Nike Global Challenge: Top ProspectsBy: ipowers

By Ian Powers
NBADraft.net

Harrison
Barnes– There really is not a lot more to be said about this kid. He averaged
31.3ppg over the course of the tournament and scored in every way possible. He
carried his team to their lone victory in the tournament and brings a maturity
to the game that is not often found at the high school level. He can be one and
done, depending on the school that he goes and his upside is unlimited. If you
want to nit pick, I guess you could say that he is a very good and not great athlete,
but that would almost be like criticizing Jerry Rice for not running a particularly
fast 40 time coming out of college.

Kyrie Irving– Irving was simply put, the best
point guard in attendance. He scored when the opportunity presented itself and
he ran the offense and found open teammates in scoring position. He is a consummate
floor general who always makes the right play and is never out of control. He
has a nice mix of flash and substance in his game that bodes well for him in college
and beyond. All of the NBA scouts in attendance were very impressed with his play
in Portland and he’s somebody to keep an eye on in the future.

Josh Selby– This physical 6′ 3" combo guard
from Baltimore has the entire package when you talk about physical ability. He
can get to basket seemingly at will and he has the athleticism to finish over
guys in traffic. The only thing lacking is a consistent jumpshot. He has been
criticized in the past for his attitude, but I kind of like it. One observer noted
that Selby reminded him of a young Gary Payton and I would have to agree with
that. He is a competitor and will do anything to win a ball game. The thing that
he needs to learn how to do is harness his aggression and channel it in a positive
way. He recently decommitted from Tennessee and is set to visit UCONN. It will
be interesting to see where he ends up because the sky is the limit for this kid.

Will Barton– Selby’s AAU teammate is a long
and wiry 6′ 6" guard also from Baltimore who can flat out play. He doesn’t
necessarily pass the look test because of his thin frame, but he he plays much
stronger than he looks. He is not afraid to go down on the baseline and get buckets
in the paint and he is an absolute terror once he gets in the open floor. He has
range on his jumper and the ability to get to the rim off the bounce. He needs
work in the weight room to round out his game, but all the tools are there.

Terrence Jones– Jones is a long and athletic
combo forward who displayed a nice all around game over the weekend. He showed
flashes of being a bit of a point forward and has some impressive passing skills.
He is more of a 4 than 3 right now and with an improved jumper, can be a prototype
3 man in the league. He’s undecided on his school choice but is rumored to be
an Oklahoma lean.

C.J. Leslie– Leslie and Jones could be twins.
They are the same height and have the same length and have very similar games.
Jones has a better overall feel for the game, but Leslie has nice upside as
well. He is somewhat a jack of all trades, but a master of none. He flashed some
ballhandling skills, but he is raw at this point and uses his length, activity,
and athleticism to his advantage, especially around the basket.

Cameron Clark– This 6′ 6" athletic Texan
was impressive at the Global Challenge. He has great bounce and a reliable jumper
out to 3. He didn’t show much ability to put the ball on the floor in this setting
and he will have to develop that aspect of his game in order to reach his full
potential. He shows an ability to be a very good defender. He is also rumored
to be an Oklahoma lean. If he and Terrence Jones end up there, they would give
Jeff Capel a nice forward set of potential pros to build around for the next few years.

Tony Mitchell– Mitchell is a very long and
very athletic wing who plays hard all of the time. His motor is always running
at 100 mph and coaches love that. He is very raw and will need to refine his game
in order to reach his potential. From a length and athleticism standpoint, he
has everything you look for in a wing. He is always around the ball and hits the
glass hard on both ends. Runs the floor well and dives for loose balls. His release
on his shot is low and that will have to be corrected in order to get consistency
on his shot. He is one that is intriguing and has a chance with some polish.

Tobias Harris– Harris is coming off a very
good summer. He is a nice looking athlete at 6′ 8" who has an impressive
face up game. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and beat opposing
big men with his quickness. He doesn’t really play with his back to the basket
a lot and he will have to add that to his repertoire to complete his package.

Kendall Marshall– This future North Carolina
Tarheel is an impressive point guard. He has great size at 6′ 4" and has
an IQ tailor made for the PG position. He makes heady plays and is a great passer.
He has a solid lefty jumpshot out to 3 and enough quickness and athleticism to
get things done. He may have some trouble defending smaller, shiftier point guards,
but he will be OK because of his smarts. He may be a 4 year guy, but has a solid
chance to make the league and have a long, productive career.

Nike Global Challenge: Top International Prospects
Nike Global Challenge: Day 3
Nike Global Challenge: Day 2
Nike Global Challenge: Day 1