2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him; Focusing on NBA Draft - May 28


To say Josh Selby had a roller coaster freshman season at Kansas would be like saying Jennifer Lopez has an OK body; a gross understatement. Still, the Jayhawks combo guard chose to leave Lawrence after one season and embark a NBA career that is filled with more question marks than the Riddler's costume. As the 2011 NBA Draft draws near, Selby is ready to put his brief collegiate career in the rear view mirror.

Selby entered Kansas as one of the top recruits in the country this past season. But before his college career could even get underway, it was marred by off-the-court issues regarding his eligibility. The NCAA ended up suspending Selby for the first nine regular-season games for accepting impermissible benefits that included clothes, transportation, meals and lodging reportedly from a NBA business manager.

"I had the nine-game suspension, that was a frustrating part," Selby admitted at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.



Selby served his suspension and certainly did not disappoint in his much anticipated debut against USC, coming off the bench to score a team-high 21 points in a tight two-point victory against the Trojans. The 6-3 guard continued to play well into early February until he suffered a setback.

"Everything was going good until I got that injury, the stress reaction in my right foot, so I was done for quite a bit. I never could back in a rhythm," Selby stated.

From there, the frustration mounted as his playing time drastically decreased from what it had been pre-injury. As a result, his production and confidence took a major hit as he averaged just 3.8 points during Kansas' final 13 games of the season and was pretty much a non-factor in its NCAA Tournament run. That was a far cry from the lofty expectations that were thrust upon him. It also turned Selby from a one-time surefire NBA Draft lottery pick into someone who was being projected as a second round prospect once the college hoops season concluded.

"The year at Kansas hurt me quite a bit," Selby said. "My stock fell. I was a disappointment to the fans. I didn't participate how I was supposed to."



Still, Selby left Lawrence to work out in Las Vegas and decided to ultimately enter the NBA Draft despite the majority of analysts thinking he needed another year at Kansas. Now, he faces the challenge of putting that disappointing year with Jayhawks behind him. "Me coming to the draft, I'm just trying to show them I'm back to my old self," Selby said with confidence. "That wasn't the real me at Kansas."

Based on his recent workouts, the real Selby has returned as he has suddenly emerged as one of the sleepers of this year's draft class, and appears in the first round of just about every credible mock draft out there with some having him going as high as the mid-teens. Scouts have been particularly impressed with his quickness off the dribble and his 42-inch vertical, which was the highest leap of any prospect at the combine.

Selby told me that those individual workouts are very important for his draft stock. "All these other guys have a slight advantage above me because they had great college careers and I didn't have a good college career. I have to come out here and give it my all, and show guys I'm ready to compete at this type of level."

Questions arise about what position Selby will play at the next level. Some concerns are that he is an undersized two who will have to learn the point guard position to reach his full potential.

"I'm working on being a pro point guard," Selby stated. "I'm listed as a combo which I don't disagree with because right now I have a scorer's mentality ... The only disadvantage is that I'm 6-3 and nowadays you have shooting guards who are 6-6, 6-7. You got to stick D-Wade so it's both."

Selby said he had around 10 interviews with NBA teams at the combine including the Pistons and Wizards. Washington would be a homecoming of sorts for Selby who grew up in Baltimore, as did his favorite basketball player, Carmelo Anthony.

"He just mentored me," Selby said of his relationship with Anthony. "Told me to stay focused, work hard, and everything will be fine. It's a clean slate for me now."

And that is what Selby must continue to prove in the weeks leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft. That his days at Kansas are in the past and he can return to being an elite player.

"It's nerve-wrecking," he said. "I never thought I'd be in this opportunity. Working out for the NBA, meeting with the GM's, getting interviewed by you guys. Right now, I just feel blessed."



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   Fitz 06-18-2011 01:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3) 29     23 Well the Tristan Thompson article is good. The Hamilton Article has one mistake.In the 1st paragraph it says, "there are concerns about him about him being dialed in..." You put "about him" twice. Walter 06-17-2011 01:52 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 20     22 Haha thanks for that. I definitely won't hate you for it. It's hard to proofread at 2 am. Fitz 06-16-2011 03:46 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3) 17     20 Yea i understand. Gotta make that paper ha. Btw, in the last paragraph of the Singleton article it needs to say, "never will BE a star". Right now its says, "never will a star". I decided I'm gonna keep gonna keep correcting your articles until you start hating me Walter 06-14-2011 01:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 20     29 Haha definitely not my morals. It's what the advertisers and Google want, and since this is my main source of income, I have to do as they say. Fitz 06-13-2011 02:17 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3) 23     22 Yea I figured it was probably just bad grammar on Liggins' part but I figured I would correct it just in case. You cant say anything with a** in it or sh*t and a few others such as d*ck and so on and so forth. I understand if you have to do it because of advertisers and things like that, but I hope it's not because of your morals haha Walter 06-13-2011 01:42 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 17     20 Thanks, Fitz. I made some of the corrections. Two of them were wrong though because that's how the quote was said. You should never fix the grammar in the quote if that's how the player said it. What specific filter are you talking about? Fitz 06-11-2011 11:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3) 22     19 *Hands instead of hand. Haha i f'ed up while correcting your f ups. And you need to get rid of the bad language filter on here imo. It's annoying Fitz 06-11-2011 11:52 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3) 26     19 Walt- Well the first sentence did say Every year i scratch at instead of scratch my head at, but i guess u just fixed that recently. In the 3rd paragraph you say "the extremely talent bunch of recruits coming to Kentucky...". It should be TALENTED bunch 5th paragraph- "We had other guys who more highly recruited than me..." Should be "other guys who WERE more highly recruited than me" 7th paragraph- "but he never showed a consistency in attacking the basket." you need to take out the A. 8th paragraph- Hands instead of hands in " I didn't have the ball in my hand a lot" I'm not trying to be a grammar nazi btw. Just trying to help out. JimB 06-11-2011 09:13 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.14 (total posts: 1) 17     23 I believe he'll get drafted. His offense has improved year after year, he keeps improving his all around game and is reasonably athletic. I watched him play a lot at KY and his D is top notch. What team wouldn't want a wing player to come in off the bench and defend tirelessly and well, rebound, scrap for loose balls, and score if left open. He's the perfect player for that role, and a team first player as well. 2nd round to the Knicks or Celtics.... Walter 06-11-2011 01:15 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 18     18 Where are the errors? Fitz 06-10-2011 03:30 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3) 20     23 Walt, did you really edit this? Because there are still a ton of errors. If you ever want someone to proofread your stuff I'll be more than happy to. It's part of my job so I know what I'm doing. And trust me, you need it ha. Walter 06-07-2011 01:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 27     25 LOL nice pick-up, Jay. I didn't notice that when I edited it. Jay 06-05-2011 02:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx.226 (total posts: 1) 18     23 Lol "an honest guy without an honest opinion,". Was that a typo or just a hilarious flub by Morris? nycsportzfan 05-28-2011 01:57 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.20 (total posts: 1) 22     25 Faried Sucks??LOL ya, the all time college rebounder, really sucks..lol Good analysis, moron. vbsiena 05-21-2011 09:48 am xxx.xxx.xxx9.94 (total posts: 2) 18     18 Faried sucks. A one trick pony who is on 6'6". Way to undersides for the 4. He's no Ben Wallace or Dennis Rodman. I don Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 67

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades





2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 17


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 16


2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 15


2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3


NFL Picks - Feb. 3