Prospect Profile: Jrue Holiday

In the days leading up to the NBA Draft, NYKnicks.com will look at the top-rated players potentially available to teams with lottery picks in the 2009 NBA Draft. We offer these profiles for fans to familiarize themselves with some of the biggest names in the draft. A player's inclusion in this series of articles is based purely on his rankings in the scouting services and mainstream media and does not necessarily reflect the Knicks organization's preferences for the June 25 Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

We continue our series with a profile of UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday, a consensus top lottery pick according to major scouting services and numerous publications.

As the 2009 NBA Draft draws closer and closer, perhaps no one's stock has skyrocketed as high as fast as UCLA's Jrue Holliday.

Measuring in at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with a 6-foot-7 wingspan, he has the ideal vital statistics you look for in a point guard. Matched with his tremendous athleticism, high basketball IQ, execution at both ends of the court and an unrivaled passion for the game, some are beginning to view him as the top floor general in the draft.

And it’s easy to see why.

As a young 18-year old, Holiday was forced to play out of position his entire freshman year when Darren Collison unexpectedly returned for another season with the Bruins. Forced to make a decision, Head Coach Ben Howland moved Holiday to shooting guard, convinced his versatility, athleticism and shooting ability made him the more attractive option to play the two.

As a result, Holiday’s numbers weren’t as impressive as they could have been considering potential. He finished his lone collegiate season averaging 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Obviously, Holiday’s talent is undeniable, which is why many are comparing him to Russell Westbrook, last year’s immensely talented young point guard out of UCLA who didn’t produce up to expectations based on the Bruins system. First expected to be a mid-first round pick, once Westbrook performed for NBA executives at the combine and in workouts, he vaulted himself to the top of the draft to be selected fourth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Don’t be shocked to see history repeat itself come June 25 as another young, talented point guard from UCLA is amongst the top picks taken off the board.