Blake Griffin

2009 NBA Draft: Best Scorers

CHN — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:49:27 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects - NBA Team Needs/Capsules - 2010 NBA Draft

2009 NBA Draft Skills Challenge: Best Scorers

While the 2009 NBA Draft isn't loaded with deadly long-range bombers, there are definitely some guys adept at getting the ball in the hoop. Blake Griffin isn't a traditional scorer from the SG or SF position, but he can score the ball in a variety of ways. Stephen Curry can light it up with the best of them, and some of our experts considered him the best scorer available, even better than the probable #1 pick. The highly efficient James Harden appears in everyone's lists, but opinion is mixed. Meanwhile, Jodie Meeks and Marcus Thornton shredded the SEC last year, but our opinions on those guys were highly scattered. Dionte Christmas, Tyrese Rice, and Jermaine Taylor were some of the less-heralded prospects given some love.

As part of our NBA Draft Skills Challenge series, CHN experts ranked the Best Scorers in the Draft. Click on player name for profile & scouting report. Our experts rankings will be updated once the official Entry list is finalized.

Jason Brubaker

1) Blake Griffin
2) Stephen Curry
3) James Harden
4) Jodie Meeks
5) Jeff Teague
6) Dionte Christmas
7) Toney Douglas
8) Chase Budinger

Jeff Fox

1) Stephen Curry
2) Jermaine Taylor
3) Jodie Meeks
4) Blake Griffin
5) Luke Harangody
6) James Harden
7) Marcus Thornton
8) Lester Hudson

Jason Hirschorn
1) Stephen Curry
2) James Harden
3) Blake Griffin
4) Jonny Flynn
5) Tyrese Rice
6) Gerald Henderson
7) Demar Derozan
8) Jeff Teague

Raphielle Johnson

1) Jodie Meeks
2) Lester Hudson
3) James Harden
4) Stephen Curry
5) Dionte Christmas
6) Blake Griffin
7) Tyrese Rice
8) Tyreke Evans

Tim Kemper

1) Blake Griffin
2) Stephen Curry
3) James Harden
4) Tyreke Evans
5) Jeff Teague
6) Ty Lawson
7) Marcus Thornton
8) Wayne Ellington

Jason Tomassini

1) Blake Griffin
2) James Harden
3) Tyreke Evans
4) Stephen Curry
5) Gerald Henderson
6) Brandon Jennings
7) Jordan Hill
8) Demar Derozan

Shawn Siegel

1) Blake Griffin
2) Stephen Curry

3) James Harden

4) Jeff Teague

5) Eric Maynor
6) Tyreke Evans

7) Marcus Thornton

8) Gerald Henderson

NBA Draft Skill Rankings

- includes top scorers, rebounders, passers, shot-blockers, and more.

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

2009 NBA Draft: Best Rebounders

CHN — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:20:59 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects - NBA Team Needs/Capsules - 2010 Draft

2009 NBA Draft Skills Challenge: Best Rebounders

While the 2009 NBA Draft isn't particularly strong at the center position, there's a good amount of power forwards and larger wings who can rebound the ball. The lone exceptional big man is Hasheem Thabeet, and though he isn't a dominating rebounder yet, he can hold is own. The best rebounder is Blake Griffin, the probable #1 pick, and he's followed by the likes of DeJuan Blair and Jordan Hill. Less-heralded prospects like Jeff Adrien, Jon Brockman, and Jeff Pendergraph grabbed a ton of rebounds in college, while wings like Earl Clark and Damion James can do damage on the glass as well.

As part of our NBA Draft Skills Challenge series, CHN experts rank the Best Rebounders in the Draft. Click on player name for profile & scouting report. Our experts rankings will be updated once the official Entry list is finalized.

