1st – New Jersey Nets: John Wall, Point Guard (6’4”, 195 lbs)
Wall continues to be the Nets prized possession and it’s not even close. The season pushes forward and New Jersey is in the midst of one of the worst NBA seasons ever recorded. Despite having point guard Devin Harris, the new look Nets would look to select Wall with the first overall pick in June’s 2010 NBA Draft according to NBADraft.net. Another, more ‘realistic’ version of the 2010 draft would be ESPN’s mock draft lottery that takes into account the percentage each NBA team has of winning the rights to the first pick.
Time and time again, various teams had the ability to draft Wall at No. 1. The Warriors, Timberwolves, Pistons, Sixers, and Pacers were all fortunate enough to have the best freshman and possibly player in college basketball join their team. For now, we’ll stick with the Nets.
Kentucky’s freshman point guard was able to lead the Wildcats to their first SEC Tournament Championship since 2004 by way of a spectacular last second three pointer that wound up saving the game for a team vying for a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He put on quite a show at the SEC Tournament where he averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 2 steals and won the Tournament MVP.
His heroics during the victory over Mississippi State will go down in UK history as the ‘changing of the guard’ moment, defining the resurgent effort from one of the premier college basketball programs. Wall will be a dynamic player in the NBA and will dazzle under the spotlight once more.
NBA Player Comparison: Dwyane Wade-Miami Heat
5th – Washington Wizards: DeMarcus Cousins, Center (6’11”, 280 lbs)
Sunday’s SEC Championship game between Mississippi State and Kentucky will go down as one of the greatest games the tournament has seen throughout its history. It looked like a wrestling match and without the heroics of another Wildcat freshman Kentucky would be down and out after losing the chance to win their 26th SEC Tournament title.
Cousins gave Kentucky a second chance at victory by sending the game into overtime with just 0.1 seconds left on the game clock. After thorough review from the referees, they confirmed that Cousins had indeed made the basket with practically no time remaining. The freshman big man has been a man amongst boys all season long, posting double-double’s like it was his Twitter account. Cousins pulled off a 10-10 effort going for 10 points and 10 rebounds during the SEC Championship game.
He had struggled recently, as teams emphasized double, even triple teaming Cousins in the post and often playing a trapping 2-3 zone that would completely collapse on him to create turnovers. It’s amazing to hear some criticism from ‘experts’ for the way Cousins acts. While having a mild temper, yes, Cousins is the equivalent of Shaquille O’Neal. I’d get pretty pissed as well if two or three guys continually slapped, hacked, scrapped, bumped, hit, etc.
Cousins is vital to any success in the NCAA Tournament and could potentially display why he’s the perfect fit for any NBA team that has a pick in the Top-4. The freshman comes in at No. 5 to the Wizards, but once again, the odds each NBA has at the end of the season will greatly affect on that plays out. Cousins could end up just about anywhere. NBA Player Comparison: Andrew Bynum-Los Angeles Lakers
11th – Charlotte Bobcats: Patrick Patterson, Power Forward (6’8”, 235 lbs)
Patterson has been the experienced veteran the Wildcats have needed all season long. John Wall may be the vocal leader of the team, but Patterson is the ‘rock’ of a team that can often fall asleep for stretches of games. The junior power forward can get lost in the mix with such solid talent around him, but any NCAA Tournament success depends on the success Patterson has throughout.
The SEC Tournament was all about freshmen, but Patterson held his own during the victory over Mississippi State. Going 6-of-11 from the field, the pre-season All-American candidate had 15 points and 6 rebounds to go along with two blocked shots. Patterson sometimes loses focus and forgets to do the basic things that got him to this point in his collegiate career. Rebounding has been such a great effort from him in the past that I think ‘hitting the boards’ will be crucial for Kentucky getting past teams like Texas, Wisconsin, Marquette, or even West Virginia.
The Bobcats grab Patterson at the 11th selection and could use his hustle and inside presence to continue to develop a potential playoff team. ESPN’s mock lottery continually has the Chicago Bulls grabbing him at the same spot, with only a 0.8% chance of landing the first overall pick. Patterson would team with guys like Joakim Noah and potential free agent signee Chris Bosh to create a formidable front line. NBA Player Comparison: Paul Millsap-Utah /Elton Brand-76er’s
2011 NBA Draft
4th– Indiana Pacers: Eric Bledsoe, Point Guard (6’1”, 195 lbs)
Bledsoe was the unsung hero of the SEC Tournament and the Cats wouldn’t have even come close to winning their 26th SEC Championship without his services. The freshman point guard does a great job breaking down defenses with his ability to drive the lane, but he sometimes gets flustered when defenders collapse on him.
He was 5-of-8 from behind the arc to go for 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists during Kentucky’s romping over Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. He poured in another 18 points and 3 rebounds on 2-of-4 shooting from three point land in the SEC Tournament Championship victory over Mississippi State.
Both Wall and Bledsoe will have to stay composed and focused throughout the NCAA Tournament for the Wildcats to have success. NBA Player Comparison: Jrue Holiday-Sixers
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