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SCORECARD ON THE NBA DRAFT

By Jim Dallke and staff
support@prepstars.com
June 26, 2009

Thursday's NBA draft may not have been the most talent-filled in recent memory, but it did provide some very interesting outcomes. Several clubs greatly improved their rosters (Orlando, San Antonio) while others may have made questionable decisions (Minnesota drafting three point guards). But our focus here is to look at the top 14 lottery picks in the draft and see what the PrepStars staff had to say about them when while they were making their names. You will notice times where our ranking of a player was right on the money, or occasionally a little off, but the in-depth evaluations from Brick Oettinger, Rob Harrington and staff prove beyond a doubt that PrepStars is, and has been the number one basketball recruiting source on the planet.

1. Blake Griffin -- L.A. Clippers

2. Hasheem Thabeet -- Memphis Grizzlies

3. James Harden -- Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Tyreke Evans -- Sacramento Kings

5. Ricky Rubion -- Minnesota Timberwolves

6. Jonny Flynn -- Minnesota Timberwolves

7. Stephen Curry -- Golden State Warriors

8. Jordan Hill -- New York Knicks

9. DeMar DeRozan -- Toronto Raptors

10. Brandon Jennings -- Milwaukee Bucks

11. Terrence Williams -- New Jersey Nets

12. Gerald Henderson -- Charlotte Bobcats

13. Tyler Hansbrough -- Indiana Pacers

14. Earl Clark -- Phoenix Suns

Blake Griffin
Class of 2007
High School: Edmond (OK) Oklahoma Christian
Club Team: Athletes First
Final PrepStars Ranking: 21

The first thing recruiting analyst Brick Oettinger noted about evaluating Griffin was that he was "extremely aggressive and physically intimidating." After watching Griffin for two years at Oklahoma, it is clear that there are no better words to describe this year's number 1 draft pick. He averaged a double-double in his two years as a Sooner as well as ranking first at OU in career field goal percentage (.618) and second in rebounds per game (11.8). In his sophomore season, Griffin was the consensus National Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year, and a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection. Griffin demonstrated his supreme physicality by calculating 30 double-doubles as a sophomore, finishing one shy of tying David Robinson's single season record. He also led his team in dunks (90) and charges taken (13).

Griffin first caught our eye at the 2006 Boo Williams Invitational. PrepStars editor Rob Harrington characterized him as "one of the biggest surprises of the weekend." Harrington went on further to say Griffin was a "bouncy, muscular athlete who has very lively legs inside, (he) finishes strongly inside after taking contact and also relishes the opportunity to run the court on the break. His turnaround jumpers are accurate, his jumphook is outstanding and his shot-blocking is also worth mentioning. As a bonus, he's a fine interior passer who is happy to pass up a basket in order to hit an open teammate. In addition to all that, he's a consistent performer who always expends the effort required to win a game." PrepStars continued to monitor Griffin throughout the summer as he continued to climb up the rankings and perform superbly at events such as the Nike All-America Camp and the Peach Jam in Georgia.

But as noticed in the Kingwood Classic in 2006, Griffin lacked an ability to shoot from distance and he struggled when it came to handling the ball. Because of those faults, and the fact that he didn't reach his 6-10 frame until he became a Sooner, Griffin never cracked our top 20. But credit Griffin with a tremendous work ethic and a knack for doing the "little things" it takes to be a number one draft pick. A recurring theme in Griffin's event performances was that he never hesitated to take a charge, hit the open man, and use his size to alter shots. It will be interesting to see how Griffin's game develops as he enters the NBA, and if he can succeed with a less than average jump shot. But he will undoubtedly be an immediate scoring and rebounding threat for the Clippers.

Hasheem Thabeet
Class of 2006
High School: Houston (TX) Cypress Christian
Final PrepStars Ranking: 59

Thabeet didn't emerge onto the national scene until his junior year at UCONN, where he averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game. The 7-3 Thabeet didn't even start playing basketball until he was 15; the age most high-major prospects have familiarized themselves with the recruiting scene. But Thabeet wasn't like most kids. The product of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Thabeet played at the Makongo secondary school where he astonished people by his height. He was selected to compete in the East African Games in Nairobo, Kenya, where a UCONN representative discovered Thabeet and offered him a scholarship.

Rob Harrington first noticed Thabeet in 2006 at the Kingwood Classic. Harrington described him as a "monster" who "emerged from nowhere." Harrington continued to characterize Thabeet as a player who "runs better than most big guys his size and has a solid frame to take some contact without getting knocked out of plays. He certainly has a long way to go in terms of skill development, but a guy with this much height to go with a decent frame and ample mobility is a high-major to watch."

