The ACC will be strongly represented in Las Vegas the next few days.
This shouldn't come as a surprise since most of the players on these rosters are guys who are simply hoping to make the team -- and the ACC didn't have much talent coming out this year.
Remember when the ACC used to have players picked in the top 5?
In 1995, Joe Smith, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace were all taken in the top five.
Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter taken back to back.
In 2002, Duke's Jason Williams and Mike Dunleavy at 2 and 3, with Maryland's Chris Wilcox at 8 and Juan Dixon at 17.
Last year, Brandan Wright went 8th (and averaged a puny 4 pts. and 2.6 boards), and this year it's J.J. Hickson at 19th.
Well, at least in 2007 there were 6 players taken in the first round, even if none were in the top five. This year there was only one player period in the first round.
And don't blame Tyler Hansbrough and Tywon Lawson for going back to school. The ACC has a dozen teams, so there were 10 other schools with no draftable talent.
Just in case you're trying to remember who DID get drafted:
#42 Sean Singletary to the Sacramento Kings
#57 James Gist to the San Antonio Spurs
#59 Deron Washington to the Pistons
Those who didn't get drafted included James Mays and DeMarcus Nelson.
But, back to Summer League.
Let's run down the draft choices first:
San Antonio won't be in Vegas, so you won't see Gist. However, sometimes when a team doesn't play, it allows a second-rounder or free agent to play on another team for experience.
Cleveland won't be there, so there is no J.J. And no team is gonna let a first-rounder play in someone else's summer league and risk him getting hurt.
But Sean Singletary and Deron Washington will be there.
As free agents, James Mays will be there with the Bobcats along with Wake's Kyle Visser and Miami's Guillermo Diaz.
Kyle Hines, the 6'6 power forward from UNC-Greensboro will also be there. He'll be hard to miss since he may be the most solidly built player on the floor.
DeMarcus Nelson and Ga. Tech's Anthony Morrow will be trying to join Golden State with a strong showing. An obvious difference in styles there. Nelson is a banger and good rebounder with a so-so outside shot. Morrow has had back surgery and isn't as athletic, but he sure can swish an open jumper. Not sure Golden State is gonna have anybody to set him up, though.
Baron Davis jumped ship, and Elton Brand decided to go to Philly instead.
By the way, trying to make the roster is Tamar Slay. This dude is 28 years old, for crying out loud. If you haven't made an impression by now, stick with the minors or Europe and let the younger ones have their day in the sun.
Joining Deron on the Pistons will be former Arizona and Ga. Tech guard Will Bynum -- a 5'11 shooting guard masquerading as a PG.
An interesting team is the Denver Nuggets. The team has Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby as its core. Others include the oft-injured Nene and Kenyon Martin.
Of course, Kenyon has been the subject of trade rumors for a couple of years. Huge money going to a guy averaging 12 pts. and 6 1/2 boards.
J.R. Smith (who spurned UNC at the last minute to enter the draft -- gee thanks, McDonald's All-Star Game) was the team's best 3-point shooter, but he's a free agent.
If he leaves, who is gonna hit the open jumper?
Well, the team also needs a PG so that Iverson can slide over to the SG when the team needs his scoring more than his distributing.
So, the summer league team includes 6-1 SG Chris Lofton and pseudo-point guard Taurean Green. It also has Dookie Dahntay Jones and Va. Tech's Jamon Gordon. Not to be confused with Jamont Gordon of Miss. State.
It could also be a huge chance for a former Virginia player who has done well outside the NBA.
Elton Brown, 6-9, was forced to play center in college. As a frosh, he actually showed a pretty nice 3-point stroke, but the coach said No Way.
In the D-League in 2007, Brown averaged 18.4 points and 9.6 boards while shooting 51.7% from the field. He led his team to the D-League championship game, averaging 25.3 and 11.7 in the playoffs. Then he was signed by the Lakers, but when he didn't make the final cut, he went overseas to play another year.
Can't find his stats from overseas -- he played for Hapoel Holon, an Israeli basketball club based in Holon -- but I bet he kicks butt in the summer games because he and old man Jelani McCoy are the only big men on the whole roster so he'll get plenty of minutes.
