Article about the top prospects in the NCAA championship game.

[sunsfn]

A very good article about the top players in the championship game.
This is not an insider article!
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Prospects look ready for NBA

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By Kiki Vandeweghe
ESPN.com


While watching Monday's NCAA championship game between Florida and Ohio State, I took notice of a handful of players who will be facing a decision to go pro sooner rather than later.
When I saw the fierce competitiveness of Ohio State's Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., and that of Florida's Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, for me, unless they feel they have something left to prove in college, I saw players who are ready for the NBA draft.
Once the excitement of the tournament dies down, these players should be weighing their options by talking with those they are confident have their best interest at heart, whether it's friends, family or a coach.
And it's not just the money that motivates these decisions. We should remember that these are competitive players, who arrived at this game in part because they've spent a great deal of time looking for the best competition in their respective cities and states, motivated by challenges.
For me, I think an underemphasized motivation is, and a question they will ask themselves in the coming days:
"Am I ready to come and join the big boys?"
The answer on the court seemed to be "yes" on Monday. Here's some impressions from the title game for these five, who would all likely be lottery picks if they were to come out this year:
• Oden -- A very special player, and he demonstrated it against Florida. For three-quarters of the game, he was all they had. He got tired, but he showed the heart of a champion and kept fighting.
He was the dominant inside presence against two of the dominant inside players in college. It looks like his offensive game is coming around. It's hard to judge because he had developed his left hand this year because of his injured right hand. Now his improved left hand skills are a bonus.
Where will he land? The centerpiece of almost any team is any center. If your team has the opportunity to get that piece, you would give up quite a bit. He has the potential to be one of the best defensive centers -- if not the best -- in the league.
• Horford -- A very impressive player. Could be the best all-around big man that Florida has. Somebody you can tell is a hard worker, is well coached by Billy Donovan, and knows how to play game of basketball.
• Noah -- His presence isn't always going to show up in the stat sheet, but I think he had an impact on this game because he played so hard. He's going to have an impact on the NBA game with his fire. Playing with reckless abandon is very valuable. That gets everybody excited, and you can't help but play hard and practice hard -- it uplifts everything about a team.
• Brewer -- He's 6-8 with that great speed and all-around game. I think he's going to be a potent offensive player and a defensive stopper. They put him on Conley a lot, and he seemed to bother him with his length.
• Conley Jr. -- Very, very fast. A good shooter. Quick with the ball, great crossover dribble. Basically defenders cannot stay in front of him.
The days ahead will be busy for these players, but when a quiet time comes, it will be time for them to think about what's in their hearts.
Kobe, Duncan, Dirk and Nash are waiting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070403

 

[ma_falaa_50]

if pHx can get conley they should.

 

[Chaplin]

I would be pretty happy with Horford with our first pick and Conley with our 2nd.

 

[azirish]

I would be pretty happy with Horford with our first pick and Conley with our 2nd.

Happy doesn't go nearly far enough. Deliriously happy is closer.

 

[asudevil83]

Noah is looking more and more average with each article i read.

the best people can say about him is that he hustles and plays with energy....which is all fine and dandy, but not something that is worth going Top 5

 

[TucsonDevil]

Kiki is such a tool...

I want Conley! If we can't get Horford with the ATL pick - Please package our #5 or #6... move down to where Conley will be (#9-11?) and pick up another role player in the meantime... Conley can be groomed by Nash, come off the bench next season and give us 10-18 min a game. I would much rather take a chance with Conley than a guy named Yi...

 

[ma_falaa_50]

wasnt Kiki fired from being a GM? we shouldnt take his words to seriously.

 

[goldseraph]

I'd take Horford out of the UF guys, he has a much more polished game than Noah and will be able to score in the NBA. If Noah is ever able to develop an offensive game, he would be more valuable because of his size and motor, but his jump shots and FT's look as akward as ever.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Forget about trading down - if we have #4 #5, or #6 I draft Conley on the spot. That kid is Chris Paul ll and would instantly give us a guy to take over for Nash when he starts to slip. Plus with our small ball lineups he would get PT much like Nash did when we had Kidd and KJ in front of his in his first incarnation.

