2009 NBA Mock Draft -- Post-Lottery

You can check out Roundball Portfolio's earlier mock drafts here, here, here, and here.

1 Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Soph 6-10 240 PF
Now that Griffin has been measured as a legitimate 6-9 (6-10 in sneakers), it's hard to believe anyone would pass on the explosive power forward.

2 Grizzlies: Ricky Rubio, International
N/A 6-3 180 PG
I don't think Mike Conley is the answer in Memphis, but I'm also not sure if a Rubio-Mayo backcourt makes sense, as both seem to need the ball in their hands – and then there's the whole Rubio not wanting to play in Memphis thing.

3 Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Jr 7-3 260 C
James Harden is a definite possibility here, but it's not every day you get a chance to add a 7-3 shot-blocking machine to your roster.

4 Kings: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
Fr 6-6 220 PG
Jordan Hill is an option for Sacramento, but the Kings need some star power (and a point guard).

5 Wizards: Jordan Hill, Arizona
Jr 6-9 235 PF
Hill adds length, athleticism, and toughness to the Wizards' underwhelming post rotation.

6 Timberwolves: James Harden, Arizona State
Soph 6-4 220 OG
Harden would be a steal at six for a Minnesota team that needs to add perimeter scoring.

7 Warriors: Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Jr 6-0 195 PG
I love the idea of the swift-footed Lawson directing Golden State's helter-skelter attack.

8 Knicks: Gerald Henderson, Duke
Jr 6-4 210 OG
A point guard is a real possibility here (and wing DeRozan appears to be a popular pick on a lot of draft boards), but Henderson would provide the Knicks with a heady athlete that can defend.

9 Raptors: DeMar DeRozan, USC
Fr 6-6 210 OG
DeRozan won't contribute immediately, but his athleticism can't be ignored at the nine spot.

10 Bucks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Soph 6-2 175 PG
Teague's ability to score in the paint would aid a Milwaukee squad that lacks frontline firepower.

11 Nets: James Johnson, Wake Forest
Soph 6-8 235 PF
Johnson reminds me of former Michigan Wolverine and Los Angeles Clipper Maurice Taylor.

12 Bobcats: Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Sr 6-6 220 OG
You're not going to find many mocks with Young in the lottery, but he would provide an offensive boost to a club that lacks a true perimeter scoring threat.

13 Pacers: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Jr 6-3 180 PG
Even with the emergence of Danny Granger, Indiana needs a marquee name to rejuvenate a flagging fanbase.

14 Suns: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Sr 6-8 245 PF
Psycho T would add production and toughness to the Suns' thin frontcourt.

15 Pistons: Eric Maynor, VCU
Sr 6-3 180 PG
DeJuan Blair is a possibility here, but I'm just not convinced Rodney Stuckey is a point guard.

16 Bulls: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Soph 6-6 280 PF
I like fellow Pitt Panther Sam Young here if he falls this far, but Blair would add some bulk to a frontcourt that features rail-thin Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

17 76ers: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Soph 6-0 185 PG
With Andre Miller getting on in years, I don't think there's a better fit than Flynn-to-Philadelphia on the whole board.

18 Timberwolves: Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's
Soph 5-11 180 PG
I like Mills, who gets into the lane with ease, playing facilitator to Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.

19 Hawks: Brandon Jennings, International
N/A 6-1 170 PG
Jennings would eventually supplant Mike Bibby in Atlanta.

20 Jazz: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
Jr 6-4 210 OG
Jerry Sloan has to like the idea of the sharp-shooting Meeks (Jeff Hornacek) playing off of the Deron Williams (John Stockton)-Carlos Boozer (Karl Malone) pick-n-roll.

21 Hornets: Terrence Williams, Louisville
Sr 6-6 220 OG
With Chris Paul, T-Will, and Tyson Chandler in the lineup, no one will notice Peja Stojakovic's defensive inadequacies.

22 Mavericks: Jrue Holiday, UCLA
Fr 6-3 205 PG
There's a lot of buzz surrounding Holiday, and most seem to be willing to forgive his unimpressive freshman campaign.

23 Kings: Earl Clark, Louisville
Jr 6-10 230 SF
Clark will likely go higher, but the Kings would love to add the enticing (but often frustrating) Louisville product to its young frontline rotation.

