2011 NBA Draft: 9 Second Round Selections Who Could Be Diamonds in the Rough

All the attention in the NBA Draft always goes to the top guys. Who is going to be a star? Who is going to be a bust?

For the 2011 class, this is no different, with all the attention and questions swirling around the top selections. Is Kyrie Irving really a top talent? Was Tristan Thompson worth a top four pick? Will Jimmer Fredette live up to his college hype?

Be that as it may, let's put those aside for a second. It’s always so easy to forget about the 2nd rounders. Monta Ellis, Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd all were second-round selections once. Is it possible that 2011 could give us another second round steal?

Who of this year’s forgotten late selections stand a chance at being strong NBA players?

These guys might not be stars, but here are nine second round selections from the 2011 Draft who could be diamonds in the rough.  

Shelvin Mack – PG from Butler: No. 34 to the Washington Wizards

Mack was one of the biggest reasons that Butler made it to the NCAA Championship game in 2010, and the biggest reason they made it back to the title game the following season. He averaged 16 points, 3.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds on the season, and while his 40% shooting wasn’t exactly pretty, he has excellent range and a good arsenal of offensive weapons.

He took on a lot more of the scoring load this season after Gordon Hayward, Butler’s leader in 2010, went to the NBA in 2010. When he was a second option to Hayward, he was much more efficient— shooting 45 percent (39 percent from distance) in his sophomore year.

Most importantly, he’s a winner, having helped lead a true Cinderella to the title game—twice. While his performance in the 2011 Championship against UConn wasn’t great, he has proven to be a tough competitor and could flourish in the NBA.

Tyler Honeycutt – SF from UCLA: No. 35 to the Sacramento Kings

Honeycutt wasn’t really an effective scorer in any of his three years at UCLA—he shot just 40 percent from the floor this year—but there is a lot to like about his game. He’s very athletic and is a very solid defender, averaging 2.0 blocks and .8 steals a game last season, while he became one of the top defenders in his conference. He’s very, VERY skinny (just 190 lbs sit on his 6’8" frame), but when he fills up he’ll have the size and mobility to be a nice NBA small forward.

The problems are his offense. With UCLA’s offense he was mainly a jump shooter, and while he does have range (36 percent from three), he needs to become a far more consistent scorer if he’s going to make it. He’s a very raw prospect who could turn out to be a strong NBA defender if he, again, fills out his body.

Chandler Parsons – SF from Florida: No. 38 to the Houston Rockets

Considered a fringe first-rounder, Parsons was a guy who made headlines this past season with Florida. The Gator forward hit a 75-foot game winner over North Carolina State on January 3^rd, and then again on January 23rd, hit another game-winning three for a victory over South Carolina.

The boy is clutch.

He stands 6’10" and has good size to play SF. While he doesn’t really stand out in anything, he’s versatile and doesn’t really have a weakness. He averaged 11.3 points, 7.8 boards and 3.8 assists for Florida while shooting 48 percent from the field (38 percent from distance); being named the SEC Player of the Year in the process.

Simply, he can shoot, rebound and pass well. With such a wide range of talent he shouldn’t have any problems making a spot for himself in the NBA.

He may not have the potential that some of the second rounders have, but he could be a good role player thanks to his shooting ability and well-rounded play.

Jeremy Tyler – PF/C from Tokyo Apache (Japan): No. 39 to the Golden State Warriors

Jeremy Tyler’s road has been increasingly confusing.

He was a top prospect in 2008 and committed to Louisville before changing his mind and deciding to skip his senior year of high school to play in Israel. He lasted just ten games there, averaging just 2.1 points and 7.6 minutes while gained a reputation as a headcase and a problem. Finally fed up, he quit the team and flew back home to San Diego.

In 2010, to gain NBA eligibility, he signed a contract with the Tokyo Apache of Japan's professional basketball league. In his 33 games with the Apache, he averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 boards in just 15 minutes a game.

