SBNation.com User Blog: Tyler Lashbrook

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Shabazz Muhammad

Tyler Lashbrook — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:55:42 -0000

Shabazz Muhammad joined the UCLA Bruins with extremely high expectations. He was a projected top-three Draft pick and most analysts considered him and Nerlens Noel to be, by far, the NCAA's two best NBA prospects. But Muhammad mostly underwhelmed scouts as the Bruins finished a disappointing season knocked out in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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It might not have been the type of year that Muhammad thought he would have, but he did do enough in his freshman campaign to still be considered a solid top-10 pick in the 2013 Draft.

Shabazz Muhammad's 2012-13 season:

Season	School	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2012-13	UCLA	32	987	21.9	.528	.487	9.9	8.5	9.2	5.8	1.3	0.4	8.6	29.8
Career	UCLA	32	987	21.9	.528	.487	9.9	8.5	9.2	5.8	1.3	0.4	8.6	29.8

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table

Muhammad's freshman campaign was as bizarre a season as you'll ever see. He was suspended for the first three games for an investigation that had lasted since high school. He and his family had to repay $1,600 in permissible benefits he was deemed to have accepted.

More Draft prospect profiles at OPP: Trey Burke Ben McLemore Nerlens Noel Victor Oladipo Otto Porter

After he served his suspension, people were expecting him to dominate on both sides of the floor. What they got was a guy who looked out of shape and, at times, overmatched. He had also been battling a shoulder strain that he suffered in a practice before the season started. But as the season wore on and Muhammad's conditioning returned, he began to prove himself as an extremely well-rounded scorer.

Muhammad scored 20 or more points 13 times during his season and hit a number of big shots. He proved to have a knack for scoring and was never afraid of the moment. But his draft stock took a hit on March 22nd when the Los Angeles Times released information that Muhammad was actually a year older than what he and his family had been telling people for years.

The bizarre story not only brought Muhammad's credibility into question but also put his draft stock in perspective. Muhammad dominating college basketball at 19 is impressive. But when he does that at age 20, that becomes less telling and is an immediate cause for concern.

Since the Times' big story, it's become apparent how controlling that Ron Holmes, Muhammad's father, has been in the 20-year-old small forward's life. Holmes has spent the last two decades mapping out a blueprint for Muhammad to become an NBA player. He's worked his whole life to make sure that Muhammad worked with the best trainers and enrolled in the best schools. He even picked the name "Shabazz Muhammad" because of its potential worldwide marketability.

Strengths:

Muhammad is the best scorer in college basketball. He just knows how to score. He knows where he wants to be on the floor and he attacks with such a high motor on the offensive end that it's tough for defenses to stop his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame.

Muhammad is a great knock-down shooter whether he's spotting up or running off a series of screens. He isn't great shooting off the dribble but when he gets his feet set, he's deadly. He's so resilient on the offensive end and he constantly puts pressure on opponents' defenses. He's always looking to score and he can do so from nearly everywhere on the floor. If he misses a shot, he's attacking the offensive boards with a vengeance.

He's super strong which helps him finish inside. His 6-foot-11 wingspan and his strength also help him in that regard. He's constantly hunting the offensive boards looking for easy opportunities and he follows his own shot on almost every possession. Muhammad also possesses an advanced post game where he can either bully smaller defenders by attacking, or shoot a turn around fade away jumper.

He gets to the free throw line at an extremely high rate. His 7.3 free throw attempts per 40 minutes is second among all small forwards in this year's draft, according to DraftExpress. This is mostly because Muhammad is so strong that opponents are forced to either foul him at the rim or concede an easy bucket.

Weaknesses:

Muhammad has weaknesses, along with the bizarre age issue, that have dropped him out of the Top 5 on most draft boards.

He isn't much of a creator for himself or his teammates. His 5.8 percent assist rate is alarmingly low. That and his lack of elite ballhandling prevent him from moving down to shooting guard in the NBA. He didn't shoot well off the dribble, though most misses of those were a result of bad shot selection and bad spacing, as opposed to mechanical flaws. Muhammad would take a dribble into the defense and try to force a contested shot rather than dribble away from the help defense and take an easier shot.

Defensively, Muhammad often looked either lost or disinterested. Off the ball, he'd often get caught ball-watching, conceding easy buckets at the rim. On the ball, he lacked the lateral quickness and discipline to be a real difference-maker on that end of the floor.

He's a good athlete but not a great athlete, which hurt him defensively but also hurt him on the offensive end. He didn't explode at the rim like Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore did, instead choosing to bully his way through defenses. He got his shot blocked a little more than one would like as he was never the quickest or most explosive athlete on the floor.

Then of course there's the red flags: the early suspension and the age scandal. There's also a sense around the league that Muhammad is selfish, looking out for himself rather than worrying about the team. But I think his extreme competitiveness can argue against that. I think he mostly didn't trust his teammates and coaching staff at UCLA and thought he had to do things himself in order to win.

Overall:

Muhammad was raised his whole life to be in the NBA. As a collegiate athlete, there can be some speculation as to whether choosing UCLA was the best choice. Coach Ben Howland has earned criticism for under-using and mismanaging his NBA prospects. After the season ended, the Bruins fired Howland. Would Muhammad have been better off going to Kentucky to play under John Calipari? That's a reasonable question.

He has a lot of flaws as a basketball player and the age scandal is one that will haunt his draft stock. But he is a premiere scorer with a desire to be the best. He's going to give you 110 percent on the offensive end of the floor and if you're in need of a scorer, he could be a good fit.

There will be a lot of eyes on Muhammad at his pro workouts. How will he handle the interview process? How will he answer the criticism that he's selfish? How will he look physically? No one will be more scrutinized and dissected through the next few weeks leading up to the draft.

How does he fit in with the Magic?

If Muhammad were able to slide to the shooting guard, then he'd be much higher on Orlando's radar. But as it stands, with him at small forward, it's unlikely to see the Magic trade back to take a chance on him. He's only five months younger than Tobias Harris and I can't really see Rob Hennigan clouding minutes for Harris or Maurice Harkless by selecting Muhammad.

As a fan of basketball, though, I'll be watching Muhammad's rookie season very closely. I've watched him since high school and still believe he has a chance to succeed in the NBA -- just not in Orlando.

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Otto Porter

Tyler Lashbrook — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:25:14 -0000

There's been a lot of buzz here at OPP and other platforms across in the internet about Otto Porter, Georgetown's versatile swingman.

When he arrived at Georgetown he was heralded as a hard-working, smart player with a willingness to defend. In his freshman year he showcased those attributes as a versatile offensive player inside the three-point arc. What he lacked was a consistent three-point shot that would create spacing in the Hoyas' offense that consists of constant movement and off the ball cuts.

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In his sophomore season his three-point shooting dramatically improved and he became much more willing to shoot the ball from behind the arc. That piqued the interest of NBA scouts enough to land Porter top-five on most lottery teams' big boards.

Otto Porter's 2012-13 season:

Season	School	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2011-12	Georgetown	33	980	21.3	.578	.550	8.8	18.3	13.9	10.9	2.4	3.1	12.0	17.4
2012-13	Georgetown	31	1097	27.3	.590	.541	6.7	19.0	13.2	18.5	3.3	3.0	10.0	24.1
Career	Georgetown	64	2077	24.4	.585	.545	7.7	18.7	13.5	14.9	2.9	3.1	10.8	20.9

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table

Porter established himself as Georgetown's leader on November 19th against No. 11 UCLA. Porter scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished five assists, recorded three steals, and blocked five shots. His stat-stuffing performance was highlighted by the two three-pointers he hit. In his next appearance against Indiana, he shot 3-of-4 from downtown, in another stat sheet filling performance. What he showed in those two early games was that he had established a comfortable three-point shot, something that limited him in his freshman season.

His best game of the season came at No. 8 Syracuse on February 23rd. The Hoyas had won their previous eight games and were looking to prove that they were a real contender. They won their ninth straight against Syracuse, 57-46, behind Porter's 33 points and 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range.

Georgetown went on to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament before being upset by Florida Gulf Coast, which took the country by storm on its way to a Sweet 16 birth.

Porter led the Hoyas much further than anyone had expected. Georgetown tied for the best record in the regular season, and Porter was the Player of the Year in the conference. He finished the season shooting 42.2 percent from three, up nearly 20 percent from his freshman campaign.

Strengths:

Porter is a long, wiry forward with a variety of skills on both sides of the ball. His game will adapt quickly to the NBA. He's 6-foot-9 with tremendous length. His 7-foot-1 wingspan gives him distinct advantages both offensively and defensively. He'll need to improve strength, he only weighs 205 pounds, but his big frame and long arms will translate well to the NBA small forward position. If he can gain strength, he could become an NBA stretch four.

Porter's biggest strength--and what has guys around the NBA excited--is his unique, versatile offensive game. No one in this year's draft shot the ball more efficiently from 15-18 feet. Porter is extremely comfortable shooting off spot up situations from mid range. His improved long-range shooting is extremely encouraging.

He works extremely well off the ball and has the ability to score in a variety of ways. Off the ball, Porter can curl off screens or flare for corner threes. He is extremely smart on the offensive end and understands how and when to cut back door for easy buckets. Porter looks like he will fit in a variety NBA offenses, with misdirection plays becoming a staple around the league.

