Tyler Smith

Tyler Smith, #1 SF, Tennessee
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 210 lbs

Strengths:
- Versatility
- Ideal NBA SF body
- Athleticism
- Wingspan/Length
- Slashing abilities
- Post game
- Unselfish
- Basketball IQ
- Defensive potential

Weaknesses:
- Perimeter shooting
- Mid-range game
- Dribbling
- Older than those in his class
- Does a lot well, but nothing great

Summary:
I like Tyler Smith as a ball player and as a person. While I was a student at the University of Tennessee, I had the opportunity to work with the Men's basketball program. I remember my first day there Smith walked up to me, introduced himself and said he was glad I was there to help. He was always one of the first, if not the first, on the practice court and one of the last to leave. During these times he would work on his shot, which showed his desire to work on a weaker part of his game. His teammates loved him; his coaches respected him; the office enjoyed him. All of these parties appreciated what he brought to the Vols family both on and off the court. He is a young man of high character who cares deeply for his family and those around him.

I always enjoyed watching Smith while I was at Tennessee. I found him to be an intriguing prospect. He played both the small forward and power forward positions, and he could guard multiple positions on any given night. His versatility was much needed to help be a leader for the Volunteers this season. His body and athleticism make him ideal to guard the SG, SF, and PF in college, and will definitely help at the next level. Smith is explosive, has great lateral quickness, and a great wingspan to help him either keep up with defenders, pick off passes or block shots. He does exemplify some defensive lapses, but his promise and versatility will be helpful for any NBA team.

Smith has some work to do on the offensive end of the floor. He does not shoot well from behind the arc, a skill that is important for the success of NBA wings (a career 29.5%). He has nice mechanics and a quick release, but in game play he does not always consistently release the ball at the same point, nor does he use a lot of his legs to shoot. Working on these parts of his game should help improve his shot, but you have to ask why these types of fundamentals have not been addressed.

Smith is a good slasher and post player. He is able to take the ball to the hoop, finish and get fouled (he averaged 6.5 attempts per game this season). Since he also played PF on numerous occassions, he had to develop a post game. He is fairly effective in the post, especially against smaller defenders, but he is also able to contend with stronger players. Smith does tend to do too much in both of these situations and needs to learn his limitations in these situations. He has very good court vision when he does not have the ball in his hands, and if he can understand his boundaries, he'll be able to develop his court vision with the ball. If he could work on his ball handling as well, he'd prove to be an even more effective slasher and post player.

Last year I would have put Smith as a late lottery pick. This year he did not really do anything to improve his draft stock, and may have actually hurt it. He needs to improve his perimeter shooting, work on his mid-range game and dribbling to be more of an offensive threat at the next level. His basketball IQ, versatility on the defensive end, defensive potential and his NBA-ready body will certainly interest a NBA team. As the saying goes, Smith is a jack of all traits, but a master of none. It leads me to believe that he will be a good role player that will come off the bench.

Projection: late first, early second (30-37)

Best fit: **TBD**

Jordan Hill

Jordan Hill, #43 PF, Arizona
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 235 lbs


Strengths:
- Finishing around basket
- Length/Wingspan/Size
- Athleticism/Explosiveness
- Rebounding
- Shot mechanics
- Post-up abilities
- Decent passing out of post
- Intensity
- Unselfish
- Few bad habits
- Potential

Weaknesses:
- A bit mechanical on both ends of the floor
- Defense
- Strength
- Dribbling
- Basketball IQ
- Dominating smaller/weaker players

Summary:
I do not have many opportunities to watch many west coast college basketball games because I live on the east coast, but when I have the opportunity, I try to watch a few players I have heard a little bit about. Through the first three rounds of this year's NCAA Tournament, I watched Arizona play and was able to scout Jordan Hill. I did not know a lot about him as a player, so I decided to do some background research on him. I found out he had not been playing basketball for a long time, which can be good and bad. It is good because he has not developed any bad habits. It is bad because his peers have more experience on him. Needless to say, after watching several match-ups, I walked away impressed, but I must emphasize that he is still raw with a lot of potential.

On the offensive end of the floor, Hill demonstrated on numerous occasions that he was capable of fronting his defender and providing a big target to get the ball in the post. When he catches the ball, he did not necessarily look to score first; he felt the defense to determine what was given to him. If he was double teamed or an opportunity to get to the basket did not exist, he would pass out of the post and reposition himself (but he is not a good passer). If he was in position to score, Hill would take the ball to the basket. He finished well around the basket when he did look to score. He has some decent post-up moves (nothing advanced) that allowed him to create opportunities for himself and to create contact when he shot. His free throw shooting is not great (a career average of 63.6%) and clearly has room to improve. Hill has the tools to develop a nice mid-range game as well. He has excellent shot mechanics for a guy his size, which he put on display. He challenged himself and took several shots roughly 15'-18' out, making several of the shots.

