Finding The Perfect NBA Teams For The Top 10 College Prospects
Harrison Barnes (photo. Jeffrey Camarati/UNC Athletics)
3. Anthony Davis
There’s no one I’m more excited to see play this season than Davis, who could easily walk away with the title of best prospect in college ball. More than likely, there’s no way he falls beyond the top three. The dude is a condor defensively, and has somehow maintained a nice stroke out to 18 feet.
BEST FIT: New Jersey
I’m not sure we’ll know exactly who Davis is until two or three years into his career. He’s so raw and so young (in terms of development) as a big man. The other players on this list, we have a pretty good feel for. But Davis could be anything from Kevin Garnett to Joakim Noah. No matter what though, he’s athletic, hits the glass and can block shots, all things Brook Lopez struggles with. Team Davis up with Deron Williams and you have a lethal combo down the road. If Steve Nash was a little bit younger, this wouldn’t even be a question. But who knows what’s happening out in Phoenix in the next year.
2. Harrison Barnes
Did anyone have a crazier freshman season than Barnes? He went from getting All-American hype to losing a sure spot in the top 20 to regaining his swag at the end of the season and vaulting himself back into No. 1 pick contention. If Barnes was a little bit more athletic, I might buy some of the old Kobe comparisons. But even a poor man’s Kobe is pretty freaking good.
BEST FIT: Charlotte
It feels like someone is scripting this. Barnes would fit with pretty much everyone, and you could make a case a city and team like Cleveland need him more. But then there are the Carolina ties, the Jordan ties and most importantly, the fact that Charlotte’s swingmen might not even start for UNC right now. They gave up Gerald Wallace. They surrendered Stephen Jackson. Who’s left? Gerald Henderson. Barnes needs to be here.
1. Andre Drummond
While the maturity in his game still leaves a lot to be desired, how can you not consider Drummond the best prospect in all of college basketball? He’s enormous. He’s gifted with every skill imaginable. And he’ll learn what he needs this year under Calhoun.
BEST FIT: Minnesota
He would fit basically anywhere, and probably start right off the bat for most of the teams in the lottery. But if we need to pinpoint one team that would be ideal, I’d say Minnesota. Ultimatly, if the Wolves got lucky enough to take him, and pair him in the frontcourt with Kevin Love, you can’t get much better than that. Love is one of the league’s hardest working big men who makes the most of what he has. He’s on his way to being one of the best forwards in the league because he knows where his bread and butter is. Drummond could help cover up some of Love’s defensive deficiencies while learning from him at the same time.
Give us your top 10 and where you think they fit in the best…
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November 14th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
EvanZ says:
Every team can use Drummond or Davis.
November 14th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
world says:
Your wrong On MKG potential limit…dead wrong.
November 14th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
the truth says:
Great list but i agree about MKG…watched him play his first 3 games at UK and i was expecting pure hard work and athleticism. He showed a huge display of offensive moves from off the dribble, in the low and high post and off the ball. Dude can flat out play and works his ass off.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
matt says:
Raptors need Harrison Barnes. Rivers is a SG (We already have DeRozan). If Rivers could play the 1 that would be perfect but he can’t. Also, at the 1, the raps have some1 no one ever thinks about, Jerryd Bayless, he is a solid starter but is just ok off the bench. As a starter Bayless averaged 18 pts + 7 assists/game. Which is pretty solid, better than Jennings – most overrated player in the NBA.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Sam says:
The only positive thing I could possibly take out of the lock-out as a Net fan is that we might actually wind up with Davis.
He has the potential to be an elite power forward-center hybrid in the mold of Duncan/Garnett. Those are what I like to call ANCHOR guys, big men that change the game for their team both on offense and defense. A combo of Williams and Davis would make the Nets one of the NBA’s elite teams in just a few seasons.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Sws20 says:
My boy t jones doesn’t get any love??? What’s up with that?
November 14th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
IDOT says:
I could actually see Rivers play in Detroit, Cleveland, or N.O.
November 14th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
ctkennedy says:
No LebryanNash he will be a better pro than Rivers
November 14th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
baloogawhales says:
I know it’s early but Drummond hasn’t done anything to get the number one spot on this list. Watched him play today and he is huge, no doubt about that, but what are his other skillsets? He does have soft hands and his second jump is lightning quick, but have yet to see an offensive go to move.
November 14th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
baloogawhales says:
I know it’s early but Drummond hasn’t done anything to get the number one spot on this list. Watched him play today and he is huge, no doubt about that, but what are his other skillsets? He does have soft hands and his second jump is lightning quick, but have yet to see an offensive go to move. maybe i’m too quick to judge…we shall see.
November 15th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Chicagorilla says:
Drummond #1? The guy can’t even start at UConn, but you think he’ll start in the NBA? I’m not saying he’s a scrub, but he’s no more than Deandre Jordan right now (in every way). If Drummond can learn some moves in the post and learn to use his size, not just his hops, he’ll be dominant. He and many of the other kids on this list, will need two to three years of college ball to let themselves develope an actual game/skill set.
Anthony Davis is all potential. He is no better than Darius Miles right now. The hype around him kinda boggles my mind. I do hope he eventually develops into a player. going to UK was a bad choice, seeing as how Calipari doesn’t develop talent or teach basketball. He is a lot like Coach K, in that he just puts the talent on the floor to run his system.
November 15th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Stewart says:
It’s way too early for some of these guys, we really won’t get a great look until later on in the season. I really want to see how Lamb’s game improves. He should really be “that guy” this year. If Drummond can get a move, he will be solid also. Chicagorilla, sad to say, but you are right about Drummond, he is only a Deandre Jordan, but he will be much better.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:00 pm
shaw32 says:
I can’t believe there’s not a terrence on this list jones or ross either one. Also I love duke and rivers seems to have Jamal Crawford written all over him. I just don’t see him being better then either terrance.