Porter is also comfortable with the ball in his hands. His ball handling isn't the best but he's able to dribble himself into spots on the floor from which he's comfortable shooting. He also uses the dribbling to set up teammates and Porter's ability to pass the ball is unique for his size. Porter's 18.5 percent assist rate is higher than Kevin Durant's in his first five years in the league. NOTE: I'm not comparing the two players, but it's encouraging that Porter has the ability to set teammates up at that kind of rate.

Porter is a willing defender, though he played mostly in zone sets while at Georgetown. He has the length to bother shooters and rebounds the ball on the defensive side of the ball at a nice clip. He has good anticipation and instincts which explain his 1.8 steals per game. He'll need to add strength so that he doesn't get bullied but he seems to understand basic defensive concepts and is willing to play on that end.

Weaknesses:

Porter has two glaring weaknesses that keep him from being a No. 1 pick: strength and athleticism.

He must add strength to play 30-plus minutes in the league. He often struggled to gain position in the low post as he would get bullied and couldn't get to his spots. Defensively, small forwards in the NBA will be able to muscle their way through Porter, though his length should add difficulty for that.

Athletically, Porter looks like he should be elite, but he's not. He's pretty fast in straight-on situations but he lacks the shifty lateral quickness that would take him to the next level. For the most part, Porter plays below the rim. At times it would look like he could finish with a dunk but would finger roll it in.

He's not extremely creative with the ball in his hands. Though he's an excellent passer from anywhere on the floor and has the ability to comfortably bring the ball up in transition, his shots off the dribble usually come out of one or two dribbles. One way of thinking about this is that Porter is just efficient, choosing to pull up off a couple dribbles rather than waste dribbles into another shot. Another way of thinking about that is that he lacks the ballhandling and creativity to be an elite scorer.

Overall:

Porter is an old-school type of player who doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective on offense. He didn't play in a lot of pick-and-pop situations at Georgetown but his overall skill set suggests that he could become extremely good in these types of sets as a stretch power forward if he gains the strength needed to guard and rebound on the other end.

He's the most polished offensive player in the draft with a lot of potential on the defensive end. There will be a multitude of teams willing to take Porter in the top-3 come draft day. The question now: will the Orlando Magic be willing to take Porter at the top of the draft and how would he fit? I'm glad you asked...

How does he fit in with the Magic?

When I wrote about Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, I said that having too much talent is a wonderful problem especially with a promising young GM like Rob Hennigan. The same can be applied here for Porter. The Magic already have two players who are capable of playing the small forward spot in Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris. Selecting Porter could crowd the depth of that position and eat into the minutes of Orlando's two other young forwards. Or:

Harkless would have to learn how to play the shooting guard spot. Porter-as versatile as he is--isn't athletic enough to slide to the 2-spot at the NBA. Harkless' shooting, though improving, would need to drastically improve for the spacing to work in Orlando's offense. In this case, Porter and Harris would play the forward spots.

Even in that situation, the question becomes "what happens to Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis?" and for that I have no answer. Maybe Hennigan deals one, or both, in the off-season. I'm not sure what would happen. Then there's always the possibility that Hennigan keeps everyone and Jacque Vaughn is tasked with rotating minutes enough to develop the young guys.

I think we can all agree that the off-season is a lot of fun, especially with rebuilding teams. It's never ending: the possibilities, the questions, the discussions.

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Victor Oladipo

Tyler Lashbrook — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:14:29 -0000

Victor Oladipo's rise to the top of NBA draft boards is much different than his peers. Oladipo came to Indiana, under coach Tom Creen, with limited expectations. He was ranked the No. 32 shooting guard by Scout.com and pegged as an athletic guard with decent size but limited offensive ability.

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In his freshman year on campus, he matched that description. Oladipo averaged 18 minutes per game as a role player, finding most of his buckets from hustle plays and earning playing time off of sheer effort. He capitalized on his athletic potential in his sophomore season, becoming a defensive stopper with a nonstop motor for Indiana as the Hoosiers turned the program around, finishing 27-9 and losing in the Sweet 16 to the eventual champion Kentucky Wildcats.

In 2012-13 Oladipo began to open eyes of scouts as his offensive game finally began to catch up to his elite athleticism.

Oladipo's 2012-13 season:

Season	School	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2010-11	Indiana	32	576	21.5	.586	.571	10.9	14.9	12.9	10.5	3.6	1.5	17.9	22.5
2011-12	Indiana	36	961	20.5	.546	.488	8.7	15.4	12.3	14.7	3.0	2.3	17.5	23.2
2012-13	Indiana	36	1021	28.9	.671	.648	11.8	13.9	12.9	15.2	4.6	2.8	18.5	22.2
Career	Indiana	104	2558	24.1	.604	.570	10.4	14.7	12.7	13.9	3.8	2.3	18.0	22.7

via Basketball-reference.com

In his first two seasons in Indiana, "YOLOdipo" proved that he had the potential to become a high-energy role player in the NBA. In his junior season he proved to be a consensus top-10 pick. His biggest knock had always been his lack of outside shooting. But this past season, his three-point percentage sky rocketed to 44.1 percent, more than doubling that of his sophomore season.

At the beginning of the season, most scouts would have told you that Oladipo's teammate Cody Zeller was the best player on the team and was a surefire top-10 pick. But throughout the season, Oladipo proved to be the more consistent player and the most important player to a Hooisers team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Oladipo finished the season averaging 2.2 steals per game with a remarkable 67.1 percent True Shooting mark and 64.8 percent effective field-goal percentage.

Strengths:

Without a doubt, Oladipo's biggest strength is his insane athletic ability and he uses it to his advantage in every way imaginable. I mean, just look at this missed dunk. The internet called it the greatest missed dunk of all time. I still remember where I was when it happened, as I'm sure mostly everyone else who saw it live does too.

Oladipo has remarkable jumping ability and combines it with elite speed laterally and vertically. His hands are extremely fast and he seems to never run out of energy. That makes him an incredible on-ball defender, easily the best in this year's draft class. His on-ball defense is really a joy to watch.

He is constantly hounding ball handlers. He has the ability to stay low, move his feet, and keep his hands active, creating havoc against whoever he is guarding. In the pick-and-roll, he's strong and slippery enough to move around screens and fast enough to recover to contest the shot. Off the ball, he's a menace. When he's face-guarding, he uses his elite athleticism to literally shadow his man, disrupting the offense and killing the rhythm of shooters. He also has great instincts and he uses them to jump the passing lanes, stealing the ball and getting easy buckets in transition. At the NBA level, he will be able to defend point guards, shooting guards and smaller small forwards.

Oladipo's defense is great--everyone knows that--but his improvement on offense catapulted his draft stock and is what makes him so much more intriguing to GMs around the league. Oladipo is an excellent cutter, works well around the baseline and finishes efficiently at the rim. He works well without the ball as a slasher to the rim and uses his athleticism to his advantage around the bucket.

As a jump-shooter, his vastly improved outside stroke forces defenses to remain honest with him along the perimeter. He looks much more comfortable shooting than he did in his freshman season, as his shot is much more fluid and he's a lot less hesitant to let it fly. Even his free throw shooting rose, from 61.2 percent on 85 attempts as a freshman to 73.6 percent on 130 attempts in 2012-13.

A portion of his offense comes off of offensive rebounding, where Oladipo's 11.8 percent offensive rebounding rate is impressive and is a testament to his elite athleticism combined with his crazy motor.

Weaknesses:

His offense is improving, but there are still a lot of question marks. His 44.1 percent shooting from three-point range came on fewer than two attempts a game. Some analysts wander if his recent spike in shooting is a fluke or a product of hard work in the off-season. If he regresses back to his first two years at Indiana, will he be able to remain a shooting guard or will he move to small forward where he's a little undersized?

Oladipo also struggled in creating his own offense. His ball handling, though improving, still isn't on the level that it needs to be to become a starting NBA shooting guard and it limits what he can do on offense. His lack of elite dribbling limited him to predictable straight-line drives with his right hand. It also limits his ability to run pick-and-rolls, especially in the NBA where defenses will force him back to his left hand. My theory is that he's so fast that it's taking him longer for his ball handling to catch up.

He also doesn't get to the free throw line at the rate that his elite athleticism would suggest that he could. Right now, he shot just 3.6 free throws a game, a stat that many people in the league would like to see rise as his ball handling improves.

It stands reason to believe that a part of Oladipo's weakness in creating for himself comes with his playing style. He's plays so hard on every possession, choosing to work up a head of steam, lowering his shoulder and attacking the rim with vengeance rather than patiently weighing his options and taking what is available. In that sense, he's a little like a smaller Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with a better outside jumper.

Overall:

As far as comparisons go, some analysts, including ESPN's Chad Ford, say that Oladipo has a little Dwyane Wade in him. I don't really see that comparison, as Wade's range of scoring when he was at Marquette far exceeds Oladipo's. Oladipo reminds me more of Tony Allen. Both are active defensive stoppers who thrive on the offensive glass. However, Oladipo's 44.1 percent shooting from downtown is much better than Allen ever had at Oklahoma State.

Oladipo isn't going to be a star in the league but he has the potential to become one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders. And his continuing progress on the offensive end has to excite whatever team decides to select him. He's a hard-working player with explosive athleticism and a willingness to improve his game.

How does he fit in with the Magic?

Oladipo would fit in with the Orlando Magic the same way that Ben McLemore would: by becoming the Magic's shooting guard of the future. Drafting him would mean that Orlando expects the trio of Moe Harkless, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic to continue to develop offensively enough to cover for Oladipo's early offensive deficiencies.

