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McCullough wasn't mentioned before the season in the same breath as Okafor, Towns, Oubre, Johnson or Winslow, but he's having as good of a season as all of them. It's not everyday that you find a 19-year-old, athletic big man with a crazy 7-foot-3 wingspan who can be effective both at the rim and score from the perimeter. Forty-one percent of McCullough's shots have been from the perimeter and he's hitting a very respectable 42 percent of them. At the rim, he's been even better shooting 71 percent. If he can continue his hot play all season, he's a likely top 10 pick.

-Chad Ford

Don't tell Jim Boeheim: Syracuse forward Chris McCullough rises in Chad Ford's new NBA Draft rankings

Syracuse University men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim recently disputed the opinion of ESPN NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford that forward Chris McCullough is seen an first-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

"I've talked to 10 pro scouts," Boeheim said at a press conference following Syracuse's win over Holy Cross on Friday night. "Not one of them thought that Chris McCullough was a first-round pick. So who he's talking to? I have no idea. When you print that stuff, people read it. Parents read that."

"You keep looking at what Chris (SIC) Ford says," Boeheim said. "He's a smart guy. He knows exactly who is going to get drafted. This is what parents do. Parents quote to me all the time, 'He's in the top 10 of the draft board.' Oh yeah? 'He's the 14th pick in the draft.' Yeah?"

"Quote (from) last year," Boeheim said. "Well, he's in the top 10 in the draft board, that's why he's going to go. I said, 'On whose draft board? ESPN?' They do not have a team. They do not have a team at ESPN. That's the kind of misinformation that gets kids thinking about things and parents thinking about things that make no sense, whatsoever."

Chris McCullough, 6-10 Fr. PF, Syracuse

15.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg

Draft Express Projection: No. 29 – 2015

NBA Scout: “Improving daily, good skillset. Lacks strength and stamina for the NBA. Great upside. Keep following the coach’s instruction and he can’t miss.”

On whether he’s one-and-done: “We all know who Greg Oden is and that’s a cautionary tale. That’s why you should leave school because God forbid you get injured and you can never play again and you end up with nothing, versus getting the millions from the NBA. Now on the other side, this kid is just going to get better and better and better if he just keeps progressing. Anyone can see he needs to get stronger. As his stamina grows and his strength comes and he turns from a boy to a man, he’ll be a Top 10 pick….Jim [Boeheim’s] record of sending guys to the NBA is better than 98 percent of the coaches, so just follow the plan. I think if he stays in two years, he’s a lottery pick.”

http://zagsblog.com/articles/nba-scouts-talk-tyler-ulis-chris-mccullough-kelly-oubre-rysheed-jordan-jonathan-holmes-adam-white/

 

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Stock Report: ↑

Syracuse's offense might be tough to watch this year, but Chris McCullough should be worth your time.

He's continuously jumped off the screen six games into his freshman season. At 6'10" with a massive 7'3" wingspan, McCullough is long, athletic and awfully thin. But despite a slender 220-pound frame, he's been extremely productive around the rim, where he's a crafty finisher and high-energy rebounder.

Averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.8 steals on 58.3 percent shooting, his stat line screams activity and efficiency.

But arguably the most interesting development of McCullough's game is the soft touch he's displayed in the mid-range. Though it's early, he's consistently knocks down jumpers, which looks natural leaving his hands.

From the surface, we've seen McCullough's type before—raw, skinny, above-the-rim big men whose production is fueled by physical tools and athleticism. But this shooting potential he's flashed adds a whole new dimension of inside-out versatility to his repertoire. And in turn, it drives his ceiling a few stories higher than many had projected it to be.

-Jonathan Wasserman

 

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The fluid big man boasts a wealth physical tools, including a 7-3 wingspan. The fast-rising McCullough, 19, has a high ceiling defensively, while offensively he thrives in transition. He needs to add bulk and sharpen his skills in the half court.

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/12/10/nba-big-board-draft-jahlil-okafor-karl-towns-emmanuel-mudiay

 

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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/554730152450875393

 

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Syracuse forward Chris McCullough is considering entering his name in NBA Draft

 

[FSH]

He is going Pro.

Not sure if it is the best move. One more year showing that he could dominate would have really helped him. But best of luck to him hopefully he isnt Donte Green 2.0