Every year, a few dozen high
school seniors, college underclassmen, and foreign teenagers go with the
trend and enter the NBA Draft. Many of them end up regretting their
decision. They believe the hype of agents and friends. Some are drafted
out of the lottery or without guaranteed contracts in the second round.
Worse yet, some are not selected at all. Many get picked high though, live
up to the hype, and have successful NBA careers.
Minnesota freshman Kris
Humphries is hoping his career goes the latter.
Humphries scored in
double-figures every game this past season, en route to leading the Big
Ten in scoring (21.7) and rebounding (10.1). The 6’8” 240 pound power
forward dominated the paint during his first season. Although his most
refined skills are those required for banging in the post, he also has a
soft touch that extends all the way out to the three-point line. Evidence
of his sweet stroke is his .742 free throw percentage and 34 percent
shooting from behind the arc. He is by no means a “hybrid” forward in the
mold of a Kevin Garnett, though. His handle and vision could use some work
and he could cut down on his turnovers. His biggest problem is his size.
Some scouts think the 2003 McDonald’s All-American, at only 6’8”, is too
undersized to continue his dominance at the NBA level.
The Cave Spring, Minnesota
native originally committed to Duke, but later asked for a release and
signed with his hometown Golden Gophers. He’ll only spend one season at
the school since he has already signed with an agent, thus ruining his
collegiate eligibility. CHN’s latest Mock Draft
has the freshmen sensation being drafted 19th. It’s hard to pin
point exactly where in the draft Humphries will end up, but it’s a safe
bet David Stern will be calling his name somewhere in the 1st
Round.