24 Trailblazers: Austin Daye, Gonzaga
Soph 6-10 200 SF
Daye's a project, but, considering his freakish length and shooting ability, it could very well pay off down the road.

25 Thunder: Chase Budinger, Arizona
Jr 6-7 220 OG
A Westbrook – Budinger – Kid Nut Raven – Green – Thabeet lineup would be pretty tasty.

26 Bulls: Toney Douglas, Florida State
Sr 6-2 195 OG
Considering the speculation surrounding Ben Gordon's rumored departure, the Bulls should pick up Ben Gordon Lite.

27: Grizzlies: Derrick Brown, Xavier
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Brown has all the tools and could be an absolute steal.

28 Timberwolves: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
Fr 7-0 275 C
Athletic 7-footer will most likely come off the board sooner.

29 Lakers: DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Another offensive weapon to take the scoring pressure off Kobe.

30 Cavaliers: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Jr 6-7 245 PF
Go ahead and laugh, but, if anything, Gody should be higher.

The Talent Pipeline Flows Into Lexington

John Wall, the number one ranked prep basketball player in the country, committed to the University of Kentucky at 3am in the morning today. I had completely prepared myself to not get that down when Wall decided to attend school at either Miami or Duke. By not allowing myself to get to excited about Wall in Lexington, I had sort of trained my mind to believe he was not going to come to UK. Why was this easy for a normally rabidly absurd fan of Kentucky Basketball? Well, we already had the number one recruiting class in the country and things had turned around so quickly for us that it was hard to think things could keep rolling.

Wall's recruitment had been dragging on for several months with the leaders seeming to be Duke, Miami, and UK. Florida and a few others were possibilities, but never had much of a chance. The length of his recruitment seemed to make most forget how important he could be to a team next year, especially a talented team such as Kentucky. Let me give you a rundown of my take on Wall:

I think he is the most purely talented prep player since LeBron James. This is no knock on Derrick Rose, but I think Wall, as a fifth year senior in high school, is better than Rose as a senior in Chicago. Their athleticism is very similar. But, I think Wall is quicker from end to end. Their jump shot is similar. But, from what I read, Wall can get hotter from behind the arc. They both have great handles, but Wall is ambidextrous. Really, he's equally as good with either his left or right. I think Wall is a better passer and defender at this point. The only area I give an edge to Rose is a stronger upper body.

Wall's commitment makes Kentucky the team to beat next year. They have more first round NBA talent than any other team in the country, maybe twice as much as any other team in the country. Now, just because we are talented doesn't make us a lock for the Final Four. It does make us the most exciting team to watch in college basketball next year.

Finally, here is my poster list for the upcoming season. The poster list is the listing of guys I most want to see John Wall dunk on next year.

Poster List:

1. Edgar Sosa
2. Jarvis Varnado
3. Terrence Jennings
4. Brian Zoubek/Kyle Singler/Mason Plumlee
5. Tyler Zeller/Ed Davis
   

Top 50 NBA Players: 08-09 Edition

I tend to stick to the college game, but, with the Playoffs in full swing, I couldn't help myself. I'd like to make this an annual thing. The post is not simply a list of the top 50 performances of the 08-09 campaign. Rather, it is an attempt to evaluate the top 50 basketball players in the Association at this point in time. Feel free to rip me to shreds in the comments.

50-41



50 Jason Kidd, DAL
Kidd moves like an old man but still has eyes in the back of his head.

49 Antawn Jamison, WAS
The oft-ignored UNC product continues to put up great numbers.

48 Josh Smith, ATL
Do-it-all super-athlete lacks consistency and a reliable jump shot.

47 Michael Redd, MIL
A long-range specialist and not a whole lot more at this point in his career.

46 Tayshaun Prince, DET
The Thin Man possesses one of the most unique skill-sets in the Association.

45 Elton Brand, PHI
Injuries have limited the Rescue Dawn producer to a mere 37 games over the past two seasons.

44 Ben Gordon, CHI
Instant offense personified.

43 Hedo Turkoglu, ORL
Fell off a bit this year and gets lazy with his shot selection.

42 Shaquille O'Neal, PHX
For about fifteen minutes a game, the Big JabbaWockee deserves to be rated much higher.

41 Manu Ginobili, SAS
Ginobili's taken a beating in his career, and it's starting to show.

40-31





















40 Gerald Wallace, CHA
Toiling in obscurity in Carolina.

39 O.J. Mayo, MEM
Orange Juice has a mature offensive game.

38 Ray Allen, BOS
Shuttlesworth still has the prettiest stroke in the land.

37 Ron Artest, HOU
Could be higher, but I'm not going to let one year of relatively good behavior blind me to Ron-Ron's propensity for foolishness.

