Yes, I know the 2008 NBA Draft just took place last week. But being the huge nerd that I am, I couldn’t help but look forward to next year’s draft class. Frankly, outside of a few very highly regarded talents (Rubio, Jennings, Griffin, DeRozan, Mullens), it seems like 2009 will be an anti-climactic group. Then again, I have about 350 days to be convinced otherwise. Anyway, here is a look at the top ten prospects at each position.Â
PG
Ricky Rubio   Spain   6-4 1988
Brandon Jennings  Arizona  6-1 Fr.
Jrue Holliday   UCLA   6-4 Fr.
Stephen Curry   Davidson  6-0 Jr.
Ty Lawson   North Carolina 5-11 Jr.
Darren Collison  UCLA   6-0 Sr.
Rodrigue Beaubois  France   6-4 1988
Scottie Reynolds  Villanova  6-2 Jr.
Eric Maynor   VCU   6-3 Sr.
Johnny Flynn   Syracuse  6-0 So.
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A.J. Price, UConn (6-2 Sr.); Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (6-5 Jr.); Sherron Collins, Kansas (5-11 Jr.); Tyrese Rice, Boston College (6-1 Sr.); Lester Hudson, UT-Martin (6-3 Sr.); Curtis Jerrells, Baylor (6-1 Sr.); Jeremy Pargo,  Gonzaga (6-2 Sr.); Alexy Shved, Russia (6-5 1988); Ronald Steele, Alabama (6-3 Sr.); Dominic James, Marquette (5-11 Sr.); Jack McClinton, Miami FL (6-1 Sr.); Patrick Beverly, Arkansas (6-1 Jr.); Jai Lucas, Florida (5-11 So.); Tajuan Porter, Oregon (5-6 Jr.); Manny Harris, Michigan (6-5 So.); A.J. Abrams, Texas (6-0, Sr.)
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Chase Budinger made the list…..
SG
Demar DeRozen  USC   6-6 Fr.
James Harden   Arizona St.  6-5 So.
Tyreke Evans   Memphis  6-5 Fr.
Chase Budinger  Arizona  6-7 Jr.
James Anderson  Oklahoma St.  6-6 So.
Wayne Ellington  North Carolina 6-4 Jr.
Gerald Henderson  Duke   6-4 Jr.
Paul Harris   Syracuse  6-5 Jr.
Alonzo Gee   Alabama  6-6 Sr.
Josh Shipp   UCLA   6-5 Sr.
Other Players to Watch:Jerel McNeal, Marquette (6-3Â Sr.); Robert Vaden, UAB (6-5 Sr.); Marcus Ginyard, UNC (6-5 Sr.); Austin Freeman Georgetown (6-5 So.); K.C. Rivers, Clemson (6-5Â Sr.); Stefon Jackson, UTEP (6-5 Sr.); Antonio Anderson, Memphis (6-6 Sr.), Patrick Christopher, California (6-5 Jr.); Lee Cummard, BYU (6-7 Sr.); Lorenzo Wade, San Diego St. (6-6 Sr.); Dionte Christmas, Temple (6-5 Sr.)
…Trent Meacham did not
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SF
Al-Farouq Aminu  Wake Forest  6-9 Fr.
Austin Daye   Gonzaga  6-10 So.
Tyler Smith   Tennessee  6-7 Jr.
Earl Clark   Louisville  6-8 Jr.
Damion James   Texas   6-8 Jr.
Victor Claver   Spain   6-10 1988
Sam Young   Pitt   6-6 Sr.
Derrick Brown  Xavier   6-8 Jr.
Nick Calathes   Florida   6-6 So.
Omri Cassipi   Israel   6-8 1988
Other Players to Watch: Raymar Morgan, Michigan State (6-7 Jr.); DaJuan Summers, Georgetown (6-8 Jr.); Joe Ingles, Australia (6-8 1987); Kyle Singler, Duke (6-8 So.); Terrence Williams, Louisville (6-6 Sr.); Stanley Robinson, UConn (6-9 Jr.); Danny Green, UNC (6-5 Sr.); Josh Carter, Texas A&M (6-7 Sr.); Quincy Pondexter, Washington (6-7 Jr.); Anthony Mason Jr., St. John’s (6-7 Sr.); DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (6-7 Sr.); James Johnson, Wake Forest (6-8 So.); J.P. Prince, Tennessee (6-7 Sr.); Robert Dozier, Memphis (6-9 Sr.)
“Don’t hans me bro!”
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PF
Blake Griffin   Oklahoma  6-10 So.
Greg Monroe   Georgetown  6-10 Fr.
Tyler Hansbrough  North Carolina 6-9 Sr.
Patrick Patterson  Kentucky  6-9 So.
Samardo Samuels  Louisville  6-9 Fr.
Jordan Hill   Arizona  6-10 So.
Donatas Motiejunas  Lithuania  7-1 1990
Jeff Pendergraph  Arizona St.  6-10 Sr.
Derrick Brown  Xavier   6-9 Jr.
Hank Norel   Netherlands  6-11 1987
Other Players to Watch:
Artem Zabelin, Russia (7-1 1988); Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (6-8 Jr.); Taj Gibson, USC (6-9 Jr.); Chris Johnson, LSU (6-11 Sr.); Tim Ohlbrecht, Germany (6-11 1988); Jeff Adrien, UConn (6-7 Sr.); DeJuan Blair, Pitt (6-7 So.); Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga (6-11 Sr.); Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi St. (6-9 Jr.); Leo Lyons, Missouri (6-9 Sr.); Jon Brockman, Washington (6-7 Sr.)
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C
B.J. Mullens   Ohio State  7-0 Fr.
Hasheem Thabeet  UConn   7-3 Jr.
Andrew Ogilvy  Vanderbilt  6-11 So.
Cole Aldrich   Kansas   6-11 So.
Jerome Jordan   Tulsa   7-0 Jr.
Connor Atchley  Texas    6-10 Sr.
Slava Kravtsov  Ukraine  7-0 1987
Miroslav Raduljica  Serbia   7-0 1988
Russell Hicks   Fla. International 7-0 Sr.
Kenny George   UNC-Ashville  7-7 Sr.
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