This week started the flurry of early-season tournaments featuring some great matchups in Puerto Rico and Charleston.  Some stick to a true tournament format, while others have pre-set final fours, and I will be providing quick primers on what to expect and players to keep an eye on.

The Paradise Jam kicks off today in the US Virgin Islands and features a nice mix of high, low, and mid-major squads, as well a solid group of talent to keep your eye on.

Paradise Jam (8 teams, November 16-19)

Previous Winners

2011: Marquette

2010: Old Dominion

2009: Purdue

CLICK HERE FOR THE BRACKET


Who to watch
 

CONNECTICUT

Expectations were not high heading into the season for the Huskies with the retirement of Jim Calhoun, a ban from the NCAA Tournament, and some transfers.  However, new coach Kevin Ollie has led the team to a quick 2-0 start, including a win over ranked Michigan State.  The Huskies’ offense and defense starts with their backcourt, Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.  Both are quick, can pressure the ball fullcourt and can jump passing lanes to get quick turnovers.  On the offensive end, they can both get into the lane and make plays, though Boatright may be the better distributor.  Shot selection is an issue for both, though they have both shown they can hit from long range.  DeAndre Daniels was highly recruited and should be a major contributor this season.  He is long and athletic and can make some spectacular plays around the basket.  He needs to work on staying focused defensively and not getting caught in poor situations.  Freshman guard Omar Calhoun has the potential to be a fantastic scorer at the college level.

GEORGE MASON

Paul Hewitt is looking to get his George Mason squad back to the NCAA’s after being left out last season.  Sherrod Wright has good size, and get to the rim or hit his jumper from 3. Bryon Allen does a good job facilitating the offense, he plays tough defense, and can score if needed.  Forwards Johnny Williams and Marko Gujanicic are both more comfortable on the perimeter, but they can knock down shots and hit the boards.

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

Howard Moore knows his team will be outmanned in many situations, but he uses a strong ball-control offense to keep the Flames in most games.  Former Oregon and Central Florida big man Josh Crittle brings his wide body and soft touch to Chicago.  He has good footwork for his size and he holds his own on the defensive end against taller players.  Eastern Illinois transfer Joey Miller is a quality perimeter shooter and a good perimeter defender.  Point guard Gary Talton is an excellent leader on the floor, makes smart passes and can get to the basket in isolation.  He also does a good job keeping the team focused on defense and setting the intensity.

IONA

Tim Cluess’ squad got an at-large NCAA bid last season behind the leadership of Scott Machado and Mike Glover.  They have moved on, but Cluess has a nice combination of players which should put Iona in the running for another NCAA trip.  Lamont “Momo” Jones is in his 2^nd year at Iona after starting his career at Arizona.  Jones is capable of playing the point or playing off the ball.  He is quick, can get into the lane, and either score or draw-and-dish.  He has improved as a defender and is capable of picking up fullcourt.  Iowa State transfer Tavon Sledge was recently declared eligible and give another roption to push the ball quickly and pressure the ball on defense.  Sean Armand is a deadly three-point shooter and runs the floor as well as any wing in the country.  Junior college transfer Tre Bowman is a very good athlete who can finish in transition and guard multiple positions.

MERCER

Bob Hoffman’s Bears struck a blow for small programs around the country last season when his team won the postseason CIT.  Most of the pieces are still in place and Mercer should be in the running for a NCAA bid this season.  Jakob Gallon plays bigger than his 6’6 frame and can score inside and out for the Bears.  With Langston Hall injured, Travis Smith has stepped up and done a good job running the point and providing another deep threat.  Bud Thomas is a versatile wing who can play multiple roles on both ends of the floor.   Mercer will go with a deep bench and will do a good job spreading the ball, not relying on any one player to carry the scoring load.