Thabeet increased his scoring every year at UCONN but his defense is what will get him paid in the NBA. He has a tremendous shot-altering ability and has a more than ready NBA body. Thabeet will be an immediate difference maker at the next level.

James Harden
Class of 2007
High School: Lakewood (CA) Artesia
Club Team: CA Pump 'N Run
Final PrepStars Ranking: 27

Harden's stock rose significantly during the summer before his senior year. It was at the West Coast All Star Camp where we found out just how complete of a basketball player he really was. Despite his slender and unassuming frame, Harden proved to be a tremendous slasher and finisher around the rim. But the majority of his scoring came from his mid-range game. He was best off the dribble and could hit from both sides of the court. Here's what Brick Oettinger had to say:

"A smooth scorer all over the court, he simply knows how to play and does everything well, despite lacking a blazing first step. With a running start, he has plenty of quicks and spring, and he also has the body control and hands to finish at the rim in traffic. He plays hard, moves well without the ball and excels at filling a lane on the break, but he gets the majority of his points with his very smooth jump shot. It lacks elevation, but he can hit it going in either direction, with range that extends well beyond the arc. He also has significantly upgraded his leap and now can soar for dunks. Most importantly, he doesn't force things, and he understands how to change speeds, attack the seams and take advantage of what the defense gives him."

The 6-5 WG was the Pac-10 player of the year last season and led Arizona State in scoring with just over 20 a game. Harden is by no means the most athletic player in this year's draft, but scouts are impressed by his ability to score despite his shortcomings. The biggest question will be if Harden can still get to the rim against bigger and stronger NBA bodies. But since his days as a member of the California Pump 'N Run, Harden has been a scorer. So expect him to find a way to do that for the Thunder.

Tyreke Evans
Class of 2008
High School: Aston (PA) American Christian
Club Team: Team Final
Final PrepStars Ranking: 2

Evans first hit the PrepStars radar in 2005 at the Tournament of Champions. He was one of the first prospects we noticed in the class of 2008 as he gave a tremendous first half performance at the TOC. Playing for the Raiders 16-U team, Evans outscored the Fox Valley Skillz 23-20 in the first half, and ended with 31 after his coach slowed the pace of the game. The PrepStars staff saw Evans at eight events from 2005 to 2006 and was impressed with many things ranging from his quickness and athleticism-to his shooting and rebounding ability. The biggest knock on Evans was that he was often too selfish with the basketball and took too many contested jumpers. Here's what Brick Oettinger had to say about the 6-5 WG/PG.

"A scoring-oriented guard, Evans was selected MVP of the prestigious 2008 McDonald's All-American Game; but we find his shot selection and some other court decisions to be too selfish for our druthers. Though he's certainly capable of hitting some distant, high-arching three-pointers while being closely defended, and he occasionally surprises us by passing quite cleverly to an open teammate, too often Evans seems to settle for difficult, contested shots while ignoring teammates. On the positive side, he drives and finishes extremely effectively; handles well enough to play limited minutes at point guard (if he'll distribute the ball); is quick enough to defend each of the three perimeter positions; and rebounds better than the vast majority of backcourt players."

During his one-year term at Memphis, Evans demonstrated a tremendous ability to create his own shot and get to the basket. He averaged 17.1 points as a freshman and shot 45.5 percent from the field. He was very good in transition and used hesitation moves to get by defenders. Evans also proved to be a great athlete with an NBA ready body. But unfortunately his high school inconsistencies followed him to Memphis. He had an assist to turnover ratio of 2.1/3.6 and showed questionable decision-making. His shot selection was erratic at times and he shot just 27 percent from beyond the arc. But if Evans continues to work on his ball-handling and passing skills, he should be a great addition for Sacramento Kings

Ricky Rubio
International
Hometown: El Masnuo Spain
Team: DKV Joventut

The 18-year-old Rubio has spent all his basketball playing years in Spain, and therefore the PrepStars staff does not have an evaluation on the 6-5 PG. But Rubio has generated as much buzz as anyone in this year's NBA draft. One clear advantage he has over the slew of other point guards in the draft is his height. Rubio has the ability to look over defenses and hit his teammates with passes shorter guards can't make. Rubio is very crafty and unpredictable. He uses head fakes, hesitation moves, and superb ball-handling to elude defenders and make his way to the basket. Rubio can finish with either hand and is best in transition.

