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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 16 March 2006 |
 As you’re filling out your office-pool Big Dance bracket, we’re giving you the jump on 15 future pros to watch for during March Madness, as well as which of the League’s lottery-bound squads (as of today) could most use their services.
1. Adam Morrison, SF, Gonzaga
The next: Larry Bird
The now: We can’t help it, he’s got the floppy hair, the mustache, and he rocks the 1980s striped socks. Not to mention he’s one of the most creative scorers we’ve seen at the college level in years. It’s easy to see why everyone wants to compare Morrison to Larry Legend – they even run the same. The guy won’t blow anyone away with his athleticism, yet still has enough moves to drop 30-plus on any defender you stick on him. Morrison leads the nation in scoring at more than 28 points a game, and is money in crunch time. The only thing that will keep him out of the draft’s top three is that he doesn’t do much else besides score. He plays hard, but is still limited on D and on the boards.
Who needs him? Bobcats, Raptors, Rockets, Blazers.
click read more to see all 15 prospects
2. Rudy Gay, SF, UConn
The next: Grant Hill
The now: Just like Hawks rookie Marvin Williams, Gay’s draft stock is based just as much on his potential as it is based on his resume. The 6-9 sophomore can run faster and jumper higher than most, which makes for plenty of highlight-reel crams on the break and off alley-oops. Gay is solid in every aspect of the game, from his handle to his defense. He averages almost two steals and two blocks a game to go along with 15 points and six rebounds. UConn has had a ton of great players come through, but Gay might be the most physically gifted of them all. His biggest problem though is that he tends to disappear for long stretches. Think back to the Syracuse/UConn game in the Big East Tournament … do you remember Rudy even being on the floor?
Who needs him? Magic, Timberwolves, Warriors, Bobcats
3. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, Texas
The next: Chris Bosh
The now: When CB4 says you’re legit, you’re legit. Bosh played against Aldridge twice in high school, two games in which LaMarcus averaged 23 points and 13 boards. Did we mention that Aldridge was a prep sophomore when Bosh was a senior? Bosh has publicly vouched for Aldridge ever since. LaMarcus is averaging about 15 points, nine boards and two blocks a game. He’ll be a top three pick whenever he decides to leave school.
Who needs him? Knicks, Rockets, Sonics, Bulls
4. J.J. Redick, SG, Duke
The next: Ben Gordon
The now: Redick is arguably the best shooter in basketball, on any level. He ranks second in the country in scoring at just under 28 points a game, and hung 40-plus on Texas, Georgetown and Virginia, and 35-plus on four other teams. Redick and Morrison were the only college players invited to try out for Team USA’s 2008 Olympic squad, and we think Redick has a better chance of making the final dozen than Morrison because of that J. Haters harp on J.J.’s weaknesses, but even they know that you can’t leave him open anywhere over half court.
Who needs him? Bobcats, Jazz, Magic, Warriors
5. Tyrus Thomas, PF, LSU
The next: Kenyon Martin
The now: Thomas isn’t even the most-hyped guy on his own team, but best believe the pro scouts know all about him. The 6-9 leaper is averaging around 13 points, nine boards and three blocks a night, and is good for a slew of nasty dunks every game. He rejected nine shots against Tennessee earlier this year, and had seven rejections against UConn’s ultra-talented front line.
Who needs him? Raptors, Rockets, Sonics
6. Rodney Carney, SF, Memphis
The next: Andre Iguodala, Richard Jefferson
The now: We’ll be honest, we’re more hyped about Carney’s inevitable showing in next year’s Dunk Contest than we are his actual rookie year. Carney isn’t just a dunker, though. He can knock down the J and can smother cats on defense. He lit up Louisiana Tech for 37 points, 10 boards and four steals earlier this year, and is averaging around 18 points. And you have to love the fact that the guy went from barely being recruited out of high school to becoming one of the best players in the country.
Who needs him? Bulls, Celtics, Sonics, Magic
7. Randy Foye, SG, Villanova
The next: Antonio Daniels (but with a better J)
The now: Nova’s four-guard system could carry the ‘Cats to a national title, and Foye, the Big East Player of the Year, is the main reason it works. He can defend bigger guards and forwards and can clean the glass for someone his size (6-3). Foye pulled down 14 boards against Cincinnati earlier this year. For the season he’s averaging 20 points and five boards a game, with the handles and shooting touch to be lights-out in the League. He’ll probably have to play the point in the L, but does he have the required passing skills?
