NBA Draft 2010

Georgetown Official Bio

Video Links

Greg Monroe Interview

Greg Monroe Mix

#10 Donatas Motiejunas

PF, Lithuania

Born September 20, 1990 > Draft Day Age=19.8

Ht./Wt...7-0/215

Composite Review...

The first international player on our board, Motiejunas fits the bill of many other foreign players taken in recent drafts: tall, lanky, nice athletic ability, and 3 point range. He's going to be one of the most raw players in this draft though, as he's just 19 years old and just now playing his first real season of professional basketball. Motiejunas has a very impressive skill set, particularly when he pulls his defender out and makes him guard him at the perimeter. He has a smooth shot, that hasn't been excellent, but figures to improve, as well as an excellent ability to take his man off the dribble. He's left handed, but has shown no trouble using both hands to get around his opponents. This enables him to be able to create his own shot with relative ease, and he's shown he's very comfortable and natural finishing around the basket. He's also good in transition, using his above average athleticism and footwork to get out and run the floor. Also, for a 7 footer, he seems very comfortable dribbling the ball, and has court vision and passing ability not typically associated with men of his height.

Motiejunas has many of the same question marks that international players before him have had surrounding them. He has a very small upper body, leading to a lack of strength and toughness, particularly in the post. He should be able to add additional bulk and muscle, but right now he doesn't possess the strength necessary to bang with NBA big men in the post. Also, he seems to lose focus rather easily, calling to question some character issues and how mentally tough he is. Defensively, he can be described as nothing more than a liability at this point, seeming to lack awareness, as well as the form and strength to be successful on that end of the ball. With any international player, especially one as young as Donatas, it's always going to be interesting to see how they adapt to not only the NBA style game, but also life in the US. If he can successfully make the transition, all the ability is there for him to be a force in the NBA. At 7-0, he will be regularly creating match up difficulties for opposing defenses. He's a bit of a project right now, but there is quite a bit of upside to really like about him in this year's draft.

--Adam Wolff

Update 6-4-10... Citing a need for another year of International play to prepare himself, Motiejunas has removed his name from the draft.

2010 Stats: 20.3 MPG 9.2 PPG 4.7 RPG 0.6 APG 51.5 FG%

Article Links

Motiejunas Wikipedia Page

Video Links

2009 Nike Hoop Summit Highlights

Motiejunas Highlights

#11 Patrick Patterson

PF, Kentucky Wildcats

Born March 14, 1989 > Draft Day Age=21.3

Ht./Wt...6-9/235

Composite Review...

Patterson was likely a first round pick after his sophomore season at Kentucky, but elected to come back for his junior year to pursue an NCAA title. Offensively, his role certainly changed, with the additions of freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Still, he had a nice junior campaign, and looks to still be a probable lottery pick. Patterson is the type of player that perhaps doesn't have one facet of his game that will amaze you, but he does everything pretty well across the board. One aspect of his game that has drastically improved is his 3 point shooting. Amazingly, he didn't make one 3 point shot his Freshman and Sophomore years, but hit 24 this past season, converting on 35% of his attempts. In addition to a perimeter game, Patterson is very comfortable with is back to the basket, posting up on defenders. He has a nice blend of finesse and power, and is very smooth and comfortable in his finishes around the hoop. He's also able to use his athleticism to run the floor in transition, making him capable of being in offenses of varying pace. While Patterson may have been in a more complimentary role this past season, compared to other seasons, that enabled us to see some other things about him. He is clearly a team player, evidenced by his willingness to let Wall and Cousins be the main attractions. He's a coachable kid, and seems willing to do whatever is asked of him.

Patterson does have some weaknesses, primarily on the defensive end. At 6-9, he will probably be undersized when guarding other NBA power forwards, and won't be able to have the mental lapses in defensive awareness that he has had in college. He's also a very poor defensive rebounder, although some of this could likely be attributed to playing alongside rebounding fiend, DeMarcus Cousins. Offensively, Patterson lacks the ability to really beat his man off the dribble, as well as shoot off the dribble. This is most likely because he doesn't seem very comfortable dribbling the ball, but it makes his game when facing the basket very limited. Still, Patterson is a high character guy, that, as mentioned before, does everything pretty well. He probably profiles as a high character, solid all around, role-playing sort of guy, which will never hurt a team.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 33.0 MPG 14.3 PPG 7.4 RPG 0.9 APG 57.5 FG%

Article Links

Kentucky Official Bio

Patrick Patterson Dunk on Tennessee

Video Links

Patrick Patterson Dunk on Wayne Chism

#12 Ekpe Udoh

PF, Baylor Bears

Born May 20, 1987 > Draft Day Age=23.1

Ht./Wt...6-10/240

Composite Review...

