footers. He's in the trenches playing center every night. Like Ottomaton said, don't be deceived by his scoring average. Cal has one of the most balanced scoring teams in the country; nobody's a big scorer on that team. It'll be interesting to see how he fares against the premier big men of the Pac 10. Jamal Sampson will probably go pro after two years.
Marty Blake, eat your heart out! Here's an update on how great a call Ottomaton made on Jamal Sampson (after this article appeared, Cal upset USC in LA and lost to UCLA): http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/01/24/SP187342.DTL Impressive freshman Sampson relishing homecoming in L.A. Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, January 24, 2002 Coach Ben Braun says Cal freshman Jamal Sampson is playing better because he's working harder in practice. Teammate Dennis Gates says the 6-foot-11 center is becoming more savvy. Sampson says it's a matter of confidence. Whatever the cause -- and it's likely a combination of all three -- Sampson has stepped up his game as the Bears prepare to play in Los Angeles. It couldn't come at a more appropriate time for Sampson: He's going home. "It's something I'm excited about, with your family and everybody you know back there," the Inglewood native said, referring to tonight's game at USC and Saturday's at UCLA. He expects between 50 and 100 family and friends will come to watch him play. Sampson has been an undisputed force on defense all season. He has 32 blocked shots and is within reach of Cal's all-time season mark of 59. His work on the offensive end wasn't that special in November and December. Then, with the opening of the Pac-10 season, he began to show signs of improvement. In the first half of Cal's conference-opening loss at Stanford, he scored eight points in an impressive display of offensive skills -- slashing down the lane for a dunk in traffic and adding six more points on a variety of classic post moves. "I'm starting to be more assertive on offense - look at the basket, score, getting a little more comfortable," he said. Sampson continued to get better and had a breakout performance in Cal's 62- 50 win over Washington last Thursday at Haas Pavilion. He scored 15 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, made five blocks and added three assists. Last Saturday against Washington State, he scored 12 points, had nine rebounds and collected two assists. "I think it was a comfort level," he said. "I wasn't comfortable holding the ball. Once you do the move and get if off a few times, you feel more comfortable and you can do another move, try something else." Braun says it's all a reflection of hard work. "His practice habits have been improving," he said. "As that's improving, he's improving." Gates added, "I also see him getting better through experience." Sampson has made no secret of his plans to go to the NBA when he thinks he's ready. In fact, he said earlier this season that he seriously thought about turning pro right out of Mater Dei in Santa Ana (Orange County), but stayed on the collegiate track mostly because of an ankle injury. Now, he's sounding a bit more patient. "I don't have a time frame," he said. "I know there's a lot of stuff I still need to work on, improve on; especially offensively for that next level. However long that takes will determine that." Braun, meanwhile, says he's not watching Sampson's development with any apprehension about losing him. "When that time comes, I will be his biggest supporter," Braun said, adding, "He not only wants to make it, he wants to be successful. He has the chance to be an elite player." Sampson says playing summer ball in L.A. against college players has helped him make the transition from high school. "It's been a difficult adjustment, but I knew it was going to be like this, " he said, noting he found he was "getting banged around a lot more" during those summer-league games. The trip to L.A. comes with center Solomon Hughes working back into shape after he missed the first four Pac-10 games with a strained knee. Sampson and freshman Amit Tamir have been sharing the post. "The reality is three dudes, two positions," Sampson said, noting someone would lose playing time. "I'm going to make sure it's not me."
Wojciech Myrda the guy is sick, I mean i know he's playing against Tierre Brown talent but he had a 3 game streak of 10 or more blocks 172 blocks in 32 games 13 against Texas- San Antonio It's obvious he needs to play on the next level to see if he has what it takes cuz he's a man among boys at LA- Munroe
Jamal Sampson's declared for the draft, but he's yet to hire an agent. http://www.dailycal.org/article.asp?id=8119
I picked Jamaal Tinsley last year, This year Im going to go with Juan Dixon, There is just something about this kid that makes me believe he can be an NBA star. Call me crazy but Whoever picks him will be a suprise team.
i think baxter will be a contributor at the nba level...other candidates: Travis Watson, Roger Mason, Kris Lang
The real sleeper of the year could well be another European: Jeri Welsch, a 6-6 point guard. I hope we pick him up in the second round because from what I've read, he will be a big defensive and offensive upgrade over TBrown. In addition, he can move over to the SG when necessary because he has range and stroke (according to reports because I have never seen him play).
1. We don't need a point guard or a 2 guard 2. Hardly given poor Tierre a chance to play and when we have given him any sort of minutes he's produced. 3. That is all...
That's why I'd take him in the second round. If Brown proves to be the better guard, hey, that's great. But, if Welsch proves to be the better guard, hey, we have a bigger, faster, more defensive backcourt.
the most surprising pick will be Uche Okafor, he is an amazing shot blocker. i hope Houston gets him in late 1st or early 2cd round pik
I'd take a six foot six point guard/two guard if he was good. Heck we got a mediocre six foot one Moochie with a long term contract and essentially no backup at the two guard since Mobley plays 43 minutes a night. With that size (and speed ?) he could play the three and we could retire Walt and bench Rice forever, damn that contract. That Sampson guy sounds pretty promising, just hope Ralph's injuries don't run in the family. Doubt he'll bulk up without supplements - Ralph was a beanpole for his career.
Josh Davis, of Wyoming. He's a 6'8 235 tweener forward, and reminds me a lot of Mike Madsen or George Lynch.
