2010 NBA Draft: Evan Turner Is Good Now, John Wall Could Be Great Later

Before the college basketball season began, most people felt Kentucky freshman John Wall would be the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and while that is still the general consensus, Ohio State's Evan Turner merits consideration as arguably the Draft's best player.

I recently wrote an article concerning the hype surrounding Wall, and not only did most of the readers agree that Wall was over-hyped, but many thought Turner would be the better choice at No. 1.

Turner may be the safer choice, and in terms of NBA readiness, he appears capable of immediately contributing to whatever team is lucky enough to earn his services.

Many people compare Turner to Portland star Brandon Roy, and the comparison is a good one because both players have the ability to impact a game from a variety of angles.

Roy and Turner even seem to have similar talents, as both possess strength, quickness, and the ability to create scoring opportunities from the paint or on the perimeter.

They are both above-average ball-handlers, and although Roy is a decent defender, Turner may actually have an advantage in this area, because he is a little better defensively than Roy was at this stage.

The most impressive thing about Turner may be the level of maturity he has displayed, both in his game and his off-court demeanor, which is a good thing for a rookie from whom much will be expected.

Turner could easily be a top-tier player in his first season, and is probably the front-runner for next season's Rookie of the Year award, but Wall has the type of potential that could revolutionize the game.

Wall's combination of speed, size, strength, and court vision make him one of the more tantalizing point guard prospects to enter the league in a long while, even if he is a bit unpolished.

Wall averaged 16.8 points and 6.2 assists per game in his only season at Kentucky, and an unspoken truth is, Wall put up those numbers while surrounded by talent, and with no real clue about the duties of a point guard.

Of course Wall was brilliant at times last season, but his brilliance shouldn't be confused with the true aspects of the point guard position, which entails a lot more than fast-break opportunities.

Point guards are generally the leaders of a team, and Wall will be forced into that position in his rookie season, and I'm not sure he is capable of shouldering the responsibility.

Wall has a troubled history with male authority figures, which his mother credits to his father's early death, and his high school career was littered with various run-ins with coaches.

To his credit, Wall says the opportunity to attend a Christian private school in his final high school season helped center him, but will that new-found peace be thrown out the door when faced with NBA adversity?

Wall's situation at Kentucky can hardly compare because he was basically a mercenary in coach John Calipari's stable of one-and-done players, and it's doubtful Calipari placed any real restrictions on him.

So Wall will probably face a steep learning curve when he is forced to deal with established NBA point guards who really understand the game, but his physical talents will guarantee a few highlights this season.

There are probably only a handful of guards who will be able to prevent Wall from getting to the rim, and his 6'4" frame will give him a size advantage over most of the players he will face.

Wall will find success this season, but his future as a star depends on his willingness to truly learn his position, and to accept criticism which will further his development.

I can understand any team's decision to draft Wall first because he really could develop into the NBA's next great talent at the point guard position, but the window on that development is the reason I would choose Turner.

Turner averaged 19 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists last season while shooting 53 percent from the field, and that type of production suggests his learning curve will be a lot less steep than Wall's.

If the Philadelphia 76ers use the second pick on Turner they will receive the most polished player in this year's draft, and by far the most versatile, which may be just the tonic the 76ers need.

Turner is more centered than Wall, and less volatile, and he may be better equipped to handle the rigors of NBA life, and he seems to be a coach's dream as far as accepting instruction.

But it is hard to dismiss Wall's tremendous upside, and the Washington Wizards franchise would never recover if he did realize the enormous potential his talents suggest, and they let him get away.

Turner would be a nice consolation prize, because he has the look of a perennial All-Star, but if Wall does become the player some feel he could be, then he would be well worth the hype.