After sitting out last season, following a transfer from Michigan to Baylor, Ekpe Udoh can safely say he may the right decision. He was a large part of the Bear's NCAA tournament run, and enjoyed a very solid season all around. He posted a line of 13.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and an awesome 3.7 BPG. The block totals showcase one of his strongest abilities: his freakish athleticism. Against Morgan State, he totaled 10 blocks, to go along with 18 points and 17 rebounds, grabbing himself the rare college basketball triple double. Offensively, Udoh does most of his damage in the paint, where he is very smooth and fluid when making his moves and finishing. He's comfortable with his back to the basket, as well as facing up on opponents. He also has an above average mid range jumper, offering another dimension when squaring up on opponents. With the basketball, he also has shown nice court vision and the ability to recognize double teams and find his teammates. He is an excellent rebounder, particularly on the offensive end, averaging 3.6 offensive boards per game this past season. He could use some work on the fundamentals of defensive rebounding, but he's still no slouch in that department. As mentioned, he is an excellent shot blocker, and an overall solid defender, particularly in the post.

Udoh is still raw offensively, despite making significant strides this past season. He can sometimes look excellent when making his moves, and sometimes more unsure of what he really wants to do. He needs to improve his strength, particularly in his lower legs. This leads to him getting pushed around some on the defensive end, and sometimes lacking the explosiveness you would expect from a player with his athleticism on the offensive end. Also, he'll be 23 on draft day, which brings to question how much more developing can he really do? To counter that however, he's shown an excellent work ethic, evidenced by the impressive progress he has made over the past few seasons. Aspects of his game are already NBA ready, primarily his offensive rebounding and shot blocking, so he could have an immediate impact off the bench, as he continues to hone his offensive skills and become more polished.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 35.1 MPG 13.9 PPG 9.8 RPG 2.7 APG 49.0 FG%

Article Links

Baylor Official Bio

Chicagonow.com Profile

Video Links

Udoh Post Game Interview

Dunk on Duke

Highlights vs. Hartford

#13 Hassan Whiteside

C, Marshall Thundering Heard

Born June 13, 1989 > Draft Day Age=21

Ht./Wt...7-0/235

Composite Review...

Whiteside is a player that some scouts are probably going to be very split on, because the strengths and weaknesses are both incredibly evident. He is a player that has seen his draft stock rise significantly the past season, with most projections now having him somewhere in the top 10-20 to go off the board on draft day. He's a very raw player, but there are a lot of things to like. First, he's a long player, with a wingspan reportedly around 7-6. He's incredibly aggressive on the offensive end, leading to him getting to the free throw line at a very impressive clip. Despite not having optimal footwork, he is an excellent finisher around the basket. He's also a very impressive rebounder, particularly on the offensive end. If you look at his stat line, the one statistic that will certainly jump out at you is his blocked shots. Averaging a staggering 5.4 blocked shots per game, it's obvious that he can be a force in the paint, particularly when helping on defense.

Despite being a freshman, Whiteside will be 21 on draft day, which is discouraging for some scouts, because he's really poor in certain areas that you would like to see a 21 year old more developed in. If his shot blocking ability is one statistic to jump out at you from his stat line, the next one is probably his assists. In 889 minutes of play, he recorded just 10 assists. This shows that whenever he got the ball, he was focused on one thing, and that was scoring. Sometimes he did score, but other times he forced poor shots or neglected open teammates. His basketball IQ and awareness are both below average, and at times he looked lost Baylor's offense. This brings into question how long it would take him to learn the complexities of an NBA offense. The word immature has been tossed around when referring to Whiteside, both on and off the court. He struggled to get into college, and reportedly struggled with eligibility once he was in. He's going to be the definition of a project for whatever team selects him, but he has enough there in terms of raw ability and skills to entice a team to call his number pretty early on draft day.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 26.1 MPG 13.1 PPG 8.9 RPG 0.3 APG 58.8 FG%

Article Links

Marshall Official Bio

Whiteside College Mix Part 2

Whiteside Wikipedia Page

Video Links

Whiteside College Mix

Whiteside College Mix Part 3

#14 Xavier Henry

SG, Kansas Jayhawks

Born March 15, 1991 > Draft Day Age=19.3

Ht./Wt...6-6/220

Composite Review...