Jason Brubaker

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill

4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) Jeff Adrien
6) Tyler Hansbrough
7) Jeff Pendergraph
8) Sam Young

Jeff Fox

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) John Bryant
4) Jon Brockman
5) Luke Harangody
6) Hasheem Thabeet
7) Jordan Hill
8) Diamon Simpson

Jason Hirschorn
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Tyler Hansbrough
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Luke Harangody
6) Jordan Hill
7) Earl Clark
8) Taj Gibson

Raphielle Johnson

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jeff Adrien
4) Jordan Hill
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Luke Harangody
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Jon Brockman

Tim Kemper

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Gani Lawal
5) Terrence Williams
6) Earl Clark
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Damion James

Shawn Siegel

1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet

3) Jordan Hill

4) DeJuan Blair

5) BJ Mullens
6) Earl Clark

7) Slava Kravstov
8) Jeff Adrien

Jon Teitel
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Jon Brockman
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Damion James
7) Chris Johnson
8) Jordan Hill

Jason Tomassini

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) James Johnson
6) Earl Clark
7) Gani Lawal
8) Tyreke Evans

NBA Draft Skills Challenge Series

- includes top scorers, rebounders, passers, shot-blockers, and more.

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

2009 NBA Draft: Skills Challenge

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:07:29 -0700

2009 NBA Draft: Skills Challenge

While Blake Griffin can do just about anything, the other top 2009 NBA Draft prospects like Hasheem Thabeet (shot-blocking), Ricky Rubio (passing), Jordan Hill (rebounding), and Stephen Curry (scoring) excel at specific skill sets. CHN experts rank the best prospects at each of the skills below.. and we also rank some of the players that enjoy causing trouble.

Jason Brubaker, Jeff Fox, Jason Hirschorn, Raphielle Johnson, Tim Kemper, Shawn Siegel, Jon Teitel, and Jason Tomassini contributed to the CHN Skills Challenge series.

Category (Consensus Leader/s)

Best Shooters (Stephen Curry)

Best Scorers (Blake Griffin)

Best Rebounders (Blake Griffin)

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

NBA Draft Lottery: #1 Pick History

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:19:37 -0700

Since the modern lottery format was started in 1994, the team with the worst record has only received the #1 pick twice. (However, the team with the best odds of getting #1 has won it 3 times due to an expansion quirk in 1996.) The past four seasons have seen a rush of mediocre, but not awful, teams winning the #1 pick. Chicago last year defied the odds with just a 1.7% chance.

However, it seems like we're due for one of the worst 3 teams to snag the top spot (which will almost certainly go to Blake Griffin). Considering the worst team has a 25% chance of the #1 pick, and this is the 16th year, it would only make sense that this is the 4th time that the #1 team gets the top spot.

Oddly, no team with the 4th worst record has ever snagged the top spot, although the 5th worst teams have done so 3 times.

	TEAM	RECORD	STANDINGS	ODDS
2009	?	?	?	?
2008	Chicago	33-49	9th	1.7%
2007	Portland	32-50	7th	5.3%
2006	Toronto	27-55	5th	8.8%
2005	Milwaukee	30-52	6th	6.3%
2004	Orlando	21-61	1st	25.0%
2003	Cleveland	17-65	T-1st	22.5%
2002	Houston	28-54	5th	8.9%
2001	Washington	19-63	3rd	15.7%
2000	New Jersey	31-52	7th	4.4%
1999	Chicago	13-37	3rd	15.7%
1998	LA Clippers	17-65	3rd	22.6%
1997	San Antonio	20-62	3rd*	21.6%
1996	Philadelphia	18-64	2nd*	33.7%
1995	Golden St	26-56	5th	9.4%
1994	Milwaukee	20-62	T-2nd	16.3%

*The expansion Grizzlies were barred from the 1st pick in 97 & 98, despite having the worst overall record.

Also See:

2009 Lottery Odds

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

NBA Draft: Good Decisions

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:48:27 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

Draft Decisions: Good, Bad and Everything In-Between

Part One

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the Draft has long passed, but the fun part is just beginning. Those who haven’t signed with an agent are eligible to return to school, while others are already picking out their suits for Draft Night. Patrick Patterson is the first big name who entered the Draft but has returned to school. As is usually the case, the list of remaining underclassmen includes some…how should I put this…interesting names. How many people watched Texas A&M this year and thought Chinemelu Elonu was a future NBA player? Or that two players from DePaul, who went 0-18 in the Big East, would feel they were NBA-ready?

