A look at future NBA prospects

06.14.2007 - Updated on 06.14.2007

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Now maybe I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself here, after all we haven’t even had the 2007 NBA draft yet, but I’m already looking towards the future at some future college players. Then again most hoops fans that follow the game closely had an early radar on Kobe Bryant, Eddy Curry, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Gerald Green, Kevin Durant, Greg Oden and many others well before they came. A scout friend and I were looking at game tapes of future prospects, and I have seen some of thes players in person and loved the way they played, so I figured what the heck I’ll get a head start sharing some info with my readers. So here is a look at the next two incoming college classes, I’ll give you 10 players from each one in the order that I like them and share a brief report.

2007-08

1. O.J. Mayo is 6’4, 190 pound, PG, and has committed to USC. He is very skilled on the perimeter, has great range on his shot, and is a good finisher. He controls the tempo real well, and sets up teammates well. He is very poised with a high basketball IQ, and is big time play maker.

2. Eric Gordon is 6’3, 185 pound, PG, and committed to Indiana. He is a good athlete and has a high basketball IQ. He works hard and loves the game with a passion. He is capable of being a big time scorer, with a great outside shot. He likes shooting off the dribble on the perimeter.

3. Kevin Love is 6’9, 260 pound, C, and has committed to UCLA. Will come in with polished skills like Spencer Hawes did. His dad is former NBA player Stan Love. He loves to play inside the paint and bang hard to put up big stats. A very intense player, rebounds and passes well also. He is developing range on his shot, and he may have not reached his peak physically yet.

4. Micheal Beasley is 6’8, 210 pound PF, has committed to Kansas State. He has great inside-outside talent. Puts up big numbers, has great length, and his versatility is awesome. He also is a very confident player.

5. DeAndre Jordan is 6’10, 210 pound C, has committed to Texas A&M. His stock rose quickly. He has great physical tools, long, athletic and runs the floor well. He can throw down awesome dunks, and will probably bulk up as he gets older.

6. Derrick Rose is 6’2, 180 pound PG, has committed to Memphis. Is most definitely a true PG like Mike Conley Jr, he runs the team at a high level. Has good size and athleticism, he finishes well, is unselfish, and a leader. He has nice range on his jumper and is one of Chi-towns finest.

7. Kyle Singler is 6’8, 200 pound SF, committed to Duke. Has a high basketball IQ, is a great character guy, and is a difference maker on the court. Has good ball-handling skills, nice deep jump shot, has good length and likes the perimeter.

8. Patrick Patterson is 6’8, 234 pound PF, has committed to Kentucky. Well built and is a very strong player. Can knock down the mid-range shot easily. He’s a great leaper, plays well facing the basket, and is a solid rebounder.

9. Bill Walker is 6’6, 200 pound SF, graduated early, so he has already got his first year of college ball in at Kansas State. He’s a massive dunker, has an ok perimeter shot, and is a very physical wing player. He is very athletic, finishes well, and can change the games tempo. He has become a great outside shooter.

10. Kosta Koufos is 7’0, 230 pound PF, has committed to Ohio State. Plays real well facing the basket, also has good skills inside the paint. Has a nice range to his shot, is very competitive and rebounds really well.

2008-09

1. Brandon Jennings is 6’1, 170 pound PG, and has committed to Arizona. Has a great floater, has great quickness and speed, and looks to play in attack mode. He has great court vision and plays really well against older players. He is a very good defender.

2. Jrue Holiday is 6’3, 180 pound PG, that has not made a commitment, but is heavily recruited by top schools. He can score, pass, shoot, and defend well. Has a great character and knows the importance of playing team ball and winning. He has a high basketball IQ, is very competitive, and makes a huge impact on the court.

3. Malcom Lee is 6’4, 165 pound PG, has committed to UCLA. Can get hot hitting the outside shot. Is good in traffic, and runs the floor well. He is a very good scorer and a pretty good athlete. He has nice length with good ball handling skills. He is a play maker with a nice perimeter shot.

4. Greg Monroe is 6’9, 195 pound PF, has not made a committement yet, but is a highly regarded prospect. Although he is slender for his height he is very strong. Has a solid mid range game, crashes the boards well, and has good length. He has alot of upside to his game.

5. William Buford is 6’5, 185 pound SG, has committed to Ohio State. We live in the same city so I have seen him play alot. He puts up big numbers in many categories, is not afraid of contact is always in attack mode. He is versatile and has become a solid rebounder. He has a nice outside and perimeter shot, is capable of being the go to guy, and he is a good leader.

6. Tyreke Evans is 6’4, 185 pound PG, hasn’t made a commitment yet, but is wanted by many top hoops schools. Has a good feel for the game, he is hard working, athletic, and play maker. He is a big time scorer, has a nice three point shot, and has good passing skills. Can play well on the perimeter, and is versatile , he also is a good finisher.

7. Samardo Samuels is 6’8, 240 pound C, committed to Louisville. He is a big time prospect. He is a good scorer in the post that loves to dominate inside. He is very powerful and is an impact player on the court. He finishes well at the basket, and if he keeps developing will be a special talent.

8. Ty Walker is 7’0, 220 pound C, has committed to Wake Forest. He needs to bulk up and get sronger inside. He runs the court well, is a great shot blocker, and is very long and athletic. He plays great defense. He keeps rapidly growing and improving which is a great sign for his potential.

9. Nate Miles is 6’6, 170 pound SG, he had committed to Xavier, but pulled out and now is committed to Connecticut. He also played in my city and I watched him many times. He is a big time scorer, has good range on his shot, and is a playmaker. He has a quick release to his shot, good perimeter player, and good athletic ability. He is improving his decision making skills on and off the court and is maturing. He has a chance to be an elite player with the right guidance.

10. Larry Drew Jr, is 6’0 170 pound PG, committed to North Carolina. He is the son of former NBA player Larry Drew Sr. He plays the PG position real well, he understands the game and is very poised along with his decison making skills. Has a good outside shot, is a decent athlete, with good on the dime passing skills. His size and shooting mechanics is a concern for some.

So there you have it HoopsVibe viewers, 20 players to look out for in the future. If they all play to their abilities you should most definetly hear their names frequently in the future in college, and hopefully some day in the NBA.

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© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. : - Updated on 06.14.2007