[gatorheelsParticipant]

All of these guys should be drafted in the 2nd round. Of course things happen and maybe one or two make into the 1st round. Maybe one or two don’t even get drafted. Here is a look at how they compare.

Thornton 6’3.75″ wingspan 6’5 vertical 33 agility 10.73
McNeal 6’3 wingspan 6’7.25 vertical 36.5 agility 10.61
Jermaine Taylor 6’4.75 wingspan 6’8.75 vertical 37.5 agility 11.54
McClinton 6’0.75 wingspan 6’2.5″ vertical 36.5 agility 10.44
Christmas 6’5.5 wingspan 6’9″ vertical 33.5 agility 10.83

I think the majority of teams would pick McNeal ahead of Thornton but on most of the mock drafts I’ve seen they have Thornton being picked first. Thornton may be the better shooter but McNeal is more athletic, has a bigger wingspan, and can penetrate much better. McClinton may be smaller than Thornton but he is a better athlete and better shooter and a better bal handler. Christams will able to get his shot off alot easier than Thornton, they both aren’t great athletes both are good shooters. The difference is Christmas is a lot taller with a much longer wingspan. I’m not hatin on Thornton, I like him I am just curious to why he is ahead of these other SG’s. Taylor isn’t quite as good of a shooter but he is taller with a longer wingspan and higher verticle than Thornton.

draftexpress has them being picked in this order which I just don’t understand.
Thornton
Taylor
McNeal
McClinton
Christmas

I would order them like this:
McNeal
Christmas
Taylor
McClinton
Thornton

I think all 5 get drafted in the 2nd round.

Thoughts? Predictions on where they get drafted?

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

you are crazy the only person out of that group who may even be better than marcus is jerel mcneal

athleticism and wingspan isn’t everything, and marcus plays better d than all of them and he shoots better than all of them except maybe mclinton.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Some guys are just better basketball players than others. Athleticism can only get you so far and may increase your potential, but your achievement as a player usually comes down to skill set. I think the reason people are so high on Thornton is that he is a strong shooting guard that can stroke and is willing to put in the work to get better. The process is probably like a job interview, these guys have sources, a resume and in the end it comes down to who you trust will do the best job. If athleticism were the whole thing in the case of shooting guards, than Kenny Gregory would have gone lotto.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

I know athleticism and wingspan isn’t everything. I don’t think Marcus plays better defense than all of them. Lets take a look at their college stats from last year. This should be interesting.

Thornton 32min 21pts 6reb 2ast 2TO 47%FG 75%FT 39%3pt

McClinton 32min 19pts 3reb 3ast 3TO 45%FG 89%FT 45%3pt

Taylor 32min 26pts 5reb 2ast 3TO 48%FG 81%FT 38%3pt

McNeal 35min 20pts 5reb 4ast 3TO 44%FG 74%FT 40%3pt

Christmas 35min 20pts 6reb 3ast 3TO 41%FG 75%FT 35%3pt

Pretty similar stats haha. These NBA scouts are going to have a hard to choosing between these players.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Stats only tell half the story

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Looking at stats and the combine results can tell you a lot about a player though. Granted you have to watch them play to see the little things they do well. As well as interview them to see what their attitude is like. So you guys think Thornton is the best player out of these 5?

[tkd720manParticipant]

Quite right – status only tell half the story.

For example, I’m high on McClinton because he’s not only a great shooter, he’s a great scorer who CREATES HIS OWN SHOT. The guy is basically un-guardable one on one, and he doesn’t need to run off of half a dozen screens in order to knock down his jumper.

That’s a better marker for 2nd-round gunners than their stats or combine numbers.

[HueBoND 2001Participant]

I think Mcneal and mclintock are all better pics than thornton. The problem is do you think Marcus can play the PG role better than any of these guys. In that case making him a PG/SG which is valuable to any coach. Forget about all these athletic stats Sam Cassell did fine .

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