NBA Draft Home 

Updated June 23, 2010

Be sure to browse our most popular area, the -Top 50 Prospects- further down this page,

for our latest prospect rankings, player reports, and article links.

DA's NBA Draft Updates 

6/23/10... The Official Draft Order has been updated.

6/23/10... Adam Wolff has posted his 2010 NBA Mock Draft. Check it out here !

6/22/10... The Official Draft Order has been updated.

6/21/10... The Official Draft Order has been updated.

6/15/10... Profile for Prospect #34 Miroslav Raduljica and #48 Luke Harangody have been added.

6/10/10... Profile for Prospect #32 Gani Lawal and Prospect #37 Greivis Vasquez have been added.

6/09/10... Profile for Prospect #23 Eric Bledsoe has been added.

NBA Draft News 

6-24-10 // The Wizards have reportedly acquired Kirk Hinrich and the #17 overall pick from the Chicago Bulls

6-23-10 // The Miami Heat have traded their 18th pick and Daequan Cook to the Thunder for their #32 pick

6-22-10 // The Bucks have acquired Corey Maggette and a 2nd round pick from the Grizzlies

6-22-10 // ESPN's Andy Katz reports the Timberwolves and Grizzlies have swapped first round picks

6-22-10 // Wizards Insider Michael Lee reports the Wizards are trying to acquire at least one more pick in Thursday's draft

6-21-10 // KUathletics.com got the chance to catch up with Cole Aldrich and discuss the draft

6-21-10 // Ryne Eberle wrote an article for BleacherReport.com discussing the Warriors choosing between Al-Farouq Aminu and Greg Monroe

6-21-10 // According to an article in the Canadian Press, the Bobcats are interested in purchasing or making a trade to obtain additional picks

6-21-10 // SBnation.com's Andrew Sharp takes a closer look at likely #1 pick John Wall

6-21-10 // Per ProBasketballTalk.com, the Blazers and Warriors have swapped 2nd round selections

6-18-10 // An official Sixers website advertises that they plan to draft Evan Turner

6-15-10 // Wesley Johnson was in Minnesota today and wowed those he worked out for. Chad Ford tweets that he is a lock to go #4

6-15-10 // ProjectSpurs.com's Jeff Garcia says the Spurs are looking to move up in the draft, possibly to get UNC's Ed Davis

6-15-10 // Kurt Helin at Pro Basketball Talk details the number of prospects that are refusing to work out for the Grizzlies

6-15-10 // Yahoo! Sports is hearing rumors of the Pistons trying to move up to grab Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins

6-14-10 // Multiple sources reporting that Wesley Johnson is likely to go #4 to the Timberwolves

6-14-10 // Wizards reporter Michael Lee tweets that Evan Turner turned down the Wizards request to workout for the team

6-14-10 // ESPN's Chad Ford blogs about the possibility of the Nuggets looking to move up in the draft

6-13-10 // Chad Ford tweets that Texas' Avery Bradley has sprained his ankle and it has ended his workouts

6-10-10 // NBA.com informs us about the last mass team/players workout being held in New Jersey

6-09-10 // An interesting article on FortWayne.com's website discusses how the NBA Draft should be a bit more like the MLB Draft

6-09-10 // Steve Kyler from Hoops World gives us an update on who's stock is rising and who's stock is falling in anticipation for this year's draft

6-07-10 // A new article on BleacherReport.com details the impressions some of the top prospects have made recently

6-07-10 // Michael Lee of the Washington Post answers questions regarding John Wall and the Wizards draft plans in a Live Q&A session

6-06-10 // DeAnte Mitchell of BleacherReport.com gives his thoughts on possible draft day trades

6-06-10 // DraftExpress.com conducted an interview and workout with possible #1 pick John Wall

6-06-10 // Bleacher Report contributor Ryan Smith considers the possibility of the Minnesota Timberwolves involving 09 pick Ricky Rubio in a draft day trade

6-04-10 // RotoWorld reports that Kevin Seraphin has injured his knee and will be sidelined for a few weeks

6-04-10 // International forward Donatas Motiejunas has decided to withdrawal his name from the draft

6-04-10 // The South Florida Sun Sentinal reports that the Heat have turned their focus on point guards with their Friday workout session

