NBA Draft Grades: Jimmer Fredette and 5 Picks Earning Top Grades

The 2011 NBA draft is complete, and many players woke up this morning with a big smile on their face.

The draft was highlighted by trades, and some players deserve high grades for rising up the charts. Rookie players earned top grades for multiple reasons, including getting drafted early or going to the right team to accentuate their talents.

Jimmer Fredette is at the top of the list of players who earned great grades on draft night.

Jimmer Fredette

Jimmer Fredette showed that good guys don't always finish last, at least not in the NBA draft.

Jimmer always had the hype but the NBA draft revealed that teams bought into the hype and what "The Jimmer" could bring to their team.

The Sacramento Kings were busy on draft night as they found some willing trade partners. The end result is Jimmer as the No. 10pick overall and the newest member of the Kings backcourt.

The Kings need Jimmer for his scoring ability and his marketability. The Kings needed a pure scorer and Jimmer can hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. The Kings snatched him before Utah had a chance and that earns Jimmer top grades for the draft.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard received high praise by many draft experts heading into the draft. Leonard has a sharp skill set that can translate to the NBA and was originally selected by the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers worked a trade and shipped Leonard to San Antonio in exchange for point guard George Hill.

Leonard went from a Pacers team that is struggling to win games and is now part of a Spurs team that should compete for an NBA Championship. This last minute move earns Leonard high grades on draft night.

Tristan Thompson

Going to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers usually would earn a player a losing grade, but not Tristan Thompson.  

Thompson left school as a freshman and it could be argued that there were other players that should have been drafted higher. It could even be argued that there were other players in Thompson's position that were better in this draft.

That didn't stop the Cavaliers from making Thompson the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. The surprise high draft selection earned Thompson a high grade on draft night.

Markieff Morris

Markieff Morris is a fine example of player that worked hard to become a big time draft pick in the NBA. A year ago many experts would have selected his brother Marcus first, but Markieff worked on his game and made teams notice.

He works hard on defense, can clean the glass, and is a natural scorer. His hard work and effort made him a higher draft pick and earned him a good grade on draft night.

Marshon Brooks

Marshon Brooks was drafted by the Boston Celtics and then traded to the New Jersey Nets. While many would assume this trade would warrant a low grade, it is perfect for Brooks.

Brooks is a natural scorer with great athleticism and could develop into the face of the franchise in New Jersey. He is not as popular as Jimmer, but has the same scoring ability. Brooks dropped 52 points on the
Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and could develop into a top scorer in the NBA.

Brooks is a perfect fit in New Jersey and that warrants a top grade in the draft.

The Future of the NBA

Barring an NBA lockout. we will not be able to see how these players develop until the season tips off.

That will be when we will be able to determine what players earn the top grades with their play on the court and not the potential.