Now that we know Eric Gordon is leaving the Indiana Hoosiers after only one season and we almost expect Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley to follow suit, where does that leave big men Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love? Will they both become stars or just starters at the next level?
Hansbrough, selected as the AP player of the year on Friday, has averaged 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the No. 1 ranked Tar Heels. He even put up 27 points per game in the five game absence of starting point guard Ty Lawson.
The NCAA tournament has been no different.
The 6'9'' star is averaging 21 points and 9.5 rebounds and has led North Carolina to the final four. He also now ranks second on the all time Carolina scoring list, 139 points behind Phil Ford,
However, the ESPN NBA draft board has Hansbrough listed as a power forward and the No. 27 ranked player, which makes him a late first to early second rounder. Could he be a steal at that spot?
Most college experts see Hansbrough as a good player at the next level, so why is he projected so low? Either this years draft is so deep or NBA scouts see something we don't.
We know he has the work ethic and has added a mid range jumper, but will his lack of foot speed hurt him when guarding other NBA players?
Only time will tell, but I see him as a 12 point eight rebound a game player—which would make him a starter and not a star.
Kevin Love, on the other hand, has the width of a big man in the NBA, is listed at 6'10'' and 270 pounds, and has scored 17.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game for the UCLA Bruins. He's stepped up his game in the NCAA tournament averaging 21.7 points and 11 rebounds per contest.
He's also been great in the paint altering shots averaging 1.4 blocks per game and recently had seven against Texas A&M on March 22.
Some college scouts say that Love may be a little on the heavy side, calling it baby fat. However, this shouldn't hurt his draft rank with team nutritionists and fitness experts.
So with all these stats, does this make Love a star or just starter after college?
The ESPN NBA draft board has Love listed as a center and ranked him No. 11 on that list. This would put him in the lottery talk with all the other young studs coming out.
The one thing that Love has that other 6'10'' players don't is his ability to shoot from the outside. The UCLA star is shooting over 36 percent from behind the three point line and went 2-4 in the win against Xavier.
I see him as a better then average player at the next level, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds a game.
So when the NBA draft rolls around will these two be game busters or just busts.
18 comments Last one added 3 months ago — Leave a Comment
Aron Glatzer about 1 year ago
I disagree. First off, when all is said and done you will find out that they are both officially measure in at 6-foot-8. Love is nowhere near 6'10".
Secondly, I think Hansbrough's work ethic and intensity mean he will maximize any potential he has and will constantly work at overcoming his deficiencies (length, quickness, lack of creativity). I think he will be a great backup/7th man and contribute with his energy on a strong team.
I just can't say the same about Love. Call it 'baby fat', spin it any way you want. The guy is heavy at 19 years old and that is only going to get worse. He is slow, undersized and unathletic. That just won't get it done as a power forward at the next level.
What he can do, exceptionally no less, is give outlet passes like nobody else in the draft. If he improves his strength, he will be able to get some defensive rebounds by blocking out with his frame and giving great outlet passes. He can also hit the open shot. However, when you can't get up and down the court and can't get your shot off inside against superior athleticism at the game's highest level, you are a backup at best. Maybe he can find a system that suits his game. If not, look out D league.
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Dallin Page about 1 year ago
I could see both of them as being bench players. Hansbrough brings a great energy and that could be something good to bring in a little later in the game.
They have both, especially Hansbrough, always gotten by on sheer will more than talent, and I think this could contribute to them running into a wall in the NBA
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Justin Damasiewicz about 1 year ago
I don't think that Hansbrough has a lack of foot speed. Have you watched the guy run the floor? If anyone has a lack of footspeed it's Love. Tyler is twice the athlete Love is. Hansbrough will be a starter in the NBA, but not a star.
Outlet pass schmoutlet pass. Get some muscle definition and quickness, Kevin Love. Train hard and build some muscle. Be the strongest guy on the floor and you will start in the NBA.
I see Hansbrough being a steal as a early 2nd round pick and Love being a bust as a lottery pick.
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Fuad Conteh about 1 year ago
I don't know. I think they are both overated. Both would be great backups though. I see them playing a Luke Walton kind of role.
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rob caldwell about 1 year ago
Why? Because they're white?
Kevin Love and Hansbrough play like big men. Walton shoots threes and plays the point forward role. Thats a terrible comparison
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Archie Adams about 1 year ago
I see Hansbrough as an NBA start, for the most part due to his crazy amount of hustle. His stat line with probably end up around the 13/10 mark with a steal or two a game.