Realistically, the Magic could trade back to draft Oladipo if they really fell in love with him during workouts. Rob Hennigan has shown a willingness to build around young, hard-working, high character guys and that's exactly what Oladipo is. This would mean that Hennigan and the Orlando front office see their point guard of the future in the 2014 draft. That train of though makes sense, with all of the reports of the Magic coveting Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, who is returning to school for the 2013-14 season.

Kentucky Basketball: Noel, Goodwin both first rounders in mock draft

Tyler Lashbrook — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:29:58 -0000

Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin both chose to forego their sophomore seasons and pursue their dreams of playing in the NBA.

According to Ford, Noel is still the No. 1 overall pick in 84.8 percent of the draft scenarios. He says that "high-ceiling players like Noel hard to come by." And that teams are willing to take a chance on him even with his ACL tear. He has the Orlando Magic, who have a 25 percent chance at winning the top pick, taking Noel in his second mock draft.

This should come as a surprise to no one from the Big Blue Nation who got the chance to watch every game Noel played in a Kentucky uniform. He proved to be a hard working big man who was really the heart and soul of Kentucky's team. The Wildcats struggled to replicate his rim protection and work on the boards in his absence.

Ford has Goodwin pegged as the last pick in the first round to the Phoenix Suns. Goodwin, who is highly athletic, would be a "talent grab" by the Suns, according to Ford. Less is expected of players drafted at the end of the first round so Goodwin would have time to develop, most likely in the D-League.According to Ford, the Suns can "afford to be patient with [Goodwin] and wait to see if he develops."

Goodwin has all the physical tools to become an NBA player but patience is what he's going to need from whatever team that selects him. He'll need to develop his outside jumper and learn to take better shots on offense. According to Ford, his "poor outside shooting contributed to Kentucky's woes this season." But he's super-athletic and will definitely have a chance to develop in the NBA.

Kentucky's presence in the NBA draft isn't as strong as it has been the past few years, but having two first rounders (including the No. 1 overall pick) in what is considered a "down" year is saying something about the program.

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Nerlens Noel

Tyler Lashbrook — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:18:00 -0000

Nerlens Noel's season ended with a tough-to-watch ACL tear against Florida. Gator guard Mike Rosario jumped the passing lane and headed for what should have been a wide-open layup. But Noel, the 6-foot-11 freshman big man, chased him down and blocked the shot. Noel's left knee collapsed underneath him, tearing his ACL. He laid on the ground, surrounded by teammates, yelling in pain.

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Despite the injury, Noel remains at the top of most draft boards. So what does he have to offer as a prospect?

Noel's 2012-13 season:

Season	School	Conf	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2012-13	Kentucky	SEC	24	765	27.3	.583	.590	10.4	22.3	16.8	9.5	3.9	13.2	17.3	17.4
Career	Kentucky		24	765	27.3	.583	.590	10.4	22.3	16.8	9.5	3.9	13.2	17.3	17.4

via Basketball-Reference.com

Noel came to Kentucky a year after Anthony Davis led the Wildcats to a national championship. The comparisons were too easy. Both were long, shot-blocking big men. Both were super-athletic. Both had their own branding: Davis with his patent unibrow, Noel with the flat-top. They have their similarities, but they are very different players. Davis will wow you with his unique combination of athleticism and offensive poise. Noel is more electric athletically and has a motor that doesn't stop running.

He started off his freshman campaign little slow. In his first game, he was outplayed on both ends of the floor by Maryland big man Alex Len. But Noel started to get rolling in the second month of the season. He blocked five or more shots 12 times, including a 12-block performance against No. 16 Ole Miss. On January 12th against Texas A&M, Noel scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked seven shots, dished six assists, and recorded four steals.

Noel missed the last eight SEC games but still finished first in the league--and sixth in the nation--with 106 blocks. In a way, it was fitting for his injury to come on a hustle play in which he ran down a guard to record a block from behind. The young Wildcat team missed his leadership, presence, and defensive prowess as it went on to miss the NCAA tournament and lose to Robert Morris in the NIT in Noel's absence.

Strengths:

Noel is a dominant shot blocker, as highlighted by his 4.4 blocks per game. Noel blocked a two-point shot 13.2 times per 100 possessions.

In his 12-block performance against Ole Miss, Noel, who was playing with four fouls in the final minutes, blocked shot after shot, saving Kentucky's lead and sealing a victory for the Wildcats. Watch his body control. He's able to go straight up without fouling, but he's still coordinated enough to block the shots.

Noel also showed an innate ability to play pick-and-roll defense. He blew up pick-and-rolls with extremely hard hedges, often getting a steal out of the play. His world-class speed allows him to recover to the basket with ease, even if he gets caught out of position. With the right coaching, Noel has the ability to become one of the best pick-and-roll defenders in the NBA.

He averaged a remarkable 2.1 steals per game. He has extremely quick hands and showed the ability to poke balls out from unknowing post guys. His hands are constantly active and his 7-foot-4 wingspan, combined with his raw athleticism, allowed him to play passing lanes like a pesky wing defender. He won't be able to get away with playing defense like this in the NBA, but the possibilities he presents on the defensive side of the ball is endless.

Noel isn't often praised for his rebounding but he showed a natural instinct on the boards. You would think that with how often he attacks the weak-side looking for blocks that he would suffer on the boards, but that's not really the case. He averaged 11.9 rebounds per 40 minutes of action. Noel's super athletic and extremely active all over the floor so if he's not looking to block shots then he's attacking the boards hard. He gets off the floor extremely quick and his second jump is uncanny for a guy his size.

An underrated aspect of his offensive game is his ability with the ball. He looked comfortable enough handling the ball and finishing with either hand at the rim. He wasn't able to showcase it as much--because of the lack of spacing in college basketball--but he looked comfortable at the high post, taking his man off the dribble or passing to open teammates. With the development of any semblance of a mid-range game, Noel could become a player that runs sets from the top of the free-throw line.

Weaknesses:

Noel must gain a substantial amount of strength--particularly lower body strength--if he wants to become a defensive stopper in the NBA. He's listed at 216 pounds right now, about 20 pounds lighter than where he needs to be. He would often get bullied by bigger post players in college. Bigger guys like Len and Mason Plumlee would get low and push Noel under the basket, trapping Noel on their hip and taking away his shot-blocking ability.

On the offensive end, his skill set is limited right now. He's not strong enough to back down deep enough in to the post for easy buckets and his footwork leaves a lot to be desired. Right now, that lack of strength and footwork limits his post game to simple right and left-handed jump twisting jump hooks. His turnover rate is alarming. He turned the ball over 17.3 percent of the time, most of those coming out of the post. Noel doesn't look natural with his back to the basket and sometimes forces plays that aren't there.

As of now, he's shown no ability to shoot from mid-range. His mechanics are awkward and his 52.9 percent free-throw shooting suggests that his touch just isn't there yet. If he wants to develop into a big man with the ability to facilitate from the post, he's going to need to add a mid-range jumper to keep the defense honest. Otherwise, defenses are going to be able to sink off of him, creating spacing issues when he's on the floor.

And then, of course, there's that ACL tear thing that has people worried. One thing I can say to that is that Noel is one of the hardest-working guys I've seen go through Kentucky. He has a non-stop motor, much like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and when he says he's going to have a major comeback, I believe him. He was the heart and soul of the Wildcats, giving 110 percent effort on every possession and becoming a fan favorite from the moment he stepped on campus. If any college kid could recover from an ACL injury with the energy and focus you need to have for a full recovery, it'd be Noel.

Overall:

I think Noel could become much like the player Joakim Noah has become in the NBA. He's not nearly as strong as Noah and he doesn't finish through contact like Noah, but with added strength these are things that could be developed in time. Lucky for Noel, he's only 19 years old. He has plenty of time to add weight. He has plenty of time to develop offensively. He'll most likely never become a dangerous low-post threat, but if he can add a high-post game at the NBA level with his already dominant defense, then he'll be an excellent overall player for years to come.

How does he fit in with the Magic?:

If the Orlando Magic win the No. 1 overall pick and select Noel, he will likely sit the entire season. The Magic will focus on the continuing development of their young core and will (probably) own a top lottery pick next season. 2014 would be Noel's rookie season, as the Magic would allow him to take as long as he needs to fully recover. Noel would face unreal comparisons. His two predecessors--Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard--dominated in their stints in Orlando and fans will expect the same of the freshman out of Kentucky.

Orlando already has an extremely young frontcourt--Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Kyle O'Quinn--how would Noel fit in? That's something we would have to find out in 2014. The young frontcourt depth would be unreal, and seeing how Jacque Vaughn would manage those minutes would be interesting.

Still, my philosophy is that you select the best player available. And if Orlando wins the lottery and chooses to keep the pick, then Noel will be the best available player. If you're the Magic, you worry about your minutes and your roster management later. Too much talent is a wonderful problem to have and Rob Hennigan is a man you can trust with too much talent.

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Ben McLemore

Tyler Lashbrook — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:08:44 -0000

I'm not going to get into the validity of the report or make a claim that the Orlando Magic are willing to trade back for Ben McLemore, but it does make a scouting report of the Kansas guard timely.

More NBA Draft coverage: Orlando Pinstriped Post SB Nation

Ben McLemore's 2012-13 season:

McLemore is your classic late bloomer. He didn't really gain national attention until late in his high school career when he transferred to play ball at Oak Hill Academy, and eventually moved from there to Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas. There he became a five-star recruit and eventually committed to Kansas. McLemore was deemed academically ineligible his freshman year, but earned the right to practice with the team in his 2nd semester.

