College basketball season kicked off last Friday with a national opening day which led into a great opening weekend for hoops.  .

Also starting this week is the flurry of early-season tournaments, from Maui to Puerto Rico.  Some stick to a true tournament format, and I will be providing quick primers on what to expect and players to keep an eye on.  Up first is the Charleston Classic, with a good mix of established stars and some young players who will make a name for themselves in the next few years.

Charleston Classic (8 teams, November 15-18)

Previous Winners

2011: Northwestern

2010: Georgetown

2009: Miami (FL)

CLICK HERE FOR THE BRACKET


Who to watch

AUBURN

Tony Barbee’s 3^rd season as the Tigers’ head coach may be Auburn’s best shot at getting back to the post season since 2009.  2 seniors anchor this group, guard Frankie Sullivan and big man Rob Chubb.  Sullivan bounced back well last year after sitting out a season due to injury.   Sullivan uses his strength well to create space and is aggressive looking for scoring chances.  He needs to do a better job with shot selection and not settle for contested jumpers.  Chubb has developed slowly over his college career, but he has found a nice niche as a rebounder, screener and post defender.  The shot selection issues plagued most of the team last season, so they need to move the ball quickly and find openings in the defense.  On the defensive end, they need to pressure the ball and look to create scoring chances off of turnovers.

BAYLOR

No team has impressed me more to start the season than Baylor.  Pierre Jackson has done a good job controlling his biggest weakness – lack of control.  He puts his teammates in position to get easy scores and he can score in bunches if the team needs it.  Defensively, he needs to be consistent and do a better job understanding his opponent’s strengths/weaknesses.   Isaiah Austin has played only 17 minutes, due to an ankle injury early in the 2^nd half of their opener, but what a half it was.  He showed he can run the floor, finish above the rim, and hit spot-up threes.  Defensively, he is still a work in progress, but he has the potential to become a very effective defensive presence.  Cory Jefferson waited his turn with the Bears and has broken out in a big way.  Another athletic big, in the mold that has become the norm in Waco, Jefferson just needs to run the floor and get to the rim and he can score easy baskets.  As the season develops, it will be interesting to see if Jefferson adds some versatility to his offensive game.  Freshmen Rico Gathers and LJ Rose provide valuable minutes and should be major contributors come March.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Steve Donahue is entering his 2^nd year of trying to put his stamp on the BC program, and I expect the team to be better than Year 1.  A trio of sophomores lead the way for the Eagles, led by Ryan Anderson.  Anderson has the ability to score in the post or the perimeter, as well as a great nose for rebounding.  His range still really extends only to 15-17 feet, and he has a long way to go on the defensive end, but he continues to improve each game and should be one of the ACC’s best by the time his career is done.  &-footer Dennis Clifford provides a strong post presence on both ends of the floor, and will be a solid role player during his college career.  Patrick Heckmann is a good scoring threat, able to take the ball to the basket or step back and hit the long-range jumper.

CHARLESTON

Doug Wojick takes over for the legendary Bobby Cremins, but he has some good pieces in place to help keep Charleston’s recent winning tradition alive.   Senior point guard Andrew Lawrence spent the summer with the Great Britain Olympic Team and should find himself in the running for the Southern Conference’s top player.  He is an excellent distributor, is a good spot-up shooter, and can pressure the ball on the defensive end.  Sophomore Adjehi Baru has good length and is a strong rebounder and defender.   Trent Wiedeman is a strong-bodied double-double threat who has a great knack for the ball and is getting a chance to show off his developing skill-set.

COLORADO

Head Coach Tad Boyle has done a great job upping the talent level at Colorado in recent years and he should find his team in contention for the PAC-12 title this season.  Junior Andre Roberson is extremely athletic and one of the best rebounders in the country, but everyone has been waiting for it all to start to click for him.  His skill and understanding needs to catch up to his athletic ability sooner rather than later for this team to succeed.  The sophomore backcourt of Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker keep the offense moving and set the tempo on the defensive end.  Dinwiddie does a great job as a faciliatator on the offensive end, using his size to see over the top of the defense and looking for mismatches.  Booker is a gunner, but when he is hot, he can score in bunches.  Freshmen Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson are both athletic and versatile and should create space to let Roberson and Booker get opportunities to get to the basket.