Hill did not possess good ball handling abilities, nor did he dominate his foes in the match-ups I watched. As I mentioned before, he does not have many years of experience under his belt. Spending more time around the game should help polish his offensive abilities. Improving his strength is imperative for him to dominate on not only the offensive end of the court, but the defensive side as well.

Hill has the tools to be a very good defender in the pros. He is explosive, has a great wingspan and length, and hustle. On several instances I saw Hill dive on the floor for a loose ball and fight for the ball. His explosiveness and length allow him to be a very good rebounder and shot blocker. As far as rebounding goes, Hill will follow shots on the offensive end and box out on defensive end. He goes up for the ball with both hands, and once he grabs the ball, he quickly pulls it in to protect it. These same tools help make him a good shot blocker as well. This season he averaged 1.7 bpg.

Hill's overall defense is average at best though because of his lack of fundamentals. He tends to pick up cheap fouls, especially when the team plays man-to-man, because he'll either lose sight of his defender and try to recover, tries to make a play and go for a steal or block, is to slow to rotate or provide help defense. He is athletic enough to make up for these deficiencies; he just needs to improve his defensive awareness and his already average basketball IQ.

Overall, Hill is an unselfish player with a ton of upside. He is already a good rebounder and shot blocker, but needs to improve his overall defense. He shoots the ball effectively (career 57.8% from the field) around the basket and has demonstrated that he can step out and take a 15 footer. Even though he demonstrated his scoring abilities, his offensive game is not polished. He does need work both on and off the court to get a get return on your investment. Doing so will help Hill reach his potential.

Projection: mid- to late-lottery (7-13)

Best fit:
- Oklahoma City: the Thunder's front court is fairly thin, especially after the team traded away Chris Wilcox and rescinded a deal for Tyson Chandler. If this team wants to make a push for the playoffs (like I've heard), the team will need a deeper front court. Hill's unselfishness, intensity, ability to score and rebound will allow him to step in on a young team and provide solid minutes.
- Toronto: no one is sure if Bosh is staying in Toronto. Drafting Hill could serve as an insurance policy if Bosh decides to leave in free agency or is traded away. Hill is not as prolific a scorer as Bosh is, but he does have upside on this end of the court. He also will go after rebounds.
- Charlotte: the one area the Bobcats need to look at other than a scorer is a big man. The team may not resign May or Howard this off-season, resulting in a loss of front court depth. If the Bobcats looked to draft Hill, the team would be able to get a player who could provide solid energy minutes off the bench while they look to bring him along in development.

Dionte Christmas

Dionte Christmas, #22 SG, Temple

Strengths:
- Prolific scorer
- Shooting range
- Size and length
- Defensive effort
- Lateral quickness
- Shooting mechanics
- Ability to get the the line

Weaknesses:
- Creating own shot
- Ball handling
- Movement without the ball
- Posting up smaller defenders
- Older than peers

Summary:
Dionte Christmas can flat out shoot. He has NBA-ready range that he has demonstrated night in and night out. His shooting mechanics, quick release and ability to catch and shoot makes him dangerous from anywhere on the court. He plays well in transition where he is willing to take a jump shot or take the ball straight to the basket. He understands how to get to the line, especially on the fast break. If he decides to go to the hoop, he has demonstrated that he is capable of creating contact and finishing strong. For those times he gets fouled, he goes to the line confidently to shoot (this year he converted on 75% of his free throws). He is not afraid to put the ball on the floor to create his own shot, but it is not his strength. He is at best an average ballhandler (2008-09 A/T ratio of 1) and has had the ball taken away from him by defenders. In Temple's first round game against Arizona State of the NCAA Tournament, you could find Christmas roaming the perimeter, especially in the corners, in half-court situations. This of course can be attributed to ASU's zone defense it plays, but Christmas did not necessarily look to create his shot against the defense, but rather settle for pull up jumpers.

On the defensive end of the court, Christmas exhibits good effort. He has the ability to keep his defender in front of him, help teammates as a weakside defender, fights through screens, has good lateral quickness allowing him to keep with the man he guards and has long arms which allow him to get his hands in the passing lane and pick off poorly thrown passes. Although he demonstrates good defensive qualities, I question his ability to play against the best in the NBA. Against ASU, Christmas did not guard James Harden, a player many scouts are high on. Instead, he guarded ASU's guards who will not be playing at the next level. He may not be a liability though because in several games this year Christmas was able to hold his own against other players, especially those who tried to post him up.

He has the ability and tools to play in the NBA in the long run, but in the short run he will find it tough to make it on a roster. He will more than likely be either an international or D-League player for a few years.

Projection: second round to undrafted

Best fit:
- New Orleans: can you imagine Chris Paul penetrating the lane only to kick out to Christmas for three? With a guard like Paul who would require a double team, or at the very least some defensive help to slow him down, Christmas could get plenty of open looks from downtown.
- LA Lakers: Christmas would not see much time in LA because he would be backing up the league's best SG in Kobe Bryant. I do not think Christmas is the next Kobe, but he would have the opportunity to learn from one of the game's best players. It doesn't hurt that Christmas can shoot the lights out if you give him the chance (something Kobe does well).
- Philadelphia: the 76ers have struggled shooting from deep this season. Christmas would be able to provide a presence from behind the arc, but I do think better prospects are out there the 76ers could take before Christmas.

