2009 NBA Draft: Top Undrafted PlayersBy: Kevin Duffy

The NBA Draft is over, but as history indicates, there are
still some NBA-caliber rookies without a team. In the past ten seasons, players
such as Chris Anderson, Andres Nocioni, Udonis Haslem, Chuck Hayes, Kelenna
Azubuike, Jamario Moon, J.J. Barea and Jannero Pargo have gone undrafted. So,
let’s take a look at some guys from this year’s class who can make an impact in
the NBA despite being passed over on Thursday.

Dionte Christmas, Temple

Perhaps the biggest surprise here. Christmas, a 6-foot-5 lights-out shooter,
was projected as an early-second round prospect. His lack of athleticism was
probably the thing that knocked him off the draft board, but there is likely
still a place for him on an NBA roster. He’s got an unorthodox release (but
then again so does Michael Redd) which may have concerned teams. He also has great length, elevates well on his jumpshot
and, after three years as a starter at Temple, is as ready for the NBA as any
second-rounder. The (local – Temple) Sixers recently signed him to their summer
league squad.

Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga

From a pure talent perspective, Heytvelt is a very unique player.
At 6-foot-11, 260-pounds, Heytvelt is a bruiser inside who can step out and
be effective from the 3-point line (he shot 40 percent from 3-point last year).
But, unfortunately, his past troubles and character issues (remember the mushroom
incident in ’07) kept him out of the draft.

Jerel McNeal, Marquette

Being named First Team All-Big East – especially considering
how dominant 16-team conference was last year – is certainly nothing to scoff
at. Four of the five other selections (Hasheem Thabeet, Terrence Williams,
DeJuan Blair and Sam Young) were drafted within the first 39 picks, and the
other, Luke Harangody, opted to return to school. McNeal, a four-year starter
at Marquette, averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as a
senior and should have a fighting chance to make a roster if he excels on a
summer league team.

Curtis Jerrells, Baylor

Jerrells was largely responsible for building Baylor’s basketball
program back to respectability. The lightning-quick 6-foot-1, 200-pound point
guard suffered a bit from the depth of the point guard class. If he had come
out in a different season, particularly last year where he was viewed as a possible
early-second rounder, Jerrells likely would be on an NBA team right now.

Leo Lyons, Missouri

Lyons’ counterpart at Missouri, DeMarre Carroll, went a lot higher
(27^th overall) than anyone expected, and somehow, Lyons didn’t go
at all. It can be argued that the 6-foot-9 Lyons actually has better NBA potential
than Carroll, though. He has a long, NBA frame and is adept at facing the basket
and either hitting mid-range jumpshots or taking defenders off the dribble,
although he obviously needs to add muscle. He’ll play for the Pacers Summer
League team in July.

Jeff Adrien, UConn

Adrien, a bruising 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward with limited offensive
skills, has signed on to play with Memphis’ summer league alongside college
teammate Hasheem Thabeet, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Adrien has an
NBA body, but he needs to prove he has NBA skills as well. He’ll need to display
a consistent mid-range jumper and make better decisions with the ball if he
wants to stick.

Tyrese Rice, Boston College

Rice was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball
over the past three seasons (he averaged 17.6 points per game as a sophomore,
21 as a junior and 16.9 as a senior). He also seemed to always get the upperhand
against conference rival Ty Lawson who went 18th, but that still wasn’t enough
to land him a spot in the draft. He’s landed a spot on a crowded Washington
Wizards’ summer league squad.

Should have gone back
to school

Paul Harris, Syracuse

Harris entered the draft with little chance of being
selected, but for whatever reason, decided to stay in. There are a lot of
knocks against Harris – he can’t shoot, he’s undersized, he has some character
issues. At this point, unless he miraculously develops a jump shot or grows
three inches in the next year, it seems unlikely he’ll stick in the NBA. Harris
is going to play for the Cavs’ summer league team.

Eric Devendorf, Syracuse

Devendorf’s decision to declare for the draft was a mystery.
At no point in the process did he ever stand a chance at being selected, despite
being an above-average 3-point shooter. Devendorf appears to have a future in
Europe.

