DeMarcus Nelson: NBA Draft Profile

DeMarcus Nelson

College: Duke

Class: Senior

Position: SG

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 200lbs

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Accolades:  Honorable Mention All-American – CHN (08), First Team All-ACC (08), ACC All-Defensive Team (08), Honorable Mention All-ACC (07), ACC All-Defensive Team (07), ACC All-Freshman Team (05), McDonald’s All-American – high school (04), Mr. Basketball – California – high school (04), Second Team Parade All-American – high school (04). 

Scouting Report:  A solid senior with all-around skills.

Strengths:  Tough defender – two-time All-ACC Defensive Team member.  Shooting range extends to behind the three-point arc.  Very solid all-around player – does everything fairly well.  Very athletic – can get out and run and is a good leaper.  Good rebounder for a shooting guard.  Ability to defend multiple positions.  Shoots for a very good percentage for a shooting guard – 49% his senior year.  Solid scorer.  Very experience having played significant minutes all four years for Duke.

Weaknesses:  Will be a little undersized for a shooting guard in the NBA.  Turns the ball over nearly as often as he gets an assist.  Very poor free throw shooter.  Shoots the three for a good percentage but didn’t take very many (only hit a little over one per game).  Other than being a solid defender, doesn’t do anything else exceptionally well.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Late second round pick.

Consensus:  DeMarcus Nelson is the perfect example of the new era in Duke basketball – solid college player, mediocre NBA prospect.  While he had a nice senior year and is a solid, all-around player, he is not expected to be anything more than an average NBA pro.  Still, he should find himself a NBA job next season based on his defense and solid offensive skills.

Stats: DeMarcus Nelson Stats