2007 Shooting Guard Prospects
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Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 20, 2007
SUPERSONICS.COM is taking a look at the top prospects for the 2007 NBA Draft on a position-by-position basis. Today we turn our attention to the shooting guard position, here Florida guard Corey Brewer leads a group of several players who will likely go in the first round. The shooting guard position is heavy with international prospects.

Also see: Point Guards

COREY BREWER
From: Florida | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 185 | Born: 3/5/86
Key Stats - PPG: 13.2 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 2.9 | PER: 22.0
The Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 NCAA Final Four, Brewer scored double-figures in all six games en route to Florida's second consecutive national title. Brewer's defense is the biggest reason he's considered a certain top-10 pick. A long 6-8, Brewer has the ability to be a shutdown one-on-one defender on the perimeter. On offense, Brewer's challenge will be to develop his range. He was only an average three-point shooter at best at the NCAA level (33.6% from downtown in 2006-07), but is dangerous in transition. Brewer is a money player who is Florida's all-time leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 8 | NBADraft.net: 7 | Chad Ford: 6

NICK YOUNG
From: USC | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 206 | Born: 6/1/85
Key Stats - PPG: 17.5 | RPG: 4.6 | APG: 1.4 | PER: 20.0
Young was, along with Gabe Pruitt (also a likely first-round pick), part of the recruiting class that turned around USC under Coach Tim Floyd. A starter as a freshman, Young emerged as a First Team All-Pac-10 selection as a sophomore and again during 2006-07, his third and final season with the Trojans. At 17.5 points per game, Young ranked second in the Pac-10. Young's best attribute is his midrange game and ability to score off the dribble, but he added three-point range last year, shooting 44.0% from downtown. To play shooting guard in the NBA, Young will have to work on his ballhandling.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 13 | NBADraft.net: 15 | Chad Ford: 13

RUDY FERNANDEZ
From: Spain | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 172 | Born: 4/4/85
Key Stats - PPG: 16.8 | RPG: 3.8 | APG: 1.7
Fernandez is a rarity amongst European prospects in that he is entering the draft as a relatively polished product. Fernandez pulled out of the last two drafts and is now automatically eligible at age 22. Fernandez averaged 16.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in Euroleague play, including 27 points against Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is a well-rounded player who has improved his shooting and has no glaring weaknesses. The biggest downside with Fernandez is a buyout that may keep him in Spain for another season, but he's still a likely first-round pick.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 21 | NBADraft.net: 18 | Chad Ford: 24

DAEQUAN COOK
From: Ohio State | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 203 | Born: 4/28/87
Key Stats - PPG: 9.8 | RPG: 4.3 | APG: 1.0 | PER: 20.5
Cook was the third heralded member of the recruiting class that brought lottery picks Mike Conley and Greg Oden to Columbus. A McDonald's All-American, Cook came off the bench behind veterans Jamar Butler and Ron Lewis and averaged 9.8 points per game. Cook did not dazzle during the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp, but stayed in anyway as a likely late first-round pick. Cook projects as similar to New York guard Quentin Richardson; he's a very good rebounder for a guard (8.7 rebounds per 40 minutes, tops amongst NCAA guard prospects) with the ability to shoot from downtown (41.5% on threes). However, he's unlikely to be an instant contributor.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 24 | NBADraft.net: 21 | Chad Ford: 27

MORRIS ALMOND
From: Rice | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 215 | Born: 2/2/85
Key Stats - PPG: 26.4 | RPG: 6.6 | APG: 1.2 | PER: 30.9
Almond was virtually unparalleled as a scorer at the NCAA level, averaging a Conference USA-record 26.4 points per game as a senior. Almond did it with solid shooting efficiency, hitting 48.3% from the field and 45.6% from the free-throw line. His True Shooting Percentage of 63.0% was very good. However, at 6-6 Almond had a size advantage that won't necessarily translate at the NBA level. Still, Almond figures to be able to offer scoring in a reserve role and is a solid rebounder.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 22 | NBADraft.net: 33 | Chad Ford: 22