6-04-10 // John Wall discusses playing for the Wizards and the dream of going #1 overall in this WashingtonPost.com article

6-03-10 // BleacherReport's Matthew Brown takes a look at the possibility of Evan Turner going #1 and how he would fit in Washington

6-03-10 // Allen Levin of BleacherReport.com gives his view on the top 10 most overrated prospects of this year's draft

6-01/10 // OregonLive.com's Blazers Blog discusses Syracuse's Andy Rautins journey towards getting drafted

5-29-10 // A new article on BleacherReport.com previews the top 10 riskiest picks in this year's draft

5-28-10 // The Associated Press' John Marshall looks at the possibility of many early entry players going undrafted

5-23-10 // Derek Bodner of SBNation.com reports on DeMarcus Cousins at the NBA Draft Combine

5-23-10 // From ProBasketballTalk.com, Matt Moore takes a look at the prospect of teams trading their top picks

5-21-10 // Ryan Feldman of the Hoops Report reports News and Notes from the last few days of the NBA Draft Combine

5-20-10 // CSNPhilly.com's Dei Lynam reports John Wall and Evan Turner are each stating their case at the NBA Draft Combine

5-20-10 // Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News discusses the Nets falling to 3rd in the draft and the Wizards unlikely jump to #1

5-18-10 // HoopsWorld.com previews tonight's NBA Draft Lottery

5-18-10 // New York Time's Howard Beck takes a look at tonight's Draft Lottery and discusses the possibility of draft day trades

5-17-10 // Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News presents the cases for John Wall and Evan Turner to be the number one pick in the draft

5-17-10 // Fanhouse.com does a feature highlighting some of the frequently asked questions regarding the NBA Draft Lottery

5-15-10 // The Bellingham Herald discusses some top draft prospects with Nets President Rod Thorn 

5-15-10 // HoopsWorld.com details the draft picks that have been traded for the upcoming draft

5-14-10 // Pistons.com teamed up with various team writers to  preview the upcoming Draft Lottery

5-14-10 // NBADraft.net's Aran Smith does an early entry breakdown on those players who left their name in for the draft

5-13-10 // DraftExpress.com does a feature on draft prospects Jerome Jordan and Jarvis Varnado.

5-12-10 // BleacherReport.com's DeAnte Mitchell reports on some possible draft day steals.

5-11/10 // The NBA released the list of early entry players who have withdrawn their name from the 2010 draft.

5-11-10 // DraftExpress.com's Jonathan Givony discusses French Phenom Kevin Seraphin and his future basketball options.

5-11-10 // After testing the NBA waters, BYU's Jimmer Fredette will return for his senior season

5-11-10 // NJ.com's Dave D'Allesandro analyses the multiple options the Nets will have based on how the lottery treats them

4-17-10 / / Hoya's Sophomore Greg Monroe has declared for the draft, from ESPN

4-13-10 / / Baylor PF Ekpe Udoh has declared for the draft, via ESPN

4-12-10 / / ESPN tells us UNC Sophomore Ed Davis has declared for the draft.

4-12-10 / / Syracuse' Wesley Johnson has declared for the draft, per NY Times.

4-12-10 / / ESPN reports that West Virginia's Devin Ebanks will enter the draft.

4-9-10 / / Georgia Tech Freshman Derrick Favors to leave after one season, says ESPN

4-7-10 / /  ESPN shares that five Kentucky freshman declare for the draft.

4-7-10 / /  NYDailyNews.com gives us the heads up that one-and-done Cincinnati star Lance Stephenson is NBA Draft-bound.

4-7-10 / /  USAToday.com tells us that Kansas' Xavier Henry has declared for this June's Draft.

4-7-10 / /  Evan Turner declares for the draft, via ESPN.

4-7-10 / /  DetNews.com tells us that Xavier guard Jordan Crawford has declared for the draft.

4-3-10 / /  The AP reports that Georgia Tech junior forward Gani Lawal has made it clear that he will enter the draft.

3-29-10 / /  ESPN informs us that 6-11 Kansas Jayhawks junior center -Cole Aldrich- declared for the draft.


