The NBA Draft Stock Report checks in on which college basketball players have either helped or hurt their future draft position. ย This edition focuses on which Big East players have opened some eyes or disappointed since the start of the season.
Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse, Soph.
Stuck behind Scoop Jardine, Dion Waiters, and Brandon Triche a year ago, Carter-Williams had to wait his turn on the Orange team but has emerged as one of the breakout players so far this season. ย His stat line this season is ridiculous; 12.4 points, 10.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.8 steals per game. ย At 6-6, he has unique size for the point guard position but uses that to his advantage as a slasher and defender. ย His court vision is incredible but he doesnโt shoot that well from distance. ย Regardless, MC-W might be the top point guard prospect in the 2013 NBA Draft and would certainly be a lottery pick if he left โCuse after this season.
Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown, Soph.
As expected, Porter has become a terrific all-around talent for the Hoyas. ย He is doing a little bit of everything on the floor and has made strides with his outside shooting. ย The 6โ8 forward is a bonafide lottery prospect and the scary thing is that is nowhere near reaching his full potential.
Greg Whittington, G/F, Georgetown, Soph.
Porter isnโt the only Hoya sophomore catching the eyes of NBA scouts. ย Whittington has made a leap this season as a long wing who can score it from the inside or outside, and he is actually averaging more rebounds per game that Porter. ย Whittington hasnโt shot the ball all that well this year but is a capable perimeter threat. ย His size is also attractive for the next level and if he decides to leave G-Town after this season, he would be in the discussions as a mid-first rounder.
Vander Blue, SG, Marquette, Jr.
A highly-touted recruit out of Madison Memorial High School, Blue had his share of ups and downs during his first two years at Marquette. ย The exit of Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder left a void in scoring for the Golden Eagles and Blue has emerged as the teamโs top offensive threat. ย The biggest development has been his outside shooting. ย Blue connected on just 21% of his triple tries the past two seasons but is hitting 47% from distance this year. ย He remains at his best in transition but is looking much more comfortable and confident with his perimeter stroke has him back on the NBA Draft radar.
Fuquan Edwin, G/F, Seton Hall, Jr.
With the reputation as an outstanding perimeter defender, Edwin popped onto my radar last year. ย His athleticism and ability to get to the bucket is also an important weapon to his game but this year Edwin has shown strides as an outside shooter. ย He has connected on 51% of his three-point attempts and is a legit first round prospect if he bolts the Pirates after this season.
SELLING:
Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh, Fr.
The New Zealand native is loaded with upside and based on size and potential alone, would be a first round pick. ย However, Adams is far from being a polished big man and would be best served sticking around Pitt to hone his craft before making the jump to the league. ย Doing that could vault him into the 2014 lottery.
Mouphtaou Yarou, C, Villanova, Sr.
Because of his size and athleticism, Yarou was once considered a possible first round pick but has done nothing this season to prove worthy of being drafted at all. ย His offensive game remains limited and his production has actually decreased from a year ago as both a rebounder and shot blocker which were considered his two biggest strengths.
Trent Lockett, SG, Marquette, Sr.
I was expecting the Arizona State transfer to have a breakout senior campaign in his lone season with the Golden Eagles but he has been rather disappointing. ย He struggles creating his own shots and has not been as efficient from three-point range as he was with the Sun Devils. ย Lockett also lacks the explosiveness at the rim to be a true draft prospect.
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David Kay is a senior featureย NBA Draft,ย NBA, andย college basketballย writer for the Sports Bank.ย He also heads up theย NBAย andย college basketballย material atย Walter Football.comย and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.ย David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu.ย He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and theย most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draftย on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter atย David_Kmiecik.
