NBA Draft 2011: Brandon Knight, 13 Most Raw Prospects Available
NBA draft prospects can sometimes be a lot like sushi.
While some players, like Derrick Williams or Kemba Walker, seem like an expensive, fully cooked cut of fish, others, like Brandon Knight, are still quite raw.
But remember that sushi can be a delicacy. Even though the fish isn't cooked much at all, the taste is still absolutely delicious, and it can be a very rewarding meal.
The same can be said for the 13 players on this list.
Davis Bertans
1 of 13
Davis Bertans may not look much like a basketball player, but he can shoot the ball as well as anyone in this year's draft class. Yes, that does include some guy from BYU named Jimmer Fredette.
Calling Latvia home, Bertans needs to add a significant amount of weight to his 6'10" frame before he can even hope to get by against NBA-sized small forwards. He will most likely be a project player, one left overseas in Europe to develop for a few years before bringing his sharp-shooting abilities across the pond.
Bismack Biyombo
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Bismack Biyombo, a massive 18-year old from Congo, proved his skills when he posted the first triple-double in the history of the Nike Hoops Summit.
With an insane amount of defensive ability and a 7'7" wingspan, Biyombo can make an immediate impact in the paint, but he has absolutely no offensive game to speak of. I've heard him called the worst offensive player to be considered a lottery pick in decades. Fortunately though, his age gives him time to develop those skills.
Kyrie Irving
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It's weird to see the projected No. 1 pick on a list of the most raw prospects in the 2011 NBA Draft class, but the ultra-talented point guard from Duke has to be included.
Kyrie Irving has as much skill as anyone who could possibly be drafted, but remember he was only a freshman for the Blue Devils last year before declaring for the draft. Moreover, he only played in 11 games during his only collegiate season, sitting out the rest of the year with an injured big toe.
Irving will turn into a great player, but he still has some work to do on his game thanks to his lack of experience at a high level.
Cory Joseph
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Cory Joseph's decision to enter this year's draft was quite bizarre. Now that he's going pro after just one season at Texas, his draft stock is stuck in the middle of the second round. If he'd stayed and proved himself with one more year as a Longhorn, he could have shot up the boards.
Joseph only averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds a game during his freshman year and didn't even appear to belong on the same court as the other guards at the combine. He's simply just not ready yet.
Brandon Knight
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The headliner of this slideshow is none other than Kentucky's freshman point guard Brandon Knight. The last point guard to come out of Lexington was John Wall, who made an immediate impact in the NBA, but don't think Wall and Knight are anything alike.
Wall is much quicker and a much better passer than the score-first Knight. Don't get me wrong though because I still think Knight will develop into a great player. However, his draft stock is being boosted by his clutch shooting during March Madness and not the overall success of his freshman season.
Travis Leslie
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Travis Leslie is the most athletic player in this year's draft class, but athleticism alone does not make a player ready for the NBA. Sure, it helps, but basketball skills are kind of necessary as well.
Even though Leslie already thinks he's better than Tony Allen, he's not. His jump shot is shaky at best, and that's being nice. If he were an average athlete, he would have absolutely no shot at making it in the pros.
Another year at Georgia would have been nice, both for the fans who enjoy watching the highlights he produces and for his development.
Nikola Mirotic
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Hailing from Montenegro, Nikola Mirotic is another international player with an absolutely incredible jump shot who will most likely be drafted at either the end of the first round or the beginning of the second. As good as his shooting is, though, there are a few things he needs to work on before he's ready to play at the sport's highest level.
Even though he doesn't possess too much athleticism by NBA standards, Mirotic still has enough to get by.
Strength and experience are different stories for the forward. Expect to see him stay in developmental leagues for a little while before making the transition to the NBA.
Donatas Motiejunas
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Drawing many comparisons to foreign players like Andrea Bargnani, Donatas Motiejunas has a great blend of size, quickness and shooting ability.
The lefty has boatloads of potential, but he needs to straighten out his mental game first as one knock on him is his tendency to be overconfident in his abilities. Motiejunas also needs to add some strength and work on both his post moves and perimeter moves before he's ready to justify his potential top 10 pick status.
Lucas Nogueira
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Calling Brazil home, the 18-year old seven-footer has as high a ceiling as anyone in the draft, but he has tons of work to do on his game.
In many ways, Lucas Nogueira is very similar to Congo's Biyombo. He is ready to immediately contribute on the defensive end of the floor, but he needs to completely re-tool his offensive game before he'll earn time off the bench.
Jereme Richmond
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The small forward from Illinois is very athletic and could be a star if he ever realizes his full potential. Jereme Richmond definitely did not get to realize that potential during his time wearing the orange jerseys of the Illini.
Richmond was only on the court for 22.1 minutes a game during his freshman season and averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. That's obviously a pretty good sign Richmond can be considered as raw as they come.
Josh Selby
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After a freshman season marked by immaturity and extended periods of keeping the bench warm for the starters, Josh Selby decided to do away with anything related to Kansas and instead immediately declared for the NBA draft.
Selby had a terrific debut with the Jayhawks, but he quickly faded into obscurity. In the games he played, the freshman received an average of 20.4 minutes of court time and put up just 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
He's incredibly talented and athletically gifted, so expect to see him make it with the big boys, but it will take some time.
Tristan Thompson
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If you put Tristan Thompson inside the paint, he's a menace. The Texas Longhorns' freshman big man will play fabulous defense, pull down rebound after rebound on both offense and defense and show off an impressive arsenal of post moves for such a young player.
But the problem is, if you ask Thompson to take even one step outside the colored area of the court, there are major problems. With an awkward hitch in his shot, it will take countless repetitions for Thompson's shot to ever consistently go in from any sort of range. He's simply not ready to do much else besides hang around the rim.
Jonas Valanciunas
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As you've seen quite a few times so far in this slideshow, the international prospects are usually considered to be quite raw. Such is the case once more with the 6'11" Lithuanian center, Jonas Valanciunas.
Obviously, Valanciunas has the size to be successful. He also possesses remarkable athleticism for a big man and a great set of all-around skills. However, even he is not without flaws.
Valanciunas is still quite inexperienced and young. He needs to add more post moves to his game, especially ones that involve him going somewhere besides his left side. Additionally, the Lithuanian needs to tone down his aggressiveness to stay out of foul trouble and add strength to his lanky frame.
