I am doing a little research on previous drafts, trying to figure out which players will be successful in theย NBA. Here is today’s post about NBA Draft Don’ts.Not since Carmelo Anthonyย was draftedย in 2003, has Syracuse Universityย had a decentย pro player.ย Jonny Flynn: bust,ย Donte’ Green: bust, Wesley Johnson: bust (although theย jury is still outย on him), andย Hakim Warrick: semi-bust. This year, the Orange figures to have two or three players go in the first round. Dion Waiters, Fabย Melo, and Kris Joseph are the names to watch out for in the draft this year. Syracuse players are often been over-hyped and playing a zone-defense in college doesn’t prepare you for pro-level defense.
The University of North Carolina is always tough, in college. But Roy Williams has produced some real duds lately.ย Ty Lawsonย is the only notable player, in the last six or seven years, to have come from UNC and play at a high level in the NBA. Danny Green,ย Wayne Ellington,ย Brandanย Wright, Marvin Williams, Tylerย Hansbrough,ย Rashadย McCants, Sean May have made very little impact in the NBA. With that being said, Harrison Barnes, John Henson,ย Kendall Marshall, andย Tylerย Zellerย might change the perception. But don’t count on it.
When was the last time theย University of Illinois Fightingย Illiniย produced a solid big man? And don’t say James Augustine. Big man Meyers Leonard declared for the draft a while ago, but don’t think his skills improved much. If he does become good, he would be the first big man sinceย Red Kerrย (played from 1955-1966). I would like to see Leonard grabbed 10,092 rebounds, too (total number of rebounds Kerr had throughout his career).
