[steaglesParticipant]

so, i’m looking at draft prospects through then lens of being a 76er fan, and i’ve come across jerel mcneal. being somewhat acquainted with the history of big east basketball, and also philadelphia basketball, i’m thinking back a handful of years to villanova’s backcourt of allen ray and randy foye (and nardi and lowry, but they’re not important in this question). 4 years after they played together one is a damn good starter on an uprising minnesota team, while the other is a journeyman in europe.

when both were at villanova, there wasn’t such a gap that you’d think their situations just 4 years later would be this disparate, but here we are. in college, foye was the shutdown defender, and more of a playmaker, but ray was always the better shooter, and the differences between the two were never that great.

so back to jerel mcneal, he’s bigger than allen ray, he’s more active on the defensive end and he’s a better ball handler. but, he doesn’t have the size that foye has, and he’s projected as a combo guard.

again, back to my philly roots, i’m reminded of another combo guard, one who played for st. joesphs during their run in 2004, delonte west. west is of a similar size and build, and the performances by both in college are quite similar. i actually think this is a much more apt comparison, though west seems to be a better playmaker.

i guess what i’m getting at is this: will jerel mcneal be an NBA caliber player?

[balltilifall5Participant]

Jerel McNeal projects as a solid pro. doubt he’ll ever be a consistent starter, more than likely a good bench player. I like the delonte west comparison, they have a similar game but mcneal has a little better build stregthwise coming out of college…

[DanEboyParticipant]

I am sticking with my Luther Head comparison. I think he is a better version of Head though. His partner in crime Wesley Matthews is getting better every game and could be a very good pro. They both play great defense but Matthews gets to the rim better.

[jorrye24]

He reminds me of luther head 2, but he isnt as athletic. he will be a defender and shooter of the bench like head is.

[ctw724Participant]

He has now worked out for the Bulls twice, plus the combine. There is starting to be some talk coming out of the city that he may be the Bulls pick at #26. I wouldn’t mind that at all. He’s a tough and versatile player from Chicago. As we know, Chicago has a LONG HISTORY of producing some pretty good under-sized guards (Rose, Wade, Thomas, Cheeks, Rivers, Hardaway, etc.).

Feedback?

[gatorheelsParticipant]

I don’t think McNeal will go in the 1st Round. I think the Miami Heat will grab him mid second round. Dwayne Wade loves McNeal. They both went to Marquette.

[ctw724Participant]

It will be him or Sam Young at #26.

[ctw724Participant]

His stats are just as good, if not better than both Eric Maynor and Jeff Teague.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/compare?add=jeff-teague&p1=jerel-mcneal&p2=eric-maynor

I’d take him low in the 1st Round. Plus, he’s a Chicago kid and last I checked they tend to produce some pretty good NBA undersized guards (Thomas, Rivers, Rose, Wade, Hardaway, Cheeks, etc.).

[Knicksboy34Participant]

I have him going to Atlanta in round 2. He could be a solid player off the bench

[ctw724Participant]

If they want a new back-up PG to Derrick Rose, I would go get him in Round 2 (of course they need to get a pick for that to happen).

[Knicksboy34Participant]

Move back

26th pick and a player

to

Pistons for 2 2nd rounders and Amir Johnson?

[ctw724Participant]

S.A. wants in the 1st Round, so they may be a trade partner for the 26th pick, if the Bulls don’t move up.

[The MantisParticipant]

He’ll probably go early to mid 2nd round. Miami does like him, but also look for him to possibly go at 41 to Milwaukee unless they draft a PG in the 1st round.

[a2Participant]

He is going to be a second round pick in the draft. He will be a decent player good enough to get some playing time but I dont see him as a starter.

[ctw724Participant]

He needs to find a home. He has the elder Gerald Henderson written all over him. Maybe his hometown team, the Bulls can bring him in.

[ctw724Participant]

Let me know thanks.

[Author]

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