On June 25, 60 young, talented, hopeful men will hear their names called as they fulfill lifelong dreams and get the opportunity to put on an NBA uniform. Unlike last year’s draft, which was filled with many future all-star and franchise-caliber players like Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo, this year’s class is a little less stellar than their basketball brethren who took the podium a year ago.
That’s not to say that there isn’t any talent in this year’s draft, because there is plenty of it. However, the 2009 class is far more unpredictable and raw compared to the 2008 crop. This year’s class will feature several names you will recognize, such as Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet, and Stephen Curry. Although all three players are extremely gifted and will instantly bolster any NBA franchise, each of them is more likely to pan out as a great role player rather than a bona fide superstar.
For more information on the NBA Draft, check out our blog “All Sports Considered” at IndependentCollegian.com, where we will post a mock draft of the first round.
The following are some themes and tidbits to keep in mind about the 2009 class:
Cream of the Crop: Unless the Clippers lose their minds in the coming weeks, they will select the 2009 AP College Basketball Player of the Year, Blake Griffin, with the No. 1 pick. Oklahoma’s 6-10 power forward led the Sooners to the Elite Eight, averaging a double-double with 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds a game. Griffin is a ferocious competitor and solid defender, and the combination of his effort and talent solidify his status as this draft’s best player. Pairing him in the post with Chris Kaman gives the Clippers a formidable frontline for the foreseeable future, and injects life into what has otherwise been a hopeless franchise.
Rounding out the top five picks should be Connecticut’s Thabeet, Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio, Arizona power forward Jordan Hill, and the Sun Devils’ James Harden.
Thabeet is an intriguing prospect, to say the least. The 7-3 big-man dominated the collegiate paint at Connecticut, averaging over 10 boards and four blocks per game last season. While scoring 13.6 ppg, his biggest question mark remains on the offensive end, where he is still very unpolished. However, his presence and potential make him a lock for the top five.
Rubio, an 18-year-old point guard from Barcelona, Spain, started playing for DKV Joventut when he was 14. At 15, he played for the Spanish Team in the European Under-16 Championship tournament, where he recorded three triple-doubles and a quadruple double, including an astounding performance against Russia in the championship game, as Rubio led Spain with 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists and seven steals in a double-overtime championship victory. Right now, he has the potential to be a 21st century Pistol Pete.
On Point: Led by the aforementioned Rubio, this year’s deepest position of quality players appears to be at point guard with several NBA-ready floor generals. Among them are Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn, Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, Eric Maynor of VCU, the Tar Heels’ Ty Lawson, the Bruins’ Jrue Holiday and Brandon Jennings, who became the first American high school player to go overseas and play in Europe instead of competing at the collegiate level.
Movin’ On Up: Picking the right player to fit your system is crucial in any sport, but is essential in basketball. This year, the Knicks, Thunder and Wizards are three teams that have the chance to take a giant leap with this year’s draft if they pick the right players.
The Knicks and Mike D’Antoni were busy filtering out the likes of Stephon Marbury and Zach Randolph last season, in an effort to install the uptempo offensive attack D’Antoni made famous in Phoenix. A perfect fit for that mold is Davidson’s Curry. The son of former NBA gunner Del Curry, Stephen was arguably the most exciting player in college basketball the past two seasons. His baby face and long range will make him a hit at The Garden.
With the No. 3 and No. 25 overall picks in the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the opportunity to really turn heads next season and make a playoff push. The Thunder already have a good young core in Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and future superstar Kevin Durant. Adding the likes of Thabeet or Rubio, along with some added insurance in the form of a late first round pick, has to have Durant and company salivating at the prospects of what next season holds. Don’t sleep on the Thunder in 2009-10.
Injuries suffered by Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood secured the No. 5 pick in this years draft for Washington, where the Wizards can snag a prime-time talent to add to their core of Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Arenas. If they stay healthy, Washington could be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
Sleepers in the Shadows: Every year, players with tremendous ability are overlooked for a multitude of reasons, slipping into the hands of a few lucky franchises. You may not know their names, but they have the potential to do some damage in the pros. The first guy is Central Florida’s Jermaine Taylor. He is quietly one of the better athletes in this draft and has the game to go with it. Not only does he have the offensive game (26.2 ppg) but he can posterize somebody and wow fans with his slams on any given night. Another guy is Jennings, whose abilities have become almost an afterthought after his mediocre statistics overseas. While players like Flynn and Teague put up better numbers than Jennings last season, remember that Jennings was also playing against grown men. Trust me, when all is said and done, teams will regret passing on this lightning-quick lefty with freakish athleticism, floor vision and scoring ability. Lastly, I’d keep a close eye on Earl Clark out of Louisville. At 6-10 and nearly 230 lbs., he might be one of the rarest and most versatile talents in the draft. Clark averaged 14.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 8.7 rebounds a game last season, helping the Cardinals reach the Elite Eight.
— Mike Bauman is the Assistant Sports Editor and a senior majoring in communication.
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