[Quasi-Quasar]

2003 prospects list (post your list too)

This list dis-regards advantages by position and includes players who may not declare:
1. Lebron James- no doubt about it, the question is will he reign
2. Ricky Paulding- super hops (11' 8'' reach) and 51% FGs, 45% 3s
3. Jarvis Hayes- super solid, Pippen skills in Vince Carter's mold
4. Kendrick Perkins- rare perimeter skills for a big, has the size
5. Luke Ridnour- the bridge between Stockton & White Chocolate
6. Chris Duhon- not spectacular but good, Dre with a 3
7. James White- he has no skill but has super hops and speed
8. Carmelo Anthony-he has Lucious Harris written on his forehead
9. Carlos Delfino- Emanuel Ginobili clone with D, better Christie
10. Zoran Planinic- similar to Jiri Welsch but is more of a PG
11. Travis Outlaw- Darius Miles clone with a work ethic
12. Jackie Butler- Zo Jr... but does he have the fire????
13. Kirk Hinrich- very solid PG, Sam Cassell style
14. Boris Diaw-Riffiod- Scottie Jr., and he speaks French
15. Mickael Pietrus- bigger upside than Diaw, Corey Maggette Jr.
16. Reece Gaines- limited upside, but skilled combo G
17. Darius Rice- cross between Miles and Lewis, just too skinny
18. Chris Marcus- you can't argue with 10 and 10 (and space)
19. Pape Sow- Diop?? or raw athletic potential??
20. Florent Pietrus- Bo Outlaw on D, Antawn Jamison on O
21. David Harrison- more like Lafrentz than Olowokandi
22. T.J. Ford- Omar Cook without the D and strength, trouble
23. David West- works hard, plays hard, team player, tough
24. Christos Topoutos- lefty Hedo clone from Greece
25. Anderson Varejao- could be top 15, but needs work, srength
26. Zaur Pachulia- same as Varejao
27. Nick Collison- Scot Pollard at PF, or Jason Collier at PF????
28. Dwayne Wade- overated, undersized 2/3. Ronald Murry II
29. Luke Walton- will get picked #29 by Lakers so it's fitting
30. Marcus Moore- smooth 6-6 PG, not as skilled as Bozeman
31. Brian Cook- Sheed on O, big Zach Randolph on D (bad D)
32. Marcus Hatten- solid backup PG
33. Derrick Zimmerman- same as Hatten
34. Troy Bell- scoring PG, similar situation to Juan Dixon
35. Mario Austin- fat-a$$ 280 lbs. 6-8 center, mini-Traylor Tractor
36. Sani Becirovic- stock hurt by injury, could be top 20 with D
37. Jason Kapono- doesn't matter as he'll be a Laker too
38. Doug Wrenn- undersized 4, can even dominate Pac-10
39. Mike Sweetney- faaaaat, less skilled than Austin though
40. Brandin Knight- Brevin with bulk and D


Emeka Okafor WILL not declare his family puts a strong emphasis on his degree (his parents are both professors).

 

[cmd34]

I hope you are right about Kapono being a Laker. dream come true for this Laker/Bruin fan.

 

[RD]

Re: 2003 prospects list (post your list too)

11. Travis Outlaw- Darius Miles clone with a work ethic

So then basically he is Darius Miles. Miles does have an excellent work ethic for a player his age. If he were as good, then he'd be rated higher on your list.

 

[cmd34]

when you guys talk about these prospects can you say what school they are from...I slept on college ball last year and I want to get back in the swing of things.......

 

[onetwo88]

The two hot spots for prospect lists:
nbadraft.net
insidehoops.com

 

[jericho]

I think your list is missing Emeka Okafor, Channing Frye, Jason Gardner, and Hollis Price. Maybe Jameer Nelson, C.J. Bozeman and Ray Felton too. But hey, it's pretty early for these kinds of lists, so who knows...

 

[Quasi-Quasar]

re:

I explained about Emeka Okafor, Chaning Frye wont declare he saw what happened to Michael Wright (and Lute Olson has a tight grip on his balls), Jason Gardner isn't top 40 because he is a 5-9 SG, and as for players you think I missed I didn't I excluded them all for reasons such as Okafors (parents professors and put HUGE emphasis on gitting a degree, and Emeka does too).

 

[SportsGuru5]

I rate Troy Bell a little higher, and I see Marcus Hatten's situation as being similar to Juan Dixon's. Hatten, imo, doesn't possess any point guard skills, he's a terrific shooter who has a good feel for the offensive game. However, his height limits him greatly as far as NBA potential goes. Hatten should be a productive member of an NBA bench somewhere. Bell, on the other hand, can play point guard in the NBA, I believe. He is a skilled passer with quickness, we all know about his offensive scoring ability, and he can defend as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Bell becomes a very good NBA player.

 

[cmd34]

Bell is one of those guys who should have came out early. His stock was at an alltime high after his soph season. I think if he has a solid senior year he can be a mid-to-low first round pick.

 

[pharcyde]

He should have come out early why?

So he'd get more money? He will be a better player and a better person for staying longer.

