Who helped themselves at the PIT?
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Monday, April 12
The Portsmouth Invitational ended Saturday along with the NBA dreams of many college seniors. Scouts and league executives identified only a handful of players who have a shot at getting drafted.
Only a few of the top players from Portsmouth actually will be invited to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago. Most of the top seniors who skipped the PIT will play in Chicago. So will many of the bubble underclassmen and foreign players. That leaves anywhere from 10-12 Chicago slots for PIT players. In the next few weeks, each team will send the NBA a list of the 60 players it would like to see in Chicago. The NBA tabulates the results, and the players with the most votes get invitations.
After talking with numerous NBA scouts and league executives, here's a look at the PIT players with the best chance to get a coveted invitation to the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp, which opens June 1:
Brown
Andre Brown, PF, DePaul: The former McDonald's All-American had a lackluster four years at DePaul, but he did a lot to make up for that by averaging 18.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg at the PIT. In a draft where big men come at a premium, Brown's size, athleticism and ability to clean the glass will earn him another long look in Chicago and the chance to become a second-round pick.
Bryant Matthews, SF, Virginia Tech: He led the Big East in scoring last year, averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds. He's a big time athlete who, unfortunately, had to spend much of his time at Virginia Tech playing in the paint. He rarely shot 3s or handled the ball. That earned him the knock as an undersized power forward -- a death knell in the NBA. However, his coach at Tech, Seth Greenberg, claims he was forced to play Matthews inside, because he needed a player who could draw a double team. "He can do more than that." He proved that at the PIT by handling the ball and shooting well (though his 3-point shot was still coming up short). His 18 ppg were enough to give him another look in Chicago.
Nigel Dixon, C, Western Kentucky: His numbers at the PIT don't jump out at you, but Dixon was the most legit NBA center prospect here. He has great size and uses it to his advantage. He's still raw, and scouts will always worry about his weight (he ballooned to more than 400 pounds a few years ago), but he does what too few college big men can do these days -- bang in the paint. If he stays in shape, he'll be a sleeper.
Farmer
Desmon Farmer, G, Southern California: Farmer's energy, combined with a scintillating 29-point performance at the PIT and a solid career at USC, will earn him a spot in Chicago. The biggest knock on Farmer throughout his career has been his perimeter shooting (he went 0-12 vs. Arizona from the collegiate 3-point line in the last game of the season). He's been working on his shot, and it showed in Portsmouth. If he can get it falling in Chicago, he's an intriguing second-round pick.
Nate Williams, C, Georgia State: Williams showed great talent in his four years at Georgia State. What he lacked was consistent effort on both ends of the floor. His 19 ppg and 7.5 rpg here should be enough to get him a second look in Chicago. He's still not a great rebounder and still needs to add more strength, but he has upside. There are very few seniors you can say that about these days.
Michel Morandais, SG, Colorado: Morandais is another athletic kid who proved to be one of the most reliable scoring options at the PIT. Morandais led all scorers here, averaging 20.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Morandais is a great athlete who has a tremendous in-between game, a la Richard Hamilton. The fact he already is 24 years old may scare away some folks, however.
Burks
Antonio Burks, PG, Memphis: Burks didn't have the best tournament, but a 16-point, 10-assist game Saturday went a long way for scouts. Regardless of how he played here, many scouts believe he's a legit NBA prospect. He'll get another shot in Chicago and is a likely second-round pick.
Ricky Minard, SG, Morehead State: Minard had two big-time scoring performances and ended the tournament averaging 17.3 ppg. The biggest question with him is position. He's 6-foot-4 (if that) and has played the two spot for most of his career. He's an excellent ball handler and knows how to find the open man (he averaged 5.1 apg). Could he make the flip to point guard in the pros? One scout claimed Minard reminded him a little of Ronald Murray -- a PIT darling two years ago.
Jackson Vroman, C, Iowa State: Vroman was the best-scoring big man in the group, averaging 19.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg for the tournament. The questions about size and athleticism will haunt him in the draft however. Vroman is only 6-10 and doesn't have the quickness to play anywhere but in the paint.
Erik Daniels, SF, Kentucky: Daniels, like Kentucky's two other seniors, got lost in Tubby Smith's system and is now trying to emerge from the scrum. He averaged 16 ppg in the tournament and drew praise for his hustle, defense and knowledge of the game. He's a good athlete but will have to improve his strength and perimeter shooting to have a real shot at getting drafted.
Luis Flores, PG/SG, Manhattan: Flores did little to show he was a point guard here, but he's such a great, quick scorer that he's sure to get another look in Chicago. The Bobby Jackson comparisons won't stop, which means lots of people will take a serious look at him in Chicago.
