SEKOU SMITH: Breaking down the top prospects in the draft

[HMFFL]

The Michael Beasley that college basketball fans thought they knew during the season was unmasked last week in Orlando at the NBA's predraft camp, which serves as the league's equivalent of the NFL combine.

The same goes for Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Brooke Lopez, Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon and the rest of the likely first- and second-rounds picks in the June 26 draft.

Once the league's nitpickers take out their measuring sticks and other tools for the rigorous circuit of tests the draft prospects are subjected to, all the myths about the players are cleared up.

A closer look at some of the top prospects:

Michael Beasley, Forward, Kansas State

The skinny: Beasley was listed at 6 feet 10 throughout his freshman season but measured at 6-7 without shoes and a shade over 6-8 in shoes in Orlando.

What it means? Beasley, who weighed in at 239 pounds, will probably have to spend some time at small forward in the NBA after being projected by most as a power forward. But anyone overly concerned with Beasley's ability to play big need only to remember the success rate of recent undersized power forwards (Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer come to mind).

Beasley on where he fits: "I think I can definitely play some small forward in the NBA. I'll play any position they want me to. I've played some [small forward] on other levels. I'm just anxious to see how this whole situation plays out and where I wind up and how I'll fit in."

Derrick Rose, Guard, Memphis

The skinny: Rose measured a bit shorter (6-1 1/2 in socks) than advertised as well; he was listed at 6-3 or 6-4 throughout the season.

What it means? Rose has been billed as a do-it-all point guard who can play both offense and defense at an elite level. But his ability to defend bigger point guards will come into question now. Memphis coach John Calipari said as much last week in a radio interview when he said that Rose needs to improve his intensity on defense. Rose agreed.

Rose on Calipari's take on his defense: "Yeah. Coach Cal, that's the number-one thing with him. He feels you should always bring the effort defensively, and if you ever took a defensive possession off, he would take you out of the game and let you know about it."

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