By Josh Cohen
Six NBA Draft prospects, including Syracuse's Andy Rautins, Xavier's Jordan Crawford, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez, New Mexico's Darington Hobson, Washington's Quincy Pondexter and West Virginia's Devin Ebanks, worked out in front of the Orlando Magic on Monday. Here is a breakdown of each of the prospects:
Height: 6-5
Position: SG
College: Syracuse
Strengths:
1) Lethal jump shot from long distance
2) Superior at coming off screens and attempting efficient shots
3) Excellent basketball IQ
4) Solid passer into the post
Weaknesses:
1) Lacks athleticism and quickness
2) Needs to improve his strength to compete against more physically powerful shooting guards
Height: 6-4
Position: SG
College: Xavier
Strengths:
1) Marquee name after dunking over LeBron James in a scrimmage
2) Extremely athletic and can drive past nearly any defender and finish with authority
3) Possesses enough offensive skill to create shots for himself
4) Relentless and persistent in his offensive attack, especially in the mid-range
Weaknesses:
1) Can be very erratic and untamed at times
2) Doesn’t always have a defense-first mentality
3) Doesn’t necessarily play away from the ball well and relies on creating offense for himself
Height: 6-6
Position: SG/PG
College: Maryland
Strengths:
1) Awesome size for a guard and can play the point or shooting guard positions
2) Plays with outstanding passion and confidence
3) First-rate distributor and generally makes good decisions
4) Never seems afraid to attempt a pivotal shot late in a close game
Weaknesses:
1) Not an explosive player; doesn’t possess the speed to burst past defenders
2) Needs to improve his scoring efficiency around the basket
3) Lacks lateral quickness; one-on-one defense may be hindered
Height: 6-6
Position: SF
College: New Mexico
Strengths:
1) A stat-sheet stuffer who can provide a little bit of everything; scoring, rebounding, assists, steals
2) Very tenacious and plays with consistent energy and emotion
3) Better than average passer who sees the floor well
Weaknesses:
1) Very inconsistent scorer who doesn’t possess a “go-to move”
2) Tends to take ill-advised shots, especially when he is not in rhythm
3) Tries to do too much with the ball, resulting in excessive turnovers
Height: 6-7
Position: SF
College: Washington
Strengths:
1) Extremely poised and often makes the “right” decisions on the court
2) Possesses enough athleticism to create opportunities for himself
3) Excellent in transition and flourishes on fast breaks
4) Solid rebounder who finds a way to track the ball down off a miss
Weaknesses:
1) Needs to improve his outside shooting
2) Deficient in his ball handling and tends to get “stuck” when defenses collapse
3) Not a top defender because of his relatively slow lateral movement
Height: 6-8
Position: SF
College: West Virginia
Strengths:
1) Tremendous wingspan with an innate ability to rebound
2) Excellent in transition where he appears most comfortable
3) Extremely tenacious defensive player where he seems to enjoy shutting opponents down
Weaknesses:
1) Doesn’t have a polished offensive game; not a threat to score at will
2) Shows an inferiority on offense as he often passes without any consideration to shoot
3) Needs to add muscle to his upper body in order finishing at the basket and drawing fouls