But the Spaniard does have some limitations to his game. First of all, he's not a tremendous scorer. He averaged just 10 points per game last season and only averaged 2.7 field goals per game. And despite his 6-5 frame, he isn't a good rebounding or shot blocking guard, averaging just 2.6 and 0.1 respectively. This is mostly due to his lack of athleticism and leaping ability. But with his ability to orchestrate an offense and his excellent 3-point shooting percentage (42.3 percent), Rubio should be a great addition for the Timberwolves.

Jonny Flynn
Class of 2007
High School: Niagra Falls (NY) High
Club Team: GC Ballers
Final PrepStars Ranking: 26

The PrepStars staff first caught the Syracuse standout in 2004 when he was known as Johnathan Flynn. Flynn showed early in his high school career that he was a flashy player with a good work ethic. His quickness and passing ability were evident from the start, but after his senior year he proved to be a quality three-point shooter and defender. Here is what Brick Oettinger had to say:

"This 170-pound quickster has surprising strength (which has aided his finishing of drives) and dunking ability, and is generally a steady floor leader. Though not as flashy as he used to be, he still is occasionally a little careless with the ball, but overall he has improved a great deal in the past year. He changes directions swiftly (with or without the ball) and can elevate and contort to either finish over big men or to dole out impressive mid-air dishes. Additionally, his jump shot has become quite consistent to beyond the threepoint arc, and we also admire his competitive fire and ability to move his feet quite well on defense, although he needs to do a better job of fighting through screens."

Flynn spent two productive year at Syracuse and averaged 17.4 points and 6.7 assist per game his sophomore season. He proved to be one of the quickest guards in college basketball, boasting a blazing first step as well as quickness in transition. Flynn was, and always will be an undersized guard, which may hurt his NBA potential. But if he can consistently knock down a three-point jumper and keep his turnovers down, he could be a productive player at the next level.

Stephen Curry
Class of 2006
High School: Charlotte (NC) Christian
Final PrepStars Ranking: NR

When looking from senior year of high school to the last year of college, no player's stock rose more than Davidson's Steph Curry. Curry wasn't even in our top 300 list of high school seniors, yet has managed to be a lottery pick in this year's draft. The PrepStars staff saw Curry at the 2005 NBA Top 100 Camp and he didn't exactly wow us. Here's what we had to say:

"Dell's son still is very thin and doesn't have pure playmaking skills, but he is a good shooter and OK athlete who likely can help a team at the lower mid-major level."

Here is how that sentenced would be edited for 2009:

"Dell's son still is very thin but has developed sound playmaking skills. He is a great shooter and a good athlete who likely can help an NBA team from the perimeter."

Curry proved he was more than a three-point threat when he was called to be Davidson's point guard last season. He showed he could run an offense and distribute the ball to open teammates. But obviously, his greatest asset is his shooting ability. He led the nation in scoring with over 28 points a game and shot over 38 percent from three. Curry silenced critics who doubted whether he could perform against quality Division 1 competition, and he will have to continue to silence doubters as he enters the NBA. He will have to excel despite his small frame and questionable defense. But if he can continue to shoot it, he will be a quality player for....

Jordan Hill
Class of 2006
High School: Lenoir (NC) Patterson
Club Team: Smyrna Stars
Final PrepStars Ranking: 88

First seen at the 2005 Kingwood Classic, Hill impressed scouts with his size and athleticism. The 6-9 BF/C was blessed with broad shoulders and a long frame, but unfortunately not a sound offensive game. The PrepStars staff watched Hill at the aforementioned Kingwood Classic, NBA Top 100 Camp, and National Prep Showcase, and never saw anything close to a polished offensive game (this being the main reason he landed at number 88 on our final rankings). But Hill has always had tremendous upside and the ability to run the floor, rebound, and block shots. Here's what Brick Oettinger said about Hill in 2006:

"(Hill is) a lanky 215-pound insider with quick feet laterally and plenty of hops (which he uses for rebounds and rejects) but not much strength. Although he gets pushed around some in the paint and needs to hone his post moves, his smooth, arching turnaround jump shot to 18 feet is an impressive weapon, and he's also very fast up and down the court and quick off his feet for slam dunks. His passing is erratic (good and bad), with ball-handling being a skill area that requires some more work. He's in the process of adding a jump hook to his offensive arsenal, though it still needs some polish."