MARCO BELINELLI
From: Italy | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 200 | Born: 3/25/86
Key Stats - PPG: 12.9 | RPG: 1.9 | APG: 1.3
Belinelli has a chance to join Andrea Bargnani as the only Italians ever taken in the first round of the Draft. Another player with Euroleague experience, Belinelli averaged 12.9 points for Fortitudo Bologna in 2006-07. Belinelli has been an inconsistent three-point shooter throughout his career, but has the potential to become a sharpshooter. He's unlikely to contribute much at the other end of the floor or on the glass, however, so Belinelli needs to shoot the ball to stay on the court.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 25 | NBADraft.net: 24 | Chad Ford: 23

ARRON AFFLALO
From: UCLA | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 210 | Born: 10/15/85
Key Stats - PPG: 16.9 | RPG: 2.8 | APG: 1.9 | PER: 19.8
The leading scorer for UCLA the last two years as the Bruins advanced to the Final Four both years, Afflalo stepped out of the shadow of backcourt-mate Darren Collison as a junior and won Pac-10 Player of the Year honors before entering the draft. Afflalo is a polished scorer with range to the three-point line, hitting 87 threes at a 37.5% clip last season. He also served as the Bruins' defensive stopper and has a great wingspan that makes him valuable at that end of the floor. Afflalo is likely to go early in the second round and could step into a rotation right away.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 38 | NBADraft.net: 26 | Chad Ford: 33

ZABIAN DOWDELL
From: Virginia Tech | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200 | Born: 9/10/84
Key Stats - PPG: 17.4 | RPG: 3.6 | APG: 3.1 | PER: 24.2
A combo guard who is often listed as a point guard, Dowdell became the first Virginia Tech player to earn All-Acc First Team honors in 2006-07 and was also an AP Honorable Mention All-American. Dowdell is a versatile player who stands out defensively, earning All-Defensive Team honors in the ACC each of his last seasons at Tech. He's also earned high marks for his character, including donating $5,000 to the fund for families of the victims in the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech this April. Dowdell has been linked to San Antonio late in the first round, but is more likely to go early in round number two.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 39 | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 35

RUSSELL CARTER
From: Notre Dame | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 221 | Born: 3/30/85
Key Stats - PPG: 17.1 | RPG: 4.9 | APG: 1.8 | PER: 22.4
A lightly-used reserve his first two seasons at Notre Dame, Carter broke into the starting lineup as a junior and became a star during his senior season, averaging 17.1 points per game and earning First Team All-Big East honors. Carter played well in the Portsmouth Invitational, but was not as impressive at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp. On offense, he'll be more shooter (40.6% from three-point range in his Notre Dame career) at the NBA level, but projects as a capable defender as well.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 49 | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 63

D.J. STRAWBERRY
From: Maryland | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 199 | Born: 6/15/85
Key Stats - PPG: 14.9 | RPG: 4.4 | APG: 3.5 | PER: 21.4
The son of former baseball star Darryl, Strawberry initially got attention for his name but backed it up with his performance on the floor. At Maryland, Strawberry established himself as an excellent defensive player who was capable of guarding any of the wing positions. He grew into his offense and averaged 14.9 points and 3.5 assists as a senior. At 6-5, Strawberry's height will limit him defensively to some extent in the NBA, and his outside shooting is also a work in progress. However, his athleticism gives him a shot to be a valuable NBA defender.
Draft Positioning - Draft Express: 60 | NBADraft.net: - | Chad Ford: 53

OTHER SHOOTING GUARD PROSPECTS
JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State - Third in OSU history in threes; natural two who is small for the position at 6-3.
Trey Johnson, Jackson State - 2006-07 SWAC Player of the Year averaged 27.1 ppg to rank second in the NCAA.
Brad Newley, Australia - Second Team All-NBL pick ranked fifth in Aussie pro league in scoring at age 22.
Renaldas Seibutis, Lithuania - Averaged 13.5 points per game with Olympiakos in Greek A-1 League.
Marko Tomas, Croatia - Former Mickaël Gelabale teammate for Real Madrid has long been on NBA's radar.