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Top Five Prospects
Source: Hoops World
If Colangelo lands in the #2-4 range he's going to have a tough choice on his hand. Take the best talent available even if they don't need a guy at that spot or reach for a lesser talent? I think he needs to go with the talent. I could see Perry Jones in Toronto IF they don't win the lotto.
Here is who you need to know:
1. Kyrie Irving - Duke, Freshman - PG - 6'2" - 185lbs - 18
Find a scout in the NBA that does not have Kyrie Irving as the top name on his board and you'll likely find a scout looking for a job. The big question surrounding Kyrie is the condition of his foot and how well the damaged tendons in his right big toe are healing.
Irving's injury was a quirky tendon related injury and there were real doubts he'd fully recover in time to be a candidate in the 2011 NBA Draft, however more and more people believe he is taking his time on his rehab with an eye more towards the NBA draft than returning to the floor for Duke.
If Irving can prove in workouts he is 100% there is almost no doubt he'll be the top name called in June 23rd's NBA Draft.
A crafyt point guard with amazing speed, Irving is exactly what NBA teams covet.
The fact Irving is a pretty polished shooter at 18 years of age makes him an extremely desirable prospect.
2. Jonas Valanciunas - Lietuvos Rytas C - 6'11" - 240lbs - 18
In a draft lacking a true post-power player, Jonas might be the best post-type big in the class. He is currently playing in Lithuania for powerhouse Lietuvos Rytas and putting up reasonable numbers in Euroleague play – 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 91.7% from the free throw line on 14.5 minutes per game. Run those numbers at a 40-minute per game average and his stats get silly.
Jonas is a legit 6'11, and is said to have a wingspan in excess of 7'6", putting him in the same wingspan range as Washington's JaVale McGee and the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and just a touch shorter than Hasheem Thabeet. Said another way – freakishly long.
Jonas is a bit raw offensively, which could cause his stock to slide when he is worked out against more polished players like Ohio's Jared Sullinger.
Scouts who have seen him play say the kid is a monster, so we'll have to see how the process plays out. But with 112 days until the draft, Jonas is looking like the top big in the class.
3. Jared Sullinger - Ohio State, Freshman - PF - 6'8" - 250lbs - 18
If Jared were 3 inches taller, he'd be the top pick in a walk, but a 6'8 power forward/center is a bit undersized. That hasn't stopped Jared from being the most dominant big in college basketball, but like other solid front court players before him Jared is going to battle prototype issues with his size.
NBA teams want 6'10 front court players, and Jared is going to have to convince them he can play among the trees.
Jared has all of the tools to be really good at the next level, so he's likely the 2nd or 3rd name called in June.
There is almost nothing wrong with Jared's game. How he measures in at the NBA Draft Combine will go a long ways towards determining if he's the 2nd pick or the 5th pick.
If he measures in smaller than 6'8 he could have problems.
4. Perry Jones - Baylor, Freshman - PF - 6'11" - 220lbs - 19
Perry is the freak athlete of the bunch. He is incredibly long and athletic. He runs the floor hard. He is a reasonable finisher around the basket, and his leaping ability is off the charts.
The biggest knock on Perry in the draft process is going to be his numbers, but if you look deeper, you'll see of all the front court NBA prospects targeted for the 2011 Draft, Perry has the lowest usage rate of them all, and that's mainly because of how Baylor uses him.
In a workout setting Perry could really emerge as a stud, and in talking with scouts and talent evaluators most feel Perry could have the best upside of any player in the class and he is a legit 6'11.
If there is one "dare-to-be-great" pick so far, it may be Perry Jones.
5. Derrick Williams - Arizona, Sophomore - PF - 6'8" - 235lbs - 19
The numbers on Derrick Williams do not lie. He is among the best in the nation in True Shooting percentage at 71% just behind Ohio States' Jon Diebler. He is among the best in the country at getting to the foul line with 11.7 free throw attempts per game and he's the eighth-best scorer in the nation at 25.5 points per game and he grabs about 8 rebounds a game. Not bad for a frontcourt player.
He is a little undersized to be a power forward at the next level, but beyond that there is almost nothing wrong with Williams' game.
Williams could be a very nice pick up in the middle of the top 5, and if he has a strong tournament run, watch his stock continue to tick up.