NEW MEXICO

Steve Alford’s Lobos have high hopes heading into this season and have gotten off to a solid start with an opening win against Davidson.  They like to push the ball and have a good group of athletes who can out in transition and finish.  Tony Snell is a lengthy wing who is aggressive getting to the basket and finds ways to get shots off around the rim.   Kendall Williams has a quick first step and likes to get into the lane and draw contact.  He does a good job using his quick hands and feet to cause disruptions on defense.  Australian Hugh Greenwood is a savvy offensive player, capable of playing either guard spot.  Demetrius Walker may be well known from his role in George Dohrmann’s Play Their Hearts Out, but he has turned into a solid distributor and decent defender.  Big men Alex Kirk and Cameron Bairstow use their size to try and help disrupt opponents on offense, though neither is very athletic .  Kirk has the potential to be a good inside-out scoring threat.

QUINNIPIAC

Tom Moore’s Bobcats have won 63 games over the last 3 seasons and should be in the running for another 20-win season this year.  Junior Ike Azotom is one of the NEC’s best and a threat for a double-double almost every night.  He uses his length well to score and rebound and can be a disruptive defender in the post or on the perimeter.  Dave Johnson is a solid distributor and does a good job pressuring the ball on the defensive end.  Senior Garvey Young has the potential to be a solid perimeter threat and he uses his athleticism well on both ends of the floor.  Expect the Bobcats to go 8 or 9 deep to try and keep up with the more athletic schools in the tournament.

WAKE FOREST

The Demon Deacons have hit hard times recently, but there is still some good talent in Winston-Salem.  Travis McKie is athletic and scoring threat from anywhere on the floor.  He rebounds well for his size and uses his body well to guard multiple positions.  Point guard C.J. Harris needs to pick up a much bigger scoring load for this team, but he is still a capable distributor and an underrated defender.  Freshmen Codi Miller-McIntyre, Tyler Cavanaugh, and Devin Thomas will all play big roles immediately.  The team short on experience, so they will rely on McKie and Harris to handle the load.  They will bear down on defense and look to control the tempo on the offensive end.  Head coach Jeff Bzdelik likes a ball-control offense and the team will run multiple offensive sets.


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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, while others have pre-set final fours, and I will be providing quick primers on what to expect and players to keep an eye on.  The Puerto Rico Tip-Off kicks off this morning and features some of the best young talent in college basketball, as well as some sleeper seniors to keep an eye on.

Puerto Rico Tip-Off (8 teams, November 15-18)

Previous Winners

2011: Alabama

2010: Minnesota

2009: Villanova

CLICK HERE FOR THE BRACKET


Who to watch

AKRON

Keith Dambrot’s squad should be near the top of the MAC again this year, and a large part of that will be due to their man in the middle, 7-footer Zeke Marshall.  Marshall is one of the top shot-blockers in the country and his offensive game has continued to develop over the last few years.  If the Akron perimeter players can draw defenders out, Marshall should have a big ending to his college career.  Junior point guard Alex Abreu is a good shooter and quality distributor.  He does a good job pressuring the ball, but he needs to continue to work on positioning and moving his feet.  A pair of freshman wings, Jake Kretzer and Reggie McAdams should provide some versatility on both ends of the floor.

MASSACHUSETTS

It’s taken some time, but Derek Kellogg has finally gotten UMass back to being competitive on a national level.  Last season culminated in a trip to the NIT semifinals, and there are now NCAA expectations with most of the key components back from that team.   Chaz Williams has little size, but a ton of speed and he uses that well to push the ball in transition or to get into the heart of the defense.  He has good vision, and can make some spectacular passes, but he needs to work on keeping control once he gets by his man and into the lane.  Juniors Jesse Morgan and Raphiael Putney both run the court well and get great scoring opportunities in transition.  The defense is very active and does a good job forcing turnovers in the half-court offense.