DAYTON

Head coach Archie Miller enters his 2^nd year as head coach, and he has the talent to make a good showing in the increasingly tough Atlantic 10.  Point guard Kevin Dillard does a great job getting into defenses and setting up his teammates while also having the ability to pressure the ball on the defensive end.  He needs to continue to work on his shot-selection and decision-making, but he has some other weapons to rely on.  Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford made a quick impact in his first game for the Flyers with 18 points on 7-10 shooting.  While he never seemed comfortable against Big East competition, he should be a solid scorer in the Atlantic 10, and his improved long-range shooting will help spread the floor for Dillard.   Swingman Devin Oliver does a great job finding open teammates and can guard multiple positions.  His scoring should continue to improve as he garners more playing time.   Senior big Josh Benson is looking to rebound from a torn ACL last season.  If he is at full strength, he can be a major factor on both ends of the floor for the Flyers with his ability to run the floor, finish, and handle the ball.  He still needs to be tougher on the defensive end, but he is used to playing much stronger opponents.

MURRAY STATE

Player of the Year candidate Isaiah Canaan is one of the top scoring threats in the country and an underrated defender.  His challenge this season will be to show that he can create for others while still keeping his scoring at a high level.  Ed Daniel is extremely tough and plays much bigger than his size.  He can guard either forward spot or handle the middle, and goes strong after rebounds.  Senior shooting guard Stacy Wilson should benefit from the attention that Canaan receives in the offensive end and can be a valuable scorer if he knocks down his shots.  Pushing the pace, Murray State has a lot of weapons and they cover a lot of ground on the defensive side.

ST. JOHN’S

Head Coach Steve Lavin has made his return to the sidelines, but after one game, it is easy to see where the discipline Mike Dunlap brought to the team is missing.  The team is athletic and plays hard, but they need to work on being patient and picking their spots.  Sophomores D’Angelo Harrison and Sir’Dominic Pointer can both score in a variety of ways, and can both be tough to contain in open space.  Phil Greene IV showed good control in the opener running the offense, and his ability to knock down open shots should help free up his teammates.  Amir Garrett does a good job being active around the basket on both ends.  Freshman Chris Obekpa is a solid rebounder and showed that he can be a great shot-blocker, but seems lost in the half-court offense and needs to continue to work on his skill-set.  Freshman Christian Jones showed good poise in his first college game and will be someone to watch a year from now.

Follow @NBADraftBlog on Twitter for more updates, and send any comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or leave them below. 

The first games of the college basketball season are upon us, and the road to the 2013 NBA Draft has begun.  It’s time to continue my look at this year’s sophomore class and give some brief notes on areas where they need to show improvement to maximize their appeal to the NBA if they choose to leave school.

(You can read previous entries here: Senior Watch List, Junior Watch List, Sophomores Part I)

Remember, these are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out during the season.   Some of these players are already pro candidates, while others will clearly need a senior season.  These are not all-inclusive and just meant as a brief primer for those who want to track draft prospects throughout the season.

Chane Behanan, Louisville, Forward, 6’6, 250

9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 51.0 FG%, 59.4 FT%, 16.7 3FG% (36 attempts)

While fellow classmates Andre Drummond and Moe Harkless may have garnered more attention before they left for the NBA, Behanan had as good a season and was a vital part of a Final Four team.  He is strong with a wide body which he uses well.  He has good hands and nice touch around the basket, but that doesn’t prevent him from going up and finishing strong.  Behanan has good rebounding instincts and he uses his body well to get position and to get up quickly after the ball.  He crashes the offensive boards at almost every opportunity.  He does a good job hitting holes in the defense create by the guards’ penetration or perimeter shooters.  On the defensive end, Behanan is a solid anchor in the back of Louisville zone and he uses his good court awareness to help direct the rest of his teammates.  Even with his bulk, he runs the floor very well and he can get out and finish in transition.

What he needs to show this season: Behanan’s offensive game is very limited at this point outside of roaming the baseline and crashing the offensive boards.  Unfortunately, his role should be somewhat similar this year, though he will still get plenty of points.  Behanan will eventually need to show that he can step out to 15 feet and either hit the mid-range jumper or take his man off the dribble.  His shot mechanics could use work, as he seems to release his shot at a strange angle behind his head.  If he raises his release point, he should have better opportunities for making shots.  Defensively, Behanan needs to work on his foot speed and lateral movement to be able to guard in man on the perimeter.  He uses his body well to defend in the post, but he will need to be even tougher against larger players at the next level.

