George O'Brien
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Almamea Times
NBA monitors Childress, Nelson
THE 2003 NCAA Tournament will be remembered in NBA circles as the one that cast a spotlight on a budding superstar, Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony. But looking back, there was a lot more to it than that.
This year's NBA rookie crop has been one of the most productive of all-time -- thanks in large part, of course, to teenage sensation LeBron James. But just about every other guy who has made a big splash in his first NBA season in 2003-04 -- Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, Jarvis Hayes -- joined Anthony in being products of last year's NCAA Tournament.
Is college basketball making a comeback right under our very noses? You can bet NBA scouts will pay a little closer attention these next three weeks. Here's what we know so far: Connecticut big man Emeka Okafor enters the tournament as the college game's top prospect. He's set the bar at a certain level -- expect him to be the next Adonal Foyle. But someone's got to be better than that, right?
Here are 10 guys upon whom I suggest concentrating:
Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's point guard. The little guy worked out for NBA teams last May while contemplating a jump, then returned to St. Joe for his senior season. Wise choice. Those who like him compare him to Tim Hardaway. Those who don't say he's the next Damon Stoudamire.
I say: What's wrong with Damon Stoudamire? Chris Paul, Wake Forest point guard. The same program that produced this year's NBA rookie surprise (Howard) has another gem developing.
Paul is just a freshman, but already grasps the NBA-style game in terms of getting into the lane and finding an open man.
The NBA already has a lot of Speedy Claxtons, but Paul can light it up from the outside, too. Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech point guard.
The Atlanta school has a pretty good history of churning out point guards. This one's a little taller than Kenny Anderson and Stephon Marbury, and just might be every bit as good. Rashad McCants, North Carolina big guard.
The sophomore appears headed to the NBA, but this should be his gauge: If he can dominate Air Force in Round 1 later this week, he's free to go; but if he gets frustrated by the Falcons' style and looks like just another player, he really ought to give Roy Williams one more season to work his magic.
Andre Iguodala, Arizona small forward. With all the stay-in-school talk, this guy's a living, breathing argument for getting out as early as possible.
Iguodala is an NBA-type athlete who might not be much more than that. The longer he hangs around college, the more likely it'll be that potential employers will figure that out.
Sean Banks, Memphis small forward. He hasn't done much with it, but John Calipari has recruited some big-time talent since returning to the college game. Banks, a 6-foot-8 freshman, is one of the best. He reminds me of Sean Elliott -- someone who can hit a jumper and also has a keen ability to get off his shots in traffic.
Josh Childress, Stanford small forward. To call him Stanford's best prospect in my lifetime really isn't saying much. Who's the competition, Brevin Knight?
Luol Deng, Duke small forward. It wasn't long ago that Duke had the reputation of turning out NBA disappointments. Now when you ponder one of Mike Krzyzewski's big men, you presume he's underrated because the team has so many talented guards.
Remember Carlos Boozer? Deng is a far better prospect.
Chris Taft, Pittsburgh power forward. You want to know why the Panthers are an elite team again after having lost key personnel and their coach last off-season?
It's this freshman, whose ability to post up and command a double-team makes everyone around him better.
Every pro team could use a guy like that. Paul Davis, Michigan State center. If the Spartans make any kind of a run, this guy's stock is bound to rise.
He is, after all, 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds. That's all it takes to start on some NBA teams.
Coast to coast
Among those you won't find on my list: Connecticut guard Ben Gordon (after proving he's a mediocre big guard in college, he hopes to switch over to the point in the NBA), Wisconsin guard Devin Harris (some say he has developed out of nowhere; I say the Big Ten was down this year), Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick (he has one skill -- he can jump; most NBA players can) and Gonzaga forward Ronny Turiaf (rumor has it he already has signed with a foreign agent -- fitting because he has Italian League-level skills).
Anthony was a part of NBA history earlier this month when he scored eight points in a home loss to Detroit. He was one of six Nuggets tying for team-high scoring honors -- the first time ever a team has failed to produce a double-digit scorer.
Here's one reason why the NBA cares what its players do with their money: foreign-born Kings center Vlade Divac is the managing general partner of a professional team in Serbia and Montenegro -- one that could prohibit star Kosta Perovic from joining the NBA.
