Michael Beasley PF 6'9'' 235 18 B C C B- C+ A
Big time prospect who has tremendous length. One of the real strengths of his game is his versatility. Can step back behind the arc with the same confidence he exudes as an interior scorer. Unique outside-inside talent who is very productive all of the time.
Attitude and off-the-court issues may be a concern, especially for a still-maturing 18-year-old kid who is making the jump straight to the Pros.
Brandan Wright PF 6'10'' 200 20 C+ C- D B C+ A
A 7-foot-2 wingspan makes him outstanding around the basket, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots. He shot 64.6 percent, leading the ACC while setting the league's freshman record. Has great hands and impressive footwork. Incredibly athletic for a player his size. Moves in the paint with ease, and can run the floor well. While Wright was able to dominate inside in college, he needs to add significant upper-body strength to his slender frame. Most teams will try to have him add at least 20 pounds of bulk. The only other downside to this young star is his free-throw shooting. Extremely quick, and should be able to help any team looking for a solid post player.
Yi Jianlian PF 7'0'' 230 23 C+ C C- C C A
Yi is expected to be the next great Chinese player in the NBA. Yi played with Toronto Raptors star Yao Ming for the Chinese national team in the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 world championships. Yi played for the Guangdong Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. He helped lead the Tigers to three straight CBA titles from 2004-06 and averaged 24.9 points and 11.5 rebounds this past season, but the club fell in the finals to the Bayi Rockets. Yi is an decent shot-blocker, defender and scorer, but his inside game lacks polish. However, the competition in SBSL will be a lot different than any competition back home in China. "Power" Forward is not the correct position for Yi, who is currently more reliable from the perimeter, however, if the potential is there, he can turn a lot of heads.
Glen Davis PF 6'8'' 310 21 B- C C- C+ B- B
His impressive size is expected to attract, as well as deter, teams. He has established himself as a skilled big man with great athleticism. He has a nice touch around the basket and is a polished inside scorer. Played center and power forward at LSU. Projected as a power forward in the NBA. He has quick feet and is a good ballhandler for a player his size. Davis can score in the post or square up and beat his defender. He also has a solid mid-range jump shot, and likes to shoot from the top of the key. Even though he is not much of a leaper, Davis is a strong rebounder. His weight has been his biggest drawback, as some fear it will take a toll on his body and make it difficult for him to handle the rigors of an 82-game season. His weight has fluctuated in the past. Need to slim down and improve his conditioning. Davis' fitness level will not only affect his play inside, but also his ability to get back on defense.
Sean Williams PF 6'10'' 230 21 C+ D+ C- B C+ B
Great leaper with long wingspan and excellent quickness, Williams finished third in the nation with 5.0 blocks per game last season. Gets off the floor quickly and has the timing and instincts that great shot blockers possess. Plays tough around the basket and is known for a mean streak, but also has a soft touch on offense and knows how to finish. Athleticism allows him to move well laterally and is a good help and weak-side defender. Does more on the defensive end than just station himself under the basket. Doesn't take bad shots and understands his role, doesn't try to do too much. Free-throw shooting has vastly improved. His ability, however, is overshadowed by major character questions. Let's just say, he likes drugs. His potential could also be limited by lack of intensity and focus. Doesn't hustle, and seems uninterested at times. May need to add bulk to be effective under the basket and in the post in the Pros.
Carl Landry PF 6'9'' 248 24 B C- C C+ B- B
Good scorer with a variety of post skills. A lack of aggressiveness in the paint could hurt his transition to the Pros. Lacks speed, athleticism and defensive ability. Upper-body strength helps him in the paint, making him a strong rebounder despite his height. His injury as a junior derailed his progress, although he appeared to be healthy as a senior. His strength and awareness are his best attributes, but some teams may view him as being too small for the position.
Nick Fazekas PF 6'11'' 225 22 C+ C D+ C+ C C
Clearly a winner. Confident, good awareness and one of the most fundamentally sound players at his position. Added strength and improved rebounding have helped his draft stock considerably. Fazekas averaged 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds. A skilled scorer with perimeter skills that extend to 3-point range. Excellent free-throw shooter who made over 84 percent of his attempts from the line each of his last two seasons. Increased strength has given him more confidence around the basket, but still needs more work to play in the post at both ends of the floor. Prefers to play from the perimeter in, but improvement this season gives scouts hope that he may be able to develop into a legitimate power forward. Not a great athlete. Lacks quickness and explosive leaping ability, so he will have trouble becoming the impact shot blocker he was in college. Struggles to get good position in the post, and doesn't have great back-to-the-basket moves when he gets there.
Josh McRoberts PF 6'10'' 240 20 C+ C D C C+ B
Mobile and active around the basket, McRoberts also brings emotion and intensity to his game. Has a consistent mid-range jumper and is a strong finisher in transition. Good at running the court, and plays a high-energy game not always seen from a big man. OK passer with good court vision. A solid defender with quick hands who gets steals and is an average shot blocker. Also a good finisher and likes to throw down monster dunks. Needs to stay out of foul trouble. His best role will likely be facing the basket, spotting up for mid-range jumpers and putting the ball on the floor against smaller players.
Herbert Hill PF 6'10'' 232 23 B- D+ D C+ C+ C
This 5th-year senior was a late bloomer, failing to average double figures in scoring until his final season at Purdue. Though he likely needs to bulk up to be a force at the Pro level, Hill already has impressive shot-blocking ability thanks to his long arms and athleticism. Final five games of the season he averaged 24.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.0 blocks while shooting 68.8 percent from the field. He has developed a respectable mid-range jumper, but must continue to improve his outside shot as well as his post-up moves. He does not shy away from contact, which often benefited his production but could be problematic at the other end of the floor because he would often run into foul trouble.
Milovan Rakovic PF 6'10'' 240 22 B- D- C C+ C B
Look at the size of this guy. Very tough and strong. Type of player that loves contact on the low post, holds his position very well, and DOES NOT mind doing the dirty work to make his team win. Most points are on put backs and dunks. Excels at the pick and roll and solid touch from 15-18ft. Could develop in solid role player. Not a great rebounder.
Jermareo Davidson PF 6'11'' 230 23 C+ D+ D B- B- C
He is an athletic player with good shot-blocking and rebounding ability and is a solid defender. He could turn into a good role player for an SSBL team.
Chris Richard PF 6'9'' 252 23 C+ D+ D+ B- B- C
A sixth man for the National Champion Florida Gators, he provided a strong presence in the paint when needed in limited minutes. Richard was one of the bodies the Gators used to try and contain potential No. 1 pick Greg Oden. Richard went 19-for-21 from the field in five NCAA tournament games. Scouts just don't have much of a body of work to draw from in evaluating him, so he needs to work hard in order to sneak into the second round. When he does play, his strength, athleticism and tenacity usually shine.
Anthony Tolliver PF 6'9'' 240 22 B- C D+ C+ C C
Tolliver shows flashes of post and face-up game, but he's not particularly consistent with either, and these aren't segments of his games that project to be very reliable in the Pros. Defensively, Tolliver is pretty attentive, making most of the rotations, putting in the effort, and playing smart overall defense, but he doesn't appear suited to defend power forwards on the perimeter, being fairly slow-footed. He's a solid post defender and very good on the defensive boards, however. He has a pretty clearly defined skillset, providing value mainly through three-point shooting and the defensive glass, as well as by being an extremely high character individual, so if a team is looking for those attributes and is capable of masking some of his deficiencies, he could provide a good fit somewhere as a 12th man or even a little more if the team is battling injuries.
