'08 HS Class and the NBA, realistically.

[OrangeBull]

I believe there are 5 real players in this class that have a shot at being a one and done, and even then, these guys still won't be elite prospects as a one and done like we have this year in Beasley, Rose, and Mayo.

My list goes Derozan, Samuels, Evans, Mullens, and Jennings. While these 5 are all very flawed they are going to be dominant next year and are highly skilled in at least a couple facets of the game that they deserve to be drafted in the lottery next year.

Derozan - tremendous slashing ability, athleticism, swagger designates him as the guy with the best chance to be a worthwhile one and done next year.

Samuels - developed a decent jumper this year to balance out the powerful inside game, his length compensates for his height, decent presence on D, but the main thing is the guy knows how to use his body to his advantage

Evans - is the most advanced scorer of the class, like EJ last year. Isn't as great of a shooter but it helps ALOT that he can run the point guard position if need be and is a much better ball handler. I think he is lotter

Mullens - Great size (things u cant teach LOL), theres always room in this league for athletic bigs who actually know what they are doing on offense and can shoot, the guy plays defense as well, gotten a lot better in that aspect from last summer and will most definitely get less exposed than koufos last year.

Jennings - he's small and plays no defense but the kid could end up being a fantastic point guard, his pg skills at this point resembled the swagger of telfair mixed with the poise and presence of shaun livingston out of HS. He is a very underrated scorer as well, though this year he did take the scoring into his own hands. but I still think he should play 2 years

Although guys like Monroe and Holiday are very skilled, one doesn't have any real instincts for the game in Monroe to have great stock after one year and the other although fundamentally sound is not a defensive nightmare and will have to adjust into a permanent PG position in the NBA.

Just what i think at this stage...

[OrangeBull]

Maybe I'm not getting any replies cuz I didn't ask for anything. So does anybody have take on this class? I'd like to hear some different opinions on how you think these kids would translate etc.

[Cammo101]

It seems the last 3 high school crops were under appreciated until they got to college. I see that trend continuing. Judging by how many good players appear to be leaving for the NBA, I expect a lot of quality freshman again next year. I think the 5 you named, along with a handful of others could be one and dones. I think Greg Monroe is the most likely player of the guys you did not list.

[OrangeBull]

Well I wouldn't consider last year's frosh under appreciated at all before college, these 5 were all hyped more than anyone else in this 08 class has ever been. the first 4 were all one and done locks, love was questioned cuz of his poor body and explosiveness.

beasley
mayo
rose
ej
love

and then before the season u had guys like greene, kosta, jordan, bayless still going in the lottery sometime after those guys.

so this class is getting somewhere between 7-10 in as the best freshmen crop since '04 IMO.

now 3 of those guys are still going to be in this draft, (add randolph to conclude the list) and those guys were still hyped up more than this class.

I can't see a class like this one getting anymore than 5 one and dones, especially with nobody being really that elite. This class lacks size, some athleticism, scoring ability, and just overall has nobody other than the first few that could come out.

[NBAMAN2006]

I love DeRozen, but for some reason he strikes me as more of a Felipe Lopez than a Vince Carter, and in all honesty I cant explain why.

[wilt]

for the "hype" : I wouldn

[AnSweR07]

I love DeRozen, but for some reason he strikes me as more of a Felipe Lopez than a Vince Carter, and in all honesty I cant explain why.

I get the same feeling too.

[skiz2]

Holiday and Samuels IMHO are the best players in this class. Both can have Derrick Rose impacts on their team. They may not put up dominant stats, but are that extra umph that gets them into the championship game.

Evans will be next years Mayo, the kid may be the most talented player in the class, but just doesn't play within the system.

I am a little split on Jennings. His Oak Hill team wasn't as talented as in years pass, so I guess I should give him the benefit of the doubt from the games I saw just shot his team out of any chance of winning. However he has physical gifts that are unrivaled by any PG in a long time. Yes IMHO he is more gifted athleticially than Derrick Rose. He is definatly one I am watching.

I haven't seen enough of Mullens or DeRozan although they strike me as future top 5 picks when they enter.

Monroe has obviously let the hype get to him. He is going to have to find his mean streak again before college if his goal is one and done which I think it is. He has gotten dominated by guys ranked lower than him such as Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, and Samardo Samuels.

Others to watch:

Elliot Williams-super athletic combo guard with developing b-ball IQ.
Al Farouq Aminu-quick, athletic and versitile.
Delvon Roe-mr. versitility of the class, was slowed by injuries this season.
Kemba Walker-excellent scorer, fantastic leader
Tyler Zeller-super athletic 7 footer with fantastic shooting touch
Ed Davis-did someone say block party?

I do think this is a weak class compared to 06 and 07. However I am a firm believer that 09's class is going to be absoulutely loaded. Any guys from the top ten IMHO have just incredible pro potential. Derrick Favors, Renardo Sidney, Xavier Henry, Lance Stepheson, Demarcus Cousins, Dominic Cheek, Kenny Boynton, Dexter Strickland, John Wall, Jordan Hamilton

And some guys outside of my top ten like John Henson, Abdul Gaddy, Deshawn Painter, and Leslie McDonald all have chances to be excellent pros. In the end I think the 09 class will be better than the 06 and 07 classes.

[_BBIB_]

Monroe is vastly overrated.

Aminu is vastly underrated.