Ty Lawson

Ty Lawson, #5 PG, North Carolina

Strengths:
- Transition play
- Lightning quick
- Ball speed
- Ball-handling skills
- Aggressive slasher
- Basketball IQ
- Finishes well around rim
- Court vision
- Passing
- Unselfish
- Defensive pressure
- A/T ratio
- Catch and shoot, especially from behind the arc
- True point guard

Weaknesses:
- Pull-up jump shot and shooting off dribble
- Playing at different game speeds?
- Size
- Defensive upside
- Legal issues

Summary:
Ty Lawson was voted as the ACC Player of the Year for a reason. Without him the Tar Heels are a completely different team. He is the engine that makes this car run; and that car runs fast. Lawson is one of the quickest, if not the quickest, player from end to end with the ball in his hands. It's one thing to be quick, but its another thing to be quick and in control. Lawson has phenomenal ball-handling skills. He can dribble with either his left or right hand, and he can change directions with simplest of ease. He combines all these skills to execute Carolina's breakneck pace and transition game. In transition, Lawson looks to take the ball right to hole, where he finishes with a high percentage. A lot of Carolina's transitions begins with Lawson. In just one year, Lawson has elevated his defensive capabilities. He pressures opposing guards to force several turnover a game. These turnovers turn into made baskets at the other end of the floor.

Since he first stepped on Carolina's campus, he has improved his shooting percentage by taking smarter shots and improving his technique. As a freshman, Lawson shot 50% overall from the floor and 35.6% from behind the arc. As a sophomore, Lawson improved these numbers to 51.5% overall and 36.1% from three. In his junior season, he has been more aggressive getting to the bucket and taking smarter shots (he has drastically improved his ability to take what the defense gives him). The result: an astounding 53.8% from the floor overall and 47.3% from three. Of course, most of Lawson's shots will either come in the form of layups or three-pointers. His increased efficiency from three leaves me to believe that Lawson still has a lot of potential when it comes to shooting, which is promising because Lawson has not shown he is willing to take a pull-up jump shot or shoot off the dribble; he would rather take the ball to the hoop. In several instances against Gonzaga in the Sweet Sixteen, Lawson did in fact take several mid-range pull-up jumpers in transition and convert. If he progresses the way he has at Carolina, it's only a matter of time before Lawson adds these other tools to his arsenal.

Lawson is a pure one guard who is capable of creating for himself and others. He has a quick first step that allows him to penetrate the lane for a layup; if he blows by his defender, it is unlikely that the defender will recover. He makes his other teammates look great in the process. Lawson always appears to know where other players are on the court. His vision and strong passing abilities allow him to get the ball to his teammates and have a higher likelihood of scoring. While he was out during the ACC Tournament, Danny Green struggled to find his shot because he was forced to create for himself. Lawson's ability to penetrate defenses and kick the ball out to open players has helped make his teammates more accurate shooters. By taking better care of the ball and finding open teammates, Lawson has improved his A/T ratio from roughly 2.5 his first two years to roughly 3.4!

There are some inherent weaknesses to Lawson's game though. First, let me start off with his size. Lawson is listed at 5'11" and 195 pounds. He is a smaller, thicker player than most of the other NBA players at his position. His poor wingspan does not help either, but Lawson makes up for his physical deficiencies with his quickness. I do question his defensive upside and ability to play at different game speeds. Lawson is most comfortable when he is allowed to let loose and play at quick pace. I have not seen him opt to slow the game down to run a half court offense. If he had things his way, I doubt he ever would, which is what makes me question how he would handle a team that preferred a half-court offense over a team which looks to play mostly in transition. Lawson is able to create for himself and others, understands the rules of the game and has demonstrated he is developing an understanding of game and floor situations, but I am most uncertain about his ability to adapt to different styles of play. His basketball IQ is amazing though, and has improved drastically since his freshman year. I'm confident in saying that if Lawson is required to run a half-court offense, he'd be more than capable of doing so; he would just prefer to play in transition.

I have heard people question Lawson's ability to take over the game in the clutch. Many times this season Lawson has single handily put his team on his back and propel them to victory. Before this season started, I would have said this part of his overall basketball IQ was weakest and needed to develop in order for Carolina to contend for a National Championship. It appears he has drastically improved this area of his game.

There is only one other item to address, and that is Lawson's off-court issues. If you don't recall, last summer Lawson was pulled over in Chapel Hill, NC and was determined that he drank and drove. This situation really hurt his draft stock last year, and I'm almost certain it was a factor in him withdrawing his name from the draft. He was not over the legal limit of 0.08 though, but he was underage. This may send off a red flag to most, and call into question his judgment, but I do not believe an event like this will be an issue in the future. I would recommend when interviewing Lawson to question him about the situation and find out what he learned.