Our NBA Draft Staff:

Adam Wolff- NBA Draft Editor

Email: AdamWolff@DraftAmerica.com

J.D. Jackson- Writer
Email: JDJackson@DraftAmerica.com

Michael Seff- Publisher
Email: Michaelseff@DraftAmerica.com 

2010 NBA Draft Order 

1st Round...     

1 - Washington Wizards
2 - Philadelphia 76ers
3 - New Jersey Nets
4 - Minnesota Timberwolves
5 - Sacramento Kings
6 - Golden State Warriors
7 - Detroit Pistons 
8 - LA Clippers 
9 - Utah Jazz(1)
10 - Indiana Pacers 
11 - New Orleans Hornets 
12 - Toronto Raptors 
13 - Memphis Grizzlies 
14 - Houston Rockets 
15 - Milwaukee Bucks(2)
16 - Memphis Grizzlies(3)
17 - Chicago Bulls(4)
18 - Oklahoma City(11)
19 - Boston Celtics
20 - San Antonio Spurs
21 - Oklahoma City Thunder
22 - Portland Trailblazers
23 - Minnesota Timberwolves(5)
24 - Atlanta Hawks
25 - Minnesota Timberwolves(6)
26 - Oklahoma City Thunder(7)
27 - New Jersey Nets(8)
28 - Minnesota Timberwolves(9)
29 - Orlando Magic
30 - Washington Wizards (10)



(1) Acquired from New York via Phoenix 
(2) Acquired from Chicago
(3) Acquired from Denver via Minnesota
(4) Acquired from Milwaukee
(5) Acquired from Philadelphia via Utah
(6) Acquired from Denver via Memphis
(7) Acquired from Phoenix
(8) Acquired from Dallas
(9) Acquired from LA Lakers via Memphis
(10)Acquired from Cleveland
(11)Acquired from Miami

2nd Round...  

31 - New Jersey Nets
32 - Miami Heat(1)
33 - Sacramento Kings
34 - Portland Trailblazers(16)
35 - Washington Wizards
36 - Detroit Pistons
37 - Milwaukee Bucks(2)
38 - New York Knicks
39 - New York Knicks(3)
40 - Indiana Pacers
41 - Miami Heat(4)
42 - Miami Heat(5)
43 - LA Lakers(6)
44 - Milwaukee Bucks(7)
45 - Minnesota Timberwolves(8)
46 - Phoenix Suns(9)
47 - Milwaukee Bucks
48 - Miami Heat
49 - San Antonio Spurts
50 - Dallas Mavericks(10)
51 - Oklahoma City(11)
52 - Boston Celtics
53 - Atlanta Hawks
54 - LA Clippers(12)
55 - Utah Jazz
56 - Minnesota Timberwolves(13)
57 - Dallas Mavericks(14)
58 - LA Lakers
59 - Orlando Magic
60 - Phoenix Suns(15)


(1) Acquired from Minnesota via Miami
(2) Acquired from Philadelphia
(3) Acquired from Denver via LA Clippers
(4) Acquired from New Orleans
(5) Acquired from Toronto
(6) Acquired from Memphis
(7) Acquired from Chicago via Golden State
(8) Acquired from Houston
(9) Acquired from Charlotte
(10) Acquired from Oklahoma City
(11) Acquired from Dallas and Minnesota via Portland
(12) Acquired from Denver
(13) Acquired from Phoenix
(14) Pick may be conveyed to Indiana
(15) Acquired from Cleveland
(16) Acquired from Golden State


 Top 50 Prospects

Updated June 15, 2010 

Our rankings are based on data gathered from the industry's best sources and combined into a composite overview.

Players noted in blue indicates that their detailed profile is listed further down the page...so simply click on the player's link to go there.


