[JoeWolf1]

I often get tired of talking about the same old guys on this site, so I compiled a list of guys who I feel have a chance of sneaking into the end of the 2nd round or making a team via free agency or the D-League. Most are specialists, but I’ve seen some promise in all of these guys over the years ( pretty much all seniors).

Gabe Knutson – C.J. McCollum’s #2 man, Knutson is a 6’9” sharp shooter who hung 17 on Duke last year in Lehigh’s big upset. He’s starting off his senior season by averaging 16.5 ppg on 56% from the feild and 53% downtown. He’s not that athletic, but reminds me a lot of Steve Novak. Jon Deibler was drafted 2 years ago and John Shurna was playing SL and Pre-Season, I don’t see any reason why a shooter as good as Knutson couldn’t find his way into the conversation.

Alex Oriakhi – The UConn transfer is playing really well for Missouri this season, almost at a double double clip and it’s hard not to realize his size and strength. He is a mountain of a man, and I feel could play minutes at center in the NBA. He is not the shot blocker Bernard James is, but his size and rebounding are similar and he’s worked on his shot as his 69% FT shooting indicates.

Mike Muscala – Bucknell’s 6’11” inside/outside big man still has the questions of athletic ability and toughness needed to play at the next level, but his production and size are hard to ignore. He averaged 22.5 ppg and 12.5 rpg in the NIT last year against Arizona and Nevada and he’s never failed to produce against a major college opponent during the past 2 seasons.

Jack Cooley – Cooley is a big strong dude who reminds me a lot of Jon Brockman. The guy will have no problem with the physicality of the NBA, but may not ever get big minutes due to lack of speed. That being said, a lot of guys play 10 years because they have 6 fouls to give and can clean up on the glass when they’re in the game. Cooley is a workhorse and a guy who I think could get some looks by a team looking to add that in the last 2nd or free agency.

Matt Dellavedova – The 6’4” member of the Australian national team is a craft scorer, good shooter, and able passer for St. Maries and a guy who reminds me a lof of former Zag, Dan Dickau. Dellavedova has international experience, has produced at a high level in college and despite being a combo, is a pretty high volume assist producer. He averaged close to 8 points per game and 4.5 assist per game in the Olympics and despite struggling against Team USA, he managed to score 3 points grab 7 rebounds and dish out 4 assists against the Gold Medal winning team U.S.A. His best game last summer was a 10 point 6 rebound 7 assist game against the Broze Medal winning Russian team. He’s seen high level competition and held his own as a 21 year old. I’d give him a serious look in the 2nd round. If the Gaels could win the WCC and make the tourney, he is the type of player who could really help himself out.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I think Muscala, Cooley and Oriakhi all definitely could be drafted in the 2nd round, with Dellavedova getting a long look. The one thing I think you might be off on is your take on Knutson. Yes, he is having a nice senior year, is tall and can shoot, but the comparison to Novak, even Shurna seems really farfetched. This is not only because of the conference he plays in, as you mentioned he had a nice showing at Duke, I more want to point out the lack of volume behind his shooting numbers.

53% from the three is impressive, just think his taking 1.5 attempts per game and being selective with this shot makes me highly skeptical. Steve Novak almost MADE 4 per game his senior year at a 46.7% clip, as well as shooting his usual insane FT% (97.4 his senior year, 93.1 for his career). With Shurna, he also shot a much higher volume, though not close to the rate of Novak. Even still, he provided much more of an all-around game than even Knutson. Diebler is the same thing, 50% at a really high volume. To me, that is better indication of a shooter than a guy making less than a three per game. 

Not saying that Knutson may not get looks, he can definitely go to Portsmouth and maybe impress, just think he is in a much different category than those players you named. He plays with a very impressive high volume shooter in McCollum and is shooting well, just think that his lack of volume of attempts is something to pay attention for these "shooter" type players. If he was making a couple triples per game, than I would be much more with you on seeing him be a stretch type 4, it is just that he is not even taking that many. 

[JoeWolf1]

He is the most long shot of the group, I will agree, I just think he’s a guy that could gain some attention on McCollum’s coat tales. It’s not uncommon for a team of a player, who is getting a lot of attention to draw some attention to another guy on his team. I think Knutson has the skillset to make the most of the opportunity, despite not taking a bunch of shots per game. He may not be a high volume shooter, but he’s extremely effecient in the mid-range, and I really think if Novak and Travis Deiner didn’t play with a guy named Dwyane Wade, they wouldn’t have been put on the map the way they were. Not to say they didn’t earn everything they got, but some press for a star teammate has done wonders for guys over the years.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Joe, Novak played with D-Wade his freshman year. That’s it. His playing D-Wade had very little to do with the fact he made as many triples he did his senior season. I get that McCollum more than likely gives Knutson a little more attention, just think that this in no way covers up the fact that he is nowhere near as prolific a shooter as the examples you provided, not to mention the question of who exactly he is going to defend.

