Five years later. Judging the 2010 NBA Draft.

Throw up your set! Wiz get an A

You are taking a college course. On day one, the professor hands you a syllabus, outlining the work to be done for the semester, and then the NEXT DAY, he gives you your grade for the class. HUH? 

Of course it does not work that way. 

Today multiple media outlets will use the above approach one day after the selections were made for the 2015 NBA Draft. It is a waste of time that insults the intelligence of every NBA fan. 

Meanwhile, five years have passed since the 2010 NBA Draft was held. It is now safe to judge that class of players. 

The nitty gritty: Three of the 60 taken on June 24th, 2010 have achieved NBA All-Star status. 49 of the 60 selected in 2010 have logged minutes in the league. That leaves eleven picks that were essentially wasted. Eight players picked in the first round in 2010 are now out of the league (Larry Sanders, James Anderson, Craig Brackins, Damion James, Dominique Jones, Jordan Crawford, Daniel Orton, Lazar Hayward). 

In a highly subjective re-draft, here is how we would do it today...(not based on what they have accomplished already necessarily, but based on what we see going forward). 

1. John Wall - Wall was indeed the first pick in 2010. He is an All-Star point guard on a playoff team, and he stands among the finest two-way players in the NBA. 

2. DeMarcus Cousins - Cousins too has been an NBA All-Star and in 2014-15 he was named as 2nd team All-NBA. He slipped to fifth on draft day 2010. The second pick was Evan Turner. 

3. Eric Bledsoe - In hindsight, the top three picks in our 2010 re-do were all Kentucky Wildcats. Bledsoe slipped to 18th in 2010 while the third pick was Derrick Favors. 

4. Gordon Hayward - Hayward slipped to ninth in 2010. The fourth pick in 2010 was Wesley Johnson. Ooops. 

5. Derrick Favors - "Faves" went third in 2010. 

6. Greg Monroe - The steady BIG from Georgetown was selected seventh in 2010. One of the biggest whiffs in the draft was Golden State taking Ekpe Udoh sixth. 

Young Whiteside finally emerged

7. Hassan Whiteside - It took the full five years for Whiteside to have a positive affect on an NBA game. In the second half of 2014-15 he was brilliant. 

8. Paul George - This is why we wrote "highly subjective" above. George would be the second or third pick in hindsight had he not gotten injured. But he did. Despite a small sample of games at the end of this past season, George is a risky pick. Not knowing how his body will respond going forward, George slips to eighth here. George was the tenth pick in 2010. ...The eighth pick in 2010 was Al-Farouq Aminu. 

9. Evan Turner - Turner was taken second in 2010. He is coming off a decent year in Boston. 

10. Lance Stephenson - Certainly Stephenson could be selected higher than tenth but he is coming off a poor season in Charlotte. Traded to the Clippers for the 2015-16 campaign we will see if Lance can regain the form he had in Indiana in 2013-14. ...Lance was probably the best value pick of the 2010 draft, going 40th. 

11. Trevor Booker - The hard working Booker is still ascending as an NBA player. He was a rotation BIG on a solid Utah team last season. Booker fell to 23rd in 2010 while the eleventh pick was Cole Aldrich. 

12. Al Farouq Aminu - Aminu still can't make three point shots consistently (28% career), which has kept him as a bench guy.

13. Ed Davis - The pickings start to get pretty slim at this point. Davis falls exactly where he was selected in 2010. 

14, Greivis Vasquez - Vasquez could go three picks higher but his underwhelming athleticism has us wondering how many years he has left. Whatever the case, Vasquez was a good pick at #28 in 2010. 

15. Avery Bradley - Bradley shows no signs of slowing down and still no signs of an improved offensive game. Bradley went 19th in 2010 while the 15th pick was Larry Sanders. 

The rest of the draft do-over would include these guys in some order: Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, Quincy Pondexter, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin, Luke Babbitt and the aforementioned Wesley Johnson. 