36 Kevin Martin, SAC
The league's seventh leading scorer may be its most one-dimensional player.

35 Gilbert Arenas, WAS
Agent Zero has appeared in a grand total of fifteen games in the past two seasons.

34 David West, NOH
Needs to extend his range to avoid hitting a development plateau.

33 Rajon Rondo, BOS
If his postseason scoring spree carries over to the regular season, the sky is the limit for this force of nature.

32 Caron Butler, WAS
Really nice all-around talent but hasn't stepped up in Arenas' extended absence.

31 Richard Hamilton, DET
The masked master of the mid-range game is still one of the league's most underrated players.

30-21



30 Josh Howard, DAL
I may not agree with everything Howard has said in the past couple years, but look no further than the media's treatment of the Wake Forest alum for evidence that the NBA and its partners expect the talent to toe the company line.

29 Al Jefferson, MIN
Maybe a little low for the young bruiser.

28 LaMarcus Aldridge, POR
The ideal second fiddle on a Blazers team that could be special.

27 Lamar Odom, LAL
His basketball IQ is off the charts.

26 Carlos Boozer, UTA
One gets the impression that Boozer's best days are behind him.

25 Derrick Rose, CHI
Not sure his play-making skills have quite caught up to the NBA pace, but he has all the markings of a superstar.

24 Andre Iguodala, PHI
Tremendous athlete who is showing signs of becoming a really nice basketball player.

23 Devin Harris, NJN
With Harris at the point and the Forbidden Fruit in the paint, the Nets have the bookends for what could be a really nice team.

22 Joe Johnson, ATL
Disappears a little too often to be rated higher.

21 Amar'e Stoudemire, PHX
For all of his explosiveness and continued development on the offensive end, Stoudemire has absolutely no idea how to play defense.

20-11





















20 Danny Granger, IND
The Force is strong with this one.

19 Paul Pierce, BOS
Pierce's transformation over the course of his career from slashing athlete to skilled assassin is a testament to his work ethic.

18 Chauncey Billups, DEN
Mr. Big Shot at the 18 spot with his team in the Western Conference Finals, while The Answer is nowhere to be found.

17 Chris Bosh, TOR
I think Bosh peaked during the 07-08 campaign.

16 Carmelo Anthony, DEN
La La's better half has made it clear that he is not interested in playing defense.

15 Steve Nash, PHX
Despite his detractors, I stand by my belief that we aren't going to realize how special Steve Nash is until he's gone.

14 Yao Ming, HOU
Eat the head! Eat the head!

13 Tony Parker, SAS
Even after all these years, Mrs. Longoria's ability to score in the paint never ceases to amaze me.

12 Pau Gasol, LAL
The perfect running mate for Kobe is one of the Association's most underrated stars.

11 Deron Williams, UTA
The big-bodied floor general is a one-of-a-kind talent.

10-1



10 Kevin Garnett, BOS
No one cares more about showing everyone how much he cares.

9 Dirk Nowitski, DAL
This scoring savant is an underrated rebounder and horrible defender.

8 Brandon Roy, POR
No one this side of Kobe has a more complex offensive package.

7 Kevin Durant, OKC
As Kobe begins his gradual decline, it's up to Kid Nut Raven to challenge King James for global supremacy.

6 Dwight Howard, ORL
The NBA's biggest goober and most incredible physical specimen has exactly zero post moves and lacks anything remotely resembling a jumper.

5 Tim Duncan, SAS
The Big Fundamental's best years are in his rearview, but he still has the ability to silently take over games.

4 Chris Paul, NOH
I'm not blaming CP3 for what happened (or more appropriately didn't happen) in New Orleans this year.

3 Dwyane Wade, MIA
The NBA's leading scorer would have received my vote for Defensive Player of the Year.

2 Kobe Bryant, LAL
Still a ruthless competitor, but there are a few chinks in the armor of the once invincible Mamba.

1 Lebron James, CLE
If you still think Kobe is the best player on the planet, just imagine what LBJ would do if he had the Lakers' supporting cast.S

The Ridiculous Catspause Post of the Week

From Mashburned:

You all remember the poster that said he buried the jersey under the foundation of the arena? I was just wanting to talk to that guy and tell him "Great Job Man!". It's already working. Didn't you bury it before the got bounced from the tournament? Then Pitino and his extortion business. We got Cal and it absolutely everything is going wrong with poor little Ricky and littlebrothersucksville.

