Elton Brand PF 6'8 260 21 B C- D+ B B- A
Duke Jr
Very skilled in the low-post. Has good hands, and good sized, though a bit short for a PF, but has all the tools to become successful in the league. He's a great defender too, as to why Coach K is in love with him. Not a very quick player but has some surprising agility and can run the floor pretty well. Another plus is his shot blocking ability. Some may be concerned at his weight, handling, and the ability to pass out of double teams. But nonetheless, a top pick whenever he declares.
Lamar Odom PF 6'10 220 21 B- C C+ C+ B- A
Rhode Island Soph
Odom can shoot, handle the ball, and create his own shot. He is more of a point-forward, less of a traditional "Power" forward. Decent passer too. Also a decent defender and a solid rebounder, especially on put-backs as he crashes the boards. Also comes through in clutch situations. Solid jumper already but will need to develop it better. Also needs to learn to move without the ball. His ceiling is pretty high though.
Marcus Fizer PF 6'8 265 22 B- C D+ B- C B
Iowa State Soph
Fizer has been compared to Karl Malone because of his ability to get his shot off quicker and more accurate than any other power forward in college. He has good strength will allow him to compete with other SSBL forwards. Also has good range on his jumper. His defense may be of some concern, but he is improving. Has a body like Brand, but Brand is a superior defender. Not very quick, so I don't know how much time you'll see him playing SF.
Stromile Swift PF 6'8 215 21 B C- D B- C+ A
LSU Sophomore
A very quick post player who is comfortable stepping out to 12-15' range. He's shown a reliable turnaround shot in the post, and occasionally brings a hook shot to the table. Will occasionally step farther out to the perimeter, but he's inconsistent past free-throw-extended. He's a good passer from the post, although he doesn't do that very often. Defensively, Swift is quite solid. His footwork has improved markedly, and he learned to play solid position defense instead of simply trying to throw every shot into the fifth row. That being said, he averaged nearly 3 blocks per game during his sophomore season, thanks to his good instincts and long wingspan. However, occasionally had his concentration drift in games. Has a tendency to pick up a silly foul or two.
Kenyon Martin PF 6'8 230 23 B+ D+ C- B C+ B
Cincinnati Senior
Perhaps the best defensive post player in the game the year before, elevated his offensive game this season with impressive results. He averaged 18.2 points and nearly 10 boards to go along with 3.5 blocked shots. No player in the country was more vital to his team than K-Mart was to Cinci. Has size, jumping ability, wing span and tenacity that can make big contributions for a lot of years. Fearless when he attacks the rim or lifts up for an alley-oop. Blocks shots into the stands. Fires his teammates up...an energy guy. Martin sometimes commits too many fouls, but maturity should rectify that problem. Not thought of as a scorer before his senior year, Martin displayed a surprisingly versatile scoring arsenal.
Etan Thomas PF 6'9 247 22 C+ D D+ B+ C+ B
Syracuse Senior
A good defensive talent he still needs to develop his offense to play at power forward or center in the Pros. He appears to have the raw talent and his defense alone might make him a good pick for any team. A very good defender and has good strength and quickness. Though he can put up a fair number of points his offense is limited. Has good hands and great leaping ability allowing him to get many of his points off of tips and put-backs. Does not have good shooting range nor touch; this may be the result of his large hands which make it difficult for him to put rotation on the ball. Uses his speed and strength to get good position in the post and does well finding his defenders weakness. Has a decent hook shot and uses good shot selection which is how he maintains an outstanding 59% FG. Though his aggressiveness can lead to foul trouble he is intelligent about it and has not fouled out of a game this season. He has been named "Big East Defensive Player of the Year". Although played Center in college, is too short and might have to adjust to playing PF.
Malik Allen PF 6'10 250 22 C+ C D B- C+ B
Villanova Senior
Strong, bulky player with a solid mid-range jumper. Led Wildcats in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Not very dominant but able to back his man down in the low post. Ha shown an array of low post moves, including a jump hook and up-and-under move. Also steps out to hit the 15-18 ft jumper. Boxes out well and grabs a handful of rebounds. Not very quick for a big but can beat slower centers down the floor in transition.
Eduardo Najera PF 6'8 235 24 C+ D+ D+ B C+ B
Oklahoma Senior
He has amazing hair. That being said, he is not tall enough to play center but has bulk to be able to play power forward and the skills to play at small forward. He has a lot of hustle. A solid rebounder with a real nose for the ball and averaged 9.4 rebounds a game to go along with his 18 PPG. He has a good feel for the game, can be physical but can also play with finesse. An occasional outside shot, but very poor shot selection. He shot the three way too much. Can get around defenders and pull up for a 15' jumper. He does well in traffic and can take the ball to the rim or step back out for an open mid-range jumper. He is strong in the low post where he can work the defender for a high percentage shot, which he finishes with a soft touch. Reads the floor well and is always aware of his teammates, a good passer as well. His greatest contribution will be on defense though, as he can defend perimeter SFs, post PFs and even Centers.