Four more players are in the "barely hanging on" category... Udoh, Xavier Henry, Elliot Williams, and Jeremy Evans (a Slam Dunk Contest winner) all played less than 300 minutes in 2014-15. 

So to recap... Give a grade A to the Washington Wizards for drafting John Wall. Likewise, the Clippers get an A for nabbing Bledsoe 18th. The final A grade goes to Indiana for gambling on Lance Stephenson 40th in 2010. Absolute failures included the Wolves picking Wesley Johnson fourth, and the Warriors picking Ekpe Udoh sixth. 

Halfway. Centers. Notes from NBA Stat Audit

Each NBA season, after all teams have played their 41st game, I do a statistical audit of the players in the league, looking specifically at efficiency per-minute. I analyze each player that has logged at least 300 minutes (plus a select few players of note). Here are some tidbits I found interesting about the current NBA landscape at the Center position...

Cuz is out for blood

Centers

The most efficient Center per minute played is, by far, DeMarcus Cousins. Following Cousins is Tim Duncan (yes, he is more a Center, than a Power Forward), Al Horford, Brook Lopez, and Al Jefferson completes the top-five. 

Who is in the top 30 in per-minute efficiency at Center, yet is not starting or playing playing heavy minutes? There are five players that fit that description: Timofey Mosgov .603 (14th), Chris Kamen .596 (19th), Chris Andersen .553 (22nd), Kosta Koufos .545 (25th), and Miroslav Raduljica .542 (26th). 

Among those five players, Mosgov, in particular, has shown the most flashes of brilliance. His defensive rating is also good. ...Andersen plays a large role in Miami's winning ways despite logging just 18.5 minutes per game. ...Kamen is seemingly wasting away playing for the Lakers. His EFR suggests he could be helping a team as opposed to receiving DNP-CD's. ...Koufos was given a brief shot while Marc Gasol was injured but the numbers Koufos responded with were nothing to write home about. ...Raduljica is the highest rated rookie Center. At age 26, the Serbian seven footer looks like he has a chance to be heard from in the NBA in the future. 

Which Centers are outside the top 30 in per minute efficiency but are starters or play heavy minutes? There are five here as well: Jonas Valanciunas (31st), Nene (32nd), Channing Frye (37th), Andrea Bargnani (48th), and Kendrick Perkins (54th). 

Bargs is a SF in a C body

Valanciunas is only 21 years old, so I'm not too concerned with his low efficiency relative to his position. ...Nene could be called a Power Forward too. I think he's more of a Center. He would be an ideal first big-man off the bench for a good team. As it stands, Nene gets 30 minutes a game on a decent team. 

Frye and Bargnani just don't rebound the ball well enough to be efficient Centers. Basically these two deep shooting tall guys are Small Forwards in their skill set but they are too slow and big to chase the quicker wing players so they are resigned to playing the position their physical size dictates. 

And Perkins... Perkins can still defend and bang but I'm certain OKC would be better off with the NBA's Kendrick playing less. 

LINKS to analysis of other positions: 
Read Point Guards
Read Shooting Guards
Read Small Forwards
Read Power Forwards

Latest NBA Stat Audit

Data informed. That's how we roll.

Our latest NBA stat audit is complete. We look closely at per-minute efficiency twice a month. In an effort to share more with you - we will simply list on this blog what would normally be 'chicken scratched' onto a blank piece of computer printer paper.

Point Guards: Chris Paul .778, Stephen Curry .634, Russell Westbrook .626, Isaiah Thomas .580, Michael Carter-Williams .559, John Wall .555,  Ty Lawson .554, Damian Lillard .543, Kyle Lowry .543, Tony Parker .542, Goran Dragic .536, Mike Conley Jr. .526, Jrue Holiday .522, Kyrie Irving .520, Darren Collison .504, Kendall Marshall .504, Ricky Rubio .502, Deron Williams .501, Reggie Jackson .495, Jordan Farmar .495, Jeff Teague .479, Kemba Walker .471, Brandon Jennings .453.