Love, on the other hand, seems to be one of the most overrated players, right along with Bayless from Arizona, who Draft Express has listed as their third overall pick. Love is just to unathletic to be a PF in the NBA, but to short to get good looks against true centers, just look at his games against Stanford this year, especially the game in the Pac-10 tourney.
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Jovan Buha about 1 year ago
hey was injured that game and he owned the lopez twins 3 times this year so ur crazy
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Neither will be NBA starters. The trouble is that college teams are too generous when it comes to listing heights. That is why there are always shockers during the chicago draft camp where the offical measurements are made. Remember when Elton Brand and Sean May were listed as 6-10 in college but in Chicago it turned out that they were actually closer to 6-7?
Ive heard some commentators say that hansbrough is really 6-7 and that love is 6-8 at best. Judging from what I see on tv id have to agree with them. Hansbrough is stuck at classic tweener height, not big enough to play inside and not quick enough to play outside. In love's case its a lack of strength and athleticism that hurts him. It'll be their grit and basketball IQ that will allow them to make it in the NBA.
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Ralph isaac about 1 year ago
no they suck, they both suck, they can't play basketball to save their lives.......Yes.....More people should say that and make their draft stock drop so MY LAKERS CAN PICK THEM IN THE 2ND ROUND.!!!!! hahaha. In a perfect world, I'd love to see this happen but it like wont.
I say Kevin Love go between 3-10, and Psycho T to go between 10-20.
Tyler Hansbrough should work on his face up J and he should model his game after Carlos Boozer who's less athletic than Hansbrough but has a mean Jumper thats damn near unblockable.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
When I see Kevin Love I see a Brad Miller clone. Slow, not particularly aggressive on defense, a bit soft, a good jumper, and a terrific passer. Hansbrough works his ass of though and gets the most out of his limited talents like Aron said. He has a lot of Paul Millsap in him and he could become a scrappy overacheiving bench player that every good team needs.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
I havent seen Kevin Love play enough to know but, Tyler Hansborough will be a good NBA player. I can't see him being a big superstar though. He is to small to be a center, but he isnt that good of a shooter to be a small forward. He will fit as a bit of a small power forward. He will be a starter in his career though, sort of a, more advanced and more skilled verson of a Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejo or Eduardo Najera.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
I havent seen Kevin Love play enough to know but, Tyler Hansborough will be a good NBA player. I can't see him being a big superstar though. He is to small to be a center, but he isnt that good of a shooter to be a small forward. He will fit as a bit of a small power forward. He will be a starter in his career though, sort of a, more advanced and more skilled verson of a Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejo or Eduardo Najera.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
I havent seen Kevin Love play enough to know but, Tyler Hansborough will be a good NBA player. I can't see him being a big superstar though. He is to small to be a center, but he isnt that good of a shooter to be a small forward. He will fit as a bit of a small power forward. He will be a starter in his career though, sort of a, more advanced and more skilled verson of a Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejo or Eduardo Najera.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
I havent seen Kevin Love play enough to know but, Tyler Hansborough will be a good NBA player. I can't see him being a big superstar though. He is to small to be a center, but he isnt that good of a shooter to be a small forward. He will fit as a bit of a small power forward. He will be a starter in his career though, sort of a, more advanced and more skilled verson of a Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejo or Eduardo Najera.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
I havent seen Kevin Love play enough to know but, Tyler Hansborough will be a good NBA player. I can't see him being a big superstar though. He is to small to be a center, but he isnt that good of a shooter to be a small forward. He will fit as a bit of a small power forward. He will be a starter in his career though, sort of a, more advanced and more skilled verson of a Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejo or Eduardo Najera.
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Matthew Lofton about 1 year ago
Hansbrough will be a role player at best. Plus he will not have the stats when he plays with refs other than the ACC jokes.
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Marcus Evans 9 months ago
1. White
2. Short
3. Slow
Come on now?!?!?!?!.................How many successful pfs in the NBA share these qualities. Both of these guys are recreations of Raef LaFrenz, Christian Laettner, Cherokee Parks. They WILL be sad NBA players, but I hope they get as much money as they can from some dumb NBA executive.
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Paul S 3 months ago
Nice call Marcus Evans. Kevin Love is presently averaging about 21pts and 18 rebs per 48 minutes...heck even adjust it for 36-38 minutes (average good starters minutes) and he is averaging about 15-16 pts and 13-14 rebs per game. How the hell can you compare that with Cherokee Parks you stupid prick. Raef LaFrentz and Christian Laettner were both above avergae NBA Players who were slowed by injuries, otherwise they would have much better career statistics.
Not that you can compare either of these with Larry Bird but he was also perceived to be slow and unathletic as a white guy and he owned every team in the league.
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