Latest Rankings

26 > Kevin Seraphin, PF, France
27 > Avery Bradley, SG, Texas
28 > Elliot Williams, SG, Memphis
29 > Dominique Jones, PG/SG, South Florida
30 > Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington
31 > Devin Ebanks, SF/PF, West Virginia
32 > Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech
33 > Terrico White, PG/SG, Xavier
34 > Miroslav Raduljica, C, KK FMP Zeleznik (International)
35 > Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier
36 > Armon Johnson, PG/SG, Nevada
37 > Greivis Vasquez, PG, Maryland
38 > Jarvis Varnado, PF, Mississippi State
39 > Craig Brackins, PF/C, Iowa State
40 > Lance Stephenson, SG, Cincinnati
41 > Trevor Booker, PF, Clemson
42 > Art Parakhouski, C, Radford
43 > Nemanja Bjelica, SF, Serbia
44 > Sherron Collins, PG, Kansas
45 > Jerome Jordan, C, Tulsa
46 > Darington Hobson, SF, New Mexico
47 > Alexey Shved, PG, Russia
48 > Luke Harangody, PF, Notre Dame
49 > Paulo Prestes, PF/C, Brazil
50 > Dexter Pitman, C, Texas
#1 John Wall
PG, Kentucky Wildcats
Born Sep. 6, 1990 > Draft Day Age = 19.8
Ht./Wt... 6-4/195
 
Composite Review...
 
Wall is regarded in basically all draft circles as the first name that should go off the board this June. Physically, he brings it all to the table: athletic, versatile, strong, and excellent size for a pure point guard. ESPN's Chad Ford calls him "Derrick Rose meets Jason Kidd". He manuevers through the defense with excellent body control and ball handling skills, coupled with the court vision of an NBA veteran. What do all of the top NBA point guards have in common? The ability to balance scoring and distributing of the basketball, something Wall excels at.  Up to this point in the season, he has averaged 17.0 PPG, to go along with 6.5 AST and a very respectable 4.1 RPG.  Intangibly, Wall is described as a winner, who brings intensity and leadership to the court with him every game. His intensity carries over into his defensive play, where he is able to use his size and quickness to suffocate opponents.

The list of weaknesses that John Wall has is significantly shorter than his strengths, and could even possibly be considered to be nitpicking a bit.  He can at times be a bit of an inconsistent shooter, and his 3 point shooting could surely improve.  However, the primary part of his game that could use work is his propensity for turning the ball over.  He had 8 games with at least 6 turnovers, and averaged 4.0 per game for the season. With the laundry list of skills he possesses, it would be hard to imagine him not improving in this area as he continues to develop.

Wall is premium talent. You can bet that all the teams with ping pong balls in the lottery will be hoping to land the top pick, because there won't be any doubt about which name David Stern will be calling. The scary thing is, he will still be a teenager on draft day, meaning there is no reason not to believe that the best of John Wall is still ahead of him.
  

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 34.8 MPG 16.6 PPG 4.3 RPG 6.5 APG 46.1 FG%

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#2 Evan Turner
 SG/SF, Ohio State Buckeyes
Born October 17, 1988 > Draft Day Age=21.8
Ht./Wt...6-7/205
 
Composite Review...
 
Whichever team that misses out on the John Wall sweepstakes with the 2nd pick will find a nice consolation prize in Evan Turner.  Like Wall, Turner's strengths are far more evident than his flaws, boasting a very impressive all around skill set.  He could be considered the most NBA ready player in the draft, one who should have an immediate impact for whichever team he goes to.  He posted one of the most impressive stat lines in the NCAA this season, with 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 6.0 AST.  He's a very versatile player that will play as a 2 or 3 at the next level primarily, but can see the floor and create for his teammates enough to handle running the point.  Turner is a player who can dominate in multiple facets of the game, whether it be in transition or in the half court offense, using his ability to change speeds and control his body to keep defenders off balance.  He has the ability to create his own shots, as well as create for his teammates, making him very dangerous when manuevering in traffic. On the defensive end, he can guard a variety of different players, using his size to make things uncomfortable for smaller guards, but also being able to get physical with players his size or larger.
 
Evan's turnovers per game increased from 3.5 per game his sophomore year to 4.4 per game this season, and while that isn't an encouraging trend, it probably has a lot to do with him being asked to have the ball in his hands so much.  Like Wall, he could stand to improve his 3 point shooting, but at this point it doesn't seem to be a huge part of his game (attempting less than two 3's per game).  At a 75.8% FT shooter, he could also improve in that area, better utilizing his great ability to get to the line. He seems to also rely a bit heavily on creating his own shots, rather than shooting off the pass. His lack of 3 point shooting and shooting off the pass have not hurt him yet, but can be noted as areas of improvement for Evan.
 
