2012 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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2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - June 22


With three players set to get picked in the NBA Draft next week, you may be asking yourself how did the Vanderbilt Commodores not win more NCAA Tournament games the past couple years? Why weren't they ranked higher? What was their coaching staff doing? John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeffrey Taylor are all in the same projected draft range.

"I think we're all in the same boat, in that late first round, early second; we're all different positions," said Jenkins at the NBA Combine a couple weeks ago.

Vanderbilt may not be known as a college basketball powerhouse program, but each of these individuals benefit from having each other to lean on in this process.

"It's kind of incredible because we play hard together, practice together; we're good friends," said Jenkins. "We're not just guys that tolerate each other; we're always around each other."



Ezeli crushed the Vanderbilt school record for career blocked shots and talked about what his biggest strength is as a player. "I'm a defensive minded player so I've been watching a lot of tape on guys, and I see similarities between me and Serge Ibaka. I like help side defense a lot. I play for my teammates." He also mentioned another player for which he's likely to draw comparisons. "I see a lot of similarities with Nene, and a number of players."

Ezeli graduated from high school in Nigeria at age 14, but didn't start playing basketball until later in life. He was even cut from his high school team. That was just a minor bump in the road as the 6-11, 265-pound big man came back and did high school again in America. "When I went back to high school, it was actually remedial for me because it was accelerated over there," he said of the experience.

Ezeli will be drafted solely due to his size alone. While he isn't a stiff by any means inside, he does not possess a ton of skill on offense, which projects him to be a backup at the next level. Ezeli battled injury early in his senior season which sort of stunted his growth some, but because NBA teams are always in need of some size inside, he will get drafted possibly as high as late in the first round. More than likely, he'll fall into the second round.



Jenkins, who shot 44 percent from distance in his junior season, is arguably the best shooter in the draft. His range starts as soon as he walks in the gym, but in order to maximize his potential at the next level, he needs to improve his ability off the bounce.

Taylor steadily improved his three-point shot throughout his four years in Nashville. He connected on just 9.1 percent of his triple tries as a sophomore, but that number tremendously improved to 42.3 percent as a senior. The Sweden-born small forward also possesses elite athleticism and has the potential to be a lockdown defender who could guard multiple positions.

Wherever the trio ends up being selected, they will undoubtedly make their alma mater proud. It will be just the second time in school history that three Commodores were chosen in the same year, with the lone occurrence happening back in 1974 when there were ten rounds in the draft.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   John L. 07-07-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2) 24     21 You forgot the most likely - Pau Gasol. The Lakers know they need to make a move, and Gasol wants out. Don't be shocked when he's sent to an Eastern Conference team like Atlanta or Orlando. Dave 07-07-2011 09:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2) 21     21 I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it? nycsportzfan 07-07-2011 05:44 am xxx.xxx.xxx.134 (total posts: 1) 25     22 I think it would be wise for the knicks to look into trying to obtain Chris Kaman, and going way of hte Mavericks and builidng like that.. Give em Landry Fields and toney douglas, and then u got Melo, Amare, Kaman, Billups, Shumpert, re-sign Shawne Williams, Turiaf, harrelson, re-sign ant carter, sign Deshawn Stevenson, rautins, and re-sign bill walker..THen u have more money after the season as well.. Kaman Amare Melo Shumpert Billups Shawne Williams(re-signed Turiaf Deshawn Stevenson(sign) Harrelson Ant Carter(re-sign) Rautins Bill Walker(re-sign) jgardner12 07-02-2011 01:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2) 21     21 Ahh did not know that part of the rule, thanks for clearing that up for me. David Kay 07-01-2011 04:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.17 (total posts: 1) 20     21 @jgardner12 The rule in 2005 stated a team cannot re-sign the player they cut... which is why I would be hesitant to cut Johnson especially with Crawford a free agent, suddenly you have no shooting guard. @waltair I believe the fifth year has an option on it, so I should have stated three-years, $21 million guaranteed waltair 06-30-2011 02:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3) 21     21 LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT waltair 06-30-2011 02:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3) 25     20 outlaw has 4 year 28 mil on his contract jgardner12 06-30-2011 01:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2) 30     21 While I understand staying loyal to your star, the hawks should defiantly use it on Johnson. JJ is a wonderful player and they want him in ATL but seriously the dude isn't worth it. I mean the money he has left is close to the amount that Wade took to stay in Miami.. Again while I understand the predicament a JJ led team isn't going to win anything so might as well admit your mistake of signing him and sign him if possible to a more in line contract.. Walter 06-30-2011 01:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 22     22 @Dave - Now I do. The only Allen error was in the header, hence it was an editing mistake on my part. David spelled Allan correctly everywhere else. Dave 06-29-2011 04:59 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.25 (total posts: 1) 21     20 You do know it's spelled A-L-L-A-N, right? Mile High 06-25-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1) 21     21 the reason the Nuggets dealt Felton was because he wants to be a starter, which he will never be in Denver. Ty Lawson is the Franchise guard, and keeping Felton impedes his progress. Therefore, they traded Felton, a rising star with high value, for Miller, who will accept coming off the bench, plus they picked up Hamilton who they were targeting. Captain Obvious 06-24-2011 10:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx2.25 (total posts: 1) 23     22 You said: "After Thursday evening, it will mark three years in a row that a point guard went first overall..." WTF happened to Blake Griffin??? LOL. waltair 06-21-2011 09:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3) 23     23 waltare you need a cheif editor this is bad Walter 06-21-2011 01:43 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 20     19 Thanks, Fitz. Fixed. Austin 06-19-2011 01:18 am xxx.xxx.xxx8.49 (total posts: 1) 19     21 If Leonard can prove he is capable of knocking down shots, the raptors might reach for him at five, he can provide the rebounding that their bigs, not pointing fingers but a seven foot i-tie, don't. It's a reach for sure, but it might be a good fit. He will also improve their abominable defense. Pages: 1 2 3 4 56 7

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