In the days leading up to the 2008 NBA Draft, NYKnicks.com will look at several of the top-rated players potentially available to teams with lottery picks. The Knicks, who hold the No. 6 overall pick, are among the teams with the opportunity to take advantage of a very deep draft class. 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 26 Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

We continue our series with a profile of Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan, a projected first-round pick, according to major scouting services and numerous publications.

Many of the draft pundits have been saying that the 2008 draft features no greater high-risk-high-reward type of player than center DeAndre Jordan.

In terms of experience, Jordan is certainly one of the rawest prospects in this year's draft class -- with many experts speculating he might be two or three years away from contributing on a consistent basis in the NBA. Nevertheless, the consensus is that Jordan possesses a remarkably high ceiling with a tremendous amount of upside.

That's why many scouts aren't talking about what Jordan accomplished at Texas A&M, but rather what he might possibly become at the pro level.

Talk about Jordan always involves his gigantic wingspan, soft hands, explosive leaping ability, and what some scouts deem a tremendous degree of athleticism. Measuring in at 7-foot-0 and 260 pounds, he brings the rare sort of body type that many NBA teams covet. He potentially enjoys the same combination of size and athleticism as Orlando Magic phenom Dwight Howard, a big man who has taken the league by storm and almost single-handedly redefined the position.

The lone way Jordan compares to a stereotypical 7-footer is that he plays mainly around the basket with very little outside game. Usually found in the low block with his back to the hoop, or running the wing on the fast break, he can leave defenders helpless as soon as he takes hold of the ball. Scouting reports say that near the basket, Jordan uses his size to his advantage to finish strong around the rim, and when running the court, he uses his athleticism to blow past opponents.

As a freshman in 2007-08, Jordan averaged 7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 20.1 minutes per game off the bench at Texas A&M. While those numbers aren't exactly eye-catching, some of his others are. Jordan led the Aggies in total blocks (44), rebounding and field goal percentage.

Looking back at Jordan's lone collegiate season, some moments tend to stand out, including a Dec. 31 against Rice. In that game, he scored 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots in just 20 minutes of playing time. The Houston, Texas native also boasts an impressive 61.7 percent shooting percentage from the field and within the first month of the 2007-08 season, he set the Big 12 record for consecutive baskets made by knocking down 17 shots in a row.

Since his is still only 19 years old, Jordan's stock might have been higher had he decided to stay in school a bit longer to hone his skills. Under that scenario, some scouts say Jordan could be a top-five pick next year.

Jordan is something of a gamble in 2008, but he didn't necessarily make a mistake by coming out for this year's draft. His biggest fans like to point out that based on his well-documented talent, the remarkable career of Orlando's Howard, and the success the Los Angeles Lakers have had in developing another project player, Andrew Bynum, Jordan has almost the same appeal now as he would next year.