Great Eight

Team: Fayetteville Patriots | Position: Forward | Height: 6-7 | College: UCLA
Ellis: "I saw Matt Barnes in the pre-draft camp and at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Everyone thought he was your typical UCLA player; a finesse guy who wasn't too tough. They were wrong. He's a tough kid, but he can also shoot from the outside. Really skilled. Barnes is definitely a candidate to make it to the NBA; he almost made the Cavs roster this season. I talked to Fayetteville coach Sam Worthen, and Barnes is playing very well; evidently well enough to take Greg Stempin's starting spot with the Patriots. Once this kid gets in a system, be it NBA or NBDL, he'll succeed."

Team: Fayetteville Patriots | Position: Point Guard | Height: 6-2 | College: St. John's
Ellis: "What's interesting about Cook is that it may actually hurt him playing in the NBDL. He has an NBA-type mentality, and he probably should be in the NBA, but the luck of the cards haven't put him there. Cook is used to having guys who can keep up with his passing and dribbling. You'll find that he has a lot of turnovers because he makes plays that are too advanced for lesser players. He worked on his jumpshot this summer. He's one of top three point guard prospects. A great assist guy."

Team: Fayetteville Patriots | Position: Point Guard | Height: 5-9 | College: Clemson
Ellis: "McIntyre almost made the final cut with the Hornets this season. He's a small guard, but he's tough. He can drive and penetrate, and he's very quick. He's also a great defender. Terrell is just solid all-around; he can score, he gets assists, he gets a lot of steals. He's battled through injuries lately, and if he continues to build on last year, I wouldn't be surprised if he got a shot at the NBA. He just doesn't have any weaknesses."

Team: Roanoke Dazzle | Position: Center | Height: 6-11 | College: Nebraska
Ellis: "Moore is a four-year NBA veteran, so it won't be a big surprise if he's called up to the NBA. He played with the Spurs this summer. So far this preseason he's played very well for Roanoke. He's long and athletic; he can score, and he's a great rebounder. We almost brought him to Atlanta; I think he'll be called up, especially if an NBA team loses a big man to injury. Moore is the kind of player who needs to be on the floor to be effective, though, meaning it takes him more than just spot duty to impress."

Team: Asheville Altitude | Position: Power Forward | Height: 6-11 | College: Georgetown
Ellis: "Scruggs will eventually play in the NBA. It might be this year. He's very skilled around the basket, and he can run the floor. He also has great timing on blocked shots. The one thing he needs to work on is his size; I think a lot of NBA teams would like to see him add some weight. But this should be his year to push through; his game has really come along, and he's got talent to spare."

Team: Mobile Revelers | Position: Forward | Height: 6-5 | College: Tulsa
Ellis: "If I had to pick one guy who people recommend for the NBA over anyone, it's Seals. He has really improved his game. Seals has NBA experience after spending two season with the Lakers, but I think his game has gone up since then. He's a scorer, he's athletic, and he has a great feel for the game. He should do really well in Mobile this season, and I think there's a good chance he'll get called up to the NBA. There's just a lot of buzz about him right now."

Team: Mobile Revelers | Position: Forward | Height: 6-8 | College: DePaul
Ellis: "Simmons is possibly the top candidate to get called up this season. I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone by December. I saw him this preseason with the Wizards, and he has everything. Washington was very high on him, but unfortunately with all of their veterans, their roster was too tight. They had too many guaranteed contracts. He is a top-five candidate to get called up, though. Very athletic and skilled."

Team: Huntsville Flight | Position: Point Guard | Height: 5-11 | College: Rice
Ellis: "Wilks is the best point guard in the NBDL. Hands down. I talked to the Bucks about him recently; they wanted to keep him on their roster this season, but unfortunately Wilks would not have been a rookie in the NBA because he was once under contract with the Kings. I saw him in the NBDL Draft camp last year, and I wanted him for Roanoke. He reminds me of B.J. Armstrong. Wilks has a lot of character. If an NBA team needs a replacement for an injured point guard, Wilks will be the first player taken. He's playing very well right now and more confident than last season."

"He's playing pretty well. I played with him in Denver. He's another guy that had to 'come down,' so to speak. Used to be a shoot-first player, but now he has more of a pass-first mentality. If he continues to play well -- and selflessly -- he's another guy who could be gone by December. Always been an attractive prospect to NBA coaches, due to his talent level."

"If a guy goes down, you have to look at this NBA veteran. I've heard good things about him. I've heard he's playing well. He's a guy that you'd have to look at if you need some help in the backcourt."

"Brown came to my development camp, and I worked him out. He can flat out score. He has a nice body, and he's in shape. He can play the point decently, but he needs to polish his skills. It may take him a year in the NBDL, but he could shock some people. The talent is definitely there."

"I think Capel needs a year in the NBDL. He has to learn a position, but he definitely has the talent. Playing for four years at UNC against major talent is a huge plus, but he needs to move away from the four and learn to be a three. His father is a coach, and he grew up knowing the game, so he has the background to make it."

"I like him. I talked to some guys with Golden State, and they like him also. All he has to do is get tougher. If a big guy goes down, he's definitely someone that they'll look at bringing in. He has a nice jump shot, and he can play the four as well. He needs toughness and strength, but there's a lot of NBA talk about him."

"I saw him in predraft camp and a little this summer in the USBL. He's a small guard, but he's skilled and can really shoot the ball. He has to prove to guys that he can play at the pro level. But in the right situation, he could eventually play in the NBA. He can flat out shoot the ball, but I think a year in the NBDL will help him."

"He spent some time with us here in Atlanta. After talking to the Mobile coaches, he'll probably be the backup to Seals. For guys who go to big schools and don't go in the first round of the Draft, it can be hard for them to adjust to a diminished role. He needs to be humbled a bit and needs to learn his true position. With Sam Vincent and Dale Demps as former NBA players, they can really help him. But the talent is definitely there."

"Tang is a huge talent. He has to learn how to run NBA sets, but once he has a feel for the game, he should prosper. A lot of people thought he'd be on an NBA roster this season. Working with coach Jeff Malone for a full season in Columbus gives him a good chance of making it."

"I convinced Columbus coach Jeff Malone to take Smith last year. I like him. He worked out very well as a backup, and he could start this year. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually someone with a veteran point guard took Saul to groom him for the long haul."

"I actually played with Derek in the NBA. I don't think he'll be in the NBDL long. He was a double-double guy in the NBA, so count on him to do that in the NBDL. He's a solid veteran, and would be a great bench player in the NBA. A top five frontcourt candidate."

"Many thought the Cavs would keep him around. He can really shoot the ball. Needs to work on defense, strength, and show guys that he can guard bigger players. He'd be facing the McGrady's and Kobe's of the world as an NBA two."