2011 NBA Mock Draft: Will Derrick Williams or Kyrie Irving Go No.1?
With the 2010 college basketball season in the rear-view mirror, it's now time to set sights on the future and the NBA Draft.
There is a plethora of talent in this year's class, and many players could emerge as top-tier players over the next few seasons.
Now that Duke point guard Kyrie Irving has declared, there are debates as to who the top pick will be in the upcoming draft.
Who is No.1, Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams?
30. San Antonio Spurs: SG Marshon Brooks
1 of 30
Everybody wants to talk about Jimmer Fredette and his league leading 28.9 points per game.
The guy who is second on that list is Providence shooting guard Marshon Brooks, who averaged 24.6 points per game.
This season, Brooks dropped a 43 point game against Georgetown, and a 52 point game against Notre Dame—he has proven to be a natural scorer.
However, Brooks will need to improve on his complementary abilities, such as passing and shot selection, at the next level.
29. Chicago Bulls: SF Chris Wright
2 of 30
Chris Wright is a player with all of the physical tools and athletic ability needed to succeed at the next level.
Wright will benefit from good coaching that can improve his technique and overall fundamentals.
He is a quick, explosive and aggressive player that was known in Dayton primarily for his defensive play.
This season he contributed with 1.4 blocks per game and also pulled in over seven rebounds per game.
28. New Jersey Nets: SF Kyle Singler
3 of 30
Kyle Singler is a guy that perfectly fits the definition of a tweener. He is not quite quick enough to guard the three, but also not quite strong enough to guard the four.
He had a slight drop off in production this year at Duke, but was still a big contributor at crucial times.
Singler is one of the main reasons for success at Duke over the past few seasons. He shows the ability to do many things well, but nothing stands out for being great.
He may not be a superstar in the NBA, but he could be a solid player for years to come.
27. Boston Celtics: PF JaJuan Johnson
4 of 30
JaJuan Johnson, like Singler, is a guy that will be seen as a tweener in the NBA.
He has fantastic athleticism, with great length, body control and leaping ability. However, he lacks the strength to play on the inside and has shown just average skills on the outside.
He shows quickness and fluidity to make the easy plays on offense, but lacks the natural skills of a shooter.
His seven-foot wingspan made him a huge threat on defense, allowing him to register 2.3 blocks per game this year at Purdue.
Did I forget to mention he was the Big Ten player of the year?
26. Chicago Bulls: PF Jon Leuer
5 of 30
Although he stands in a 6'10”, Leuer presents a match-up problem due to his finesse style of play.
He shot .470 on the season and averaged 18.3 points per game. He was one of the best shooters on the Wisconsin team.
Prior to this season, there were doubts about Leuer's strength and ability to play defense.
Although he still won't be a dominant defensive player, he did show improvement when fighting for rebounds.
25. Dallas Mavericks: PG/SG Nolan Smith
6 of 30
Nolan Smith is just an overall good talent. There is no one aspect of his game that stands out, but he is very efficient in almost every category.
Smith is not the greatest athlete, so he may struggle getting away from defenders at the next level.
However, he has a very high basketball IQ which he utilizes to separate from the defense.
He shows top end ability when attacking the rim on offense and his shooting ability may be the best of all his attributes.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: PG Shelvin Mack
7 of 30
Shelvin Mack was one of the primary reasons for Bulter's back-to-back Championship game runs.
In terms of playing style, Mack is more of a pure shooter than anything else. He has a fantastic ability to create shots, even with only average athletic ability.
He plays smart and always seems composed. His dribbling ability allows him to get defenders backwards to create shot opportunities.
Due to his recent change to the point guard position, Mack will likely fall a lot further in this draft than his talents would indicate.
23. Phoenix Suns: SF Chris Singleton
8 of 30
Chris Singleton suffered a foot fracture on February 12th, and had surgery on it shortly after. Despite this, he still should go in the first round of the draft.
Singleton may lack the ball-handling skills and shooting ability to be a natural wing player, but he makes up for it with his athleticism.
He has great size and length for the small forward position, has great leaping ability and runs the floor aggressively.
22. Denver Nuggets: PF Jordan Williams
9 of 30
Jordan Williams is a big defensive minded power forward.
At 6'10” and 260 pounds, he plays a very powerful defensive game averaging 11.8 rebounds per contest.
