NBA Draft 2011: Jeremy Tyler and 8 Most Red-Flagged Prospects
The NBA draft is now completed, and with all the uncertainty surrounding the labor situation, there is one sure question: Who will be the next great stars?
There have been stars that have been drafted, such as Chicago's Derrick Rose, Miami's Dwayne Wade and Minnesota's Michael Beasley just to name a few.
Every draft, there are prospects who raise the dreaded "red flag." These red flags could include injuries, off-the-court problems, Transfers to other schools and the resulting loss of eligibility and many others.
Many teams at the top of the draft lottery, such as the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers cannot afford to take a chance and draft a bust.
Here is Jeremy Tyler and eight NBA prospects who faced the most red flags going into the 2011 NBA draft.
1. Jeremy Tyler (Israel, Japan)
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Probably the most talked about prospect in the entire draft, Jeremy Tyler is in a unique situation. He skipped his senior season in high school to go pro and play internationally in Israel and Japan.
A lot of critics have said that his decision to skip his senior season in high school and forgo playing college basketball has hurt him more than help him.
Once a highly touted recruit, he signed a contract worth $140,000 with the Israeli Super League.
"In 10 games, he averaged 2.1 PPG and 1.9 RPG in 7.6 minutes per game." (ESPN.com)
A lot of people believe that he struggles mightily against elite competition which explains his poor numbers. Some also believe that his time overseas was an embarrassment as questions were raised as to how great his commitment was and also that his ability and skills overseas were a shell of what they was before his time in Israel.
2. Kyrie Irving (Duke)
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One of Coach K's outstanding freshmen, Kyrie Irving is one the finest players to don the blue and white uniform in Cameron Indoor.
During the first seven games that Irving appeared in, his stats were misleading in my opinion. His clip was "17.4 points per game on 53.2 percent shooting, and he added 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game." (ESPN)
In the eighth game of the season, Irving suffered a torn ligament in his big toe and would be sidelined until the NCAA tournament.
In Duke's loss to Arizona, Irving scored 28 points in what was his final game for the Blue Devils as he renounced his remaining three years of college eligibility and declared for the NBA draft.
His biggest criticism is that he did not appear in enough games to accurately gauge his talent and that not enough is known about how he can perform at the next level.
He was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers and is hoping to let Cleveland fans forget about LeBron James.
3. Josh Selby (Kansas)
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A freshman standout for Bill Self, Selby had originally committed to the University of Tennessee but decommitted and chose the Jayhawks over Kentucky, UConn and Arizona.
Selby attended Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, MD which "he averaged 32 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals per game during his senior season." (www.kuathletics.com)
He had his share of controversy as a report had allegedly surfaced that he was not cleared to play by the NCAA, and it had stemmed from a friendship with New York Knicks' star Carmelo Anthony and his business manager Robert Frazier.
Selby was suspended by the NCAA for nine games and was ordered to repay $4,607.58 in improper benefits he received to any charity of his choice.
After his suspension, his season average was 7.9 points and 2.2 assists on 20.4 minutes per game. He only appeared in 26 of a possible 38 games.
He was selected in the 2011 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 49th overall pick.
4. Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
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Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor didn't have as many red flags or hype as some of the prospects that entered into the draft.
Coming from the highly successful and physical Big Ten conference, Taylor was one of the key players on a much improved Badgers squad.
One of the few criticisms with Taylor is that he isn't fast enough to keep up with other point guards and that his defense can be a little lax at times.
A lot of people believe that another year at Wisconsin will give Taylor enough time to further develop his game and become a more solid NBA prospect for 2012.
5. Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
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A mainstay in Tom Izzo's offense for four years, Kalin Lucas was an icon in Spartans' history.
"He finished his four-year career at Michigan State as the school's all-time leader in free-throws made (507) and attempted (637). He is also one of just four Spartans to total 1,500 career points and 500 career assists." (http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl)
Lucas did not get drafted in the 2011 NBA draft and has been left wondering where his future may lead him.
It is believed that his size and his Achilles injuries prevented him from being drafted, and there is no real answer as to why his name was not called this past Thursday.
Detroit News' Matt Charboneau believes that Lucas will have an NBA career:
"I truly believe Lucas will still have an NBA career. He'll almost certainly be in a training camp and could make a roster right away. The other option is a trip overseas before making it in the NBA, much like former Spartan Charlie Bell." (www.detnews.com) "Either way, odds are you will hear more from Lucas than you ever will from Chukwudiebere Maduabum, Targuy Ngombo or Ater Majok."
6. Shelvin Mack (Butler)
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Shelvin Mack was a contributor in Butler's run to the 2010 and 2011 Men's Basketball championship games.
Here is what DraftExpress.com says about the former Bulldog:
"He is a 6'3” guard with an NBA caliber frame. He's a strong combo guard, with solid, but not spectacular quickness and average explosiveness. Mack would have good size and strength for the point guard position, but would be undersized if asked to spend substantial minutes at the shooting guard spot—a position he's often played at Butler."
A lot of scouts and evaluators believed that Mack showed room for improvement in driving to the basket and picking better shot placement. "They also believe that Mack has a habit of trying to finish drives to the basket with his right hand, often reaching back across his body to get past defenders." (DraftExpress.com)
Mack was drafted with the 34th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. He will join John Wall and JaVale McGee as they try to return the Wizards to relevance.
7. Bismack Biyombo (Congo)
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Probably the most raw prospect in the draft, Biyombo was regarded as the second best big man behind Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas.
The 6'9" forward from the Republic of Congo was a mystery to most in the draft, as he has elite defensive skills but has little offensive skills as he was poor in turning the ball over at half-court and was also poor scoring points, averaging 0.86 points per game.
A lot of scouts and executives believe that he will need time to improve his offensive capability before he can become a real factor in the NBA.
The Charlotte Bobcats took a huge risk and drafted Biyombo with the No. 7 selection in the draft after a three-team trade that involved the Sacramento Kings.
8. Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
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A lot of questions were raised about his speed and shot selection in the combine, but Jimmer Fredette proved everyone wrong during his junior and senior seasons.
Fredette, the leading scorer in all of college basketball in 2011 was the consensus winner of several national awards.
His questions were about his speed going up and down the court, and his somewhat questionable shot placement. NBA scouts believed that it would benefit him to be more patient and wait for the shot to develop.
He was drafted No. 10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks but then was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
