Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.

Player Name: Chandler Parsons

School: Florida

Height/Weight: 6’10, 215 lbs.

Projected Draft Range: Very late first round/Early second round

Overview: Parsons is probably most famous for a couple of buzzer beaters he hit within a 20-day stretch in January 2010. The first was a 70-foot bomb at North Carolina State on January 3 to win by a point, and he followed up that with a more conventional three pointer as the buzzer sounded on January 23 to beat South Carolina. He’s been a fixture on the floor for the Gators since the day they signed him, playing in all but one game over his four years and never averaging less than 21 minutes a contest (his freshman year). His minutes went steadily up each season, topping out this past season at 34.1 MPG; even though his scoring went down this year from 12.4 PPG in 2009-10 to 11.3 PPG in his senior year as he let teammates Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, and Vernon Macklin handle most of the scoring load (he took a third FEWER shots this year than he did as a junior); his numbers improved in the areas of 3FG%, rebounds (7.8, leading the team), assists (3.8, also leading the team), and steals (from 1.1 to 3.8!). He didn’t lead the SEC in a single statistical category, yet, despite his point production going down, he was named the conference’s player of the year because of the improvement in the rest of his game.

Parsons Needs to Find His One Defining Thing

Will Translate to the NBA: Parsons doesn’t have the quickest first step, yet he’s good at driving into the lane and getting himself into a good position for a shot. And if he chooses not to shoot, he’s an exceptional interior passer. He’s also one of those guys who “earns” his rebounds, meaning he understands the value of position and timing when hitting the glass at both ends, and this makes up for his average hops. He’ll be asked to be more of a threat from the outside in the NBA, and Parsons has considerable range when he’s able to get his feet set, not to mention good height on his release. Finally, one of the things we’ve enjoyed most as we’ve watched Parsons over the last four years is how he moves without the ball. If you’re defending him, he’ll always keep you moving. If he can use that skill to get open, get set, and be effective from the perimeter, he’ll find a spot in the league.

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Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.

Player Name: Keith Benson

School: Oakland

Height/Weight: 6’11/230 lbs.

NBA Position: Power Forward/Center

Projected Draft Range: Early second round

Overview: Not only the top player hailing from the Summit League, but also one of the best mid-major talents throughout the course of the season, Keith Benson led the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to two straight conference championships and a near upset of 4th-seeded Texas in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The ultra-athletic and versatile forward from Michigan posed numerous match-up problems for the opposition this year as he was the main reason Oakland was an offensive juggernaut averaging 85.5 points per game. It is not all too often that the Summit League turns out legitimate NBA prospects, but not too long ago IUPUI also sent George Hill to the League as the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the 26th pick in the 2008 draft. One of the most decorated players in Oakland history, Benson has averaged a double-double the past two seasons averaging 18 and 10 this year, and 17 and 10.5 in the 2009-10 campaign. After Oakland’s upset victory over Tennessee last December—Benson poured in 26 points and corralled 10 rebounds—the Golden Grizz and Benson made a real splash onto the national scene. Even though they came up just short against Texas on the national stage, Benson will have his time to shine many more times at the next level.

Benson is Still a Bit Unknown at This Point

Will Translate to the NBA: Benson is one of the most athletic big men in this year’s draft as he runs the floor like a small forward and has the leaping ability to alter and block shots. He blocked 3.6 shots per game this past season, and no doubt altered many more along the way. Although he was a great scorer in college, his role in the NBA will be more on the defensive and rebounding ends.

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Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.

Player Name: Marshon Brooks

School: Providence

Height/Weight: 6’5/190 lbs.

NBA Position: Shooting Guard

Projected Draft Range: Late first/Early second round

Overview: A lightly recruited swingman from Georgia that played sparingly as a freshman at Providence, Brooks gradually improved his game over the course of a college career that ended in all-Big East honors following a record-breaking senior season. Mired on mostly irrelevant teams in the loaded Big East, Brooks became a familiar name around the college ranks after scoring 52 points on Notre Dame in February that shattered a conference record. Brooks dropped 10+ field goals in nine games during that remarkable final season on campus, finishing at a hair under 25 PPG to go along with 7 RPG and a respectable 48% FG even while the main focus for all opposing defenses. Despite a slender frame, Brooks’ rebounding prowess also resulted in seven double-doubles last season. His ascension from playing 8.8 MPG as a freshman to concluding his career as the leading scorer in a loaded conference spells out just how much dedication, hard work and commitment Brooks poured into constantly improving his overall repertoire. Aiding the cause was playing the fullcourt breakneck pace favored by former Friars head coach Keno Davis, allowing Brooks the freedom to improvise in the open floor, push tempo and create shot opportunities for himself. Brooks also showed the ability to excel in the halfcourt, using long strides and a tight handle to slice and dice his way to the rim and live at the free throw line where he shot over 77%. Other than BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and possibly UConn’s Kemba Walker, Brooks was the most unstoppable 1-on-1 scorer in the collegiate game last season.