So without further ado, here’s a look at some of the decisions made by players, ranging from the good to the bad to the bizarre.

Good Decisions

• Blake Griffin, Oklahoma. This was a no-brainer. The consensus top pick should have an immediate impact in the league, and has All-Star potential.

• Hasheem Thabeet, UConn. Again, another obvious choice. Thabeet has the ability to contribute right away on the defensive end, and will likely be a top-3 selection.

• James Harden, Arizona State. Harden stumbled during the NCAA Tournament, but that shouldn’t diminish his terrific year. Harden isn’t a high-flying athlete, but he always seems to end up in the right spot, and he knows how to put the ball in the basket. He’s demonstrated a high basketball IQ, and is a level-headed kid who teams can market. He’s likely to be a top-5 selection.

• BJ Mullens, Ohio State. While Mullens didn’t set the world on fire during his freshman year, he still possesses the physical traits that make scouts drool, mainly size and athleticism. While there’s no doubt he needs time to develop, he’s a first-round lock and will be cashing some large checks next year.

• DeMar DeRozan, USC. Like Mullins, DeRozan had an underwhelming freshman year, although he really came on at the end of the year. DeRozan still needs some polish on his game, but his combination of athleticism and size will land him a spot in the lottery.

• Ty Lawson/Wayne Ellington, North Carolina. Both players have some physical limitations that scare scouts, but they’re both entering the draft with plenty of buzz after leading the Tar Heels to the national title. Both players are proven winners who answered plenty of doubters through the year, and likely wouldn’t have improved their stock much by returning to school.

• DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh. While not a prototypical big man, Blair is also striking while the iron is hot, after leading Pitt to one of their best seasons ever. With the Panthers already losing seniors Sam Young and Levance Fields, opponents likely would have been able to key on Blair next year, which could have hurt his stock.

• Chase Budinger/Jordan Hill, Arizona. Both players have endured plenty of drama in Tucson, and as a result, have shown their character and maturity. Hill, who has improved dramatically, could be a top-5 pick, while Budinger has gradually addressed his weaknesses and could climb into the late lottery.

• James Johnson, Wake Forest. While the Deacons went out on a sour note, Johnson still has scouts buzzing about his potential. A terrific athlete from the small forward position, Johnson is a match-up nightmare when he’s focused. A likely top-10 selection.

>> Continue to Part Two: Bad & Questionable Decisions

2009 NBA Draft: Top 10 By Position

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:56:15 -0700

Top Ten Prospects By Position

Last Updated April 21st. (Note that the status of Draft entrants is still in flux.)

Click on player for complete profile & scouting report. More profiles added daily. Ranking based on CHN's 6-star ranking system (see below)

