NBA Draft 2011: Jimmer Fredette's Problem Is Not His Color, It's His Game

BYU guard Jimmer Fredette was recently named college basketball's player of the year, but most NBA teams probably don't view him as the best guard prospect in June's NBA draft.

That designation will likely go to Duke guard Kyrie Irving or UConn guard Kemba Walker, and contrary to some opinion, it has nothing at all to do with race.

There has been a push lately to to categorize most criticism of Fredette as a matter of race, but in truth, a person doesn't have to go skin deep to point out the obvious flaws in his game.

Fredette's ability to score has caught the attention of anyone associated with basketball, but that talent has also over-shadowed the shortcomings that will prevent him from being a star at the next level.

At 6'2'', Fredette is probably too short to play the shooting guard position in the NBA, and there is little Fredette has shown at the collegiate level to suggest that he is ready to assume control of a team as the lead guard.

Fredette's court vision is average at best, and although his strength allowed him to penetrate the lane easily at BYU, he lacks the quickness to do that consistently at the next level.

Fredette's shooting range is phenomenal, but will he be able to get that shot off against taller, quicker and stronger players in the NBA?

One way for Fredette to earn immediate playing time in the NBA would be if he excelled on defense, but unfortunately that is probably the weakest part of his entire game, and most coaches will be reluctant to give him much time if he can't guard anyone.

These are all legitimate concerns about Fredette's game, and a color-blind person could make the same observations.

Fredette does have great instincts, intangibles and a nice feel for the game, but can anyone honestly say he looks like a better pro prospect than Irving or Walker?

Both Walker and Irving are quicker than Fredette, they have better court vision and either player has the ball-handling skills to play the point guard position in the NBA.

Walker and Irving also have a better understanding of defensive principles, and it doesn't hurt that both may be better athletes than Fredette as well.

None of that means they will be better professional players than Fredette, but it does illustrate why some teams may feel that way, and it has nothing at all to do with the fact that both Irving and Walker are black.

Some issues concerning race and sports are valid, but trying to suggest that Fredette is being discriminated against because of his skin color is just like Jesse Jackson comparing Cleveland Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert to a slave owner.

The real issue here is basketball, and if Fredette really does have a game suited for the NBA, then it would be silly to think a team would avoid him because he's white.

At the NBA level game recognizes game, and for many of the people that make those types of decisions, Fredette's game just doesn't measure up.

That doesn't mean Fredette does not have a future in the NBA, it just means that his game must improve before anyone can justly label him a future star.

If you were forced to choose between Fredette, Walker or Irving, what would you base your decision on?

I guess if you were into reverse-affirmative action, the choice would be Fredette, but if the decision came down to all-around skills, and potential as a pro prospect, then the race argument looks pretty silly when it comes to determining talent.