Kyle Wiltjer, Kentucky, Forward, 6’10, 239

5.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 43.8 FG%, 81.5 FT%, 43.2 3FG%, 11.6 mpg

Wiltjer is the remaining member of last year’s heralded Kentucky freshman class, but he will have his opportunity to step up this season.  He is one of the best spot-up shooters in college, regardless of size, with a quick release and good range.  He is also effective in the high post area where he can hit the mid-range jumper or use his good court vision to make plays to the low post or perimeter.  He uses shot fakes well, especially when he gets the ball in the lane or low post, and he uses his nice touch and above-average footwork to get easy baskets.  In transition, Wiltjer is a good spot-up perimeter option either on the wings or as a trailer on the break.  Defensively, Wiltjer does a good job positioning himself well in the post and the perimeter.

What he needs to show this season: Part of the difficulty in assessing Wiltjer’s total game is the limited minutes he played last season, though his role will likely be very similar to what he did when he played last season.  As mentioned, he is a good spot-up shooter, but if he is being guarded closely, there is little he can do about it.  He has a good shot-fake and he can get defenders up in the air, but he is too slow and not a good enough ballhandler to make anything out of it.  He hasn’t shown yet that he can be a consistent shooter off the dribble and it would be tough for him to penetrate from any further out than the free throw line.  He could be a good option in pick-and-pop situations, but he isn’t a very good screener and he is slow to open up after the screen.  If he gets the ball in the post and the defender doesn’t fall for a shot fake, he doesn’t have the moveset to get good shots.  Hopefully, he will get to the line consistently where he can get some easy points.  On the defensive side, Wiltjer has a lot of work to do.  If he defends in the post, he needs to learn to use his lower body to hold his position.   Last season, he used his arms and upper body too much and was backed down easily.  On the perimeter, he needs to get much better at moving his feet since he will likely be matched up against quicker players.   Surprisingly, for someone who uses shot fakes really well, he falls for them easily and is easy to get off-balance.

James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina, Forward, 6’9, 230

6.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 43.7 FG%, 63.8 FT%, 15.6 mpg

McAdoo was a valuable bench contributor in his freshman season, and when called upon in March to step up into the starting lineup, he more than handled his own.  McAdoo has good instincts around the basket and can finish in a variety of ways.  He has a strong face-up game and can hit his jumper out to 15 feet consistently.  He understands how to seal off his defender in the post, using his body well to get low and wide.  He has good hands and a soft touch, but can also get up and finish above the rim.  McAdoo is a good post defender, using his body well to battle for position while avoiding unnecessary fouls.  He does a good job getting position for rebounds and goes strong after the missed shot, securing it well once he gets it.  He hedges out well in pick-and-roll situations and he has a good understanding of how to play perimeter defense.

What he needs to show this season: Extended minutes in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments gave us a good look at the potential McAdoo has on both ends of the floor.  On the offensive end, McAdoo needs to continue to improve his foot work in the low post, and look to finish more at the basket.  He can start to settle for the face-up jumper, especially if he hits one or two early on.  Also, it would be good to see him start to develop the ability to finish with either hand around the basket.  McAdoo needs to work on his anticipation of double teams in the post, and getting the ball out quickly or attacking before the help gets there.  On defense, McAdoo does a good job with his man, but he needs to work on being a better help defender around the basket.  He needs to react quicker and slide over the spot.  Also, his footwork on the defensive end needs to continue to improve.

Myck Kabongo, Texas, Guard, 6’1, 180

9.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.3 spg, 39.1 FG%, 68.0 FT%, 31.6 3FG%, 1.7:1 A/TO

Highly-regarded coming into Texas, Kabongo had his share of difficulties getting adjusted to the college game with a young team.   One of the fastest guards in college with a good handle and excellent court vision, Kabongo can be a fantastic playmaker.  He can be tough to contain in isolation and he uses a variety of dribbles and great acceleration to get by his defender.  He is a decent spot-up shooter, good enough that you can’t leave him open, even from long range.  Kabongo can be tough to stop in transition and does a good job beating defenders to the rim or hitting open teammates after drawing the defense.  Kabongo is a good on-ball defender, can pick up his man fullcourt, and moves his feet well.