Point Guard

1) Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut

2) Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis

3) Brandon Jennings - PG - Arizona

4) Ty Lawson - PG - UNC

5) Stephen Curry - PG/SG - Davidson

4) Eric Maynor - PG - VCU

5) Patrick Mills - PG - St. Mary's

6) Nick Calathes - PG - Florida

7) Darren Collison - PG - UCLA

8) Jonny Flynn - PG - Syracuse

9) AJ Price - PG - UCONN

10) Toney Douglas - PG - Florida St

Shooting Guard

1) James Harden - SG - Arizona State

2) Jeff Teague - PG/SG - Wake Forest

3) DeMar DeRozan - SG - USC

4) Gerald Henderson - SG - Duke

5) Terrence Williams - SG - Louisville

6) Wayne Ellington - SG - UNC

7) Jrue Holiday - SG - UCLA

8) Jodie Meeks - SG - Kentucky

9) Marcus Thornton - SG - LSU

10) Lee Cummard - SG - BYU

Small Forward

1) Earl Clark - SF - Louisville

2) Sam Young - SF - Pittsburgh

3) Chase Budinger - SF - Arizona

4) James Johnson - SF - Wake Forest

5) Omri Casspi - SF - Macabbi Tel Aviv

6) Austin Daye - SF - Gonzaga

7) Damion James - SF - Texas

8) Tyler Smith - SF - Tennessee

9) DeMarre Carroll - SF - Missouri

10) Vladimir Dasic - SF - Buducnost Podgorica

Power Forward

1) Blake Griffin - PF - Oklahoma

2) Jordan Hill - PF - Arizona

3) Craig Brackins - F - Iowa State

4) Patrick Patterson - SF/PF - Kentucky

5) DeJuan Blair - PF - Pittsburgh

6) Tyler Hansbrough - PF/C - UNC

7) Josh Heytvelt - PF - Gonzaga

8) Derrick Brown - SF - Xavier

9) Jeff Pendergraph - PF - Arizona State

10) Jon Brockman - PF - Washington

Center

1) Hasheem Thabeet - C - UCONN

2) BJ Mullens - C - Ohio State

3) Vitor Faverini - PF/C - Malaga

4) Luke Nevill - C - Utah

5) Vyacheslav Kravtsov - C - Zalgiris Kaunas

5) John Bryant - C - Santa Clara

6) Gasper Vidmar - C - Fenerbahce

7) Tony Gaffney - C - UMASS

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues

More

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

Complete NBA Draft coverage

2009 Top 100 Ranking & Profiles

Last Year's 2008 Top 10 By Position

AP All-America Team: Griffin Unanimous

Matthew Ryter — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:28:27 -0700

The Story: Blake Griffin, the leading rebounder in the nation, was the only unanimous selection for the All-American team. Griffin received 71 first-team votes. The voters submit the ballots before the NCAA tournament. The Sooners were bounced from the tournament yesterday by North Carolina, led by fellow All-American Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough was a unanimous selection last year while also being named the consensus player of the year as a junior. This is the fourth straight season that he has earned All-American honors. Hansbrough was a third-teamer his freshman year and a second-teamer as a sophomore. He is also the third player to earn back-to-back first team accolades. He joins Phil Ford (1977-78) and Michael Jordan (1983-84). DeJuan Blair is Pittsburgh's second first-team All-American. Blair joins Don Hennon, who received first-team honors in 1958. Blair, who averaged a double-double this season, led the Panthers to a No. 1 seed in this year's tournament. Blair is the only post-season All-American not to be named on the preseason team. James Harden becomes Arizona State's first player to be an AP All-American. Harden averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Stephen Curry rounds out the first-team. Curry led the country in scoring at 28.3 points per game. He helped lead Davidson to a regular season Southern Conference title, but Wildcats failed to earn an NCAA bid this season. Hasheem Thabeet of Connecticut, Ty Lawson of North Carolina, Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, Jodie Meeks of Kentucky, and Jerel McNeal of Marquette make up the second-team. The third-team consists of Terrence Williams of Louisville, Toney Douglas of Florida State, Sam Young of Pittsburgh, Sherron Collins of Kansas, and Gerald Henderson of Duke.

AP All-America Team:
G - Stephen Curry, Davidson, Jr
G - James Harden, Arizona St, So
F - Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, So
F - DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, So
F - Tyler Hansbrough, UNC, Sr

Ryter's Block: It's hard to argue with the first-team. Griffin will be the No. 1 pick in next year's NBA Draft assuming he forgoes his eligibility and enters. I don't see him coming back next season. I think he proved himself in college, his brother is graduating, and it's almost a guarantee he goes No. 1. He's also matured this season. I think last year he was a ‘show boat' and this year he was more ‘professional.' Tyler Hansbrough may go out on top this year. The Tar Heels are two wins away from a championship. You hardly see a player of this caliber stay in college for four years and I tip my cap to him. Although he isn't projected as a great NBA talent, he will get drafted and deserves first-team honors again. DeJuan Blair manhandled his opponents in the paint (see Hasheem Thabeet). Although the Panthers didn't make it to Detroit, they had a successful season and Blair was the main reason for their success. He was nearly unstoppable underneath. Many people forget that Stephen Curry had to run the point for Davidson this season. I think the transition was done smoothly. I got to watch him in person this year at Madison Square Garden against West Virginia where he just took over that game. He impressed me. He's more then just a shooter, the kid can play. James Harden is a projected NBA lottery pick. He led the Sun Devils to the dance and then he failed to show up come tourney time. He may have dropped to second-team if the voters counted tourney play.