Xavier Henry enjoyed an impressive freshman season at Kansas, averaging 13.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG. He's got an NBA ready body already, and at just 19 years old, probably still has some room to grow into his frame. Henry is a natural scorer (28 PPG in HS), doing most of his damage from beyond the arc. He shot the 3 ball very well (42%), but scouts are a bit concerned that nearly half of his overall shots came from 3 point range. Henry is also a high character guy, a team player that is very coachable and seems to have an honest love for the game. He's not the best athlete in this draft, but he does have above average athleticism, and when put with his size, makes for a nice combination. Aside from his 3 point shot, he's rather limited offensively, primarily due to his need to improve his ball handling skills. When facing up opponents, he struggles to create his own shot. He has looked much more comfortable with catch and shoot situations, rather than shooting off of the dribble. Once he does get around the hoop, he shows a solid ability to finish, although he lacks in explosiveness and sometimes avoids contact too much.

On the defensive end, Henry seems to have pretty solid fundamentals and an interest in playing strong defense. His defense is solid around the perimeter, but his lack of lateral quickness causes him to struggle when guarding quicker guards. He seems much more comfortable when guarding taller, slower defenders, as he's still able to use his length to bother shots. Until Henry shows that he can create his own shot, his upside is going to be very limited. If that aspect of his game never develops, he can still be useful as a wing player with a nice 3 point shot, but would probably not be much more than a role player. Still just 19 though, he's young enough that whichever team takes him will have time to be patient and see what kind of a learning curve lies ahead for him.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 27.5 MPG 13.4 PPG 4.4 RPG 1.5 APG 45.8 FG%

Article Links

Henry Discusses Heading to the NBA

Video Links

Henry YouTube Highlight Reel

Xavier Henry on Winning Big 12 Championship

#15 James Anderson

SG/SF, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Born March 25, 1989 > Draft Day Age=21.3

Ht./Wt...6-6/210

Composite Review...

Anderson enjoyed one of the top scoring seasons in all of college basketball his junior year, averaging 22.3 PPG and amazingly scoring in double figures in all 33 games he played in. For his troubles, he was named Big 12 Player of the Year, quite an honor considering the number of high level players he was up against. He is a scorer in every sense of the word, and was the focal point of Oklahoma State's offense all year. He's most comfortable when he is catching and shooting, and at 6-6 he is able to use his excellent form and length to elevate over opponents, needing less space than most to get off a highly accurate shot. He also has nice range, and while his 3 point percentage did go down from last season (from 41% to 34%), it's most likely because he had entire defenses keyed in on stopping him. He's most comfortable with his jump shot, but he does take the ball to the hoop on occasion. He doesn't have the quickest first step, but whenever he does take his man off the dribble, he's very under control and takes care of the basketball. One thing he surely needs to improve on however, is the fact that he almost always goes to his left, which NBA defenses will easily sniff out and stop.

Anderson's primary cause for concern is his essentially atrocious defensive play. When guarding opponents on the perimeter, he is beaten easily off the dribble. He appears to also shy away from physical play, and doesn't use his excellent length well to alter opponents shots. He doesn't have the athletic ability of some others in the draft, so this could be an area that whatever team selects him will just have to live with. Despite the defensive woes, he's already a very polished jump shooter, which will definitely interest teams looking for some instant offensive help.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 34.1 MPG 22.3 PPG 5.8 RPG 2.4 APG 45.7 FG%

Article Links

Oklahoma State Official Bio

Video Links

Anderson Declares for NBA Draft

Anderson Named Big 12 Player of the Year

#16 Damion James

SF/PF, Texas Longhorns

Born October 7, 1987 > Draft Day Age=22.8

Ht./Wt...6-7/225

Composite Review...

