2011 NBA Draft Preview: Top Five Players at Each Position
A countdown of the best five players at each position from 25 to one. This class isn't going to be known for it flashy prospects, but it is very deep and strong and will produce many NBA starters down the road.
It is a class that isn't going to wow any scouts, but five years from now it will be regarded as very solid.
Wait and see who's the top prospect of the 2011 NBA draft class.
25. Keith Benson, Oakland: Center
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Keith Benson is going to be a steal for the lucky team that picks him up at the end of the first round. He is a very skilled athlete with a long arms and the ability to run the floor well.
Benson has a solid jumper with range up to 18 feet. Some of his flaws are that he is unable to defend the center position in the NBA and he needs to bulk up to compete at the next level.
24. Lucas Nogueira, Brazil: Center
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Lucas is a defensive-minded center who has the talent and size become a dominant center. He is fantastic at blocking shots in the paint and has a never-ending motor.
He needs to add strength to his body, considering he is only 218 pounds. He needs to work on his offensive post moves to contribute on both ends of the floor.
23. Marshon Brooks, Providence: Shooting Guard
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This senior shooting guard is one of the most natural scorers in the nation. Brooks holds the Big East record for most points scored in a Big East Conference game with 52.
He also averaged 7 rebounds a game to support his cause of becoming a successful NBA shooting guard.
Brooks needs to learn how to get other teammates more involved and needs to improve his free throw percentage to become a NBA starter.
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22. Jordan Williams, Maryland: Center
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This Maryland Terrapin is the biggest and strongest of this year’s top centers entering the NBA draft.
At 260 pounds, he will be able to hold his own in the paint, especially with his ability to finish with both hands around the rim.
He is an extremely good rebounder on both ends of the floor. Williams needs to remain in shape if he wants to be effective in the NBA, and he needs to improve his perimeter shooting game.
21. Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA: Small Forward
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This UCLA small forward is an exceptional athlete that teams will have a hard time passing up toward the end of the first round.
Honeycutt is a fantastic defender, especially in his shot blocking ability. He is a very smart athlete and is not afraid to make the extra pass.
His biggest criticism is his size: at 6’8’’, he's only 188 pounds. If he wants to have a down-low presence in the NBA, he needs to add 15-20 pounds to be able to assert his dominance inside.
20. Nolan Smith, Duke: Shooting Guard
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Nolan Smith is the best overall basketball player in this year’s draft class.
He was a First Team Consensus All-American, led Duke to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5 assists last season.
He is capable of playing both point guard and shooting guard while also being one of the best defenders in the nation.
Smith has good speed, a keen eye for involving his teammates in the offense and can get to the rim at any point in the game.
19. Reggie Jackson, Boston College: Point Guard
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Reggie is a scout's dream by being a long athletic point guard and boasts a seven foot wing span. He has a remarkable ability to grab rebounds due to his explosive leaping ability.
One of his weaknesses is his upper-body strength, a must for any true point guard who drives the lane in the NBA.
18. Chris Singleton, Florida State: Small Forward
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Chris Singleton will make an immediate impact on the team that drafts him. He is lockdown defender with very long arms, reminding many scouts of a young Tayshaun Prince.
Singleton is terrific at finishing in the paint and has a solid mid-range jump shot. One of his main criticisms is that he isn’t an offensive force in the paint despite his height.
17. Travis Leslie, Georgia: Shooting Guard
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Travis Leslie is an unbelievable athlete who can produce a dunk highlight every night. He is very creative and unique in his ability to get to the rim and finish with great proficiency.
At a height of 6’4’’, Leslie is undersized as a two-guard in the NBA and needs to finish developing his jump shot. He has the ability be a NBA star if he learns to score points without driving the lane.
16. Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania: Power Foward
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This Lithuanian native has emerged as one of the best international prospects in this year’s upcoming draft.
Jonas Valanciunas makes his living in the paint and under the basket as a defensive-minded rebounder.
He has a soft touch on his shots and can run the floor very well for a man his size.
He needs to gain more muscle strength in his upper body to secure himself as a dominant down-low presence.
15. Klay Thompson, Washington: Shooting Guard
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The PAC 10 leading scorer has proven that his is one of the best jump shooters in the country. He is a terrific free throw shooter and has tremendous range on his three-point shot.
Thompson needs to improve his strength and ball-handling skills to excel at the next level.
14. Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania: Center
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This Lithuanian phenom has the perfect skills and tools to succeed at the NBA level. Donatas is aggressive scorer, can finish with both hands and runs the floor very well.
He has a high basketball IQ, especially involving the pick and roll and has the court vision to find the open man.
Motiejunas needs to work on his strength by adding muscle to both his upper and lower body as well as his mid-range jump shot.
