NBA Draft Prospects: Stock Up, Stock Down
John Wall proved in the Nike Hoops Summit why he is considered the top high school prospect. (USA Basketball)
By Ryan Feldman
rfeldman@thehoopsreport.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Between the NCAA tournament, the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoops Summit, many 2009 and 2010 NBA Draft prospects have improved or weakened their draft stock. Here is a list of the players whose stock has changed in the last month.
STOCK UP
DeJuan Blair, Pitt: Blair was an absolute beast during Pitt's run to the Elite Eight. Sure, the Panthers were expected to get further than they did, but that wasn't Blair's fault. He was relentless on the offensive boards and was spectacular against taller defenders.
Chase Budinger, Arizona: Budinger's stock was down for the last year or so, especially with the 'Cats having such a down year. But Budinger carried 'Zona to the Sweet 16, helping Budinger's stock significantly. He showed the ability to take over a game, score off the dribble, and lead his team to victory.
Ty Lawson, North Carolina: Perhaps no player's stock is up as much as Lawson's. He was absolutely spectacular during the NCAA tournament and may have finished the season as the best point guard in all of college basketball. Lawson was just too quick and too fast for any defender in the tournament. The biggest improvement Lawson has made over the last year is his long range shooting, as Lawson is now considered a serious 3-point shooting threat.
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina: Hansbrough finished off one of the best college basketball careers in history with a national championship. Hansbrough has been getting knocked for years now because people don't think he can play in the NBA, but there is no doubt some team will grab him in the first round.
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina: Ellington won the NCAA tournament's MOP award after winning the national championship. His stock could not be any higher right now. He struggled early in the season, but really picked up late in the season and really started stroking it from long range.
Jermaine Taylor, UCF: Not many people paid attention to Taylor during the season, but he was one of the top scorers in the country and is a terrific athlete. Taylor first appeared in the slam dunk contest at the Final Four in Detroit. He didn't win the event, but participating still helped his stock. Then, he absolutely dominated at the Portsmouth Invitational, scoring in double digits in all of his games and surpassing 30 points in one of his games.
Donatas Motiejunas, International: This versatile big man stepped up in the Nike Hoops Summit, as the world team won the game and Motiejunas was one of the key reasons for that. He showed off his shooting ability and even grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. For a 7-footer, this lefty has some skills.
Dante Cunningham, Villanova: Cunningham had an incredible senior year and may have been the most improved player in all of college basketball. Leading his team to an improbable run to the Final Four really helped Cunningham's stock. He can play physical inside or step out and hit the 18-foot jumper.
Dionte Christmas, Temple: Christmas carried his team into the NCAA tournament with a dominating performance in the Atlantic 10 tournament. Then, Christmas was spectacular on the national stage against Arizona State in the NCAA tournament. Temple did lose the game, but Christmas kept the Owls in the game with one of the more impressive offensive performances by anyone in the tournament.
Danny Green, North Carolina: The Tar Heels won the national championship, so that instantly helped Green's stock significantly. But, Green was one of the main reasons for Carolina's title. Throughout the tournament and the entire season, Green was always there to hit clutch 3-pointers when his team needed it.
Jon Brockman, Washington: Brockman was dominant on the boards at the Portsmouth Invitational, even though he is only about 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7. Brockman put up double-double after double-double at Portsmouth, and even surpassed 20 rebounds in one of his games.
Tyrese Rice, Boston College: Rice played well at Portsmouth and showed he can be an effective point guard. Everyone already knew Rice can score when he wants, but proving he can also dish out assists and run an offense helps his stock.
Avery Bradley, Texas (HS): Bradley not only won the McDonald's All-American slam dunk contest as a guard, but also was spectacular in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoops Summit. He is very dangerous on fast breaks and is relentless going to the rim.
John Henson, North Carolina (HS): Henson is very skinny and raw, but he has plenty of potential. Henson scored in double digits and grabbed some rebounds in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoops Summit. He enjoyed catching numerous alley-oops and put-back dunks. He can't do too much away from the basket, but he knows how to score around the basket and on fast breaks.
John Wall, Undecided (HS): Wall was ridiculous in the Nike Hoops Summit. He is a point guard, but is as athletic as anyone. He dunked over big men and even pinned a fast-break layup attempt againt the backboard from behind. No defender can stop Wall off the dribble. He is just too quick and too fast. If Wall becomes a consistent 3-point shooter, he will be unstoppable. Some people want to know if Wall is a pure point guard: Well, he had 11 assists and three turnovers if that answers any questions.
Xavier Henry, Undecided (HS): Henry was rather impressive in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoops Summit. He is a physical 6-foot-6 wing player who can post up pretty much any wing defender, but he showed off his amazing long range shooting capabilities by draining 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
STOCK DOWN
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest: At one point this season, Wake Forest was the best team in the country. But since they reached No. 1 status, the Demon Deacons struggled down the stretch. Losing in the first round of the tournament as a No. 4 seed doesn't help any Wake player's stock. Teague is still a special player, but knowing how to win big games is an important attribute that Teague and his teammates did not show down the stretch.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: For the same reasons as Teague, Aminu's stock is down a little bit. He has loads of potential, but Wake's struggles down the stretch and the Deacons' loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament will hurt Aminu a bit.
James Johnson, Wake Forest: See all of the reasons listed for Teague and Aminu.
Austin Daye, Gonzaga: A year ago, Daye was considered a possible future No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, but now he will be lucky to stay in the lottery. Daye has incredible guard skills for a 6-foot-10 player, but at times he seems lazy. Daye's lackluster attitude has hurt his stock. He also hasn't shown a great ability to be a team player. At times, he plays one-on-one basketball.
James Harden, Arizona State: There is no doubt that Harden is still an incredible talent who will be drafted near the top of the NBA Draft, but he was very bad in the NCAA tournament. In both games in the tournament, he struggled to make a shot. He was a non-factor in both games, and was perhaps the reason why ASU didn't get further than they did.
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