Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 18, 2007
Over the next week and a half, SUPERSONICS.COM will take a look at the top prospects for the 2007 NBA Draft on a position-by-position basis. That starts at point guard, where Mike Conley will go in the lottery and Acie Law IV could join him, while several other players are likely to go in the first round.
MIKE CONLEY
From: Ohio State | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175 | Born: 10/11/87 Key Stats - PPG: 11.3 | RPG: 3.4 | APG: 6.1 | PER: 23.1
Conley played in the shadow of teammate Greg Oden at Lawrence North High School and most of his freshman season at Ohio State, but Oden's foul-plagued NCAA Tournament gave Conley a chance to step into the spotlight. Conley averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists during the tourney, establishing himself as the top point guard in this class. Conley is not yet an outside shooter, but the NBA's rules limiting perimeter contact will make him even more difficult to keep out of the paint, a la Tony Parker.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 6 | NBADraft.net: 11 | Chad Ford: 8
ACIE LAW IV
From: Texas A&M | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 186 | Born: 6/25/85 Key Stats - PPG: 18.1 | RPG: 3.3 | APG: 5.0 | PER: 23.6
Law burst onto the national stage as a senior, helping Texas A&M to a stellar season that ended in the Sweet 16. Law was the catalyst behind the run, hitting big shots all season long in close games against the best teams in the Big 12. A solidly-built 6-3, Law controls temp from the point and does an excellent job of running the pick-and-roll. He can get to the basket and improved his three-point shooting, hitting 45.8% from downtown last season. Law isn't expected to last much past the lottery, if at all, and may be the point guard most ready to contribute at the NBA level.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 11 | NBADraft.net: 20 | Chad Ford: 15
RODNEY STUCKEY
From: Eastern Washington | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 207 | Born: 4/21/86 Key Stats - PPG: 24.6 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 5.5 | PER: 29.8
The last two years, Cheney, Wash., became Stuckeyville. A Seattle-area native and Kentwood HS product, Stuckey had two dominant seasons at Eastern after becoming academically eligible. With just two years, he ranks fourth on Eastern's career scoring list, averaging 24.4 points per game and getting to the basket time and again. Stuckey is more of a combo guard than a true point, with the size to play either position in the backcourt. His name has been repeatedly linked to the Detroit Pistons, drafting 15th.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 15 | NBADraft.net: 15 | Chad Ford: 16
JAVARIS CRITTENTON
From: Georgia Tech | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 194 | Born: 12/31/87 Key Stats - PPG: 14.4 | RPG: 3.7 | APG: 5.8 | PER: 19.7
Following in the footsteps of a long line of talented point guards at Georgia Tech, Crittenton joined Stephon Marbury in spending one season with the Rambling Wreck before declaring for the draft. The former prep teammate of Orlando's Dwight Howard averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists per game during his lone college season. At 6-5, Crittenton's height is a plus, but he is a true point guard with the ability to score as opposed to a combo guard.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 20 | NBADraft.net: 14 | Chad Ford: 17
GABE PRUITT
From: USC | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 170 | Born: 4/19/86 Key Stats - PPG: 12.5 | RPG: 2.8 | APG: 4.3 | PER: 18.4
Pruitt saw his scoring average dip from 16.9 points per game to 12.5 between his sophomore and junior seasons, but still improved his draft stock. That happened because USC was much improved, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, and because Pruitt showed improved ability to play the point, averaging 4.3 assists per game. Pruitt is a streak shooter, perhaps best exemplified by back-to-back games in the Pac-10 Tournament: 26 points on 7-of-9 shooting against Washington State, followed by six points on 2-of-12 shooting in a loss in the championship game to Oregon. He figures to offer scoring punch off the bench at the NBA level.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 35 | NBADraft.net: 25 | Chad Ford: 21
TAUREAN GREEN
From: Florida | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 173 | Born: 11/28/86 Key Stats - PPG: 13.3 | RPG: 2.4 | APG: 3.7 | PER: 16.9
As the floor general for the back-to-back National Champion Gators, Green was as key as anyone on the team to Florida's success. While three teammates project as lottery picks, however, Green was never considered much of a prospect because of his size. He improved his stock at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp, establishing himself as a potential pick late in the first round or early in the second round.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 29 | NBADraft.net: 40 | Chad Ford: 39
PETTERI KOPONEN
From: Finland (Honka Espoo) | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 194 | Born: 4/13/88 Key Stats - PPG: 12.5 | RPG: 2.4 | APG: 3.7
Koponen is looking to become just the second Finnish player in the history of the NBA (the other, Hanno Mottola, played at the University of Utah). At age 18 (he's since turned 19), Koponen averaged 12.5 points and 3.7 assists as his club, Honka Espoo, won the Finish League title. Koponen shoots the ball well and has good size for the point, though adjusting to the quickness of the NBA could be an issue.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 31 | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 31
RAMON SESSIONS
From: Nevada | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185 | Born: 4/11/86 Key Stats - PPG: 12.3 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 4.7 | PER: 19.7
Sessions opted over the weekend to forego his final season at Nevada in favor of the NBA. A likely second-round pick, Sessions was Second Team All-WAC as a junior. In three years, he moved up to second in Nevada history in assists. A non-scorer as a sophomore - he scored double-figures just one all season - Sessions picked up his scoring as a junior, averaging 12.3 points. He'll need to improve his three-point shooting after hitting just nine triples in his NCAA career.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 44 | NBADraft.net: 29 | Chad Ford: 53
AARON BROOKS
From: Oregon | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160 | Born: 1/14/85 Key Stats - PPG: 17.7 | RPG: 4.3 | APG: 4.3 | PER: 21.3
Following a disappointing junior season, Brooks considered transferring back home to Seattle U or SPU to be closer to his baby daughter. He and Oregon have to feel fortunate that didn't happen, as Brooks stayed put and had a breakout senior season, earning Third Team AP All-American honors and leading the Pac-10 in scoring at 17.7 points per game. Brooks' height is working against him in this draft process, as he's a better scorer than distributor. As the draft positioning numbers show, opinions are strongly divided on where Brooks will be drafted - or whether he will be taken at all.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: - | NBADraft.net: 27 | Chad Ford: 80
JARED JORDAN
From: Marist | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 187 | Born: 10/14/84 Key Stats - PPG: 17.2 | RPG: 5.9 | APG: 8.7 | PER: 22.5
When it comes to distributing the basketball, they don't come much better than Jordan, who led the NCAA in assists each of the last two seasons - becoming the first player to do so since Avery Johnson did it at Southern University nearly two decades ago. Jordan also had a pair of triple-doubles en route to winning MAAC Player of the Year. Jordan acquitted himself well at the Pre-Draft Camp, but will have to show he can keep up with the athletes at the NBA level.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: - | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 45
OTHER POINT GUARD PROSPECTS
Bobby Brown, Cal State Fullerton - All-time leading scorer in history of both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference. Brandon Heath, San Diego State - See above, except for San Diego State and Mountain West Conference; MWC Player of the Year as a junior. Mustafa Shakur, Arizona - Four-year starter averaged 11.9 points and 6.9 assists in 2006-07.