Javaris Crittendon, who never should have left Ga. Tech after just one season, will be trying to regain his confidence with Memphis. He struggled early on with the Lakers who were happy to throw him in as an extra during the Pao Gasol trade talks.
A couple of Maryland teammates will be on the Suns squad. D.J. Strawberry and Ekene Ibekwe -- and yes, I did spell it right all by myself.
Ekene was just the fourth player in Maryland history to record 1,000 points (1,109), 500 rebounds (781) and 200 blocked shots (231).
In a French league this past year, he averaged 11 pts. 6.5 boards and 1.8 blocks, good for second in the league.
Since it traded away Mike Bibby last year, Sacramento is looking for PG help. In addition to drafting Singletary, the summer league roster is LOADED with PGs. Among them is Zabian Dowdell, one year removed from Va. Tech.
This past year, the Kings tried to make do with Anthony Johnson (one of the worst shooters in PG history along with Anthony Carter -- but he somehow got how after being traded and hit 15-30 on 3's) and Beno Udrih, who isn't very fast, but ended up supplanting Johnson because at least Udrih can score (13 pts.).
Toronto will feature another Va. Tech player, Coleman Collins, and Duke's Daniel Ewing. Ewing and John Lucas III are the only ballhandlers on the team, so there should be good minutes.
Ewing spent two years with the Clippers before playing overseas last season.
And finally, Jason Rich of Florida State will lace 'em up for the Wizards. He'll be sharing minutes with 2007 draftee Nick Young, and somebody named Mike Peeples of Fairleigh Dickinson -- whoever that is. So, don't expect Jason to get minutes over their draft pick.
The last times I saw Jason, he put up 22 pts. on Wake in the ACC tourney, then followed it up with 23 against UNC. He hit a combined 18-37, which is just the slightest bit under 50%, and 5-11 on 3's, which is 54.5%.
Unfortunately, his career ended with his worst performance ever. He had 10 TO's against Akron to get knocked out of the first round of the NCAA tourney. His next-highest total was only 6, and even that one has an asterisk next to it because that game against Clemson went to double OT.
Let's all wish the Atlantic Coast guys good luck in the summer league games.
Showing posts with label James Gist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Gist. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
An ACC draft shutout?
Could it be possible? Is there a chance that not a single ACC basketball player will be picked in the first round next week?
Sho'nuff.
In fact, we are looking at probably only four players being picked in the second round.
That would make this one of the worst drafts ever for ACC players. And considering that Miami, B.C. and Virginia Tech weren't around back in those past weak days, then this is probably the single worst showing ever for the conference.
Part of the blame must fall on UNC since they have two sure first-rounders on board next year with Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. And then there are Ellington and Green to consider.
But the rest of the league? WTF, mate?
Here is my list of the players likely to be picked in the second round -- in my own order of importance.
J.J. Hickson, N.C. State
James Gist, Md.
Sean Singletary, Va.
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
On the bubble: James Mays, Clemson
Hickson hurt himself by refusing to take part in the Orlando workouts -- and by the poor chemistry that affected the N.C. State team thanks to his arrival.
Yep, I said it.
He could have increased his visibility by playing well in the Orlando games, but was cocky enough to think he didn't need to play.
And he would have gotten more exposure in the NCAA tourney if he hadn't been one of the two biggest reasons the Wolfpack flopped so bad this year (the first was the huge absence of Engin Atsur -- one of the all-time underrated players in the ACC).
Yep, Hickson got the starting nod ahead of Ben McCauley, then got all the touches, too. Ben and Brandan Costner fell into a funk when they were being ignored.
The two Jameses (Gist and Mays) each has made a living off hard-nosed defense and out-of-zone rebounding. Both of those are needed traits at the next level, but Mays has the harder task because of his more limited reach and scoring ability.
Gist has a nice standing reach of 8' 11.5", plus he scored 16 pts. on 49.6% shooting and 74% FTs.
Mays gets putbacks and breakaways. He's about half an inch shorter and 2.5 inches less on standing reach, too. And he's as terrible at the free throw line as another former Tiger, Dale Davis.