Brooks drives to the basket against Seton Hall

Will Translate to the NBA: In the pick-and-roll, isolation-heavy professional game, there’s always room for a player with the scoring acumen of Brooks. Although the freedom he was granted under Davis won’t continue to the next level, Brooks has a multitude of experience basically operating on his own in a halfcourt game while his teammates observed, so the former leading scorer in the Big East won’t be intimidated when asked to make shots. Despite a wiry frame, Brooks has exceptional height and a phenomenal 7’2 wingspan for a guard, leaving erratic effort as the only lingering reason why he can’t be an asset as a defensive presence on the perimeter.

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Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 30-35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.

Player Name: Jordan Williams

School: Maryland

Height/Weight: 6’10/260 lbs.

NBA Position: Power Forward/Center

Projected Draft Range: Late first round or second round

Overview: Jordan Williams came to Maryland from Torrington, Connecticut, in 2009 as the 16th-ranked center in the country. Though he wasn’t heavily recruited (only two other power conference schools offered Williams a scholarship), Wiliams made an impact right away, averaging 9.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest (second in the ACC) in 24.8 minutes per outing. Posting eight double-doubles in his freshman year, he was named to the ACC All-Rookie team. After the Terrapins’ top four scorers graduated, Williams’ role increased dramatically last season, and he lived up to the pressure. He shed 25 pounds during the summer and was an absolute force in the paint for Gary Williams last season. Jordan averaged a double-double in 2010-11, and was automatic from the lane. He displayed tremendous efficiency as a big man, with an eFG clip of 53.8% and a 12.5% offensive rebound rate.  Recognized as one of the nation’s most improved players as a sophomore, Williams came up especially big in conference play, and the highlight of his season may have been a late February game against UNC. Matched up against North Carolina’s NBA-caliber frontcourt, Williams plowed his way to 16 points and a career-high 19 boards. Though the Terps would miss the NCAA Tournament, Williams’ sophomore season garnered AP Honorable Mention All-American status.  Williams declared for the draft after the season, but did not immediately hire an agent. However, as the declaration period wore on and many players took the safe route of returning to school amidst NBA labor uncertainty, Williams took the plunge and announced his intention to stay in the pool, hoping to take advantage.

Jordan Williams Provides an NBA-ready Frame and Rebounding Prowess

Will Translate to the NBA: Williams’ best asset at the pro level will be his knack for rebounding, but he should be able to exploit offensive mismatches as they come for easy baskets. He also shows a great motor, and though he won’t play major minutes from the get-go, that style should make him a very good spark from the bench. Williams’ frame at 6’10 and 260 pounds is very close to NBA-ready, though he can stand to lose some baby fat. He can be flat-footed, and as a result will have trouble scoring against comparable and bigger competition down low despite having a solid frame. The knocks are that he’s a touch slow for the next level and is limited in range, though both areas can be improved once he catches on with his new team.

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Over the course of the next month until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 30-35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.  

Player Name: Malcolm Lee

School: UCLA

Height/Weight: 6’5/175 lbs.

NBA Position: SG

Projected Draft Range: Late first round/Early second round

Overview: Malcolm Lee is one of a handful of early entry candidates who are looking to take advantage of a weak draft (made weaker by the surprising return to school of some lottery-level players) and sneak into the back end of the first round. And given the success of recent UCLA guards in the NBA, he’ll likely be worth a flyer late in the first thirty selections. Lee came to Westwood as a highly regarded wing and was a solid contributor for the Bruins the last two seasons, finishing second on the team in scoring in both years. However, the two years were very different. As a sophomore, Lee was called on by head coach Ben Howland to take on much of the point guard duties as the Bruins struggled out of the gate. He stepped up and did a fine job, averaging over three assists per game and adding 4.4 rebounds per outing while still providing a scoring punch. As a junior, Lee was called on much more for his defensive abilities, as he was repeatedly charged with checking the opponent’s best scorer – guys ranging from Klay Thompson to Jimmer Fredette – and partly as a result, the Bruin defense bounced back from a bad year in 2009-10 to lead the Pac-10 in defensive efficiency last season. While Bruins fans would have liked to see Lee come back for one more season and improve his offensive game, he does leave UCLA after spending the last two of his three years doing whatever was asked of him by the coaching staff.