Shooting Guards: Dwyane Wade .616, Manu Ginobili .604, James Harden .578, Eric Bledsoe .564, Tyreke Evans .542, Monta Ellis .495, Arron Afflalo .495, J.J. Redick .490, Lance Stephenson .489, Wesley Matthews .482, C.J. McCollum .481, Jimmer Fredette .477, Marco Belinelli .476, Kevin Martin .466, Evan Turner .465, Jordan Crawford .462,  Jeremy Lamb .452, Tony Allen .437

Durant ranks second to Love overall

Small Forwards: Kevin Durant .830, LeBron James .783, Carmelo Anthony .635, Paul George .603, Kawhi Leonard .530, Nicolas Batum .522, Rudy Gay .504, Luol Deng .494, Chandler Parsons .493, Gordon Hayward .487, Al Farouq Aminu .480, Trevor Ariza .470, Andre Iguodala .469, Marcus Morris .465, Jordan Hamilton .459, Josh Smith .456, DeMar DeRozan .455, C.J. Miles .445,

Power Forwards: Kevin Love .833, Anthony Davis .738, LeMarcus Aldridge .701, Blake Griffin .698, Al Horford .685, Jordan Hill .679, Dirk Nowitzki .674, Brandan Wright .656, David Lee .646, Kris Humphries .634, Kenneth Faried .624, John Henson .619, Paul Millsap .610, DaJuan Blair .609, Serge Ibaka .592, J.J. Hickson .576, Zach Randolph .567, Terrence Jones .559, Jeremy Evans .558, Thaddeus Young .554, Andray Blatche .551, James Johnson .550, Miles Plumlee .546, Michael Beasley .543, Ed Davis .541, Jared Sullinger .540, Mike Scott .539, Thomas Robinson .536, David West .531.

Centers: DeMarcus Cousins .810, Tim Duncan .697, Dwight Howard .675, Brook Lopez .675, Andre Drummond .659, Andrew Bogut .649, Pau Gasol .621, Spencer Hawes .620, Nikola Vucevic .619, Nikola Pekovic .605, Joakim Noah .602, DeAndre Jordan .601, Al Jefferson .600, Timofey Mosgov .594, Marc Gasol .587, Chris Bosh .573, Anderson Varejao .573, Chris Kamen .573, Derrick Favors .568, Tiago Splitter .562, Samuel Dalembert .551, Kosta Koufos .549, Roy Hibbert .542, Greg Monroe .536, Marcin Gortat .531.

Rookies: Carter-Williams .559, Steven Adams .489, McCollum .481, Mason Plumlee .468, Rudy Gobert .448, Vitor Faverani .437, Alex Len .426, Giannis Antetokounmpo .425, Trey Burke .419, Kelly Olynyk .417, Victor Oladipo .399, Tim Hardaway Jr. .371, Cody Zeller .369, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope .274, Archie Goodwin .256, Tony Snell .250, Shane Larkin .248, Ben McLemore .247, Ray McCallum .227, Dennis Schroeder .222, Otto Porter Jr. .211, Anthony Bennett .165, Shabazz Muhammad .098.

Wednesday's Summer League stars; Hickson, Lucas, Plaisted, Cousins, & Gilder

The Player of the Day in Las Vegas Wednesday was J.J. Hickson who went ballistic for the Cavs with 34 points (12-19 FG, 10-13 FT) and nine rebounds.  The athletic Power Forward who is legal to place a wager in Vegas at age 21 was dominant in the Cavs 93-82 win over the summer Suns. 

We watched in the stands among the Kings brass as Sacramento rallied late to defeat the Timberwolves 79-78. DeMarcus Cousins (pictured) had his best game of the LVSL to date - positing a game EFR of .800. Cousins had 22 points, 12 boards, and five assists - leading the Kings in each category (Tyrese Rice also had five assists). 


