2005 Draft Prospect Report

By Chris Monter

The 2005 NBA draft has been weakened by the early defections of many of its top players. Imagine the draft if Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Ousmane Cisse, Eddy Curry, DeSagana Diop, Jamal Sampson, Dajuan Wagner, T.J. Ford, Josh Childress, Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, David Harrison, Kevin Martin, Emeka Okafor, Delonte West and Maurice Williams had not turned pro early. However, many of the top underclassmen, foreign players and high schoolers will likely elect to enter the draft to help that void.

The Atlanta Hawks will have a top four draft pick in what appears to be a deep draft. The Hawks had the third overall pick in 2001 NBA Draft when they selected Pau Gasol, who they dealt to the Grizzlies in the Shareef Abdur-Rahim deal. However, they have not had a top four pick that they kept since 1981, when they selected Al Wood from North Carolina. Wood lasted just 19 games with the Hawks before being traded to the San Diego Clippers,

The Hawks’ front office is hoping that this year’s pick will add another building block to a team that features youngsters Josh Childress and Josh Smith. They also have the top pick in the second round (the 31st selection) and 59th pick.

On May 24, the franchise will learn if it is successful in getting the number one overall pick when the Draft Lottery takes place in Secaucus, NJ. Atlanta has a 25% chance of obtaining that selection. If the Hawks wil the rights to take that choice, it will mark the first time since 1975 they will have the opportunity to make the number one overall pick.

The following is a look at the top five players at each position.

TOP FIVE POINT GUARDS	HT	WT	CL	SCHOOL/COUNTRY
1. Chris Paul	6-0	175	SO*	Wake Forest
2. Deron Williams	6-3	210	JR*	Illinois
3. Raymond Felton	6-1	198	JR*	North Carolina
4. Jarrett Jack	6-3	202	JR*	Georgia Tech
5. Monta Ellis	6-3	175	SR*	Jackson (MS) Lanier

Chris Paul was a pre-season All-American choice who had a strong sophomore campaign. Paul has the ability to score and create for his teammates. He is an excellent shooter from three-point range and the free throw line. Paul has excellent quickness and possesses good court vision. He pushes the ball and is not afraid to take the ball to the hoop. Paul is a solid defender who needs to add strength. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Deron Williams is often compared to NBA standout Jason Kidd, due to his frame and style of play. He has excellent size and strength at the point guard position. Willams is a good outside shooter and tremendous defender, but lacks blazing speed. Williams led the Illini to the NCAA Tournament Championship game and averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 assists per game.

Raymond Felton is a strong point guard with outstanding quickness. He helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA Tournament title. Felton is an outstanding passer who has made strides as an outside threat. He is a bit on the small side, but is a true playmaker. Felton averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 assists per game.

Jarrett Jack has good size at the point guard spot. He is a solid athlete and good rebounder for his size. Jack has improved his outside shooting, but needs to cut down on his turnovers. Jack averaged 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Monta Ellis is a big-time scorer who had a 72 and 65-point game as a senior. He signed with Mississippi State in the early signing period. Ellis is an excellent athlete and very explosive. He can create his own shot and is not afraid to take the ball to the hoop. He played in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Ellis is a bit undersized at shooting guard and will have to improve his playmaking skills to see some time at point guard. He averaged 40.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

TOP FIVE SHOOTING GUARDS	HT	WT	CL	SCHOOL/COUNTRY
1. Rudy Fernandez	6-5	200	19	Spain
2. Francisco Garcia	6-7	190	JR*	Louisville
3. Rashad McCants	6-4	207	JR*	North Carolina
4. Antoine Wright	6-7	210	JR*	Texas A&M
5. Julius Hodge	6-7	205	SR	North Carolina State

Rudy Fernandez shined as a member of the Spanish Olympic team. He is an excellent athlete with good outside shooting touch. Fernandez is an excellent leaper with good ballhandling skills.

Francisco Garcia has excellent size at the shooting guard. He has deep outside range and a soft shooting touch. Garcia has a good basketball I.Q. and his long arms makes him a pesky defender and good shotblocker. He has the ability to play the small forward spot and is a good passer. Garcia needs to add strength and cut down on his turnovers.

Rashad McCants is an excellent outside shooter who helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA title. He takes the ball well to the hoop, but needs to continue to improve his mid-range game. McCants is a good athlete who is a bit undersized at the shooting guard spot. Some scouts have questioned his attitude, but no one questions his talent level.

