NBA thumbnail capsules of top potential draft picks
Published 2:10 am Wednesday, June 22, 2011
2011 NBA draft capsules
A thumbnail look at potential first-round selections for the NBA draft to be held on Thursday:
Bismack Biyombo, f, Fuenlabrada (Spain)
6-9, 243. … 6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg
An early entry. … Has 7-foot-7 wingspan. … Has the skills to dominate defensively. … Hustles around the boards. … Is a high-energy player. … Offensive game needs a lot of work. … Fundamentals and technique are severely lacking in the low post.
Marshon Brooks, g, Providence
6-5, 195. … 24.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg
Stock rose with an impressive showing at the Chicago pre-draft camp. … Ranked second in the nation in scoring. … Can create his own shot. … Has NBA 3-point range. … Terrific rebounder for his size. … Shot selection is questionable. … Averaged more turnovers than assists.
Alec Burks, g, Colorado
6-6, 193. … 20.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Set the single-season scoring record of 779 points while helping the Buffaloes reach the NIT semifinals. … An athletic slasher. … Solid ball handler and shows some point guard abilities. … Good rebounder. … Needs to bulk up. … Needs to improve his range outside 15 feet.
Kenneth Faried, f, Morehead State
6-8, 225. … 17.3 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg
A two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. … Broke Tim Duncan’s modern-era Division I rebounding record in 2010-11, finishing his career with 1,673. … Not a great shooter, but good a defender. … Excels doing the dirty work under the boards. … Needs to develop offensive post skills. … Poor free-throw shooter.
Jimmer Fredette, g, BYU
6-3, 196. … 28.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg; 4.3 apg
The consensus National Player of the Year. … Led the NCAA in scoring. … A very good shooter who can do damage off the dribble. … Has a quick release. … Tough mentally and physically. … Excellent free-throw shooter. … Needs to work on defense. … Assist-to-turnover ratio (4.3 to 3.5) was poor.
Andrew Goudelock, g, College of Charleston
6-2, 198. … 23.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.2 apg
The Cougars’ all-time leading scorer and Southern Conference Player of the Year. … A quick combo guard. … Hard to defend. … Has a lethal shooting stroke with NBA range. … Solid defender. … Undersized for the shooting guard position. … Turnover prone.
Jordan Hamilton, f, Texas
6-9, 228. … 18.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Versatile scorer. … Great size, can post up smaller defenders. … Has NBA 3-point range. … Strong rebounder. … Solid open-court player. … Settles for the jumper too often, therefore doesn’t get to the line much. … Below average defensive lateral quickness.
Justin Harper, f, Richmond
6-9, 228. … 17.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg
A combo forward. … Excellent speed and agility on the offensive side. … Has sweet stroke up to NBA 3-point range. … Can create shots off the dribble. … Needs to improve offensive post game. … Will have to get stronger to defend post players. … Needs to improve lateral speed to defend speedy small forwards.
Tobias Harris, f, Tennessee
6-8, 220. … 15.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Showed the flexibility to play small forward, power forward and shooting guard. … Has a high basketball IQ. … Can put the ball on the floor. … Needs to improve his outside shot. … Needs to develop a post game. … Turns 19 on July 15.
Tyler Honeycutt, g-f, UCLA
6-8, 187. … 12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Very athletic. … Can block shots. … Shoots the ball extremely well. … Versatile wing player. … Hard worker. … Biggest concern is his slender frame. … Needs to improve ball-handling skills. … Needs to increase the range on his jump shot.
Kyrie Irving, g, Duke
6-4, 191. … 17.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.3 apg
A freshman early entry. … The consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft. … Quick and explosive. … Great vision and passing ability. … Efficient shooter with range out to the NBA 3. … Tends to over dribble at times. … Played 11 games after missing 26 games with a toe injury.
Reggie Jackson, g, Boston College
6-3, 200. … 18.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.5 apg
A sophomore early entry. … This point guard has a 7-foot wingspan! … Great quickness and speed. … His size and length make him a defensive threat. … Not a true point guard. … Needs to improve his court awareness. … Jump shot, though improved, needs more work.