He began to wow scouts during his 2012-13 campaign with his flawless shooting mechanics and elite athleticism. On January 9th, he scored 33 points on 12 shots from the field against the Iowa State Cyclones. In that game he knocked down a perfect 6-of-6 from three-point range. A month later, against the No. 10 ranked Kansas State Wildcats, McLemore dropped 30 points on 13 shots, going 6-of-10 from three. His best game came against West Virginia on March 2nd, where he scored 36 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the field, collecting seven rebounds, and dishing out four assists.

McLemore was a bit disappointing in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, specifically against North Carolina, where he scored just 2 points and went 0-of-9 from the field. His last game, a loss against Michigan in the Sweet 16, was a nice bounce-back performance, as he dropped 20 and looked much more aggressive finding his shot.

Strengths:

McLemore's jump shot is as pure as you can get at the college level. There's no wasted motion. He jumps straight up-and-down, his elbow is always tucked in and he knocks down shots consistently as a spot up shooter. He has explosive athleticism, unmatched by anyone in the draft not named Victor Oladipo. He's unselfish, a very capable passer and had some nice passes out of the pick-and-roll this year. He doesn't get to the free-throw line as frequently as some would like but he knocks down 87 percent of those attempts. His game--and numbers-- remind me a lot of Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, when Beal was at Florida. McLemore's a little taller than Beal, but Beal is much more comfortable handling the rock.

McLemore:

Season	School	Conf	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2012-13	Kansas	Big 12	37	1191	23.2	.633	.586	5.0	12.3	9.1	12.6	1.8	2.2	14.2	23.2
Career	Kansas		37	1191	23.2	.633	.586	5.0	12.3	9.1	12.6	1.8	2.2	14.2	23.2

Beal:

Season	School	Conf	G	MP	PER	TS%	eFG%	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%
2011-12	Florida	SEC	37	1267	22.0	.575	.525	4.8	18.1	11.6	12.7	2.5	2.6	14.3	23.0
Career	Florida		37	1267	22.0	.575	.525	4.8	18.1	11.6	12.7	2.5	2.6	14.3	23.0

via Basketball-Reference.com

Weaknesses:

Some people have wondered whether McLemore can be a No. 1 option in the NBA. They say that McLemore, at times, looked disinterested in games this season. He also struggled shooting off the dribble and I can't recall one time where he looked comfortable finishing with his left hand. He had the problem of making a good move to the basket, then relying on his right hand which gave the defense a chance to challenge the shot.

He also had his issues on defense: he lacked discipline keeping his man in front of him, his closeouts were often sloppy and he would get caught ball-watching when playing off the ball. But he did show defensive promise, too. When he was locked in, he really caused problems for opponents, utilizing his 6'7 wingspan and elite athleticism.

Overall:

Critics really wanted McLemore to dominate every game, which he didn't. I don't think it's because he was disinterested, more-so because he's an unselfish guard who doesn't look to force things. He played within the system and showed good shot selection which explains why his TrueShooting% was so high (63.3).

What McLemore is going to need in the NBA--much like Beal needed--is a point guard who can create open looks for him. McLemore can space the floor and murder teams in transition. In time, I think he can become an excellent 3-and-D type player that general managers covet.

How does he fit in with the Magic?:

With Nikola Vucevic at center, Tobias Harris at power forward and Moe Harkless at small forward, it's only natural to assume that McLemore would be become the shooting guard of the future, leaving only the point guard spot unoccupied by young talent. Drafting McLemore would mean that Rob Hennigan already sees a point guard of the future--most likely--in the 2014 draft class. There will be a couple point guards in the lottery next year, so that train of thought makes sense.

Jacque Vaughn has showed a willingness to develop his young players, so McLemore would assume responsibilities right away. He'd probably sit behind Arron Afflalo for parts of his rookie year, but I imagine Vaughn would find ways to get both guards on the floor at the same time, much like he did with J.J. Redick this past year. Orlando was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last year and McLemore would be able to help there immediately.

Introducing Tyler Lashbrook, the newest Orlando Pinstriped Post writer

Tyler Lashbrook — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:13:23 -0000

We're pleased to have Tyler on the OPP team. Please welcome him aboard. - Ed.

A little about me:

I'm almost 15 months older than Maurice Harkless and a little over five months older than Tobias Harris -- which is terrifying to me. I'm a college student studying journalism at Western Kentucky University. I've lived in Kentucky my entire life and have been surrounded by basketball my entire life.

I have two passions in life: writing and basketball. I was raised a college hoops fan, but discovered the NBA by the time I was 9 or 10 when I found League Pass on my parents' cable box. Immediately I loved Tracy McGrady and the Orlando Magic. To this day, I still argue that T-Mac should have been MVP in 2002-03. Today I cover the Denver Nuggets for another blogging network and write about Kentucky Wildcat basketball at SB Nation's ASeaOfBlue.com.

You can find me on Twitter at @lashy. I tweet mostly about basketball but you'll find the occasional Action Bronson reference or Game of Thrones quote, too.

What I hope to bring to OPP:

I've been lucky enough to watch a lot of college basketball in my day. One of my favorite things to do is to watch how players transition from college to professional basketball. And I hope to give you guys a glimpse of the talent that's in the college ranks.

I'll be working on a Magic Draft Prospect series over the next few weeks, highlighting potential draftees and how they could fit in Orlando. You may have seen my player profile of Trey Burke that I posted a week or so ago.

When the regular season rolls around, I hope to help Evan out with Magic coverage. I'll still be watching a lot of college basketball and hope to continue looking at how players would fit in Orlando.

That's enough about me, though. I look forward to getting to know everyone in the community and covering the Orlando Magic.

NBA Draft 2013 prospect profile: Trey Burke

Tyler Lashbrook — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:54:58 -0000

Promoted to frontpage. This FanPost was initially published on April 25th at 7:19 PM. - Ed.

With the season coming to an end, it's time for the Orlando Magic front office to reevaluate players from this year's roster and understand how they fit in the big picture moving forward. OPP is taking this period to look at how each player graded out this year and where they fit in with Magic in the future. However, it's time to look at what the 2013 NBA draft has to offer.

There are two ways to rebuild a team:

1.) You can look to reload the roster through free agency and swap players around in the trading season.

or 2.) You can take the approach that Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan is likely to take. And that is building through the draft, hoping to eventually land a superstar player who can turn around a franchise.

This year's draft doesn't appear to have a superstar NBA player who can turn around a franchise in one season. But that doesn't mean that there aren't players worthy of NBA rosters who can, one day, start or serve as potential role players for solid NBA teams.

The Orlando Magic will have the highest chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick in this year's lottery and will pick no lower than No. 4. Fans should be excited that the Magic have the opportunity to rebuild through the draft, especially under the leadership of a guy who has an eye for talent like Hennigan. With that said, it's time for us to look at potential Orlando Magic draft prospects -- starting with Trey Burke:

Trey Burke's 2012-2013 season:

Burke contemplated leaving the University of Michigan last year, but returned once he learned that he was projected as a second rounder -- what a decision that turned out to be. On Dec. 15, Burke dissected the West Virginia Mountaineers with 27 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds, shooting 12-of-16 from the field. A little over two months later, Burke led the Wolverines over Illinois with 26 points on 11 shots -- he also recorded 8 dimes in the victory.

Just over a month after that, Burke put together one of the most remarkable performances in NCAA history against the Kansas Jayhawks. The Wolverines trailed top-seeded Kansas by 14 points with seven points remaining, and five points with 21 seconds left. Burke scored all 23 points in the second half and in overtime, including this improbable 30-foot 3-pointer, leading the Wolverines in one of the craziest tournament games in recent memory.

Burke and the Wolverines lost to top-seeded Louisville in the championship game, but his performance throughout the season and the tournament solidified his 2012-13 Naismith Player of the Year award and catapulted him high across draft boards everywhere.

Strengths:

Burke is a strong, physical guard who has shown an innate ability to knock shots off the dribble. According to DraftExpress, he has a 6-foot-5 wingspan, despite standing just 6-foot. He's a smart basketball player and really seems to have a sense of what's going to happen before it happens. One of my favorite things about Burke is that nearly every major basic and advanced statistic improved from his freshman to sophomore season. His True Shooting % rose from 53.8 to 56.9 percent and his Effective Field Goal % increased from 50.2 to 53 percent. His assists rose from 4.6 to 6.7 while his turnovers dropped from 2.8 to 2.2 per game. In the national championship game, he finished with 24 points on 11 shots against two of the best college perimeter defenders in Peyton Siva and Russ Smith.

Weaknesses:

Burke's defense leaves a lot to be desired. He often struggles guarding the pick-and-roll, often being easily screened and left unable to fight through picks. Michigan, as a whole, wasn't great defensively (ranking 117th in the nation) and Burke played a part in that. Bigger guards never really had a problem attacking him, and in the NBA most guards are going to be bigger than him. He has great body control offensively, but didn't finish at the rim at the rate most GMs probably wish he would have, and lacks the explosiveness to make up for his height when attacking post players. There were plenty of times this year I saw him get to the rim and miss the shot, when I thought he should have finished.

Overall:

Burke is a smart guard who has the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor and create for teammates with a low turnover rate. Isn't that what you want from your starting point guard? His defensive woes are there but Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard aren't good (or even decent) defenders yet either. I imagine that, despite what his critics say, he will find a starting spot in the NBA for years to come.

