ESPN draft expert Chad Ford: "Has great length, athleticism and a crazy motor that runs non stop. More skilled than you think. An excellent passer for a big man. Beats everyone up and down the floor. He's always around the ball and is an excellent shot blocker. Noah has the ability to do a little of everything -- he can score inside, block shots, crash the glass on both ends, handle the ball on the break, make passes that only point guards are supposed to know how to make. In short, he's everywhere ... sort of a 7-foot Kirilenko.
Ford on Hawes: "Skilled big man with advanced low-post moves for a kid his age. Can score with either hand around the basket. Excellent shooter who can play the high post and work the pick and pop. Good passer for a big man. Excellent basketball IQ. As fundamentally sound as any big man in the country."
The Minnesota native averaged 13.3 points, 1.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds a game in his senior season with the Badgers. He was named to both the Big Ten coaches and Big Ten media's All-Big 10 second team.
Neal averaged 25.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game in his senior season with the Towson Tigers.
Towson University's Web site: "Led CAA and was fourth in the nation in scoring with 25.6 points per game... Scored 30+ points 10 times, and posted the fourth-highest single-season total in league history (769). "The leading returning scorer in NCAA Division I with a 26.1 average last year ... Should be a leading candidate for All-CAA honors including Player of the Year ... Picked as the third best shooting guard in the nation by Sporting News’ College Basketball Preview 2006-07 ... Selected Pre-Season First Team All-CAA ... Ranked as the 46th best college player in collegehoops.net CHN Top 100."