After testing the waters after his junior season, James elected to return for his senior year at Texas. Despite putting up similar stats, he did evolve his game enough to have him likely getting drafted somewhere in the mid first round. Both his field goal percentage and 3 point percentage increased, from 47% to 50% and 33% to 38%, respectively. He is most comfortable on catch and shoot opportunities, as his ball handling skills are not really advanced enough for him to be overly comfortable shooting off the dribble. His lack of ball handling skills and also a less than stellar first step also make it difficult for him to beat his man off the dribble. He's most comfortable when catching the ball around the elbow, where he will only need a couple of dribbles to be at the rim. James strongest asset, hands down, is his aggressiveness and energy he brings. He plays at full speed all the time, something an NBA coach will definitely love to have coming off the bench next season. He's also a solid defender, where his high energy play translates very well. He's got an excellent 7-1 wingspan, making him a solid defender in the post, as well as the quickness to come out on opponents around the perimeter.

One of the primary knocks on James is that he will be a bit of a tweener at the next level. At 6-7, he is more of a 3 than anything, however, he doesn't really possess the jump shot at this point to be a wing at the NBA level. It's an area that has definitely improved, but it isn't where it needs to be. However, when he moves to the 4, he's definitely undersized to be primarily a post player. He is able to do both at an adequate level, but doesn't really fit into one perfectly. That said, he's a physical, high energy guy, and when you have someone like that, you find a way to maximize their strengths. He profiles as less of a scorer, and more of a complimentary player than he was this past season, but as his ball handling and shooting continues to improve, he should be able to be a nice scoring option as well.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 30.3 MPG 18.0 PPG 10.3 RPG 1.0 APG 50.1 FG%

Article Links

NBADraft.Net Profile

Texas Official Bio

Video Links

Damion James YouTube Mix

07-08 Highlight Video

#17 Larry Sanders

PF, Virginia Commonwealth Rams

Born November 21, 1988 > Draft Day Age=21.7

Ht./Wt...6-11/235

Composite Review...

Sanders has improved his statistics in each of his 3 seasons, and is now ready to take his game to the next level. He nearly posted a double double this past season, averaging 14.4 PPG and 9.1 RPG. He's a long, athletic player, that can run the floor very well, and is very strong when finishing around the basket. Another one of his biggest strengths is his rebounding ability. He uses his explosiveness, long frame, and amazing jumping ability to really go up and get the basketball. Offensively, it's going to be interesting to see what Sanders can do at the next level. He doesn't have much of a jump shot at all, although his improvement at the free throw line implies he could possibly improve in this area. Also, while his game in the post has definitely improved, it doesn't look likely that he'll be able to have success with that aspect at this point, due to his lack of strength and mediocre footwork. He does have the length and reach to get his shot off though, so if he can improve the footwork and learn how to not be pushed around, this aspect of his game could evolve as well.

Sanders primary weakness is his defensive play. As mentioned when referencing his post play on the offensive end, he runs into the same problems on the defensive end. He's not a very strong player, especially in his lower body, which leads to opponents being able to establish position against him deep in the post. Whenever he hasn't already given up position in the post, opponents are able to outmuscle him to gain that position. Also, his per 40 minutes block totals have gone down every year, from 7.4 to 4.2 to 3.7. Still, he has the physical skills to improve in this area, so as his offense improves, his defense should as well. Sanders is still a bit unpolished, but considering he just started playing basketball in 10th grade, he's made strides. He'll likely be drafted outside of the lottery, so he will go to a team that can afford to take on a bit of a project, and possibly reap the benefits in a few years.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 26.9 MPG 14.4 PPG 9.1 RPG 1.0 APG 53.4 FG%

Article Links

Video Links

Larry Sanders YouTube

#18 Stanley Robinson

SF/PF, Connecticut Huskies

Born July 14, 1988 > Draft Day Age=21.9

Ht./Wt...6-9/210

Composite Review...