Who was left off? Who shouldn't be on here? Post your comments below.

CollegeHoops.net All-Sweet Sixteen Team

Jeff Fox — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:36:54 -0700

Apparently someone forgot to send Syracuse the memo that this year’s Elite Eight was going to be renamed “The Big East Invitational”. Despite the Big East dominating the outcomes of the Sweet 16 games, a couple of other conferences dominate CHN’s All-Sweet Sixteen Team.

CollegeHoops.net Sweet Sixteen MOP

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

30 points, 14 boards, three assists

This Blake Griffin character is pretty good - wonder if anyone else has noticed that? Perhaps the most amazing thing about Griffin’s play so far in the tournament is the amount of shots he’s missed - only 10 out of his 47 shots have missed the mark.

CollegeHoops.net All-Sweet SixteenTeam

Guard: Ty Lawson, North Carolina

19 points, nine assists, four board, one turnover

The little man continues being the engine that drives the North Carolina machine. He played almost flawlessly versus Gonzaga, only turning the ball over once and missing only two shots.

Guard: Tony Crocker, Oklahoma

28 points, three steals, 6-11 3pts

Suddenly all over the world kids are practicing their three-point shooting wearing long sleeve shirts under their jerseys.

Guard: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina

19 points, seven board, four assists

Yet another versatile weapon for Roy Williams to utilize in his title quest.

Forward: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Center: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut

15 points, 15 boards, four blocks

He continues to be raw on offense, but Thabeet’s D has been key to UConn’s run to the Elite Eight.

Prospect Report: Top 10 College Prospects

Joey Whelan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:29:55 -0800

Joey Whelan's prospect report ranks the best in college hoops every other week. The previous ranking is in parentheses.

1. Blake Griffin – Oklahoma (1)

The name of this column should be changed to “Top 10 Prospects After Blake Griffin” because barring injury, the Sooner big man will not be supplanted from his lofty perch; not while competing at the college level. Since entering conference play in the Big 12 the sophomore has averaged 22.4 points and 13.2 rebounds while shooting nearly 54% from the field. It isn’t just the numbers though, it’s the out of this world athleticism that makes Griffin one of the few players in the country who I will make me stop whatever I am doing to watch.

2. James Harden – Arizona State (2)

For the first time all year Harden looked human after his 4-point, 0-8 performance in a loss versus USC. The nation’s top shooting guard has rebounded nicely though, going over the 20-point mark in the Sun Devils last two games; wins over UCLA and Arizona.

3. Greg Monroe – Georgetown (3)

Likely the top freshman in the country at this point, Monroe is continuing to post consistent, solid numbers in Big East play. In his last five games he has accumulated averages of 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists, not overwhelmingly impressive alone, but when taking into account the amount of talent on Georgetown, it’s safe to say Monroe would post higher numbers elsewhere. His near triple-double in a win over Providence was one of his best showings of the season.

4. Jordan Hill – Arizona (5)

Hill just seems to be getting better and better each time he steps out onto the court. He almost single handedly carried Arizona to a come from behind win over Houston on Saturday, netting a season high 30 points to go along with 18 rebounds and 4 blocks. In seven Pac-10 games, Hill has four double-doubles.

5. Jeff Teague – Wake Forest (NA)

NBA scouts love to see good players step up in big games; Teague has done just that. In the two biggest games of the year for the Demon Decons (wins over UNC and Clemson) the sophomore guard averaged 29 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He had an excellent run during Wake’s non conference schedule, and has been nothing short of red hot since ACC play has started. This combo guard is getting more and more popular by the game.

