Some Research I did on the last 5 NBA Drafts.

Don’t you think it might have something to do with the best players wanting to play for the best teams?

Sometimes scouts only go to the games where top team are so obviously you will tend to pick a guy you know over and unknown. That is a safe way to keep your job as a GM because most of the time top 25 teams players are hyped so they are easy to keep your job.

A lot of the times with a 2nd round pick especially, NBA teams are just looking for a guy to fill a role on the team, not necessarily the guy with the most upside left on the borad and a lot of that means picking a role player from a major conference rather than a high scoring player from a mid-major. Cleveland took Danny Green from UNC, Sacremento took John Brockman, and Pheonix took Taylor Griffin because they knew they would work hard and fill that role, when you could argue there were players left on the board with more upside. I think you are right, it does take more to get noticed if you are from a smaller conference.

Thanks man, I thought it was an interesting thread. I’m too like mid-major basketball especially the MVC. I’m glad to see Anthony Tolliver making the most of his opportunity in Golden State. You are right though, I think a lot of talented mid-major guys are just going to have to do it the hard way singing on as free agents. One thing that will help your chances as a mid major player is if your team makes the NCAA tournament, I bet the number drops off down even more for players playing for mid majors that didn’t make the big dance.

I’m not too familiar with Charles Jenkins, I haven’t had a chance to see Hofstra yet this year. Just in the limited scouting I’ve done on him he is a high scoring combo guard who is really strong, but since I haven’t seen him play I don’t really know what his game is like.

No, just on my own, I’m just a big fan of college and pro basketball, and Iove the NCAA tournament and scout a lot of players and teams going in to the tournament because I enjoy knowing more about the teams and players going in, and the draft is a perfect combination of college and pro ball. Just a fan of basketball, lol

I personally think its fine the way it is, the only problem I have with the current set up is when there are a lot of upsets in the conference championships (especially the small conferences) and a lot of teams that had no chance of getting in bump out teams that probably would have had gotten an at large bit. Sure, those upset teams its a great story and whatnot, but most of the time they get thumped in the first round where the team they beat in the championship had a legit chance to upset someone. I would like there to be more emphasis placed on the NIT, I think that would address some of the problems without having to vastly expand the feild.

What are your thoughts on it?

if you go back 1 more year to 2004 you have jameer nelson and delonte west going in the first round … i think it just has to do with the more presitigous programs more consistently landing the best prospects

That St. Joes team was ranked #2 at one point in the season after winning something like 16 straight, there are exceptions, but its usually when the mid-major team either is a top 25 team or makes a run in the NCAA tournament (also see Wally Szerbiac) It just takes more for mid-major players to get noticed, but you are right about the big programs getting more prestegious prospects.