After regressing in his junior season, Robinson enjoyed a bit of a resurgence this past year, posting career numbers across the board. He finished with 14.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and about a steal and a block per game as well. The first thing you notice whenever you watch Robinson play is his out of this world athleticism and explosiveness. Coupled with his impressive wingspan, and he has all the tools to be an excellent rebounder at the next level. He doesn't have the most offensive polish, but he does have a couple solid facets to his game at this point. He's improved his ability to get to the basket, although his ball handling holds him back a bit. Still, with his body control and athleticism, he's successful enough in this area, and once he's at the basket, he has excellent finishing ability. One aspect of his game that has returned after disappearing in his junior season is his three point shooting. After making just 3 three pointers his junior year, he rebounded to make 27 this past season, shooting 34% for the year. It probably won't ever be a huge part of his game, but it's good enough to keep defenders honest. He's also improved his game in the post, adding a few moves that he can use whenever close to the hoop.

Another huge strength for Robinson is his defensive play, and his future defensive potential. His athleticism allows him to have the versatility to defend multiple positions, something his next coach will surely appreciate. His combination of size, athleticism, and quickness enables him to really play up on opponents and make them very uncomfortable. Scouts agree that he sometimes relies on his natural physical ability a bit too much, which he probably won't be able to do at the next level. He needs to sure up some parts of his offensive game, namely his ball handling and consistency with his shot, but there will be plenty of interest in him based primarily on his efficiency, athleticism, and overall upside.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 34.2 MPG 14.5 PPG 7.6 RPG 1.0 APG 52.5 FG%

Article Links

Stanley Robinson against Chatanooga

Connecticut Official Bio

Video Links

Robinson Put Back Dunk

#19 Gordon Hayward

SF, Butler Bulldogs

Born March 23, 1990 > Draft Day Age=20.3

Ht./Wt...6-9/207

Composite Review...

Gordon Hayward may be the most difficult player to provide consensus scout information on, because frankly, many scouts disagree about him. The debate begins right away when discussing his athleticism. Some scouts maintain that he simply doesn't have the athleticism to allow for a smooth transition to the next level, while others say that his athleticism is underrated and actually a strength of his. There's no debate on the fact that he has nice size, and was able to use it to be a very proficient rebounder, particularly on the offensive end. Another issue that scouts can agree on is his ability to score with the basketball, although a bit concerning is the fact that his three point percentage dropped from 45% to 29%. This is mostly due to the fact that he was the focal point of the Butler offense, and there was heavy perimeter defense on him at all times. At the next level, he'll be more of a complimentary player, which should allow for that percentage to be much higher. He improved on his shooting inside of the three point line, and although he doesn't take the basketball to the hoop incredibly often, he has the body control to have some success when he wants to. Also, his lack of ability to score in the post enables defenses to put smaller, quicker defenders on him that are able to smother him on the perimeter, without fear of being beaten off the dribble.

Hayward is going to have a very different role at the next level than the one he has played for Butler. He won't be asked to be the primary scorer, but rather a complimentary option. He's a smart kid and is very coachable, which is always nice to have in a young player. He absolutely needs to increase his strength, because at this point it will be very difficult for him to defend at the next level with his lack of strength and lateral quickness. If he can improve in these areas, to the point where he is not a defensive liability, he should be able to contribute plenty of perimeter scoring at the next level.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 33.5 MPG 15.5 PPG 8.2 RPG 1.7 APG 46.4 FG%

Article Links

Hayward after Final 4 Win

Video Links

Hayward Highlights vs. Ohio State

#20 Daniel Orton

C, Kentucky Wildcats

Born August 6, 1990 > Draft Day Age=19.9

Ht./Wt...6-10/255

Composite Review...

Unlike nearly all of the other players in this draft, Orton isn't coming off a season where he piled up ridiculous numbers and found himself as a weekly fixture on SportsCenter. Actually, Orton played just 13.2 minutes per game. He averaged an underwhelming 3.4 PPG and 3.3 RPG, but Orton doesn't have his name in for the 2010 draft because of his numbers this past season. He has an excellent body, standing at 6-10, with nice strength and an excellent wingspan. Although he wasn't asked to do much at all offensively, he did show an ability to successfully get position in the post, and was able to finish nicely around the basket. One the defensive end, he's a force, as his strong, wide frame make him to difficult to back down in the post. Also, his length allows him to be an excellent shot blocker and shot alterer, as evidenced by his 53 blocks in limited action this past season (4 blocks per 40 minutes).

