Shane Larkin, Credit University of Miami

By: Jesse Moore

The 2013 NBA draft class doesn’t appear to have any “can’t miss” type of prospects, let’s just call it how it is.  This year’s class is widely viewed amongst NBA executives as light on star power but rather deep with potential solid NBA regulars.  A 206 pound shot-blocking center, Nerlens Noel out of the University of Kentucky, seems to be the number one overall prospect but is not expected to appear on an NBA floor until after the season begins due to a torn ACL that he suffered in February.  Michigan point-guard Trey Burke, Kansas shooting-guard Ben McLemore, Indiana’s duo of Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, as well as Georgetown’s Otto Porter and a few others are all looked at as having the potential to be above-average NBA players.  With those players all expected to land somewhere in the top 10 picks of this year’s draft, the supply of impact talent seems to falter once the lottery picks are through.  Although it is rare for a player drafted outside of the lottery to become a great player, one of the players in this draft class that can potentially be that guy is Shane Larkin out of the University of Miami.

The 5-foot-11 point-guard capped off a remarkable sophomore season that resulted in multiple All-American nods as well as ACC Player of the Year, with a very strong showing at last week’s NBA Scouting Combine.  Larkin’s 44-inch vertical leap and top-tier speed combined with his ability to shoot well from long range created a lot of buzz amongst NBA executives.  His 14.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game led the Hurricanes to both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles for the first time in school history.  Their number 2 ranking at one point in the season was their highest ranking ever.  The University of Miami men’s basketball team just experienced their most successful season in school history and Shane Larkin is the foremost reason why.

The biggest steal of the 2013 NBA Draft quiet possibly could end up being point-guard Shane Larkin.  To go along with his numerous accolades and solid stats, Larkin always seemed to perform at his premium when the stage was brightest.  He led his team with over 23 points per game in their run towards the ACC conference tournament title, while saving his best performance for last scoring a career-high 28 points in their win against perennial national powerhouse North Carolina in the title game.  There is something to be said about a team’s best player (regardless of the sport) performing at their best when their team needs them the most and Shane Larkin rose to that challenge time after time this past season at Miami.

Shane Larkin’s 5-foot-11 176-pound frame is definitely looked at as undersized, but he plays bigger than his size hints towards.  As mentioned prior, Larkin showed very well at last week’s NBA Scouting Combine where his off-the-charts athleticism was on full display.  He not only excelled in the proposed drills but also reportedly interviewed very well with NBA teams, as expected.  It’s hard not to fall in love with a player who is coachable and plays like they constantly feel like they have something to prove.  Being the son of a Hall of Famer is icing on the cake.

ACC Player of the Year Shane Larkin’s father, Barry Larkin, is former Cincinnati Reds shortstop who appeared in 12 all-star games and was recently inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.  Having a father who played at the highest level of a sport not only helps you in terms of notoriety, but with what it means to be a professional.  We, as a society, see too many athletes nowadays have shortened careers due to a lack of professionalism.  Being a professional is more than making millions of dollars and playing in front of thousands of screaming fans.  It is representing yourself and your organization in the highest manor in addition to setting a positive example for your community.  Having had constant access to the playing field, locker room and weight room among others, allowed Shane to see how hard professional athletes work.  He saw what it takes in order to stay in superior shape as well as how one should carry themselves when times got rough.  Shane Larkin had these luxuries throughout his youth and it is an intangible he possesses that separates him from the other prospects in this draft.  Sure, the Cody Zellers’ and Seth Currys’ of the world have family ties with the NBA but none hold the athletic bloodline that Larkin does.

Michigan’s Trey Burke and Michael Carter-Williams out of Syracuse lead this year’s crop of available point-guards, but Shane Larkin should not be slept on.  If the 176 pound Larkin were judged solely on his basketball IQ, jump-shot (shooting over 40% from 3-point) and athletic ability there is no reason why he shouldn’t be a lottery pick in this year’s draft.  Unfortunately things don’t always work out that way.  A player’s heart, passion and grittiness cannot be measured.  If they somehow were, the 2012-13 All-American’s would be off-the-charts.  Although he may never develop into a top-flight player in the NBA, the team that drafts this Miami Hurricane is getting one solid breath of fresh air.

Cody Zeller Credit AP

By Chris Ramirez

The NBA Draft combine will take place in Chicago from May 15-19. Here is a list of the participants who were invited, not invited, and left off due to obligations with their European teams:

The invites:

