LeBron James SF 6'8 240 St. Vincent/St. Mary's HS 19 B B- B- B C+ A
Athletic as hell. Can do it all. Handles and passes like a guard. Bang like a forward. Penetrate the lane like a bull. Finish with ShowTime dunks. Has excellent court vision. Plays good defense. Elevates for rebounds and blocks. Only knock on him would be his average jumpshot mechanics, but he's also shown range. The kid is only 18 (turning 19) and is the real deal.
Carmelo Anthony SF 6'8 220 Syracuse Fr. 19 B+ C+ C B- B- A
After one year at Syracuse and winning the NCAA, Anthony looks to be a top pick (unless you really think you're good at SF and want to draft a big man instead? up to you). Played a lot of PF at Cuse and really learned to play with his back to the basket. Rebounds really well (averaged 10 boards). Has shown that he has range too, but still a bit inconsistent. He will have to work on that. Defense isn't a strong suit of his, but Melo has enough skill (and upside) to improve on all areas where his critics say he is lacking. He's not as athletically gifted as James, but his overall ability points in the direction of a future star in this league.
Gerald Wallace SF 6'7 220 Alabama Jr. 21 B- C- C- A- C+ B
Plays great defense and finishes well around the rim. Has the frame of a typical SF but has long arms and plays with a crash/hustle mentality that will help him compete with PFs too. Doesn't have a reliable jumpshot or 3pt shot. or FT shot. Active on defense to get steals and blocks. Elevates high enough to get a handful of rebounds as well.
Josh Howard SF 6'6 203 Wake Forest Sr. 23 B- B- C B C+ B
A big-time competitor and one of the most versatile players. His long arms make him play taller than he is, giving him the ability to be disruptive defensively and a good rebounder for his position. If he has a drawback, it's his perimeter shooting which is mediocre at best. He'll need to improve his range and consistency in the pros.
Boris Diaw SF 6'8 203 France 21 C+ C B- B- C+ A
A good athlete who can run and jump with the best of them. He has shown to play some PG but his size and versatility points to him probably playing allot of SF. With his quick feet and long arms, he'll be a solid defender. Strong enough in international play to play some PF also. He's also explosive around the basket. The knock on Diaw is his perimeter game, which needs work, and his slight build. He'll have to add some size and strength to absorb the pounding he'll get on the way to the basket.
Nikoloz Tskitishvili SF 7'0 225 Georgia 20 C+ B- C C+ C A
Was declared last year but missed the flight over so he's declared this year. And hey, he's only 20 years old. Well, staying overseas another year helped because Tskitishvili didn't get any worse. He's still a shooting big man with some real ability and solid upside.
Josh Childress SF 6'8 205 Stanford So. 20 C+ C+ C B C B
An excellent athlete with long arms and the ability to play multiple positions on the floor. He needs to add bulk but is an outstanding defender and rebounder. Childress has good quickness and size, but an awkward looking jumper.
Mickael Pietrus SF 6'6 200 France 21 B- C+ C- B- C- A
Athletic and can really leap. That skill, combined with his long arms, makes him an acrobatic dunker. He's a good defender who creates problems for opponents with his quick hands. He's not a great perimeter shooter, and like a lot of rookies, will need to go to work in the weight room to add some upper-body strength. Can knock down the three as well.
Travis Outlaw SF 6'9 210 Starkville HS (MS) 19 C+ C- C- B C+ A
Committed to MS State, Outlaw is a tremendous athlete who can leap and run with the best of them at his position. Some claim he can touch the top of the backboard. Outlaw has a huge wingspan that enables him to block shots and contain defenders. His jump shot needs some work, and he's also going to have to get bigger and stronger. He has good upside.
Ndudi Ebi SF 6'9 195 Houston TX HS 19 C+ C+ D+ C C+ A
A talented, athletic player who can play either forward spot, but he definitely needs to gain some size and strength if he's going to handle NBA power forwards. If Ebi is able to bulk up, he can be a solid defender; his long arms already play havoc as he gets into passing lanes or blocks shots. Ebi can handle the ball decently, and thus has a versatile enough offensive game to play small forward. Comparisons to Jonathan Bender out of HS in terms of size and versatility, but let's hope Ebi has the better potential.
