Gerald Green
Birthdate:
NBA Position: SG/SF
College: Oklahoma St.
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 200
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Gulf Shores Academy
2004 Stats
NBA Comparison: Tracy McGrady
Everything this kid does is silky smooth, even hard drives to the lane capped with the empathetic dunk seem easy... Has supreme athleticism, and gets many points off ally oop dunks as well as on drives to the hole... Has a very quick, effortless release on his jump shot. Combine that with great elevation and you have an almost unblockable shot... Most of the shots go in, in fact his jump shot from midrange to outside is one of his defining qualities... Loves to spot up for the open three, or stop and pop for the 15 footer... Overall just a sick scorer from outside ... Even At 6'8 he handles the ball like a guard, often starting (and finishing) the fast break... Loves to run the floor for the ally oop dunk, but also knows when to pass the ball... Most of those passes get right where they need to be ... However, those fast breaks don't just start themselves, Gerald is often the one creating the turnovers... His long arms and tremendous athleticism lead to lots of blocked shots and steals. Often creating the turnover, starting the break, and finishing with a monster dunk... Also rebounds exceptionally well for a guard/forward his size... The total package, an all around player who will do whatever it takes to win. There aren't many with his gifts at his size... With time and effort this kid will be something special.
Weaknesses: Effort seems suspect at times, can often be seen walking or resting on the court... Kind of has that I'll do what I want domineer when on the court, and sometimes appears to put style over substance... Also, he'll be spectacular one game, but then he'll forget to dominate...where is he? Needs to put up the monster performances that brought him where he is on a more consistent basis... Needs to bulk up, right now gets pushed around easily. Will have to improve his leg and upperbody strength to finish his drives... He has broad shoulders and a great frame, just needs to put in the work... Still dominating high schoolers, needs to bring his game to a point where he can do it at the next level as well.
Notes: College could launch his game to a whole n'other level. Early this year, he Began making some noise in Texas, but was relatively unknown until his breakout performance at the 2004 Reebok's ABCD camp, where he averaged about 20 ppg, was named to the all-star team, and won the MVP of the all star game.
Jarrett Jack
Birthdate: 10/28/83
NBA Position: Point Guard
College: Georgia Tech
Class: Junior
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 202
Hometown: Durham, NC
High School: Worcester Academy
Louis Williams
Birthdate: 10/27/86
NBA Position: SG/PG
College: Georgia
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 175
Hometown: Lithonia, GA
High School: South Gwinnett
2004 Stats
NBA Comparison: Allen Iverson
One of the most explosive offensive weapons in High School right now…A high flyer who can rise like few his size, and finish with a flare around the bucket…Has solid form and rotation on his J…More of a set shooter from deep, as he doesn't use much leg lift on his jumper…Developing a mid range game to compliment his deep J and explosive drives would make him an even stronger offensive threat…strong handle, with an explosive crossover…very quick with the ball, and can get by his HS competition with little difficulty…solid passer in the lane, but at 6'2, the NBA will make him fail as a PG before it allows him to play SG, and is no NBA PG…to be a SG, must get stronger, and maybe grow several inches, to play the NBA Point, he must vastly improve his court vision, passing, and ability to make his teammates better and run an offense…has solid footwork on the offensive end and does well at getting his feet set before he puts up a shot…very aggressive on the offensive end of the floor, and moves very fluidly and with a purpose when off the ball…Uses screens and gets himself open for shots well…decent defender man on because he's quick with quick hands…needs to step up his defensive focus and intensity as he'll have lapses that opponents can take advantage of…can steal the dribble, but doesn't jump passing lanes well, and not a strong team defender…has solid defensive footwork on the perimeter, but his mental lapses are consistent right now…decent rebounder for his size due to his great leaping, but wonder how well he can do on the next level there…is an excellent player in the transition game both offensively and defensively, on the offensive break, his ability to hit from deep and finish at the rim are ideal…his shot selection is sometimes poor, but he is conscious of such lapses and will settle in…the vocal leader of his South Gwinnett and AAU team, while backcourt mate Mike Mercer is the director of the action on the floor.
Short and sweet: A real player, with definite NBA game. As a HS JR, he's not there yet, but he has the requisite skills and with continued work will get there, and be a solid player. His biggest question mark may be what position? He's a natural scorer, so can he develop into a scoring point, like Stephon Marbury, or does he have to play an Allen Iverson scoring role alongside a bigger point? Also, will he improve his defense and other lacking areas to compliment the things he does best and make him an elite player as he gets older? Committed to play for the University of Georgia, expect him to explode onto the SEC right away on a very thin Bulldog roster as a scorer in 2005-6 season.
Williams is by far the best scorer in his class. He can play on the perimeter and burn defenders with his NBA range. Or he'll blow by his defender with his amazing first step, which is his best attribute. There aren’t many that can defend it. His athletic ability allows him to play above the rim with ease. Loves to go baseline and attack the basket.
Williams can play the point and his court vision is pretty solid. But really excels playing as a pure scorer. He does a good job of penetrating to the basket and finds the open player on the block.
Defensively he could improve. But most players in high school could. Williams has shown he can play with quicker players but sometimes seems so content just scoring points. Has extremely long arms and blocks a lot of shots as well as quick hands for steals.
Despite being so young, he's very mature and handles the pressures of being a "superstar" so young. He doesn’t shy away from top competition and wants the ball in his hands when it matters. Williams has untapped potential and should be considered one of the best players in the 2005.
Andray Blatche
Birthdate: 8/22/86
NBA Position: Power Forward
College: Undecided
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 6-11
Wt: 225
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
High School: South Kent Prep (NJ)
2004 Stats
NBA Comparison: Jonathan Bender
Strengths: Long and athletic prospect with good potential... Plays well facing the basket and can put the ball on the floor as he has a great handle for someone his size. Has shown a good outside shot but needs to work on his consistency... Gets off the floor quickly and blocks or alters shots... Runs the floor well and gets rebounds do to his length and leaping ability.
Weaknesses: Needs to play with more effort and consistency. Dominates some games and is non-existent in others... While he has range on his outside shot he needs to work on being a consistent shooter... Like many of the Kevin Garnett clones these days, Blatche is infatuated with the perimeter. Floats around on the outside at times when he should be down low posting up... Decent speed, but isn’t quick enough to get by defenders at the next level... At almost seven feet tall, Blatche has all the physical tools to make it big in the NBA one day, it just won’t be anytime soon... Will be a project for whichever team decides to select him.
Notes: Has made it clear he intends to bypass college and go straight to the league. Will need to show solid progress to be a first round selection.
theres our draft solid upside players to build on for the future.