And a question for TheGoods. Why do you say that your list includes players who may not declare, if you're not going to put in all the players who could? Just because Okafor's parents put a huge emphasis on education doesn't mean he can't leave early. And I doubt Michael Wright's decision has anything to do with what Channing Frye does. They didn't play together and probably barely know eachother. They're not similar players either. Most of the time what happens to players before they get there doesn't have anything to do with how long guys like Frye stay. And I'd also like to point out that you made up at least a few numbers, or at least don't do your research. Paulding shot 49% from the field last year, 42% from three. I personally think your list is bull, because you haven't seen at least half those guys enough to rate their nba potential. Most of what you say is going by what you've read, if you even did research. And anyone who has TJ Ford so low needs to watch some more of him, because he can flat out play. I don't care if he's small, isn't a great shooter, and isn't a great defender, because he's the quickest player in the country, and led the nation in assists as a freshman. He will be a great pro.

 

[Quasi-Quasar]

I have seen all of them play. With the Euroleague and Italian League games, I have fox sports Europe and the Euroleague package. and I also have the NCAA ultimate package, also I went to several Tourney games and frequent the student section at the UCLA Bruins' games, as well as seeing all of the televised NCAA games both national and local (digital cable). I have see every player I rated play except I have only seen clips of Pape Sow because CS Fullerton has no exposure.

 

[Hollis]

Hollis Price and Ebi Ere out of Oklahoma have NBA potential, Price is definitely the better player, but he's only 6-1, whereas Ere is 6-5.......

 

[Chops]

TJ Ford is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too low. Omar Cook? C'mon, Ford is a lot better than Cook.

 

[Quasi-Quasar]

Ford's stats: 11.0 PPG 4.2 RPG 8.7 APG 3.85 TOPG 1.96 SPG 40.8% FG 13.8% 3FG
Cook's stats: 15.3 PPG 3 RPG 8.7 APG 3.2 TOPG 2.3 SPG 36% FG 31% 3FG

I'd say the stat line is pretty similar, even a bit in Cook's favor and Cook has a little bulk on T.J. although T.J. has a slight edge in quickness. But overall it is the best description because they will have similar careers, problems making rosters, and problems defending even Earl Boykins.

 

[Chops]

I don't care about stats. Ford is better and will continue to be better than Omar Cook. Period.

 

[pharcyde]

No offense to Cook

But I would say that the Big XII is better competition than the Big East or whatever the conference St. John's is in is called. Ford went against a good point just about every night, and at least 5 of the teams in the conference had equal or superior talent. Plus he seems to have his head on straight, something Cook can't say.

 

[Quasi-Quasar]

I see your point but Iowa isn't in a particularly hard conference and Tinsley didn't put up super stats and so far he has been moderately sucessful in the NBA. I personally think Ford has the edge over Cook, but I would take Maddox, Tinsley, Parker, Logan, Dickau, Frank Williams and a few other guys picked after 24 over Ford and Cook. Another off-topic thought, Tito Maddox will sign elsewhere after his contract runs up next year and will show that he should have been picked in the mid-lotto, I predict 15 PPG 9 APG and 5 RPG with Seattle in 2003-2004.

 

[Mao_Ying]

???

I'm going to disregard that list for 2 reasons:
A) It doesn't sound like you've seen many of these guys play.

B) Lucious Harris written all over him? What a F###ing joke.

Bottom line: I don't think you know enough about these players to give a credible opinion.

 

[Quasi-Quasar]

you are a little <b><font color=blue>XXXX(We do NOT call other poster names on this site. Please do NOT do that again. - TR)</b></font> who obviously hasn't seen any of them play. I saw 7 Oak Hill Academy games this past year and I can tell you Anthony doesn't play any D, he is slow and is used to overpowering smaller player but in the NBA he is a 2 not a 3 because he is slow and lacks quicks as well as being a bit undersized at 6-6. I beleive Evan Burns is the superior 6-6/6-7 SF in this class because he CAN play 2 and is the best shooter and defender among the swingmen, Anthony's best attribute is instant offense and his passing two things Lucious Harris is known for but Billy Owens is another valid comparison to Anthony. Anthony just is destined to be an offensive spark role player like Harris, they both are off the screen shooters who can over muscle 2s to the hoop but are slow lack quicks don't play D and in a pinch both can handle point if they aren't defending a point because they are both good passers yet both have sub-par handles for a 2. Anthony has the ability to be as good as Rick Fox if he improves his D and his work ethic but Syracuse has a habit of ruining good decent prospects by inflating their opinion of themselves, ie John Wallace. Anthony could surprise me but I see role playing scoring in his future not stardom, remember Billy Owens and Rick Fox and Lucious Harris were all suposed to have star potential and look at them now.......</b><font color=blue>Edited out. People have a right to their own "opinions" and players are fair game, but posters are NOT fair game. Thanks. TR</b></font>

 

[Mao_Ying]

...

You still don't sound like you know anything.

He has Paul Pierce written all over him too. Lucious Harris blows. He was never good enough, people just put hyped him too much when everyone could see he prob. wouldn't be any good. Anthony has lots of time left and isn't like those players.