Patrick Patterson to Pull Name Out of NBA Draft

Patrick Patterson, as reported by Brett Dawson, is pulling his name out of the NBA Draft and will return to Kentucky for his junior season. I predict a 90% chance that a poster on Catspause predicts a 100% chance for UK to reach the National Championship next year.

In related news, Jeremy Tyler is still planning to leave high school after his junior year to play professional basketball in Europe.

[Post Edit] THIS JUST IN! - Mike Marra has not had the insane clown posse tattoo removed from his left bicep.

Words Cannot Express

Just thought you should know what Big Blue Nation is talking about over at CatsPause. All threads posted within last 24 hours.

*Posted by jason8jen
Cats against NBA worst
I wish Cats could play the last place NBA team in exhibition game next year. Is their any rules against having such game. I know some teams play Harlem Globe trotters as part of pre season scrimmages. If such a game was played I like our chances,and If they lost would it make the League look bad if they got beat to college team. It would probably never happen but man it would be great

*Posted by Quest4#8
Potential UK backcourt=Bulls backcourt?

Rose Wall
Gordon Meeks
Hinrich Bledsoe

Feel like these 3 are very similar players to the Bulls primary ball handlers.

*Posted by clublive
POLL: Could next year's UK team beat the 1996 Bulls?
-Yes
-No
-Too close to call
-That's a bad question

PG: Wall vs Harper - Advantage Wall
SG: Meeks vs Jordan - Advantage Jordan
SF: Miller vs Pippen - Advantage Pippen
PF: Patterson vs Kukoc - Wash
C: Cousins vs Longley - Advantage Cousins

I give slight edge to the bulls, but I think the Cats can take 3 games in a 7 game series.

*Posted by CatsRuleSEC
Have You Ever Actually Seen a Wildcat in the Wild?
Where did you see the wildcat/bobcat?

The Rich Get Richer

Eric Bledsoe, the third ranked point guard, twenty-third ranked player overall by Rivals in the class of 2009 has chosen the University of Kentucky over Memphis. I imagine it wasn't a hard decision.

Coach Cal continues to impress even the demanding Cats fans with his ability to sell the program despite an already loaded class, limited scholarships, and claiming Lukas Orbzut as an alum. Bledsoe committed despite reports that John Wall, a point guard, and the nations number one prospect by pretty much anyone with a brain, is leaning towards UK. Coach Cal deserves a round of applause. I suggest creating a twitter account and begin following Cal's tweets as being the best round of applause.

Bledsoe has a history with another top recruit headed to Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is the top ranked Center in the class, and the number two ranked player overall. Bledsoe's high school team defeated Cousins' team in the state championship game in March. Bledsoe and Cousins will begin their Kentucky careers with Daniel Orton, Jon Hood, and Darnell Dodson. Daniel Orton is another five-star recruit, ranked the third best Center in the class, and the twenty-second best player overall. He underwent knee surgery that ended his senior season almost before it began, but looked to have recovered well in the Derby Classic held in Louisville last month. Jon Hood is a four-star recruit, ranked the fortieth best player in the class. If he wasn't from Kentucky he would have been at Duke, no doubt about it. Finally, Dodson is a four star recruit from junior college who had originally committed to play for Pittsburgh out of high school. It will certainly be the top ranked class entering college in 2009, but if Cal somehow finds a way to land Wall it will be considered one of the most talented entering classes in college basketball history.

With a new offense, and hopefully (and most likely) new uniforms, Kentucky is back to being the Fonzie of college basketball.

In related news, Jeremy Tyler is still planning on skipping his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe before entering the NBA Draft.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

A Considerable Diversion

In light of Adm. Sax's post concerning boxiana, I thought it the perfect opportunity to get my one and only non-college basketball post in the mix. This is not only a diversion from college basketball, but a diversion from anything considered in the same neighborhood of sanity.

