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By
Kevin
Duffy
NBADraft.net
4/3/08
With an unprecedented
four No. 1 seeds, the amount of individual talent in this year’s
Final Four is at an all time high. Never before have so many big-time
NBA prospects been on display. Aside from the actual outcomes of
the games, this weekend will be huge in determining where the following
12 potential first-round picks get drafted -- and also when they
decide to declare. So without further adieu, here are the top three
prospects from each of the four Blue Bloods in this weekend’s
Final Four.
Derrick
Rose PG Memphis
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Derrick
Rose
Icon SMI |
Ever since Michael
Beasley posted his first 20/20 game, he has been considered the
clear-cut No.1 draft choice for 2008. Rose, who has been virtually
locked into the No. 2 spot all year, is playing his best basketball
to date and could make a strong push for the top spot with a dominating
performance in the Final Four. His superior end-to-end speed and
court vision make him one of the best point guard prospects to come
along in years. Add in Rose's LeBron James-esque strength and leaping
ability and the sky is truly the limit for this talented freshman.
Strong Final Four: No.
1 overall.
Weak Final Four: No.
2 overall.
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Russell
Westbrook PG UCLA
No one has improved their
stock this season as much as Westbrook. He's strong, explosive,
plays terrific defense, and has a ton of raw talent in terms of
ball handling and scoring. His ability to get out in the open floor
and fearlessly attack the basket is absolutely breathtaking. Westbrook
could use another year of college to polish his point guard skills,
but there’s something to be said for striking while the iron
is hot.
Strong Final Four: Top
10 pick in 2008.
Weak Final Four: 12-20
range
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Kevin
Love PF UCLA
There is no bigger mystery
in the draft than Love. He's dominated college basketball, but there
are questions about how well his game will translate to the NBA.
Love certainly isn't the run-jump athlete that some of the other
big men prospects are, but it's rare to find a forward with Love's
physical presence, basketball IQ and shooting range. Aside from
his skills, his stats and big name will get one team to grab him
perhaps a little earlier than it should, and sticking around Westwood
too long could expose his lack of upside some.
Strong Final Four: 8-12
range.
Weak Final Four: Late
Lottery to Mid-1st round.
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Darrell
Arthur PF Kansas
There are a few players
whose numbers suggest they'd be ranked ahead of Arthur, but the
fact that Arthur plays in such a balanced system has limited his
exposure to some extent. He is a freak athlete with a good build,
long arms, and fairly well-developed skills. Arthur may blend in
with the rest of the Jayhawks, but he is sure to “wow”
scouts and coaches in pre-draft workouts. Regardless of whether
Kansas wins it all, it is sure to lose a few players next season,
which could mean an increase in Arthur's role on offense. This could
be the deciding factor in his decision to either declare or return
to school.
Strong Final Four: 9-14
range.
Weak Final Four: 15-22
range.
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Darren
Collison
PG UCLA
Collison is perhaps the
best point guard in the nation. His long arms and quick feet make
him a lock-down defender, and he's taken strides on the offensive
end this season. The only thing keeping Collison out of the lottery
right now is his slight build (6-foot-1, 170 lbs) and perceived
lack of experience. He's had a tremendous season, answering the
bell numerous times late in the year, and of the three Bruins is
the most likely to enter the draft this year.
Strong Final Four: Late
lottery.
Weak Final Four: 15-22
range.
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Wayne
Ellington
SG North Carolina
There is no substitute
for someone who can shoot. And despite standing only 6-foot-4, Ellington
can find the bottom of the net from just about anywhere on the court.
He's not the best player on his college team (probably third when
Ty Lawson is 100 percent), but Ellington has the most pro potential
of any Tar Heel. He has been featured on NBADraft.net's 2009 mock
draft all year, until he recently found a spot at No. 25 in the
2008 mock. Whether he decides to return to school depends almost
entirely on what happens this weekend. If he shoots the ball well
and leads North Carolina to a championship, he'll certainly leave.
But should the heels go down, he may be forced to return to school
or face uncertainty about landing in the first round.
Strong Final Four: Top
20.
Weak Final Four: Bubble
1st round.