He isn't the most fluid shooter in this year's draft, but he has improved greatly from his freshman year.
The main thing that Williams possesses is potential. Whatever team that takes him may see him struggle early, but he has the ability to become a top player.
21. Charlotte Bobcats: PF Kenneth Faried
10 of 30
I must admit, before the NCAA Tournament I didn't know who Kenneth Faried was.
The power forward from Moorehead State may be undersized for his position, but he makes up for it with his athleticism and desire.
He averaged a double-double per game with 17.3 points and 14.5 rebounds.
He was the top player on the Morehead State team, and was a primary reason for their run to the Sweet 16.
20. New Orleans Hornets: SF Tobias Harris
11 of 30
Although he only played his freshman year for the Volunteers, Tobias Harris proved quickly that he had what it took to play in the NBA.
In 2011, he averaged 15.3 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds per game. He also did this spending only 29.2 minutes average on the court.
Harris has a high basketball IQ and is a versatile player. He can play down in the post or even pull up for the occasional three-point shot with success.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: SG/SF Tyler Honeycutt
12 of 30
The biggest problem with Tyler Honeycutt's game is that he isn't selfish enough. Many times he looks to pass instead of shooting.
Luckily, that's better than the opposite.
Honeycutt is an interchangeable player between the guard and forward positions. He is a versatile player who can help the team in post play and shooting beyond the arc.
18. Washington Wizards: PF Trey Thompkins
13 of 30
Since Trey Thompkins is such an agile player for his size, it makes him extremely versatile.
Listed as a power forward, Thompkins could also play small forward if asked.
He isn't the most athletic player, but he still is very skilled. He can create shots, pass, block shots and even knock some down from beyond the arc.
He has a high basketball IQ and puts himself in the right position to make plays.
17. Philadelphia 76ers: SG Jordan Hamilton
14 of 30
Jordan Hamilton is a player with a flurry of talents still looking to find what his exact role could be on a team.
There are many possibilities, and it is hard to predict how he will develop as a player.
He has a strong body and is a solid shooter. He also has a knack for coming down with rebounds.
He is a confident player and won't back down from any challenge.
16. New York Knicks: SF Kawhi Leonard
15 of 30
Kawhi Leonard has shown tremendous progression from his freshman to sophomore year.
He has become a better shooter and rebounder. This season he averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds.
He can disappear at times during a game, but when he is on he can do damage in little amounts of time.
15. Indiana Pacers: PF Tristan Thompson
16 of 30
As a freshman, Tristan Thompson was one of the better forwards in all of college basketball. He was inconsistent at times, but has a major upside to NBA teams.
Thompson is extremely athletic, and it just now finding how to utilize that athleticism in his play. He is finding how to use these abilities to finish and crash the glass.
Thompson finished the year averaging 13.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. His shooting percentage stands out at .546.
14. Houston Rockets: PF Markieff Morris
17 of 30
One of the two Morris brothers from Kansas will land in Houston.
Morris is known more for his ability as a defender, but during his years at Kansas he has grown into a much better shooter.
Albeit, he may take easy shots, but Morris still hit 58.9 percent of his shots this season. He averaged 13.6 points per game.
13. Phoenix Suns: SF Terrence Jones
18 of 30
Even though he was a freshman, Terrence Jones played a huge role in Kentucky's advancement into the Final Four.
Although Jones is a little small for his position, he capitalizes off the speed and agility that he has over his opponents.
He is a crafty ball-handler for someone his size, which allows him to get more shot opportunities. He averaged 15.7 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game this year.
12. Utah Jazz: PF Marcus Morris
19 of 30
The other, and better, Morris from the Kansas Jayhawks could possibly go higher than 12th overall to the Utah Jazz. He won't slip any further than this.
Morris doesn't quite have the size that jumps out at team's for a natural power forward. He lacks the bulk and strength to overpower top post players.
Morris is more of an offensive power forward. He averaged 17.2 points per game this season shooting 57.0 percent. He is very effective with his mid-range shooting.
11. Golden State Warriors: PG Jimmer Fredette
20 of 30
This is a man that needs no introduction.
Fredette was the top scorer in the nation last season at BYU, averaging 28.9 points per game.