Steven Adams 7-0 250 C Pittsburgh Fr. Anthony Bennett 6-7 240 PF UNLV Fr. (Inj) Lorenzo Brown 6-4 190 PG NC State Jr. Reggie Bullock 6-7 190 SG North Carolina Jr. Trey Burke 6-0 180 PG Michigan So. Kentavious Caldwell Pope 6-5 205 SG Georgia So. Isaiah Canaan 6-1 191 PG Murray St. Sr. Jackie Carmichael 6-9 240 PF Illinois St. Sr. Michael Carter Williams 6-6 190 PG Syracuse So. Allen Crabbe 6-6 190 SG California Jr. Seth Curry 6-2 180 PG/SG Duke Sr. Brandon Davies 6-9 240 PF BYU Sr. DeWayne Dedmon 7-0 250 C USC Jr. Gorgui Dieng 6-10 245 PF/C Louisville Jr. James Ennis 6-7 207 SF Long Beach St. Sr. Carrick Felix 6-6 215 SG/SF Arizona St. Sr. Jamaal Franklin 6-5 185 SG/SF San Diego St. Jr. Rudy Gobert 7-1 230 C France 1992 Archie Goodwin 6-4 190 SG Kentucky Fr. Erick Green 6-3 190 PG/SG Virginia Tech Sr. Tim Hardaway Jr 6-5 190 SG Michigan Jr. Solomon Hill 6-6 230 SF Arizona Sr. Richard Howell 6-8 257 PF NC St. Sr. Colton Iverson 6-11 250 C Colorado St. Sr. Pierre Jackson 5-10 170 PG Baylor Sr. Grant Jerrett 6-10 230 PF Arizona Fr. Myck Kabongo 6-1 180 PG Texas So. Kenny Kadji 6-10 240 PF Miami Sr. Ryan Kelly 6-10 220 PF Duke Sr.> Shane Larkin 5-11 186 PG Miami So. Ricardo Ledo 6-5 195 SG/SF St Providence Fr. Alex Len 7-1 240 C Maryland So. (Inj) CJ Leslie 6-8 200 SF/PF NC State Jr. Trevor Mbakwe 6-8 237 PF Minnesota Sr. Ray McCallum 6-1 190 PG Detroit Jr. CJ McCollum 6-3 190 PG/SG Lehigh Sr. Ben McLemore 6-5 201 SG Kansas Fr. Tony Mitchell 6-8 235 SF/PF North Texas So. Shabazz Muhammad 6-6 225 SF UCLA Fr. Erik Murphy 6-9 235 PF Florida Sr. Mike Muscala 6-11 245 PF/C Bucknell Sr. Nerlens Noel 6-11 208 PF Kentucky Fr. (Inj) Victor Oladipo 6-4 215 SG/SF Indiana Jr. Kelly Olynyk 7-0 240 C Gonzaga Jr. Brandon Paul 6-4 200 SG Illinois Sr. Norvel Pelle 6-11 240 C LA City College Fr. Mason Plumlee 6-11 240 PF/C Duke Sr. Otto Porter 6-8 205 SF Georgetown So. Phil Pressey 5-11 180 PG Missouri Jr. Glen Rice Jr 6-5 205 SG D League Jr. Andre Roberson 6-7 210 SF/PF Colorado Jr. Dennis Schroeder 6-2 165 PG Germany 1993 Peyton Siva 5-11 170 PG Louisville Sr. Tony Snell 6-7 195 SF New Mexico Jr. James Southerland 6-7 215 SF/PF Syracuse Sr. Adonis Thomas 6-6 235 SF Memphis So. DeShaun Thomas 6-7 221 SF/PF Ohio State Jr. Jeff Withey 7-0 235 C Kansas Sr. Nate Wolters 6-4 193 PG North Dakota Sr. BJ Young 6-3 175 SG Arkansas So. Cody Zeller 6-11 240 PF/C Indiana So.

Player who did not get invited:

Vander Blue 6-3 180 PG/SG Marquette Jr. Kenny Boynton 6-2 190 PG/SG Florida Sr. Will Clyburn 6-7 210 SF Iowa St. Sr. Robert Covington 6-9 230 SF Tennessee St. Sr. Kevin Dillard 6-1 180 PG Dayton Sr. Elias Harris 6-8 230 SF/PF Gonzaga Sr. Elijah Johnson 6-2 180 PG/SG Kansas Sr. Aziz Ndiaye 7-0 240 C Washington Sr. Alex Oriakhi 6-9 245 PF Missouri Sr. Travis Releford 6-5 200 SG Kansas Sr. Michael Snaer 6-4 190 SG Florida St. Sr. Brandon Triche 6-3 210 PG/SG Syracuse Sr. Christian Watford 6-7 215 SF Indiana Sr. Rodney Williams 6-7 210 SF Minnesota Sr.

Left off due to obligations with their European teams:

Alex Abrines 6-6 190 SG Spain 1993 Giannis Adetokoubo 6-9 215 SF/PF Greece 1994 Livio Jean Charles 6-9 210 SF/PF France 1993 Mouhammadou Jaiteh 6-9 240 PF/C France 1994 Sergey Karasev 6-8 190 SG/SF Russia 1993 Augusto Lima 6-9 227 PF Brazil 1991 Lucas Nogueira 7-0 220 PF Brazil 1992 Dario Saric 6-10 230 PF Split Croatia 1994

The NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 27. The Draft Combine will be held in Chicago on May 15-19 and the annual Draft Lottery will be conducted on May 21.

Here is a look at the early entry candidates for the upcoming draft for the College and International dates:

