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By
Justin Voccola
justin_voccola@ml.com
May 25th, 2005
NBA Draft: Overrated and
Underrated
While everyone knows that
Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams are can't miss prospects, the rest of
the draft (especially below the top 5 picks) is full of hit or miss
talent. Justin Voccola presents the top five most overrated and
underrated players in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Overrated Prospects:
Chris Taft
(PF)
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ NBA body
▪ Athleticism
▪ Potential
Why he should go lower?
▪ Attitude
▪ Lack of offensive
repertoire
▪
Poor sophomore season
Joey Graham
(SF)
Projected Draft Range:
Mid-to-Late First Round
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪
NBA body
▪
Eddie Sutton’s physical man to man defense prepared him well for the
pros
▪ Experience
Why he should go lower?
▪
Inability to consistently knock down outside shot
▪
Will struggle on offense because he cannot create own shot
▪
Lacks confidence
Danny Granger
(PF)
Projected Draft Range: Late
Lottery
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪
Inside / Outside Game
▪
Athleticism
▪
Potential
Why he should go lower?
▪
Put up big numbers against inferior competition
▪
Lacks superior athleticism
Randolph Morris
(C)
Projected Draft Range: Late
first round
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪
Size
▪
Potential
▪
Good skills for a big man
Why he should go lower?
▪
Unproven
▪
Slow
▪
Did not dominate at collegiate level
Underrated Prospects:
Sean May
(PF/C)
Projected Draft Range: Mid
First-Round
Why he should go higher?
▪ Proven winner
▪ Power forward frame
▪ Skills of an NBA
veteran
▪ Bulk
▪ Competitiveness
▪ Plays well in team
system
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ Limited upside
▪ Struggles against more
athletic big men
Hakim Warrick
(SF)
Projected Draft Range: Mid
First-Round
Why he should go higher?
▪ Amare Stoudamire like
physical potential
▪ Experience
▪ Soft shooting touch
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ Slim stature
▪ Athleticism will be
neutralized at next level
▪ Four year college
player
Francisco Garcia
(SG)
Projected Draft Range: Early
Second Round
Why he should go higher?
▪ Versatility
▪ Would be a great sub
for playoff ready team
▪ Overcame a lot of
adversity and really good teamplayer
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ Positionless
▪ Strength
Ike Diogu
(PF)
Projected Draft Range: Late
first round
Why he should go higher?
▪ Prototypical power
forward body
▪
Will benefit from less defensive attention in the NBA
▪ Gets up on the glass
well
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ College career did not
receive much attention
▪ Pac-10 is not known for
big men
Ryan Gomes
(SF)
Projected Draft Range: Early
Second Round
Why he should go higher?
▪ Nice inside/outside
game
▪ Will create match-up
problems with ability to extend defenses
▪ Strong rebounder for
undersized power forward
Why he is projected at current
spot?
▪ Providence really
struggled during senior season
▪ Four year college
player
Sleepers:
Jawad Williams – Big man that
can extend defenses with his ability to knock down shots at next level
Eddie Basden – Great defensive
player with emerging offensive game
Dijon Thompson – Breakout
senior season made up for three underachieving seasons
Kevin Pittsnogle – Great range
on jump shot causes matchup problems at next level
Taylor Coppenrath – Versatile
big man is a little under radar since Vermont’s Cinderella season
Brandon Rush – Brother
of Kareem has been known for awhile. Isn’t getting as much pub as some
other high school prospects but still has a lot of game.
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