While it was fun to see Cousins show off - I was disappointed in a couple things for Sac. First, and foremost - Donte Greene was being guarded by Lazar Hayward who is at least four, maybe five inches shorter - but Greene never dragged Hayward into the post and demanded the ball. Greene, if he is ever to establish himself as a CONSISTENT pro, must change his game to inside-out, rather than outside-in. Greene can realistically be a match-up nightmare but much of that is on him. He has to recognize when he has a physical edge and then he needs to place himself in position to take advantage. 


My second disappointment of Wednesday's Kings game was the tendency I've noticed for Omri Casspi to not share the ball. Pass that thing Omri! If a teammate is out in front of you - give up the pill. The fun police may have to arrest Casspi soon if he doesn't start sharing the sugar. 


Our BasslineSpin Las Vegas Summer League All Day Six Team (with game efficiency rating). PG: John Lucas III - CHI .962, SG: DeMar DeRozan - TOR .772, SF: Trey Gilder - ATL .772, PF: Hickson - CLE .970, C: Cousins - SAC .800. Bench: Guards: Ish Smith - HOU .730, Toney Douglas - NYK .652, Alonzo Gee - SA .647. Forwards: Trent Plaisted - CHI .952, Jordan Hill - HOU .718, Centers: Garrett Siler - MIA .772, Solomon Alabi - TOR .750.

Athletes abound. ...Summer League notebook - day five.

Notes from Tuesday’s NBA Las Vegas Summer League games. ...Ty Lawson (pictured at left) was schooling. He put on a Point Guard clinic - getting anywhere he wanted to go. If left open - he made shots. Lawson's 18 points, three rebounds, and four assists came in just 20 minutes as Denver waxed Chicago 99-71.  Lawson's Nuggets have yet to lose, bettering their mark to 4-0.

One player I didn’t know much about at all that has impressed me is Shane Edwards of the summer Nuggets. He runs the floor and finishes very well.

D.J. Strawberry impressed me Tuesday in the Las Vegas Summer League with his ability to apply pressure as a defender. He is a menace. ...Likewise the Kings’ Hassan Whiteside is having an impact by either blocking or changing opponents shots. ...I loved Wayne Chism stepping up to take a charge, just as he routinely did at Tennessee. ...Pooh Jeter looked like a certified NBA Point Guard Tuesday. His shot has improved and he already has the ability to run a team.

It’s too bad I never hear anything good about Joey Dorsey’s work ethic because the guy is a highly efficient BIG. I can’t remember the last time a summer team with Dorsey in the middle lost a game.

…We have watched 35 summer league contests from Orlando or Vegas in the last nine days.

Our Player of the Day for day five of the Las Vegas Summer League was DeMar DeRozan. The Raptors sophomore tore it up with 23 points (10-15 FG), and five rebounds in just 20 minutes - helping his team beat the summer Rockets 100-91. DeRozan is among the best athletes participating in Las Vegas but there is no shortage of high flying cats.

Rookie Terrico White - who is balling with the Pistons - sports a 40” vertical jump (and a sickening 3.7% body fat). Were we fielding a track team out of the athletes in Vegas - our club would have to include Ronald Dupree, DeRon Washington, Eric Bledsoe, Sonny Weems, and J.R. Giddens. Sprinters might be Roddy Beaubois, Ish Smith, John Wall, and Darren Collison.

Our “All Day Five Las Vegas Summer League Team” (their game efficiency rating). PG: Ty Lawson - DEN 1.000, SG: Mark Tyndale - DLS .739, SF: DeRozan - TOR 1.15, PF: Larry Sanders - MIL .764, C: Dorsey - TOR 1.142. Bench: Guards: Bobby Brown - TOR .814, John Lucas III - CHI .727, Aubrey Coleman - NO .678, Forwards: Tasmin Mitchell - CLE .789, Othella Hunter - DEN .700. Centers: DeMarcus Cousins - SAC .677, Courtney Sims - LAL .677.

Player profiles: Bledsoe, Cousins, Downey, Marcus Johnson, D Jones, D Lewis, Patterson, Stepheson, Wall, Zoubek

New player profiles for the 2010 NBA Draft are linked here: Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Devan Downey, Marcus Johnson, Dominique Jones, Dwight Lewis, Patrick Patterson, Alex Stepheson, John Wall & Brian Zoubek.