6. Earl Clark – Louisville (7)

The Cardinals are on a roll, standing atop the Big East at 6-0 including wins over four ranked conference opponents. Clark may be on an even bigger roll after posting double-doubles in all four wins over ranked teams. In fact, the only game that Clark hasn’t recorded a double-double in the past 2+ weeks came in a win over Rutgers last Wednesday.

7. Hasheem Thabeet – Connecticut (6)

Given his massive frame, shock blocking ability and enticing potential, it is going to take a lot to knock Thabeet out of the top ten. With that said, the senior center hasn’t exactly been putting together strings of great game lately. His 15 and 17 showing in a win over Seton Hall last week was his first big game in several weeks.

8. Stephen Curry – Davidson (8)

Curry looks like he may have regained his shooting touch, albeit against the less than competitive SoCon, but he is hitting his shots nonetheless. Davidson has won six straight, and their star has recorded back to back 30-point games while shooting a stellar 13-22 from beyond the arc in those two games.

9. Ty Lawson – North Carolina (4)

Lawson’s scoring consistency as started to waiver somewhat recently, and he had a poor shooting performance in the biggest game of the year so far for the Tar Heels; a loss to Wake Forest. The assist numbers have stayed up though, as the junior has still managed to heavily influence the action on the floor, dishing out more than 7 assists per game in his last four games.

10. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State (NA)

The thing about being a physically gifted 7-footer with loads of potential is that with the faintest signs of developing on the court and your stock starts climbing again. After a slow start where he wasn’t seeing much playing time, Mullens has reached double figure scoring and played at least twenty minutes in his last six games.

Dropped Out: Kyle Singler (9), Gani Lawal (10)

Next in Line: Kyle Singler, Duke; Patrick Patterson, Kentucky; Demar DeRozan, USC; Willie Warren, Oklahoma; Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech

Rising

Jodie Meeks – Kentucky

Ok, so clearly at this point this shouldn’t come as a shock to see his name here given the last two weeks, but Meeks has yet to be mentioned in this space. The 54 points dropped on Tennessee was ridiculous, there is no other word for it. But combine that with a 28-point showing against Louisville and the fact that he has yet to fail to eclipse 20 points just once in over a month, and Meeks’ stock is scorching right now.

At 6’4” he will be an undersized shooting guard at the next level, so to really help his stock he needs to improve on his ability to distribute the basketball, become more of a combo guard. His range and ability to create off the dribble though are more than enough to entice teams to take a good long look at Meeks and at the very least invite him to participate in the summer league.

Falling

Greivis Vasquez – Maryland

Ever since the Terps reeled off seven straight wins in their non conference schedule Vasquez has been struggling to find the basket. Over his last six games the junior is shooting just 27.9% from the field and an abysmal 15.6% from beyond the arc. Making matters worse he has been getting into it with Maryland fans and prior to the drubbing the Terps received at the hands of Duke, Vasquez was popping off about owning Cameron Indoor Stadium. In Maryland’s toughest test of the season their floor general managed 4 points on 2-10 shooting with 2 assists.

NBA: Top 10 Prospect Report

Joey Whelan — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:55:10 -0800

After a hiatus for the holiday season stock watch is back with a look at who is rising and falling in the early part of 2009. Not much has changed at the top of the list, but with conference play getting underway, some names are starting to separate themselves as legitimate prospects.

1. Blake Griffin – Oklahoma (1)

All Griffin has done since we last checked in is record four double-doubles in four games. The real test begins now as Oklahoma opens its Big 12 schedule on Saturday.

2. James Harden – Arizona State (2)

Night in and night out Harden seems to find a different way to contribute to his team. Whether it be the eight rebounds he grabbed against Cal, the ten assists he handed out on the road at Stanford, or the 44% he is shooting from beyond the arc, the talented shooting guard is an all-around threat.

3. Greg Monroe – Georgetown (10)

Monroe makes the biggest jump in this addition of stock watch after getting off to a fantastic start in Big East play. In three games against top ten opponents (UConn, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame), facing three elite frontcourt players, Monroe posted averages of 17.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Did we mention that he shot 52.5% from the field and connected on two of three attempts from beyond the arc?