1. Kyrie Irving - Duke, Freshman - PG - 6'2" - 185lbs - 18
Find a scout in the NBA that does not have Kyrie Irving as the top name on his board and you'll likely find a scout looking for a job. The big question surrounding Kyrie is the condition of his foot and how well the damaged tendons in his right big toe are healing.
Irving's injury was a quirky tendon related injury and there were real doubts he'd fully recover in time to be a candidate in the 2011 NBA Draft, however more and more people believe he is taking his time on his rehab with an eye more towards the NBA draft than returning to the floor for Duke.
If Irving can prove in workouts he is 100% there is almost no doubt he'll be the top name called in June 23rd's NBA Draft.
A crafyt point guard with amazing speed, Irving is exactly what NBA teams covet.
The fact Irving is a pretty polished shooter at 18 years of age makes him an extremely desirable prospect.
2. Jonas Valanciunas - Lietuvos Rytas C - 6'11" - 240lbs - 18
In a draft lacking a true post-power player, Jonas might be the best post-type big in the class. He is currently playing in Lithuania for powerhouse Lietuvos Rytas and putting up reasonable numbers in Euroleague play – 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 91.7% from the free throw line on 14.5 minutes per game. Run those numbers at a 40-minute per game average and his stats get silly.
Jonas is a legit 6'11, and is said to have a wingspan in excess of 7'6", putting him in the same wingspan range as Washington's JaVale McGee and the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and just a touch shorter than Hasheem Thabeet. Said another way – freakishly long.
Jonas is a bit raw offensively, which could cause his stock to slide when he is worked out against more polished players like Ohio's Jared Sullinger.
Scouts who have seen him play say the kid is a monster, so we'll have to see how the process plays out. But with 112 days until the draft, Jonas is looking like the top big in the class.
3. Jared Sullinger - Ohio State, Freshman - PF - 6'8" - 250lbs - 18
If Jared were 3 inches taller, he'd be the top pick in a walk, but a 6'8 power forward/center is a bit undersized. That hasn't stopped Jared from being the most dominant big in college basketball, but like other solid front court players before him Jared is going to battle prototype issues with his size.
NBA teams want 6'10 front court players, and Jared is going to have to convince them he can play among the trees.
Jared has all of the tools to be really good at the next level, so he's likely the 2nd or 3rd name called in June.
There is almost nothing wrong with Jared's game. How he measures in at the NBA Draft Combine will go a long ways towards determining if he's the 2nd pick or the 5th pick.
If he measures in smaller than 6'8 he could have problems.
4. Perry Jones - Baylor, Freshman - PF - 6'11" - 220lbs - 19
Perry is the freak athlete of the bunch. He is incredibly long and athletic. He runs the floor hard. He is a reasonable finisher around the basket, and his leaping ability is off the charts.
The biggest knock on Perry in the draft process is going to be his numbers, but if you look deeper, you'll see of all the front court NBA prospects targeted for the 2011 Draft, Perry has the lowest usage rate of them all, and that's mainly because of how Baylor uses him.
In a workout setting Perry could really emerge as a stud, and in talking with scouts and talent evaluators most feel Perry could have the best upside of any player in the class and he is a legit 6'11.
If there is one "dare-to-be-great" pick so far, it may be Perry Jones.
5. Derrick Williams - Arizona, Sophomore - PF - 6'8" - 235lbs - 19
The numbers on Derrick Williams do not lie. He is among the best in the nation in True Shooting percentage at 71% just behind Ohio States' Jon Diebler. He is among the best in the country at getting to the foul line with 11.7 free throw attempts per game and he's the eighth-best scorer in the nation at 25.5 points per game and he grabs about 8 rebounds a game. Not bad for a frontcourt player.
He is a little undersized to be a power forward at the next level, but beyond that there is almost nothing wrong with Williams' game.
Williams could be a very nice pick up in the middle of the top 5, and if he has a strong tournament run, watch his stock continue to tick up.
If Colangelo lands in the #2-4 range he's going to have a tough choice on his hand. Take the best talent available even if they don't need a guy at that spot or reach for a lesser talent? I think he needs to go with the talent. I could see Perry Jones in Toronto IF they don't win the lotto.
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