There have been many players in the NBA that have come from small unknown programs. Some of them became big stars, some were solid contributers, and there were others who couldn’t make it in the NBA, and tried their luck in other leagues. For me personally a lot of times I like rooting for the underdog and watch them try and beat the odds. In this article I will give you 10 players that I think have legit shots to be drafted or get tryouts with NBA teams within the next few years. These 10 players I feel have the best shot to get drafted out of small schools.
Part two is located here.
1. Reggie Williams: Will be a senior at VMI. He is 6’5, 195 pounds and averaged 28.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.4 assist a game. Reggies offense is what stands out most about him. He can score in a variety of ways, in the post, from the perimeter, or putting the ball on the floor. He has a quick first step, solid athletically, and has nice leaping abilities. Reggie is a solid ball handler and has nice passing skills with good court vision. He likes to shoot threes 7 a game, but is an average three point shooter at best. His defensive skills are improving, and overall he is a very good basketball player. I think he has Derek Anderson potential.
2. Courtney Lee: Will be a senior at Western Kentucky. He is 6’5 190 pounds and averaged 17.3 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He may got to a small school, but he plays with big confidence and can play with the best competition. Last week he went up against LeBron James at LeBrons skills academy, and he did well. Courtney has an explosive first step and likes to use it driving to the rim. He has a nice quick pull up jumper and a very consistent three point shot. Courtney is very athletic and a solid defender. His ball-handling skills could use some more work. Courtney could be a nice role player with his solid all around game. He has Bob Sura potential.
3. Jason Thompson: Will be a senior at Rider University. He is 6’11, 250 pounds and averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. Jason is a pure double-double guy. He is a good scorer in the paint and from the perimeter. He is a good rebounder and shot blocker. He is capable of getting to the free throw line 10-12 times a game. He has a habit of committing fouls 3 or more a game. He also turns the ball over 3 times a game. Overall he has skills on both sides of the ball and he could be a steal for a team in the second round. Jason reminds me of David West.
4. Eric Maynor: Will be a junior at VCU. He is 6’2, 165 pounds and averaged 13.5 points and 4.7 assist a game. Eric is a take charge player, he does whatever is needed to be done on the court. He is a good floor leader, a good passer and ball handler. He is a good scorer that likes to drive to the basket. He plays good pressure defense. Eric knows how to draw fouls, and can be clutch player. He has quickness and good body control. He had a 3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio his sophomore year. He sort of reminds me of Jameer Nelson.
5. James Davis: Will be a senior at Lamar University. He is 7’0, 335 pounds and averaged 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assist a game. Although he is overweight, his lower body is close to physically being in shape where it should be. In the first half of games he runs the court well, but in the second half he slows down. He has some nice moves in the post and he has a lot of qualities you look for in an NBA center. He has nice footwork, he uses quickness and power to get shots off. James is good at drawing fouls and he is a good free throw shooter. He is a solid passer, but can be turnover prone when the ball is in his hands for too long. He picks up too many fouls and his defensive skills still need improvement. James has the potential to be a contributing NBA center, but he has to control his weight and stay consistent. As of right now he reminds me of Rafael Araujo.
6. Issac Wells: Will be a senior at Arkansas State. He is 6’8, 225 pounds and averaged 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. Issac has become a a very good offensive player and a real good shooter. He has an NBA ready body. He is a good rebounder and a decent defender. His three point and free throw shooting could still use some work. He looks like a bigger version of Martell Webster.
7. Robert McKiver: Will be a Junior at University of Houston. He is 6’3, 193 pounds and averaged 19.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assist a game. He is the Godson of former NBA player Vin Baker. Robert is a very good scorer, he is a solid perimeter shooter, and a good free throw shooter. He is a decent passer and ball handler, but is a shoot first PG. He sometimes likes to dribble too much. His defensive skills and three point shooting need improvement. He may end up like a former Houston Cougar PG Damon Jones and do a lot of bouncing around on teams throughout his pro career. He has a lot of similarities to Smush Parker.
8. Bo McCalebb: Will be a 5th year senior at University of New Orleans. He is 6’0, 180 pounds and averaged 25.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assist, and 2 steals a game. He is a very good all around player. He is a scoring machine and he loves to go after rebounds and steals. He is a pretty good shooter from many spots on the court. In high school he had a 76 point game. If he makes it in the NBA he could become like Maurice Williams.
9. Kyle Hines: Will be a senior at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is 6’6, 230 pounds and averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds a game. Kyle is a good scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. He likes to play near the basket and is a double double threat. Kyle is a very good defender and a very good basketball player overall. He plays more like a PF than an SF. He has All-Amercian potential. At best he could be a better offensive Ruben Patterson type player, and at worst Rodney White.
10. A.J. Graves: Will be a Senior at Butler University. He is 6’1, 155 pounds and averaged 16.9 points, 2.4 assist, and 1.5 steals a game. A.J. is a good shooter and solid defender. He plays very consistent and doesn’t miss many games. He is a great free throw shooter and a very smart player. He has All-American potential. He is a good lead by example player. An issue for him will be his size, will he beable to produce against stronger and more athletic NBA guards? He has alot of similarities to Jannero Pargo.
Tomorrows article I’ll have part two, of 10 more players that have a chance to be NBA prospects coming out of small schools.