Turner appears to be a very well rounded, versatile player that is one of the most polished in the 2010 class. A high character, team player sort of competitor, he seems poised to make one lucky team not regret calling his number of draft day.

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 35.8 MPG 20.4 PPG 9.2 RPG 6.0 APG 51.9 FG%

#3 DeMarcus Cousins

C, Kentucky Wildcats
Born August 13, 1990 > Draft Day Age=19.8
Ht./Wt...6-11/270
 
Composite Review...
 
DeMarcus Cousins was one of the most physically imposing players in college basketball in 2010, often times looking like a man amongst boys.  Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighing in at 270 pounds, there is no doubt that physically Cousins has what it takes to succeed at the next level. Playing just 23.5 minutes per game, he still managed to average 15.1 PPG and 9.8 RPG.  For good measures, he also tossed in a steal per game as well as just under 2 blocks per game.  He's a natural scorer with the ability to establish position in the post essentially whenever he wants to. With the ball, he shows confidence and the ability to score facing up as well as with his back to the basket.  He's able to create his own shot in the paint, and shows nice footwork and finishing ability around the hoop. For a player with a body like his, he is surprisingly solid at putting the ball on the floor, as well as pulling up for a jump shot. This ability can allow him to base his offensive game plan on who is defending him, using his size and strength to control a smaller player, while using his perimeter saavy to exploit a larger player. Defensively he's a big body with nice shot blocking skills, but his fundamentals, and at times his effort, are questioned.
 
DeMarcus will probably go as far as DeMarcus wants to.  Plenty of questions have arisen about his intelligence and maturity.  Occasionally he has appeared to look frustrated and give up, or just look lazy at times.  His attitude on and off the court could serve a cause for concern for teams on draft day. Sometimes he has looked selfish and out of control on the court, which could be an issue of maturity, or possibly just forcing the issue because of pressure to be a top draft pick, but either way, Cousins isn't without his red flags. Still just a teenager come draft day, it'll be up to each team to decide for themselves whether he's the next top notch center, or the next lottery bust with a poor attitude.
 
--Adam Wolff
 

2010 Stats: 23.5 MPG 15.1 PPG 9.8 RPG 1.0 APG 55.8 FG%

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#4 Derrick Favors

PF, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Born July 15, 1991 > Draft Day Age=18.9
Ht./Wt...6-10/246
 
Composite Review...
 
Considered by many the #1 player from the 2009 high school class, Favors Freshman season is a bit difficult to intepret.  Based on his strengths and weaknesses, the system at Georgia Tech wasn't the most conducive to his success, offering very little perimeter action, allowing defenders to smother him and teammate Gani Lawal.  That said, Favors still averaged a respectable 12.4 PPG, 8.4RPG, and 2.1BPG.  He would benefit from a team with a strong point guard, as he lacks a real natural ability to the put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. However, he has very soft hands and touch around the basket.  He's long and athletic, resulting in him being able to rebound very well, as well as contest many shots.  He's already fundamentally very solid on the defensive end, and all signs point to him being able to be an elite defender in the future.
 
The ability is all here.  Favors is young for his class, and will be drafted as an 18 year old.  This means he will be one of the more raw players in the draft, especially offensively, but the potential is really unlimited here.  The nice thing about Favors is that he isn't going to hurt whoever drafts him, because while his offensive game continues to progress, he will be able to make it up with is already advanced defensive skills. Also, he's a hard working, active player, which is exactly what every head coach hopes to get with an 18 year old draft pick.
 
--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 27.5 MPG 12.4 PPG 8.4 RPG 1.0 APG 61.1 FG%

#5 Wesley Johnson
SF, Syracuse Orange
Born July 11, 1987 > Draft Day Age=22.9
Ht./Wt...6-7/205

Composite Review...