Projection: late lottery pick to mid-first rounder (12-17). If Lawson continues to play the way he has all season and throughout the remainder of the tournament, he could very likely be the #1 point guard in this year's class.

Best fit: a team which runs an up-tempo offense
-New York: this team should be no surprise. Mike D'Antoni runs the SSOL offense in NY. What made the offense tick so nicely during his tenure in Phoenix was having a point guard, Steve Nash, who could run the up-tempo offense. This offense plays right into the strength of Lawson and can mask some of his weaknesses. His improved court vision, passing and A/T ratio demonstrates how effective he can be in NY because the Tar Heels run a similar fastbreak offense.
-Golden State: Coach Don Nelson loves to play small ball, just like D'Antoni in NY. What GS currently lacks is a pure point to run Nellie's offense. Having a player to be a distributor first who has the potential to create his own shot by driving to the basket plays well into the system.
-Phoenix: the Suns have reverted back to their old ways of run-and-gun. With Nash getting a year older and the uncertainty of his future with the team, the Suns may look at addressing the point guard issue. If the Suns want to continue running an uptempo offense, there isn't a better point guard prospect to do that than Ty Lawson. I would only see this move happening though if the Suns want to continue their current style of play, and if they may be in need of a new floor general.

Damion James

Damion James, #5 SF/PF, Texas

Strengths:

- Rebounding and crashing boards

- Runs the floor well, especially in the fast break

- Off ball IQ

- Offensive awareness

- Ability to get to the rim and finish

- Athleticism

- Lateral quickness

- Explosiveness

- Physical toughness

- Shooting mechanics

- Hustle

Weaknesses:

- Perimeter game development

- Poor footwork

- Defensive fundamentals

- Free throw shooting

Summary:

I watched Damion James in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He is an athlete; he is explosive; he runs the court well; he has great length; he has good lateral quickness; he hustles. He uses these combination's to excel on the court. Arguably his best strength is his rebounding on both ends of the court. Words cannot express his effectiveness in this area. This season he averaged just over nine rebounds per game (6.3 defensive and 2.9 offensive), but even the times he did not end up with the ball, he was still in the post working for the rebound and causing a lost opportunity for the opposing team. He is able to do this because he has sound rebounding fundamentals. Offensively, he is not afraid to go into the post and play tough to get the rebound. His physical play allows him to grab several offensive rebounds a game, resulting in easy put backs for himself. As a matter of fact, James gets a majority of his shot attempts off of easy looks. He is able to score a bulk of his point because he is willing to either fight in the post for a rebound, run the court in transition or understand where the weaknesses and holes are in a defense and then exploit those areas. He is usually a good finisher in these types of situations if he has the ball in his hands, especially with contact. His free throw shooting has little to be desired. He uses relatively no legs in his shot, relying mainly on his upper body strength. Tweaking his form may result in a higher free throw shooting percentage.

While James’ athleticism has helped him excel, it has also allowed for some glaring weaknesses to develop. His defensive fundamentals are not as strong as one would like to see because he relies on his athleticism to keep up with opposing players. He has a tendency to gamble on defense and reach out for a steal or go for a shot fake, as well as poor footwork. He will not be able to get away with this at the next level simply because of the caliber of athlete he will be facing. He has shown a commitment to rebounding fundamentals, so it is not out of the realm of possibilities to think he can improve his defensive fundamentals.

On the offensive side of the ball, James needs to continue to develop his perimeter game because he will more than likely have to play small forward in the NBA. His shooting from deep has digressed from last season (down from 41.3% to 32.6%) which has left me a bit unimpressed, but it does tell me one thing. James benefits when he has a playmaker who is able to get him open looks. In his sophomore season when he shot 41.3% from behind the arc, he had DJ Augustin (now a Charlotte Bobcat) facilitating the offense. This year he did not have that type of penetrating guard to get him many open looks. A combination of an Augustin-type point guard and his good shooting mechanics would be ideal, but James should continue to work on this aspect of his game.

Overall, James is a great prospect. I would not be surprised to see him at least “test the waters” in this year’s NBA Draft. He has good upside, and as long as he works on his weaknesses, he should be able to develop into a decent role player.

Projection: early- to mid-second round

Best Fit:

- Toronto: the Raptors have Marion signed through the end of the season. He filled the role of an athletic slasher that the team needed. It is yet to be seen if the Raptors will re-sign Marion though. If the team decides not to, it will need another slasher-type player. As I mentioned, James can fill this role, but would still need time to develop his perimeter game.

- Sacramento: let’s be honest, this team could go in many different directions. As it stands, the team already has some scorers on its team in Martin, Garcia, Thompson, and Nocioni. Having a player who is willing to clean up is a plus. Though he’s a bit undersized, he is still scrappy enough to go in the post and clean up. If the team gets a PG in the first round, look for the Kings to target a player who can play in the post (or vice versa). James could play in the post, but is better suited for the wing.

