Draft Prospect Profiles: Derrick Rose

Playing what is considered to be the most intellectual position and arguably the most demanding on the court, Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose exploded onto the college basketball scene in 2007, leading the Tigers to the NCAA championship game with a remarkable 38-2 record.

According to ESPN, CBS Sportsline, The Sporting News, and virtually every media outlet, Rose is a projected top-two pick, and depending who wins the NBA's May 20 draft lottery, he has a good shot to be the first overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. Should that be the case, he would become the first true point guard selected No. 1 overall since Ervin "Magic" Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Rose averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 boards as a 19-year-old. He also finished the season with a 47.7 field goal percentage and shot 33.7 percent from behind the arc. He netted a career-high 27 points on March 28 in an NCAA Sweet Sixteen game against Michigan State, and twice recorded double-digit assist games, topping off with a career high 12 on Nov. 27 against Austin Peay. His 189 assists surpassed Penny Hardaway as the most by a freshman in Memphis history.

Rose's star shone brightest on the biggest stage, as he led the Tigers to the national-title game by averaging 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists throughout the month-long tournament. Although Memphis fell to Kansas in its final game, Rose stepped up, scoring 18 points while adding six boards and eight assists in a career-high 45 minutes.

A supreme leader with terrific court vision, Rose is a pass-first floor general who has drawn comparisons to a variety of point guards, including Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd. A tremendous athlete with a strong handle, he can also beat defenders off the dribble by getting to the basket or by spotting up for a jumper. While many draft pundits believe he still has to work on his perimeter game, Rose possesses one of the most dangerous offensive skillsets amongst this year's crop of prospects.

The Chicago native is equally strong on the other side of the ball as well. A no-nonsense, tenacious defender, he is an absolute ball-hawk who doesn't take any plays off.

In Rose's lone collegiate season, he averaged 1.2 steals while constantly getting under his opponents' skin with his tireless work ethic. In three consecutive games in the NCAA tournament, he shut down three guards with All-America credentials, in preseason All-Americans Drew Neitzel (six points) and Darren Collison (two points, five turnovers), and First Team All-American D.J. Augustin (4-for-18 from the field, four turnovers).

A Bob Cousy Award Finalist for the top collegiate point guard and a John R.Wooden Award Finalist for college player of the year, Rose garnered numerous honors and awards throughout his brief tenure at Memphis. He was named a third team All-American by the Associated Press, NCAA Tournament South Region MVP, and a member of the NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team. Rose was also named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, and was named to the National All Freshman Team by the Sporting News, Rivals.com and collegeinsider.com.

Overall, Rose is considered a legitimate blue-chip prospect with tremendous upside. His freakish combination of size, quickness, strength and athletic ability figure to help him make an immediate impact on the NBA.