Daniel Hackett, USC

Hackett – along with USC teammate Marcus Johnson – fled USC after
recruiting violations surfaced and coach Tim Floyd resigned. hackett appears
to be content beginning his career in Italy, while Johnson recently informed
USC’s new coach Kevin O’Neill, that he will return to school.

Should have declared
for the draft a few years ago

Ronald Steele, Alabama

After a breakout sophomore season in 2005-2006 that saw
Steele average 14.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds, he was considered to
be one of the best point guards in the country and a first-round prospect. But,
after an underachieving junior campaign and a serious knee injury, Steele fell
off the radars of NBA GMs and was never able to replicate the success of his
sophomore year.

Dominic James, Marquette

After a sensational freshman campaign, James never improved
much at Marquette. Though he had his limitations as a freshman – height and
outside shooting – his dazzling athleticism made him a very intriguing
prospect. Unfortunately, that intrigue fell off and James appears headed for a
career in Europe.

Josh Carter, Texas A&M

The 6-foot-7 Carter shot a remarkable 50 percent from
3-point range and showed the potential to be a legit NBA shooting guard. Though
his numbers improved in his junior and senior seasons, Carter’s lack of
athleticism/upside was exposed, and it caused him to fall off the draft board
completely.

Others:

Josh Shipp 6-5 207 SG UCLA Sr.
Alex Ruoff 6-6 200 SG West Virginia Sr.
Jeremy Pargo 6-2 208 PG Gonzaga Sr.
Lee Cummard 6-6 190 SG BYU Sr.
Josh Akognon 5-11 180 PG Fulerton St. Sr.
Micah Downs 6-8 200 SF Gonzaga Sr.
Alonzo Gee 6-6 215 SG Alabama Sr.
Cedric Jackson 6-2 180 PG Cleveland St.
Sr.
Brandon Costner 6-8 220 SF NC State Jr.
Garret Siler 7-0 260 C Augusta St. Sr.
Alade Aminu 6-10 220 SF/PF Georgia Tech Sr.
Luke Nevill 7-2 250 C Utah Sr.
Terrel Harris 6-4 190 SG Oklahoma St. Sr.
Stefon Jackson 6-4 185 SG UTEP Sr.
Lorrenzo Wade 6-6 220 SG SD State Sr.
AJ Abrams 5-11 160 SG/PG Texas Sr.
Aron Baynes 6-10 270 C Wash.St. Sr.
Connor Atchley 6-10 230 PF Texas Sr.
Michael Bramos 6-5 220 SG Miami (OH) Sr.
Kevin Rogers 6-8 235 SF Baylor Sr.
Russell Hicks 7-0 250 C FIU Sr.
Charlie Coley 6-7 220 SF Charlotte Sr.
Markel Humphrey 6-6 215 SG Marshall Sr.
Chris Lowe 6-0 170 PG UMass Sr.
Korvortney Barber 6-7 220 PF Auburn Sr.

Lewis Clinch 6-3 185 SG Georgia Tech Sr.
Wink Adams 6-0 190 PG UNLV Sr.
Lawrence Hill 6-8 220 SF Stanford Sr.
Antonio Anderson 6-5 190 SG Mem. Sr.
Dar Tucker 6-3 200 SG DePaul So.
Mamadou Diene 7-0 242 PF/C Baylor Sr.
Wesley Matthews 6-5 220 SG Marquette Sr.
Shawn Taggart 6-10 230 PF Memphis Jr.
Kyle Spain 6-5 209 SG San Diego St. Sr.

International:
Vitor Faverani 6-11 235 PF/C Brazil
1988
David Huertas 6-5 201 SG Puerto Rico 1987
Luigi Datome 6-8 210 SF Italy 1987
Maxim Sheleketo 6-8 230 SF Russia 1987
Nemanja Aleksandrov 6-11 220 SF Serbia
1987
Rudy Mbemba 5-11 177 PG Sweden 1987
Andrey Vorontsevich 6-9 235 SF/PF Russia 1987
Vyacheslav Kravtsov 6-11 245 C Ukraine 1987
Nenad Mijatovic 6-4 200 PG Serbia 1987
Milos Teodosic 6-5 190 PG Serbia 1987
Anatoly Kashirov 7-0 240 C Russia 1987

Jaka Klobucar 6-7 180 SG Slovenia 1987
Joe Ingles 6-8 195 SF Australia 1987