- Houston: James is a smart player who get a lot of his points on easy opportunities. All teams love those types of players. The one area he needs to improve is his defense. There wouldn't be a better place to learn perimeter defense from here. The team has Shane Battier, and if the team can re-sign him, Ron Artest, arguably two of the best perimeter defenders in the game. I'm sure Morey has been using his analytics to evaluate this prospect.

- Washington: the Wizards' roster has only one true SF on it. He is Caron Butler. The Wizards will should look at drafting an athletic wingman. With James' ability to read defenses and exploit its holes, rebound, and get easy baskets, the Wizards may take a serious look at James. The team will be better once Gilbert Arenas comes back from injury, but as it stands, they are the worst team in the Souteast Division and need help wherever the team can get it.

Marcus Thornton

Marcus Thornton, #5 SG, LSU

Strengths:
- Perimeter shooting
- Driving to the basket
- Offensive rebounding
- Screen usage
- Lateral Quickness
- Offensive movement
- Defensive hands

Weaknesses:
- Undersized SG at NBA level
- Left-handed dribbling
- Creating own shot
- Defensive fundamentals
- Unpolished mid-range game

Summary:
I watched Marcus Thornton play against Butler and North Carolina in the first and second rounds of this year's NCAA Tournament. He is a pure shooter. There is no other way to put it. He is capable of putting up huge numbers when he has the ball in his hands. In both games, Thornton moved well without the ball in his hands. He utilized the staggered screens that the LSU offense established to get him open. Once he received the ball, he was ready to shoot. He has beautiful shot mechanics that make him lethal from virtually anywhere on the floor. Many of his shots were contested by the defense, but his quick release allowed him to get his shots off. His field goal percentage is up (47.2%) from his junior season (43.6%) because he has improved his shooting selection, just another reason for teams to a good look at him.

Thornton also was not afraid to put the ball on the floor and go straight to the basket. Though it is not his strength, especially dribbling to his left, he would still continue to drive. He was able to draw contact in these situations allowing him to get to the line.

What was most exciting to see was Thornton effort elsewhere on the court. He was banging around in the low post to get the offensive rebound (averaging two offensive boards a game). It seems rare to find a shooting guard who is willing to battle it out in the post to grab an offensive board, but this is exactly Thornton's mentality. It helped his team increase the number of second chance points in both games. He also improved his assist-to-turnover ratio from his junior season (currently 1.17, up from 0.62). This improvement is huge because he is creating twice as many opportunities for his teammates this year for every turnover he has.

There are a few weaknesses in Thornton's offensive game. LSU's offense is geared for him to succeed. The team sets many staggered screens for him to run off of. He may not be put into an offense that is willing to do the same for him at the NBA level. Because of the current system he is in he needs to improve two things. First, his shooting percentage declines when he is forced to score off the dribble. He is more effective as a jump shooter, and if he wants to excel at the next level, he will need to improve his abilities to create his own shot and finish. Second, his mid-range game is not polished. As I said before, he has a very good shot, especially from behind the arc, but he does need to work on his mid-range shot.

Thornton does a pretty good job on the defensive end of the court. He exhibits good effort on this end of the court. He stays in a defensive stance, does a good job of keeping his defender in front of him, and playing physically. His lateral quickness allows him to keep up with an offensive player pretty easily as well. Thornton has a good wingspan for a shooting guard, which allows him to get his hand in the passing lane. He needs to hone his defensive fundamentals though. I saw Thornton fall for ball fakes and unsuccessfully go for steals several times throughout both games.

Although Thornton is a bit undersized to play the SG, but he has many strong qualities and upside that can help many NBA teams. He had a strong showing this year in the SEC Conference and the NCAA Tournament that can only help his draft stock.

Projection: late first, early second round (28-36)

Player Comparison: poor man's Richard Hamilton

Best Fit:
- Philadelphia: the 76ers are the worst three point shooting team in the league (currently 32.1%). That's no secret. Finding a scorer in this year's draft will be important if they do not decide to pursue one in free agency. Out of all of these teams, I believe Philadelphia could be the best fit. He's a team player, committed on both sides of the ball and can shoot very well from behind the arc.
- Charlotte: the Bobcats need a go to scorer, especially in the clutch, but can he fill that role? I think he can fill that role for the Bobcats, at least temporarily, until the team can find that marquee player in the future.
- Detroit: Richard Hamilton is getting older and I'm not sure how much longer he can keep going at the pace he does. I see many similarities between Thornton and Hamilton's game and believe that Thornton could help give Hamilton a breather, and the team can continue to run screens to get Thornton open.
- Oklahoma City: this could be an interesting fit. Thornton could be a nice complimentary scorer next to Durant, or coming off the bench and providing a spark. I doubt OKC takes him though because the team already has several back court players.