The Sweet 16. Players to watch from an NBA scouting perspective.

1. DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 6'11" 260 Frosh. ... He is the the most efficient player in college hoops. He is a big kid with an NBA body. He has a back-to-the-basket post game and he possesses quick hands. He WILL score anywhere close to the hoop. He has excellent footwork and he uses his massive body to put defenders in bad positions. With his combo of size and his 'mean streak' - I truly believe that as a FRESHMAN - DeMarcus Cousins is the biggest, baddest player in college basketball. 


2. John Wall - Kentucky 6'4" 195 Frosh. ... John Wall is a game changer. He is a dynamo! Electrifying. ...Wall plays with a smile on his face - usually because he is owning the game. He makes difficult plays look routine. He is simply too fast with the ball for defenders to react to. ...Right handed but has a left. He wants to run, run, and run some more. He makes quick decisions and whips the ball inside. He gets involved as a help defender. He can shake off defenders with his quickness, ball handling ability and his wide array of moves. ...His weaknesses include a penchant to play too fast for his teammates and occasionally pouting. ...From Raleigh, NC. …Dished eleven assists in the 2009 Hoop Summit game for USA Basketball. Ranked the No. 1 overall prospect of 2009 by Rivals.com.

3. Evan Turner - Ohio St. - 6'6" 175. Jr. ... Turner is one of those kids that just looks like a pro. He plays like one too. This season, the clutch player scored 20 points per game while dishing six assists and grabbing nine boards each time he laced his sneakers. He led Ohio State to the Big Ten championship and was rightfully named a first-team All-American. ...He is versatile with the ability to handle the ball, shoot, and rebound. He has a post game. ...Can score by creating his own. He can be turnover prone and he may not be ready to be a Point Guard in the NBA (being defended by small guards with quick hands have given him trouble). His assist-to-turnover ratio has improved with each season - now at 1.42-to-1. He has some grit and will accept a challenge. He will battle inside for rebounds. …A personal favorite of mine. He can create his own shot in the same manner as Paul Pierce. ...See his huge game winning shot in the 2010 Big Ten Tourney.

4. LaceDarius Dunn - Baylor 6'4" 196 Jr. ... Since the NCAA Tournament features the best teams - not surprisingly - it also features some of my favorite players. …LaceDarius Dunn is a shooting Guard that really came alive in the N.I.T. Tournament at the close of the 2008-09 season. He carried that momentum into this campaign and he never let up. Dunn is a scorer that does have a questionable shot selection but he also makes things happen with his aggressiveness. He just cannot be denied as a scorer. This season he averaged 19 points, five rebounds and two assists per game. His percentages are impressive at .425 from beyond the arc, and .860 at the line. ...He is good at splitting a double team with his dribble. He is an excellent shooter that barely raises up on his toes at the release point. Right handed. ...He has improved his scoring average with each season at Baylor. ...He has great speed. ...He will get a technical foul now and again. ...Dunn reacts quickly and sometimes gets by on his athleticism as opposed to moving without the ball. ... I also think he could be more alert as a defender. ...Overall though - I like Dunn as a big shot taker and maker. ...In high school: Led Excelsior Christian School (Monroe, La.) to 118-9 record and one state championship over final three prep seasons.

5. Devin Ebanks - West Virginia - 6'9" 205. Soph. ... Right now Ebanks sticks out due to his NBA body and ability to rebound the ball. He can run the floor, dribble drive, create his own shot and pull up for the mid-range jumper with defenders in his face. He reads plays and slashes at opportune times. ...He has gotten stronger already - making a noticeable improvement in his thin frame this year under Bob Huggins. ...Some players simply have a nose for the ball - and this kid fits that description. …Versatile. He can guard four positions. ...Long. Right-handed. ...Good hands. ...Finds the gaps in a defense and puts himself in a position to score. ...Can slash. ...Nimble, and athletic. ...Has the ability to finish. Smooth. ...He has a short torso and long legs. Ebanks - if he can improve his deep shooting - will be a SF at the next level.

