Archive - May 2012 - Article

Damian LillardFew college hoops fans had heard of Weber State's Damian Lillard coming into the season.

Playing for Mid Major Weber State (Ogden, UT), he received a medical redshirt after injuring his foot nine games into last season.

Wednesday’s NBA Draft Lottery was seen as a contest for the rights to draft Kentucky big man Anthony Davis. That right ended up going to the biggest winner of the night, the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets, however, were far from the only team that was happy at the end of the night. So, who were the biggest winners and losers from the lottery?

Winners:

The 2012 draft lottery will be held on May 30th at 8 PM ET. Here is a look at the lottery teams and their odds of winning.

Manu GinobiliLast season, the San Antonio Spurs were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies. With that disappointing loss, people began questioning if the Spurs were too old and if a core of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker was capable of taking the Spurs to a title anymore. While the Spurs were answering questions about their advanced age, the Oklahoma City Thunder were answering questions about their youth.

Prior to the 2007-2008 season, the Boston Celtics constructed a “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Paired with young point guard Rajon Rondo, they went on to win a championship and five straight division titles. Little did they know they were laying the groundwork for the Miami HEAT and Pat Riley to build a “Big Three” of their own a few years later. Now, the Celtics trio is battling age and injury while taking a back seat to Rondo.

The small forward field is filled with valuable complimentary pieces that can add balance to an uneven unit. Nobody on this list necessarily has superstar potential, but many are capable of earning long-term starting roles or holding significant reserve responsibilities. Small forwards are generally the most versatile athletes in the sport, and that's certainly the case with a number of the following prospects. Here are our top ten small forwards who've declared for 2012.

1. Harrison Barnes 6-8 223 SF UNC

Terrance Henry is a senior from The University of Mississippi. Henry started 82 games for the Rebels during his career and had averages of 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team his senior year and was also invited to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April. Henry showcased his skills and helped his team win the tournament Championship. Henry isn’t a household name but he has the skills and intangibles to make a name for himself at the next level. We recently got a chance to talk with Terrance

The shooting guard field is a strong one, with all ten (eleven) of these guys capable of drawing first round interest. Last year the only 2-guards who went first round were Klay Thompson, Alec Burks, Iman Shumpert and Marshon Brooks. This year it wouldn't be a surprise to see the six 2s go top 20. Here are our ten best shooting guards who have declared in 2012.

Euro Final Four

Istanbul was my 7th European Final Four in 8 years (Moscow, Athens, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona) having only missed Prague. Complete with an incredible comeback and game winning shot, this year was easily the most exciting and memorable, with only Athens coming close.