13. Alec Burks, Colorado: Shooting Guard
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The sophomore guard led the Buffaloes to the Final Four of the NIT while finishing third in scoring with the Big 12 Conference.
Burks is a phenomenal slasher and has uncanny scoring instincts, especially around the basket.
He is projected to be a lottery pick in this year's NBA draft. He needs to improve his outside shooting if he plans to stay at the two-guard position in the NBA.
12. Marcus Morris, Kansas: Power Forward
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Marcus Morris is a very good basketball player, but his athleticism is holding him back from being great.
He is a very good rebounder, has a knack of always being around the rim and has a surprisingly good outside jump shot.
One of his strengths is that he can play both small and power forward with some improvement on his three-point shot.
11. Jordan Hamilton, Texas: Small Forward
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Jordan Hamilton has the ability to be a great basketball player in the NBA. He knows how to score, can shoot the three-pointer and can run the floor with ease.
He grabbed eight rebounds a game despite his 6’7’’ height and isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. Hamilton is an unpolished defender lacking in lateral quickness and needs to work on his shot selection.
10. Jimmer Fredette, BYU: Point Guard
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Jimmer led the nation in scoring with 29 points per game, drawing resemblance to Stephen Curry as this draft class’s purest shooter.
He has an extremely high basketball IQ and knows how to involve all of his teammates in the offensive scheme.
One of the questions regarding his NBA success will depend on his ability to guard his position with his lack of lateral quickness.
9. Tristan Thompson, Texas: Power Forward
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This college freshman is an athlete that found his place at power forward. Although he is only 6 feet 8 inches, he has a wing span over 7 feet that makes him an impressive shot blocker in the paint.
Tristan has good ball handling skills for a big man and his can score from anywhere inside of three-point range.
Thompson needs to learn how to score from three-point range and he will become a commodity that many teams will be unable to pass up.
8. Bismack Biyombo, Spain: Power Forward
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This Congo native is impossible to ignore because of his intangibles. While he isn’t a prolific offense presence, he has the ability to excel on the defensive side of the floor.
At a height of 6’9’’, Biyombo has an out-of-this-world wingspan, 7’7’’, as well as being a fantastic shot blocker and rebounder.
His major weaknesses are his offensive scoring and his lack of professional experience.
7. Jan Vesely, Czech Republic: Power Forward
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Jan Vesely is a raw 6’11’’ power forward that should be one of the first international players taken in the NBA draft. He has a solid perimeter game, runs the floor well and is a good finisher at the rim.
He has a large upside despite his minimal professional experience and has the body type to succeed at the NBA level. Vesely’s flaws are that he needs to add strength and improve his post play.
6. Kemba Walker, Connecticut: Point Guard
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The First Team Consensus All American was the most exciting player in the nation in the 2010-11 college basketball season.
He is an extremely clutch shooter, plays with a huge heart and is one of the best athletes in this draft.
His only area of concern is his height of 6’1’’.
5. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State: Small Forward
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This 19-year-old sophomore has an attention-grabbing ability that appeals to every NBA team.
He has freakishly long arms, an incredible motor and is an excellent offensive and defensive rebounder.
A couple of the few questions regarding Kawhi’s future success revolve around his development as an offensive scorer as well as the maturation process of growing into his body.
4. Enes Kanter, Turkey: Center
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Enes Kanter was the No. 1 center prospect coming out of high school last year, was in ineligible to play college basketball last year because he received benefits while playing in Turkey and yet his still the No. 1 center prospect entering the NBA draft.
He is a very tough and strong player with all of the skills needed to succeed in the paint. He has the range to make an NBA three-pointer as well.
One of the few critiques of Enes is that he is inexperienced since he never played college basketball.
3. Brandon Knight, Kentucky: Point Guard
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Brandon Knight is an athletic scoring point guard who is excellent at scoring around the rim. He was a McDonald’s high school All-American and has great range on his jumper.
The only worry about Knight is that he might be a combo guard in the NBA and it could be a hard adjustment for him in becoming a pure point guard.
2. Derrick Williams, Arizona: Small Forward
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This Wildcat star is a fantastic all-around basketball player. He has a high basketball IQ, great ability to finish at the rim, has good range on his three-pointers and is exceptionally efficient in his shot selection.
Williams is a very effective player at both ends of the floor and has a mysterious way of playing lock-down defense at the end of games. Derrick is projected to get drafted second in this year's NBA draft.
1. Kyrie Irving, Duke: Point Guard
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Kyrie Irving is the purest point guard in this draft class and projected to go as the first pick in the NBA draft. He has a good range on his jump shot and has high basketball IQ.
Some people wonder if his lack of college experience will hinder his future success in the NBA. He is the best overall prospect in this year's draft and has the talent to become a NBA superstar within the next couple of years.
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