Jerome Moiso PF 6'10 230 22 B C- D- C C+ B
UCLA Sophomore
Eye-popping talent, frustrating temperament. When he's on, he's awfully good. Though he is a scorer, he simply will not pass unless forced to do so. He'd rather shoot behind the backboard than throw it back out. But he's a legit talent, quick, hops, soft touch and that will get him a 1st round selection. Not a good defender; simply lets his man catch the ball and then tries to block the shot. Needs to get stronger--he is very skinny. Moiso is very skilled; his offensive skills far exceed Stromile Swift's, but Swift is a warrior and Moiso simply acts like he doesn't care that much at times. I think he's going to get seriously pounded in the Pros unless he bulks up.
Olumide Oyedeji PF 6'9 240 19 C+ D+ D+ C+ B+ A
Nigeria
This Nigerian-born power forward burst into the scene of many scouts following the Nike Hoop Summit earlier this year. He's been playing professional basketball in Europe since he was 17 years old. Oyededji's forte is rebounding. Led his German pro league team and the entire league, for that matter in rebounds this season. He's a very athletic rebounder who tends to rely a little too much on that athletic ability when going to the glass. But he's very effective, and he has huge hops. He has a young Karl Malone-type physique. Offensively, he's a bit rough. Can run and finish with the best of the power forwards in this class. He will certainly need to buff up his offensive game. Defensively, he relies solely on athleticism to cover for a lack of (to this point) technical defensive ability. Falls for fakes too easily at this point (Zach Randolph had a field day with drop steps on him). He is young, but apparently has a very good head for the game. Definitely worth a gamble, if a team is willing to work to develop him.
Donnell Harvey PF 6'8 215 20 C+ D+ D C+ C+ A
Florida Freshman
Harvey is immensely powerful for a 220 pound player. Has excellent athleticism. Has a knack for getting offensive rebounds. He's got good wheels for a big man and a great enthusiasm for the game. When inserted in the game, Harvey's biggest contribution was generally from the level of energy he brought to the floor. Unfortunately for Harvey, his liabilities are many. His hands are average at best. Most points come off of tips, put-backs, and layups. His offense isn't developed much beyond catch and dunk. His defense is good on help from the weak side, where he can use his hops to block shots -- but as a man defender, he looked lost on numerous occasions. Probably an enticing enough physical product that some GM might take a flyer on him in the second round or late 1st round.
Brian Cardinal PF 6'8 238 23 C+ C+ D+ C+ C+ C
Purdue Senior
Brian Cardinal should wear a hard hat to every game he plays in. He is that kind of a player, a definite blue collar worker. Comparisons would be a Gary Trent, Popeye Jones, or an Austin Croshere. He provides rebounds, steals and hustles to a yet developing offensive game. Can definitely step back and hit the three a la Sam Perkins, or he can bang in the middle with the big boys. Cardinal receives the Mr. Hustle award for the 2000 NBA draft.
Mark Madsen PF 6'8 235 24 C+ D+ D C+ C+ B
Stanford Senior
The "Mad Dog," as he's been called by friends and foes alike the past four years, was as intense a competitor as there was in college basketball. He's without fear when it comes to diving for loose balls, battling for rebounds and putting a body on an opponent. He's not just a hack; Madsen has a fairly polished low-post game, as his shooting percentage would attest. But Madsen won't beat anybody on sheer athleticism, and he also lacks a consistent jump shot. His free-throw shooting needs work. Despite his weaknesses, Madsen is the kind of player who's handy to have around, a real lunch-pail guy who doesn't shy away from the tough jobs.
Brandon Kurtz PF 6'10 245 22 B- C D+ C C+ C
Tulsa Senior
A senior from Tulsa where he played center but he will have to move to power forward for the Pros. He is a good scorer, decent rebounder, average defender. He has a good mid-range jump shot, use good judgment when to use it and uses ball fakes to get open. He will rarely shoot a three but it he can develop a little more range. He can play well in the low post, using a drop step and a turnaround jumper. He has good footwork and is tough when going to the hoop, which earns him frequent trips to the charity stripe where he is close to 70%.
On defense he is an aggressive shot blocker averaging 1.4 per game, though this leads to foul trouble at times. He needs to use better judgment and try to block only when he has established good tactical position. That being said, he is not a very good post defender, but formidable enough to hold his own and block shots. Decent rebounder but not great.
Dan Langhi PF 6'11 215 23 C B C- C+ C C
Vanderbilt Senior
A good outside shooting power forward prospect. Not a banger down low. Though he is tall he may lack the strength to play power forward in the NBA, though his skills may allow him to play at small forward. A good scorer averaging 22.1 points per game on 48% shooting, not a good rebounder he still manages 6 per game and he can play passable defense. His strength is his impressive outside shot. Has good moves to get open and can regularly hit three pointers at a 40% average. He unfortunately is pretty much limited to the perimeter game; he lacks any power moves and has not shown any kind of post up game. Not a great ball handler. He is not a shot blocker and has trouble defending bigger players down low. He is a smart player though and can play passable defense. There is a big question as to whether he can make it as power forward or small forward in the Pros, his skills falling between the two and not being perfect for either.
Vassil Evtimov PF 6'10 262 23 B- D D C B C
North Carolina Senior
Played the past season in Greece (A.O. Dafni) Played at UNC in '96-97 (1.6 ppg in 22 games) and '98-99 (4.4 ppg in 16 games) From Sofia, Bulgaria Spent '97-98 with Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez (French team) while in the French army. Solid around the rim and lacking a perimeter game. Not fast at all. Plays defense sparingly and might have trouble adjusting to the bigs of the American game. However, a good rebounder and knows how to box out well.
