The Top 25 Players That Won't Get A Sniff From The NBA
Unfortunately for some, the NBA is a much smaller league. With the ability for players to stay longer than four years as well, it is hard for all college players to make an impact. In fact, only eight or nine players straight out of college manage to make a significant impact in the NBA the next season. NBA scouts and front office officials have realized this and don't even bother to raise the hopes of the fringe players.
So who gets left out? What players are abandoned as no more than college greats? These are some of the players that may not be successful due to lack of hype.
John Shurna, SF, Northwestern
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Despite posting great stats, playing for a good, young USA team, and possibly leading Northwestern to their first tournament birth ever, John Shurna has been largely overlooked as an NBA prospect.
In his first two and a half years, Shurna has put up great points per game stats (his 23.3 is 8th in the country this season) while still putting up solid rebounding numbers and playing great defense (1.6 steals per game, 0.8 blocks). His leadership ability and work ethic are also great assets, however, probably not useful for what his role in the NBA would be.
Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
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Lamb may be the most likely to move out of this list due to his play as of late. The unheralded Kentucky freshman was an All-American in high school, but was the fourth-best recruit in the recruiting class for the Wildcats (behind Jones, Knight and Kanter).
But Lamb's 24 points against North Carolina and freshman-record 32 against Winthrop shows that he has NBA scoring ability and the ability to keep control of the ball, recording zero turnovers in each of the games.
William Buford, SG, Ohio State
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William Buford's combination of quickness and agility make him a great guard for Ohio State. He's a great scorer and has great range, however his strength and finishing ability are points of concern for Buford. He doesn't do a great job of getting to the line in comparison to his teammate of similar stature and playing style, David Lighty.
If Buford wants to break through at the next level (or get drafted for that matter), he needs to work on controlling the ball (2.1 turnovers per game) and rebounding.
Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
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Tyler Zeller has emerged as one of the best players for Roy Williams's Tar Heels. He's shown great presence down low this season and has become the best scoring threat for North Carolina.
However, his game doesn't really cater to the NBA game, which happens to be much more physical and power oriented. Although Zeller has great touch around the rim and has plenty of range on his jump shot, he is lacking in the power department. He is very timid when rebounding and doesn't like to initiate contact. He has the ability to draw contact in the post, but he doesn't want to use his body to get to the free throw line (where he is a great asset for his size). Zeller's power really needs to improve if he wants any shot at an NBA career.
Chris Wright, SF, Dayton
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Wright was an Atlantic-10 first team player in his junior season, and his senior campaign is going just as well. Averaging 13.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds, his athletic ability is through the roof. Although the NBA is a league full of athletes, there is a skill set that is also required.
He lacks the shooting ability to be a successful 3 man, and his ball handling skills are shaky at best. He doesn't bring much defense to the table either, which is cause for concern. Wright is a classic tweener; no one knows whether he will be a 3 or a 4 in the NBA. He's not fast enough to guard a 3, but not big enough to play the 4. Although his body is ready-made for NBA basketball, he's not a tremendous basketball player, just a tremendous athelte.
Brandon Paul, SG, Illinois
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Although he's not the most known player in college basketball, Paul is possibly the best six-man in the country. He can't fit into the starting lineup for Illinois because there are so many other guards that play well for the Illini. Paul showed early in the season that he's an instant spark however, by sinking 18 points in 20 minutes of play in their opening game against UC Irvine. He's a super athletic 2-guard, and he can shoot lights out when he gets hot.
However, he's really undersized for a shooting guard and his ball-handling isn't the best by a longshot. He needs to work on his consistency and his work ethic could be improved as well. At this point, I don't expect Paul to be drafted, but then again he's only a sophomore.
Malcolm Delaney, PG, Virginia Tech
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Delaney's coming out party was last year, as he scored an average of 20.6 points per game for a Virginia Tech team that just missed the NCAA tourney. This season is going about as well for Delaney, but he's lost some of his control.
The biggest knock on Delaney is the way he plays as a point guard—he's less of a distributor as he is a scorer. He's shown time and again that he can slash to the basket and score, but he has a much harder time getting the ball to his teammates. As a point guard he's averaging almost 5 turnovers a game, and his assist to turnover ratio is at .86—not great for someone who has to handle the ball. Despite his speed and scoring ability, Delaney has a lot of work to do before any teams in the NBA are going to take him seriously as a player.
Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
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Green is a man without classification. He is the Spartans' leading rebounder by far, but he's only 6'6", making him a small 3 in the NBA. He plays like a power forward in the fact that he uses his body to help him rebound and overpowers anyone that guards him. He also has a brilliant basketball IQ and is one of the hardest working guys in the country.
The only problem is his size. He is very heavy for his position and wouldn't be able to keep up with other 3s in the league. He isn't fast enough to guard players out on the perimeter and he's not athletic enough to rebound with taller players in the NBA. Although brains and brawn can get you a lot, it can't make you taller or faster, and that is the only thing holding Draymond Green back.