Every item in Neverland Ranch (Michael Jackson's ex-home) was put up for auction recently because Michael Jackson is apparently out of money. He is out of money because he owned a place called Neverland Ranch and it didn't generate any income. He also spent his money on these things.

I didn't look through all of the pictures (10 or 12 are almost too much to handle), but the one above is my clear favorite. If it was under $636 (my tax return and bank statement) I'd pick it up. If anyone finds an appropriate item, this post might also get a cryptozoology tag.

A Slight Diversion

RBP is first and foremost a blog about the beautiful game of basketball. Most of our posts address the college game, but we occasionally cover professional and high school roundball as well. (With the addition of Commander Harry Lonestar to our team, we hope to offer more high school content.) That being said, I'd like to take a moment to recommend a sporting blog that has nothing to do with the hardwood -- Boxiana: The Science of Bruising.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm a huge fan of the sweet science. Sure, I like to catch the occasional fight (and by occasional, I mean one every two years or so). Actually, I did follow the sport somewhat closely for about a year. But more recently I've pretty much stopped following boxing altogether. I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps because it seems inaccessible, with the top fights only available on pay-per-view, or perhaps I just don't find today's characters compelling. But I remain fascinated by the sport. I want to like it. But, at the same time, I think I may have at least a few ethical issues with it. I'd be conflicted if I cared more.



So, how does a guy who doesn't follow boxing and has no intention of following the sport more closely in the future end up recommending a boxing blog? Well, the site was brought to my attention by the guys over at freedarko. Shoefly, Boxiana's proprietor, is a talented scribe, and, I must say, there's just something about pugilism that lends itself to writing. Moreover, for a sport that I seldom find compelling, one of the most interesting fights of the past few years takes place tomorrow -- Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton. I'd go into all the reasons why this is an absolutely fascinating matchup, but that would give you an excuse not to check out Shoefly's three-part preview of the fight, which is nothing short of remarkable. Even if you're not a boxing enthusiast, you should give Boxiana a chance. It's that good. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to identify better sports writing anywhere in the blogosphere.

Kentucky High School All-Star Controversy

A few weeks back I attended the Kentucky All-Star Tryouts at Campbellsville University. Every year the Kentucky All-Stars play, and in recent history, lose to the Indiana All-Stars. And every year, coaches, fans and parents across the state gripe about who was left off the roster and how the whole thing is all way too political. The controversy surrounding this year’s team started even before I left for the tryout. Bluegrasspreps.com and Kentuckypreps.com were full of messages about players that got screwed by being left off the tryout list. Not long after arriving at Campbellsville, I hear that a player from Eastern Kentucky didn’t show up for his tryout because according to his father, “The team has already been picked”. I agree that it is certainly not an unbiased, objective selection format, however I want to make clear exactly how the team is chosen. Every year 40 kids from across the state receive an invite to the tryout. 16 of these kids are automatic bids as they were chosen the player of the year in their respective region. 10 are chosen by head coaches across the state. 10 more are selected by the media while the final 4 players are invited by the head coach of the team.

Though the selection of Kentucky All-Stars is not completely objective, changes have been made within the last decade to create a much more democratic process. The only player guaranteed a spot on the team is Mr. Basketball, Jon Hood. The other 10 spots on the team are voted on by the coaches of the year from each region. Each player must be given unanimous support by those coaches in order to make the team. The last spot on the team is chosen by the head coach. This year’s coach is Tony Hopper from Owensboro Apollo. One of the major controversies surrounding this year’s team is the lack of big city players, particularly the lack of 7th region players from Louisville.

It is inevitable that someone will always be left off the team who was popular in a particular region or received a certain amount of media attention for their play during the year. The general consensus from those on the western side of the state is that too much media attention is given to Louisville, Lexington, and the eastern Kentucky schools covered by the Herald Leader that it’s very hard for players from Owensboro, Bowling Green, Hoptown, or Paducah to make the team. For those in the Louisville and Lexington regions, there is always the complaint that one of the studs from their region was slighted to create a team that is more representative of the entire state. This claim is usually followed up with a statement about how the Kentucky team deserves to get beat every year because the selection process is too political and the best talent doesn’t always end up on the floor.