Obviously it's going to be very hard to project what Orton really is, and he'll be drafted primarily on potential, not what he is now. You have to wonder about his left knee, which he injured his senior year of high school, and then wasn't extensively challenged in his time at Kentucky. It's unknown just what he can be offensively, especially considering how little he was involved in the offense this past year. At 6-10, he's just a bit undersized as a center, but his lack of lateral quickness, particularly when guarding on the perimeter, has him likely locked in as a 5 at the next level. Some people may find it a bit curious that he's declared, but he's obviously gained enough interest from teams for him to keep his name in. Orton is a project at this point, but all the physical tools are there for him to find success at the NBA level.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 13.2 MPG 3.4 PPG 3.3 RPG 0.4 APG 52.7 FG%

Article Links

Orton Shatters Backboard in HS

Video Links

2009 High School Highlights

#21 Paul George

SF/PF, Fresno State Bulldogs

Born May 2, 1990 > Draft Day Age=20.1

Ht./Wt...6-8/210

Composite Review...

George made strides in nearly all aspects of his game in his sophomore season, prompting him to forgo his final 2 years and enter the draft. The Palmdale, CA native averaged 16.8 PPG to go along with 7.2 RPG. He's a long, athletic player that runs the floor well, and finishes nicely around the basket. Offensively, he lacks a real great ability to create his own shot, limited by his average ball handling skills. He relies a lot on his 3 point shot, evidenced by his 5.8 3 point attempts per game. He shot a respectable 35%, but this was down drastically from his 45% his freshman year. Although the 3 point percentage isn't encouraging, he did just the opposite with his free throw percentage. Shooting just below 70% his freshman year, George increased that number all the way up to 91% in his second year, increasing from 3.9 to 4.5 attempts per game as well. He's got a very nice shot, and is definitely more comfortable in spot up situations rather than shooting off the dribble.

He definitely needs to get to the line more, allowing him to utilize his high efficiency at the charity stripe. Once he improves his ability to create his own shot, he'll likely be able to draw more contact and get to the line at a higher rate. Defensively, he projects to be a good player in the end, because he has all the physical tools that you would want in a great defender. He hasn't really put it all together yet, but it should be a strength of his in the future. A concern that some scouts have had is regarding George's on court effort. Sometime it appears he's just going through the motions, lacking intensity. He'll need to improve upon that if he wants to be successful at the next level, but all the tools are there for him to be a nice wing player in a few years.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 33.2 MPG 16.8 PPG 7.2 RPG 3.0 APG 42.4 FG%

Article Links

Fresno State Official Bio

Video Links

Paul George Fresno State Highlights

Paul George Steal and Dunk

#22 Solomon Alabi
C, Florida State Seminoles
Born March 21, 1988 > Draft Day Age=22.3
Ht./Wt...7-1/251

Composite Review...

In Alabi, we have another prospect that is physically exactly what NBA teams are looking for. He's 7-1, 251 pounds, and very long and athletic. He's got an excellent wingspan, ideal to defend the hoop at the next level. At 251 pounds, he's added weight during his time at Florida State, but he'll need to continue to do so at the next level. Offensively, he has shown that he has nice touch on short to mid range jumpers, something many players his size don't have. When receiving the ball in the post, he offers a nice big target, but needs to improve on his moves once he gets the basketball. He's got a nice over the shoulder shot, but at times seems a bit mechanical with the basketball. He's still inconsistent and unpolished, but he's shown flashes of being very adequate offensively. His size allows him to be an excellent offensive rebounder and good finisher around the basket, but at times he seems to rely a bit too much on his height and size, something that could pose a problem when be guarded by the larger and more powerful defenders he'll face in the NBA.

As mentioned earlier, Alabi needs to continue to bulk up, but with the progress that he's made in his 2 years at Florida State, it seems he should be able to do this. He's got the physical tools to eventually be an excellent defender, but it's still a work in progress. He needs to improve on his defensive rebounding as well, averaging under 4 defensive rebounds per game. He's going to struggle with guarding a defender that can pull him out towards the perimeter, as he lacks the quickness to guard on the dribble successfully. Whatever team takes him will understand that he's a project and will likely need a few years to develop, but could develop into a very nice force, especially defensively, for years to come.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 25.6 MPG 11.7 PPG 6.2 RPG 0.5 APG 53.4 FG%

Article Links

Seminole Sports Magazine Feature on Alabi

Video Links

Alabi After Win Over Boston College

#23 Eric Bledsoe

PG/SG, Kentucky Wildcats

Born October 23, 1990 > Draft Day Age=19.8

Ht./Wt...6-1/190

Composite Review...

