This is GREAT STUFF! THANKS!

I don’t get to watch much (or any) college ball so this is a huge help!

As I recall btw last summer you said Kevin Love would be great and a lot of us didn’t buy it. You were right and earned your scouting cred with me

though, his mom did buy a house here in phoenix just last year. now, why would she go and do such a thing when she had to have known that her son would be going into the NBA just short of a year later?

i’m thinking they know something we don’t, and the draft is really set in stone from the beginning of the previous school year.

now, if any of that second paragraph is true, i’ll cry tears of joy. i want nothing more than to see james harden don a suns jersey.

Tyreke Evans was initially a shooting guard for the TIGERS but John Calipari switched him to point guard and since they have won 25 games straight. Granted they are in Conference USA but he is still a good player who will go in the lottery.

There are also some other pgs to look at as well.

Willie Warren- Oklahoma
Johnny Flynn- Syracuse
Darren Collison- UCLA

Also he seemed to have been slipping on many draft boards but Brandon Jennings will probably be available as well.
He isnt doing such a great job in Italy but let me assure you that if he played in college this year he would be having his way with kids his own age.

He is a junior, I want him in a Phoenix Sun uniform.

As I reported, Lawson is not playing. I am going to watch Hansbrough, though. I find it intriguing that he does so well against college competition, yet so many are relegating him to late round status. I saw someone compare him to Eduardo Najera. Ouch.

Tyreke Evans was pushed from the headlines by his teammate Roburt Sallie. Evans, did NOT play point guard (contrary to what is being said), kind of sat around while his team struggled. He needs to stay another year so he can take over the point after Anderson graduates.

I saw much of the Oklahoma game watching SG Willie Warren, and Warren has good size, a 3 point stroke, and can get to the basket. He is not a point guard, either. He defers to the Griffin boys, but was more aggressive offensively when Blake was out. Bla ke Griffin might be the best big man to come out of college since Tim Dincan. He passes, he brings the ball up, he’s athletic, and he is under control. whoever gets him will have pretty close to a sure thing. To recap, I will get another chance to see Warren in the next round.

Ty Lawson did not play for the Tar Heels, but I will get a chance to see him in the next round as UNC obliterated their opponent. Hansbrough looked good, and even made a few snappy passes. I guess we won’t know for sure whether he can play in thge NBA until he hits the summer league. However, I want to see what he can do against Blake Griffin. That would be a Final four meeting.

The game of the night for me was the VCU-UCLA game. I was extremely impressed with Eric Maynor. He got Collison and Holliday in foul trouble. Collison had the last laugh as he defended Maynor well on the last shot. I don’t blame Maynor for that, but his teammates should have been more involved in the final play. Eric Maynor is a Kevin Johnson type of guard – good shot, nice court vision, quick as all get out (he smoked the speedy Collison time after time), and I think he will make a good pro. Also, speaking of Darren Collison, he was beat most of the night, but made the play of the game when it counted. We will see him in the second round. In addition, VCU has a center that bears watching, Larry Sanders. He is 6’10 with a 7-7 wingspan. He is a sophmore shot blocking terror.

I saw ASU’s game. Harden should have stayed in his hotel room. Pendergraph was fun to watch. He might slip into the end of the first round. In the Pitt-ETSU game, Blair was a beast. He had 27 pints and 17 rebounds. His game looks a lot like Barkley’s game. We would be kicking ourselves if we passed on him and he turns out. I wonder how he would do vs Blake Griffin?

Tonight we have Wake with Teague and Johnson, Louisville with Earl Clark, USC with DeRozan, Arizona with Budinger and Jordan, and of course Ohio State with BJ Mullens to watch.

Many of the guys I have been watching didn’t distinguish themselves very well in the first round. DeRozan of USC is kind of the 4th man in the USC offense. I don’t know why he is thinking of turning pro. Earl Clark from Louisville is not aq power forward, more of a Scottie Pippen type. Budinger of UA is a decent player, but I don’t know if he gets any better. His pro career may turn out to be like Mike Dunleavys career.

