Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Posted: 1:03 p.m.
By Sean Kane
CSNPhilly.com Contributor
In this week's 2011 NBA draft position preview, shooting guards and small forwards are lumped together in a category we're calling wing players. This draft isn't overflowing with pure shooting guards, but it does have its fair share of athletes who will make their living getting out in transition and slashing to the basket. For 76ers fans, think Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner. And the cream of this year's crop has the potential to develop into a perennial NBA All-Star.
1. Derrick Williams (6-9, 250, Arizona)
Some consider Williams to be a 'tweener in the smallpower forward mold, but his ball skills and shooting stroke will demand that he becomes an inside-out NBA player and not simply a forward who plays with his back to the basket. Williams burst onto the national scene with a phenomenal sophomore season at Arizona in which he led the Wildcats to within one win of the Final Four.
He averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 59.5 percent from the field and a remarkable 56.8 percent from three-point range. Williams' accuracy from long range was no flukehe attempted an average of two three-pointers per game. Former Arizona head coach Lute Olsen refers to Williams as Andre Iguodala with a jump shot. While they both come from the same school, comparing Williams to Iguodala may be an insult to the soon-to-be rookie. Williams is bigger, stronger, has better ball skills and a far superior jump shot than Iguodala.
Williams has been outspoken in his belief he is the top prospect in this year's draft. When taking into account his body of work last season at Arizona and his all-around game and potential, it's difficult to argue with him.
2. Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 230, San Diego St.)
Like Williams, Leonard was the best player on one of the most high-profile teams in college basketball last season. He is an elite-level athlete who will be a defensive-minded contributor at first in the NBA. Leonard is a versatile defender, able to guard smaller players on the perimeter as well as bigger bodies in the paint.
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But Leonard's offensive capabilities shouldn't be overlooked. He averaged a double-double for a San Diego St. team that won 34 games, excelling in the transition game and getting plenty of put-backs.
However, Leonard's shooting numbers as a sophomore are reason for concern. He shot 44 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range. To his credit he raised some eyebrows at the combine in Chicago with a much-improved shooting stroke, a testament to his work ethic (a characteristic that will serve him well as NBA executives decide where to rank Leonard on their draft boards). He is a virtual lock to be taken in the Top 10, with defensively-challenged Washington looking like the frontrunner to land him with the sixth pick.
3. Marcus Morris (6-9, 230, Kansas)
Morris has come a long way since his days as a high school star at Prep Charter a half decade ago. He left Philadelphia for Kansas as a raw athlete who did the bulk of his scoring within 10 feet of the basket. Now he readies for the NBA as a polished all-around product who can do damage from anywhere in halfcourt sets and in transition. Similar to Derrick Williams, Morris will see some time at the power forward spot. But expect to see him find his niche creating mismatches as a small forward.
Morris averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds as a junior at Kansas, shooting 57 percent from the field and 34 percent from long range. His ability to connect from NBA three-point territory is one of the biggest question marks when assessing his future. But Morris will bring far more than scoring to whichever team drafts him. He is a quality defender, rebounder and passer. He won't need the ball in his hands to succeed in the NBA and will find other ways to contribute. Morris should go somewhere between 10 and 15.
4. Chris Singleton (6-9, 230, Florida St.)
Singleton is considered the best perimeter defender in the draft. He's lanky, athletic and most importantly demonstrates a desire to dig in defensively. He will be an immediate asset for any team looking to upgrade their perimeter defense, in the mold of Iguodala or Tony Allen.
As a junior last season Singleton averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 reboundsboth team highsdespite battling injuries throughout the second half. Even when healthy, his offensive game needs some fine tuning, but teams will live with that as long as his defense is a constant. Singleton projects to go in the 12-18 range.
5. Alec Burks (6-6, 190, Colorado)
Burks is one of the top volume scorers in the draft. He averaged 20.5 points as a sophomore at Colorado without being an accomplished shooter by any stretch. Burks excels at getting into the lane and scoring in transition. His outside stroke needs some work; he shot just 29 percent from three.
Drafting Burks is going to require some patience. He has all the athletic ability and size you want from an NBA two-guard, but at 19 he won't be NBA ready once he enters the league.
Look for Burks to go anywhere in the 15-20 range, with the potential to be a steal five years down the road.
E-mail Sean Kane at skane@comcastsportsnet.com
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