Official Draft Thread: Prospects Watch

[Noonskadoodle]

Crossover around the 2:30 mark.......filthy

[Noonskadoodle]

[Noonskadoodle]

[Def Swami]

This should be the only PG we talk about


http://nbadraft.net/players/andrew-harrison

Kasey hill is better

[Def Swami]

The reason why I think Shabazz is the superior wing prospect in this draft:

Shabazz Muhammad wears a goofy smile and nerdy glasses, but beneath them pumps the cold blood of a basketball player who proudly calls himself a "killer" on the court.

David Halberstam saw something similar in Michael Jordan: a ferocious competitive rage.

It's this quality that Muhammad says defines him most, the trait the UCLA freshman star says made him who he is today.

"I've always had a killer instinct," Muhammad says, "and that's what separated me."

And Muhammad has carried this mentality to UCLA, where coaches and players laud his effort in practice and his drive to stay late at the gym most nights.

"He's a really fierce competitor, with everything we do, everywhere," says his freshman teammate Kyle Anderson.

Adds fellow freshman guard Jordan Adams: "He plays to win. He does not take plays off. He's always aggressive."

He also loves to take big shots that strike a dagger into opponents' hearts, such as the two clutch three-point shots he buried in overtime during UCLA's upset of then-No. 7 Missouri.

Though a freshman, Muhammad has jumped on UCLA teammates whose effort he thought was lacking at times. But Muhammad says he wouldn't do so unless there was a comfort level among them all.

And, Muhammad adds, he's still learning to temper his killer-instinct temper.

"It's a really good thing to have, when it's appropriate to use it," he says.

Full Read: http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/b ... ory?page=1

[Def Swami]

Chad Ford chat stuff:

Alex (Chicago)
Is Trey Burke the best player in college basketball right now? How high has his draft stock risen and is there any way he does not come out after this season after considering coming out last year?

Chad Ford (1:35 PM)
Possibly. He's on the short list. He's moved from a bubble first rounder into a discussion as a late lottery pick. Given his desire to declare last year and his stock improvement, I'd be shocked if he didn't leave Michigan at the end of the season. This is a weak draft for point guards and I think Burke will be one of the first three or four PGs off the board.

Ed (LA)
The media does not seem to be hyped about Marcus Smart. Big PG, aggressive attacks at the basket, improving jumpshot, great leader... what gives? Good fit with the young core of the Jazz?

Chad Ford (1:37 PM)
I'm not sure about the media, but he's No. 11 on our Big Board and has been in our Top 15 since early in the season. I wrote in my column with Jay Bilas on Monday that if he finishes strong, I think he's a Top 5 pick in this draft. Fran Fraschilla made a Chauncey Billups comparison recently and I like it. Big, physical guard who is a natural leader. He needs to improve his jumper, but it's getting better.

Peter (Boulder)
How deep is this draft? Better or worse than last year?

Chad Ford (1:49 PM)
Depth is actually very good. I really like a lot of the players in the 20s and 30s on our Big Board. The issue with this year's draft is that there aren't really any franchise players out there. No superstars. But a lot of the players in this draft will stick in the league a long time. So if you're drafting 1-3 you're really bummed right now. But if you're draft 18 or 25, there are players here that you are genuinely interested in.

Robert (Toronto)
What is your impressions on Andrew Wiggins?

Chad Ford (1:51 PM)
Love him. Best wing prospect NBA has seen in a long time. Reminds me a lot of Tracy McGrady with a better motor. He has the potential, and I emphasize potential given his young age, to be a Top 5 player in the NBA someday.

[Cigamodnalro]

Watching the Syracuse game right now on ESPN3 (streaming, http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index). Carter Williams really not impressing me at all.

[Skin]

Watching the Syracuse game right now on ESPN3 (streaming, http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index). Carter Williams really not impressing me at all.

He's like the one guy on my **** list. I DO NOT want him on this team at all.

#1 Marcus Smart
#2 Trey Burke

I don't want anybody else.

[Noonskadoodle]

Zo Brown gonna take off now that ACC play is here.....21 points 10 assists 5 boards 3 blocks

Trey Burke....18 points 3 boards 3 assists

Ben McLemore...10-12 from the field (6-6 from 3) 33 points 3 boards 2 blocks

MCW....17 points 6 boards 6 assists 5 steals

Bryce Cotton....24 points

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope....11 points

Justin Edwards....17 points 4 boards 7 assists

Erick Green....24 points 9 assists

Deandre Kane....16 points 7 assists

Marcus Smart....14 points (5-5 from field) 3 assists 5 steals

[Noonskadoodle]

Jamaal Franklin finished with 20 points 18 boards 5 dimes 3 blocks & this dunk:

[MoMM]

Glenn Robinson III? Thoughts?

[Bobby Ray]

If we get a top 3 pick for me it's either Bazz or Mac but if we're in the 5-10 range then things get a bit more interesting. In that range McCollum's in the mix, Goodwin's in the mix, Poythress, Smart, MCW and maybe Porter, I'm hoping that we swing another mid first rounder in a trade or something.

[Noonskadoodle]

Dude can ball.....Just pray he doesn't fall in love with that 3 point shot because he has the athletic ability to get to the rim & finish when he wants. Also has the tools to become a very good defender.

At the 1:03 mark I loved how he moved without the ball.

[magicman123]

Dude can ball.....Just pray he doesn't fall in love with that 3 point shot because he has the athletic ability to get to the rim & finish when he wants. Also has the tools to become a very good defender.

At the 1:03 mark I loved how he moved without the ball.

hes in love with the 3 right now, mainly because he cant dribble, he also scores a lot on fast breaks...he has a ton of talent, but he needs to get better with the ball in his hands

[G-Heel]

Dude can ball.....Just pray he doesn't fall in love with that 3 point shot because he has the athletic ability to get to the rim & finish when he wants. Also has the tools to become a very good defender.

At the 1:03 mark I loved how he moved without the ball.

hes in love with the 3 right now, mainly because he cant dribble, he also scores a lot on fast breaks...he has a ton of talent, but he needs to get better with the ball in his hands

That doesn't sound good. Great players, except bigs, can handle the ball. If you can't dribble, it will really limit your game. It's not something you just easily learn in the NBA either.