Player School Height Status

Steven Adams Pittsburgh 7-0 Freshman

C.J. Aiken St. Joseph’s 6-9 Junior

Anthony Bennett UNLV 6-8 Freshman

Vander Blue Marquette 6-4 Junior

Lorenzo Brown North Carolina State 6-5 Junior

Reggie Bullock North Carolina 6-7 Junior

Trey Burke Michigan 6-0 Sophomore

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Georgia 6-5 Sophomore

Michael Carter-Williams Syracuse 6-5 Sophomore

Adrien Coleman Bethune-Cookman 6-5 Junior

Allen Crabbe California 6-6 Junior

Dewayne Dedmon Southern California 7-0 Junior

Gorgui Dieng Louisville 6-11 Junior

Jamaal Franklin San Diego State 6-5 Junior

Archie Goodwin Kentucky 6-4 Freshman

Tim Hardaway Jr. Michigan 6-6 Junior

Grant Jerrett Arizona 6-10 Freshman

Christian Kabongo New Mexico State 6-4 Sophomore

Myck Kabongo Texas 6-1 Sophomore

Shane Larkin Miami 5-11 Sophomore

Ricky Ledo Providence 6-7 Freshman

Alex Len Maryland 7-1 Sophomore

C.J. Leslie North Carolina State 6-9 Junior

Nurideen Lindsey Rider 6-3 Junior

Amath M’Baye Oklahoma 6-9 Junior

Ray McCallum Detroit 6-3 Junior

Ben McLemore Kansas 6-5 Freshman

Tony Mitchell North Texas 6-8 Sophomore

Shabazz Muhammad UCLA 6-6 Freshman

Nerlens Noel Kentucky 6-10 Freshman

Victor Oladipo Indiana 6-5 Junior

Kelly Olynyk Gonzaga 7-0 Junior

Norvel Pelle Los Angeles College Prep. Acad. 6-9 Post-Graduate

Otto Porter Jr. Georgetown 6-8 Sophomore

Marshawn Powell Arkansas 6-7 Junior

Phil Pressey Missouri 5-11 Junior

Andre Roberson Colorado 6-7 Junior

Joshua Simmons Spartanburg Methodist (JC) 6-4 Freshman

Trevis Simpson North Carolina-Greensboro 6-4 Junior

Tony Snell New Mexico 6-7 Junior

Tahj Tate Delaware State 6-4 Sophomore

John Taylor Fresno Pacific 6-1 Junior

Adonis Thomas Memphis 6-7 Sophomore

Deshaun Thomas Ohio State 6-7 Junior

B.J. Young Arkansas 6-3 Sophomore

Cody Zeller Indiana 6-11 Sophomore

The following is the list of international players who have applied for early entry into the 2013 NBA Draft:

Player Team/Country Height Status

Alejandro Abrines Barcelona (Spain) 6-6 1993 DOB

Giannis Adetokunbo Filathlitikos (Greece) 6-9 1994 DOB

Francois Affia Ambadiang Geoplin Slovan (Slovenia) 6-11 1993 DOB

Nemanja Besovic Partizan (Serbia) 7-2 1992 DOB

Bogdan Bogdanovic Partizan (Serbia) 6-6 1992 DOB

Matias Bortolin Arkadia (Austria) 6-9 1993 DOB

Linos Chrysikopoulos PAOK (Greece) 6-9 1992 DOB

Laszlo Dobos Zaragoza (Spain) 7-3 1993 DOB

Dorde Drenovac Biancoblu (Italy) 6-8 1992 DOB

Viktor Gaddefors Oknoplast Bologna (Italy) 6-7 1992 DOB

Rudy Gobert Cholet (France) 7-0 1992 DOB

Mouhammadou Jaiteh Boulogne (France) 6-10 1994 DOB

Livio Jean-Charles ASVEL (France) 6-8 1993 DOB

Sergey Karasev Triumph (Russia) 6-7 1993 DOB

Louis Labeyrie Paris-Levallois (France) 6-10 1992 DOB

Raul Neto Lagun Aro GBC (Spain) 6-1 1992 DOB

Philipp Neumann Brose Baskets (Germany) 6-10 1992 DOB

Lucas Riva Nogueira Estudiantes (Spain) 7-0 1992 DOB

Alexandre Paranhos Flamengo (Brazil) 6-8 1992 DOB

Artem Pustovyi Khimik (Ukraine) 7-1 1992 DOB

Bogdan Radosavljevic Bayern Muenchen (Germany) 6-11 1993 DOB

Marko Ramljak Zadar (Croatia) 6-6 1993 DOB

Dario Saric Cibona (Croatia) 6-9 1994 DOB

Dennis Schroder New Yorker Phantoms (Germany) 6-1 1993 DOB

Strahinja Stojacic Smederevo (Serbia) 6-5 1992 DOB

Walter Tavares Gran Canaria (Spain) 7-2 1992 DOB

Daniel Theis Ratiopharm (Germany) 6-8 1992 DOB

Janis Timma Ventspils (Latvia) 6-7 1992 DOB

Marko Todorovic Barcelona (Spain) 6-10 1992 DOB

Axel Toupane Strasbourg (France) 6-6 1992 DOB

Adin Vrabac Spars Sarajevo (Bosnia) 6-7 1994 DOB

Credits, Kentuckystraitpinkie.com

By Chris Ramirez

Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel has decided to enter the NBA Draft. Noel’s only season at Kentucky was cut short by a torn ACL in his left knee. He played 24 games before suffering the injury in February against Florida.

“I support Nerlens’ decision to enter his name in the draft and am excited for him and his future,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari on Monday. “The hard work and will to win he showed on the floor this year and the dedication and attitude he has shown in his rehab will only be a reward for him and whatever team drafts him in June.”

Noel averaged 10.5 points and led the SEC in rebounding at 9.5 per game while leading the nation in blocked shots at 4.4 per outing.”I have loved my time at Kentucky, but I feel that I’m ready to take the next step to the NBA,” said Noel. “I’ve learned so much here at UK and am thankful for coach Calipari, the staff and my teammates for all of their support. I especially appreciate the Big Blue Nation and all of the support, prayers and well-wishes I’ve received from them during my rehab and decision-making process. I’ll always be a Wildcat!”

Credits; USC

By Tim Donohoo

How often do you hear this scenario?  A young man does not begin playing organized basketball until he is an 18 year old senior in high school.  He only scores two points that season and is now regarded as a potential NBA lottery pick.

That is DeWayne Dedmon in a nutshell.  He has worked his tail off to get to this point and barring injury could make the NBA a reality in the not-so distant future. He battled through injuries last season (fractured right hand, stress fracture of the right foot and a torn left MCL and tibial bone bruise).  The torn MCL forced him to miss the last 11 games of the season. 

