By: David Kay
Every week The Sports Bank’s resident NBA Draft and college basketball nerd, David Kay takes a look at whose draft stock is on the rise and whose is falling. Ohio State’s Evan Turner is back and his stock is right back to where it was prior to his injury. You can check out full player prospects here and David’s 2010 NBA Mock Draft here.
BUY:
Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State, Jr.
In the words of Ma$e covering the Welcome Back Cotter Theme, “Welcome back, welcome back, welllllllcome baaaaaaack.” When Turner was sidelined after fracturing two vertebrae in his upper back, I wrote that his stock would take a hit until he returned and proved to be back to his old self. Well, he is back to his old self. Turner put up 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists against Minnesota and followed that up with a career-high 32 point performance in a comeback win at Purdue. The versatile Buckeye is back in my 2010 mock draft and a top-five pick.
Scottie Reynolds, G, Villanova, Sr.
If Reynolds were to put out a personal ad, it would read like this: “Extremely intelligent, clutch, experienced floor leader who can also shoot lights out from distance. If your NBA team needs a back-up combo guard who can play 12-15 minutes a night right away, I am your guy.” I really do not understand how some mock drafts do not have Scottie in their top 60. Did they not see him drop 36 in ‘Nova’s come from behind win at Louisville?
Damion James, F, Texas, Sr.
Let us not forget that at the beginning of last season, James was being talked about as a serious lottery prospect, but slipped due to a lackluster junior year. In this, his senior season, James has reminded us of his lottery potential. He is averaging more than 17 points and 11 boards a night and has posted double-doubles in six of his last seven games (the only game he did not record a double-double he fell one board short.) James is a First Team All-American candidate and shooting the ball better from the perimeter while continuing to show his toughness and ability to play at the rim. He likely is not a lottery pick but has is pretty much a first-round lock with the possibility of being taken in the mid-late teens.
Click here for the rest of the Stock Report.