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Monday, April 12
The Portsmouth Invitational ended Saturday along with the NBA dreams of many college seniors. Scouts and league executives identified only a handful of players who have a shot at getting drafted.
Only a few of the top players from Portsmouth actually will be invited to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago. Most of the top seniors who skipped the PIT will play in Chicago. So will many of the bubble underclassmen and foreign players. That leaves anywhere from 10-12 Chicago slots for PIT players. In the next few weeks, each team will send the NBA a list of the 60 players it would like to see in Chicago. The NBA tabulates the results, and the players with the most votes get invitations.
After talking with numerous NBA scouts and league executives, here's a look at the PIT players with the best chance to get a coveted invitation to the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp, which opens June 1:
Brown
Andre Brown, PF, DePaul: The former McDonald's All-American had a lackluster four years at DePaul, but he did a lot to make up for that by averaging 18.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg at the PIT. In a draft where big men come at a premium, Brown's size, athleticism and ability to clean the glass will earn him another long look in Chicago and the chance to become a second-round pick.
Bryant Matthews, SF, Virginia Tech: He led the Big East in scoring last year, averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds. He's a big time athlete who, unfortunately, had to spend much of his time at Virginia Tech playing in the paint. He rarely shot 3s or handled the ball. That earned him the knock as an undersized power forward -- a death knell in the NBA. However, his coach at Tech, Seth Greenberg, claims he was forced to play Matthews inside, because he needed a player who could draw a double team. "He can do more than that." He proved that at the PIT by handling the ball and shooting well (though his 3-point shot was still coming up short). His 18 ppg were enough to give him another look in Chicago.
Nigel Dixon, C, Western Kentucky: His numbers at the PIT don't jump out at you, but Dixon was the most legit NBA center prospect here. He has great size and uses it to his advantage. He's still raw, and scouts will always worry about his weight (he ballooned to more than 400 pounds a few years ago), but he does what too few college big men can do these days -- bang in the paint. If he stays in shape, he'll be a sleeper.
Farmer
Desmon Farmer, G, Southern California: Farmer's energy, combined with a scintillating 29-point performance at the PIT and a solid career at USC, will earn him a spot in Chicago. The biggest knock on Farmer throughout his career has been his perimeter shooting (he went 0-12 vs. Arizona from the collegiate 3-point line in the last game of the season). He's been working on his shot, and it showed in Portsmouth. If he can get it falling in Chicago, he's an intriguing second-round pick.
Nate Williams, C, Georgia State: Williams showed great talent in his four years at Georgia State. What he lacked was consistent effort on both ends of the floor. His 19 ppg and 7.5 rpg here should be enough to get him a second look in Chicago. He's still not a great rebounder and still needs to add more strength, but he has upside. There are very few seniors you can say that about these days.
Michel Morandais, SG, Colorado: Morandais is another athletic kid who proved to be one of the most reliable scoring options at the PIT. Morandais led all scorers here, averaging 20.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Morandais is a great athlete who has a tremendous in-between game, a la Richard Hamilton. The fact he already is 24 years old may scare away some folks, however.
Burks
Antonio Burks, PG, Memphis: Burks didn't have the best tournament, but a 16-point, 10-assist game Saturday went a long way for scouts. Regardless of how he played here, many scouts believe he's a legit NBA prospect. He'll get another shot in Chicago and is a likely second-round pick.
Ricky Minard, SG, Morehead State: Minard had two big-time scoring performances and ended the tournament averaging 17.3 ppg. The biggest question with him is position. He's 6-foot-4 (if that) and has played the two spot for most of his career. He's an excellent ball handler and knows how to find the open man (he averaged 5.1 apg). Could he make the flip to point guard in the pros? One scout claimed Minard reminded him a little of Ronald Murray -- a PIT darling two years ago.
Jackson Vroman, C, Iowa State: Vroman was the best-scoring big man in the group, averaging 19.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg for the tournament. The questions about size and athleticism will haunt him in the draft however. Vroman is only 6-10 and doesn't have the quickness to play anywhere but in the paint.
Erik Daniels, SF, Kentucky: Daniels, like Kentucky's two other seniors, got lost in Tubby Smith's system and is now trying to emerge from the scrum. He averaged 16 ppg in the tournament and drew praise for his hustle, defense and knowledge of the game. He's a good athlete but will have to improve his strength and perimeter shooting to have a real shot at getting drafted.
Luis Flores, PG/SG, Manhattan: Flores did little to show he was a point guard here, but he's such a great, quick scorer that he's sure to get another look in Chicago. The Bobby Jackson comparisons won't stop, which means lots of people will take a serious look at him in Chicago.
