Nerlens Noel, can he go #1 if Kentucky misses the tournament

[Jazzfan12]

His teammates are unbelievably bad. He's not nearly as good as Davis was last year since Davis had actual touch and legendary coordination and didn't go for pumpfakes, but he's still pretty damn good and looks like easily the best player in the draft to me with his quickness. However, Kentucky is not good and he's playing with two "great" prospects in Goodwin and Poythress so do you think Kentucky's lack of success will be held against Noel considering how great the program has been in the last couple years?

[Dr Positivity]

It'd be pretty unlikely in my opinion. It's stupid but it's a consistent trend every year, the players on underperforming college teams get dinged for it

[MagicFan32]

In THIS draft there is no clear cut BPA. so it would depend on my needs as a team.

he has grown and improved a ton at kentucky, just don't ask for him to be a 20+ point guy, he could be a 15/12 guys with 3-4 assists 3 bpg 2 spg

[DirtyDez]

I know you can say this about every prospect but if he ends up in the right situation he will make a huge impact. Whoever drafts him needs to hire a great big man coach. Rich man's Ibaka and his frame is perfect to develop.

[Ruzious]

He's <still> clearly the best prospect in the draft. If KY had a legit PG, his offensive stats would be on par with what Davis showed at the same point.

[Deathray]

Nobody's going to hold it against Noel. Goodwin and Poythress are another matter - Goodwin has the offensive basketball IQ of a walnut and right now it looks like Poythress will be lucky if his ceiling is Marvin Williams.

[Leolovinliberal]

He's <still> clearly the best prospect in the draft. If KY had a legit PG, his offensive stats would be on par with what Davis showed at the same point.

Clearly? Replace that word with "possibly" and your post has some credibility.

[GoBobs]

I wouldn't hold it against him to much. Last years KY team had some vets that made a big difference.

Noel is more of a prospect then a finished product, but that fits in with what the bobcats are trying to do. I would rather take Noel and be terrible another year, then get another high draft pick next year. If we take a more polished player we might be better right away, but with next years draft do we really want that?

[Iplaytolose]

I wouldn't hold it against him to much. Last years KY team had some vets that made a big difference.

Noel is more of a prospect then a finished product, but that fits in with what the bobcats are trying to do. I would rather take Noel and be terrible another year, then get another high draft pick next year. If we take a more polished player we might be better right away, but with next years draft do we really want that?

I think Noel would make a great glue guy along with MKG, then you guys can hope to get your franchise player in Wiggins for 2014. Hypothetically though, would they play Wiggins at the 3 and MKG at the 2 or vice versa?

[Ruzious]

He's <still> clearly the best prospect in the draft. If KY had a legit PG, his offensive stats would be on par with what Davis showed at the same point.

Clearly? Replace that word with "possibly" and your post has some credibility.

Interesting, we have the decider of credibility here. I'm honored by your presence.

We're dealing in opinions here. In my opinion, he is still clearly the top prospect in the draft - by a wide margin.

[[RCG]]

There is no reason he couldn't. Noel isn't Kentucky's problem, he's the only thing going well for the team right now. UK lacks veteran leadership, Harrow has not played well at the point and they have inconsistent outside shooting. Noel has been doing it all for the team, buckets, blocks, assists, steals. From the beginning of the season Noel's stock has improved while Goodwin and Poythress' has dropped.

[Jake0890]

Noel won't go #1. I don't think he has the ability to beat out the other top picks, and he's not nearly as polished as Davis was last year, or any of the other players that may leave this year.

[BrotherDave]

He could easily go #1 if UK misses the tourney. All he has to do is destroy in workouts and have a team needing a big pick in the top spot.

[[RCG]]

Noel won't go #1. I don't think he has the ability to beat out the other top picks, and he's not nearly as polished as Davis was last year, or any of the other players that may leave this year.

Noel: 10.6 ppg on 58.6% 9.4 rpg 4.3 bpg 2.4 spg 1.7 apg
Davis: 14.2 ppg on 62.3% 10.4 rpg 4.7 bpg 1.4 spg 1.3 apg

If Noel is not nearly as polished as Davis and he's putting up those numbers there is no reason he shouldn't go #1.
And his only competition is Ben McLemore,

[NO-KG-AI]

Eh, even just looking at the numbers, 4 points on the TS% Davis was on is a HUGE gap. I haven't watched as much as you, do you feel Noel needs more chances on offense? It is clear now that Kentucky could have let Davis create for himself much more than they did, do you feel the same about Nerlens?