Even Diener had PG ability to go along with the fact he was making about 3 triples per game. Guy averaged 6 and 7 apg his last two year, as well as 19 ppg.  Yes, he got some notice for playing with D-Wade, but his last two years were with him being the leader of that team. Dwyane may have made people take notice, nonetheless they did their best work without him and while they were in different situations, were a different level of shooter and player. Think your comparison was a definite stretch and that his lack of volume from deep should be taken into account.

[JoeWolf1]

All I’m saying, is that Lehigh may be playing in March again, and people will be tuning into those games because of C.J. McCollum. If Knutsen has some big games at the right time, it can do wonders for his stock. How many times have we seen players raise their stock in the NCAA tournament.

I realize Novak only played one year with Wade, but with Crean and Wade gaining them the national attention, I can say for certain, that I knew who Steve Novak and Travis Deiner were in 03-04. Novak was the guy who hit 5 3’s against Kentucky in the Elite 8. I’m not saying Novak is better than Knutsen because of Wade, just that it doesn’t hurt to have a big name on your team to get you noticed. Yes, Crean continued to build the Golden Eagles because he’s a hell of a coach, but guys were following Novak and Deiner after 02-03 because of that run.

I’ll I’m saying is that if Lehigh makes another run, Knutsen could be a beneficiary.

[ph90702]

6’3″ and 200 lbs. Playing PG for the first time in his senior year. Athletic, can drive to the basket, and has a good post-up game. Good defensively. However, he’s not a true point guard. I doubt he gets drafted, but he’s definitely a D-League player. Oscar Bellfield isn’t as talented as Marshall, yet he’s playing in the D-League.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Oriakhi is very raw offensively,but defense is his bread & butter..There arent many physical bigs in the game today,if Kyle O’Quinn can make a roster,then so should Oriakhi….
I really like Muscala,he might be a sleeper…
*
Here are 10 more prospects that dont get enuff ink…

*

1.Scott Wood (North Carolina St.)

2.Will Clyburn(Iowa St.)

3.Elias Harris (Gonzaga)

4.Ed Daniels(Murray St)

5.Kevin Dilliard (Dayton)

6.Richard Howell ( North Carolina State)

7.Chase Tapley ( San Diego State)

8.Jamaal Olasewere (Long Island)

9.Colt Ryan (Evansville)

10.Kenny Kadji (Miami)

[SiggyParticipant]

Arsalan Kazemi- hustle guy who fills the stat sheet. plays with great energy and constant movement. very disruptive. glass cleaner. good team player, nice passer as well.

Jared Berggren- versatile big who can post a little, but if picked up would be used to stretch the d and pick n pop. can shoot it from mid-range and from deep. smart kid. underrated defender. i could see the spurs picking him up as an undrafted FA. i don’t even think he has a player profile on this site.

[juice304Participant]

Big Keith is a pretty nice player who is under the radar. About 6’9 PF who can score down low and hit a 17 footer. I think he may have a chance to be drafted in 2nd round and/or play in D-League.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

He is only averaging 6 points but putting up a impressive 8 and a half assists per game. I didn’t like him at all at UNC but he is an example of a guy who learned how to be a pure point guard. That’s no easy feat and leads me to believe he can grow even further, maybe even make it after a few years in the D League. His shot of getting drafted doesn’t really exist yet but he could get some camp invites and his dad could make some calls.

[JoeWolf1]

Yeah, I thought of him, but I think he’s an undrafted Free Agent. It doesn’t help that his Dad is an NBA coach, and a guy who can distribute the ball like that will get some looks. He reminds me of Aaron Miles, who has always been a guy who almost makes a team every summer. He’s going to have to figure out something else to add to his aresenal besides distributing the ball. In a league full of specialists, smaller guys who are high volume assist guys who don’t do much on offense, don’t tend to stick.

Crazy thing is, that if he were 6’5” people would be calling him a poor man’s Kidd, like they were doing with Marshall last year.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

and he doesn’t strike me as a guy that can become an above average defender. Even though he has legit pg height he has a slender frame. Royal Ivy and Donald Sloan have stuck in the League so he has a chance but a very little one.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

Thoughts on CJ Watford? Is that 3 against Kentucky last year the apex of his basketball career? He can play but he is not much of a athlete and he’s not a pure shooter to the extent he can be a stretch four.

[surveParticipant]

is going to be a very valuable player in the league for his defense alone. he will hang around for a long time like Dahntay Jones. Snaer is an extremely intelligent player. His weakness is his ballhandling. But he can be a smaller Sefalosha type player….a guy who can find himself in the starting lineup as the teams lockdown guy. his calling card will be getting after it defensively and knocking down the open 3.

[pjpowersParticipant]

He has some flaws to his game but I’d definitely take him on my team. Undersized PF/Big SF. Can do a little of everything!

[Author]

Posts