How does he fit in with the Magic?:

Ironically, Burke reminds me of a young Jameer Nelson -- an undersized, strong, scoring point guard with defensive question marks. Beno Udrih will become an unrestricted free agent and it's unclear whether the Magic will decide to resign him. E'Twaun Moore isn't a point guard and it's unclear, as of now, whether Doron Lamb can learn that role either. Drafting Burke gives him a chance to learn behind Nelson until he's ready to assume the starting role. And what better person to learn behind than a guy who's physically built the same and faced the same concerns coming out of college?

I subscribe to the theory that drafting the best player available is always the right choice, so with that said, I'd select Nerlens Noel with the No. 1 overall selection. But a team with the best odds to win the lottery hasn't actually won the lottery since, ironically, Orlando did in 2004 and selected Dwight Howard. And if Orlando doesn't get as lucky as they did in '04 and is stuck selecting 2-4, then I'd select Burke if he's available. Orlando will, eventually, need a point guard for the future, why not take Burke if you get the chance?

Promoted to frontpage. This FanPost was initially published on April 25th at 7:19 PM. - Ed.

There are two ways to rebuild a team:

1.) You can look to reload the roster through free agency and swap players around in the trading season.

Trey Burke's 2012-2013 season:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Overall:

How does he fit in with the Magic?:

Kentucky Basketball: Nerlens Noel to enter NBA draft

Tyler Lashbrook — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:46:12 -0000

Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel will forgo his sophomore season and enter in this year's NBA draft,

"I have loved my time at Kentucky, but I feel that I'm ready to take the next step to the NBA," Noel said in a statement released this morning. "I've learned so much here at UK and am thankful for Coach (John) Calipari, the staff and my teammates for all of their support. I especially appreciate the Big Blue Nation and all of the support, prayers and well-wishes I've received from them during my rehab and decision-making process. I'll always be a Wildcat!"

Despite tearing his ACL, Noel is still widely viewed as the No. 1 overall prospect by many pundits, including ESPN's Chad Ford and DraftExpress. Whether or not he is selected No. 1 will depend on what team wins the NBA lottery Tuesday, May 21.

The freshman big man averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 2.1 steals per game during his sole campaign as a Kentucky Wildcat.

Whatever team selects him shouldn't feel the urge to rush Noel's recovery time as he just turned 19 five days ago.

John Calipari took to Twitter today to publicly support Noel's professional endeavors.

I support @nerlensnoel3's decision to enter his name in the draft and am excited for him and his future,
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2013

The hard work and will to win he showed on the floor this year and the dedication and attitude he has shown in his rehab ...
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2013

... will only be a reward for him and whatever team drafts him in June.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2013

[Editor's note: Sorry this is so late getting here, but I have been out of pocket all day and Ken also.]

2013 McDonald's All-American Game: What did we learn from the incoming Kentucky freshmen?

Tyler Lashbrook — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:41:02 -0000

The McDonald’s High School All-American game has been an exciting blend of talent for a while but this year’s match up featured one of the best high school classes of the last decade. Scouts have already compared the group to the 2007 high school class that featured NBA players like Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin, Evan Turner, and others.

Just some quick thoughts on the game, unrelated to UK:

Those jerseys have got to go. Not the camo ones – those are slick. The red jerseys are rough on the eyes and it’s incredibly difficult to differentiate players (especially if you’re like me and had to watch the game without sound).
Aaron Gordon! My man, remember, you have to finish in these events. You can’t take back a first impression and that missed dunk was a first impression for thousands of folks out there. EDIT at 9:57: I wrote that first part in the first half. I apologize; that 360 windmill was insane. Do you, kind sir. EDIT at 10:28: That oop he just caught was amazing. I should have never said anything. EDIT at 10:30: Gordon just won the MVP, I apologize for ever laughing at your missed dunk.
The hype around this high school class is real. Granted, the defense was obviously lacking but the overall athleticism and skill sets of these kids is unreal. It’s probably too early to heed to the comparisons of the 2007 class but it sure is fun.
Andrew Wiggins is clearly a notch above everyone else. If he left this year, he’d be the No. 1 overall pick without a doubt.

What did we learn about the guys coming to Kentucky?

The Harrison Twins:

Apparently these twins enjoy playing with each other. Sources say they’ve played together for years and even to the untrained eye it becomes glaringly obvious. The second play of the game when Aaron slipped backdoor for the alley-oop from Andrew felt like something we’ll be seeing a lot next year.

Julius Randle:

Julius Randle is a freak. His combination of size, strength, ball-handling and athleticism is rare and will be a joy to watch next year. That 180 degree alley-oop he caught was the best play of the night and really highlighted his intriguing skill set.

Dakari Johnson:

An exhibition game like this doesn’t suit well for tradition low post scorers but Johnson had a few shining moment’s in Wednesday’s games. He found opportunities to show off footwork and his turnaround hook shot so that was nice. I’m a sucker for skilled low post big men so I especially enjoyed Johnson’s night.

James Young:

Young had a nice outing. He looks silky smooth from the perimeter (his left-handed jump shot only enhances that) and he was one of the few guys out there fighting on defense. He reminds me of a stronger Jeremy Lamb in the sense that he understands how spacing the floor works in basketball.

Marcus Lee:

MARCUS LEE GOT A DUNK IN THE FINAL SECONDS. THAT’S ALL I CAN REMEMBER. But seriously, the guy’s a pogo stick and looks like he could compliment Dakari Johnson well with his knack for weak-side defense. He’ll need to add weight but hey that’s what college weight training is for.

Overall:

If you call yourself a Kentucky basketball fan and you aren’t excited then I highly question your fanship. This team looks, if anything, to be extremely athletic and will be a lot of fun within coach Cal’s dribble drive offense. If Wiggins chooses the Kentucky blue, then you can go ahead and shut down college basketball. It’ll be Kentucky’s championship to lose.

Kentucky Basketball: Looking at different lineups for 2013-14

Tyler Lashbrook — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:24:19 -0000

Let me preface this article by saying this:

I'm going to assume that Nerlens Noel leaves for the NBA. HOWEVER, I'm also assuming that everyone else returns. I don't want to think about scholarship situations and all of that nonsense. I understand there's been "Kyle Wiltjer to Gonzaga" rumors and all that jazz, but that's all useless speculation that I won't address at this point in time.

For John Calipari, the biggest challenge will be distributing 200 minutes out rather than distributing scholarships. With that being said, let's take a look at a possible roster situation.

Point guard: Andrew Harrison (Freshman), Ryan Harrow (Junior), Jarrod Polson (Senior)

Shooting guard: Archie Goodwin (Sophomore), Aaron Harrison (Freshman), Jon Hood (Senior)

Small forward: Alex Poythress (Sophomore), James Young (Freshman)

Power forward: Julius Randle (Freshman), Marcus Lee (Freshman), Kyle Wiltjer (Junior), Derek Willis (Freshman)

Center: Willie Cauley-Stein (Sophomore), Dakari Johnson (Freshman)

Keep in mind that positions in basketball aren't really locked in. For instance, James Young can play the two-guard and Alex Poythress can slide to the power forward position -- I just like to list players at positions to get an idea of where guys are relative to each other. With all of this information in front of us, let's take a look at possible lineups.

The Twins Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison

SG: Aaron Harrison

SF: Alex Poythress

PF: Julius Randle

C: Willie Cauley-Stein

At this point in time, this is what I imagine will be the starting lineup. You've got the twins running the show around the perimeter with Poythress, Randle and WCS in the lane. Spacing could become an issue but if Poythress continues to work on his jump shot, that might not be a problem. In this lineup, you've got Goodwin and Young coming off the bench to boast the perimeter with Lee and Johnson backing up the bigs.

The Fast Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison

SG: Archie Goodwin

SF: James Young

PF: Alex Poythress

C: Julius Randle

If Randle can service himself as a viable rebounder in the middle then this could be an explosive lineup. The athleticism in this lineup is unreal and would be a lot of fun to watch.

The Big Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison (6'5)

SG: James Young (6'6)

SF: Alex Poythress (6'7)/Julius Randle (6'9)

PF: Dakari Johnson (6'10)

C: Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0)

This could be an interesting look that coach Cal could give a shot. Randle is an extremely flexible player with his combination of size, outside touch and ball handling. If he could come down to the small forward spot, then that'd create huge problems (no pun intended) for opposing teams. If not, then Poythress could take that spot as he's 6-foot-7 himself.

The 'Wow we can shoot threes!' Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison

SG: Aaron Harrison

SF: James Young

PF: Kyle Wiltjer

C: Willie Cauley-Stein

Kentucky was 133rd in the nation in 3-point percentage at 34.6% from deep this year. That number should go up drastically next year with the addition of 3-point shooting by the twins and James Young. Throw in Wiltjer to the mix and this lineup becomes deadly from long range. Defense could be an issue with this lineup so I threw WCS to help anchor on that side of the ball.

The Bench Lineup:

PG: Ryan Harrow/Jarrod Polson

SG: Archie Goodwin

SF: James Young

PF: Marcus Lee

C: Dakari Johnson

To this point I haven't even mentioned 5-star recruit Marcus Lee. That's because, for the first time in Calipari's tenure, the Wildcats will have a bench. Lee is a super athletic big who's been compared to former Arizona Wildcat star Derrick Williams. This "bench" lineup would be the starting lineup of 90 percent of teams in America.