Double D has grown four inches since those high school days in Lancaster, CA, and has a real bounce to his step.  Great athleticism and very active for a player his size.  The perfect  NBA  frame and  very high basketball IQ.  Has the physical tools to play good, smart basketball.  Transfer from Antelope Valley College in California.  USC went through a tough nine game losing streak mid-season in 2011- 12 and finished the season on a 10 game losing streak.  The Trojans missed Dedmon and his inside game.  Southern Cal finished last year at 6-26 overall and last place in the Pac 12 race at 1-17.

Averaged seven points and five rebounds  in 22 games (all starts) and connected on 55 percent of his shots from the field.  Scored in double figures seven times and collected at least seven rebounds in eight games, including ten rebound game versus Nebraska, Nov. 14.

Bottom line is that Dedmon is a tough character.  He lost his father at age three and was raised by his single mother in a strict Jehovah’s Witness atmosphere.  He is already battle tested and should find himself in the pros very soon.  Great agility and quickness for a 7-footer.  Very high upside in his game.

DeWayne Dedmon is his name.  Remember this talent!

Steven Adams
Position: Center
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235
Birthday: July 20, 1993
School: Pittsburgh
High School: Notre Dame Prep
Hometown: Rotorua, New Zealand

• Tremendous physical attributes
• Great nose for the ball on the boards
• Excellent attitude – willingness to be coached
• Athleticism allows him to block shots even when out of position on defense
• Poor free throw shooter
• Post game is a work in progress
• Has the potential to develop into Serge Ibaka

James McAdoo
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6-9
Weight: 226 
Birthday: January 4, 1993
School: North Carolina
High School: Norfolk Christian
Hometown: Norfolk, VA

• In the process of filling out weight wise
• Sneakily athletic
• High basketball IQ
• Wide array of post moves
• Very calm demeanor
• Great perimeter shooting touch
• Incredible work ethic
• Can impact a game defensively

Credits, Zimbo

By Josh Cohen

When the 2010-11 basketball season got underway, there was incredible hype within the Syracuse community regarding an incoming freshman named Fab Melo.  He was the most highly regarded center in the 2010 recruiting class, and Syracuse fans drooled over the thought of him roaming the middle of the 2-3 zone.  But it quickly became apparent that expectations had been too high.  Melo’s skills were very underdeveloped.  He lacked the necessary physical endurance, and struggled to keep up with the pace of play for longer than a matter of minutes. Like the majority of freshmen across the country, Melo was shown that a greater level of dedication, mentally as well as in the gym and weight room, was required in order to excel at the collegiate level. That lesson must have struck a chord with him.  That summer Melo trimmed down, vastly improved his conditioning, and as a sophomore, he displayed a tenacity defending the rim that earned him the 22^nd pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.   

With Melo departed, Syracuse fans turn to Rakeem Christmas, the rising sophomore big man, to control the middle for the Orange defense.  Christmas, like Melo, came to Syracuse with tremendous expectations.  The 6’ 9” forward from Philly was a McDonald’s All-American, a top 20 recruit in the 2011 ESPN 100 rankings.  As a freshman this past season Christmas was chosen to fill Syracuse’s need at the 4 position, and was inserted into the starting lineup from day one.  But like Melo, Christmas looked uncomfortable from the start.  His offensive game appeared very raw.  He lacked polished back to the basket and face up post moves.  Defensively, he wasn’t strong enough to contend on the boards and was prone to picking up quick fouls.  At points of the season, it was questionable as to why he continued to start.

Christmas did have some bright spots during conference play though, capped off by an 8 point, 5 rebound performance against Providence on January 4^th.  But after playing nearly 13 minutes per game during the first half of the Big East schedule, Christmas averaged just over 3 minutes over the final 9 games, including the Big East Tournament.  Coach Jim Boeheim, as he did with Fab Melo the year prior, would start Christmas every game, pull him after his first mental mistake, and often sit him the remainder of the contest, occasionally stopping by to impart wisdom to the youngster.  It was almost comical how, like clockwork, Boeheim would pull Christmas before even reaching the first television timeout.

But it should not be an indictment on Rakeem.  He has tremendous room to grow and continues to have great potential, but he was in over his head, and it was visibly obvious.  A lanky, inexperienced 18 year old, he wasn’t prepared to contribute as a starting forward in the Big East. Few freshmen are.  When a suspension to Fab Melo left Syracuse without their starting center for the NCAA Tournament, it was widely speculated as to how effectively Christmas could fill the void.  What transpired, while however small a sample size, gave Syracuse fans hope that the kid from Philly could fulfill his potential.

In four NCAA Tournament games, Christmas averaged 5 points, 5 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks in over 21 minutes of action.  Against Kansas State, in what at the time was the biggest game of his life, Christmas scored 8 points on 4-7 shooting, gathering 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a career high 34 minutes.  He played with toughness throughout the tournament, and competed admirably against one of the nation’s premiere frontcourt players, Jared Sullinger, in an Elite 8 matchup with Ohio State.

During a bumpy initial season, Christmas showed glimpses of a very bright future.  Although he rarely played down the stretch of the regular season, including a seven game scoreless stretch during which he collected just 2 rebounds, Christmas stepped up his game when Melo was suspended and was influential in Syracuse’s postseason run to the Elite 8.  While he finished his season with near identical numbers to Melo’s freshman year, Christmas enters his sophomore campaign with positive momentum, and far less scrutiny surrounding him than Melo faced.  More importantly, Christmas has a roadmap to success, paved by his Brazilian predecessor who pushed himself in the gym, changed his mental approach to the game, and tripled his scoring and rebounding as a sophomore.

