Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
2010 NBA Draft Stock
Updated 2/16
2010 NBA Draft Stock: Buying
Matt Bouldin, SG, Gonzaga, Sr. The more I watch Bouldin this season, the more I like his potential for the NBA. He is so incredibly intelligent on the floor. He’s physical, and he can handle the rock and stroke it from deep. While he lacks the ideal quickness for the next level, especially on the defensive end, I think he can be a great role player if he gets drafted by the right team. Whoever takes him in the second round could have a Chase Budinger/DeJuan Blair/Jonas Jerebko-type steal of a pick in 2010.
Darington Hobson, G/F, New Mexico, Jr. If a college player wants to win me over, have an off night scoring the basketball, but still make major contributions in other areas. That is exactly what Hobson did Saturday in an overtime win against Utah. Despite being held to eight points on 1-of-10 from the field, Hobson showed off his versatility by grabbing 10 boards and dishing out 11 assists. That performance followed up back-to-back double-doubles in big wins against Mountain West contenders San Diego State and UNLV. I don’t think there’s any chance Hobson declares for the draft this summer, but would be a borderline first-round pick if he did.
Tommy Mason-Griffin, PG, Oklahoma, Fr. With Willie Warren banged up and struggling as of late, Mason-Griffin has proven to be a big-time scorer. The Sooner freshman has topped the 20-point mark in five of his last seven games including a 38-point performance against Iowa State and 30-point game Saturday against Oklahoma State. He has shown his ability from deep, shooting better than 45 percent from three this season. At a generous 5-11, Mason-Griffin is undersized for the next level but makes up for that with his strength and physicality. Down the line, he could be a first-round pick especially if he continues to score in bunches like he recently has been doing.
Randy Culpepper, PG, UTEP, Jr. Anytime you score 45 points in a game, you are going to catch some people’s attention. For the second time this season, Culpepper hit nine triples in a game Saturday against East Carolina. At 6-0, the Miner junior is more of a shooting guard in a point guard’s body as he is only averaging two assists per game. If he can become a better floor general during the next year and a half, he could very easily find himself being drafted in the second round next year, if not higher.
2010 NFL Draft Stock: Selling
Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse, Jr. Since suffering a hard fall a couple of games ago against Providence, Johnson has not been himself. He is averaging less than 11 points in his last three games while shooting just 10-of-35 from the field. Once considered a possibility for the second-overall pick, Johnson might be slipping a bit behind the likes of Evan Turner and DeMarcus Cousins. Johnson is still a safe bet to be a top-five pick because of his versatility and length, but needs to snap out of his recent funk.
Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina, Soph. The 6-10 Tar Heel is likely out for the season after breaking a bone in his left wrist, which happens to be his shooting wrist. Before the injury, Davis had not lived up to the massive expectations placed on him after last season’s NCAA Tournament run when some “experts” felt he would be the second-best prospect for the 2010 NBA Draft. He is slowly becoming more assertive on the offensive end, but in my opinion, could still use another year of grooming his game in college before heading to the pros. The injury now increases the possibility of Davis returning to Chapel Hill rather than leaving for the Association and being a likely lottery pick.
Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech, Fr. This is the third top-10 pick I am selling this week, which makes the draft picture very interesting. A lot of “experts” have had Favors as a top-five pick for the entire season. While he possesses a great combination of size, strength and athleticism, there is one major problem; he is just not a good basketball player yet. He does not establish himself down low like he should which is a discouraging sign for a big man who doesn’t have much of a perimeter game. Favors has only scored in double digits once in his last five games while not surpassing the 10-rebound mark in his last six games. Based on potential, he is a top-10, possibly top-five pick. However, it certainly would not hurt the Yellow Jacket freshman to return for his sophomore season to improve his all-around game.
MISSING
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.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
Mike Elworth's 2023 NBA Mock Draft
Mike Elworth's 2024 NBA Mock Draft
NFL Picks - Nov. 29
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 27
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 25
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
