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2011 NBA Draft Stock
Updated 12/26
2011 NBA Draft Stock: Buying
Josh Selby, G, Kansas, Fr. Selby’s long-awaited debut at Kansas started with a bang as he scored 21 points including the game-winning three-pointer in the Jayhawks’ two-point victory against USC. The freshman combo guard followed up that performance by scoring 18 points in a victory versus Cal. He has shown why he has lottery potential with his ability to score the basketball from the outside or by attacking the rim. The biggest question surrounding Selby is whether his game translates to the next level as a point guard or shooting guard.
Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State, Jr. Thompson might be the most purer shooter in college basketball. He has range well beyond the three-point line, and as Wazzu continues to stack successes this season, Thompson’s light will shine brighter. His lack of strength is his biggest obstacle in transitioning to the next level but he could be a J.J. Redick-type player on the right team. If he does declare for the 2011 NBA Draft, he would likely be a borderline first-round pick but that status could improve if Thompson continues to light it up from deep in Pac-10 play.
Darius Morris, PG, Michigan, Soph. Taking over the full-time point guard role for the young Wolverines, Morris has emerged into one of the better assist men in college hoops as he is third in the nation averaging 7.5 dimes per game. He is also a capable scorer putting up almost 16 points per contest and scoring in double figures in every game but two. At 6-4, he possesses good size to be an NBA point guard, and while he likely will not be turning pro this summer, Morris is definitely somebody to keep an eye on as conference play kicks into gear.
2011 NFL Draft Stock: Selling
Renardo Sidney, PF, Mississippi State, Soph. After waiting a season-plus to make his collegiate debut, Sidney was suspended just one game into his Mississippi State career for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Then in Hawaii, two days before Christmas, Sidney and teammate Elgin Bailey got into a Ron Artest-like fight in the stands at the Diamond Head Classic because Bailey would not move his feet out of the aisle when Sidney wanted to make a trip to the concession stands. True story.
As if there were not enough red flags surrounding Sidney, this latest incident kills his NBA Draft stock. No team will give him the guaranteed money of a first-round pick so he will have to hope that someone takes a second-round flier on him despite all these character issues. More than likely, Sidney has D-League written all over him if does declare for the draft this summer which seems very likely due to his status at Mississippi State being up in the air.
Scotty Hopson, SG, Tennessee, Jr. As Hopson goes, Tennessee goes. So when the Vols lost three straight, it should come as no shock that Hopson really struggled during that stretch going 8-31 from the field, including 1-10 from three. That streakiness and lack of consistency has been Hopson’s Achilles heel throughout his collegiate career. His has all the talent and athleticism to be an intriguing NBA prospect, but until he can prove to be a night-in, night-out scoring threat and not shoot his team out of games, he will remain a likely second-round prospect.
Keith Benson, C/F, Oakland, Sr. I was buying Benson’s stock last week but after his performance against Ohio State, we saw his major weakness. Benson struggled on both ends against more physical players in the Buckeyes’ Jared Sullinger and Dallas Lauderdale, scoring just eight points and fouling out in 27 minutes. He is not an NBA center and needs to improve his perimeter game if he wants to be a power forward at the next level. That factor will keep him out of the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.
2012 NBA Draft Stock - April 1 (McDonald's All-American Game)
2011 NBA Draft Stock - March 31
2011 NBA Draft Stock - March 22
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Feb. 11
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Jan. 28
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Jan. 20
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Jan. 13
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Jan. 7
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Dec. 26
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Dec. 18
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Dec. 10
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Dec. 3
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Nov. 27
2011 NBA Draft Stock - Nov. 18
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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