Just this week I saw a video interview of Rakeem Christmas online.  It was filmed in the gym, a place Christmas seems to have spent most of this summer.  He looked visibly stronger.  He was thicker and toned.  He said all the right things too, firmly committing to a tireless work effort in the gym in order to take his game to the next level.  Most importantly, he was smiling.  He was laughing.  Gone were the expressions of frustration that painted his face during his freshman season.  He was upbeat and energized, excitedly talking about the prospects of upcoming season.  He looked hungry for redemption.

Expectations will once again be high for Christmas when November roles around.  Will he be able to consistently lead the Orange in rebounding?  Will he be able to take the pressure off his teammates by becoming a legitimate scoring threat?  Will he stay mentally focused and limit his fouls?  Almost assuredly Christmas will be the defensive anchor on a Syracuse team that graduated its starting point guard and lost three other players to the NBA draft. Syracuse will once again be talented, but they will be very young, and Christmas will be counted on to take on a leadership role.  Beyond Brandon Triche, CJ Fair, and to some degree James Southerland, Christmas has more experience at the college level than anyone who will log serious minutes for the Orange this season.  That’s a lot of pressure to take on as a sophomore.  But coming off a summer of hard work, with the support of his coaching staff, and a determined mental outlook, there is no reason why Rakeem Christmas can’t make the jump to the next level.  He can be upwards of an 8 and 8 guy next season, a player who cuts down on needless fouls, and is capable of running up and down the floor with the best forwards the Big East has to offer.  He’s had the athleticism, now it appears he has the body and the focus.  Now my expectations may be too high.  Not everyone takes the next step forward in year two.  Regardless, I expect Rakeem is up to the challenge.

Credits, US Presswire

By Nikolas Davis

With the decision to stay another year in college and put together a full season at UNT Tony Mitchell can greatly increase his already high draft stock. Tony had to sit the first nine games of last season but when he came back it was with authority as he put on an impressive freshman season and showcased his talents. With a full year for him and his team can UNT make a name for themselves and can Tony be a top draft pick for the NBA.

To start Mitchell stands tall at 6’8” and weighs in around 235 pounds making him an ideal small forward. With a wingspan of 7’3” he can easily shoot over average sized opponents and can contest shots effortlessly as well as grab plenty of rebounds. His size along with his natural athleticism makes him a nightmare for teams to contain and causes problems in the paint.

Once Tony was allowed to play he put on an impressive season averaging 14.7 points per game along with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. He came into the UNT program and showed off his talent right away making the rest of the Sun Belt look like kids against him. Although the Mean Green fell just shy of making the NCAA Tournament Tony impressed many people in the half of the season he did play.

Watching Mitchell play is quite the experience when he is on his top game. His raw athletic abilities can be seen in every jump he makes to block a shot or rebound the ball. He explodes off the ground with such force that you expect him to go through the roof.  He dunks with a dominant presence and attacks the basket at will. He is decent shooter and put up a 56.7 field goal percentage. Although most of his points come from layups and dunks he can get a hot streak and drain shots from anywhere.

On the defense side of the ball he does a decent job of guarding players but where he stands out is his shot blocking ability and rebounds. He blocked 70 shots last season at UNT and contested even more than that. His presence in the paint on defense is outstanding and will seem to come out of nowhere to contest shots.

As great as Tony Mitchell is he still has some weaknesses that should be worked on. He is known to favor dribbling to the right on drives to the basket and can get sloppy causing turnovers. He can play small forward or power forward in the NBA but he has not solidified himself as one or the other.  The biggest concern with him is the intense level that he plays at. When he gets frustrated he relies on his athletic ability to make plays for him but when he does this it is when he will lose the ball and get into foul trouble. The last weakness people see is that he is not playing against high caliber talent and should actually be more dominant than he is.

The upcoming season will be one to watch as it will show us how Tony handles a full season and if he can get the UNT Mean Green back into the NCAA Tournament. With a group of guys who now have experience together the chemistry should be stronger and players like Chris Jones, Jacob Holmen and Roger Franklin should play as great support for Tony. With the loss of head coach Johnny Jones to his Alma Mater LSU, Mean Green found its new coach in Tony Benford. With high hopes going into the season hopefully Benford can use the talent given to him to make UNT the team to beat in the Sun Belt Conference.

Tony Mitchell is considered to be a top 15 pick in the upcoming draft if he leaves UNT after this season and could even work his way to being a top five player if he plays to his full potential. If Tony Benford can coach up Mitchell and have him control his intensity level then the UNT basketball team may have one of its best seasons to date. Tony Mitchell should put on an impressive season of his own and step up as the go to guy on this team to get them into the Tournament. As long as Tony has a season like last year and continues to improve on the areas of concern he should take the next step, go pro and declare for the 2013 NBA Draft.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had an outstanding freshman year and will hope to continue to make in impact as he goes into his sophomore year. With his long frame, the ability to score and a lot of raw talent Kentavious Caldwell-Pop can become a dominate force in the SEC this year as long as he does not let his streakiness get the best of him and starts to slow down and play smarter.

With a 6’5” body and weighing in at 200 pounds Caldwell-Pope is the ideal size for a scoring guard and can be effective from all over the court. His size accompanied with the high release he takes makes it difficult to defend his shot. He should add a few more pounds to his frame and still be able to keep his quickness and become more physical.

As a freshman Kentavious was known as a scorer and averaged 13.2 points a game while shooting close to 40%. He even led the team in minutes as well as steals his first year and was second on the team at scoring and rebounding. His season high of 25 points against Ole Miss was the most points scored by a freshman in about 13 years. All of these stats are very impressive especially considering he did it all as a freshman.

Ken’s biggest asset is his innate ability to score from many different places. He is at his best and feels most comfortable shooting from deep, taking 6.7 3’s a night. He can be quite effective coming off screens as well as shooting off the dribble. His length makes him able to attack the basket and finish at the rim and shows a lot of confidence even as a freshman.

