2011 NBA Draft Combine: Full List of Participants and What's at Stake
The 2011 NBA draft combine provides most of the top incoming prospects with a golden opportunity to showcase their skills to all 30 teams.
In what is being referred to as one of the weakest draft classes in recent memory, it's especially important for these athletes to capitalize on the opportunity to alter the perception of their draft stock.
Although the top spot in the draft is between Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams, Irving will not participate in the combine. Just about every other selection is open for debate, and it should be fun to watch how the combine plays into the planning for the June 23 event.
The combine dates are May 18 through May 22, and ESPN3 and NBATV are both airing the drills and practices live so fans can get a good look at the incoming prospects.
1. Derrick Williams, Forward, Arizona
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There isn't a lot at stake for Williams, but this could be a good opportunity to prove that he should warrant serious consideration with the No. 1 selection.
Projected top pick Kyrie Irving will skip the combine entirely, so all eyes are going to be fixated on Williams.
2. Enes Kanter, Center, Turkey
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Typically, international prospects don't play a very active role in the combine, but Enes Kanter has a ton to prove.
He's an early favorite to go second overall to Minnesota, assuming that the T-Wolves hold onto the pick, but he could break his draft stock if he has a poor showing.
3. Brandon Knight, Point Guard, Kentucky
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Brandon Knight is one of the fastest rising names in the draft lottery, and he could really solidify his standing as a top five talent if he puts on a good show at the combine.
He's an early favorite to go in the top three picks, but he's going to have to look absolutely unbelievable for the Jazz to roll the dice on him after they just traded for Devin Harris.
4. Kemba Walker, Point Guard, UConn
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Kemba Walker is currently being penciled into mock drafts in any slot between No. 5 and No. 10, so a strong showing at the combine would push him toward the higher end of that prediction.
Assuming that he shows the skills that so many expect him to, there's no reason that the Raptors shouldn't watch with a close eye and consider making him the face of a new-look franchise.
5. Kawhi Leonard, Small Forward, SDSU
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Kawhi Leonard is a true wild card in the upcoming draft, and where he is selected is going to be highly dependent on what he shows at the combine.
He's got a chance to be picked as high as No. 6 to the Wizards, but he's going to have to prove that his outstanding season at SDSU was no fluke.
6. Tristan Thompson, Power Forward, Texas
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Tristan Thompson is one of the greatest unknowns heading into the draft next month, as he could be selected anywhere between picks one and 20.
He's going to have to add some serious bulk if he hopes to play power forward at the NBA level, so scouts will be playing close attention to his low-post game.
7. Alec Burks, Shooting Guard, Colorado
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Despite all of the production that he poured in at Colorado, Burks will still have to prove that he belongs in the lottery at the combine.
He can fill it up in bunches, so his dynamic skill set is almost certain to appeal to any team drafting after the sixth spot.
8. Marcus Morris, Forward, Kansas
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Although the Morris twins would ideally like to land on the same team, Marcus is the more impressive talent and will likely be selected earlier as a result.
Teams looking to bring him aboard will certainly want to make sure that his rebounding skills weren't just good enough for college because they'll be banging around with bigger guys at the next level.
9. Klay Thompson, Shooting Guard, Washington State
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Klay Thompson is the best shooter in this draft class outside of Jimmer Fredette, and the combine will be a great place for Thompson to prove exactly that.
He's a name that's going to be very popular over the next month, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him go in the top 10 if his rise continues.
10. Markieff Morris, Forward, Kansas
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Markieff is almost just as talented as his twin brother Marcus, but he's just about a step behind in certain aspects of his game.
If he goes through the combine with the fluid success that many anticipate, he won't have to wait very long to hear his name called after his brother's is announced.
11. Josh Selby, Point Guard, Kansas
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Despite his down year at Kansas, Josh Selby is simply too talented to let slip into the back end of the inaugural round.
Jrue Holiday had a down year in his first season at UCLA and was drafted at No. 17 in 2009, and now he's looking like an absolute heist from that class.
