NBA Draft 2011: Tristan Thompson and the Top 25 Best Big Men Prospects Available
May 18, 2011NBA Draft 2011: Tristan Thompson and the Top 25 Best Big Men Prospects Available
In a draft dominated by guards, there are plenty of teams who will still opt for a big man.
There is a lot of doubt surrounding almost every post player available, and there is nobody who has separated themselves as the best yet.
The thing that stands out the most is the amount of foreign big men available. Six of the top 10 big men are from overseas.
25. Jamie Skeen (VCU)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 240 lbs
Jamie Skeen is the sharp shooting big man that led VCU to their improbable Final Four appearance.
Skeen is a solid scorer that can play both inside and outside. He is a smart player and rebounds the ball well.
The issue with Skeen is that he is not a superior athlete, and he is one of the oldest players in the draft at 23 years old. His knee injuries of the past are something to be feared as well.
23. Tomislav Zubcic (Croatia)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 210 lbs
Zubcic is similar to Benzing in that he is more of an outside player. However, Zubcic has much more post presence than Benzing.
He is a very athletic big man that aggressively scores. The combination of his three-point shot and his ball-handling ability make him very difficult to guard.
At the age of 21, NBA scouts would love for Zubcic to have a little more international experience. He is a few years away from being a legitimate NBA talent.
21. Nikola Vucevic (USC)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 260 lbs
Nikola Vucevic is not the most explosive athlete at his position, but still has a very well-rounded game.
He has a nice shot with range from deep and is one of the better rebounders available.
However, his lack of quickness and athleticism could hurt him defensively at the next level. Vucevic needs to get quicker if he wants to succeed.
20. Jon Leuer (Wisconsin)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 228 lbs
Yet another sharp shooting big man here. Leuer can hit shots from beyond the arch, but has a limited game other than that.
He is an underachiever when it comes to rebounding and does not have elite strength or athleticism.
I see him as a less athletic Channing Frye. He has a great shot from deep, but other than that, there is not too much to be incredibly excited about here.
19. Keith Benson (Oakland)
Position: Center
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 230 lbs
Benson has the makings of a solid NBA big man. He is athletic, quick and is a great shot blocker.
Last season at Oakland he averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game.
If Benson can work on his attitude, he has some real potential. The measurables are all there, now it is just a matter of putting it all together.
17. Justin Harper (Richmond)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 225 lbs
Harper is a highly talented offensive player, but his game is less than impressive elsewhere on the court.
He has been labeled as a “soft” player that does not like to do the dirty work inside. Don’t expect too high of rebounding totals out of this kid.
However, when he has the ball, Harper is tough to stop. He possesses a shot that he can bury from anywhere in the gym. Along with his athleticism, he is one of the better scoring bigs in the draft.
15. Jordan Williams (Maryland)
Position: Center
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 260 lbs
Jordan Williams is a bruiser of a center. He likes to play the game physical and close to the basket.
His greatest strength is his ability to dominate the rebounding battle. Williams averaged 11.8 rebounds per games last season with Maryland.
He has taken a lot of criticism regarding his athleticism and his conditioning, but some of it may be a little unfair. At times, Williams has shown that he can run the floor. He just needs to show it more often.
14. JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 221 lbs
When I see JaJuan Johnson, I instantly think Hakim Warrick. Like Warrick, Johnson is very athletic for his position, but lacks the post moves to be an elite inside players.
Johnson is a high-flyer who can kill you with his mid-range game, but his game may not work as well in the NBA.
He lacks strength and is not always the smartest player on the floor. He relies almost solely on his athleticism.
13. Trey Thompkins (Georgia)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 245 lbs
Trey Thompkins is not an excellent athlete, but he makes up for it with his crafty play.
Thompkins has a good jump shot, but he also has the ability to finish close to the basket.
His greatest strengths of all might be his rebounding and shot-blocking ability. Unlike a lot of the guys on this list, Thompkins is not a liability on the defensive end.
11. Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 226 lbs
It is debatable whether or not Harris even deserves to be on this list. He is a bit of a tweener, but I include him because he plays bigger than his size.
Harris’s game is very well rounded. He can shoot, dribble, pass and play defense, but he does most of his scoring off the drive.
The problem with Harris is that he is not an elite athlete and might not be strong enough for the next level yet. He is a risky pick.
9. Markieff Morris (Kansas)
Position: Center
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 245 lbs
Markieff Morris has yet to showcase a big time offensive game yet, but his defense and rebounding alone is good enough to get him in the NBA.
He is big and athletic, so he can hang with just about any big man in the league. He would be a perfect fit on a team like the Knicks who need a defensive center.
His offensive game has improved during his time at Kansas. His jump shot is respectable and he can sometimes muscle his way to high percentage looks.
7. Kenneth Faried (Morehead State)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 225 lbs
Kenneth Faried is my favorite player in the draft. His work ethic and motor will make him a great pick up for whoever drafts him.
Faried was the best rebounder in college basketball last season. His elite leaping ability and good shot-blocking ability have teams excited at the next level.
He is a little small for his position and has yet to develop a go-to offensive game yet, but I feel Faried is worth the risk.
6. Marcus Morris (Kansas)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 235 lbs
Marcus Morris is the more skilled of the Morris brothers.
Marcus is a good defender and rebounder like his brother Markieff, but is a more versatile scorer. He has a solid shot from beyond the arch and has the ability to handle the ball and attack the basket.
He is not an out-of-this-world athlete and is a bit small for the power forward position. However, I feel he is one of the most NBA-ready big men available.
5. Tristan Thompson (Texas)
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 225 lbs
Tristan Thompson has been on the fence about the draft for a while, but has finally decided to enter.
He should find himself drafted in the top 10 and he has plenty of potential. He is a good all-around scorer and a very impressive athlete for his position.
However, his size is a concern and he is not particularly great at any one thing. I doubt that he will be a super star, but Thompson will be a very solid NBA player.
Very similar play to Charlotte’s Tyrus Thomas.