Quinton Ross SF 6'6 193 SMU Sr. 22 C C+ C B+ C- C
Ross, the WAC Player of the Year in 2002-03, has a well-rounded game. He can score outside, but also excels in the open court and is a good finisher on the break. He can rebound and can make free throws but is better regarded as a defensive stopper. Didn't make a high percentage of his 3-pointers this season and also had a poor assists-to-turnover ratio.
Jarvis Hayes SF 6'7 220 Georgia Jr. 22 C+ B C B- C- B
A big-time scorer for Georgia who really improved his touch this season as he became one of the most feared three-point shooters in the SEC and the country. Solid mid-range game, and can get to the rim with his quickness and leaping ability. Ball handling is an area where Hayes needs some work.
Andre Emmett SF 6'5 235 Texas Tech Jr. 21 B- C+ C C+ C B
Has the ability to take his man off the dribble and get to the basket where he is a creative finisher. Improved his free throw shooting, which is crucial to his future success given his game.
Luke Walton SF 6'8 245 Arizona Sr. 23 C+ C+ C+ B C C
Plays the game a lot like his famous father, Bill. He's smart, has great awareness and tends to make those around him play better. Walton was the best passer from the forward position in the college game. He's a capable scorer and rebounder and a great team player. The knock on Walton is that he isn't a great athlete, but fundamentally, he is there.
Jason Kapono SF 6'8 213 UCLA Sr. 22 C A- C- C+ C- B
Kapono is a great shooter and he has a solid understanding of the game. He's a decent athlete, but doesn't have amazing quickness or speed. Can he get his shot off in the pro game? That's the big question.
Kyle Korver SF 6'7 210 Creighton Sr. 22 C A- C C+ D+ B
Korver is a great shooter; many thought he was the best in the college ranks. Additionally, he's intelligent, has a great feel for the game and good court awareness. He can pass and knock down free throws. His weakness is a lack of quickness and athletic ability that might make it difficult to defend the small forward position in the Pro's.
Carlos Delfino SF 6'6 225 Argentina 21 C+ B C B- C B
Spent most of his professional career in the Italian league. Delfino has good height for the two-guard spot, but at 191 pounds really needs to add some bulk. He's a capable defender who can attack the rim and pass the ball. His shot selection could stand improvement.
James Jones SF 6'8 215 Miami (FL) Sr. 23 C B+ C B- C- C
Jones is a smart, durable athlete who can score outside (and inside) and block some shots. His strength is his perimeter shooting and FT shooting. Not content with Korver or Kapono? Jones isn't a bad alternative to the two.
Ronald Dupree SF 6'7 209 LSU Sr. 22 B- C C B C- C
A versatile player who was among the top scorers and rebounders in the SEC, Dupree is also a rugged competitor who isn't afraid of clutch situations. He is savvy, a good passer and a capable defender. Dupree has most of the tools needed for success at the next level, but he's going to have to become more consistent from the free-throw line and the perimeter.
James Singleton SF 6'8 230 Murray State So. 22 C+ D+ D+ B B- C
He's a banger PF who might be too undersized and might have to play SF. He's a solid rebounder and a strong competitor, but not overly skilled. Pretty athletic but not very skilled scoring-wise either.
Tommy Smith SF 6'10 210 Arizona State Sr. 23 C+ C+ C B C C
Pretty athletic and has a variety of skills, including a solid face-up game. He can pass and block shots and runs the floor well. In the pros, he's going to have to work on his perimeter game and increase his range past 12-14 feet and put in some weight room work to add some size and strength. Smith was also foul prone during his career.
Xue Yuyang SF 7'0 209 China 21 C+ C D+ C B- C
Following in the steps of Yao Ming, Xue won rookie of the year honors in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2001-02. He can play the 3, 4, or 5. His height and ability to play facing the basket are reminiscent of the Jazz's Wang Zhizhi.
