New to the Board
John Riek is new to the mock but with an asterisk next to his name. It remains to be seen just how old he really is. Some have rumored that he is as old as 24 to 25. Either way you better believe that NBA Commissioner David Stern will watch this with baited breath. Aftering scouting Riek I’m baffled why some in the press have hyped him as a top 10 draft pick. If anything I see a project than could be NBDL fodder. The potential is there, and as of now there is some good in his game such as rebounding and shot blocking, but his true worth as an NBA prospect remains to be seen.
Stefon Jackson is one of America’s top scorers and has been for the past two seasons. Some may say he’s a better candidate for the 2009 draft, which is true, but you can’t rule out the fact that he may declare for the draft this year. Jackson could do a Morris Almond - impress scouts at the pre-draft camp then pull out to set up a solid senior season. Jackson’s biggest hurdle is to improve his average perimeter shooting.
Darnell Jackson gets it done for the Jayhawks. He’s all about the hustle, one of the few willing to do whatever his team asks. Jackson is an extremely underrated player who should get looks by NBA teams. He of reminds me of Kentucky’s Chuck Hayes, who has done an admirable job for the Houston Rockets.
Biggest Risers
There’s little doubt that Ty Lawson is the most important player on the floor for the nation’s number one team. When he's on the court teams really struggle to slow down the pace of the game. Lawson’s perimeter shooting remains a sore spot but there's no one in college basketball that can go end to end with the speed and body control he possesses.
I question what position Jamont Gordon will play in the NBA, but few can argue with his numbers. I love his versatility in ball handling and setting up the offense, but his court vision is still developing. It’s a hard transition for anyone who has played the shooting guard position most of his life to switch full-time to point guard. If Gordon can show scouts he can play the point guard position in the NBA full time, he should show up in the first round come draft night.
Sean Singletary took a big jump in the boards this week, up 12 spots. Why such a huge and sudden leap? Singletary has clearly been more focused on creating the offense for his teammates this year. However, it still remains to be seen how much of a pure point guard he is. Singletary’s turnovers continue to plague him and do lend some doubt as to where he will be on draft night.
Biggest Drops
I have my reservations about Bill Walker as a first round prospect for this year. From my observations he clearly favors his right leg which I believe has affected his play, even from a mental standpoint. One of the things that made Walker such a ridiculous high school player was his aggressiveness in attacking the rim through the air. Walker reminds me of old school high flyer Jerome Harmon. He used to be a sky walker in high school, but after his injury his talent never really materialized at Louisville.
Roy Hibbert leaves a lot to be desired. When I watch him play he doesn’t look as though he's developed much since last season. One of the things that excited many that watched him last year was the huge leap he made in his development from sophomore to junior year. This isn’t to say that Hibbert is doomed come draft night. In the end he could certainly go higher than my current projection, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he falls into the late first round. Aaron Gray is a perfect example. He went from a late first rounder to a late second rounder last season. As a matter of fact I don’t see a huge difference in talent levels from Gray to Hibbert. If anything I think Gray has a better feel for the game.
Off the Board
Deron Washington remains an on and off prospect. Athletically, he has all the tools with the long arms and his explosive leaping. But fundamentally he remains undeveloped, which could be why he looks like the same old player from last year.
Jeff Pendergraph leaves the 2008 draft board and now looks more like a prospect for 2009. While his play has not been terrible, Pendergraph hasn’t played up to the expectations that scouts and the media projected. With that in mind I feel like there are better alternatives at the power forward position.
Brandon Rush continues to plummet and no longer has the appeal he did coming out of high school. Every year that passes leaves scouts wondering what all the fuss was about. When Rush is focused and plays with aggressiveness there’s no doubt about his talent, but more often than not, he disappears.