The NBA Draft Stock Report checks in on which college basketball players have made a name for themselves in the past week; either helping or hurting their future draft position.
Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2012 NBA Mock Draft.
BUYING:
Jeff Withey, C, Kansas, Jr.
Dude is playing out of his mind right now. Check out his last three stat lines:
-25 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots versus Baylor
-18 points, 20 rebounds, 7 blocked shots against Oklahoma State
-18 points, 11 rebounds, 9 blocked shots versus Kansas State
Wow, right? If those type of numbers don’t draw the attention of NBA scouts, I am not sure what will. Withey is a true seven-footer and has gotten exponentially better as the season has progressed. He is deceptively athletic but needs to get stronger. It is unlikely he turns pro after this season as his offensive game could use some more seasoning but since he is a redshirt junior, Withey might be tempted to leave after this season. NBA teams are always looking for quality big men and while I doubt he would be a first round pick, he would certainly be selected early in the second round.
Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, Marquette, Sr.
If DJO was 6-5 instead of 6-2, he would definitely be a first round pick. This kid can score in so many different ways; he is practically unguardable off the bounce, extremely quick with the ball, can finish at the rim with his left or right hand, shoots nearly 40% from three, and plays as well off the ball as he does with it in his hands. He has dropped 23 points in each of his last two games and is gaining steam as a legitimate Big East Player of the Year candidate for the second place Golden Eagles. His size is holding him back but don’t be surprised if his name is called in the first thirty picks.
Tim Frazier, PG, Penn State, Jr.
We used to jokingly call Penn State the “Talor Battles” last season, this year it is getting to the point where we should call them the “Tim Fraziers.” The junior finished one assist shy of a triple-double Saturday versus Nebraska and is averaging 21.5 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds over his past four games. His turnover number is bloated (3.9 per game) since he handles the ball pretty much all the time for PSU and he needs to improve his outside shooting, but Frazier could be an early second round sleeper candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft.
SELLING:
Perry Jones, PF, Baylor, Soph.
Ever hear the phrase, “big players make big plays in big games”… PJ Trey has not. In showdowns against Kansas and Mizzou this week, Jones combined, COMBINED to have nine points and ten rebounds on 3-20 shooting. I read a quote on Twitter that seems spot on, “Jones going to get some NBA GM fired; either because he picked him too high or because he passed on him.” He did bounce back with 18 points and 7 boards versus Iowa State but disappearing in the spotlight is going to be a huge black cloud on his draft stock.
Tony Mitchell, SF, Alabama, Jr. and JaMychal Green, PF, Alabama, Sr.
Being suspended indefinitely for unspecified reasons cannot be helpful for someone’s NBA Draft prospects and now Mitchell and Green will have to deal with concerns about their character and commitment. Both guys are second round prospects and being benched is not going to help them show off their skills.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.