Lee Molded Himself into a Typical Howland Guard at UCLA

Will Translate to the NBA: Defense. Lee bought into the role of UCLA’s defensive stopper as a junior, and that’s the strength upon which he’ll hang his hat in the NBA. His combination of length and quickness will allow him to match up with both guard positions at the next level although he still needs to add some bulk and strength. While Lee doesn’t post huge steal (or block) numbers, he is an instinctive team defender who doesn’t back away from a challenge and doesn’t need to have his offensive game going whole hog in order to play with energy and emotion on the defensive end.

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Over the course of the five weeks until the NBA Draft on June 23, RTC will be rolling out comprehensive profiles of the 35 collegians we feel have the best chance to hear their names called by David Stern in the first round that night.  There won’t be any particular order to the list, but you can scroll back through all the finished profiles by clicking here.

Player Name: Iman Shumpert

School: Georgia Tech

Height/Weight: 6’5/210 lbs

NBA Position: PG/SG

Projected Draft Range: Early second round

Overview: Shumpert has dealt with a difficult time at Georgia Tech that eventually led to Paul Hewitt’s dismissal despite having several future NBA Draft picks over the past few seasons. While he lacks the definite NBA appeal of a Derrick Favors, he does possess a skill set (primarily size, athleticism, and solid defense) that a number of NBA teams will find intriguing. Shumpert has shown flashes of brilliance like his 30-point performance in a win against UNC or a 22-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist (with just one turnover) and 7-steal performance in a win against Virginia Tech, but that has been tempered by inconsistency and downright poor performances such as his 1-assist, 4-turnover performance in an embarassing loss against Kennesaw State. The junior has also struggled to find the balance between being a point guard and a scorer. By the end of his time at Georgia Tech he had emerged as more of a scorer (up to 17.3 points per game from ~10.0 in prior seasons) and less of a passer (down to 3.5 assists per game from 5.0 as a freshman) although it may reflect the drop in the talent of his supporting cast. At the college level he has shown the ability to get to the basket, but instead he often settles for jump shots, an ineffective area of his game (a career 30.5% shooter outside the arc, averaging almost four attempts per game). If he ever learns how to utilize his skills by going to the basket and focusing on becoming a lockdown defender Shumpert could eventually be a solid NBA player.

Shumpert Has the Physical Tools For the Next Level

Will Translate to the NBA: The best case scenario is that Shumpert becomes a sixth man on a good team where it can utilize his defense and athleticism filling in for a starting point or shooting guard for short bursts. It is more likely that Shumpert will struggle reining in his game to focus on his strengths (defense and athleticism) and minimizing his weaknesses (shooting from outside). Shumpert will probably be a player that teams will want to add at the trade deadline, but most likely won’t be the centerpiece of a team over the long run.

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Now that the NBA Draft early entry withdrawal has passed (Midnight ET on Sunday night), it’s time to take a look at who the winners and losers were from this year’s process.  Of the nearly 70 players who declared as early entrants for this year’s NBA Draft, we count a dozen or so who will return and make their teams significantly better next year.  The biggest impact will be felt at the following places…