After three years with the Arizona Wildcats, Hill still doesn't have a great offensive game, but it is much, much better. During his junior season, Hill averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 53.7percent from the field. He developed a nice turnaround jumper and a solid right hand hook shot. Hill's rebounding and shot blocking continued to be his forte at Arizona, and his competitiveness and physical toughness have contributed to his overall growth as a player. NBA scouts love Hill's potential for continued improvement and look for hill to be a quality NBA player if he can develop advanced post moves and the use of his left hand.

DeMar DeRozan
Class of 2008
High School: Los Angeles (CA) Compton High
Club Team: Belmont Shore
Final PrepStars Ranking: 6

DeRozan has always been a freak of an athlete. He became famous in high school as a "YouTube phenomenon," demonstrating acrobatic dunks both in transition and off a lob. We first saw DeRozan in person at the 2006 Reebok ABCD Camp. Here's what we had to say:

"DeRozen is an athlete, without question, and the Compton (CA) High product now must prove he can handle and score from the wing. For the time being, he contributes using his abundant leaping ability, so it's only when he attacks and gets hung up in no-man's land that his need for polish is screamingly evident. We do like his potential."

DeRozan's jump shot was always the biggest concern for the USC WF. He averaged a brutal 16.7percent from beyond the arc and just 64 percent from the free-throw line. But DeRozan was great in transition and a solid finisher around the rim. He averaged just under 14 points per game and shot 56.2 percent from two-point range. He also proved to be an above average defender, as his long frame helped him guard smaller wing guards. It will be up to Derozan if he wants to be more than just a dunk contest participant in the NBA, but he certainly has the upside to do so.

Brandon Jennings
Class of 2008
High School: Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill
Club Team: So. Cal. All-Stars
Final PrepStars Ranking: 1

The PrepStars Staff saw Jennings at 11 camps between 2005 to 2007, and he emerged at the number 1 prospect in the class of 2008. What earned him the honor was his ability to do three things really, really well. He could finish in transition, hit the three, and break down defenders with the dribble. Jennings' knocks were that he was too thin and sometimes took plays off defensively. One of his best performances was at the 2006 Reebok ABCD camp, where we noted the following:

"Early in the camp, the best player may have been Brandon Jennings. Continuing a year-long spree of sensational outings, the elite floor general from California completely dominated his team's opening game, then followed that up with another strong outing in the nightcap. His quickness, three-point shooting, creative shots off the dribble, pinpoint passing and superb athleticism make him by far the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2008. "

Jennings opted to play in Europe, rather than enter college basketball in the states. He played professionally in Italy, averaging just 7.6 points per game while playing under 20 minutes a game. Jennings' stats may not be overwhelming, but he continues to impress scouts by his upside. He is a true point guard who can handle the ball at the NBA level. He is unselfish with the basketball and he can create with either hand. As an athlete, he is NBA ready. If he can polish his offensive game and gain some upper body strength Jennings has the potential to be a very productive NBA player.

Terrence Williams
Class of 2005
High School: Seattle (WA) Rainer Beach
Final PrepStars Ranking: 26

Williams was the first senior to be drafted in this year's NBA draft, and the 6-5 WG brings a lot of athleticism to the New Jersey Nets. With a 6-9 wingspan and a 37.0-inch vertical, Williams proves to be one of the best athletes in the draft. He has a high motor and finishes well in transition. He uses his length to his advantage on the defensive end, as he can guard point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. Here's what the PrepStars Staff said about Williams at the Pangos Dream Classic in January 2004:

"... 6-5 junior guard Terrence Williams has a chance to be a terrific player. He's probably more of a true WG but does an acceptable job of confronting pressure and is a superb athlete with a big-time body. Williams is an explosive athlete who finishes well above the rim and has plenty of scoring tools. However, he suffers from occasional horrific shot selection that causes his shooting percentages to dip. He also needs to develop more of a left hand. Still, he showed plenty of flashes in his 17-point effort."

Gerald Henderson
Class of 2006
High School: Merion Station (PA) Episcopal
Club Team: The Playaz
Final PrepStars Ranking: 9

A common theme arose throughout the evaluation of Henderson: a comparison to Wayne Ellington. Both played at Episcopal High in Merion Station, PA, and the fact that both planned to play college ball eight miles apart for the biggest rivalry in college sports didn't help silence the comparison. But Henderson became more than just Wayne Ellington's teammate by earning a top 10 spot in the class of 2006. His Basketball IQ, shooting ability and overall athleticism contributed to his high ranking. His poor ball handling and lack of a left hand were spotted early on. Here's what Brick Oettinger had to say:

"The son of the former Philadelphia 76ers star of the same name, he's a sturdy, athletic 215-pounder whose mid-range pull-up jump shot is particularly effective. He's worked hard to improve his explosiveness, and now it's not unusual for him to slash to the basket, elevate impressively and slam emphatically. A good rebounder for a wing forward and alert defender, he's a pretty good three-point shooter, although mid-range is his real forte."