4. Ty Lawson – North Carolina (6)

The Tar Heel speedster continues to be a headache for opposing defenses. Now though, he is showing that he doesn’t need to put up big scoring numbers like he was early on in order to be effective. Sure, Lawson struggled in a loss against BC, but the floor general has an assist to turnover ratio of more than 4 and he is still shooting nearly 50% from three point range.

5. Jordan Hill – Arizona (NA)

Arizona may be struggling (0-2 to start the Pac-10 slate) but Hill’s stock has never been hotter. The junior has four double-doubles in his last five games, including 23 and 11 in a win over Kansas, and two game averages of 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in his first two conference games. After two years Hill is finally starting to realize the potential which he has been showing glimpses of since his first day as a Wildcat.

6. Hasheem Thabeet – Connecticut (3)

Thabeet takes a bit of a tumble after struggling in his first two major tests of the season. Foul trouble in a win over Gonzaga limited the big man to just 19 minutes on the floor, while Georgetown held him to just four field goal attempts. On the positive end, Thabeet did have seven blocks in the match up with the Hoyas, and has bounced back since then, posting 13 points and 13 rebounds on Tuesday in a win over West Virginia.

7. Earl Clark – Louisville (4)

Clark falls a few spots because he is still very much an enigma with his consistency, but the talent level is clearly there. Wednesday’s 22 and 9 showing against South Florida is the type of performance that Clark is capable of putting on every night; the same can be said for the 25 and 16 game he had against Ole Miss in December. Then we see stretches where Clark will struggle to put the ball in the hoop like he did right before the new year. Either way, the potential is too enticing to pass up.

8. Stephen Curry – Davidson (7)

Curry still continues to post great scoring numbers but his shooting has been wavering somewhat in recent games. In his last four games he has shot 10-35 from beyond the arc, including 2-12 and 1-8 showings against Purdue and Duke. What has been impressive in these games though have been the rebounding numbers Curry has managed to record, averaging just over seven rebounds during this same stretch.

9. Kyle Singler – Duke (NA)

Singler is in the midst of his best stretch of games this season. He led the Blue Devils to a win over Davidson on Wednesday, and prior to that, nearly recorded a triple-double in Duke’s ACC opener at home against Virginia Tech. It’s nice to see the scoring and rebounding numbers improve, but perhaps the biggest boost to Singler’s stock has been the jump in the assist column, increasing from 1.4 per game as a freshman to 3.6 this year.

10. Gani Lawal – Georgia Tech (NA)

We listed Lawal under our “Rising” section a few weeks ago and now he finds himself cracking the top ten list. The power forward is averaging a double-double on the year and over his last four games has been averaging nearly 18 points and 11 rebounds, including a 15-point, 14-rebound performance in a home win over Georgia.

Dropped Out: Tyreke Evans (5), B.J. Mullens (8), Jrue Holiday (9)

Next in Line: Chase Budinger, Arizona; Demar DeRozan, USC; Tyreke Evans, Memphis; Patrick Mills, Saint Mary’s

Rising

Evan Turner – Ohio State

It was easy to see last season that Evan Turner was going to be a player, it was just a matter of how soon he would develop; it didn’t take long. Turner has emerged as the leader of the Buckeyes this season, proving to be equally dangerous on both ends of the floor. At 6’7” he has good size for the two guard position, and despite attempting a limited number of shots from the perimeter, his 53.8% shooting from beyond the arc shows he has the range to be a threat at the next level. His wingspan has allowed him to be a rebounding force for a backcourt player (he leads the team) and a ball hawk defensively. His 2.4 steals per game is nearly double his freshman total from a year ago.

Falling

A.J. Price – Connecticut

After a stellar finish to his junior year, this was supposed to be Price’s season to step into the All-American picture; not quite. Price has seen a drop in every major statistical category from a year ago, including an eight point drop in shooting percentage and a fifteen point drop in free throw shooting percentage. He looked like he was returning to form with nice showings versus Gonzaga and Georgetown, but in his last two games has scored 4 points total on 1-13 shooting.