What he needs to show this season: Kabongo’s biggest issue is control. Whether looking to create for a teammate or trying to get to the basket to score, Kabongo can go too fast for his own good.  He doesn’t react great to help defenders once he gets into the lane and picks up needless offensive fouls or get stuck without a shot or a pass to make.  His teammates also need to be aware that they can receive a pass at any time, and Kabongo also has to do a better job realizing that not all his teammates will be ready for some of his looks.  He needs to cut down on his carelessness with his dribble and his passes, keep things a bit simpler.  Also, he needs to improve his ability to finish once he gets in the lane, either being able to hit the floater/short jumper or go strong to the basket and take the contact.  On the defensive end, Kabongo really needs to work on getting through screens, both on and off the ball.

Otto Porter, Georgetown, Forward, 6’8, 205

9.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 53.4 FG%, 69.2 FT%, 24.0 3FG%

Porter was a revelation during his first year with the Hoyas, taking to the Georgetown principles as quickly as any player I can remember.  He is a versatile player on both ends of the floor, able to guard multiple positions and to score in a variety of ways.  He can get good position in the post and he uses his body well to create space for a close shot.  He can work in the high post or on the wing and can hit the open mid-range jumper.  As with most Georgetown players, he understands the value of spacing on the floor and where to find openings in the defense.  He attacks the glass on both ends of the floor, having a good nose for the ball, and even if he can’t get his hands on the ball on the first attempt, he keeps the ball alive for himself or a teammate.  On defense, he does a good job on the perimeter using his long arms to make passes difficult and he shows a good understanding of positioning and lateral movement.

What he needs to show this season: A lot of Porter’s work will come on polishing the skills he already has – becoming a better ballhandler, a more consistent shooter, and a better passer.  Similar to what we saw with Hollis Thompson last season, just because a player sacrifices part of his game for the Georgetown system, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the skills, but they will need to continue to work on them.  We may not see Porter attack the basket off the dribble much, but he still needs to work on doing it.  Overall, he needs to work on improving his foot speed on both ends.  He needs to make crisper cuts on the offensive end, and he has to work on getting through screens on the defensive end.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia, Guard, 6’5, 205

13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 39.6 FG%, 65.4 FT%, 30.4 3FG%

Caldwell-Pope has the potential to be one of the top scorers in the nation.   He has a nice perimeter shot, with excellent form, a quick release, and at 6’5, he is capable of getting good looks.  He uses screens well to get space for his shot, and he is always in position to shoot off the catch.  He has good court awareness and can find holes in the defense.  When he gets a step on his defender, he can finish in a variety of ways at the rim with excellent body control.  His court awareness extends to the defensive end, where he is a good help defender and he uses his length well to contest shots and passes on the perimeter.   He has good instincts for rebounding and gets to the spots quickly to secure the miss.  He runs the floor well in transition and can finish either off the dribble or spotting up on the perimeter.

What he needs to show this season: With all the scoring ability that Caldwell-Pope has, he needs to pick his spots better.  He was called on to pick up a big scoring load immediately as a freshman, but he had a tendency to force too many contested perimeter shots.  As part of this, he needs to work on using his dribble to create space, work on using shot fakes to get the defense off-balance, and work on hitting his jumper off the dribble consistently.  Also, he should look to attack the basket off the dribble more often and look to get to the free throw line.  His free throw percentage is a bit misleading as he had a few struggles early on, but by January, he had settled in, though he needs to get to the line more often.  Defensively, Caldwell-Pope moves his feet well and gets good position between his man and the basket, but he needs to react better to his man’s movements.  He rebounds well for his size, but he needs to make sure to put a body on someone before he goes after the ball.

Check back soon as I finish my look at the seniors, as well as some more from the junior and sophomore classes.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog and leave your comments below or email me – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The new season is almost here, and the road to the 2013 NBA Draft has begun.  It’s time to continue my look at this year’s junior class and give some brief notes on areas where they need to show improvement to maximize their appeal to the NBA if they choose to leave school.

(You can read previous entries here: Senior Watch List, Junior Watch List, Sophomores Part I)

Remember, these are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out during the season.   Some of these players are already pro candidates, while others will clearly need a senior season.  These are not all-inclusive and just meant as a brief primer for those who want to track draft prospects throughout the season.