His defense is fairly good due to his highly competitive nature and ability to get in the passing lanes and steal the ball. He can rebound effectively for a shooting guard, as shown in being second on his team in rebounds. It is his motor and willingness to learn and grow as a player that makes his defense game important. He is not afraid to get aggressive and is more physical than his appearance shows off.

The biggest weakness that K.C. has is when he gets frustrated and tries to bail himself out by throwing up shots when he should not be. He is a great scorer there is no denying that but when his shots are not going down his solution is to take more shots early in the shot clock instead of slowing down and taking smart efficient shots. Hopefully this problem will be addressed and he can relax and look for open guys and not get frustrated. He also does not attack the basket as he enjoys taking jump shots instead which leads to a lack drawing fouls on opponents.

In his sophomore season Georgia will expect him to continue putting up points as his primary objective. That was the reason they brought him in and will want him to do the same thing again this year. If he can manage to play better defense and control his game better it would be ideal. This Georgia team will rely heavily on what KCP can bring to the table and will ultimately revolve around him. If he can manage to go off and unleash havoc on the SEC him and his Bulldogs could upset quite a few teams and potentially get over the hump and be more than a team on the bubble.

No one ever doubted Caldwell-Pope’s ability to score but he is still very young and not quite ready to take the step into the NBA. This season will definitely show if he is ready to take the next step or if he needs another year of fine tuning his game. He has the potential to come in this year and cause a lot of problems for some teams in the SEC but on the other end could come up short and his flaws will be seen more. If he can become more efficient on offense as well as becoming more of a presence on the defense side of the ball he can easily climb into the conversation of a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

Credits; Google

By Nikolas DavisMost people, including fans of Michigan basketball, expected their star point guard Trey Burke to declare for the NBA draft. After much speculation and to their surprise he decided to return another year in order to help his team reach their hopes of being the winners of the National Championship and be crowned as the last team standing.

After a long thought process and time spent talking with his coach and family Burke made the decision to return to Ann Arbor to improve himself as a player as well as making himself a stronger person. This was the correct decision considering the amount of guards already committed to the NBA draft as well as the opportunity to work on his skills.

Burke had an outstanding freshman year averaging 14.8 points per game, along with 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds and hopes to increase those numbers for the upcoming season. He has participated in the Lebron James Skills Academy this offseason and was seen as one of the best players showing off his improved skills from the previous season and continues to have a terrific mid range game to go along with his above average decision making ability.

Trey can be seen as the core to this Michigan team as he was given the MVP award by his team during the offseason. Most people understand how important the point guard position is to any team as they are considered the “floor generals” of the court and direct the entire team. Burke came in as a freshman and was given the starting role right out of the gate.

He stepped up and excelled in this role as he took the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament but fell short when they lost in the very first round. His shooting fell apart near the end of the season including his NCAA tournament debut only making 5-15 shots. His return to Michigan should help him make huge strides forward in his process to get to the NBA.

This upcoming season should be a strong one for Trey Burke as he is considered one of the top point guards in college and with a strong team around him he will be given the chance to show NBA teams what he is capable of doing at the next level. With the return of fellow teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. and players like Mitch McGary coming in Burke has the supporting cast to make a strong run for the National Championship.

Along with his own team becoming stronger the conference he is in is now much more winnable with Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin all loosing valuable players it will most likely come down between Michigan and Indiana. This will give his team a better chance in the tournament as well as the opportunity for him to prove he can lead a team to victory and not crack under pressure in big games.

I think that Burke made the correct decision in staying with his team before leaving too early. He will have all the weapons around him he needs to show he is worthy of a first round draft pick. He still has some skills to improve on but can work on them this season and possibly one more if he is not quite ready for the NBA. Overall when he is ready to take his talents to the next level he will make a team glad they spent the pick on him.

John Henson

By Tim Donohoo

To round out our 14 picks in this month’s NBA Draft we go with a pair of Tar Heels. Tyler Zeller, Carolina’s 7-foot center/power forward has the rare combination of size, athleticism and offensive  tools for a center.  The senior out of Washington, Indiana has good size and is very mobile.

Zeller is a decent leaper for a big man and has some speed.  His jump hook from the right side can be unstoppable.  Possesses a soft touch and can hit the jumper within an 18-foot range.  He can play an up tempo NBA style of game.  Averaged 16 points and nine rebounds for a North Carolina squad that lost to Kansas in Elite 8 action (St. Louis) at last spring’s NCAA Tournament.  Hits on 55 percent of his shot attempts from the field and knocks down 80 percent from the stripe. 

Scored in double figures 32 times with a game high 31 versus Appalachian State (Dec. 16), despite playing only 26 minutes in the contest.  Ten or more rebounds in 17 outings (22 rebounds coming against  Ohio  in  Sweet 16 NCAA Tourney action, March 23 in St. Louis).  Reached double-double status 14  times and averaged a double-double in all four NCAA Tournament games with 60 points and 49 rebounds during this post season tournament.

Teammate,  John Henson is no slouch either.  The 6-foot-10 junior power forward from Tampa is like a  fine wine—just gets better with age.  Scored a season high 24 tallies against Long Beach State (Dec. 10) and reached double figures in scoring 31 times.