I want to get Conley for our team bad. The one guy I have cooled on is Noah. In terms of fits for our teams though he would have his most success with the Suns as a rebounder, shot blocker, and all around energy guy off the bench.

My take on the best guys available for OUR team:

Durant
Oden
Conley
Noah

I do not think Horford would be effective on the Suns and the one guy i really wanted other than the listed guys is not in the draft anymore (J. Wright) Branden Wright seems like another poor fit to me as does the Chinese center.

 

[Cheesebeef]

the kid who's gonna end up being the best of all them is Brewer - if we somehow get a pick 5-7 and Horford and Brendan Wright are gone, I jump all over him in a heartbeat - 6'9 3 who's is athletically gifted and can actually do what people THINK Marion can do defensively? and he's already got a decent outside shot? He's PERFECT for DA's system. Hell, even into the future, ou could line him and Barbs in the backcourt and be set for years with a 6'3 PG, who really plays the shooter role, a 6'9 SG, who really would play a lot of point role, with Amare and Diaw up front? You can transition perfectly to the next era, while also really helping this era out.

i love the kid - I really thinkl he's gonna be the best of the bunch (sans Oden and Durant obviously).

 

[jbeecham]

I was impressed with Brewer in the championship game and I think he won the Most Outstanding Player Award, but then I looked at the stats and he only had 13pts. I didn't watch the game too closely, but it seemed like he had most of those in the 1st half.

 

[goldseraph]

Brewer was all over the floor though. He had a few blocks and steals, made his 3's, and was even was guarding Conley. Brewer's draft stock has to have soared because of his tourney performance. He was ballin' pretty much all tournament. I see him as a Larry Hughes type at the next level (hopefully without the injury prone part).

 

[Cheesebeef]

I was impressed with Brewer in the championship game and I think he won the Most Outstanding Player Award, but then I looked at the stats and he only had 13pts. I didn't watch the game too closely, but it seemed like he had most of those in the 1st half.

he may have only had 13 points, but he also had 8 boards and played sick defense and he's been doing this all year - he also had 21 in the semis and completely shut down Aaron Afflalo for the second straight year, holding him scoreless until the 5 minute mark in the second half, after shutting his ass down completely in the Final last year.

the guy is a ballhawk, can block shots, shoot the rock decently (with good form that will only get better) and create offense for himself and others. His stock was already high before the tourney, but it definitely continued to go up with his Final 4 and bottom line is this kid just seems to have "it" - plays big in the biggest games and is a fierce competitor.

I really think he can be a superman version of Tayshaun Prince - the perfect fit for our team if the big men are all gone by our pick. Conley's impressive also, but I just haven't seen enough of him to make me want to pass on Brewer if that's who it came down to.

 

[elindholm]

I was impressed with Brewer in what little I saw.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

he may have only had 13 points, but he also had 8 boards and played sick defense and he's been doing this all year - he also had 21 in the semis and completely shut down Aaron Afflalo for the second straight year, holding him scoreless until the 5 minute mark in the second half, after shutting his ass down completely in the Final last year.

the guy is a ballhawk, can block shots, shoot the rock decently (with good form that will only get better) and create offense for himself and others. His stock was already high before the tourney, but it definitely continued to go up with his Final 4 and bottom line is this kid just seems to have "it" - plays big in the biggest games and is a fierce competitor.

I really think he can be a superman version of Tayshaun Prince - the perfect fit for our team if the big men are all gone by our pick. Conley's impressive also, but I just haven't seen enough of him to make me want to pass on Brewer if that's who it came down to.

In addition, he was the main reason Florida won both the final four and championship game. He steps up when it matters most. I like Horford and Noah, but think that Brewer would be a perfect fit for our team.

 

[fordronken]

I want Darren Collison. He's projected as a bubble first rounder if he comes out, and if that's the case and he's available at 29, I want him. He'll be the perfeft D'Antoni back up point with a couple of years under his belt.

 

[D-Dogg]

I would be pretty happy with Horford with our first pick and Conley with our 2nd.

I want the Lakers to get Conley so damn bad...do whatever it takes.

That kid is special.

