Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 27, 2007
True college centers in the NBA Draft are a precious commodity. None come more highly-touted than Ohio State's Greg Oden, considered the likely No. 1 pick since before he finished high school. There's also Washington's Spencer Hawes, another one-and-done collegian. Beyond them, the depth at the position drops off, but several players could go in the first round.
From: Ohio State | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 257 | Born: 1/22/88 Key Stats - PPG: 15.7 | RPG: 9.6 | BPG: 3.3 | PER: 31.6
Oden's freshman season was limited by summer wrist surgery, but still he managed to earn AP First Team All-American hnors, win the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and Pete Newell Big Man of the Year honors and lead Ohio State to the National Championship game, where the Buckeyes fell to Florida. Oden will be an elite NBA defender from day one and, while his offense may take more time to develop, he has all the skills to become a terrific scorer as well. Oden is being compared to the all-time greats at the center position, and rightfully so. If Portland does not take Oden first overall, he will join the Sonics.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 1 | NBADraft.net: 1 | Chad Ford: 1
SPENCER HAWES
From: Washington | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 244 | Born: 4/28/88 Key Stats - PPG: 14.9 | RPG: 6.4 | BPG: 1.7 | PER: 22.0
The biggest recruit in UW history, Hawes had an up-and-down single season on Montlake. His final numbers were solid, but Hawes slumped in the middle of the season - in part due to an illness - and UW struggled at the same time, keeping them from extending their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. Hawes has enviable offensive skills, including great touch that extends to the perimeter and terrific innate passing ability. However, he needs to add strength to improve as a paint defender and on the glass, which is currently a weakness. The combination of Hawes' talent and the lack of depth at the center position makes him a very likely lottery pick.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 7 | NBADraft.net: 12 | Chad Ford: 12
JASON SMITH
From: Colorado State | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 233 | Born: 3/2/86 Key Stats - PPG: 16.8 | RPG: 10.1 | BPG: 1.6 | PER: 26.9
Colorado State hasn't exactly been a hotbed of NBA talent in recent years. The only CSU player in the league in the past decade has been journeyman guard Milt Palacio. In Smith, however, Colorado State has produced a legit first-round prospect. A skilled 7-footer, Smith has good touch from range. He hit 57.9% from the field in his third and final NCAA season and shot 77.0% from the free-throw line. Smith is a good rebounder (his 10.1 rebounds per game led the Mountain West), but could use to add strength and polish to his game.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 18 | NBADraft.net: 17 | Chad Ford: 19
SEAN WILLIAMS
From: Boston College | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 230 | Born: 9/13/86 Key Stats - PPG: 12.1 | RPG: 6.9 | BPG: 5.0 | PER: 24.6
There's little question about Williams' talent, but non-basketball issues make him something of a wild card in this Draft. Williams was dismissed from his Boston College team midway through last season (his junior year) before entering the Draft. After playing sparingly in his first two juniors, Williams had a brilliant 15-game run before that happened, averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game and recording a triple-double. Williams is one of the best shot-blockers available and a capable offensive player, though rebounding is a weakness. He could go almost anywhere in the second half of the first round.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 17 | NBADraft.net: 30 | Chad Ford: 20
MARC GASOL
From: Spain | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 265 | Born: 1/29/85 Key Stats - PPG: 10.8 | RPG: 5.6 | BPG: 0.9 | PER: -
The brother of All-Star Pau of the Grizzlies, this Gasol does not own the kind of elite combination of size, skills and athleticism that has made his brother so effective in the NBA. Still, Gasol is expected to go in the early second round. Gasol played limited minutes for F.C. Barcelona for three seasons before moving last year to Akasvayua Girona, also in the Spanish ACB, and more than doubling his scoring average. Gasol isn't a particularly graceful athlete, but he's consistently made a high percentage of his shots in the paint.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 46 | NBADraft.net: 28 | Chad Ford: 36
KYRYLO FESENKO
From: Ukraine | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 270 | Born: 12/24/86 Key Stats - PPG: 6.7 | RPG: 6.2 | BPG: 1.6 | PER: -
Only 20, Fesenko is probably still has some developing to do - presumably in Europe - before contributing to an NBA team. Still, his skills have drawn serious NBA interest. At 7-1, 270, he has legit NBA size, and the ability to block shots or score in the paint. Fesenko has been a contributor for his Cherkasi Mavpi squad in his native Ukraine - not a high level of competition, but a professional league nonetheless. Look for him to go in the upper half of the second round.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 42 | NBADraft.net: 39 | Chad Ford: 29
AARON GRAY
From: Pittsburgh | Height: 7-2 | Weight: 271 | Born: 12/7/84 Key Stats - PPG: 13.9 | RPG: 9.5 | BPG: 1.7 | PER: 28.6
A classic NCAA big man, Gray played sparingly his first two season before breaking out as a junior following the departure of Chris Taft. Gray was an All-Big East First Team pick as both a junior and a senior and a Third Team AP All-American last year. At the NBA level, however, Gray may struggle due to his lack of footspeed and quickness. That limits Gray's upside, but he can be serviceable off the bench. Once considered a possible lottery pick, Gray is now much more likely to go in the second round.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 43 | NBADraft.net: 38 | Chad Ford: 38
STANKO BARAC
From: Bosnia | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 235 | Born: 8/8/86 Key Stats - PPG: 13.0 | RPG: 7.1 | BPG: 1.8 | PER: -
Like Fesenko, Barac is a 20-year-old who has shown development while playing professionally in his homeland. Barac improved his scoring average from 4.0 ppg to 13.0 ppg last year in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Scouts like his offensive game, which includes the ability to shoot the international three-pointer. He can also block a shot, but the rest of his game is not as strong and athleticism limits him.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 51 | NBADraft.net: 41 | Chad Ford: 53
KYLE VISSER
From: Wake Forest | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 244 | Born: 10/19/85 Key Stats - PPG: 17.0 | RPG: 7.4 | BPG: 1.4 | PER: 25.9
A spot starter at best during his first three years for the Demon Deacons, Visser came almost out of nowhere to post a monster senior year, leading Wake Forest in scoring, rebounding and blocks. Visser's size worked to his advantage at the NCAA level, but he needed to improve his skills to take advantage of that size. He's become effective with his back to the basket, shooting 58.4% from the field. The experts are divided on where in the second round Visser will be selected.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 47 | NBADraft.net: 35 | Chad Ford: 57
DARRYL WATKINS
From: Syracuse | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 241 | Born: 11/8/84 Key Stats - PPG: 8.1 | RPG: 7.5 | BPG: 3.4 | PER: 19.1
Watkins succeeded at the NCAA level thanks to his shot-blocking ability. He ranked seventh in the NCAA with 3.4 blocks per game as a senior, and completed his Syracuse career fifth on the Orangemen's career blocked shots list with 263. Even as a starter playing regular minutes, Watkins averaged only 8.1 points per game, so he's unlikely to ever contribute much as a scorer at the NCAA level. The important thing is that he have the ability to help an NBA team on the glass as well as with his presence in the paint.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 59 | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 70
OTHER CENTER PROSPECTS
Mohamed Abukar, San Diego State - Florida transfer was Second Team All-Mountain West as junior and senior. Ralfi Silva Ansaloni, Brazil - Raw youngster has been working out with Seattle native and long-time NBA center James Edwards. James Hughes, Northern Illinois - MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2005-06. Chris Richard, Florida - Backed up likely lotto picks Al Horford and Jokaim Noah; shot 69.0% as a senior.