JaJuan Johnson, f, Purdue
6-10, 220. … 20.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg
A consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. … Superb athlete. … A defensive force. … Solid post game. … Quick feet on defense, but gets caught flat-footed at times. … Improved his perimeter game as a senior. … Needs work defending in the post. … Needs to get stronger and tougher to battle in the paint in the NBA.
Enes Kanter, c, Kentucky/Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey)
6-11, 260. … 18.6 ppg, 16.4 rpg
An early entry. … Had enrolled at Kentucky last year but was ruled ineligible because he had been paid to play professionally in Turkey. … A physical specimen. … Has soft hands and a nice shooting touch. … Can score in the paint a number of ways. … Has had a history of knee problems.
Brandon Knight, g, Kentucky
6-4, 177. … 17.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.2 apg
A freshman early entry. … He is the fourth straight freshman point guard to leave a John Calipari-coached program to go to the NBA. … Streaky shooter with NBA 3-point range. … Solid shooter off the dribble. … Terrific first step. … A smart defender. … Turnover prone. … Needs to improve his ball-handling skills.
Kawhi Leonard, f, San Diego State
6-7, 228. … 15.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. … Energetic player. … Plays mostly on the perimeter. … Terrific rebounder when he gets inside. … Defends the passing lanes well and contests shots inside. … Jump shot is inconsistent. … Gambles on the defensive end too often.
Shelvin Mack, g, Butler
6-2, 205. … 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
A junior entry. … Helped Butler reach the NCAA finals the last two seasons. … Combo guard who’s more of a scorer. … Aggressive, yet plays under control. … Strong jump shooter that can create his own shot. … Strong defender. … Not quick off the dribble. … Passing skills below average for a point guard.
Nikola Mirotic, f, Real Madrid (Spain)
6-10, 225. … 4.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
The Montenegrin is an early entry. … A power forward with the speed of a small forward. … Has a soft touch and a smooth technique. … Versatile in the paint. … Can run the floor. … For a player his size, lacks post moves. … Needs to get stronger and tougher.
Darius Morris, g, Michigan
6-4, 190. … 15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.7 apg
A sophomore early entry. … Outstanding work habits. … Broke the school’s single-season record with 235 assists and led the Big Ten with 6.71 apg. … Great size for a point guard. … Terrific passer. … Finishes strong going to the basket. … Excellent court vision. … Average defender. … Shot poorly behind the 3-point arc.
Marcus Morris, f, Kansas
6-9, 230. … 17.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg
A junior early entry. … Twin brother of Markief. … The Big 12 Player of the Year. … Can face the basket or play in the post. … Effective around the rim. … Solid midrange game. … Runs the floor well. … Short wingspan (6-foot-7). … Lacks size to mix it up in the post on next level.
Markieff Morris, f, Kansas
6-9, 241. … 13.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg
A junior early entry. … Seven minutes older than twin Marcus. … Led the Big 12 in field goal percentage and rebounding. … Possesses an NBA body. … Can finish around the rim. … Aggressive in the paint. … Efficient on the perimeter. … Midrange game nonexistent. … Limited offensive post game.
Donatas Motiejunas, f, Benetton Treviso (Italy)
7-0, 224. … 10.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg
The Lithuanian is an early entry. … A versatile left-hander. … Has great potential due to his size, agility and offensive game. … Has shown toughness to play inside. … Can play inside and knock down his outside shots. … Tends to take plays off. … Needs to add bulk for the next level.
Chandler Parsons, f, Florida
6-10, 221. … 11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg
SEC Player of the Year. … Excellent size for the small forward spot. … Terrific ball handler and decision maker. … Above average lateral quickness on defense. … Smooth shooting release. … An average first step. … Needs to develop a post game. … Needs to get stronger to take on the more physical NBA players.
Iman Shumpert, g, Georgia Tech
6-5, 222. … 17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.7 spg
A junior early entry. … Very athletic. … Explosive leaper. … Excels in the open court. … Tenacious defender. … Very good rebounder from the guard position. … Solid from the free throw line. … Poor basketball IQ. … Outside game needs work. … Forces his shot too often.
