http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/20010402/draftdope3.html NBA Draft Spotlight 2001: Small Forwards April 2, 2001 By Brad Friedman U.S. Scouting Services Director MAMARONECK, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- This year, the small forward position is characterized by prospects who spent most of their college careers stationed in the paint as opposed to on the perimeter, where most NBA small forwards play. For that reason, there's little pure talent available on the wing, save for a select few. Undoubtedly the position's top prospect is Duke's Shane Battier. Able to perform in literally every aspect of the game, Battier is the prototypical "3" at 6-8 and 220 pounds. His only arguable weakness is his unselfishness. There's little doubt that he is ready to step in to a starting role immediately in the NBA. Coaches crave Battier's offensive savvy, all-out toughness and defensive prowess. It would be a major surprise if he fell past the fifth pick. Battier's teammate, Nate James, also has received NBA interest. James did a remarkable job of improving his game during his time at Duke. An undersized interior bruiser when he first arrived on campus, he reinvented himself as a formidable threat from the perimeter, not surprisingly causing scouts to take notice. The 6-6, 200-pound James is a likely second-round pick who still needs to develop his game off the dribble. Sought mostly for his upside is lanky Maryland swingman Terrence Morris. In combination with a long wingspan, great height and superb run-jump skills, Morris' refinement makes him a likely candidate to flourish at the next level. What arouses great concern, however, was his inconsistency over his college career. The 6-9, 205-pound Morris didn't always get up for games the way he should have and made less of an impact for the Terps than one would expect, given his talent level. Because that pattern of play persisted over Morris' four years at Maryland, scouts have grown less accepting of his underachievement, a disease that many fear will plague Morris during his NBA career. Morris likely is a mid-first-round pick who could play his way up in the draft if he can have the type of workouts a player of his caliber would figure to have. On the other hand, Morris may slide down in the draft if too many talented underclassmen make their way into the lottery. Like Morris, the interest in Tennessee's Isiah Victor is mostly due to his upside. With a similar physical build but a less perimeter-focused game than Morris, the 220-pound Victor's lack of strength prevents him from cutting it at the big forward spot in the NBA. Scouts will have to determine whether or not he is competent enough as a ballhandler and shooter to make the transition to the wing. Whatever their determination is, Victor is probably too unknown of a commodity on which to gamble a first-round pick. Combo forward Rodney White of North Carolina-Charlotte enters the draft after just one season of collegiate play. That has not detracted suitors, however, as NBA staffs are high on the nation's leading freshman scorer. At 6-9 and 230 pounds, White's physical skills and inside-outside proficiency remind of Vancouver Grizzlies star Shareef Abdur-Rahim. It is not clear which forward position White will play in the NBA but it is logical that his versatility adds to his attractiveness. He displayed 3-point range in his lone college campaign and figures to be a early to mid-first-round pick. Despite playing in the little known West Coast Conference, Gonzaga's Casey Calvary has become a well-known national name with his NCAA tournament performances. Blessed with a refined post game and a solid jump shot, many feel the 6-9, 230-pound Calvary has a good chance to make the transition from the 4-spot to the wing at the next level. Whether he can do so just marginally or effectively, however, is the real $64,000 question. NBA clubs probably won't gamble on Calvary until the second round, where contracts aren't required to be long-term or guaranteed. California's Sean Lampley looks like your classic NBA 'tweener -- not big enough to work on the interior nor refined enough to compete from the perimeter. One thing that cannot accurately be determined by even the best scout, however, is heart. Blessed with tremendous talent and athleticism, the 6-7, 225-pound Lampley still may be able to adjust his game to the wing even at this point in his development. He might need some seasoning in a developmental league to do so, but pencil in Lampley in as a second-round pick. Coming off a mediocre senior season, USC's Brian Scalabrine first sparked NBA interest when he burst onto the national scene with a banner junior year. His play, both cerebral and fundamentally sound, offers important components for the NBA game. A lack of quickness, however, has scouts wondering whether or not the 6-9, 250-pound Scalabrine will be able to create his own shot against athletic NBA defenders. For that reason, Scalabrine appears to be a second-rounder. Syracuse's Damone Brown is a solid ballhandler and shooter but at 6-9 and 200 pounds looks to be more of a natural power forward who lacks the strength to compete in the physical NBA paint. Baylor's Terry Black is a superb athlete who had a tremendous all-around year, but a lack of perimeter dependability makes him an iffy pro prospect. Greg Stevenson of Richmond and Victor Thomas of La Salle both flourished in systems that catered to their abilities. They will have to prove in draft camps and individual workouts that they can be just as effective when surrounded by talent similar to theirs. NEXT MONTH: Power forwards. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Geez, wrong forum.....please move me to the Draft forum por favor. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