However, there are some questions about Fredette heading into the NBA. He does lack the natural athleticism of a star point guard. Luckily, he makes up for that with his shooting.
His defensive play is suspect as well.
Fredette is known for being a hard worker. If anybody could work to better some of the questionable play, it's Fredette.
10. Charlotte Bobcats: C Jonas Valanciunas
21 of 30
Jonas Valanciunas is a big prospect out of Lithuania.
He is exciting to watch. Valanciunas makes his living off of dunks, rebounding and swatting away shots.
The only worry is his strength. He lacks the bulk and strength that is needed to be a star center in the NBA.
If he can add on some weight, Valanciunas could be a big name player down the road.
9. Milwaukee Bucks: PG Alec Burks
22 of 30
Alec Burks is a sophomore, and at just 19 years old is showing a very promising future. He is drawing comparisons to Evan Turner from last year's class.
Due to his young age, he still lacks the body frame of an NBA player. That strength should come as time passes.
Despite the small frame, he displays great aggressiveness attacking the rim. He averaged 20.5 points per game this season.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG Kemba Walker
23 of 30
There are two concerns about Kemba Walker.
First is his size. At 6'0” and only 170 pounds, Walker is one of the smallest players in this year's draft class.
Next, is his decision making. Too many times he pulls up for a shot when he shouldn't. He needs to improve on this in the upcoming years.
Despite these two things, Walker was still one of the best college basketball players this year. He probably won't have the same success as a pro, but he is still an amazing talent.
7. Detroit Pistons: PG Brandon Knight
24 of 30
Yet another stud on the Kentucky Wildcats this season.
Knight, as only a freshman, was one of the top talents on the Kentucky roster, averaging 17.3 points per game.
Knight is a well rounded player, with excellent speed, scoring ability and size.
He knows when to shoot and how to set up teammates and has a very bright future.
6. Utah Jazz: PF Donatas Motiejunas
25 of 30
One beast from Lithuania isn't enough. There will likely be two that go in the top 10 of this year's NBA draft.
What makes Motiejunas such an intriguing prospect is his high ceiling. He has a lot of room to improve off of an already impressive game.
He is very versatile with a solid mix of strength, size and speed.
Right now he is more of an offensive talent, but at 7'0” and 224 pounds he has the frame to become a strong defensive player as well.
5. Sacramento Kings: PF Enes Kanter
26 of 30
Kanter is a power forward and center from Turkey who was set to play at Kentucky this season.
He was ruled ineligible for the 2010 season. Despite this, he will be a top five pick in the draft—not a big loss for Kanter there.
Kanter is a fascinating basketball player. He has size, strength, speed and all the athleticism in the world to go with it.
The only concern is his history with injuries. He has had knee problems in the past.
4. Washington Wizards: PF Perry Jones
27 of 30
Perry Jones is a very unpolished and unfinished product.
Despite this, he will be taken very high in this year's draft simply due to his raw talent.
Jones may be the most athletic player in the draft. With the right coaching, he could become a big name in the NBA.
It may take him a few years to develop, but if teams are willing to wait they could get a star.
3. Toronto Rapters: SF/PF Jan Vesely
28 of 30
Jan Vesely has terrific size, and will likely be able to play either forward position in the NBA. In Europe, he outmatched almost every opponent he faced.
Vesely is more of a defensive talent, and can shut down big name players inside the paint.
However, he needs to improve on his offense. His shooting from the post was better this most recent season, but it will still need work on the next level.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Kyrie Irving
29 of 30
How many freshman, can get hurt almost the entire season and still be considered one of the best players in the draft class?
That alone says it all about Duke point guard Kyrie Irving. When he was off the floor, Duke was a very good team. When he was on the floor, Duke was great.
Irving is a true point guard, and is one of the most likely players from this draft class to succeed in the NBA.
There is never a “sure thing,” but Irving comes pretty close.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: SF/PF Derrick Williams
30 of 30
Ever since Lebron James took his talents to South Beach, there hasn't been many reasons to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Imagine if they ended up with Kemba Walker and Derrick Williams after the 2011 NBA Draft.
I'll must admit, I would have to check it out.
Derrick Williams proved time and time again in the NCAA Tournament that he was a big time player who could make plays when they mattered most.
He is slightly undersized for a power forward, but makes up for that with his speed.
He simply makes it happen on the court.
