NBA Draft Profile: Joakim Noah

College: Florida

Class: Sophomore

Stats: ESPN.com 

Position: PF/C

Height: 6”11”

Weight: 232lbs

Accolades:  Second Team All-American – AP (07), First Team All-SEC (07), Second Team All-American – USBWA (07), Third Team All-American – CHN (07), Wooden Award All-American (07), SEC All-Tournament Team (07), Final Minneapolis Region MOP – NCAA Tournament (06), Final Four MOP (06), First Team All-SEC (06), Honorable Mention All-American – AP (06).

Scouting Report: A multi-talented, energetic, athletic big man.

Strengths:  Tons of energy and enthusiasm.  Very athletic and long.  Can get out and run the floor well. Great ball handler for a big man – can grab a rebound and start the fast break on his own.  Big time performer in big time games.  Very good passer for a player his size and position.  Great rebounder and shotblocker.  Great teammate – unselfish, motivator, good leader.

Weaknesses:  His game seems to have regressed a bit from his sophomore year – the majority of his key stats went down his junior year.  Horrible shooter – bad technique and bad spin/rotation on his shots.  He never averaged more than 26 minutes a game played throughout his career.  Needs to bulk up and get stronger for the NBA.  Is a year older than other juniors.

Projected 2007 Draft Range: Between #3 and #6 overall.

Consensus:  Noah could have struck while the iron was hot at the end of last season and possibly gone #1 overall in the 2006 draft.  Instead he returned to school, won another championship but seems to have hurt his draft stock.  His lack of a jump shot will allow teams to exploit him in the NBA, but his energy, ball handling, passing and defense should still make him a valuable contributor.

More 2007 NBA Draft Profiles

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve