NBA Draft 2011: Kenneth Faried and 5 Big Men No One Is Talking About
Dominant big men have always made their presence felt on the big stages. With the exception of this year's Miami Heat, the majority of championship contenders possess a dominant big man down low.
Whether it was Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki or Hakeem the Dream, the big man has become the staple of a championship-bound team. These are five players who may not be getting all the attention, but are working to make a name for themselves in the NBA.
Davis Bertans- International
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A projected mid-late to second round draft pick, Davis Bertans can instantly make any team better with his ability to spread the floor. The international prospect's shooting ability makes him a difficult cover, and his 6'10 frame lets him get his shot off with ease.
Bertans one big downside is his size. Though he has a 6'10 frame, he weighs 210 pounds. He must put on weight if he doesn't want to get bullied in the post.
At 18 years old, Bertans has room to blossom into one of the better international forwards the league has ever seen. With the right work ethic and dedication, he could turn into the next Dirk Nowitzki.
Bismack Biyombo- International
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From the depths of the Republic of Congo emerged Bismack Biyombo, a 6'9 defensive sensation.
Biyombo made a name for himself in early April at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland and hasn't looked back since.
Described as everything from the next Dikembe Mutumbo to a shorter Dwight Howard, Biyombo led the ACB (the most renowned basketball league in Spain) in blocked shots at 2.3 in his 17 minutes per game. He was also among the league leaders in rebounding per 40 minutes and free throw attempts per 40 minutes.
With his shot blocking expertise, Biyombo could turn any team into a top tier defense. He's projected as an early lottery pick, and wouldn't look too bad in a Charlotte Bobcats jersey.
Tobias Harris- Tennessee
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At 6'8, Tobias Harris is pretty undersized to be a power forward in the NBA, but he makes up for it with his physicality and his mid range jumper.
In the NCAA Tournament, I watched Tobias Harris completely dominate for Tennessee. He grabbed boards and poured in the points like no other big man I've seen in the NCAA. I'm not saying he's the best big man in the Draft (not even close), but he's got the potential to develop into a Zach Randolph-like player.
He's projected to be drafted by the Washington Wizards as their 18th pick, but they might want to trade their pick to a more post-oriented squad.
Kenneth Faried- Morehead State
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Kenneth Faried is what Dajuan Blair would be with ACLs.
Faried is an athletic phenomenon. He uses his leaping ability to block shots and grab rebounds, and he does it at an efficient rate. For Morehead State, he was putting up incredible numbers. Faried averaged 17.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.
Could he be the next Josh Smith?
Keith Benson- Oakland
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Keith Benson deserves to be a first-round draft pick.
Projected as a mid-second round choice, Benson averaged a double-double in the 2010-11 season with 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He's an incredibly gifted athlete with great size and leaping ability. Benson's got a great mid range jumper and a pretty decent post game.
It completely baffles me why he's not getting half the attention he deserves. He's going to make a lot of noise in the NBA once he gets drafted.