I was impressed with Jordan Hill, but I don’t think we will get a chance to get him. Wake Forest is falling flat, and Jeff Teague is having a nightmare game with 5 turnovers. He was one of the point guards I was tracking. James Johnson, the WF small forward, looks good, but not enough to lead his team to a first round victory over a3 seed. Also, I didn’t see too much of BJ Mullens of Ohio State. He only played 13 minutes.

My conclusions so far?

1. The PAC 10 is VERY tough this year
2. A lot of these underclassmen, one and done types that went to college because of the age rule in the NBA are not ready for the draft.

Two of my main guys are out now. I recommend the Suns take a long look at drafting Eric Maynor of VCU or James Johnson of Wake. Guys who fell off my radar: BJ Mullens of Ohio State and Jeff Teague of Wake Forest.

Second round games I am watching:

UCLA-Villanova 1:05 ET – watching Darren Collison
Maryland-Memphis 3:20 ET – I’ll give Tyreke Evans another chance
LSU-UC – 5:45 ET – maybe Lawson will play
Michigan-Oklahoma – 5"50 ET – Willie Warren has caught my eye
Texas-Duke – 8:15 ET – I’ll watch Gerald Henderson and Damien James, who is a small forward candidate

By the way, Patrick Patterson, Kentucky power forward, and Stephen Curry, Davidson PG/SG, are playing in the NIT Monday.

I am about ready to cross him off my list. He is a decent defender for his size, but got beat several times off the dribble by Maynor of VCU. That said, he made the play when it counted. He is no more than Dragic. Goran would be a star in college ball.

One nnote about this guy – He did take over as point guard 10 games into the season, but Antonio Anderson has been playing a lot of point to help the learning process for the freshman. The CS Northridge game was not really a good barometer for him. He had a cold start, and the benchwarmer Sallie took all of the headlines.

He is great with the three, and goes hard to the basket. I have not seen much of him passing, but he would be a solid choice as a 6-6 point guard.

I think it is important for Kerr to get a pick in next year’s first round

just hurt himself again on a nice drive to the baske. He is quick. Not as quick as LB, but then who is.

I would have liked to see him against Maynor

I have seen him anywhere from the end of the 1st round to the 20s in the second. I wouldn’t mind the Suns using a second round pick for him. He basically won the 1st round game along with Glasser when Harden didn’t show up against Temple.

just pulled a move I haven’t even seen Barbosa make. I really like this guy. He looks like KJ.

then changed direction in the blink of an eye and laid it in. His man was on the ground, I think checking his ankles.

just broke down the Michigan defense and dumped off to Griffin for the score. One of the things I have been watching Willie Warren for is his passing.

If Harangody is in the draft (I’m not sure he will be) and he’s there for us, we BETTER DRAFT HIM because he’s the only power forward we’ll ever need.

Lawson is great, Willie Warren needs to show more. James Harden was awful in his two games.

is having a great game. Blair and Eaton of OSU had a collision and are both out. Looked pretty bad.

The AZCats have an unexpected gift on their road to the Sweet Sixteen. They stomp Utah, and then find they will play a 13 seed. They are smoking Cleveland State, and Jordan Hill is scoring at will inside.

just scored on 4 OSU players. The man is a beast, but can he do it in the NBA?

I am impressed with Young. He scores, rebounds, and even made a pass or two. Blair takes up space, and he is hard to move. Pittsburgh moves on. Tonight I’ll watrch DeRozan of USC.

I trolled around to over 50 draft sites, and, while I saw 20 different names for the Suns pick (#14), the three leaders in the clubhouse are:

Maynor 6 votes
Clark 4 votes
Lawson 4 votes

I would be happy with any of these three. I used the #14 pick because there is a 75% chance that is what it will be, 23% for the 16th pick, and 2% that it will be in the top 3.

Stephon Curry completed his season in a loss to Saint Mary’s, where he was out-dueled by Patty Mills, the Australian point guard some have sneaking into the first round. Curry averaged 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in his run.

The Kentucky Wildcats are still in the hunt, thanks to the heroics of probable second rounder Jodie Meeks, a 6-4 shooting guard. Meeks is a nice college player, but is not expected to be drafted. However, Patrick Patterson while averaging 14 and 8, is holding his place near the middle of the first round.