 

[ma_falaa_50]

ye if horford is gone the suns should pick brewer. I dont think mike conley will come out.

 

[D-Dogg]

Noah is going to be a HUGE bust. Enormous.

 

[ma_falaa_50]

I think in the playoffs when we see parker, ginobili, terry and stack scoe all over Phx then dantoni should get brewer. scouts think he is the best defensive prospect outside of oden.

 

[Russ Smith]

the kid who's gonna end up being the best of all them is Brewer - if we somehow get a pick 5-7 and Horford and Brendan Wright are gone, I jump all over him in a heartbeat - 6'9 3 who's is athletically gifted and can actually do what people THINK Marion can do defensively? and he's already got a decent outside shot? He's PERFECT for DA's system. Hell, even into the future, ou could line him and Barbs in the backcourt and be set for years with a 6'3 PG, who really plays the shooter role, a 6'9 SG, who really would play a lot of point role, with Amare and Diaw up front? You can transition perfectly to the next era, while also really helping this era out.

i love the kid - I really thinkl he's gonna be the best of the bunch (sans Oden and Durant obviously).

I love him too although I wonder if his recent shooting is a hot streak or if he's really gotten better? He shot 31% on 3's but he sure looks better than that in recent games.

On Conley, aging myself but he reminds me the most of Rod Strickland. Amazing ability to finish at the rim against bigger guys, ball on the string dribble, not a great shooter. I think he's a better defender than Strickland was and not the headcase Rod was, a little smaller, but probably quicker.

I'm a huge UCLA homer but even I think Conley was clearly the best PG in the final 4.

 

[Griffin]

Here's my take on the Gators players:

I think Brewer moved himself up into the lottery with his play in the tournament. I would love to see him on the Suns, but that might mean Marion is gone. Brewer is an excellent defender, and can also shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. He gets steals, blocked shots, rebounds, dunks and three-pointers.

Noah's stock must have fallen some. He has not been as effective as last year, although going up against Oden can make anyone look bad. Horford had a tough time scoring over him as well. Noah needs to work on his shooting mechanics and improve his inside game as well. He will provide energy and interior defense immediately, but not much scoring. At the moment, I would not want to draft Noah with a top 6 pick. He will be high risk high reward for anyone who drafts him high.

Horford will go high. 3rd or 4th high. He will battle Oden for ROY honors I think, assuming both declare. He is a natural shot-blocker and rebounder, will alter a lot of shots, and on the offensive end he can post-up and also hit a mid-range jumper.

Green will probably get drafted, maybe in the second round. He's quick and can shoot and is above-average defender.

There was some mention of Humphrey in another thread. He's got NBA 3-point range and decent ball-handling skills, but he's obviously too short to play SG and I doubt he could play PG position effectively. He's an average defender and can't really do much other than shoot. Players like him usually don't make it to the next level.

I think Richard might get a look from some teams. He's 6-9, 255, good rebounder, crashes the boards on the offensive end for easy put-backs. Not sure how well he can do that at the NBA level, but he has the size and plays with a lot of energy.

 

[Covert Rain]

I have to tell you I wasn't blown away by any of these players. I didn't see one guy that I thought was a sure fire lock. Oden? He had better develop an outside jumper because in the NBA he won't be able to play down low as much. Noah? I am convinced he will dissappear at the next level.

I am not saying all these guys suck or anything. Just that I didn't see one guy that I think could come in year 1 and help put a team over the top. All these guys are at least 2 years away from really helping out your team except for Oden defensively. Horford and Brewer showed flashes. I just look at any of these guys and say as a rookie I see a starter on day 1 except on a very young team.

 

[SO91]

That could be said for most rookies on any given draft. On a team like the Suns, whoever they select would be a role player, with the potential of being a star. After watching him over the weekend it's hard not to like Brewer, and think he could be special

 

[Covert Rain]

That could be said for most rookies on any given draft. On a team like the Suns, whoever they select would be a role player, with the potential of being a star. After watching him over the weekend it's hard not to like Brewer, and think he could be special

I think out of all the guys Brewer was my favorite in terms of fit for our team. Oden would be nice for defense but that is a pipe dream.