Who needs him? Blazers, Kings, Magic
8. Brandon Roy, SF/SG, Washington
The next: Richard Jefferson
The now: Roy is almost too smooth; he barely looks like he’s trying hard, even when he’s schooling some of the best defenders on the West Coast. He averages a little under 20 points and six rebounds a game, and can take over almost whenever he feels like it. Roy dropped 35 against Arizona and Arizona State, and 30 against Oregon in the Pac-10 tournament.
Who needs him? Bobcats, Magic, Kings, Wolves
9. Ronnie Brewer, SG, Arkansas
The next: Joe Johnson, Marquis Daniels
The now: Brewer can play either backcourt position, but is most intriguing to pro scouts as a big (6-7) point guard. He’s athletic and versatile, averaging 18 points, four boards, three assists and 2.5 steals a game. Brewer almost single-handedly kept the Razorbacks in an early-season game with UConn when he put up 25 points and six steals.
Who needs him? Blazers, Rockets, Wolves
10. Darius Washington, PG, Memphis
The next: Baron Davis
The now: Few players can get up and down the court faster than D-Wash, despite the fact he’s been playing on a bruised thigh all season. The sophomore averages around 14 points and 3.5 assists a game. Memphis usually cake-walked in its C-USA games, but Washington came up huge against top-notch comp, putting up 22 points and 10 dimes against Gonzaga, then 23 and six against Alabama.
Who needs him? Hawks, Knicks, Wolves
11. Kevin Pittsnogle, C/PF, West Virginia
The next: Mehmet Okur
The now: The tatted-up big man is money from distance, hitting 40 percent from three-point range. He knocked down four or more treys 11 times this year, averaging 19 points and almost six boards a game. Pittsnogle is clutch, too – it seemed every time we watched the Mountaineers play this year, Pittsnogle was the one hitting the dagger. He’s slow though, and not much of an inside presence for a big man.
Who needs him? Bobcats, Kings, Suns
12. Marcus Williams, PG, UConn
The next: Andre Miller
The now: The lefty has court vision and the goods to get the ball where it needs to be. Williams can score a little bit, too, making him an ideal prospect for teams in need of a pure point guard. In fact, Baron Davis told us that he thinks Williams is the best PG in college ball (Dime Issue #22). Williams is averaging 10 points and eight dimes a game, and recorded points/assists double-doubles five times this season despite missing two months due to suspension. If he leads the Huskies on a major run through the Tourney, his stock will never be higher.
Who needs him? Celtics, Nets, Knicks, Wizards
13. Jeff Green, PF, Georgetown
The next: Elton Brand
The now: Green can score down low and rebound (12 points, 6.5 boards a game), but what sets him apart is that he passes and sees the floor better than a lot of point guards. If you saw G’town upset Duke earlier this year, then you saw Green at his best; the 6-8 sophomore racked up 18 points, five boards, seven assists and three steals in that game.
Who needs him? Bulls, Jazz, Sonics
14. Aaron Gray, C, Pittsburgh
The next: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
The now: Gray is huge (7-feet, 270 pounds), which of course means he would get drafted even if he couldn’t really play. But Aaron’s nice and gets better every time we see him play. The junior averages 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, and came up large in some of Pitt’s biggest games. Gray had 25 points and 11 boards against Notre Dame, 13 and 20 against Marquette, and 23 and 12 against UConn.
Who needs him? Celtics, Magic, Sixers, Raptors
15. Jordan Farmar, PG, UCLA
The next: Mike Bibby
The now: Farmar is a true floor general – he always gets his teammates involved before looking for his own shot. But when he does decide to score, the kid can put up serious numbers. Farmar dropped 28 points on Memphis, 24 on Nevada and 22 on West Virginia this year. He averages around 14 points and 5.5 assists a game. Like Marcus Williams, if Farmar can lead his crew on an NCAA run, his stock will go through the roof.
Who needs him? Celtics, Knicks, Wolves
Written by
Dime Magazine
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