LaceDarius Dunn, SG, Baylor
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LaceDarius Dunn is one of the most dangerous shooters in the nation. He's a dangerous scorer that can shoot from well beyond the NBA line and has an uncanny ability to get to the rim as well. He's managed to increase his scoring from 19.6 points per game to 21.8 this season. He's increased every statistic from his junior year to his senior season, but unfortunately this also includes turnovers.
Dunn has also showed some character issues (assault arrest over the summer) and can be a bit selfish at times. The ability is definitely there from Dunn and he should get a shot at NBA fame and fortune, but much like Rashad McCants from North Carolina, it won't be his playing ability that will stand in his way.
Corey Fisher, PG, Villanova
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Fisher is one of the premier point guards in the country. He can score, pass, handle and defend with the best of him. His stats are among the best in the country in almost ever relevant category. He sports a 2.16 assist to turnover ratio and 1.6 steals per game.
The question to Fisher's NBA readiness lies in his consistency and athleticism. He is a very streaky shooter and will occasionally underperform to a mediocre opponent. His athleticism is a concern because he won't be able to outplay other players without an explosive first step or great control in the air. Without the tools to finish amongst the trees and out athlete other point guards, Fisher might not be a great point guard in the NBA.
Scotty Hopson, SG, Tennessee
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Hopson has underperformed for the Volunteers since the moment he stepped foot on campus. He was heralded as one of the best recruits to ever come to Knoxville, but until this season, all he had done was shown lackluster performances and occasionally throw down a highlight dunk.
He's stepped up to be the leading scorer for the Vols this season, but his inconsistent started to resurface in their recent three game losing streak. Hopson is an incredible athlete and has tremendous speed on the court. He can shoot with the best of them on a hot streak, but he is like a gold nugget fresh out of the ground: he needs lots of polishing before he is ready to wow anybody.
Occasionally, we'll glimpse the side of him that had everyone so excited (Dec. 11th vs Pittsburgh), but his terrible work ethic doesn't lend itself to anything spectacular. He needs to improve his defending vastly before he's ready to play at the next level and should work at all other aspects as well; he's good at everything (except defense), but not great at anything. On the other hand, he does have a mean flat top fade, which seemed to do wonders against Pitt.
E'Twaun Moore, SG, Purdue
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No one seems to like E'Twaun Moore as an NBA prospect. He is virtually the leading scorer (0.4 points behind JaJuan Johnson) for the Purdue Boilermakers and he has been a solid member of the team for all four years. He can shoot the ball very well and he has the ball handling skills to play some point guard.
However, he isn't very big for a combo guard and he needs more strength to compete at a higher level. He also doesn't have the quickness or athleticism to keep up or jump with the other players his size.
Kalin Lucas, PG, Michigan State
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Kalin Lucas is the perfect example of a college talent who probably won't have much success in the NBA. He's fantastic in the intangibles of the game: he can control the tempo, he sees the floor well, he has incredible quickness.
However, his jumpshot isn't always there, he still makes a couple of mistakes that he shouldn't, and he isn't the best athlete. In a league full of athleticism, players without it can be at a disadvantage. He may get drafted, but only because of name value.
Will Barton, SG, Memphis
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Will Barton was a highly touted recruit for Memphis this season, and his play has been decent, but not at all what people expected out of him. He's definitely put on some good performances, but his consistency is really what is missing. He's averaging 12 points per game, but he's only put up one two-game streak of 10+ point games in a row.
His athleticism is incredible, but his fundamentals lack polishing. Barton has a good, but not great jumpshot, and he can hit from range. He rebounds fairly well for his position and he can see the floor, but he's just not ready for the NBA.
Jon Leuer, PF, Wisconsin
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Jon Leuer has been a constant at Wisconsin for a long time. He's very good at what he does, as a shooting big man. He has lots of range on his jumpshot, and he is a great ball handler for his size. Leuer also has an outstanding basketball IQ too.
In the NBA, he might not be as successful however. He's not that powerful for his size and his athleticism leaves a lot to be desired. He's only an average rebounder, which needs to improve for him to justify a power forward spot on an NBA team.
Jacob Pullen, SG, Kansas State
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As we've seen this season with the Wildcats, Jacob Pullen isn't as good as people heralded him to be last year. Without a pure point guard to anchor him, Pullen doesn't have the support to help him be as good as he was.
He's not a point guard, but more of a scoring combo guard. The problem was the fact that he wasn't able to score and distribute without Dennis Clemente pulling the strings. With defenses focusing on Pullen, he hasn't been able to play well because he doesn't have the athleticism to beat players off the dribble. Plus, he's too small to play just the 2 position. He's not the fastest player in the world, but he can handle the ball decently well. If he can make some better decisions on the floor, his luck might change.