The new "Fab 5" Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison

SG: Aaron Harrison

SF: James Young

PF: Marcus Lee

C: Dakari Johnson

This would be some achievement for coach Cal, wouldn't it? I can see him trotting this lineup out after a timeout just to flex his recruiting muscles. And if the guys this year ditch for the NBA? This WILL be his team.

The "WE GOT ANDREW WIGGINS TOO?!?!?!" Lineup:

PG: Andrew Harrison

SG: Aaron Harrison

SF: Andrew Wiggins (!!!!!)

PF: Julius Randle

C: Willie Cauley-Stein

I'm not sure how this happens, scholarship wise, but if it did... watch out. Wiggins' name has been thrown around with the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant when it comes to high school prospects. In February, Sports Illustrated came out with an article examining Wiggins, pointing out his limitless potential yet questioning his motor. How'd Wiggins respond? With a 57 point game on 24-of-28(!!!) shooting. He's the real deal.

___________________________________________________________________

As you can see, Calipari will have something he hasn't had before at Kentucky -- flexibility. The number of lineups and bench depth is endless with next year's squad. It'll be fun to see how he utilizes guys and which lineups he'll throw out for certain situations.

Kentucky fans have a reason to be excited for next year. Some people have been saying that last year's group was highly praised too and to not count your chickens before they hatch. But what last year's recruiting class lacked was depth. This year's group has an entire 5-star starting lineup with one 5-star addition to 4 others on the bench. Throw in Kentucky high school 3-star Derek Willis with guys possibly returning from last year's team and you've got a fantastic roster -- ten 5-stars, two 4-stars and one 3-star on scholarship.

Besides, after this year's disappointment, can you blame Kentucky fans for looking ahead?

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @lashy.

Kentucky Wildcats In The NBA: John Wall scores a career-high 47 points

Tyler Lashbrook — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:45:37 -0000

John Wall. His name resonates with Kentucky Wildcat fans as much as any other player to ever put on a blue and white jersey. His high school basketball mixtape is perhaps one of the greatest ever on YouTube.

And what'd he do at UK?

Hit a game winner against Miami University in his first collegiate appearance.
Set the UK record for most assists in a game with 16.
Set the UK record for most assists in a season with 241.
Scored the most points in a season by a UK freshman.
Was the first Wildcat ever to be drafter number one overall.
Earned SEC Tournament MVP.
Named to the First Team All-America Team by the U.S Basketball Writers Association.

So yeah, he was a big deal at Kentucky. But injuries have plagued his young career in the NBA. Wall suffered a series of foot and knee injuries during his rookie campaign that limited him to 69 of 82 games. Last season he played and started in every single regular season game averaging 16.3 points, 8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. But he shot just 42.3 percent from the floor and 3-of-42 from 3-point range.

In September, the Wizards shut Wall down after an MRI revealed the early stages of an injury that could develop into a fractured patella. People began to speculate whether Wall would be able to play at all this season. Some wondered if he'd be a bust.

Without Wall on the floor, the Wizards are 5-28. With him? They are 21-16 and look like an Eastern Conference playoff team.

After undergoing rehabilitation, Wall returned to the court against the Atlanta Hawks Jan. 12 to a standing ovation. That game he recorded 14 points and dished out four assists.

Fast forward to last night. John Wall dropped a career-high 47 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He also dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds in the 107-94 victory. Wall shot 13-of-22 from the field and added 19-of-24 from the charity stripe.

For Wall, tonight's performance was just another in a streak of good games in the month of March. He's averaging 20 points, 8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on 51.6 (!) percent from the floor and 50 (!!) percent from three.

Without Wall on the floor, the Wizards are 5-28. With him? They are 21-16 and look like an Eastern Conference playoff team. Wall and his agent have been saying that he's worth the maximum contract. With a month like this, can you disagree? I don't think so.

The "One-and-Done" Rule Needs To Go

Tyler Lashbrook — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:22:17 -0000

The Wildcat's loss against Florida happened less than four nights ago but it's already way in the back of the minds of nearly every UK fan. Saturday's blowout loss against Tennessee added insult to injury but the concern of Wildcat fans remains with Nerlens Noel.

Big Blue Nation's concern has turned to the health and well-being of Noel, who we all know suffered a torn ACL against Florida and will sit out the rest of the season.

The back-to-back losses means little to a fan base well known for protecting every player that puts on that blue and white jersey with KENTUCKY stitched across the front. Right now that base is protecting Noel -- a player who quickly became loved for his high motor, non-stop hustle and defensive play.

To the outside world, the world who knows little of how much the fan base truly cares for players, many more questions have surfaced. How will Noel's draft stock be affected? Who does Chad Ford have taking No. 1 overall now? Should the one-and-done rule be eliminated to protect players from accidents like the one Noel suffered?

That last question is one that resonates with the BBN more than it does with most fan bases.

It feels wrong to discuss the topic in the wake of a season ending injury to a kid who gave everything he had all the time, but it needs to be asked. Should the one-and-done rule be eliminated?

Coach John Calipari has had eight players leave after their freshman year of college so if any fan base could coherently discuss the topic, it would be the BBN, no?

Let's be clear here -- the one-and-done rule isn't John Calipari's rule. Coach Cal has stated on many occasions that he wishes the rule would change.

Let's also be clear. It's not college basketball's rule, either. The NBA and the NBAPA control and negotiate every piece of the one-and-done rule.

Their stance on the rule is that the year players have out of high school gives teams and owners more time to evaluate a player's game before deciding to spend a pick and, in turn, millions of dollars on him.

The reason the one-and-done rule is so hard to change is because the NBA has an absolute right to its stance. It is their money that will be shelled out when a player becomes professional; why not take as much time to evaluate as you can?

The rule has seemingly worked for the benefit of some players. Kevin Durant stayed for one year, developed at Texas, then averaged 20.3 points a game in his first season. Derrick Rose played at Memphis for a season then became the youngest MVP ever. You can't tell me that Dwight Howard's post game wouldn't have become more polished had he been forced to stay a year in college.

A two-year-and-done or a 20 year old age limit would benefit the NBA even more. That would give owners even more time to evaluate a player's talent and it would allow for more player development in college. The NBA commissioner, David Stern, has lobbied for a two-year limit multiple times. But even then, the overall problem wouldn't be resolved.

Think about this. It's not mandatory for every high school graduate to attend college; why is it different for basketball players? People, who have never played a sport, graduate high school and immediately look for a job to make money. Why is it different because you happen to be good at basketball?

Personally, I'd like to see the NBA adopt a set of draft eligibility rules similar to MLB's.

From the MLB website:

The Major League Rules govern which players are eligible for selection in the Draft. These Rules are detailed, but the basic eligibility criteria can be described as follows: Generally, a player is eligible for selection if the player is a resident of the United States or Canada and the player has never before signed a Major League or Minor League contract. Residents of Puerto Rico and other territories of the United States are eligible for the Draft. Also considered residents are players who enroll in a high school or college in the United States, regardless of where they are from originally.

Certain groups of players are ineligible for selection, generally because they are still in school. The basic categories of players eligible to be drafted are:

High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college;

College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and

Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed

A Club generally retains the rights to sign a selected player until 11:59 PM (EDT) August 15, or until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college on a full-time basis. A player who is drafted and does not sign with the Club that selected him may be drafted again at a future year's Draft, so long as the player is eligible for that year's Draft. A Club may not select a player again in a subsequent year, unless the player has consented to the re-selection.

A player who is eligible to be selected and is passed over by every Club becomes a free agent and may sign with any Club until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college full-time or enters, or returns to, a junior college.

Basically, a player is eligible for the draft right after they graduate high school. If they choose to go this route, then that's fine -- that's their right. However, if a player gets drafted but doesn't sign with the team then they can go to college. After a player enrolls in college they must stay for at least three years.

I'm not sure three years would work in college basketball but I could see two years working nicely. This combines a two-year rule, that some people argue would be good for the game, but still allows those with the ability to go straight to the NBA the opportunity to do so.

Some may argue that players, who are too high on themselves, will still leave for the NBA way too early out of high school, sign a contract and fade into the abyss.

While that is true, think about the players that already do that after one year in college. Think about Omar Cook who left St. Johns after one year in college. He lit up the Big East for 15.3 points and 8.7 assists per game but he lacked a jump shot and appeared in just 27 NBA games.

What about Daniel Orton? Orton left UK after one year and showed promise as a defensive big man as DeMarcus Cousins' backup. He has struggled to find playing time once he was traded to Oklahoma City and it's unknown whether the team plans to keep him past this season.

My point is that forcing players to go to college for a year doesn't ensure that they will stay long enough to be productive once they are in the NBA. The sad truth is that players are going to make bad decisions to leave too early regardless of if they are in high school or in college for a year.

For the NBA, the implementation of the rule system that Major League Baseball has set up could be very beneficial.

Some players -- like LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant -- are special, can't miss prospects regardless if they go to college for a year. For the others, they can have those two years in college basketball to develop into can't miss prospects.

Another factor that even further clouds the already muddy future of the one-and-done rule is the new academic rules that will go into place in 2016.

In May, the NCAA Division I board of directors approved new standards that will change the minimum GPA from 2.0 to 2.3. Also, players will be forced to finish 10-of-16 core classes before they begin their senior season in high school.

According to NCAA statistics, 43.1 percent of men's basketball players who matriculated in 2009-10 would not meet the 2016 requirements.