Likely Year to Declare:
2009
Joey
Dorsey PF Memphis
Calling Joey Dorsey strong
is like calling Rick Majerus slightly overweight. Dorsey is a monster
on the interior, with strength and athleticism that will intimidate
NBA centers. Dorsey's offensive skills are extremely underdeveloped,
but a player with his physical attributes make him an intriguing
prospect nonetheless. He currently sits at No. 28 on NBADraft.net's
mock draft, and that probably is as high as he will go given his
lack of offense and the depth of big men in this year's draft.
Strong Final Four: Late
1st round.
Weak Final Four: Early
2nd round.
*Senior
Tyler
Hansbrough
PF North Carolina
If Dick Vitale was the
GM of the Miami Heat, Hansbrough would be getting ready to become
a very, very rich man. Unfortunately, NBA scouts aren't as high
on Hansbrough as some college basketball analysts, but the truth
is Hansbrough will find a way into the league because he's simply
too determined not to. He'll struggle to score inside against taller,
more athletic forwards, but his jumpshot continues to progress and
Hansbrough could be a guy who makes a living off of garbage points
and 15-foot jumpers. I'd pencil him in for the 2009 draft now, but
if UNC wins it all, it wouldn't be surprising to see him pull a
Sean May and enter his name when his stock is at its peak.
Strong Final Four: Top
20
Weak Final Four: Late
1st round.
Likely Year to Declare:
2009
Ty
Lawson
PG North Carolina
Lawson is an absolute
jet at point guard. He's built like a running back and has end to
end speed that would terrorize NBA defenses if he's put into the
right system. Unfortunately, Lawson has some major flaws as well.
He is only around 5-foot-11 and has a low release point on his jumpshot,
he also shows a tendency to play out of control. While some argue
that Tony Parker gets by with some of those same flaws, Lawson isn't
nearly as creative around the basket as Parker, and as a result
he could struggle in the NBA.
Strong Final Four: 18-23
range.
Weak Final Four: Late
1st round.
Likely Year
to Declare: 2009
Chris
Douglas-Roberts
SG Memphis
CDR isn't overly explosive,
but has excellent length and can score in a variety of ways. Truthfully,
his game fits college basketball a little better than it does the
NBA, and his lack of NBA 3-point range and body strength will probably
keep him out of the first round whenever he decides to declare.
Despite his excellent shooting numbers, he benefits greatly playing
with such an outstanding set up guy as Derrick Rose. Regardless,
Douglas-Roberts is an experienced scorer who can put the ball in
the basket in many ways, and has the length to match-up with NBA
swingmen. CDR is one of those guys who does everything well, but
nothing extraordinary, but should become a solid role player at
the next level.
Strong Final Four: Late
1st to early 2nd round.
Weak Final Four: Early
to middle 2nd round (probably would return to school)
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
Mario
Chalmers
SG Kansas
Chalmers has been highly
effective all season with great quickness and range on his jumpshot.
Offensively, he's taken strides this year and he's always been a
pesky on-ball defender. The only real issue with Chalmers is his
ability to run a team. At 6-foot-2 170 pounds, he doesn't have ideal
size for an NBA shooting guard, and he lacks the playmaking skills
to be an effective lead guard at the next level. Common wisdom would
suggest Chalmers will be a second-round pick, but with an absolute
lights out performance this weekend he could sneak into the first
round.
Strong Final Four: Late
1st to early 2nd round.
Weak Final Four: Mid
to late 2nd round. (probably would return to school)
Likely Year to Declare:
2009
Brandon
Rush SG Kansas
After suffering a torn
ACL last season, Rush has bounced back nicely and been a big piece
to Kansas' Final Four run. He has an NBA body and athleticism, but
you get the feeling that he'll never grow into anything more than
a slightly above-average player. That's not such a bad thing, but
if Rush combined his physical tools with brother Kareem's jumpshot
and JaRon's (remember him) versatility, we'd be looking at a lottery
pick. Rush shows a lot of upside, but he has never proven that he
can step up in important situations and lead the Jayhawks to victory.
If he does this, he can be picked in the first round this year.
Strong Final Four: Late
1st to early 2nd round.
Weak Final Four: Early
to mid 2nd round (probably would return to school)
Likely Year to Declare:
2008
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