6. Gordon Hayward - Butler - 6'8" 180. Soph. ...Among the most polished players is Gordon Hayward, the 2009-10 Horizon League Player of the Year. He is a 6'8" kid that has guard-like skills due to a late growth spurt. As a high school freshman the right-hander stood 5'11". By his Senior season as a prep he was 6'8"! He can dribble, pass, and shoot (with a soft touch), and as his body matures (weight gain) he is catching up to the competition in the physical sense. A smooth wing player that makes smart decisions, Hayward also brings experience in the form of a past USA Basketball U-19 stint. ...Used occasionally to bring the ball up the floor. ...He posted sophomore averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. His career Butler shooting numbers of 48% FG, and 82 % FT are rock solid. ...Was also an excellent tennis player in high school.

7. Kyle Singler - Duke - 6'8" 220. Jr. ...Singler is a scrappy Small Forward that never ceases to amaze with his smarts, boundless energy, and relentless hustle. He was the 2010 ACC Tournament MVP after averaging 21.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while leading Duke to its ninth ACC Championship in the last 12 seasons. He shoots the three well, and he is a great free throw shooter. He rebounds, he scores. ...Named a finalist for the 2010 Wooden Award. ...Singler seems to be mentally a step ahead of other players. He reads offensive situations and then makes the proper cut at the precise time to help his team. He is unselfish. …Limited in taking players off the dribble but he does possess a great shot fake that he uses to get free. ...He has range out to the three point line which helps spread any defense. …Focused. ...High hoops I.Q. …Singler is Duke's most well rounded player.

8. Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 6'7" 198 Jr. ... Wes Johnson is the man most often given credit for the great year that the Orange have enjoyed. He is the 2009-10 Big East Player of the Year. He scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had two assists per game this season. Johnson transferred from Iowa State and sat out the entire 2008-09. ...He can create his own shot and is said to be the hardest worker on his team. He can knock down contested shots due to his supreme athleticism. ...Has great body control. ...Plays the game with a smile on his face. ...Provides energy and ability. ...Shot 49% FG, 79% FT, and 39% 3pt. this season.

9. Kevin Jones - West Virginia 6'8" 250 Soph. ...Kevin Jones is everywhere! He is one of those players that has a nose for action. His coach Bob Huggins says he is a great kid that he does not have to worry about. He is never late and he knows all the plays. …He is strong and at this stage of his career he is more of a Power Forward really. He finishes well in transition. He might remind you of a Corey Maggette (but not as athletic at same age). ...At the next level, Jones will likely find himself playing Small Forward. …He does have ability to score from both inside and outside. As a sophomore - his averages are ten points, and six rebounds per game. ...He is an athletic right handed player but his speed is not great. He also needs to become a better ball handler as we've seen him struggle to handle intense ball pressure.

10. Draymond Green - Michigan State 6'6" 235 Soph. ...One of the most intriguing prospects in the NCAA is Draymond Green. Green is an undersized forward at 6'6" but he makes up for any lack of height with his savvy, and leadership. Known as "the Dancing Bear" to his teammates, Green has drawn comparisons to Charles Barkley from Illinois coach Bruce Weber. You do not see many PF's that own a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. However Green - in his career to date as a Spartan, has 136 assists and 83 turnovers. ...He shoots 55% from the field and scores ten points per game. He also will grab eight rebounds each time he hits the floor. ...Led Saginaw High School to Michigan Class A State Championship two straight years as a junior and senior respectively. Here is the article where Weber references Barkley.

11. Jamar Samuels - Kansas St. 6'7" 215 Soph. ...Samuels is another guy that is really playing Power Forward but will most likely need to transition to SF if he makes it to the NBA. ...He has a big NBA body with long arms. ...Averaging 12 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes per game this season. ...Right handed. …He can hit a three point shot but does not attempt many (19-46 41% this season). ...Was redshirt as a freshman. ...Played on the AAU circuit with the DC Assault alongside Michael Beasley. ...You can follow Jamar on Twitter.

