Kevin Durant is a 6 foot 9 inch Freshman Forward for the University of Texas. He was one of the best players in High School last year and if not for the rule change, would have been in the draft. He has a great shoot with a smooth stroke and already has NBA 3 point range as well as the handles of an acomplished wing player.
He was always thin for his size, but the UT strength program is already paying off as he has put on 20 pounds of muscle. DraftExpress interviewed him at the McD's AA game and Kevin stated that his game most resembles Rashard Lewis.
Currently, DraftExpress has him as #7 in their mock and NBADraft.net has him as #2
According to the official basketball prospectus from UT, Kevin is listed as a G/F and will be spending most of his time on the wing for the Longhorns
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If you don’t know the name Kevin Durant yet, you soon will. To say he will have an immediate impact for the Longhorns could be the understatement of the preseason.
The 6-9 swingman who does not turn 18 until September 29 simply has an all-around game. He can score from anywhere on the court, as he is comfortable shooting from behind the NBA three-point line or posting up on the low block. He is an unselfish player and underrated passer. His length (7-5 wingspan) and explosiveness allow him to finish plays above the rim, pull in rebounds at both ends of the court and block or alter shots.
The first-team prep All-American by USA Today and Parade Magazine, Durant claimed co-MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American Game in late March. He posted a game-high 25 points while converting 10-of-17 field goals and added four assists for the victorious West squad. Durant then tallied 20 points and seven rebounds to help lead the U.S. team to a 109-91 victory against the World Select Team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit in early April.
He averaged 23.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.6 blocks per contest while leading Montrose Christian School to a 20-2 mark and a No. 9 ranking in the final USA Today
national poll during his senior year. As a junior at Oak Hill Academy, Durant averaged 19.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while earning second-team All-America honors by Parade
Magazine.
Durant has an insane 3 point stroke, but I don't see the athletecism to be anything more than Rashard Lewis. Still, I would like to see him with 20 pounds of muscle put on, he really needed it. Still, he's going to be an impossible 3 point shooter to stop with his height and long arms.
i think he should stay at texas for 4 years. for his sake. not because im a crazy homer.
If you get two years pray to whatever deity you pray to.
As for Durant, the kid is very athletic for a man his size, which is interesting because he shoots way too well. Some may say he's like Jonathan Bender, but thankfully, he's not as tall as Bender (who suffered from Ralph Sampson-itis, with the bad legs).
Durant is a Lewis type player, but I personally think he'll be a Glen Rice type on the pro level, because Lewis is streaky. Durant is just straight money. There is a good chance that within three years on the pro level, he'll be the best shooter in the league. At 6'9, it won't surprise anyone.
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i think he should stay at texas for 4 years. for his sake. not because im a crazy homer.
I don't think he should stay there for 4 years. What on earth is he going to learn on the college level which takes 4 years? He needs to add a little weight, but his game is very solid. Great shooter, good dribbling skills. He's a 6'10 2/3 who is athletically gifted.
I can't see him staying for more than 2 years. He'll be starting this year, he's the key guy in Texas. He'll be getting touches and the opportunities to contribute.
Why should he stay at Texas for 4 years?
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Feel for the game is an issue, much in the same way it was for Darius Rice or currently Mike Jones at Maryland. If he can learn to play within the team concept and is willing to diversify his offensive game/take advantage of his length in the mid-post a bit, the sky is the limit. Rashard Lewis is probably a worst case scenario.
If you get two years pray to whatever deity you pray to.
As for Durant, the kid is very athletic for a man his size, which is interesting because he shoots way too well. Some may say he's like Jonathan Bender, but thankfully, he's not as tall as Bender (who suffered from Ralph Sampson-itis, with the bad legs).
Durant is a Lewis type player, but I personally think he'll be a Glen Rice type on the pro level, because Lewis is streaky. Durant is just straight money. There is a good chance that within three years on the pro level, he'll be the best shooter in the league. At 6'9, it won't surprise anyone.
I don't think Kevin Durant is like Glen Rice or Rashard Lewis at all. He's a lot more athletic than both and has a much better all-around game. He reminds me a lot of Tracy McGrady. He can shoot the ball no doubt but he can drive right by you, he has a good first step. On defense he's a great shotblocker and rebounder. He, like McGrady coming into the league needs to add weight. He doesn't have a mid-range game and needs to work on his handle.
"It's going to be crazy," Durant said after setting a Texas freshman debut scoring record. "It's a little sample. I guess the fans can just sit back and watch."
Quote from Durant after the Texas - Alcorn State game
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Kevin Durant
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