Though I am not steeped in the history of the Kentucky-Indiana series, I am willing to bet that one would be hard pressed to find a Kentucky team from years past with only one player from the 7th and 11th regions. This Kentucky All-Star team has zero representatives from the 7th region, arguably the toughest region in the entire state, and only one from the 11th region. Perennial powerhouse teams like Ballard, Male, J-town, Manual and Eastern battle it out in the Big East like 7th region where teams have size, athleticism, and highly touted players. Even second tier 7th region teams like Trinity, St. X and Moore would give fits to the best teams in other regions. Yet, not one player from this region was chosen for the Kentucky squad.

7th region players that should have made it:

Chris Dowe- Eastern High School 6’2 G/F



















Dowe was the second biggest surprise in the state this year. He was overshadowed coming into the year by his highly touted teamates junior Delquan Thomas and Eastern’s stud sophomore class that includes Remy Abel and Arman Marks. However, Dowe was a stat sheet stuffer all year and led his team to a gaudy record of 30 something and 3. He also had the second sickest dunk I have ever seen in person, on any level. He is a slasher that can finish in traffic or pull up with a floater. For any high school coach with a dribble drive system, he is a dream. His athleticism set him apart from others his size. If not checked, Dowe owned the boards and made people look bad in the process. He is considered by many a strong D2 player as Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine have been hot on his trail. In recent weeks however, a bunch of low major to mid major schools have come calling. Now teams like EKU, Fairfield, Wright State, and Western Carolina are in the mix for Dowe.

The knock on Dowe: I thought it likely that Dowe would make the team because of all the press he recieved during the season. But Dowe had two things working against him at the tryout. First, he had a rough weekend at Campbellsville. He never really got things going. Shots weren’t falling, and he wasn’t getting all over the rim like he was known to do. I suspect some questioned his effort, and his desire to be part of the squad. Second, most coaches and people from around the state have a Louisville bias. The knock on Louisville is that there is plenty of talent but little structure. Outsiders see Louisville as a place where playing within a system, playing the fundamentals, and playing your heart out all come secondary to looking flashy and getting recognized. This combination led to the perception that the Kentucky All-Star team could take it or leave it when it came to Dowe. In my opinion, they would have been much better off taking him.

Eric Mosley- Louisville Moore 5’10 PG



















Mosley was the biggest surprise of the year around the state. Mosley transferred back to the Louisville area after spending a year in prep school. Prior to the season, neither Mosley nor Moore received much press, yet by the middle of the year, he was one of the hottest names in the state. He finished the year 3rd in the state in scoring at 26.4 a game. His game is very reminiscent of Allen Iverson in that he dominates that ball, often times to a fault, but scores almost at will. He is extremely quick, and has a definite division one handle. He is a streaky shooter, but a constant scorer. Rumors around the tryout were that he would probably take his game to Austin Peay.

The Knock: Mosley definitely had the Louisville bias working against him. I think some questioned how coachable he would be, particularly in the an All-Star game where so many players are more worried about shining that winning. Probably the biggest criticism of Mosley was the perception that he had to have the ball in his hands at all times. The question of whether or not he is a team player is a valid one. However, he is a supreme talent that would have countered the size and shooting ability of the Indiana guards with his speed and handle. It is hard to understand how a D1 guard doesn’t make a team that is half NAIA players, especially for a contest that is more like the college game than high school.

7th region players that were on the fringe:

Jordan Reves-Jeffersontown 6’10 C
Reves had a good tryout. Big guys usually get lost in pick up games and all-star games, but Reves did a good job of posting up, staying active around the rim, and taking advantage of his opportunities.

The Knock: Reves is too thin, too weak, and too slow to play in the type of game that Kentucky will have to play to be competitive against the Indiana team. To Reves' credit however, he is better than Jared Carter.

Dayvon Sloan- Waggener 5’10 PG
Sloan shot the ball very well at tryouts. He is a sturdy guard with a quick release and a consistent stroke. He was 7th in the state in scoring. The kid has a great attitude and will play at the next level.

The Knock: Sloan was not a true point guard. He was a 2 guard in Mark Jackson’s body. His handle was suspect, and his intensity on defense was lacking. He shot the ball well but not well enough to secure a spot on the team.

Wesley Cox- Ballard 5’8 PG
Cox is lightning quick guard. He showed in flashes that he could be a playmaker and a hustler.

The Knock: Cox had a poor tryout. He didn’t make shots, made some questionable decisions in the open court and began to force the issue in his last workout. I would have loved to have seen Cox at his best.