12. Chris Singleton, Forward, Florida State
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Similar to Josh Selby, Singleton is a talent whose skills transcend the box score from the last collegiate season.
He's going to have to use the combine to prove that his offensive game is a little more polished than most expect, and if he can do that, he should seal his place in the lottery.
13. Jimmer Fredette, Point Guard, BYU
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Fredette is in for an epic slide on draft day unless he puts on some kind of show at the combine.
He's going to need to display more than just a sharp shooting touch from deep during the weekend's activities if he hopes to avoid falling out of the lottery entirely.
14. Tyler Honeycutt, Forward UCLA
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Tyler Honeycutt would have been a top 10 pick next season had he stayed at UCLA for another season, but he felt that this was his time.
And he may be right. If he shows off his sky-high ceiling and displays the flashes of potential that we saw during his tenure in college, Honeycutt may be selected even earlier than we think.
Tier 2 Prospects: Fringe of the Lottery, Middle of First Round
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Kenneth Faried (PF, Morehead State)
Tobias Harris (F, Tennessee)
Justin Harper (PF, Richmond)
Reggie Jackson (PG, Boston College)
Travis Leslie (SG, Georgia)
Trey Thompkins (PF, Georgia)
Marshon Brooks (SG, Providence)
JaJuan Johnson (PF/C, Purdue)
Charles Jenkins (SG, Hofstra)
Jordan Hamilton (SF, Texas)
Of the group of players listed here, Jordan Hamilton is the player who can do the most for his draft stock with an explosive performance at the combine.
Hamilton, along with Tobias Harris and Reggie Jackson, could all catapult themselves into the first 14 picks on June 23, with a very strong showing.
Tier 3 Prospects: End of First Round, Beginning of Second Round
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Jordan Williams (C, Maryland)
Malcolm Lee (PG, UCLA)
Nolan Smith (SG, Duke)
Lucas Nogueira (C, Spain)
Jon Leuer (PF, Wisconsin)
Chandler Parsons (SF, Florida)
Jereme Richmond (SF, Illinois)
Kyle Singler (SF, Duke)
Scotty Hopson (SF, Tennessee)
Darius Morris (PG, Michigan)
None of the above listed players should expect to hear their name called before the No. 20 selection, but both Darius Morris and Nolan Smith could do the most for themselves with impressive showings.
Both guards are 'tweeners in terms of their size and the positions played in college, but they can fill it up in a hurry and can certainly aid any team that's in need of scoring.
Tier 4 Prospects: Second Round
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Isaiah Thomas (SG, Washington)
Shelvin Mack (PG, Butler)
Corey Joseph (PG, Texas)
Jeremy Tyler (PF, USA)
Keith Benson (C, Oakland)
Demetri McCamey (PG, Illinois)
E'Twaun Moore (SG, Purdue)
Norris Cole (PG, Cleveland State)
Jimmy Butler (SF, Marquette)
Malcolm Thomas (F, SDSU)
Jeremy Tyler is going to be watched with a very special eye in order to see exactly what he's capable of handling at the NBA level. Remember his story? He's the kid who left high school early in order to play professional basketball in Israel.
Additionally, it should be noted that this group is one that's going to thoroughly impress at the combine since many of them are going to have their draft stocks impacted highly but what they do at the combine.
Tier 5 Prospects: Second Round
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Ben Hansbrough (PG, Notre Dame)
Andrew Goudelock (PG, College of Charleston)
Rick Jackson (F, Syracuse)
DeAndre Liggins (SG, Kentucky)
David Lighty (SG, Ohio State)
Iman Shumpert (SG, Georgia Tech)
Jamie Skeen (PF, Virgina Commonwealth)
Nikola Vucevic (F, Southern California)
Greg Smith (C, Fresno State)
Almost all of the participants that were invited to last year's combine wound up playing in the NBA this season, but not all of them were drafted.
Having said that, this group is going to have the most to lose through the combine if they come up with a poor showing.