Bledsoe, one of five Kentucky Wildcat's projected to go in the first round, was recruited by Kentucky as a freshman, but due to phenom John Wall manning the position, moved over to the 2 and played alongside Wall. Playing out of position and in a complimentary role in the Kentucky offense, Bledsoe rarely got the chance to showcase all of his talent. He's an excellent athlete, with an explosive first step. He's most dangerous when he has the ball and is out in space, able to utilize his aforementioned athletic ability. He's got the ability to finish with both hands, and, when he chooses to, is able to use his upper body strength to effectively absorb contact. He only attempted 3.3 free throws per game, leading some scouts to believe he shied away from contact a bit more often than he should have. He shot a solid 39% from behind the arc, showing his stroke off in the NCAA tournament when he hit 8 three pointers against East Tennessee State.

One of the primary issues with Bledsoe is his carelessness with the basketball. He averaged 3 turnovers per game, a higher total than his assists per game. The turnovers are generated by a few weaknesses: he tends to dribble with his head down sometimes, leading to him getting into situations where he commits turnovers. He also gets caught in the air a lot, causing him to make a sloppy pass or not be able to find anyone at all. He's had some huge performances, but also some games where he hasn't shown up, raising concerns about how consistent he can be. He's been all over draft boards, ranging from a lottery pick to early 2nd round. More than likely, someone will fall in love with his point guard potential and he'll go somewhere in the middle of the first round.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 30.3 MPG 11.3 PPG 3.1 RPG 2.9 APG 46.2 FG%

Article Links

Video Links

The Best of Eric Bledsoe

1 on 1 with Eric Bledsoe

#32 Gani Lawal

PF, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Born November 7, 1988 > Draft Day Age=21.7

Ht./Wt...6-9/234

Composite Review...

After going through the draft process last year, Lawal decided to return to Georgia Tech for his junior year to continue to work on his game. He saw many of his totals drop, due to the arrival of freshman star Derrick Favors, but still had a very solid all around year. Offensively, he still lacks a lot of polish, but he has made progress. He's most comfortable with his back to the basket, and although is post moves aren't great, he's been able to use good instincts and excellent athletic ability to get by thus far. He's got a solid turn around jumper, perhaps at some point being able to develop a mid range jumper as well. His main asset is his athleticism. It allows him to be an excellent defender in the post, and a very good rebounder on both the offensive and defensive end.

He's been able to get to the free throw line quite a bit (6.2 attempts per game), however he only converted on 52.9% of those attempts, a number that you would surely like to see improve. He's going to need to improve his offensive game as a whole at the next level, as he's just a bit raw overall at this point. Defensively, he needs to improve on his defense outside of the post. At this time, he would likely struggle when forced to defend a Power Forward that was able to extend the floor and play around the perimeter. One number that jumps out when looking at his statistics is he abysmally low assist total. In his 3 years at Georgia Tech, he's totaled just 43 assists, and averaged just .4 per game this past season. His court vision will need to improve, and he'll need to be less of a black hole when the ball is given to him in the post. Depending on how much development he has left, he profiles as somewhere between an above average starter and role player.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 25.8 MPG 13.1 PPG 8.4 RPG 0.4 APG 52.9 FG%

Article Links

ACC All Access: Gani Lawal

Video Links

09 Pre-Draft Interview

#34 Miroslav Raduljica

C, KK FMP Zeleznik (International)

Born January 5, 1988 > Draft Day Age=22.5

Ht./Wt...7-0/230

Composite Review...

One of the top European players with his name in the draft, Raduljica is your classic back to the basket center, but also adds a solid mid range game as well. He's a strong, physical player that uses his size and strength to establish position, and is able to use a number of solid, continually improving moves to score the basketball. As was mentioned, he's got a solid shot as well, and his above average mechanics and high free throw percentage (78.2%) indicate this could be an area that will continue to improve. He's not an excellent athlete by any stretch of imagination, but for his size, he can get up and down the court well. It's been reported he's gained too much weight, decreasing his mobility and hurting his athleticism.

