Jimmer Fredette: Will Shrinking NBA Draft Pool Vault Fredette into Top 10?

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Jimmer Fredette Could Become a Lottery Pick By Default

It almost seems like this year's NBA Draft class is shrinking a little bit each day. It started when Texas freshman Tristan Thompson announced that he was returning for his sophomore season, and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger soon followed suit. Most recently, there are rumblings that North Carolina's Harrison Barnes may also stick around for his sophomore season.

At this point, who knows who will be next? Maybe Duke's Kyrie Irving or Kentucky's Brandon Knight will re-up for one more year. Heck, Arizona's Derrick Williams might even decide that one more year of college ball is the best thing for him.

Basically, the only players that we know will be drafted are the seniors. Headlining this group is none other than BYU guard Jimmer Fredette, whose professional prospects vary greatly depending on who you ask (hint: if you want an honest answer, don't ask somebody in BYU garb).

As things stand right now, Fredette is not a lottery player. There's no ifs ands or buts about it. We know he can shoot, and we know he can create for himself. We just don't know if he can do anything else. And when it comes to being a star in the NBA, simply being able to score doesn't always make the nut. You could point to Stephen Curry, but I think you'd be kidding yourself. Jimmer isn't that talented.

All this being said, you have to think Fredette would be more than happy if all the aforementioned players go back to school. After all, if the talent pool continues to shrink, he will only inch closer to the greener grass of lottery territory, maybe even as high as the Top 10, which is certainly possible if all the best players keep removing their names from consideration.

The elephant in the room in all this is the impending lockout in the NBA. The same situation in the NFL scared a handful of the best prospects (i.e. Andrew Luck) away from the draft, and we're already seeing a similar effect in the Association.

So like I said, who knows? Because the college basketball season isn't even over yet, and the NBA Draft isn't until later this summer, we have nothing but time.

In other words, this won't be the last time this topic is discussed. You have my word.

For more college basketball goodness, check out our March Madness 2011 Home Page. If you want more draft talk, check out our 2011 NBA Draft Hub.

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