2011 NBA Draft: Jimmer Fredette and the 5 Safest Picks Outside of the Lottery
With the 2011 NBA Draft looming around the corner, a lot of teams are hoping to select some serious talent.
But with every draft pick comes a risk.
NBA teams really don't know how a college athlete will fair in the pros, leaving the rest to their imagination.
Will a scorer be able to consistently shoot over bigger defenders?
How will a down-low defensive big man play against more athletic competition?
Is size really that much of an issue?
What personality differences could depict a team's Draft Day selection?
These are all questions that NBA franchises and fans alike ask themselves leading up to and following the draft.
We already know, for the most part, the most NBA-ready players available, culminating into the usual lottery pick crop.
But beyond the first 14 selections, which players pose as the safest bets for teams on Draft Day?
5. Tobias Harris, SF/PF
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Tobias Harris looks NBA ready.
He's got size, high basketball IQ, good floor presence and is young enough to get even better.
At 6'8, 223 pounds, Harris has solid strength and speed, making him a candidate to play not only power forward, but small forward as well.
The 19 year old has nice range, too.
Not to name drop, but I personally shot around with Harris at Tennessee and he was hitting near half-court shots with ease.
It may have looked awkward for a player his size, but he was getting it done nonetheless.
With his height and athleticism, teams should draft Harris around the 20th-pick in order to add bench depth and a quick scoring option late in games.
Oh yeah, he can also handle the ball really well.
NBA Potential: 15 PPG and 8 RPG
4. Josh Selby, PG
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Josh Selby is going to make an excellent point guard in the NBA.
He may not be a John Wall-Derrick Rose scoring threat, but Selby has shown that he can do a little bit of everything.
Selby is a solid outside shooter, an 80 percent free-throw shooter, and an aggressive defender who uses his quickness and size to disrupt other guards.
He's been projected in many mock drafts to land with the New York Knicks, so if you're a Knicks fan you have to be happy.
Selby is a role-playing point guard with range and serious driving ability.
Seems like the perfect recipe for a team currently occupying Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
NBA Potential: 12 PPG and 7.5 APG
3. Marshon Brooks, SG
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Marshon Brooks might be one of the most well-rounded scorer's in this year's draft.
He averaged just over 24 PPG last year with Providence and looks to be ready to drop buckets on the professional level.
Brooks is a 6'5" shooting guard who has a ridiculous wingspan at 7'1", offering a unique ability to get to the basket and score aggressively.
If teams want a sure-fire scorer outside of the top-14 picks, Brooks is the perfect candidate.
The only knock on the 22 year old is his sometimes lack of ability to get other players involved, but considering he'll be going to a team who already employs veteran scorers, passing it off isn't going to be hard.
NBA Potential: 20 PPG and 6 RPG
2. Jordan Hamilton, SF
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I personally think Jordan Hamilton is one of the better players in the 2011 NBA Draft, deserving of a lottery selection.
He's an avid outside shooter who looks NBA ready as far as range is concerned.
He's a hard worker, willing to do the little things besides score, and seems to be a perfect personality fit for any team.
Hamilton averaged 18.6 PPG and nearly 8.0 RPG with Texas last year, giving them a scoring option on every possession.
The 20 year old has got to be considered a bargain pick anywhere outside of the top 14, using his 6'9" frame to outplay small forwards of all kinds.
NBA Potential: 18 PPG and 7 RPG
1. Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG
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Jimmer Fredette is a scorer.
He always has been and to think other wise is irresponsible.
Considering the 6'3" point guard is used to shooting long contested three-pointers from way beyond the arc, his potential NBA range is not in question.
Fredette is going to be a compliment player, offering an already NBA superstar a second scoring option to sometimes take over games with streaky shooting.
The 22 year old averaged a ridiculous 28.9 PPG last year with BYU and posted a 22.1 PPG average the year before.
Fredette is a tough draw for a defender, offering a very high basketball IQ, unselfish play, great floor ambassador and the use of his strong frame to get through defenders.
Look for the all-around polished scorer to land somewhere right after the lottery pick goes off the board.
However, it's more than likely that some team will want a sure-fire scoring threat before the 15th-pick comes around.
NBA Potential: 20 PPG and 6 APG