Durrell Summers, SG, Michigan State
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Summers has been a great asset to the Spartans during his career. He's a freak athlete and has dominant quickness. However, there are places in his game that need a lot of work. He's not very polished in areas that a guard should be.
Although his ability to break down defenses and drive to the basket is there, he doesn't use it as much as he should and instead relies on an inconsistent jumpshot. He also needs to work on his ball handling skills. His athletic and leaping ability is definitely an asset, but the rest of his game needs to be worked on.
Austin Freeman, SG, Georgetown
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Austin Freeman is a great player at Georgetown, but he is somewhat on-dimensional, which is a trait that doesn't lend itself to a great NBA player. Plain and simple, he knows how to score. He can shoot from outside, he can drive to the rim and he can run in transition.
However, he isn't the most athletic guard in the world and he doesn't like to defend. His work ethic is questionable and he doesn't like to take the blame if he's at fault. If he could work on passing or rebounding he might be worth a late draft pick, but otherwise he's not multidimensional enough to be a strong asset for a player.
Matt Howard, PF, Butler
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Matt Howard's rise to relevance came in the Butler run into the Final Four last season. The Bulldogs' resident big man is basically their only inside presence so he racks up the rebounds. His ability in to rebound amongst bigger and stronger opponents is a great trait to have.
In the NBA, he'll be facing stronger opponents and it may not be as easy. He doesn't finish as well as a big man should and other facets of a game aren't even in the conversation. He's a small big man that makes his living under the rim, which isn't exactly what the NBA is geared toward anymore.
Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State
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Klay Thompson should get NBA attention but doesn't. Much like a bigger Steph Curry, Thompson can do it all on the offensive end. He's one of the best shooters in the country and has range for days on his jumper. He can get to the hoop easily and finishes well. He can run the point as well, handling the ball with ease.
The reason he doesn't get much attention is both his location and his lack of athleticism. He's not the fastest or the strongest either, so his defensive abilities are a little less than average. The NBA loves athletes and Thompson isn't one of them. Regardless, he still might get a shot with a second-round draft pick or so.
Jeremy Hazell, SG, Seton Hall
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Hazell has proven in the past that he can dominate a game when he gets hot, but the other aspects of his game aren't that great.
He doesn't defend well, he can't pass the ball worth a darn, and his dribbling skills aren't that great for his position. Sometimes he gets frustrated if he's not given the chances to shoot and will compensate by pouting or taking possessions off. Sometimes it even takes 50 shot attempts in the game for him to get his points.If he needs that much possession of the ball to score his points, he's definitely not worth a draft pick, or a roster spot for that matter.
Update: Recent reports say that Jeremy Hazell and Seton Hall are considering redshirting his senior season after Hazell was shot in New York late Christmas night. He had already had wrist surgery on Dec. 2, but now he may take even longer to recover, possibly hurting his draft stock.
Tracy Smith, PF, NC State
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Tracy Smith's power is what makes him such a force for NC State. However, he's only played in two games this season and injuries have been an issue in the past. Also, he doesn't have much of a shot, which in the evolving NBA, is starting to become a trait many teams want in the power forward spot. He might be a bit small for most power forwards, and any decent defender can frustrate Smith and cause him to play impatiently and dumb.
He definitely has the physical prowess to be a power forward, but whether he will play up to his potential is also an issue.
Chris Wright, PG, Georgetown
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Chris Wright is a rather good point guard for Georgetown. He excels in passing and defense and is fairly good at scoring as well. Like so many others however, he's just not an athlete. He's not going to make the circus shots around the rim or dunk all over someone.
At barely 6'1", he can use some quickness, but he's not going to be fastest guy you've ever seen. You would think that regardless of his athletic ability a elite college passer would be welcome, but that isn't the case. Chris Wright might not even get drafted despite the great season he is having this year.
Isaiah Thomas, SG, Washington
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Thomas is basically the reincarnation of Nate Robinson, but less athletic. He is quick and can finish around the rim, but you'll never see him win a dunk contest. Yes, he can dunk, but not as well.
The fact that Thomas isn't a true point guard is a problem. He's maybe 5'9", but he can't pass as well as most other point guards and he's really only a scoring threat. In the NBA, he won't be able to guard other players on the floor because of his lack of power and size. He may pull a Nate Robinson and find a nice little niche, but I doubt it.
Nolan Smith, SG, Duke
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Why Nolan Smith isn't looked at as a great prospect, I don't know. There are no weak spots in his game. He's Duke's best on ball defender, he shoots great from outside, he has experience as a point guard, he passes well, he finishes well and he's smart as anyone in the game.
The only problem is his athleticism. I he were any better of a jumper or runner he'd be a lottery pick. However, the NBA is a potential based league and apparently Smith has used his all up. I'd be surprised if Smith doesn't end up on a bench somewhere, but I doubt he'll go before pick 40 in the Draft.
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