Mike Moser, UNLV, Forward, 6’8, 210

14.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg, 45.0 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 33.1 3FG%

Moser used his outstanding athletic ability to have a breakout season in his 1^st year with UNLV after transferring from UCLA.  He can be a beast around the basket, and can finish strong or with finesse.  Moser uses his body well to finish through contact.  He is an outstanding rebounder on both ends of the floor, having great instincts, using his body well and going strong after the ball.  He has the ability to hit open jumpers, out to 3-point range, and in the right match-up, he can beat his man in isolation to the basket or pull up for a short jumper in the lane.  He runs the floor well and can get out and finish in transition.  On the defensive side, Moser plays with good energy and can guard multiple positions.

What he needs to show this season: Moser’s shot selection is a mess.  Part of it is the UNLV offense, which is predicated on beating their opponent down the floor and getting quick shots, but part of it is Moser overestimating his abilities away from the basket area.  Moser can one day be a good perimeter player, but he needs to polish his ballhandling and learn good vs. bad shots.  The other part of this is the more Moser stays on the perimeter, the less chance he has on the offensive boards, which is one of his biggest strengths.  Defensively, Moser has a lot of work to do, especially as a perimeter defender.  He falls for shot and ball fakes easily, and he doesn’t move his feet particularly well, leaving him in bad spots against experienced wings.  He is a tough post defender for his size, but he does give up some strength, so he needs to do a better job denying the ball to his man.

Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati, Guard, 6’4, 221

14.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 42.8 FG%, 75.0 FT%, 37.6 3FG%

Kilpatrick has made his name as a scorer, but he has quietly developed a very well-rounded game.  He is a good perimeter shooter, especially when he gets set behind the 3-point line.  He has a quick release and good range.  He hits open spots quickly and is very good at making good cuts when he is being overplayed on the perimeter.  Kilpatrick is good transition scorer, able to push the ball himself or run one of the wings, and either take the ball to the basket or spot up on one of the wings for the jumper.   Kilpatrick, like most of Mick Cronin’s players, is a very tough defender.  He plays the ball well and has good lateral movement.  Off the ball, he plays passing lanes well and is a good help defender.

What he needs to show this season:  Kilpatrick needs to work on becoming a more versatile scorer, especially finding ways to be more aggressive and attack the basket.  Also, he needs to become more selective with his shots, not settling for contested jumpers and looking to create space for better looks at the basket.  Because he settles for perimeter shots, he doesn’t get to the line often, where his shooting ability should get him some easy points.  He needs to also do a better job using screens to get open looks, especially coming off of screens quick and tight.

CJ Wilcox, Washington, Guard, 6’5, 195

14.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 43.7 FG%, 83.9 FT%, 40.3 3FG%

Wilcox was an excellent bench scoring option for the Huskies last season, but with Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten gone to the NBA, Wilcox will need to step up and become the team’s primary scoring threat.  Wilcox is a very good perimeter shooter, having good size and getting good elevation to shoot over most defenders.  He has a quick release and good range.  If he has time to get his feet set, he already has NBA-range on his shot.  He uses his dribble well to create space when needed.  Wilcox is also a good scoring option in transition, with the ability to take the ball to the basket or spot up on the wing.  Wilcox can guard multiple positions and he has improved as both an on and off-ball defender.

What he needs to show this season: Wilcox needs to do a better job moving with the ball on offense, developing quick moves to get open and doing a better job coming off of screens in position to make a play.  Also, he needs to not settle for contested jumpers and work on improving his ballhandling enough to get into the lane and score around the basket.  While he is a decent ballhandler, he doesn’t react to pressure well and he needs to have better awareness of where the pressure will come from and get the ball away quickly.  On defense, he has improved, but he can still be inconsistent, especially when he is away from the ball.  He has a tendency to focus too much on where the ball is and he loses his man through a screen or a quick cut.

Aaron Craft, Ohio State, Guard, 6’2, 195

8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.5 spg, 50.0 FG%, 71.3 FT%, 35.9 3FG%, 2.2:1 A/TO

There may not be a point guard in all of college ball who has better control of his team, and understanding of his opponent, than Craft.   He gets the Buckeyes into their offense quickly on every possession and he knows exactly when he needs to come get the ball and reset when needed.  Craft is an excellent ballhandler and strong passer, especially getting the ball to teammates where they can make a play.  He uses his dribble well to create space and he uses a variety of dribbles, including a great hesitation dribble, to get past defenders in space.  He has good body control and can be creative getting shots off around the basket.  He is a decent perimeter shooter when he has space and can get his body set and squared.  Craft is an excellent on-ball defender, using his body and feet to force his man away from their strengths.  He has very good lateral movement and has quick hands.  Craft is very good in the open court, drawing defenders and hitting open teammates.