So what does this mean for the NBA and college basketball?

Well for one it makes going to Europe for a year look a lot more reasonable.

In 2008, USC commit and Oak Hill Academy superstar Brandon Jennings decided that playing in Europe would be his best route to the NBA. Jennings signed a 1.65 million dollar guaranteed contract to play professionally with Lottomatica Roma in Italy.

Jennings averaged 5.5 points, 2.2 assists and 1,5 steals in 17 minutes per game in Europe. In an e-mail message, Jennings told the New York Times that playing professionally was "tough" and that he was mostly treated like a kid.

"I don't see many kids doing it," Jennings' e-mail said. "It's tough man, I'll tell you that. It can break you."

Jennings went on to be drafted 10th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2009 NBA draft. During his rookie year in the NBA, Jennings became the youngest player ever to score 55 points in an NBA game. But most importantly, he'd successfully set a path way for other high schoolers to follow if they chose.

When the academic standards raise in 2016, it's very possible that we will see many other basketball players decide to play in Europe.

While Jennings was able to succeed in Europe, another high schooler wasn't.

Jeremy Tyler, a 6'10 power forward from San Diego committed to Louisville in 2008. In 2009, he announced that he would skip his senior year of high school to play professionally abroad.

Tyler played only 10 games professionally in Israel before returning to California, but still he was too young to declare for the draft and his professional title cancelled any chance of playing college ball. In 2010 he signed with the Tokyo Apache in Japan. There he averaged 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes a game.

In the 2011 NBA Draft he was selected 39th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats but was traded moments later to the Golden State Warriors. His first two years in the NBA have been a struggle.

Tyler has appeared in just 20 games this year and is averaging 1.1 points on 37.5 percent shooting and it appears to most that his NBA career could be in jeopardy.

The 2016 academic standards upgrade is going to change the way players find their way to the NBA and Europe looks like it could become the popular choice.

Since Jennings and Tyler are our only "high-school-to-Europe" sample size, Jennings represents the best case scenario. Tyler, unfortunately, represents the worst case.

It would serve well both for the NBA and the college game for an MLB-like draft eligibility to be implemented before the academic standards raise.

If they had been in place four years ago, Jeremy Tyler could have applied for the draft, realized he wasn't going to be drafted high, then returned to college to develop for two years. How would his career be different if that had been the case?

It would take a lot of cooperation between a lot of stubborn parties to get a rule change passed -- NBA owners, the NBAPA, the NCAA -- but doesn't it at least try to solve the problem?

Back to Nerlens.

Don't get me wrong. If Nerlens Noel had never put on a UK jersey, he could still have gotten injured in the NBA -- I get that -- but in that scenario he would have already been financially secure.

Most people, even Nerlens, seem to think that his ACL surgery will be just a minor setback. He's been given a 6-8 month time-frame for return and scouts have barely nudged him in their mock drafts.

Only time will tell if everything plays out perfectly for the big man. I hope it does. But, even then, what if the injury had been worse? What if it had destroyed an opportunity for a young man to make a living playing pro basketball?

THEN would we be willing to talk about a rule change?

Thanks for reading! Follow me on twitter - @lashy.

UK basketball will be well represented at the NBA's All-Star Weekend

Tyler Lashbrook — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:34:31 -0000

I wrote a couple weeks back about the University of Kentucky's growing influence on the NBA. Nothing could have solidified that more than five former Wildcats being selected to participate in this weekend's festivities.

Despite tearing his ACL on Jan. 25, Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was honored as an All-Star selection. It was Rondo's fourth straight selection to the event. Join me now in wishing Rondo a speedy recovery -- ACL's are the red-headed step-child of athlete legs.

Former UK guard and current Los Angeles Clipper Eric Bledsoe will showcase his hops in the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Vegas has the odds of Bledsoe taking home the trophy at 15/2 -- tied for the lowest among all contestants. I wouldn't be so quick to count him out, though -- judges love short(er) guys in these things and Bledsoe's a freak athletically.

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, formerly known as the rookie/sophomore game, will have three former Wildcats participating. Anthony Davis and Brandon Knight will be coached by Charles Barkley while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will run game with Shaquille O'Neal's team.

The Taco Bell Skills Challenge is an obstacle course that tests a point guards combination of fundamentals and athletic abilities. Former UK point guard Brandon Knight will be participating in the challenge. He's the youngest player in the competition and is the only Wildcat performing in two different competitions.

Join me in rooting on the former Wildcats as they make their mark on the NBA's All-Star weekend.

Kentucky Basketball: Tayshaun Prince reportedly headed to the Memphis Grizzlies

Tyler Lashbrook — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:09:48 -0000

Tayshaun Prince appears to be the key piece in the latest NBA trade. According to ESPN's Marc Stein and other reporters, Prince will be part of a three-team trade that will send Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors.

The Detroit Pistons will send small forward Tayshaun Prince and forward Austin Daye to the Memphis Grizzlies. In return, the Pistons will receive Spanish point guard Jose Calderon from the Raptors. The Raptors will receive Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi from the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies were reportedly looking for a small forward to fill in for Gay before trading him and Prince seems to be that guy. Prince is averaging 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season. He's shooting 44.4 percent from the field and a career best 43.4 percent from the 3-point line.

CBSSports reporter Ken Berger reports that the trade will save the Grizzlies $5.8 million this year and $26.4 million over the next three years.

Kentucky Basketball: Slowly Taking Over the NBA

Tyler Lashbrook — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:20:32 -0000

The college landscape is changing -- it's no secret. 48 players have left for the NBA after their first year of college since 2006. The "one-and-done" rule is one that's been argued about for years now and John Calipari is often the figurehead for those who oppose the rule. I mean, why wouldn't he be?

Since 2008, three out of the last five number one picks were all coached by Calipari and each (Derrick Rose - '08, John Wall - '10, Anthony Davis - '12) left after just one year in college. It's obvious that Calipari has found a way to take advantage of the rule and regardless of your stance on the situation, you have to admit that it's worked for him on the court.

Calipari is 115-20 at UK with an Elite Eight appearance, a Final Four appearance and a national championship under his belt. Even this year's UK (13-6, 4-2 SEC) team is talented enough to find it's way to CATlanta and the Final Four, despite being pegged as Calipari's worst group.

But perhaps Calipari's biggest shake up to the game of basketball is the way his players are becoming the wave of young talent in the NBA. According to Basketball-Reference, 81 players have made their way from Kentucky basketball to the NBA. Calipari and his coaching staff recruited 10 of those guys.

Six days ago ESPN came out with its list of top 25 players under the age of 25. Three UK players made that list -- Anthony Davis (13), Demarcus Cousins (19) and Eric Bledsoe (25). John Wall was ranked 10th in 2012 and would certainly have made this year's list if he hadn't been injured for most of the current season.

So with all of that being said, let's take a look at the UK guys in the NBA:

The Old(er) Guys

Nazr Mohammed:

Mohammed is an NBA journeyman who brings size and professionalism with him wherever he goes, which is why he's still in the league. At one point in his career he was a double-double threat, averaging 12-and-9 with the Atlanta Hawks in 2000-01. He's with the Chicago Bulls this year -- his eighth team in the NBA. Mohammed provides big man depth for the Bulls but rarely sees the floor.

Chuck Hayes:

Hayes was a fan favorite during his time at UK (remember the "All He Does Is Win" slogan?). This year he's averaging just 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for a struggling Sacramento Kings team. He's an undersized big man who makes his money playing defense. Hayes is in his seventh year in the NBA -- a feat most draftees never accomplish

Tayshaun Prince:

I have to say this first: Prince is my favorite Wildcat of all time. Remember his five consecutive 3-pointers against UNC? I still watch that video when I'm having a bad day. Prince will always be remembered in the NBA for "The Block" he had against Reggie Miller in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Prince made four consecutive All-Defensive Second Teams from 2004-2008. In 2008 he won a gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics. Today he averages 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Detroit Pistons.

Keith Bogans:

Bogans, like Mohammed, has been a journeyman in the NBA. He's played for seven different teams in nine seasons. Bogans is mostly known for his defensive presence and ability to knock down spot up 3-pointers. Today he plays for the Brooklyn Nets and has been recently losing minutes to second-year scorer MarShon Brooks.

Jodie Meeks:

Meeks will always be known to UK fans for his incredible 54-point performance at Tennessee. His ability to shoot the ball from deep is a commodity coveted by NBA GMs, which is why Meeks will find himself in the NBA for a long time. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and is averaging 7.6 points. He's been a good piece for head coach Mike D'Antoni who loves floor-spreading, 3-point-shooting guards.

The Lone All-Star

Rajon Rondo:

Rondo is a four-time All-Star and is widely considered as a top-5 point guard in the game. He was blessed to be drafted to a team with three Hall of Famers. In his second season in the NBA he took over the full time starting job and hasn't looked back since. Rondo was having arguably his best year of his career this season, averaging 13.7 points, 11.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds, before tearing his ACL just two days ago on this play. He's expected to return around New Year's of next year.

The Young Talent

*Denotes the player is a Calipari player

*Anthony Davis:

Davis is already a legend in the Big Blue Nation. As a freshman, he led the UK Wildcats to its first national championship since 1998. He earned Player of the Year honors and eventually was drafted number one overall by the New Orleans ~~Pelicans~~ Hornets. Davis was widely considered to be a can't-miss NBA prospect before the draft, and he hasn't disappointed in his first season. He's battled injuries and has played in just 31 games for the Hornets but is averaging 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Davis is the best Calipari recruit to come through UK yet.

