Ten for Tuesday: The jumping juniors of 2006
If Alex Acker, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Matt Walsh can enter the 2005 NBA Draft, anyone can. And this season, just about anyone did.
As of Tuesday morning, at least 21 college juniors had entered the draft or announced their intentions of doing so. All but Washington's Nate Robinson, who previously entered the 2004 draft, can withdraw by the June 21 deadline and return to college -- assuming they have done nothing to jeopardize their eligibility.
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| Nick Fazekas needs to add some bulk to his 6-foot-10 frame before thinking about the NBA. (Getty Images) |
Let's ask Ten for Tuesday.
(The players are ranked in no particular order, and three were omitted because they might enter the 2005 draft as sophomores: Missouri's Linas Kleiza, Iowa State's Curtis Stinson, LSU's Brandon Bass.)
Marcus Williams, UConn: This time next year, Williams will be the most coveted point guard in America. Trust us. CBS SportsLine.com was the only media outlet to name him this season's Big East player of the year. Next season, we won't be. If he keeps hitting 3-pointers at that 40.3-percent rate, he's a 2006 lottery pick.
Guillermo Diaz, Miami: The explosive, sweet-shooting guard thought about entering the 2005 NBA Draft. Enjoy him, Miami fans, because next year he's gone.
Shannon Brown, Michigan State: A 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard, he already has an NBA body and explosion. If he can improve his 3-point shooting from 33 percent to something closer to 40, the NBA will be all over him.
P.J. Tucker, Texas: Tucker struggled to get academically eligible as a freshman, then lost his eligibility midway through his sophomore season. Hey, college isn't for everyone -- no offense intended. This 6-5, 225-pound wing is an NBA two-guard as soon as he develops a consistent jumper. And he works too hard not to develop it next season.
Lodrick Stewart, Southern California: The 6-4 guard was tempted to enter the draft this year but contained himself. If new USC coach Tim Floyd can get consistent production from him next season, Stewart will be able to contain himself no longer.
Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas: He's a 6-7 wing with point-guard skills. Put a few more pounds of muscle on him, and he's a potential NBA stud.
Nick Fazekas, Nevada: He has definite NBA length and probable NBA skills, but at 6-11, 220 pounds, he has the body of a high school senior. Move your bed into the weight room and start drinking protein shakes, Nick. Lead Nevada into the top 10. Then enter the 2006 NBA Draft.
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga: Another year of fine-tuning his NBA skill set at Gonzaga will make this 6-8 pure scorer a candidate for 2006-07 NBA rookie of the year if he gets into the right situation.
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh: Without Chris Taft and Chevy Troutman, Gray -- 7-feet, 275 pounds -- will get as many minutes as he can handle next season. On a per-minute basis, Gray -- who averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds -- wasn't much less productive than Taft (13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds) this past season. And the NBA loves guys who are 7-feet, 275 pounds.
Alando Tucker, Wisconsin: He's too athletic not to make it into the NBA. The question is, will he develop a jumper and become a star? Or does he remain an athletic freak show who'll have to settle for a long-term career as an NBA energy guy? Not a bad fallback option, really.
If we had room for Ten More For Tuesday: Josh Boone, UConn; J.R. Giddens, Kansas; Alexander Johnson, Florida State; Wayne Marshall, Temple; Darryl Watkins, Syracuse; Jared Dudley, Boston College; Martin Iti, Charlotte; J.R. Pinnock, George Washington; Brandon Heath, San Diego State; Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech.
