View full sizeJohn Henson is already a strong defensive presence, but will he have enough offensive game to succeed in the NBA?CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ninth of a weekly series profiling top players who could be available to the Cavs in this year's NBA Draft on June 28. The draft lottery to determine the selection order is May 30.
College: North Carolina
Position: Power forward
Year: Junior
Ht/wt: 6-11/220.
Born: Dec. 28, 1990.
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
High school: Three seasons at Round Rock High School before playing senior season at Sickles High School in Tampa, where he grew six inches. He averaged 17.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.1 blocks as a senior. First-team all-state selection and Tampa Bay Coaches Association Player of the Year.
College stats: Averaged 13.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.88 blocks per game and shot 50 percent in 35 games.
Scouting report: His strengths are the things that make scouts and coaches smile -- rebounding, shot-blocking and defense. Lanky and athletic with great energy, although he needs to bulk up considerably. His perimeter game also needs work. He's somewhat unorthodox offensively, which calls to mind another former Tar Heel power forward Antawn Jamison. But Jamison, who has invited Henson to his summer camps, doesn't see it that way. "I don't think you can put him in the same category as me," Jamison said. "I think he's got a little bit more athleticism than I do.
"But defensively, he's phenomenal because of his athleticism and how long he is. I give a camp every year and he comes. Just a great character guy. When I go back to Carolina, he's always working on his game. Last year he wanted to work on being able to shoot the jumper a little bit and he has improved on that. He does have some unorthodox style to him when it comes to the offensive end but he's a Carolina guy. All Carolina guys are good pros. They went through the system. [Coach] Roy [Williams] has done a great job. [Henson's] a great character guy who wants to improve. He kind of reminds me of Tristan [Thompson] a little bit. With the right situation and the right team, he's a guy who could flourish."
Source: TarHeelBlue.com
Mary Schmitt Boyer's projected top 10 players in the 2012 NBA draft. These rankings will be updated through the end of the NBA season.
1. Anthony Davis, PF, 6-10, 220, Kentucky, freshman
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, 6-7, 228, Kentucky, freshman
3. Thomas Robinson, PF, 6-9, 240, Kansas, junior
4. (tie) Andre Drummond, C, 6-10, 270, Connecticut, freshman
4. (tie) Bradley Beal, SG, 6-4, 201, Florida, freshman
6. Harrison Barnes, SF, 6-8, 215, North Carolina, sophomore
7. Jared Sullinger, PF, 6-9, 280, Ohio State, sophomore
8. Perry Jones, PF, 6-11, 235, Baylor, sophomore
9. Jeremy Lamb, SG, 6-5, 185, Connecticut, sophomore
10. John Henson, PF, 6-11, 220, North Carolina, junior