No one in the country should be more happy with their decision to transfer than Wesley Johnson.  The Syracuse forward left Iowa State after his sophomore year, thus losing his junior year of eligibility, but arriving in greener pastures with the Orange.  Johnson's draft stock has arguably risen more than anyone else's this season, with him now sitting as a sure lottery pick.  The 6-7 senior 16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and added nearly 2 steals and 2 blocks per game as well.  Johnson also didn't hurt his cause by excelling in the NCAA tournament, averaging 22 points and 9.7 rebounds in the 3 games Syracuse played.  He's got the ideal body of an NBA forward: quick, athletic, and long.  He's got an excellent mid range game, and his senior year he improved upon his three point shot, although it was still a small sample size (hitting 25 of 55 attempts).  At 6-7, he's an excellent rebounder, using his above average wingspan to outreach taller players.  Defensively, he's able to use his length to contest shots.  Syracuse played primarily a zone, so he'll have to adjust at the next level, but his quickness and athleticism should make for an easy transition.

At this point, Johnson is a pretty polished player.  That is good, in that he'll likely be able to contribute right away to whichever team he falls to.  However, some scouts question how much upside he really has.  In other words, possibly what he is right now, could be about as good as he's going to get. He could stand to improve his ball handling, especially with his left hand, and his inability to create his own shots doesn't allow him to get to the foul line very often.  Still, Johnson is a versatile player that can do a lot of things well at this point, and could be the one player to make the quickest impact of all 2010 draftees. 

--Adam Wolff

2010 Stats: 35.0 MPG 16.5 PPG 8.5 RPG 2.2 APG 50.2 FG%

#6 Al-Farouq Aminu

SF/PF, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Born September 21, 1990 > Draft Day Age=19.8
Ht./Wt...6-9/215
 
Composite Review...
 
Aminu enjoyed a very nice sophomore season, putting up strong enough numbers to get his name tossed in as an almost guaranteed lottery pick, clearly enough for him to forego his final 2 seasons at Wake Forest.  He averaged 15.8 PPG to go along with a very nice 10.7 RPG.  He's an athletic, high energy, versatile player, cut in the mold of Atlanta Hawk's forward Josh Smith.  At 6-9, with the quickness he has, he has the ability to defend a wide range of players, and has shown a strong commitment to defense thus far.  He has shown a nice ability to get to the free throw line (6.4 attempts per game this past season), although you'd like to see him convert on more than the 69.8% he did this past season.  As mentioned, he is an excellent athlete and is able to use his huge wingspan to be a very good rebounder, as well as to finish strongly around the basket.  His post play has improved, and he appears to be becoming more comfortable using his body with his back to the basket than he was his freshman year.  
 
Still, Aminu is going to be a work in progress that may not be able to contribute right away to whichever team takes him on draft day.  As a shooter, he leaves a bit to be desired.  According to Synergy Sports Technology, he hit just 23% of his jump shots, which was down from 27% as a freshman.  He also doesn't offer much from behind the arc, hitting just 27.3% this season.  Until these areas of his game improve, he'll be very limited on ways he can help his team offensively.  He also isn't a very polished dribbler, often times being out of control by the time he got to the hoop, or losing the ball on the way there.  At this point, he will be best used in transition, where he can get out and run the floor and let his athleticism do the rest.  He's going to be a bit of a project, but the upside and potential are high enough that he will definitely be a top 10, if not top 5 pick come June.
 
--Adam Wolff
 

2010 Stats: 31.3 MPG 15.8 PPG 10.7 RPG 1.3 APG 44.7 FG%

#7 Ed Davis

PF, North Carolina Tar Heels
Born June 5, 1989 > Draft Day Age=21
Ht./Wt...6-10/225
 
Composite Review...
 
When most people think of Ed Davis, it's going to be difficult not to think about how much his Tar Heels underperformed this season, as well as his own season ending due to a broken wrist.  With all the hype surrounding him, it's hard not to view his sophomore season a bit of a disappointment, but he did make strides.  He averaged nearly a double double, with 12.9 PPG and 9.2 RPG, and a very impressive 2.7 BPG.  He has a nice frame that should allow for him to continue growing over the next few years.  He also has a great wingspan, which enables him to player bigger than he is, as well as provide an excellent target for teammates to get the ball to in the paint.  Defensively, he is already ready to be an asset to an NBA team, usuing his excellent length to be a force in the paint.  Despite being athletic, he isn't the quickest defender, and could have trouble defending NBA power forwards that are able to stretch the floor and work the perimeter.  Offensively, he's very raw, especially in the shooting department.  He doesn't do a great job of creating his own shot, rather gets most of his scoring by finishing around the hoop.
 
