Deng, Iguodala top prospects in Atlanta region
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Tuesday, March 16
While college basketball still provides the NBA with almost all its guard power, finding a good big man in college can be virtually impossible.
When sifting through the East Rutherford, N.J., region for NBA prospects Monday, four of the top six players we focused on were guards. Only one of the six, sleeper Chris Taft, was a power forward or center.
Today, the trend continues. Heading south, five of the top six prospects in the Atlanta region are either point guards or shooting guards. It will continue. NBA-caliber, home-grown big men in the tournament are virtually no-existent. By Thursday, just seven of the 24 players we will have looked at will be power forwards or centers. Of those seven, just three were born in the U.S.
ESPN Insider talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs to give you a look at the Top 5 NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region. Today, we look at the Atlanta bracket. Wednesday, we'll tackle St. Louis.
Also see: East Rutherford Region | Insider's in-depth Tournament Guide.
South Region NBA Prospects
1. Luol Deng, SF, Duke
Will a strong Tournament run spur Luol Deng to enter the draft?
The Skinny: 6-foot-8, 225 lbs, Freshman. 14.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 46 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's the complete package. Deng has it all. Athleticism, an NBA-ready body, quickness, fundamentals, a nice shooting touch and a great feel for the game. Deng is an unselfish player who can handle the ball, nail the mid-range jumper, grab a rebound in traffic or lock down an opponent in crunch time. His long arms and nice vertical leap make him play much longer than his height. He's a good shot blocker for his size. The comparisons to Grant Hill are obvious. Not as obvious is a game strikingly similar to the Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko.
The Bad: His 3-point shooting is still an issue, as Deng is much more comfortable taking the mid-range jumper. He averaged three 3-point attempts per game this year and shot a respectable 36 percent from behind the arc, but scouts know it's not his strong point.
The Ugly: The best NBA small forward prospect in the land. His numbers don't blow you away, but when you consider that he's playing on a team filled with older, more experienced All-Americans, they're pretty impressive. The word around the league is that Deng plans on staying in school However, if he were to lead Duke to a national championship, like Carmelo Anthony did last season, there will be a lot of pressure on him to declare. Right now he's considered a top-six pick in the draft.
2. Andre Iguodala, SG, Arizona
Could Iguodala turn himself into a point guard?
The Skinny: 6-6, 207; Sophomore. 12.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5 apg, 45 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: What's the big deal about an average-sized two guard averaging just 12.7 ppg? Scouts believe he's a Scottie Pippen-type player who can play multiple positions, handle the ball in most offenses and lock down anyone he has to defend. He already has an NBA body and is an elite athlete. Think Doug Christie with more hops.
The Bad: Scoring. Iguodala struggles to score. He doesn't have a great perimeter shot, and he isn't a post-up player. Most of his points come in transition or off offensive rebounds. He shot just 30 percent from downtown. Can a shooting guard that can't shoot survive in the league?
The Ugly: Despite the obvious flaw to his game, scouts love him. Several believe that with his passing ability he could turn himself into an unstoppable big NBA point. With the ball in his hands, Iguodala wouldn't have to worry about scoring every time down the floor. A big tournament, where he shoots the ball well, would put him very high on the draft board -- think mid to late lottery.
3. Raymond Felton, PG, UNC
Felton
The Skinny: 6-1, 195; Sophomore. 11.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 7.2 apg, 43 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: After Wake Forest's Chris Paul, scouts believe Felton is the top "pure" point guard in college basketball. Felton has blazing speed and a real feel for directing traffic. He's a great ball handler and can see things on the floor before most point guards can. He's an excellent athlete and has a nice, strong frame that NBA scouts love. He can be very explosive and plays with a nice flair. He's also an accomplished defender. The comparisons with T.J. Ford are pretty obvious.
The Bad: He can't shoot off the dribble. Like Ford, he struggles to nail even open jumpers when teams give him the shot. What's interesting is that Felton averaged 30 ppg as a senior in high school, so obviously he knows how to score. He just hasn't done it well during his stint at UNC.
The Ugly: It's not clear whether Felton will be in the draft, but if he is, he'll challenge several top point guards including Jameer Nelson and Devin Harris. An impressive tournament leading his team to the Final Four would do a lot for his stock. If he struggles, expect him to return to Chapel Hill for another year.
4. Rashad McCants, G, UNC
Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton could both be in this year's draft.
The Skinny: 6-4, 210; Sophomore. 20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 48 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's obviously a gifted scorer and a top-notch athlete. He's a dead eye from long range and seems to have no problem getting to the basket at will. He's very quick and explosive.
The Bad: Scouts believe he's much closer to 6-3 and don't believe he has the handle or the head to be an NBA point guard. His long arms and athleticism make up for some of those height issues, but not all of them. He's also a spotty defender, which certainly doesn't help his cause.
The Ugly: The word is McCants will test the waters this year. Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus at the moment. McCants' value is really in the eye of the beholder. Some see him as a sure-fire mid-to-late first-rounder, because of the mixture of shooting ability and athleticism. Others think he could slip into the second round. It's really too early to call right now, but a great performance in the tournament obviously could help his stock.