Averaged 13 points, nine rebounds and nearly three blocked shots per game.  Hits on 50 percent of his field goal attempts.  Major contributor to UNCs 14-2 record atop the ACC standings (32-6 overall). Has  improved  his game every year since arriving on Chapel Hill.  Has a deadly left handed hook shot and establishes a wide base in the post.  Very athletic and runs the floor well.  A reactive player who is quick and very balanced on his feet.  Grew eight inches since playing at 6-foot-2 as a high schoolguard.  Great rebounder at both ends of the floor.  Grabbed 17 rebounds twice (vs. Duke and Wisconsin) and had at least ten rebounds in 21 games.  Blocked nine shots versus Michigan State (Nov. 11).   Reached double-double plateau  in 18 games and dished out six assists in game versus Tennessee State  (Nov. 22).  Enjoy the draft!   A good crop of college players are on their way to the big time!

Andre Drummond; Credit Getty Images

Craig Stouffer: Awesome evaluation sample for Andre Drummond workout with #Wizards: he goes 1-for-4 at the line, workout over. #top3pickright? Twitter

Jeremy Lamb; Credits AP

By Tim Donohoo

UConn’s Jeremy Lamb will go 11^th in this year’s draft of college and international players. The 6-foot-5 Lamb averaged 17 points per game and four rebounds for a Huskies team which finished with a second round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa State. Connecticut finished the slate 20-14 and will sorely miss Lamb in 2012-13.

Only a sophomore last season, Lamb hit 47 percent of his shots from the floor and connected on 81 percent of his free throws. An honorable mention All-American pick from 2011-12, J.L. is a All-Big East first teamer who hit in double figures 31 times including a 32 point outburst versus Villanova, Feb. 20.

This native of Norcross, Georgia competed with the U.S. National under-19s at the FIBA World Championships in 2011 (averaging 16 points and two steals a game as the U.S. finished in fifth place in the  competition). Scored  35 tallies against Lithuania (109-107 American victory).

Started 40 games as a freshman two years ago and was named to the NCAA West Region All-
Tournament team with an average of 11 points and four caroms per contest. The next player to fall off the board is projected to be Illinois Meyers Leonard. He is a little raw; however, he is very agile and fluid for a young man his size. Leonard, 7-foot-1 and still developing, has the excellent pro frame and covers a lot of ground. He is quick for his size and possesses good body control for a 7-footer.

Meyers Leonard; Credit Business Insider

A very mature offensive mound who can only get better with time in the pros. Has a good shooting range and touch from 20-feet inward. Leonard boxes out well and can rebound and block shots with authority. This honorable mention All-Big Ten Selection averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and two blocked shots per game. His 58 percent field goal accuracy placed him 12^th in the nation.

A native of Robinson, Illinois, Leonard scored in double figures 21 times (six 20-plus games), eight double-doubles and 12 double figure rebounding games (a high game of 16 boards against Cornell, Dec. 19). Scored 22 points twice (vs. Iowa and Richmond) and blocked six shots against Loyola (Chicago) on Nov. 11.

Damian Lillard; Credits Weber State

By Tim Donohoo

Damian Lillard is climbing the draft charts as we speak. The 6-foot-2 junior from Weber State is a great scorer and possesses good size for an NBA point guard. D.L. likes to go full throttle to the rim and he is very strong. He can make space to launch a good shot from anywhere on the floor.

Lillard has outstanding change of direction and is a quick dribbler who keeps it low to the ground. H lives on the free throw line (hitting 88 percent of his attempts) and is great at drawing the foul when he has the ball.

This player out of Oakland, Ca. (Oakland High School), is a good on-ball defender and passer. He is a leader on the court and is very competitive. Has good hands and can make the key steal for you at anytime. Wants to be the one to take the last shot. Quality pick and roll player. Helped lead the Wildcats to the Big Sky Conference runnerup position (14-2 behind Montana) and 25-7 overall record.

Averages 24 points per game, five rebounds, four assists and shoots 46 percent from the field (40 Percent three pointers).  Had three double-doubles last season and dished out nine assists versus Southern Utah (Dec. 10). Reached 10-plus rebounds three times with a 12 carom game vs. Mayville State (Dec. 19).  Scored in double figures in all 32 games including a 41-point game against San Jose State (Dec. 3) and also tallied 40 versus Portland State (Feb. 2). Scored 20 or more points in 22 contests; 30 or more in eight games and is definitely one to watch mature in the NBA in 2012-13.

Perry Jomes III Credits AP

By Tim Donohoo

Baylor power forward, Perry Jones III has the tools to be a fine NBA player.  The only drawback is his inconsistency.  He runs the floor well for a big man and is a very versatile and explosive player.  Jones can shoot the close range jumper or the 3-pointer from downtown. This 6-foot-11 sophomore from Duncanville, Texas, can play anywhere on the court and is a solid rebounder. 

Jones is a very good player; however, has the tendency to play like Kevin Garnett one day then like a high school bench player the next game. Needs to put it all together.

The sky is the limit for this 20 year old.  Last season he hit the double figure scoring mark 21 times with a season high 31 tallied versus Kansas State (March 8).   Jones accumulated nine double-doubles and grabbed at least 10-rebounds 11 times a year ago.  Brought down 14 rebounds against Texas on Jan. 28.  Played on a good Baylor Bear club which lost to eventual National Champion Kentucky, 82-70, in an elite eight matchup in Atlanta.  If he can mature and elevate his game then he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Perry Jomes III Credits AP

Alex Kennedy: The Boston Celtics will be holding a pre-draft workout in the next few days. They’re working out a bunch of big men, according to sources. Twitter

GMs identified Baylor’s Perry Jones, Kentucky’s Terrence Jones, Washington’s Terrence Ross, Baylor’s Quincy Miller and St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson as players who could help their stock the most with great workouts. All of them have one thing in common: skill. And many of them combine that with terrific athleticism to boot. “These workouts can’t really measure basketball IQ or your feel for the game. We have a whole season of scouting and film for that,” one GM said. “But they can allow us to gauge the skill level of players in ways that sometimes their college systems might hide. It’s also a terrific gauge of a player’s athletic abilities, which are often pushed to the maximum in workouts.” ESPN.com

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Ref: Hoops Hype

Anthony Davis; Credit Getty Images

By J. Scott Huston

There are 2,184 different scenarios the NBA lottery could fall and there is absolutely no way to predict it. With a little justification for each pick, here is a complete shot-in-the-dark of how the NBA lottery will transpire.

