Kosta Koufus --- playing very well since Big ten final

[BRIGGS]

and NIT--he has really played well since the end of the eason. He's got a great motor and skills for a big with nice touch and great ballhandling skills for a big man---any chance he considers coming out if he blows the doors in NY next week?

[Teen Girl Squad]

Perhaps. Id wait a year if I were him as I think his draft stock will improve.

[Cammo101]

I love Koufos, but he needs to stay another year. He has a chance to be a top 8 pick next year.

[MYoung23]

There has been talk from people at my scout.com Cavaliers board that go to OSU that Koufos wants to go pro and that was during the season. DE reported that he and his mother dont get along with Thad Matta and if he doesnt return may go to Europe a year before going to NBA.

[Apollo64]

Koufos performed below expectations this year and there is an odd rumour that this was actually intentional, as he wanted to drop enough in the draft, so he can be picked by the Cavs, his favourite team. Silly rumour if you ask me, but who knows.

Another more credible rumour is that he is going to Greece next year and play for either Panathinaikos or Olympiacos. It's a fact that some serious offers are going to be fielded to him by both teams during the next months, this will be better money than he could get from a rookie contract, plus he is going to improve a lot his game under one of the best coaches in international basketball (either Yannakis or Obradovic). He could play in Greece and Euroleague for a couple of years, then move on to the NBA much better prepared and with a more rounded game, so i think it'll be a sound choice for him, as he doesn't look ready right now for the NBA.

[BRIGGS]

[quote="Apollo64"]Koufos performed below expectations this year and there is an odd rumour that this was actually intentional, as he wanted to drop enough in the draft, so he can be picked by the Cavs, his favourite team. Silly rumour if you ask me, but who knows.



I thought he played very hard and very well in the NIT--I thought he was pretty darn impressive for a freshmen. I think that he may have played himself right into this years lottery to be honest. Is he one of the top 15 players? My guess would be yes. He would fit well on a number of teams imho. I remember Balkman played himself into a 21 pick by having a big NIT and solid showing in the pre draft camps. If Balkman went 21 Koufus could be top 10-15

[Ruzious]

There's no question that he's a very skilled 7 footer, but I'm iffy on whether or not his finesse style of play is what you want from a big man.

[RebelSun]

I don't really buy the idea that he'd go to Ohio St. to play for one year and then go overseas. He could've signed a $5m-salary Euroleague contract last summer.

7'0 (7'1?), 250lbers with his skills are very rare. I really don't see how he'd slip out of the lotto if available this summer.

[Cammo101]

If he falls to the Magic I will be a happy man.

[El Turco]

he should be a lottery pick whenever he comes out. i did hear rumors he is not very happy in OSU.

[Cammo101]

he should be a lottery pick whenever he comes out. i did hear rumors he is not very happy in OSU.

I've always been high on Koufos, but he has a lot of work to do if he wants to be a lotto pick in this years draft.

[Greek]

I don't like the idea to play with Obradovic, i like it much better with Yiannakis even Panathinaikos is my team. Still i can't see any real possibility to play in Greece next year. Yes rumors saying that he has his arguments with coach Mata, and is very likely to declare, but if he stays for an other year and play with Mullens he can play his favorite position (PF), but is always a possibility that Mullens will outshine him, so i can see very tough decision in front of him.

What about other Greeks? Calathes brothers? Pat had a sensational year on St. Jose and Nick had very good freshman year. Only DX had an article for them.

[bender235]

if he stays for an other year and play with Mullens he can play his favorite position (PF), but is always a possibility that Mullens will outshine him

I think it's actually very likely. BJ Mullens is tougher, more aggresive and more athletic.

[Apollo64]

Koufos has a lot of work to do if he wants to play the PF position reliably against the pros. While offensively he doesn't have a problem and that position actually fits him, defensively he needs to be faster and able to guard shorter more perimeter-oriented PFs.

[Greek]

The rumors in Greece that Panathinaikos and Olympiacos (2 Greek european power houses) are in the hunt of Koufos. Maybe he will end up playing in Greece next year

[bender235]

Buckeyes' Koufos will declare, won't hire agent

[El Turco]

after giving a second thought, he made a mistake by declaring-assuming he stays in draft.

this years draft is loaded and he may very well drop from lottery pick while if he stays at school, solid Tourney performance might rocket him top-5 pick next year.

[ReasonablySober]

Unless there's a family situation I don't know about, I have to consider this a really stupid decision.

[Greek]

The 2 main reasons that he declaired are 1) D Mata, 2) Mullens. Money coming later. From what i can understand now if he is a lottery or top 20 pick he will stay. If not he will take a lucrative contract from a Greek team and he will try next year. Chances for coming back to collage are very slim from my point of view

[bender235]

Greek media says Koufos is offered 4-year contracts worth