Eric Maynor

Eric Maynor, #3 PG, VCU

Strengths:
- Great shooting range
- Speed with ball
- Floater in lane
- GREAT court vision
- Ability to control tempo
- Driving and creating contact
- Quickness
- Playmaking for self and teammates
- Mid-range game

Weaknesses:
- Defensive commitment
- Slower shot release for a scorer
- Tendency to do too much on offense
- Size and strength

Summary:
Eric Maynor first caught my eye when he played against Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament. If you don't recall, that was the game where he hit the game winner to beat Duke in the first round. Since that game, he has not been a disappointment. Most recently, I watched his VCU Rams take on the UCLA Bruins in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament. I left very impressed.

I quickly noticed how comfortable Maynor looked with the ball in his hands. He demonstrated that he could change his speed with the ball in his hands at the drop of a dime. He was comfortable dribbling with both his right or his left, although it was apparent he preferred his right, depending on what the defense gave him. Maynor was very capable of reading the UCLA defense and taking advantage of what the defense gave him. He would pull up and make a NBA range three pointer on one possession or drive the lane. When he was able to penetrate, he was able to take advantage and execute many different options. He would dish the ball to an open teammate for a shot, pull up for a mid-range jumper, shoot a floater in the lane or take it in for a layup. Although his floater (and most other shots) was not falling on this night, I have seen him make this shot numerous times before. If Maynor opted to take the ball to the rack, he showed he could create contact and still get the shot off. If he was fouled, he would step to the line and make his free throws.

Maynor is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He is capable of getting shots for himself or other teammates because of his court vision. He has a great ability to find others on the court, especially when he is double-teamed. This allows for open shots for his teammates. To go along with his offensive awareness, Maynor is capable of controlling a games tempo. Against UCLA, he was able to run a half-court offense several possessions, only to execute a fast-paced offense the next possession. These abilities alone make him a promising NBA talent.

He has several weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball. He has a tendency to do too much with the ball in his hands. He can do too much with his dribble, causing him to get into trouble and taking questionable shots. When the ball is not in his hands, he is more apt to standing somewhere along the perimeter. He has the quickness to maneuver around screens to get open in a Richard Hamilton-esque fashion though. This is especially beneficial because he does not have the most consistent or quickest release for a scorer. If he becomes more willing to move without the ball, he'll get more open looks for himself and others. If he puts on some more muscle, it will only making him better.

Maynor is at his best in the clutch. As in the Duke game in 2007, the conference championship game against George Mason, or against UCLA this year, he wants the ball in his hands. He took the game winning shot against Duke; he elevated his defensive intensity against George Mason; he wanted the final shot against UCLA. I have attached a video clip that demonstrates Maynor's ability to elevate his game in the clutch.



Maynor finished his career with a field goal percentage of 44.9%. He improved his scoring average every year at VCU, but most importantly, he demonstrated he can take care of the ball by posting an assist to turnover ratio of 2.12/1 (which may have been higher if his team did not require him to score more).

Maynor's biggest weakness is his defense. He is very lackadaisical on this end of the floor. He typically is not set in a defensive stance and often relies on reaching in an attempt to steal the ball from the offense rather than play solid defense on and off the ball. He seldom fought through a screen against UCLA, relying more on his teammates for defensive help. It would be nice to see him cut down on these poor defensive behaviors. If he can dedicate himself on this side of the floor he could potentially be a starter in the league. The only time he really elevates his defensive intensity is during crunch time. It shows that he is capable of playing good defense, but it may take being challenged by coaches or teammates to get him to commit to these types of behaviors.

Projection: mid- to late- first round (15-25)
Update: I originally projected Maynor as a mid- to late-first rounder. I think that their is a strong likelihood that Maynor will slide into the second round. I doubt he falls beyond the mid-40s.

Best fit:
- Atlanta: this would be an interesting fit. The Hawks passed over Chris Paul who would have been a perfect fit for the team. Since then, they have tried drafting other PG's, mainly in the second round, to fill the void. It has not been very successful for them. They looked poised to re-sign Bibby to a new contract this off-season. He fits their team perfectly, but getting a backup may prove to be important, especially come playoffs time. The team has a nice young core they are building around in Smith, Williams, Horford, and Johnson. By bringing in a guard with Maynor's skill set, he can have the opportunity to learn from the veteran Bibby and grow with the team's young core.
- Philadelphia: at the moment, the 76ers are in limbo at the point guard position. Andre Miller is an expiring contract, and it is uncertain if he will resign (some reports say he will, others say he will not). Lou Williams has been reported to be the next guy in line, but he plays better as an off guard. Maynor is a better facilitator than Williams. He could step in and serve as a backup until he learned more about the game at the NBA level and then step in fulltime. He would also be able to stretch defenses with his shooting.
- Sacramento: just as I mentioned in my report about Jonny Flynn, Maynor could step into the Kings young rotation. Maynor has the ability to create for himself and others around him, something that would be beneficial for a young, rebuilding team.