DeMarcus Nelson is shorter than expected, but his long reach, tough defense and gritty offensive style could make him a good role player. Like Lindsay Hunter coming in for Chauncey Billups. I can see DeMarcus being a Lindsay-type of player. Not worthy of a 1st round pick, but a solid bench player.
Sean Singletary arrived at University Hall with lots of fanfare. Fans were telling each other to enjoy it while it lasts because he'll be gone in a year. Well, maybe after his sophomore year. Could he really be coming back for his senior year???
Sean never became the superstar type everyone expected, but he knows how to play one-on-one. What I've never been impressed with is his ability to make his whole team better.
Sure, he hasn't had good teammates, but his playmaking is at its best when he's doing the finishing, so is he really a good fit for a lot of teams? Maybe, maybe not. There could be a team looking for a spark off the bench who would like him.
Sean scored 41 pts. in a game against Miami, but only had 3 assists. He must have heard grumblings from his teammates or NBA scouts because after that he passed more. He had 6 or more assists in six of the next seven games to finish the season -- an average of 7.3 per game.
That's the kind of production I'd like to see out of him.
So, if he can pass and shoot, then why do I have him last of the five players?
Well, look at his body. He's short and doesn't have a great vertical leap.
He is 5'11" barefooted and only jumped 26 inches on the standing vertical.
He could have been hurt -- he didn't participate in the running vertical jump or in the two sprints -- but that doesn't help his chances.
By comparison, Ty Lawson is 5'11, too, but jumped 28.5" and a more impressive 34.5" with a running start. DeMarcus Nelson was even better at 34.5" and 38.5". All three guards showed their great strength by benching 185 lbs. at least 14 times.
Sho'nuff.
In fact, we are looking at probably only four players being picked in the second round.
That would make this one of the worst drafts ever for ACC players. And considering that Miami, B.C. and Virginia Tech weren't around back in those past weak days, then this is probably the single worst showing ever for the conference.
Part of the blame must fall on UNC since they have two sure first-rounders on board next year with Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. And then there are Ellington and Green to consider.
But the rest of the league? WTF, mate?
Here is my list of the players likely to be picked in the second round -- in my own order of importance.
J.J. Hickson, N.C. State
James Gist, Md.
Sean Singletary, Va.
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
On the bubble: James Mays, Clemson
Hickson hurt himself by refusing to take part in the Orlando workouts -- and by the poor chemistry that affected the N.C. State team thanks to his arrival.
Yep, I said it.
He could have increased his visibility by playing well in the Orlando games, but was cocky enough to think he didn't need to play.
And he would have gotten more exposure in the NCAA tourney if he hadn't been one of the two biggest reasons the Wolfpack flopped so bad this year (the first was the huge absence of Engin Atsur -- one of the all-time underrated players in the ACC).
Yep, Hickson got the starting nod ahead of Ben McCauley, then got all the touches, too. Ben and Brandan Costner fell into a funk when they were being ignored.
The two Jameses (Gist and Mays) each has made a living off hard-nosed defense and out-of-zone rebounding. Both of those are needed traits at the next level, but Mays has the harder task because of his more limited reach and scoring ability.
Gist has a nice standing reach of 8' 11.5", plus he scored 16 pts. on 49.6% shooting and 74% FTs.
Mays gets putbacks and breakaways. He's about half an inch shorter and 2.5 inches less on standing reach, too. And he's as terrible at the free throw line as another former Tiger, Dale Davis.
DeMarcus Nelson is shorter than expected, but his long reach, tough defense and gritty offensive style could make him a good role player. Like Lindsay Hunter coming in for Chauncey Billups. I can see DeMarcus being a Lindsay-type of player. Not worthy of a 1st round pick, but a solid bench player.
Sean Singletary arrived at University Hall with lots of fanfare. Fans were telling each other to enjoy it while it lasts because he'll be gone in a year. Well, maybe after his sophomore year. Could he really be coming back for his senior year???
Sean never became the superstar type everyone expected, but he knows how to play one-on-one. What I've never been impressed with is his ability to make his whole team better.