5. Francisco Garcia, SG, Louisville
Garcia
The Skinny: 6-7, 185; Sophomore. 16.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.6 apg 43 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's very long, has a nice mid range jumper and is an above-average passer for someone his size. He's one of the best free-throw shooters in the country and does a pretty good job getting to the line. He has long arms and is a good shot blocker for his position.
The Bad: Concerns about his strength and toughness abound. His inability to shoot off the dribble, grab rebounds and a lack of lateral quickness are also question marks. He has a rep as a good long-range shooter but shot just 33 percent from behind the arc this year after shooting 42 percent from 3 last season.
The Ugly: Will Garcia declare? Several NBA scouts claim he will but won't hire an agent, thus retaining his college eligibility. That's probably a good thing, unless he really lights it up in the tournament. If Garcia returns to school, gets stronger and improves his ability to create his own shot, he's got a chance to be a lottery pick someday. Right now? He's probably drafted in the late 20s to second round.
Sleeper: Hassan Adams, G, Arizona
Adams
The Skinny: 6-4, 200; Sophomore. 17.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 53 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's strong, athletic, tough as nails and has to be (next to Iguodala) one of the best rebounding guards in the country. He has very long arms that allow him to play bigger than his height. He's a very good shot blocker and an above average defender. His bread and butter is taking the ball to the basket. His perimeter game is improving.
The Bad: Size and shot are still small question marks with scouts. While his long arms make up for his height to a certain degree, and his perimeter shot is improving, scouts would like to see more improvement before taking a gamble on him.
The Ugly: Adams has given every indication he's returning to Arizona for his junior season. The Wildcats as a whole have been disappointing this year, which has tarnished, to a small extent, Adams' excellent season. If, however, the Wildcats go on a big run in the tournament, things may change. Scouts like Adams enough that he could jump ahead of McCants on many NBA draft boards.
Others to watch: Lawrence Roberts, PF, Mississippi State; Romain Sato, SG, Xavier; Dee Brown, PG, Illinois; Timmy Bowers, PG, Mississippi State; Brandon Mouton, SG, Texas; Sean May, PF, UNC, Jawad Williams, SF, UNC; James White, SG, Cincinnati; Channing Frye, PF, Arizona; Salim Stoudamire, SG, Arizona; Mustafa Shakur, PG, Arizona; Andre Barrett, PG, Seton Hall; Chris Duhon, PG, Duke; J.J. Redick, SG, Duke; Shelden Williams, PF, Duke
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Tuesday, March 16
While college basketball still provides the NBA with almost all its guard power, finding a good big man in college can be virtually impossible.
When sifting through the East Rutherford, N.J., region for NBA prospects Monday, four of the top six players we focused on were guards. Only one of the six, sleeper Chris Taft, was a power forward or center.
Today, the trend continues. Heading south, five of the top six prospects in the Atlanta region are either point guards or shooting guards. It will continue. NBA-caliber, home-grown big men in the tournament are virtually no-existent. By Thursday, just seven of the 24 players we will have looked at will be power forwards or centers. Of those seven, just three were born in the U.S.
ESPN Insider talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs to give you a look at the Top 5 NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region. Today, we look at the Atlanta bracket. Wednesday, we'll tackle St. Louis.
Also see: East Rutherford Region | Insider's in-depth Tournament Guide.
South Region NBA Prospects
1. Luol Deng, SF, Duke
Will a strong Tournament run spur Luol Deng to enter the draft?
The Skinny: 6-foot-8, 225 lbs, Freshman. 14.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 46 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's the complete package. Deng has it all. Athleticism, an NBA-ready body, quickness, fundamentals, a nice shooting touch and a great feel for the game. Deng is an unselfish player who can handle the ball, nail the mid-range jumper, grab a rebound in traffic or lock down an opponent in crunch time. His long arms and nice vertical leap make him play much longer than his height. He's a good shot blocker for his size. The comparisons to Grant Hill are obvious. Not as obvious is a game strikingly similar to the Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko.
The Bad: His 3-point shooting is still an issue, as Deng is much more comfortable taking the mid-range jumper. He averaged three 3-point attempts per game this year and shot a respectable 36 percent from behind the arc, but scouts know it's not his strong point.
The Ugly: The best NBA small forward prospect in the land. His numbers don't blow you away, but when you consider that he's playing on a team filled with older, more experienced All-Americans, they're pretty impressive. The word around the league is that Deng plans on staying in school However, if he were to lead Duke to a national championship, like Carmelo Anthony did last season, there will be a lot of pressure on him to declare. Right now he's considered a top-six pick in the draft.
2. Andre Iguodala, SG, Arizona
Could Iguodala turn himself into a point guard?
The Skinny: 6-6, 207; Sophomore. 12.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5 apg, 45 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: What's the big deal about an average-sized two guard averaging just 12.7 ppg? Scouts believe he's a Scottie Pippen-type player who can play multiple positions, handle the ball in most offenses and lock down anyone he has to defend. He already has an NBA body and is an elite athlete. Think Doug Christie with more hops.