14- Houston Rockets
It’s easy to feel to bad for the Rockets. They come so close every year, but always fall short. They need to start making this 14th pick count. (0.5% chance of #1)

13- Phoenix Suns
The Suns haven’t had too much experience in the recent past with the lottery, but a bit of beginner’s luck is not something to expect. They’ll stay exactly where they are at 13. (0.6% chance of #1)12- Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are headed in the right direction. They finished in ninth in the East, but still with a losing record. The team deserves a spot higher than what its record shows. Unfortunately, they will not get it. (0.7% chance of #1)

11- Portland Trailblazers (One of Two picks)
This Blazers’ pick has barely any chance to be a lottery pick. Their season wasn’t awful, but they will definitely need two picks early in the draft if they plan to climb out of the bottom of the league. If they do end up with a top three pick, it won’t be from this one. (0.8% chance for #1)

10- New Orleans Hornets (One of Two picks)
Just like the Trailblazers, this pick is a long-shot. However, it will be just as important as their first choice in this draft. They need to rebuild quickly before losing their fan base. (1.1% chance of #1)

9- Detroit Pistons
The Pistons were were probably worse than people might have thought. They only had four more wins than the Cavaliers and ranked in the bottom three of almost every offensive category. They need offense badly. Unfortunately, Lady Luck will not be on their side and they will stay at nine. (1.7% chance of #1)

8- Toronto Raptors
The Raptors always seem to be around this number in the draft. They seem to be comfortable here, so expect them to stay. They’ll need to make something out of this draft pick, because they’re not going any higher. (3.5% chance of #1)

7- Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have not had much success in recent years. It doesn’t help that their draft picks haven’t entirely panned out either. They need to get a higher pick than they’re expected to give this franchise a shot in the arm. However, it’s doubtful they get it in this draft. (3.6% chance of #1)

6- Portland Trailblazers
The Trailblazers are incredibly mediocre. They showed some potential in big games this year, but they’ll need to to capitalize with their picks this year. With both of their picks combined, their chance of getting the number one is still very low compared to the other teams. Don’t expect anything higher than what they’re seeded at. (7.5% chance of #1)

5-New Orleans Hornets
It has been a disappointing few months for New Orleans. Chris Paul was the first great thing that had happened to the Hornets’ franchise. His departure this past offseason showed this year, leaving them in last place in the Western Conference. They need to rebuild with a high pick, but will not be getting any higher than five. (13.7% chance of #1)

4- Cleveland Cavaliers
The sting of Lebron James leaving Cleveland is still felt for their fans. Last year’s draft provided the Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving. However, they still need a lot more around him. They had two top-five picks last year and their luck will take a step back this year, remaining outside the top three. (13.8% chance of #1)

3- Washington Wizards
The only Bobcats fans left in the world are in Washington. Everyone forgot how bad the Wizards were because Charlotte. The only redeeming fact of their season was ending on a six game winning streak. It’s tough to watch such a bad team. Washington needs this pick desperately. (19.9% chance of #1)

2- Sacramento Kings
Nobody really dislikes the Kings all that much. Its hard to hate a team that has been so bad and out of the playoffs since 2006. They really need a lottery pick. It’s been a tough decade for them and if anyone is due for a top pick it’s them. (7.6% chance of #1)

1-Charlotte Bobcats
There could be no greater sports injustice than to not let this team get the top pick. They just finished the worst season in NBA history. Watching them play was painful. Finishing the season by losing 23 straight games, that’s not even funny. It’s sad. They couldn’t be beat Kentucky if they wanted to. They need this pick. (25% chance of #1)

Harrison Barnes; Credit AP

By Tim Donohoo

Barnes possesses good balance and body control and he is exceptional with the ball fake. He has the perfect size and game for the NBA. He moves well without the ball and passes well for his size.

Averaged 17 points per game, five rebounds per contest and shot 44 percent from the floor in guiding Roy Williams Tar Heels to the ACC title last season. The sophomore averaged 29 minutes an outing and scored in double figures 34 times. His season high was a 27 point output versus Virginia Tech on January, 19th.Barnes reached double-double status twice (vs. Virginia and Texas) and grabbed 11 boards against Virginia on February, 11. Carolina lost to Kansas, 80-67, in an Elite 8 matchup in St. Louis below the Arch. Barnes, an Ames, Iowa native (Ames High School), is perfect for the pro game.

He can play with the big boys at both ends of the floor right now. He will step in and probably step up for the franchise that picks him up in the draft. He is that good.

HB can create his shots and will improve with time. Look for him to make an impact in 2012-13.

Scoop Jardine; Credit US Presswire

Draymond Green knows some NBA teams will think he isn’t tall or quick enough to make it in the league. The former Michigan State star, though, said he wouldn’t come up short if his intangibles could be measured. “No one has more heart or a better work ethic than me,” Green said in a recent interview, gazing across a practice court toward two of the Final Four banners he helped the Spartans earn. Detroit Free Press

Roughly a month later, Jardine has decided to leave Doyle (who has attracted some nice attention as a young agent signing NBA quality players) and sign with Tony Dutt of Dutt Sports Services, Inc. (DSSI), a basketball agency based in The Woodland, Texas. Sports Agent Blog