He’s obviously talented, and if he had gone to college he probably would have gone higher. He’s got good size and excellent potential, and if he keeps his head on right he could be an absolute steal so late in the draft. 

Darius Morris – PG from Michigan: No. 41 to the Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Morris was one of the more underappreciated players in the NCAA this season and is one of the most well-rounded point guards in the draft. He averaged 6.7 assists, and a sick assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.8, all while scoring 16 points a game himself at a 48 percent clip. His long range shooting is incredibly suspect—shooting just 25 percent from downtown last season—but he’s got ridiculous handles and excellent passing skills.

He could be a fantastic fit with the Lakers considering their lack of guard depth. Additionally, if he can continue to grow as a shooter to add to his already strong passing game, he could be a fantastic selection this late for the talented-yet-aging Lakers. 

Malcolm Lee – PG/SG from UCLA: No. 43 to the Chicago Bulls

Considering Chicago’s head coach Tom Thibodeau’s love of defense, it’s hardly surprising that the Bulls would take a defensive minded player. Lee, who struggled to fit in with UCLA’s scoring system (but then again, so did Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday), has an excellent NBA body and is a very solid defender who just needs to get a better feel for the game.

His range is pretty weak (29.5 percent from distance) but he’s more of a slasher guard at the moment. He’s a decent passer, but he is very turnover prone (3.2 to 2.6 assist-to-turnover) and again never fit in completely into Ben Howland's system. If he gets a decent shooting touch, he’ll fit excellently within Chicago’s system. The Bulls, who are very weak at guard aside from Derrick Rose, may have found a late gem.

Keith Benson – PF/C from Oakland: No. 48 to the Atlanta Hawks

Lets get the bad about Benson over first. He’s already 23 and is skinny for his size and position (just 225 lbs for his 6’11 frame). Also, he's still considered raw offensively and played at Oakland where he wasn’t really pitted against top tier talent.

What’s so intriguing about Benson is his defensive potential. He’s already a fantastic defender with a long frame and huge hands, which aide his shot blocking prowess. Last season, Benson averaged 3.6  blocks a game to go along with averaging 10.6 boards per contest. While his offensive feel needs work, he still managed to average 18 points a game last year on 54 percent shooting.

He’s not really a banger inside, more of a finesse player aside from his dynamite blocking skills. If he can bulk up a bit and work on his interior scoring, he could be an excellent backup big behind Josh Smith and Al Horford for the Hawks.

Josh Selby – PG/SG from Kansas: No. 49 to the Memphis Grizzlies

Josh Selby is an enigma. He was named the 2010 No. 1 recruit by Rivals.com, but was suspended the first nine games of the season after the NCAA ruled he had received “improper benefits” from a New York businessman. The time that he was allowed to play  was hampered by foot issues and he never lived up to his ranking.

He averaged 7.9 points in 20 minutes for the Jayhawks and in three games he didn’t register a single point. He’s also a bit undersized—6’2 and 185 lbs—and without the handles or passing abilities to really play point. But he’s explosive and a well-rounded scorer, and if he can remain healthy enough to get playing time in Memphis, he could hopefully show why he was a top ranked prospect.

Isaiah Thomas Jr – PG from Washington: No. 60 to the Sacramento Kings

Isaiah Thomas, named after THE NBA legend Isiah Thomas, won't turn into "Zeke" version II. However, he’s got talent in his own right, and he proved it during his collegiate career in Washington.

He’s exceptionally undersized (standing just 5’8"), but has a well-rounded game. He didn’t really become a true point guard until this past year, when he averaged six assists and a 2.0 assists-to-turnover ratio. He’s not exactly efficient scoring wise, shooting just 44.5 percent (35 percent from three) but he’s a capable scorer and a proven winner.

His size does present a problem defensively, but he’s quick enough to where if he can stay in front his man and not be overpowered, he should be at least an average defender. If he can continue to refine his shooting, he could become an excellent sparkplug off the bench in the NBA.

Oh, and that game winning shot against Arizona in the Pac-10 Championship? Cold. Blooded.