12. Raymar Morgan - Michigan St. 6'7" 220. SR. ...Raymar Morgan is a player worth keeping an eye on now that he is healthy. Past ills have kept him from performing at his best but this year Morgan was solid - posting 12 points and six rebounds per game. As a Senior he also has more assists than turnovers for the first time in his career ( a sign that the light bulb may be turning on). ...For his career - he shoots 53% FG - which translates to a guy that takes good shots. ...He can defend Small Forwards and that should be his natural NBA position but he struggles with his perimeter shooting (just 29% from the college three this year). …A good athlete with terrific speed. He rebounds outside his area.

13. Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 6'8" 230 ... Patterson is one of three potential first round draft picks that Kentucky has on their ridiculously talented roster. …Patterson is the least spectacular but surely the most steady of the three. ...He plays a mature game and seldom tries to deviate from what he knows he can accomplish. He has recently become a much better perimeter shooter and now extends his range beyond the college three point line. His most dependable look in the NBA will be hitting the face-up 17 footer which he already does very well. His 73% free throw number backs up his nice touch for a BIG. ...Excellent finisher around the basket that shoots a high percentage (59% FG). …Wingspan is 7'1". ...Right handed. ...Good hands and soft touch. ...Patterson is a guy I trust.

14. Brian Zoubek - Duke 7'1" 280. SR. ... It would be hard to find a better teammate BIG than Brian Zoubek. He sets a wicked screen. He takes charges. He rarely tries to do anything outside of his skill-set. He only plays 18 minutes per game but he scores five points and grabs seven boards during that span. ...He is a legit 7'1" 280, and he CAN impact a college contest with his mere presence. ...Shoots 59%FG for his career at Duke. In 2006 as a high school SR he was on the Jordan All-America team, and was named 2006 New Jersey Player of the Year.

15. Quincy Pondexter - Washington 6'7" 220 SR. ... Pondexter is a player I like. He has superior energy and always seems to give an honest effort. He was named first team All-Pac-10 as well as being named to the Pac-10 All-Tournament Team. ...Pondexter is an alert swingman/scorer that I think will be more of a TWO than a THREE in the NBA. He set a Pac-10 record with five player of the week honors this season. He scored 19.8 ppg (second in Pac 10) this season. .…He is said to be a hard worker - winning the team's "hardest worker" award two years in a row from 2007-08 through 2008-09 (both seasons included Jon Brockman as a teammate). …Pondexter is feisty. …Quick jumper. ...A good but not GREAT athlete. ...Good defender. A 2006 graduate of San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, CA where he played with the Lopez twins. His father, Roscoe, played college basketball for Lute Olson at Long Beach State before being drafted in the third round of the 1974 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, the 53rd pick overall ... Roscoe played 10 years of professional basketball overseas.

16. Omar Samhan - St. Mary's 6'11" 265 SR. ... Omar Samhan makes me shake my head. He shouldn't be as effective as he is. He is a shining example of how hard work can make you an effective player. Samhan led the West Coast Conference in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. …He does not run that well. He looks awkward. But at the end of a game - Samhan has his average of 21 points. ...He does not "show and recover" well - which will most likely prevent him from being an NBA Center. ...By all accounts - Samhan is a GREAT kid. ...Known as a hard worker that lost weight and changed his body by working out in the summer.

Plus 16 more: Jordan Eglseder - Northern Iowa, Jon Scheyer - Duke, De'Sean Butler - West Virginia, Jordan Crawford - Xavier, Rick Jackson - Syracuse, Matt Howard - Butler, Wayne Chism - Tennessee, Kris Joseph - Syracuse, Quincy Acy - Baylor, Jason Love - Xavier, JaJuan Johnson - Purdue, Curtis Kelly - Kansas St., Arinze Onuaku - Syracuse, Jeff Foote - Cornell, J.P. Prince - Tennessee, William Buford - Ohio St.