During his three-year career at Duke, Henderson emerged as a go-to scorer for the Blue Devils. He averaged 16.5 points per game his junior season. His mid-range game continued to be his most reliable form of offense and his ability to attack the basket got better and better. His three-point percentage was somewhat shaky and he never fully developed an opposite hand. Henderson's athleticism should take him far in the NBA, but it will depend on his three-point ability if he plans on being a big time star at the next level.

Tyler Hansbrough
Class of 2005
High School: Poplar Bluff (MO) High
Final PrepStars Ranking: 2

We first saw Hansbrough at the Boo Williams Invitational in 2003. He impressed us with his comforitable scoring in the post and his ability to put the ball on the floor. He was a bit too skinny back then, but he has more than made up for that now. Hansbrough has added considerable muscle after four years as a Tar Heel and has continued to polish his post game. Here’s what Brich Oettinger said about him in 2005:

"In a sense, he doesn't really possess dynamic scoring tools, but he consistently appears to be playing harder than everyone else and out-working them, and the results are eye-opening. A good (not great) 225-pound run/jump athlete, he uses every asset he has to the max. Included are sure hands, more than ample quickness from the high post, excellent agility around the basket, and solid, internalized fundamentals. In head-to-head matchups this spring and summer with other blue-chippers, such as Richard Hendrix, Tyler rose to the occasion and scored via posting up, drilling short jump shots and an occasional jump hook, using fakes to elicit fouls, snatching putbacks on the offensive board and moving the ball around to convert inside in traffic. He particularly creates havoc on the backboards at both ends, and he also is an unselfish, alert passer and intelligent defender who cuts passing lanes especially well."

Hansbrough is one of the most celebrated college athletes of all time, but critics have continued to doubt his NBA potential. After performing well in pre-draft workouts and proving that he is more athletic than people think, Hansbrough ended up a lottery pick with the Indiana Pacers. Hansbrough may never be an all star at the next level, but he will give the Pacers quality minutes and night-after-night hustle.

Earl Clark
Class of 2006
High School: Rahway (NJ) High
Club team: The Playaz
Final PrepStars Ranking: 18

The PrepStars staff watched Clark closely in the summer of 2005, beginning with the Tournament of Champions. Clark, a 2005 winter print Handbook coverboy, impressed us early with his tremendous size and athleticism. He had to share the spotlight with fellow AAU teammates Gerald Henderson and Wayne Ellington, but Clark more than held his own. He possessed great handles for a big man and demonstrated he could pass the ball well off the dribble. His jump shot was flat and often inconsistent, but Clark’s athleticism and ability to finish around the rim made up for his poor shooting. Here’s what Brick Oettinger had to say about Clark in 2005:

"While he was dinged up in his first game at the adidas Super 64 and thus unable to play subsequently for The Playaz, he played well at a variety of events (including the NBAPA Camp and the Reebok ABCD Camp) prior to that. What's unique about this rangy, long-legged 210-pound athlete is that he dribbles, passes and sees the court well enough to be a high-caliber point guard, at least at the offensive end. On defense, he must be matched up with a wing or possibly even a big forward, since he's a solid rebounder. Despite an occasional out of control drive, he's best at taking the ball to the hoop and either finishing himself or dishing for an easy goal. While his jump shot has improved a bit during the past year, it still needs to be better, as he will become particularly difficult to slow down when he's able to hit three-pointers with some consistency. There's certainly hope, since he's become a good free throw shooter."

At Louisville Clark was stuck between a three and a four, which made for a bit of an identity crisis. He didn’t have a polished post game to be a true power forward and he didn’t shoot the three was well as you would like from a small forward. But Clark used his quickness and athleticism to become a big-time player for the Cardinals, as he averaged 14.2 points and 8.7 rebounds a game last season. Clark will need to gain a consistent outside shot if he is going to succeed at the next level. But he is great in transition, which works well in the Phoenix Sun’s style of offense. The Sun’s drafted a perfect player for their type of offense, and Clark should find a nice home playing for the NBA’s highest scoring team.

(Jim Dallke is a PrepStars 2009 intern and a rising junior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is majoring in communication studies with a minor in journalism. He can be reached at jdallke@yahoo.com.)