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):

• 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

I'm basing this list not on my own merit, but on who was invited to be measured at the draft combine in Orlando recently.

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.

UNC draft trio Part Three

I feel for Danny Green. I really do.

He seems like a nice enough fellow. He plays the game with energy and enthusiasm. He isn't afraid to perform an embarrassing dance before tipoff just to get his teammates loose.

His father went to jail under circumstances that raise suspicion -- was he just associated with some bad dudes or was he really involved in dirty dealings?

His dad got out of prison partway through the 2007-08 season and likely is far behind on paying bills and having a nice place to stay.

When a son has athletic ability and dreams of stardom, the idea of making a lot of money to support the whole family must seem like a godsend.

But now is not the time, Danny.

When you're thinking about a pro prospect, you must consider what his specialty will be. What will he do on a consistent basis to merit a roster spot?

Danny's best ability is an odd one for a man just slightly under 6'5 barefooted.
Danny is a great shot-blocker. The best I have ever seen under 6'6.
Maybe my experience isn't as vast as someone else's, maybe there is another who is better, but I haven't seen that man play yet.

He averaged 1.2 blocks per game, which sounds just so-so, but consider that (A) he played only 22 minutes a game; and (B) many of his blocks came on running down a play from behind. Some shotblockers pad their stats because they are long and just have to hold their arms up. Danny does his work with hustle and great leaping ability.

How high exactly can he jump? I'd like to tell you, but Green wasn't able to work out at the draft combine in Orlando. He was nursing a sprained ankle that came a couple of weeks earlier during a pickup game.

He played in the camp games, but admitted he was slowed by a laundry list of problems: the ankle, a sore hip, sore elbow and a hairline fracture in his wrist.

And he played with all that going on? See my earlier post on Ty Lawson ...

Danny said he would try to go through a few workouts with teams, but if he continued to be slowed by injuries, he would pull out of the draft and return to school.

Look, I know he's frustrated. He wants to help his family. He wants to show everyone what he's capable of doing after spending three years coming off the bench. He wants to get out from under the 6-9 shadow of Tyler Hansbrough.
I can understand all of that.
But he needs to show everyone what he can do in a starting role.

If Ellington stays in the draft -- which looks like a good possibility -- then Danny becomes a starter with Marcus Ginyard sliding over to the SG spot. And then he and Marcus could hear Dickie V screaming some more about how much he loves the G-and-G boys.
What better stage to showcase your skills than on a team that will be on TV repeatedly next season?

Will it happen? Probably not. If money is really such a big deal, Danny may just opt to play in Europe next year to show what he can do.