Stock rising:

Sam Young
DeMar DeRozan
Eric Maynor
Jordan Hill

Slipping

James Harden
Jeff Teague
Darren Collison
Ty Lawson (not sure why, he’s looked good to me)

I did not include him in my write ups, but it appears he might declare. His stock has skyrocketed. He is a 6’11" 245 pound guy who is very athletic and blocks shots. His 13 point, 20 rebound 10 block effort in the second round has opened a lot of eyes. He is now projected in the middle of the first round.

What do you guys think?

If we took Aldrich it would be a clear admission that Lopez was a bust

Pitt vs Xavier 7:27 PM ET another chance to see Sam Young and DeJuan Blair
Purdue vs Uconn 7:07 PM ET watching AJ Price
Missouri vs Memphis 9:37 PM ET another look at Tyreke Evans
Villanova vs Duke 9:57 PM ET watch Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler

Friday, 3/27

Arizona vs Louisville 7:07 PM ET see Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, Earl Clark, and Terrence Williams
Syracuse vs Oklahoma 7:27 PM ET evaluaate Willie Warren and Jonny Flynn
North Carolina vs Gonzaga 9:57 PM ET Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough on display
Kansas vs Michigan State watch Cole Aldrich, although it is still 50-50 if he goes in the draft

Everyone, take a close look at Jonny Flynn of Syracuse. I have heard some people that have broadcast bball for a long time say he is the best ot the point guards (Maynor, Teague, Lawson, Collison)

I watched Tyreke Evans exclusively against Missouri. Even when he didn’t have the ball. Here’s what I came up with.

He has a little D-Wade in him, definitely. The guy is fearless in going to the basket. With his size, opposing guards will have trouble with him. Right now, he is a bit predictable. Often when the ball is in his hands, his teammates might as well go sit down, because it’s not coming back. I saw one or two nice passes, but only on plays where someone was in the clear going to the basket. He doesn’t set people up. He has no jump shot that I saw. When he gets to the NBA, people will cut off his drive, and make him pass. He simply does not see the floor like a point guard should.

Someone said Memphis put him at point guard and then won 26 straight, like that proved he was a better point than Antonio Anderson. But the Conference USA is a level below the Big East or Big 12, and the move worked more because it made Evans get invoilved instead of waiting around for someone to pass him the ball. He does not move at all without the ball.

In the first half the offense bogged down when he wouldn’t even look at anything or anyone besides the basket from the time he brought it across the timeline. He will get a lot of offensive fouls in the NBA, much like Amare does now that his game is so predictable. I also saw quite a few lazy, looping passes, some that were stolen by Misssouri.

He has a terrific handle, and a great feel for scoring. I believe hje would do well as an off guard with a decent point bringing it up, much like Kobe does with the Lakers. He is amazing on a couple alley-oops – on the receiving end. He usually lays it up instead of dunking, which would be sent back in his face by NBA frontcourtmen.

His defense is non-existent. I saw the Matador defense once or twice, and once he just watched a Missouri guy walktz to the hoop without moving. He tried scoring one on four a couple of times. One time he left the floor to make a pass and came back down because he didn’t have anyone to pass it to.

In summary, Evans is an immense talent that will require patient coaching. It remains to be seen how coachable he is. He will be a good NBA player. My assessment?

Best case: Dwyane Wade
Worst case: Jason Richardson

He will be drafted before we pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if D’Antoni took him. But I don’t think he is a point guard.

There is something special about Evans. I sincerely wish he would stay in school for another year. My guess is his agent is filling him full of all kinds of stuff about how Memphis will not be as good without the current seniors Anderson and Dozier. But he clearly needs another year, if only to develop consistency and a jump shot.

nice game, very few turnovers, 21-3 A/TO ratio, some timely threes.

Warren

Did not step up until it was too late

E. Clark

did his job, but Terrence Williams choked on his press clippings.

AJ Price is the only possibility, but I like Jeff Adrien. He is a tough player, but not rated in the first round. He looks agressive, but his free throw shooting is horrible. Price was covered well by Walton of MSU. Now watching Lawson and the Tar Heels.

except he is missing a lot of free throws. Hansbrough actually CAN jump.