| | By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas will be breaking down the top five prospects at each position leading up to the NBA draft.
Courtney Alexander, Fresno State
Courtney Alexander is the poster boy for staying in school to improve draft status, as the extra year at Fresno State made him a lottery pick instead of a late first-rounder. Alexander has always been pegged as a malcontent that needs the ball in his hands to play. He was labeled selfish when he left Virginia, and his shot selection was questioned openly when he got to Fresno State.
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Alexander's statistics
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|
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PPG
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RPG
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FG %
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3PT %
|
|
1999-00
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24.8
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4.7
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44.7
|
33.1
|
|
Career
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18.8
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3.9
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45.6
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35.6
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However, Alexander is a very talented scorer who has no problem getting his own shot. He has great one-on-one skills and the size (at 6-foot-6) to rise up over a defender and get his shot off. Alexander scores points in bunches, and is exceptional when he can get the ball in the middle of the floor. He can go either way, and shoot from deep. Alexander needs to improve his shot selection, and must become more consistent from long range. However, that could come from stepping into a pass rather than shooting a deep 3-pointer off the dribble.
With his size, athletic skills and long arms, Alexander has the tools to be a solid defender but has never really given defense the same focus he has given offense. To be a complete player, he must concentrate on his defense. He has worked on his intensity level, which is always present when he has the ball in his hands but wanes when he is without the ball. Alexander made great strides in raising his maturity level, and will be an early lottery selection.
DerMarr Johnson, Cincinnati
DerMarr Johnson's declaration for the NBA draft after only one season in college was no surprise to anyone who had followed the talented youngster. Johnson's plan was always to be a "one and out" performer, and he was true to his word. A very talented athlete, Johnson can run, jump, handle the ball, and really shoot it.
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Johnson's statistics
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PPG
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RPG
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FG %
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3PT %
|
|
1999-00
|
12.6
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3.8
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47.8
|
37.1
|
|
Career
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12.6
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3.8
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47.8
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37.1
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Because of his 6-9, long-armed frame, Johnson is able to shoot over people with ease. With his ability to put the ball on the floor, Johnson can go by those who crowd his shot, and he has pretty good finishing ability. Johnson glides down the court, and can make the game look effortless at times.
Johnson is slight of build, and is sometimes selective about how hard he plays on the defensive end. That knock on him is due mostly to Johnson's age, but it is an indication that he may not be prepared for the rigors of the NBA. Johnson's length and athletic ability make him a capable defender, but he needs to get stronger. Johnson has been compared to a Lamar Odom without the point guard skills, and will be a lottery pick and long-time NBA player.
Morris Peterson, Michigan State
Morris Peterson is an athletic wing player who can run the court and finish at the basket as well as any player in this year's draft. A lefthander, Peterson likes likes to run the left-hand lane and gets off of one foot very well, and he was on the receiving end of countless alley-oops from fellow draft prospect Mateen Cleaves.
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Peterson's statistics
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|
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PPG
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RPG
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FG %
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3PT %
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|
1999-00
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16.8
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6.0
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46.5
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42.5
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Career
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11.9
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4.8
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48.4
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37.7
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Peterson is a very good spot up 3-point shooter with good range, and this season added a reliable pull-up jumpshot to his game. He is capable of hitting from intermediate range, and now is a much more complete offensive player. Peterson also has ability to get to the offensive glass, getting to the basket from the perimeter for stickbacks.
Most of Peterson's moves are quick ones, due to a fast and strong first step that leads him to the hole or into a pull-up jumper. Peterson needs to improve his ballhandling and passing skills, as he often looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. As a passer, Peterson is average. On defense, he can handle big guards and small forwards. Peterson is a hard worker who should be a lottery pick.
DeShawn Stevenson, Washington Union (Calif.) H.S
DeShawn Stevenson is a 6-5 athlete who can really run and jump.
Stevenson was the target of a heated recruiting battle which Kansas and Roy
Williams eventually won when Stevenson committed to play for the Jayhawks.
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Stevenson's statistics
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|
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PPG
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RPG
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FG %
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3PT %
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|
1999-00
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30.4
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9.7
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N/A
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N/A
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|
Career
|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Stevenson then decided to turn pro, but later said he would attend Kansas
when he achieved a qualifying score on the SAT. Now, Stevenson is back in
the draft because his test score was challenged due to the dramatic rise
from previous attempts. As most already know, the NBA has no minimum SAT
requirement.
Stevenson has all of the drawbacks that most high school kids have
coming into the draft. Although he is well built at 6-5, 200-plus pounds, he is
not nearly strong enough to be a true impact player immediately, and would
have had an adjustment period in college, let alone the pros.
Stevenson does not have the ball skills, passing skills or understanding of the game that Darius Miles possesses at this stage, but he attacks the basket and can
rise up and dunk on bigger schoolboy defenders.
Despite the fact that
Stevenson will not, in all probability, make an immediate splash in the
league, he has more potential than most of the more mature prospects from
the middle of the first round and down. Because of that great potential,
Stevenson should find himself in the first round of the draft.
Quentin Richardson, DePaul
Quentin Richardson is the best pure rebounder in this year's draft, and goes after the ball as hard as anyone. Only 6-4, Richardson has been called a "warrior" by those that have coached him and coached against him because he plays hard all the time and he always finds a way to beat you.
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Richardson's statistics
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|
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PPG
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RPG
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FG %
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3PT %
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|
1999-00
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17.0
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9.8
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43.2
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37.6
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Career
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17.9
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10.2
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45.4
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36.4
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To say that Richardson has a nose for the ball would be a gross understatement -- he is always around the ball and pursues it on every possession. Richardson came to DePaul as an undersized, back-to-the-basket player, and has evolved into an off guard who can step out and shoot the perimeter shot.
Richardson was at his best in college along the baseline, where he could slash to the hole and was very difficult to keep off of the glass. Last season, he spent more time on the wing and improved his shooting, but it is imperative that he improve his mid-range game and ballhandling to be effective in the NBA.
Richardson has great strength and instincts for the basket, and gets second and third chances all the time. He was dominant at times in college, but did not display the ability to take over a game completely on a consistent basis. Because of his heart, determination and skills, Richardson will be a first-round pick, but perhaps could have helped himself by staying in school another season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Draft: Projecting the first round
Draft dirt blowing in Windy City
Draft: Scouting the top five point guards
Draft: Scouting the top five small forwards
Draft: Scouting the top power forwards
Draft: Scouting the top centers
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