Antoine Wright is another shooting guard with excellent size at the position. He is a good rebounder who bounced back from a down shooting year as a sophomore. Wright has a good feel for the game and is a strong ballhandler. He averaged 17.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Julius Hodge is a wiry versatile player who does a little bit of everything. He is an excellent rebounder from the shooting guard spot and is a good ballhandler and passer. Hodge needs to improve his outside shot, as all of his shooting numbers fell off this past season. He is a good athlete, but not overly explosive. Hodge averaged 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

TOP FIVE SMALL FORWARDS	HT	WT	CL	SCHOOL/COUNTRY
1. Marvin Williams	6-9	230	FR*	North Carolina
2. Gerald Green	6-7	210	SR*	Gulf Shores Academy (Houston)
3. Hakim Warrick	6-8	218	SR	Syracuse
4. Danny Granger	6-8	235	SR	New Mexico
5. Nemanja Aleksandrov	6-10	210	17	Serbia

Marvin Williams was considered the top high school player who did not enter the 2004 NBA Draft. He had an outstanding freshman season for the Tar Heels coming off the bench for the national champions. Williams already possesses a pro body and is an excellent athlete. He has the ability to play both inside and outside. Williams averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Gerald Green is an athletic player who figures to be the top high schooler selected in the draft. He has been compared to Tracy McGrady. Green has excellent quickness and is an outstanding scorer. He needs to get stronger and not settle for the outside shot. Green averaged 29 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocked shots and five assists per game.

Hakim Warrick is an outstanding athlete who is capable of playing both forward positions. He is an excellent leaper with good quickness. Warrick needs to add bulk and continue to improve his perimeter skills. He averaged 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Danny Granger is a sleeper who is getting plenty of attention from NBA scouts. He is a versatile player who can play both forward positions as well as shooting guard. He is a strong defender who possesses a long wingspan.

Nemanja Aleksandrov is a talented player who is considered by some experts to be the best young player in Europe. He is very skilled, but needs to get stronger and may need another year or two of seasoning before he is ready for the NBA.

TOP FIVE POWER FORWARDS	HT	WT	CL	SCHOOL/COUNTRY
1. Sean May	6-9	266	JR*	North Carolina
2. Chris Taft	6-10	250	SO*	Pittsburgh
3. Fran Vasquez	6-10	230	21	Spain
4 Tiago Splitter	6-10	240	20	Brazil
5. Andray Blatche	6-11	230	SR*	South Kent (CT) Prep

Sean May is a strong low post player who was the top scorer and rebounder in the NCAA Tournament and was named the Most Outstanding Player. He has soft hands and uses his body well to get good position. He is a bit undersized, but his strong postseason has raised his draft stock. May averaged 17.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Chris Taft has excellent size and athleticism for the power forward position. However, he has been plagued by inconsistency throughout his career. Taft has the potential to be a standout, but need to live up to his abilities. averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Fran Vasquez is considered the most NBA ready of the European prospects. He is a very good athlete who is effective around the hoop. Vasquez has a solid mid-range game and is a good offensive rebounder.

Tiago Splitter is an intriguing foreign prospect who put his name into the 2004 NBA Draft. He is a well-rounded player who is a good shotblocker and rebounder. Splitter has shown improvement on the offensive end and has made strides in his overall game.

Shelden Williams is an outstanding shotblocker and rebounder, who finished third in the country in blocked shots and sixth in rebounding. He has made great strides with his foot work, but needs to continue to improve his shooting range. Williams is a strong physical low post player. He averaged 15.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game.

TOP FIVE CENTERS	HT	WT	CL	SCHOOL/COUNTRY
1. Andrew Bogut	7-0	245	SO*	Utah
2. Martynas Adndriuskevicius	7-3	240	18	Lithuania
3. Johan Petro	7-1	250	19	France
4. Channing Frye	6-11	250	SR	Arizona
5. Deji Akindele	7-0	240	SO*	Chicago State

Andrew Bogut was the consensus College Player of the Year. He has the ability to play inside and outside. Bogut is an excellent passer and has good basketball IQ. He has plenty of international experience having played for the Australian junior team that won the World Championships and a stint on the Olympic team. He is not overly athletic, but is the likely top pick.

Martynas Adndriuskevicius put his name into the 2004 NBA Draft, but could not get a top five guarantee, so he decided to pull his name out. He is an excellent passer with good hands. Adndriuskevicius has been under the tutelage of former NBA center Arvydas Sabonis, an outstanding passer. He needs to get more experience and gain strength, but has a big upside.

Johan Petro is an athletic center with good strength. He is still developing and needs to play harder at times. Petro has a pro body and is a good rebounder.

Channing Frye is a skilled inside player who showed improvement throughout his career at Arizona. He has the ability to play power forward as well as center. Frye needs to get stronger and improve his rebounding numbers. He averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game

Deji Akindele is a sleeper who has only played basketball for three years. The former Nigerian soccer player has excellent footwork and good athleticism. He is a very good shotblocker who has shown improvement on the offensive end. Akindele needs to avoid foul trouble and continue to gain strength. He needs to continue to improve as a free throw shooter and add to his offensive arsenal. Akindele averaged 12.0, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.