Draft Profile: Chiriaev File

George O'Brien

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Toronto Star: Chiriaev File

Wed, January 28, 2004

The Chiriaev File

By JASON PAUL

St. Thomas Aquinas' 7-foot-1 basketball star Ivan Chiriaev of Oakville is being pegged as a possible lottery pick in the 2004 NBA draft. Just 19, Chiriaev, who moved to Canada from Russia in December 2002, is considering bypassing a college career.

This is one in a series of updates on Chiriaev's quest to become the first Canadian-based high school graduate to make the jump straight to the NBA.

Twenty NBA teams already have travelled to Ontario to watch Chiriaev play. Four teams with potential lottery picks have seen him play almost five times each in the past month alone.

At the Walkerton Invitational earlier in the month, where Chiriaev won MVP honours, Utah, Memphis, the L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee and the new Charlotte team watched him hit 16 three-pointers in the tournament. A few NBA teams have made subtle inquiries if he'd make a commitment to them if selected and not attend any NBA draft camps.

One NBA scout said there's no 7-footer in the world who might be drafted with his skill level. Another said he has the potential to be in an NBA rotation next year based on his passing and shooting.

On the college front, Syracuse, Memphis and Iowa State have been most visible in Chiriaev's recruiting. Florida, Kentucky and LSU are also in the mix.

Chiriaev, who is on a 5,000-calorie/day diet and has bulked up to 245 pounds, is in action again at next weekend's Purple And Silver Classic in Burlington.
 

slinslin

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A lot of people on the Raptors RealGM board claim they have played against him and he is nothing special even against canadian highschool competition.

You have to wonder why a european kid goes to Canada to play for a highschool team instead of playing professional basketball in europe and make money.
 
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George O'Brien

George O'Brien

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To learn English? Or maybe French? :D

nbadraft.com

Notes: Another 7-foot European "Uber Freak". Will play a second year of basketball in Ontario, Canada. Lacks experience but those that have had the chance to see him practice come away raving about his potential. He has been compared to Dirk but with a point guard handle. This season he will play in the backcourt including the point. In the past several months he has put on 25lbs of muscle. Some have made the comparison to Mike Dunleavy Jr. due to his ball handling and passing ability, but Ivan is quicker and has more size and athleticism. He lacks Dunleavy's experience at the same age however.

Notes: Sources indicate he will enter the 2004 NBA draft and has a good chance to go in lottery.
 

SunsTzu

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Originally posted by Chaplin
7'1" 245, just sounds like another European "big" man.

He has actually being touted by some as a pg. Like slin I've heard from people in Canada that think this guy isn't taht good even against very weak comitition.
 
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