UNC ASHEVILLE

The heart and soul of Eddie Biedenbach’s team moved on with the graduation of JP Primm and Matt Dickey, the duo who led the Bulldogs to two consecutive NCAA appearances.  Two other seniors who logged significant playing time, Quinard Jackson and Chris Stephenson, also moved on, so there will be plenty of opportunities for players to step up.  Jeremy Atkinson is a strong-bodied guard who can shoot from the perimeter or use his strength to force his way to the basket.  DJ Cunningham has returned from a knee injury which forced him to miss last season and he instantly gives the Bulldogs a threat in the middle on both ends of the floor.  Freshman Will Weeks is a skilled undersized 4 who finds ways to score around the basket.  Trent Meyer has provided valuable minutes off the bench his first 2 years and will now look to step into the role of distributor and keeping the offense moving.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Mark Gottfried exceeded expectations in his first season in Raleigh, and the expectations have become that much higher heading into the new season.  Juniors Lorenzo Brown and CJ Leslie lead the way for the Wolfpack.  Brown is the key to the Wolfpack’s offense – running it, breaking down the defense, and scoring if needed.  He does a good job hitting his teammates in position to score and has done a better job protecting the ball and making good decisions.  Leslie is a freak athlete who does a good job finishing around the basket and hitting the offensive glass.  Senior Richard Howell provides a big body who can clear space in the lane and defend the 4 or 5 position.  Junior Scott Wood is a sharp-shooting wing who uses his size to get looks on the perimeter.  A trio of highly regarded freshmen – Rodney Purvis, Tyler Lewis, and TJ Warren – provides depth and versatile scoring and defensive options.

OKLAHOMA STATE

Travis Ford has assembled a nice group of young talent as he tries to lead the Cowboys back to the upper parts of the Big 12 standings.  Sophomore Le’Bryan Nash didn’t have the huge freshman season that many projected, but he still showed enough to assure everyone that he is a big time prospect.  Athletic and smooth, Nash can be almost unstoppable when he gets a step on his defender.  He has range on his jumper as well, but he still needs to work on shot selection.  Freshman guard Marcus Smart is one of the top freshmen in the country, being both very skilled and having a great basketball IQ.  The Cowboys will rely on him to both score and run the offense.  Fellow freshman Phil Forte is a quality long-range shooter, and senior Jean-Paul Olukemi is solid defender and rebounder for his size.  Junior Markel Brown provides more scoring in the backcourt, and is a very good defender on the perimeter.

PENN STATE

Head coach Pat Chambers is still working on putting together the kind of team he wants, but for now, he will rely on point guard Tim Frazier to carry the load for the Nittany Lions.   Frazier does almost everything well – he can score, distribute, he plays tough defense and rebounds well for his size.   Sophomore guard DJ Newbill provides a solid scoring option, using his strong body to get to the rim and draw contact.  Sophomore Ross Travis and junior Jermaine Marshall are good role players and provide a little bit of everything out on the court for Chambers.

PROVIDENCE

This write-up should have had a lot of focus on freshmen Ricky Ledo and Kris Dunn, but Ledo is ineligible and Dunn is injured, so the focus would have been on veteran point guard Vincent Council, one of the best distributors in the country.  However, Council is also injured, so the focus for Ed Cooley’s Friars will be on sophomore LeDontae Henton. Henton is very athletic, runs the floor well, and can finish in a variety a ways.  He is also a very good defender and rebounder for his size, but he will need to watch his shot selection when he is the focus of the offense.  Bryce Cotton is a perimeter sharpshooter, with great range and a quick release.  Kadeem Batts has great length and can finish well around the basket.  Providence likes to push the tempo and its players play a lot of minutes, so it will be interesting to see how the shorthanded squad fares with their adjustments.

TENNESSEE

Cuonzo Martin’s Tennessee squad is one of everyone’s favorites to be near the top of the SEC this season, and it all starts with the play of point guard Trae Golden.  Golden does a great job getting into the lane and drawing the defense, and he finds open teammates around the basket or on the perimeter.  He is also a solid defender who can pressure the ball and force the offense into turnovers.  Jarnell Stokes is a true power forward, using his wide body to create space and using a soft touch to finish around the basket.  He is a very good rebounder on both ends, and he can use his body well to defend much bigger players.  Skyler McBee not only has the best facial hair in college basketball, but he has also become one of the most reliable gunners from the perimeter.   Sophomore Josh Richardson and junior Jordan McRae provide depth on both ends of the floor.  Jeronne Maymon is currently hurt, but when he returns, he is another big body to pair with Stokes around the basket.

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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.

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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.