What he needs to show this season: Craft runs his offense well, but he isn’t really a playmaker, not that that is bad.  He makes the plays his team needs him to make, but NBA teams will be interested in seeing him create more shots for others, especially off of penetration and the pick-and-roll.  Concerns about his offensive ability are not as bad as many may make out.  Similar to Kendall Marshall last year, Craft finds ways to score when his team needs him, but it isn’t his primary concern.  He can become a more consistent shooter, especially working on a mid-range jumper off the dribble and a short jumper or floater in the lane.  Defensively, Craft needs to watch his position off the ball, especially making sure he doesn’t cheat too much towards the ball when he is on a good shooter.  Also, he needs to work on getting over screens on the perimeter and in pick-and-roll situations.

Daniel Miller, Georgia Tech, Center, 6’11.5, 257

8.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.4 bpg, 49.8 FG%, 76.2 FT%

Miller showed a great amount of improvement last season, even if the numbers don’t appear to be great.  He is an agile big man, with smooth footwork and good touch on the offensive end.  He has developed a nice dribble move into the lane for a short jumper and is effective working on either side of the lane.  He is a good screener on the perimeter and he understands how to run the pick-and-roll.  He runs the floor well for his size and has good hands and can finish at the rim on the break.   Defensively, Miller positions himself well in the post and on the perimeter, and he does a good job getting out and hedging on the pick-and-roll.  Miller is good help defender in the lane and has improved his timing and his extension on blocking and altering shots.

What he needs to show this season: At his size, Miller needs to work on becoming stronger and learning to use his body better to get position on both ends of the floor.  Defensively, he needs to improve how he uses his lower body to force players away from the basket and to clear space to go after rebounds.  Speaking of rebounds, Miller needs to do a better job anticipating the shot miss, getting his position and going strong after the ball.  On the offensive end, Miller needs to be more assertive looking and calling for the ball.  Once he gets it, he needs to work on going strong to the basket.  To average 30 minutes per game and to go to the free throw line only 42 times all year, as a center, is awful.  Miller can shoot the ball and getting him to the free throw line would help the team, but Miller needs to want the ball.  Same goes for the pick-and-roll – he sets a good screen and rolls well to the basket, but he needs to look for and call for the ball when he has an opening, which is plenty.

De’Mon Brooks, Davidson, Forward, 6’7, 227

15.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 53.0 FG%, 72.1 FT%, 36.8 3FG%, 22.8 mpg

Brooks is coming off a season where he led Davidson in scoring, was the SoCon Player of the Year and was an honorable mention All-American, all with averaging only 23 minutes a game.  Brooks has good length and he uses it well to crash the offensive glass and score around the basket.  He is comfortable shooting with either hand and he likes to go strong to the rim.  He protects the ball well, both as a ballhandler and when rebounding on the defensive end.  Brooks is capable of guarding multiple positions and is comfortable defending one the perimeter or in the post.

What he needs to show this season: Brooks puts up very good numbers for the amount of minutes he plays, but he needs to stay on the court for longer stretches.  Brooks gets called for an excessive amount of fouls, but he can learn to avoid some of his bigger problems areas.  When he is guarding other wings, he needs to work on being quicker with his feet and avoiding reaching for the ball.  He may not have the speed, but he can learn to anticipate and beat his man to the spot to head off their penetration.  He does well guarding against bigger players in the post, but he needs to do a better job not falling for shot fakes that get him in the air.  On the offensive end, he needs to work on his ballhandling to create space off the dribble and to help him get by his defender.  He needs to work on becoming a more consisten shooter in all areas on the court.  One area he can certainly improve on his shot is to get more lift and arc on the shot instead of shooting straight at the basket.  He should also be able to get to the line more, but for all of this to work, he needs to get his minutes up consistently.

Check back soon as I finish my look at the seniors, as well as some more from the junior and sophomore classes.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog and leave your comments below or email me – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A few weeks until the first games of the college basketball season, and the road to the 2013 NBA Draft has begun.  It’s time to start my look at this year’s sophomore class and give some brief notes on areas where they need to show improvement to maximize their appeal to the NBA if they choose to leave school.