Offensively, he's struggled when facing larger players or significantly better athletes, and he will obviously see a handful of both once he arrives in the NBA. The primary weakness in Miroslav's game is his defense. Despite being a seven footer, he doesn't pile up blocks (just .3 per game) and hasn't been very impressive altering opponent's shots. Despite having good footwork on the offensive end, the same cannot be said about his game defensively. He's also not an excellent rebounder, and sometimes seems slow and sluggish when going for the ball.

Recently, Raduljica blew off a number of NBA scouts who had come to see him, which is surely going to hurt his draft status. It's unknown just how interested he is in coming to the NBA or if his contract requires a buyout, meaning their could be enough unknowns surrounding him to cause him to fall in the draft.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 26.6 MPG 13.7 PPG 6.4 RPG 1.1 APG 57.6 FG%

Article Links

Video Links

Serbia vs. Spain 2009

#37 Greivis Vasquez

PG, Maryland Terrapins

Born January 16, 1987 > Draft Day Age=23.4

Ht./Wt...6-6/200

Composite Review...

Named the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, Vasquez is one of the most unique players in this draft. After contemplating leaving after his junior year, he returned to lead the Terps to a 24-9 record and a share of the ACC Title. A lot of Vasquez's positives lie in his intangibles. He's an impressive player, a natural scorer and fearless leader. He plays with a competitiveness and confidence level that can be matched by none, and seemed to will Maryland to many victories throughout his collegiate career. He's strongest with the ball in his hands, as he is able to create his own shot, but also displays the court vision and awareness to get nice looks for his teammates. He's got a nice three point shot (shot 36% this past season), and is also very solid from the free throw line (85.7% in 09-10).

Greivis is being lumped into the category of "College star whose game likely can't transition to the NBA" by many scouts, and rightfully so. He's not a great athlete, which was exploited at times at the collegiate level, leading one to believe it could be exploited even further at the next level. He's got excellent size for a point guard, but it's debatable as to whether or not he'll have to switch to the 2. He's a natural scorer, but often seems to be out of control and wild, lacking good decision making skills with the basketball. He's lacks lateral quickness, making him a bit of a defense liability when guarding quicker players. He also needs to bulk up to prepare for the physical style of play that is today's NBA.

Vasquez is a real wild card in this year's draft. Reportedly, he's been having some very promising workouts, so he really could go anywhere on June 24th. He's got a lot of qualities that you just can't teach, but at the same time has quite a few limitations that might scare teams away. Definitely one of the "Boom or Bust" prospects of the 2010 Draft.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 33.9 MPG 19.6 PPG 4.6 RPG 6.3 APG 42.9 FG%

Article Links

University of Maryland Official Bio

Vasquez named ACC Player of the Year

Video Links

The Story of Greivis Vasquez

Vasquez ACC Highlights

Kings.com Predraft Interview

#48 Luke Harangody

SF/PF, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Born January 1, 1988 > Draft Day Age=22.5

Ht./Wt...6-8/246

Composite Review...

Harangody, a 3 time All Big East player, has been the big man on campus for Notre Dame the past 3 seasons, and the time has come for him to try to transition his game to the NBA. An extremely hard worker and competitor, Harangody is a no doubt natural scorer. He's crafty around the basket, and always seems to find a way to finish. He absorbs contact well, and when he gets to the line, does an above average job of converting (78.7% this past season). He's got a decent mid range jump shot, and even hit on 30.9% of his 3 point attempts this past season. He's got good rebounding fundamentals, and often times is simply able to outwork his opponents for the basketball.

His biggest drawback is obviously physically. At 6-8 (and that might be a little generous), he's very undersized to play the 4 at the NBA level, but doesn't have the athleticism to play the 3. Defensively, power forwards won't have trouble shooting over him, while small forwards should have no trouble dribbling by him. Offensively, despite having a decent shot, it's far too inconsistent for him to regularly be manning the perimeter. The fact of the matter is, he truly is without a position at the next level. His work ethic will never be questioned, and he might have enough in him to somehow make his game work at the next level, but his lack of overall height and athleticism are going to surely limit what kind of impact he can have.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 33.0 MPG 21.8 PPG 9.1 RPG 1.6 APG 48.1 FG%

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