NBA Initial Pre-Draft Notes...

First off, I would like to apologize for anyone who followed my advice and picked Kansas, Kansas St., Kentucky, and Baylor as their Final Four Teams. That's 0 out of 4 correct. I should be embarrassed and I am. If only I hadn't let my personal hatred towards Duke get in the way, maybe I would have done better. Oh well. Duke wins tonight. If I'm wrong, I'll say something nice about Tim Tebow. Yikes, never thought I could root so strong for the Blue Devils.

But, after tonight, the focus in college basketball shifts from those still playing to those who have chosen to move on. Time for all-star games, invitationals, and personal workouts. Time for the NBA Draft countdown to begin. Some star collegiate players, such as 2-time SJTM John Wall, are already looked at as sure-fire NBA stars, while others, such as Kansas' Sherron Collins and Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, need to answer questions regarding their height and/or speed. Unlike college, where experience is a crucial ingredient (and a probable reason why teams such as Duke and Butler are playing for the NCAA championship), pro scouts and teams usually value potential even more. Look at last year's NBA draft, and you'll see that only 6 first-round draft picks completed all four years of college, and none were in the top ten. According to nbadraft.net, 25 players have already declared early for the NBA draft (though some may not sign with an agent, giving them the option to return to school if they haven't already previously declared). For the most part, this year's group of early entrants is filled with questionable entries, including our Michigan's own beloved SG Manny Harris, who at this point, figures to be a second-rounder at best.


Another pressing issue that NBA teams face is how the level of competition impacts their perspective of a player. Players like Paul George of Fresno State and Charles Garcia of Seattle University may be ridiculously athletic and put up big numbers, but when you are playing teams like San Jose St. and Texas Pan American, these numbers are considered inflated. As a result, team workouts and invitationals become very important for these types of players, as they are a good way for teams to get a closer look at a prospect against better competition.

Mock drafts of this year's top five reflect the growing trends of the so-called "one-and-done", with players like Kentucky's John Wall & Demarcus Cousins and Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors expected to bolt school and head to the land of the riches that is the lottery. There are also prized international players like Lithuania's Donatas Motiejunas and the Czech Republic's Jan Vesely, who have to prove that they can handle the fast-paced style of the NBA and not just the slow, more tactical European game.

As the draft list becomes finalized, I'll go into more detail about who's hot and who's not, but until then, here are highlights from Butler beating Michigan St. on Saturday. Sparty on (or off)!