(You can read previous entries here: Senior Watch List, Junior Watch List)

Remember, these are not meant to replace scouting reports, which will come out during the season.   Some of these players are already pro candidates, while others will clearly need more time.  These are not all-inclusive and just meant as a brief primer for those who want to track draft prospects throughout the season.

Cody Zeller, Indiana, Forward/Center, 7’0, 240

15.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 bpg, 62.3 FG%, 75.5 FT%

Zeller proved to be the missing piece in Tom Crean’s return of the Indiana program to its place among the nations’ best.  Zeller is a highly-skilled big man with a number of ways to score around the basket.  He has very good footwork and hands in the post and a soft touch.  He has very good instincts on the offensive glass and can get 2^nd chance shots off quickly.  He understands court spacing well and is runs the pick-and-roll as well as any college big man.  Similar to his brother Tyler, Zeller also runs the court well in transition and can finish on the break.   On the defensive end, Zeller works hard to deny post entries and positions himself well.  He does a good job hedging on the pick-and-roll and uses his length to make passes difficult.

What he needs to show this season: Without improvement, Zeller is still the best big man in college basketball, but with an eye on the NBA, there are some steps he needs to take to become more versatile.  Getting stronger is a must, and it looks like he has bulked up some heading into this season.  Defending the post, he needs to work on using his lower body better to force players off the blocks.  Also, he needs to work on reacting better as a help defender in the lane and around the basket.  On the offensive end, Zeller needs to start to incorporate a face-up game out of the post, including improving his ballhandling to go by his man and working on a consistent mid-range jumper.

Trey Burke, Michigan, Guard, 6’1, 190

14.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 43.3 FG%, 74.4 FT%, 34.8 3FG%, 1.66:1 A/TO

There was talk that Burke was considering a jump to the NBA last season and you can read my scouting report from that time which is relevant heading into this season.

What he needs to show this season:  Again, the scouting report covers most of it, but some key areas where he needs to improve are his on-ball defense, especially lateral movement, and making quicker reads on offense.

Tony Mitchell, North Texas, Forward, 6’8, 235

(23 games) 14.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.0 bpg, 56.7 FG%, 73.9 FT%, 43.9 3FG% (41 attempts)

Mitchell is well-known as one of the most athletic players in college basketball, but he brings a good deal more in his game.  He has great rebounding instincts, gets in position quickly and goes strong after the missed shot.  He reacts well as a help defender and challenges almost every shot, including on the perimeter.  On the offensive end, he uses his body well to get position in the post and is able to score with his body to the basket or facing up.  He is quick to the basket and can finish as strong as anyone in college.  He has the ability to hit the mid-range jumper consistently and has shown that he can hit the open 3.

What he needs to show this season: Mitchell did not join his team until the 2^nd semester last season, in time for the Sun Belt conference schedule, but he did not play against any really strong teams.  Mitchell needs to show that he can physically dominate the game against stronger competition.  On the defensive end, he needs to work on the fundamentals of good defense.  In the post, he needs to not stand straight up, even if it does help him block shots.  He gets backed down too easily by mediocre post players and high-level players will score at will against him.  Also, he needs to work on his footwork and positioning on the perimeter.  He needs to understand that he can’t try and block every shot.  It is very easy to get him in the air with a pump fake, and he has to be more aware of when he will be goaltending.  On the offensive end, Mitchell needs to work on polishing the skills he has already.  His footwork, ballhandling, and passing can all be improved, and he needs to work on bringing the release point of his jumper up higher if he plans on being able to get shots off around defenders.

B.J. Young, Arkansas, Guard, 6’3, 180

15.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 50.4 FG%, 74.3 FT, 41.3 3FG%

Young had a very good freshman season, and he seems to be a great fit in Coach Mike Anderson’s up-tempo system.  Young has great speed, is a very good ballhandler, and can break down most defenders off the dribble.  He has a crossover that is very hard to stop and he gets into the lane very quickly.  He has good body control and can finish at the basket or with a floater.  He has a quick release and good range as a spot-up shooter.  He can control the pace of the game and he has good court vision.  On the defensive side, Young uses his quickness well when he pressures the ball and he plays passing lanes well.  Young is very good in the open court, either pushing the ball or running one of the wings.