Tyler Hansbrough

Tyler Hansbrough, #50 PF, North Carolina

Strengths:
- Continual improvement of shooting range every year
- Back to basket scoring
- Post moves/Footwork
- Ability to get to the free throw line and convert
- Hook shot
- Strong intangibles
- Physical toughness
- Winning mentality
- Work ethic
- Coachable

Weaknesses:
- Passing out of the post
- Passing skills
- Lateral quickness
- Explosiveness
- Undersized for PF position in the NBA
- Wingspan
- Ball-handling skills
- Lower ceiling than most other prospects – older than class of peers

Summary:
Tyler Hansbrough is the one player I’m most excited about scouting. I had the privilege of watching Hansbrough play his first two seasons at UNC while I was still an undergraduate student. Since my time there, he has gone on to break the Carolina scoring and rebounding records, and he is soon to pass JJ Redick’s ACC scoring record. He was not the most athletic player on the team then, and he still is not. He’s not a fancy player to watch, but he gets the job done. He plays the game with a high level of intensity and always makes it a point to work harder than the next player on the court.

Hansbrough wants the ball in his hands every time UNC is on the offensive end. Over his four year career, he has built up a nice arsenal of post moves. He has worked on his footwork, but he still is prone to traveling. He has developed a nice hook shot and extended his shooting range to include a three point shot (currently shooting 47.4%, an improvement for a player who only focused his early career around the basket). He looks more comfortable and confident when pulling up for a shot from the mid-range out. He still relies heavily on his “push” shot in the post, something that will not be nearly as successful at the next level with bigger, stronger, and more athletic individuals guarding him.

Hansbrough works best with his back to the basket. In these situations, he utilizes his hook and push shots. He works best in these situations because he embraces contact. He is a physical player who is looking to get fouled, put up a shot and convert his free throws (he currently is shooting 85.6%, a very good number for a big man) every time he gets the ball in the post. His aggressive play can get him in trouble though. Many teams will double down on Hansbrough in hopes of slowing him down. In many situations, it would be best for Hansbrough to pass the ball back out to a perimeter player for either a shot or to reposition himself and look for the ball again. He is not very good at passing out of the post, especially when he is double teamed. Of course, his passing skills in general are not great and need work.

Hansbrough’s hard-nose style benefits him on the defensive end of the floor. It is tough to back him down in the post, and he rarely leaves his feet on ball fakes. He is a very efficient rebounder, relying on his positioning to grab lose balls. He has improved his perimeter defense, but he lacks lateral quickness. For him to play against more athletic big men, it will be imperative for Hansbrough to improve this facet of his game.

Will he be the best player to come out of this draft class? Probably not. He has a lower ceiling than most of the prospects in his draft class because of his age. Although his ceiling may not be as high, you know exactly what you are getting with Hansbrough, and I can guarantee this: very few players will out hustle him. He has a strong desire to do the best job he can when he’s on the court. He wants to win, and will do whatever is necessary of him to achieve that goal. A case in point, he returned for his senior year at UNC to win a national championship. He is a very coachable player with a strong work ethic, toughness, and strong intangibles.

Projection: late first round to early second round (28-34)

Player Comparison: David Lee/Luis Scola

Best fit:
- While he could be inserted onto most rosters and perform at a high level, based on the recent history of one team, I believe Hansbrough could step in and become a player fans would embrace. That team is the Indiana Pacers. The Palace Brawl could have happened yesterday in many fans minds. With his strong work ethic, morals and ability to maintain composure after numerous hard fouls and attempts to provoke him, the Pacers could use that kind of character to boost the image of the team.

DeJuan Blair

DeJuan Blair, #45 PF, University of Pittsburgh

Stengths:
- Plays bigger than what he really is due to his tough, physical play and 7'3" wingspan
- Uses his body well in the post on both the offensive and defensive ends
- Dominant player around the basket, very effective at rebounding using both hands
- Very efficient scorer averaging 15.6 ppg on 59.9% shooting
- Improved post game - soft hands, solid hook shot
- Capable of using either hand in the post

Weaknesses:
- Undersized PF by NBA standards
- Lacks explosiveness around the rim, resulting in several blocked shots per game
- Limited awareness of his positioning in the post
- Defensive liability, especially along the perimeter
- Can get into foul trouble fairly easily because of his physical style
- Does not appear to challenge himself to develop a short- to mid-range game

Summary:
DeJuan Blair is a 265 pound, 6'7" power forward. He is an undersized power forward by NBA standards, but several undersized power forward have performed well at the NBA level (Paul Millsap, Carlos Boozer, just to name a few). His lack of height and explosiveness makes it fairly easy for defenders to block his shots on the defensive end of the court, as well as shot over him on the offensive end of the court. There is no denying his strength and wingspan though. These attributes allow him to make up for some of his physical and athletic shortcomings. With a 7'3" wingspan, a knack for the ball and his strength, Blair is capable of grabbing rebounds with ease, doing so with both hands. He uses these three attributes to clear room and position himself for the rebound.

As far as his defensive abilities, Blair needs more work. In Pitt's four losses this year, Blair has found himself in foul trouble, fouling out in three of the four games. There are two reasons. First, he relys on his tough, gritty play, which may result in some fouls. Second, if there is a defensive switch and Blair is guarding along the perimeter, he is a liability. He is simply not quick enough.