The Bad: Scoring. Iguodala struggles to score. He doesn't have a great perimeter shot, and he isn't a post-up player. Most of his points come in transition or off offensive rebounds. He shot just 30 percent from downtown. Can a shooting guard that can't shoot survive in the league?
The Ugly: Despite the obvious flaw to his game, scouts love him. Several believe that with his passing ability he could turn himself into an unstoppable big NBA point. With the ball in his hands, Iguodala wouldn't have to worry about scoring every time down the floor. A big tournament, where he shoots the ball well, would put him very high on the draft board -- think mid to late lottery.
3. Raymond Felton, PG, UNC
Felton
The Skinny: 6-1, 195; Sophomore. 11.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 7.2 apg, 43 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: After Wake Forest's Chris Paul, scouts believe Felton is the top "pure" point guard in college basketball. Felton has blazing speed and a real feel for directing traffic. He's a great ball handler and can see things on the floor before most point guards can. He's an excellent athlete and has a nice, strong frame that NBA scouts love. He can be very explosive and plays with a nice flair. He's also an accomplished defender. The comparisons with T.J. Ford are pretty obvious.
The Bad: He can't shoot off the dribble. Like Ford, he struggles to nail even open jumpers when teams give him the shot. What's interesting is that Felton averaged 30 ppg as a senior in high school, so obviously he knows how to score. He just hasn't done it well during his stint at UNC.
The Ugly: It's not clear whether Felton will be in the draft, but if he is, he'll challenge several top point guards including Jameer Nelson and Devin Harris. An impressive tournament leading his team to the Final Four would do a lot for his stock. If he struggles, expect him to return to Chapel Hill for another year.
4. Rashad McCants, G, UNC
Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton could both be in this year's draft.
The Skinny: 6-4, 210; Sophomore. 20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 48 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's obviously a gifted scorer and a top-notch athlete. He's a dead eye from long range and seems to have no problem getting to the basket at will. He's very quick and explosive.
The Bad: Scouts believe he's much closer to 6-3 and don't believe he has the handle or the head to be an NBA point guard. His long arms and athleticism make up for some of those height issues, but not all of them. He's also a spotty defender, which certainly doesn't help his cause.
The Ugly: The word is McCants will test the waters this year. Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus at the moment. McCants' value is really in the eye of the beholder. Some see him as a sure-fire mid-to-late first-rounder, because of the mixture of shooting ability and athleticism. Others think he could slip into the second round. It's really too early to call right now, but a great performance in the tournament obviously could help his stock.
5. Francisco Garcia, SG, Louisville
Garcia
The Skinny: 6-7, 185; Sophomore. 16.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.6 apg 43 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's very long, has a nice mid range jumper and is an above-average passer for someone his size. He's one of the best free-throw shooters in the country and does a pretty good job getting to the line. He has long arms and is a good shot blocker for his position.
The Bad: Concerns about his strength and toughness abound. His inability to shoot off the dribble, grab rebounds and a lack of lateral quickness are also question marks. He has a rep as a good long-range shooter but shot just 33 percent from behind the arc this year after shooting 42 percent from 3 last season.
The Ugly: Will Garcia declare? Several NBA scouts claim he will but won't hire an agent, thus retaining his college eligibility. That's probably a good thing, unless he really lights it up in the tournament. If Garcia returns to school, gets stronger and improves his ability to create his own shot, he's got a chance to be a lottery pick someday. Right now? He's probably drafted in the late 20s to second round.
Sleeper: Hassan Adams, G, Arizona
Adams
The Skinny: 6-4, 200; Sophomore. 17.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 53 percent shooting from the field.
The Good: He's strong, athletic, tough as nails and has to be (next to Iguodala) one of the best rebounding guards in the country. He has very long arms that allow him to play bigger than his height. He's a very good shot blocker and an above average defender. His bread and butter is taking the ball to the basket. His perimeter game is improving.
The Bad: Size and shot are still small question marks with scouts. While his long arms make up for his height to a certain degree, and his perimeter shot is improving, scouts would like to see more improvement before taking a gamble on him.
The Ugly: Adams has given every indication he's returning to Arizona for his junior season. The Wildcats as a whole have been disappointing this year, which has tarnished, to a small extent, Adams' excellent season. If, however, the Wildcats go on a big run in the tournament, things may change. Scouts like Adams enough that he could jump ahead of McCants on many NBA draft boards.
Others to watch: Lawrence Roberts, PF, Mississippi State; Romain Sato, SG, Xavier; Dee Brown, PG, Illinois; Timmy Bowers, PG, Mississippi State; Brandon Mouton, SG, Texas; Sean May, PF, UNC, Jawad Williams, SF, UNC; James White, SG, Cincinnati; Channing Frye, PF, Arizona; Salim Stoudamire, SG, Arizona; Mustafa Shakur, PG, Arizona; Andre Barrett, PG, Seton Hall; Chris Duhon, PG, Duke; J.J. Redick, SG, Duke; Shelden Williams, PF, Duke