Kyle Singler, f, Duke
6-9, 228. … 16.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … High basketball IQ. … Great competitor, doesn’t back down. … Unselfish player. … Always around the ball. … Can shoot off the dribble or catch and shoot. … Could struggle on defense with his lack of athleticism. … Can have bouts of inefficient shooting.
Chris Singleton, f, Florida State
6-9, 230. … 13.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg
A junior early entry. … Explosive leaper. … Can guard many positions. … Great size and length for a small forward. … Can finish around the rim. … Missed six games in February with a fractured foot, returned for the NCAA tournament. … Inconsistent shooter. … Not a smooth ball handler.
Nolan Smith, g, Duke
6-3, 189. … 20.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.1 apg
ACC Player of the Year. … A leader. … High basketball IQ. … Attacks the basket hard. … A solid shooter on the perimeter. … Solid defender. … Lacks size to play 2-guard on next level. … Needs to improve his point guard skills. … Son of former NBA player Derek Smith.
Trey Thompkins, f, Georgia
6-10, 239. … 16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg
A junior early entry. … Led the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding each of the last two years. … High basketball IQ. … Versatile in the low post. … Good ball handler. … Finishes strong around the rim. … Needs to get leaner. … Needs to improve midrange game. … Lacks lateral movement on defense.
Klay Thompson, g, Washington State
6-7, 206. … 21.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.7 bpg
A junior early entry. … The son of former NBA star Mychal Thompson, shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range. … A pure shooter. … Plays within himself. … High basketball IQ. … Can create his own shot. … An average athlete who’s better suited for the half-court game. … Not quick off the dribble.
Tristan Thompson, f, Texas
6-9, 227. … 13.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg
A freshman early entry. … Big 12 Freshman of the Year. … Good athlete with a tremendous wingspan. … Can play both ends of the floor. … Has quick feet and uses his body well underneath. … Needs to improve his ball handling in the low post. … Horrendous at the free throw line.
Jeremy Tyler, f-c, Tokyo Apache
6-10, 262. … 9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg
An early entry out of San Diego, who played internationally in Israel and Japan. … A raw talent with a 7 foot-5 inch wingspan. … Has a soft shooting touch. … Solid footwork. … Can play high or low post. … Good range to 15 feet. … Plays a little soft. … Low basketball IQ. … A project with tremendous upside.
Jonas Valanciunas, c, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
6-10, 230. … 7.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Early entry. … Has great size and a large wingspan. … Can run the floor. … A force inside. … Terrific rebounding skills. … Competitive. … Has no offensive outside game past 10 feet. … Doesn’t create his own offense. … Foul prone. … Needs to get stronger.
Jan Vesely, f, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
6-11, 240. … 10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg
Early entry. … Efficient shooter. … Good hands. … Excels in the transition game. … Solid defender, can guard multiple positions. … Competitive, high-energy player. … Needs to improve ball handling past two dribbles. … Not much of a rebounder for his size.
Nikola Vucevic, c, Southern Cal
6-11, 260. … 17.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg
A junior early entry. … Has an NBA body. … Has made major improvements over his college career. … Can play inside or out. … A solid shooter with range up to 20 feet. … Needs to improve his low post game. … Plays below the rim. … Needs to get stronger.
Kemba Walker, g, Connecticut
6-1, 184. … 23.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg
A junior early entry. … Led UConn to an unprecedented 11 straight wins to capture the Big East and NCAA titles. … A dynamic, speedy, nearly unstoppable scoring point guard. … Gets to the free-throw line. … Assists were down as he had to take on more of a scoring role. … Height and slight frame are concerns.
Derrick Williams, f, Arizona
6-9, 248. … 19.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg
A sophomore early entry. … Pac-10 Player of the Year. … Solid footwork in the paint. … Fundamentally sound. … Uses his body well under the basket. … Hard worker. … Needs to improve his passing out of the post. … Inconsistent from the free throw line.