What he needs to show this season: Young needs to do a better job getting his passes to his teammates where they can make a play off of them.  Also, he needs to make a better job making reads off of screens instead of always looking to the basket.  When he gets into the lane, he needs to not shy away from contact as much and look to draw more fouls.  Young should also improve his ability to hit the mid-range jumper and using his dribble to create space for his shot.  Defensively, Young needs to work on his awareness and his lateral movement.  Also, he needs to do a better job getting through screens.

Chasson Randle, Stanford, Guard, 6’1, 180

13.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 44.0 FG%, 76.1 FT%, 44.0 3FG%

Randle’s strong freshman season was an integral part of how Stanford was able to win the NIT Tournament.  Randle was an excellent perimeter shooter, having excellent range and a quick release.  He is a good ballhandler, uses screens well to get into the lane and finds ways to finish at the rim.  He does a good job drawing defenders and finding open teammates, and he is very good in a two-man game with his post players.  Randle is an average defender, positioning himself well and being quick to react as a help defender.

What he needs to show this season: With Aaron Bright handling a lot of the playmaking duties, Randle does not get a lot of chances to show the skills he needs to have at the NBA level.  While having Randle playing off the ball is a luxury for Stanford, he will need to show his ability as a playmaker and running the offense.  As mentioned, he is a good spot-up shooter, but he needs to work on being able to hit his jumper off of screens and off the dribble.  With defenders needing to cover him tightly on the perimeter, Randle should be able to use his dribble to create space and hit his jumper.  As a defender, he needs to work on his on-ball defense, improving his lateral movement and getting over screens.  Stanford seems to switch on screens automatically in most cases, but he won’t have that luxury at the next level.

LeDontae Henton, Providence, Forward, 6’6, 215

14.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 45.4 FG%, 70.6 FT%, 39.3 3FG%

Henton had a very impressive freshman season, especially considering that he was playing almost a full game every night (37.2 minutes per game).  Henton is very athletic and runs the floor well.  He is a strong finisher in transition and is able to finish with both hands around the basket.  He plays much bigger than his size, and he uses his body and length well to guard bigger players.  He goes strong after rebounds and is very quick after misses on the offensive end.  Henton is able to score both inside and out, and he does a good job filling open spots created by Vincent Council’s penetration.  He has good range on his spot-up jumper and his confidence in it seemed to improve during the course of the season.

What he needs to show this season: Henton needs to take the next step with his offensive skill-set – improving his ballhandling and working on taking defenders off the dribble to the basket.  Also, he needs to work on hitting his jumper off the dribble and using ball and shot fakes to draw defenders in the air.  He can improve his free throw shooting and he can certainly work on drawing more contact.  Defensively, Henton needs to work on his perimeter defense, both on and off the ball.  He needs to be aware of his positioning, especially when he is on a shooter, and improving his lateral movement.  He uses his athleticism well to get rebounds, but I would like to see him be more physical in clearing space and getting position.

Check back soon as I finish my look at the seniors, as well as some more from the junior  and sophomore classes.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog and leave your comments below or email me – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JUNIOR WATCH LIST

Here is a list of juniors I will be tracking throughout the season.  The list is still a work-in-progress and more names will be added in the upcoming weeks.  Each name is linked to their pre-season preview and as full scouting reports, interviews, and other mentions are made throughout the year, you will find the links to them here as well.

De'Mon Brooks - Davidson - Forward

Alec Brown – Wisconsin- Green Bay – Center

Reggie Bullock – North Carolina – Guard

Deonte Burton – Nevada – Guard

Aaron Craft - Ohio State - Guard 

Gorgui Dieng – Louisville – Center

C.J. Fair – Syracuse – Forward

Joe Jackson – Memphis – Guard

Sean Kilpatrick - Cincinnati - Guard 

C.J. Leslie – North Carolina State – Forward

Ray McCallum – Detroit – Guard

Doug McDermott – Creighton – Forward

Cleveland Melvin – DePaul – Forward

Daniel Miller - Georgia Tech - Center

Mike Moser - UNLV - Forward 

Shabazz Napier – Connecticut – Guard

Phil Pressey – Missouri – Guard

Andre Roberson – Colorado – Forward

Devon Saddler – Delaware – Guard

Joshua Smith – UCLA – Center

Deshaun Thomas – Ohio State – Forward

CJ Wilcox - Washington - Guard 

Patric Young – Florida – Forward

Trey Ziegler – Pittsburgh - Guard