Blair has shown improvement in his offensive production from his freshman to his sophmore year. In the same number of minutes per game, Blair is averaging four more points per game (11.6 ppg as a freshman, 15.6 ppg as a sophmore) on 59.9% shooting (up from 53.7% his freshman year). He has developed softer hands and the ability to use either hand to put the ball on the floor or to score. These improvements have resulted in an effective 6' hook shot in the paint. Unfortunately, Blair sometimes is unaware of his post presence, posting upbelow the lower block. When he makes a post move, he has found himself directly underneath the backboard where he has been known to force a shot. His offensive improvements are nice, but it would be nice to see him develop a short- to mid-range shot.

Projection: mid- to late- first rounder

Best fit:
- San Antonio Spurs: bringing in a young post player would be smart for the Spurs because it would allow Blair exposure to Tim Duncan, one of the best power forwards to play the game. Duncan's playing window is diminishing and it will be necessary for the team to begin looking for and grooming his replacment. San Antonio's half court offensive style could utilize Blair's strengths.
- Utah Jazz: Jerry Sloan's pick and roll offense has always revolved the PG and PF positions. Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap have both been on the receiving end of passes from Deron Williams lately. Both players have been able to finish rather effectively. With the uncertainty of whether Boozer will opt out and become a free agent, drafting a player like Blair could be a smart move. Blair plays a similar style of basketball to Boozer, and may be capable of filling a void if Boozer does indeed opt out.

Jonny Flynn

Jonny Flynn, #10 PG, Syracuse University

Jonny Flynn has built on an impressive freshman campaign at Syracuse University. He has increased his scoring average from 15.7 ppg to 17.7 ppg, as well as his assists average from 5.3 apg to 6.7 apg while only averaging slightly less than two more minutes per game. It's good to see these numbers increase with the insignificant increase in playing time.

Flynn is listed as a 170 pound, 6'0 point guard. That's short folks, especially for the prototypical NBA point guard. His athleticism, quickness and explosiveness make up for his lack size, allowing him to penetrate the lane. As a smaller guard, penetrating into the lane and finishing around the basket can result in numerous fouls on opposing teams. This is his strength. What is his strength also happens to be his weakness. He is an absolutely explosive guard, capable of beating defenders with his first step. He definitely isn't scared. He knows he will more than likely get fouled as he goes up for his shot in the lane. He's looking to get fouled as he seeks out the body of the defenders. When he penetrates the lane though, he is too focused on getting to the rim. His tunnel vision impairs his ability to assess what the defense gives him. Once he is in the air he tends to either get blocked or tries to pass the ball to a fellow a teammate. This is the result of many of turnovers. Also, he is a relatively poor shooter from behind the arc, where he is only shooting 33% this season. In his short college career, from what I've been able to gather, he is a durable player (just recently he played in 67 of 70 minutes in the six overtime thriller against UConn. That's a lot of minutes, especially to play the way he plays).

Due to his lack of size, he will have to play the PG position in the pros. He isn't a natural point, but he has improved his abilities of reading the defense, setting up his teammates, and working the pick-and-roll. His improvement suggests that he can be capable of running the point at the next level.

Flynn has had an impressive Big East Tournament where he has helped carry Syracuse past Marquette, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Though he may be an undersized guard by NBA terms, he is definitely athletic enough to play at the next level. He needs to continue his play into the NCAA Tournament to show scouts he is capable of playing at the next level.

Strengths: Solid mid-range game; quickness, first step; improved offensive awareness and production

Needs to improve: Shot selection; decision-making; turnovers; defensive intensity

Projected draft position: Late first rounder to early second rounder

Updated draft position: mid- to late first rounder (16-26)

Best fit(s):

- Sacramento: with only one signed PG on the roster after this season (Beno Udrih) and a young team clearly in the rebuilding phase and trying to find its identity, a player like Flynn could be what this team is looking for. Sacramento has several players with really good range that he could distribute the ball to after penetrating, and the team also has some young talent in the front court that Flynn could distribute to as well.

- Orlando: clearly he would be the third option on this team behind Jameer Nelson and Raefer Alston, but Orlando has a team of perimeter shooters that Flynn would be able to dish out to when he penetrates the lane and Dwight Howard to throw ally-oops to or for clean up.

Revamping 94by50 Basketball

I love March. I love it because it is March Madness. I also love it because you get to see who wants it more; you get to see who is willing to grind it out in a close game; you get to see who steps up and puts his team on his back and carries his team to victory.

Over the next several weeks and months, my blog will be evolving. I will be providing scouting reports of many different players that I have watched throughout the regular and post-2008/09 college basketball season. Also, I have taken up a new interest that I believe is the future of the NBA. It is the use of analytical statistics to evaluate basketball players and to identify discrepancies in the player pool.

So let the revamping of 94by50 Basketball begin!