The Winners

Jones Fills Out a Ridiculous UK Lineup in 2011-12

• Kentucky.  How do we figure that a team that ends up losing its best scorer and best perimeter defender is a winner?  Because of who they didn’t lose.  Terrence Jones will team with Kentucky’s fabulous duo of incoming forwards — Michael Gilchrist and Anthony Davis — to produce the most dynamic and talented front line college basketball has seen in some time.  As good as Brandon Knight was in a Kentucky uniform, his loss to the draft also ensures that there’s no question as to who lead this team next year, as incoming superstar Marquis Teague will take over the reins from day one.  The loss of DeAndre Liggins was surprising and will hurt, but on balance, the player UK most needed to return did.
• The Big East.  With the notable exception of NPOY candidate and Final Four MOP Kemba Walker and the somewhat shocking departures of Notre Dame’s Carleton Scott and Louisville’s Terrence Jennings, the Big East avoided losing three of its better returning players for the 2011-12 season.  Georgetown’s Hollis Thompson, Pittsburgh’s Ashton Gibbs and West Virginia’s Kevin Jones will all return to teams that could not afford to lose them; with so many talented seniors leaving the Big East, it was imperative for the league’s overall health that these talented upperclassmen come back.
• Missouri.  A very early Christmas came for new Tigers head coach Frank Haith as two of his best returnees, Kim English and Laurence Bowers, made smart decisions to return to Columbia for their senior seasons.  With leading scorer Marcus Denmon already back in the fold, Haith is walking into a situation where his top six players will be back next year.  So long as he can enable his more methodical system with a group that loves to run and press, Mizzou fans should be excited for the possibility of something special in 2011-12.

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Welcome to the law of unintended consequences, folks.

Starting with Jared Sullinger’s surprising decision to return to school in the aftermath of #1 Ohio State’s upset loss at the hands of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament last month, a number of projected top draft picks have similarly shocked the world by deciding to stick around their college campuses for another season.  Subsequent to Sullinger, Baylor’s Perry Jones — another top five pick — followed that up with his own shocker.  Next, UNC’s Harrison Barnes and John Henson — both projected lottery picks this June — each decided that another year in Chapel Hill was to their liking.  On Saturday, Kentucky’s Terrence Jones was the latest projected lottery pick to spurn guaranteed millions in favor of playing as an amateur for another season (ok, stop your snickering about the word “amateur”).

Counting up the number of lottery pick slots that opened up in the June draft, we come up with a total of five (of 14) and certainly the following early entrants will be this summer’s beneficiaries: Arizona’s Derrick Williams, Duke’s Kyrie Irving, Kentucky’s Brandon Knight, UConn’s Kemba Walker, and Kansas’ Marcus Morris.  Five additional slots in the first round, though, isn’t the same as a floodgate opening, and we fear that the oft-repeated mantra of “weak draft” combined with a lack of an opportunity for players to get good evaluation feedback (thanks, ACC coaches!) has led to a bunch of poor decisions at the back end this year.  Like we said, the law of unintended consequences.

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After several weeks of speculation Kentucky freshmen Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones and junior DeAndre Liggins have put their names in the NBA Draft although none of them has signed with an agent yet, leaving open the possibility that they could all return to Lexington next season. Although we noted the interesting trend (is three players a trend?) of several of this year’s top freshmen deciding to stay in college at least one more year, it appears that will not be happening in Lexington. The allure of NBA riches has been tempered for some potential picks by the impending NBA lockout, which from what we have heard is more a matter of when than if, but many have speculated that agents will help the players get through the lockout without any financial difficulty.

Will Jones, Knight, and/or Liggins end up leaving Kentucky?

Knight and Jones are both predicted to be lottery picks this year after solid freshmen campaigns. Knight averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 assists per game while leading the Wildcats to the SEC Tournament title and a Final Four appearance. Knight was also named as a freshman All-American and the East Regional Most Outstanding Player. Jones, who started off extremely well with a spectacular performance at the Maui Invitational then saw his production taper as the season progressed, averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Like Knight, Jones also picked up several individual awards along the way as he was named a freshman All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year. Liggins is a slightly more interesting case as most mock drafts have him going in the second round if he is even drafted. As a junior, Liggins averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, but his biggest contribution to the Wildcats this season came on the defensive end as he received recognition from several media outlets for his defensive play as he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and to several national All-Defensive teams.

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For weeks there has been speculation that Harrison Barnes was thinking seriously about returning to UNC for his sophomore season so his announcement today that he was in fact returning should not come as a major surprise in the way that the announcement by Perry Jones shocked the basketball world, but it is still remarkable. Going back less than six months Barnes was the talk of the college basketball world as the first freshman preseason All-American and the consensus #1 pick in the NBA Draft. At the time it was a foregone conclusion that Barnes would spend a single season in Chapel Hill before taking heading to the team that won the NBA Draft Lottery. In between that period a funny thing happened that just might help save college basketball.

Barnes turned down NBA riches for another year in Chapel Hill

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