NBA monitors Childress, Nelson
THE 2003 NCAA Tournament will be remembered in NBA circles as the one that cast a spotlight on a budding superstar, Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony. But looking back, there was a lot more to it than that.
This year's NBA rookie crop has been one of the most productive of all-time -- thanks in large part, of course, to teenage sensation LeBron James. But just about every other guy who has made a big splash in his first NBA season in 2003-04 -- Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, Jarvis Hayes -- joined Anthony in being products of last year's NCAA Tournament.
Is college basketball making a comeback right under our very noses? You can bet NBA scouts will pay a little closer attention these next three weeks. Here's what we know so far: Connecticut big man Emeka Okafor enters the tournament as the college game's top prospect. He's set the bar at a certain level -- expect him to be the next Adonal Foyle. But someone's got to be better than that, right?
Here are 10 guys upon whom I suggest concentrating:
Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's point guard. The little guy worked out for NBA teams last May while contemplating a jump, then returned to St. Joe for his senior season. Wise choice. Those who like him compare him to Tim Hardaway. Those who don't say he's the next Damon Stoudamire.
I say: What's wrong with Damon Stoudamire? Chris Paul, Wake Forest point guard. The same program that produced this year's NBA rookie surprise (Howard) has another gem developing.
Paul is just a freshman, but already grasps the NBA-style game in terms of getting into the lane and finding an open man.
The NBA already has a lot of Speedy Claxtons, but Paul can light it up from the outside, too. Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech point guard.
The Atlanta school has a pretty good history of churning out point guards. This one's a little taller than Kenny Anderson and Stephon Marbury, and just might be every bit as good. Rashad McCants, North Carolina big guard.
The sophomore appears headed to the NBA, but this should be his gauge: If he can dominate Air Force in Round 1 later this week, he's free to go; but if he gets frustrated by the Falcons' style and looks like just another player, he really ought to give Roy Williams one more season to work his magic.
Andre Iguodala, Arizona small forward. With all the stay-in-school talk, this guy's a living, breathing argument for getting out as early as possible.
Iguodala is an NBA-type athlete who might not be much more than that. The longer he hangs around college, the more likely it'll be that potential employers will figure that out.
Sean Banks, Memphis small forward. He hasn't done much with it, but John Calipari has recruited some big-time talent since returning to the college game. Banks, a 6-foot-8 freshman, is one of the best. He reminds me of Sean Elliott -- someone who can hit a jumper and also has a keen ability to get off his shots in traffic.
Josh Childress, Stanford small forward. To call him Stanford's best prospect in my lifetime really isn't saying much. Who's the competition, Brevin Knight?
Luol Deng, Duke small forward. It wasn't long ago that Duke had the reputation of turning out NBA disappointments. Now when you ponder one of Mike Krzyzewski's big men, you presume he's underrated because the team has so many talented guards.
Remember Carlos Boozer? Deng is a far better prospect.
Chris Taft, Pittsburgh power forward. You want to know why the Panthers are an elite team again after having lost key personnel and their coach last off-season?
It's this freshman, whose ability to post up and command a double-team makes everyone around him better.
Every pro team could use a guy like that. Paul Davis, Michigan State center. If the Spartans make any kind of a run, this guy's stock is bound to rise.
He is, after all, 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds. That's all it takes to start on some NBA teams.
Coast to coast
Among those you won't find on my list: Connecticut guard Ben Gordon (after proving he's a mediocre big guard in college, he hopes to switch over to the point in the NBA), Wisconsin guard Devin Harris (some say he has developed out of nowhere; I say the Big Ten was down this year), Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick (he has one skill -- he can jump; most NBA players can) and Gonzaga forward Ronny Turiaf (rumor has it he already has signed with a foreign agent -- fitting because he has Italian League-level skills).
Anthony was a part of NBA history earlier this month when he scored eight points in a home loss to Detroit. He was one of six Nuggets tying for team-high scoring honors -- the first time ever a team has failed to produce a double-digit scorer.
Here's one reason why the NBA cares what its players do with their money: foreign-born Kings center Vlade Divac is the managing general partner of a professional team in Serbia and Montenegro -- one that could prohibit star Kosta Perovic from joining the NBA.
