(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic about the Raptors selection of DeMar DeRozan on Thursday night.

Not only did it mean that I was correct in my article which projected their draft board, but it also means that the Raptors just drafted an absolute stud who is going to shock the league next season.

You’ve heard that, with DeRozan, you’d have to wait a few years to see him really make an impact on the court.

I respectfully disagree.

DeMar DeRozan is far from a finished product, but he’s ready to make an impact today, and considering Jay Triano’s recent comments about potentially starting him, the Raptors seem to think so as well.

His skills make him a better NBA player than a college player due to his athleticism and ability to impact the game defensively. He’s still got a long way to go before he’s being talked about as a top-tier wing player, but he isn’t as far as some may think.

He has a great mid-range game, crafty foot work and he really developed his skills throughout his first year at USC. Unlike a player like Terrence Williams for example, one could really see the maturation and growth from game to game.

Given his mother’s medical condition, it was almost guaranteed that he would make the jump to the NBA as soon as possible.

However, had he gone back to USC for a second season, I have little doubt he’d be a top-five pick in a pretty loaded 2010 draft. He’s got scary talent, and he has the work ethic and desire to grow into a well-rounded basketball player.

So what can we truly expect from DeMar DeRozan as a rookie? He’ll likely have two seasons in one.

When he breaks in, he’s going to be inconsistent offensively. He might go off for a few nights that make you think he has a chance to be a superstar, and have other nights where he scores five points.

Ultimately, he’ll have to bring a consistent defensive effort to stay on the court through his offensive inconsistencies.  Sometime in December however, I fully expect the light switch to go on.

This is a proud individual who has a serious toughness about him and I don’t expect him to wait till year two to show the league that he’s arrived.

One thing that all great players have is a switch that can be turned on and off. Like a Kobe Bryant or Vince Carter, DeRozan also has a switch that he can turn on, and the God-given talent to be an absolute force on both ends of the court.

It was this switch that earned him PAC-10 MVP honors, and it is this switch that separates him from your average 19-year old who can jump out of the gym.

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