*John Wall:

Has there been a more hyped basketball prospect since LeBron James than John Wall? Wall's amazing combination of speed and athleticism at the point guard spot has created insurmountable expectations on the young basketball player. His NBA career is probably considered disappointing for most, but it's way too early for me to call Wall disappointing. He's battled knee injuries since he came to the NBA and is yet to play a full 82-game schedule. He just returned from a knee injury this year a couple weeks ago and has played in only nine games this season. Wall has the rawest potential in the NBA.

*DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins has been an enigma in his three seasons in the NBA. On one hand, he's one of the most offensively talented big men in the league. On the other hand, he's been labeled a "hot-head" and a "headcase" that brings trouble to the locker room, which is why his name is constantly brought up in trade rumors. But look at the team he's played for -- the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are an odd mash up of young players that don't mesh well together and lack any form of veteran leadership. They're in the process of moving to Seattle next year and let's all hope that the move is one that can bring some sort of fundamental leadership to keep Cousins on the right path. If Cousins can get it together mentally, he could become a top-3 center in the league.

*Eric Bledsoe

Before the season started, I wrote that Bledsoe would win most improved player in the league, and he's done a good job of making me look like a genius. Bledsoe has become a fantastic player for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clips have the third best record in the league and Bledsoe's ability to lead the league's best bench is one of the reasons why. His minutes are limited because he plays behind the best point guard in the world, Chris Paul, but that doesn't stop him from showing out when he's on the court. Per 36 minutes, Bledsoe is averaging 16 points, 5 assists and 5.6 rebounds. His outside shot has developed nicely which is why Bledsoe is shooting 40 percent from three. If you can't tell, I love watching Eric Bledsoe play basketball.

*Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Gillie is putting up the numbers you'd probably expect him to put up in his rookie year. He averages 10 points and six boards in 26 minutes of playing time. He's shooting a little over 48 percent from the floor and is already one of the better on-ball defenders in the Eastern Conference. It's tough to evaluate Gilchrist because he plays on the always-miserable Charlotte Bobcats.

*Brandon Knight

I like Brandon Knight, but his numbers don't stand out so far. He's averaging just 4.3 assists per game but he's shown signs of being able to run a team. His 3-point shooting has been great for the first two years of his career (38.1%) and he looks more comfortable playing off the ball. Next year will be his biggest challenge as the Detroit Pistons continue to develop young players and they will expect to win much more in the coming seasons.

Patrick Patterson

Patterson has been a nice addition to the young core of the Houston Rockets. He's efficient, professional, hard-working and has added 3-point shooting this season. Remember when Patterson stretched his game to the 3-point line during his junior year? He's done that in the NBA, during his third year, stretching all the way to the NBA 3-point line where he's shooting 35.8 percent. His rebounding could use a boost but overall he's been a nice surprise in the NBA.

*Enes Kanter

Kanter didn't get a chance to play at UK because the NCAA is irrational (I have beef with the NCAA as a whole but that's a separate issue). His rookie started off extremely slow but Kanter has since proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz plays the biggest lineup in the league with a rotation of four big-men. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap currently start, but rumors say that the Jazz will move one of the two to create more playing time for Kanter and Derrick Favors. Per 36 minutes, Kanter is averaging 15.7 points and 10.9 rebounds.

The Young Guys Looking for their Niche

*Terrence Jones

Jones had a fantastic Summer League showing for the Rockets but hasn't found a lot of court time during the regular season. He's played in just 11 games and is continuously bouncing back and forth with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the D-League.

*Marquis Teague

It's a little disappointing to see how sparingly coach Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls have used Marquis Teague. With Derrick Rose being out for the entirety of the season to this point, I thought Teague would have gotten more court time. The Bulls are winning so I don't expect Teague to get much playing time, if at all, especially with Rose returning soon.

Darius Miller

Miller actually started one game this year for the New Orleans ~~Pelicans~~ Hornets but he hasn't sustained any long term playing time with the team. He was recalled from the Iowa Energy of the D-League on Jan. 27 so we will see in the coming weeks if he gets any playing time.

*Doron Lamb

Lamb, like mostly everyone else in this category, hasn't played enough sustained minutes to see what his future holds. He was recalled from the D-League on Jan. 23 but hasn't registered a minute since.

DeAndre Liggins

Again, like everyone else, Liggins has spent most of this season bouncing back from the D-League to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unlike everyone else, sans Miller, Liggins made his first start for the Thunder on Jan. 13 against the Portland Trail Blazers and registered 11 points and nine boards in a Thunder victory. Liggins has become a fan favorite everywhere he goes because of his hustle and perimeter defensive tenacity.

Josh Harrellson

Jorts! Everyone loves Jorts, except for NBA general managers. Harrellson is in a continuous battle of winning and signing 10-day contracts with the Heat. Last year with the Knicks he made a name for himself as a stretching big man who battled on the boards. This year he's been on and off with the Heat. I really think he could be a decent 10-12 minute a game rotation man for the Heat with his ability to spread the floor.

*Daniel Orton

Orton's days in the NBA seem to be numbered. He's lingered on as the last man for the Oklahoma City Thunder and has seen what few minutes he does get eaten away by the absolutely awful Hasheem Thabeet. Orton has been sent to the Tulsa 66ers several times throughout the year and it really looks like this could be his last year in the NBA.

Kentucky Basketball: The Wildcats are struggling but Nerlens Noel is shining

Tyler Lashbrook — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:48:16 -0000

Nerlens Noel came to the University of Kentucky with unfair expectations. He’s long, he’s lanky, he’s quick off his feet, he has great defensive instincts and he protects the paint with a vengeance. The Wildcats (12-6, 3-2 SEC) are struggling by UK standards but freshman big man Nerlens Noel has been shining. Sounds familiar to Wildcat fans who watched a similar player lead a young group of players to a national championship just a year ago.

But let’s be clear: Noel and Anthony Davis are similar – that’s it.

Davis was very composed both offensively and defensively. On offense he brought a polished combination of hook shots in the post, spot up mid range jumpers and ball handling.

What Nerlens brings is a relentless, intense, high-energy style of basketball, especially on the defensive end. He often lurks in the paint looking for opportunities to shut down anyone drives to the rim, much like Davis did last year.

But where he differs from Davis on the defensive end is in his anticipation in the passing lane. Noel is averaging 2.5 steals per game which is second best in the SEC and 13th in the nation. It’s also the highest per game average from any forward or center in the nation. When Noel steals the ball he’s very good at either taking the ball in transition himself (if he gets the steal near the top of the key) or quickly throwing an outlet pass for an easy bucket.

Noel has the second best defensive rating in the nation, giving up 75.3 points per 100 possessions according to Basketball-Reference. That statistic is actually a full five points better than Davis’ 80.3 last year.

Athletically, Noel’s one of the scariest NBA prospects to come through college basketball in a long time. From baseline-to-baseline he might be the third fastest player on UK behind Ryan Harrow and Archie Goodwin. But what’s really impressive about Noel’s athleticism is his lateral quickness.

In this video you can really see just how quick Nerlens goes to a spot on the floor then recovers to block a shot. The block at 3:45 is one of the most impressive defensive plays of the season.

It’s a side pick and roll play which is usually used to space the floor and take away help side defense. Goodwin fights over the screen which is fundamental by John Calipari standards. Noel slides over to cut off the ball handler from making a move to the basket while he waits for Goodwin to catch up. Julius Mays is supposed to slide under the basket and help with the roll man but instead he lingers with the corner shooter. But it doesn’t matter. Noel has the wherewithal to turn once the ball handler makes the pass to the roll man and block the shot anyways. If you watch that clip a few times you’ll notice that Noel actually covers almost a whole half side of the floor. That’s the combination of instinct and athleticism that Noel is bringing to UK and it’s exactly what NBA scouts drool over when they watch the guy play basketball.

But perhaps Noel’s best attribute and what he’s helped UK with the most is the high-motor he’s brought. Nerlens is the heart and soul of this team. There will be stretches of the game where Kyle Wiltjer and Alex Poythress disappear and Goodwin hits a cold streak. But Noel doesn’t disappear. He plays with 110 percent relentless effort for all 31.4 minutes he plays a game.

However, I’m not here to tell you that Noel is as good as Anthony Davis or that he will ever be, and to ask him to be so is unfair and somewhat unethical. What I’m here to tell you is that Nerlens is who he is – an athletic freak with an unstoppable motor – and he’s found his niche on this UK Wildcat team.

He has his areas to improve on, like any other freshman basketball player. His free throw shooting could use a boost – he showed great flashes at the Texas A&M game when he knocked down 7-of-8. He’s also turning the ball over at an alarming rate -- 16.2% of his possessions. But both of those aspects of his game have the potential to improve over time.

Nerlens Noel came to UK with many expecting he would be the next Anthony Davis, but he will leave having become the first Nerlens Noel.

SBNation.com User Blog: Tyler Lashbrook

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The Twins Lineup:

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The Big Lineup:

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The "WE GOT ANDREW WIGGINS TOO?!?!?!" Lineup:

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UK basketball will be well represented at the NBA's All-Star Weekend

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The Lone All-Star

The Young Talent

The Young Guys Looking for their Niche

Kentucky Basketball: The Wildcats are struggling but Nerlens Noel is shining