NBA Draft: Which Players Improved Their Draft Stock on the First Weekend of the NCAA Tournament?
By Jason McIntyre
He’s got two more years of eligibility. Taking into account his Cam Newton-type baggage … if he were to come out this year, he’s a first-round lock, and possibly even a lottery pick. At 6-foot-8, 260, he could make for a destructive power forward. (Or possibly, an NFL tight end!)
But White could return to Iowa State, and if he does, the Cyclones might open the season in the preseason Top 10. Fred Hoiberg has former Michigan State point guard Korie Lucious and former Utah wing Will Clyburn entering the mix, and depending how much talent Baylor, Kansas and Missouri lose, the Cyclones could open the season as one of the favorites in the Big 12.
Edward Daniel, F, Murray State – The only Racer anyone talked about all season was scoring guard Isaiah Canaan (who will play in the NBA), but Daniel emerged as a pro prospect last weekend. He’s probably too undersized to be a starter at power forward (6-7, 220) in the NBA, and doesn’t have the offensive skills to be a small forward. But he’s a tremendous athlete who looked very impressive collected 14 rebounds against Marquette. He had four steals against Colorado State. Bouncy and athletic, his afro may make some people think he’s a Ben Wallace-type player. Check out the two blocks he had against Marquette. Only a junior, if he can improve at all offensively, I can see him as a 2nd round pick.
Draymond Green, F, Michigan State – Earlier in the season I thought he was just a really, really great college basketball player who probably wouldn’t amount to much in the pros, or at best would be a 2nd round draft pick. Now he has the makings of being a key 6th or 7th man on a winning team, and probably will be a first round pick this year. Green posted 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against Long Island in the first round, then 16-13-6 against Saint Louis including clutch play – which is his trademark – late. He’s just such a great complete all-around player. Maybe a do-it-all forward like Boris Diaw? There’s immense value in having a quality bench – see Chicago – and right now I’d peg Green anywhere from 20-30 in June.
Just missed the cut, but their stock is on the rise, too: CJ Leslie, NC State (sophomore); Robbie Hummel, Purdue (senior); Otto Porter, Georgetown (freshman); Drew Gordon, New Mexico (senior); Rodney McGruder, Kansas State (junior).