PhxGametime
Formerly Bball_31
Cook
1. Brian Cook, PF, Illinois:
Cook has lottery type talent. He's 6-foot-10, has a polished inside-outside game and dominated the Big Ten last season. What's the issue? Attitude and toughness. Many scouts feel he didn't get serious about his career until last season. A few more feel he isn't tough enough to play in the post in the NBA. It's really difficult to get a read. Phoenix worked Cook out privately in Chicago and came away impressed. Another rumor making the rounds has the Sonics interested, at 14, if they aren't able to land Mike Sweetney. Portland, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Antonio and Dallas are other plausible first-round destinations if Cook impresses. In other words, don't be shocked if Cook pulls a Fred Jones next year and goes a lot higher than the current projections. In the end, talent always seems to trump everything else in the draft.
4. Zarko Cabarkapa, SF/PF, Yugoslavia:
Cabarkapa is an experienced power forward with solid fundamentals and killer jumper. He's got a great feel for the game, is one of the more mature Euros in the draft. At 6-11, he's a match-up nightmare at small forward. But Cabarkapa's lack of a post game, lateral quickness and defensive intensity worry teams. He also doesn't put the ball on the floor enough. Who does he guard? He's not strong enough to hang with fours, nor is he athletic enough to play with the NBA threes. With that said, he had excellent workouts for both the Suns and the Lakers. Both teams claim he's in the mix for their selections. If several of the Euros pull out, he'll quickly move up and replace them.
1. Brian Cook, PF, Illinois:
Cook has lottery type talent. He's 6-foot-10, has a polished inside-outside game and dominated the Big Ten last season. What's the issue? Attitude and toughness. Many scouts feel he didn't get serious about his career until last season. A few more feel he isn't tough enough to play in the post in the NBA. It's really difficult to get a read. Phoenix worked Cook out privately in Chicago and came away impressed. Another rumor making the rounds has the Sonics interested, at 14, if they aren't able to land Mike Sweetney. Portland, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Antonio and Dallas are other plausible first-round destinations if Cook impresses. In other words, don't be shocked if Cook pulls a Fred Jones next year and goes a lot higher than the current projections. In the end, talent always seems to trump everything else in the draft.
4. Zarko Cabarkapa, SF/PF, Yugoslavia:
Cabarkapa is an experienced power forward with solid fundamentals and killer jumper. He's got a great feel for the game, is one of the more mature Euros in the draft. At 6-11, he's a match-up nightmare at small forward. But Cabarkapa's lack of a post game, lateral quickness and defensive intensity worry teams. He also doesn't put the ball on the floor enough. Who does he guard? He's not strong enough to hang with fours, nor is he athletic enough to play with the NBA threes. With that said, he had excellent workouts for both the Suns and the Lakers. Both teams claim he's in the mix for their selections. If several of the Euros pull out, he'll quickly move up and replace them.