Sure, he hasn't had good teammates, but his playmaking is at its best when he's doing the finishing, so is he really a good fit for a lot of teams? Maybe, maybe not. There could be a team looking for a spark off the bench who would like him.
Sean scored 41 pts. in a game against Miami, but only had 3 assists. He must have heard grumblings from his teammates or NBA scouts because after that he passed more. He had 6 or more assists in six of the next seven games to finish the season -- an average of 7.3 per game.
That's the kind of production I'd like to see out of him.
So, if he can pass and shoot, then why do I have him last of the five players?
Well, look at his body. He's short and doesn't have a great vertical leap.
He is 5'11" barefooted and only jumped 26 inches on the standing vertical.
He could have been hurt -- he didn't participate in the running vertical jump or in the two sprints -- but that doesn't help his chances.
By comparison, Ty Lawson is 5'11, too, but jumped 28.5" and a more impressive 34.5" with a running start. DeMarcus Nelson was even better at 34.5" and 38.5". All three guards showed their great strength by benching 185 lbs. at least 14 times.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
NBA Draft for ACC players
Boy this is a down year for ACC star power.
Three years ago, UNC had four players taken in the top 16 spots: Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May.
This year, the entire 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference has only nine players even considered for drafting in the 60 picks, and only Ty Lawson is considered a lock for the first round.
The others are (in alphabetical order):
By the way, there were some interesting observations from these measurements.
Ty Lawson is indeed 5-11. Some wondered if he might have been measured that way in shoes, but he's really that tall, so he's not like 5-9 Nate Robinson. However, he did have the shortest wingspan and the shortest standing reach (which is more telling than just regular height because it gives a clearer picture of how far you can stretch up to get a rebound).
DeMarcus Nelson is shorter than listed in media guides, but has freakishly long arms.
Generally speaking, a person's wing span is very similar to his standing height.
I, for example, am exactly the same. I stand 5 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, and my wingspan is exactly the same.
DeMarcus, on the other hand, stands 6'1" (not 6'3 or 6'4 like he's been listed on various websites and TV pregame shows) but has a wingspan of 6'10. Say what??? His span is NINE INCHES longer than his height???
Think about that. When he drops into a defensive crouch and spreads his arms out to contest an entry pass, he covers 4 inches wider PER SIDE than Ty Lawson -- even though he's just 2 inches taller.
J.J. Hickson was invited to take part in Orlando games, but he didn't want to play. He told the NBA he'd come down to be measured, and the league said basically, "Well then, don't bother."
I'll put up the combine numbers in my next post.
Three years ago, UNC had four players taken in the top 16 spots: Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May.
This year, the entire 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference has only nine players even considered for drafting in the 60 picks, and only Ty Lawson is considered a lock for the first round.
The others are (in alphabetical order):
- Wayne Ellington, UNC
- James Gist, Md.
- Danny Green, UNC
- J.J. Hickson, N.C. State
- James Mays, Clemson
- DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
- Sean Singletary, Va.
- Deron Washington, Va. Tech
By the way, there were some interesting observations from these measurements.
Ty Lawson is indeed 5-11. Some wondered if he might have been measured that way in shoes, but he's really that tall, so he's not like 5-9 Nate Robinson. However, he did have the shortest wingspan and the shortest standing reach (which is more telling than just regular height because it gives a clearer picture of how far you can stretch up to get a rebound).
DeMarcus Nelson is shorter than listed in media guides, but has freakishly long arms.
Generally speaking, a person's wing span is very similar to his standing height.
I, for example, am exactly the same. I stand 5 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, and my wingspan is exactly the same.
DeMarcus, on the other hand, stands 6'1" (not 6'3 or 6'4 like he's been listed on various websites and TV pregame shows) but has a wingspan of 6'10. Say what??? His span is NINE INCHES longer than his height???
Think about that. When he drops into a defensive crouch and spreads his arms out to contest an entry pass, he covers 4 inches wider PER SIDE than Ty Lawson -- even though he's just 2 inches taller.
J.J. Hickson was invited to take part in Orlando games, but he didn't want to play. He told the NBA he'd come down to be measured, and the league said basically, "Well then, don't bother."
I'll put up the combine numbers in my next post.
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