Whichever team takes Davis is going to need to understand his limitations right now.  He's probably going to have difficulty being much of a scorer right away, at least until he develops a stronger jump shot and improves his dribbling.  Still, he's a player with good character and a good work ethic, and has proved to be an excellent team player in his time at North Carolina.  If he's able to add the strength and weight that his frame seems to imply he can, that should also help him become more physical in the post, both offensively and defensively.  It's unlikely exactly how much his injury and North Carolina's disappointing season will affect his stock, but look for him to still remain a top 10 pick.
 
--Adam Wolff
 

2010 Stats: 26.9 MPG 12.9 PPG 9.2 RPG 0.9 APG 57.8 FG%

#8 Cole Aldrich

C, Kansas Jayhawks
Born October 31, 1988 > Draft Day Age=21.8
Ht./Wt...6-11/245
 
Composite Review...
 
When thinking of Cole Aldrich, it's frustrating to see the lack of progress he has made from his sophomore to junior year.  The only statistical improvement he's made has been in shot blocking, which was a very impressive 3.5 per game this past season.  His points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage all went down though, which greatly brings to question what his upside truly is.  His scoring decrease could possibly be attributed to the many aggressive scorers Kansas had this past season, but the other numbers are very disappointing for him.  Still, he projects to be a solid post player at the next level, albeit possibly as a role player.  He establishes position in the post well, and has had success scoring with his back to the basket.  He can be a very efficient player whenever shots are created for him, but he lacks a true ability to create for himself.  He's not quick, but he is your prototypical big, strong post defender.  As mentioned, he's an excellent shot blocker, and should be able to provide immediate defensive help for whichever team elects to take him.
 
Unfortunately for Cole, some teams will pass on him because the upside just really isn't there.  He projects to probably be a role player, and many teams will struggle to justify taking such a high pick on a guy with those sort of projections.  He's very limited offensively, and will need to fit in with a team that isn't expecting much from him on that side of the ball.  Even though the upside isn't there, he shouldn't be a complete flop at the next level either, which will provide some piece of mind for the team that selects him.  A this point, he's sort of an "he is what he is" sort of player, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it might cause some teams to lose interest on draft day.
 
--Adam Wolff
 

2010 Stats: 26.8 MPG 11.3 PPG 9.8 RPG 0.9 APG 56.2 FG%

#9 Greg Monroe

C, Georgetown Hoyas
Born June 4, 1990 > Draft Day Age=20
Ht./Wt...6-11/247
 
Composite Review...
 
Monroe enjoyed a very successful sophomore season at Georgetown, improving his points, rebounds, and assists per game from his freshman year.  He posted 16.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG.  The assists per game really highlights one of his strong points, and that's his court vision and passing ability for a big man.  An art many his age have not mastered, and may never master, Monroe has the rare attribute of being an excellent passing center.  At 6-11, 247 lbs., he has a nice frame, and enjoys working with his back to the basket.  He's become a more physical player in his second year, and doesn't appear to shy away from contact.  His game facing the basket isn't quite as strong, but it's not nonexistent either.  His jump shot is inconsistent and could stand improvement to keep defensive players honest when he gets the ball further from the basket.  Monroe isn't going to blow anyone away with his athleticism, but his other intangibles help to negate that some.  One of his primary weaknesses is his inability to use both hands, something that no doubt he will be forced to do at the next level. 
 
Monroe is a bit of a passive player, and will likely need to improve in the tenacity department to succeed against NBA level players.  Still, there is a lot to like about his game.  He's made nice strides from his freshman to sophomore year, and there's no reason to believe he can't continue that progress.  As mentioned, improving his ability to use his right hand will be vital, and continuing to develop his jump shot would be very advantageous.  He's got a good basketball IQ, and teammates will surely fall in love with his ability to find them on the court.  He's not the highest upside guy in the draft, but there is no reason to believe that, with proper tutelage, he can't have a nice all around game at the next level. 
 
--Adam Wolff
 

2010 Stats: 34.2 MPG 16.1 PPG 9.6 RPG 3.8 APG 52.5 FG%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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% 

#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%

#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%

#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%

#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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