2007 Reebok Eurocamp: Day Three
By Aran Smith 6/12/07 The third day’s morning session had a new wrinkle with Fran Frachilla giving the campers a new drill the 4-2-4 fast break drill. The campers learned the importance of making a quick decision when you have numbers. It was a good opportuity to see the players anticipation and defensive ability as…
2007 Reebok Eurocamp: Day Two
By Aran Smith 6/11/07 The second day started much like the first with morning drills. Mickael Pietrus spoke to the campers after the morning session. He mentioned to me that he would have loved to have played here but never had the chance. The Team Reebok squad is on hand and their team of 8…
2007 Reebok Eurocamp: Day One
By Aran Smith 6/10/07 The first day of camp began at 9 AM with station drills. It was an opportunity for the International scouts on hand to see the players and how they shoot and move as well as their coachability. One problem for the campers is that around 60% or more of the kids…2007 Reebok Eurocamp Roster
By Aran Smith 6/9/07 NBADraft.net is in Treviso, Italy for the Reebok Eurocamp, which is seen as the unofficial European NBA Draft camp. 12 players pulled out in the past 24 hours, some having to do with visa issues among other things. But the camp remains among the strongest ever in Treviso. Here is an…2007 Reebok Eurocamp: Pete Philo Interview
By Aran Smith 6/9/07 NBADraft.net caught up with Reebok Eurocamp director and Minnesota Timberwolves international scout Pete Philo. Q: How do you see the Reebok Eurocamp fitting into the draft scheme of things? A: This camp initially started five years ago as an exposure camp for some of the younger international kids and has blossomed…2007 NBA Predraft Camp: Player Evaluations
2007 NBA Predraft Camp: Player Evaluations By Aran Smith 6/4/07 Here’s a look at the top prospects from the 2007 NBA Pre-draft camp broken into groups. It’s important to take a close look at player’s performance in the camp, and come in with an open mind. However, a player’s performance here should not outweigh what…
2007 NBA Predraft Camp: Days Three and Four + Media Day Notes
By Aran Smith 6/1/07 Media Day Notes Greg Oden Q: What players do you try to emulate your game after in years past, and maybe a great bigman? A: I would love to be like Bill Russell, He really loved the game. Michael Jordan. Who wouldn’t want to be like him? Guys like David Robinson…
2007 NBA Predraft Camp: Day One
By Aran Smith NBADraft.net 5/30/07 Orlando, Florida – The 2007 NBA pre-draft camp kicked off today at Disney’s Wide World of Sports with a two hour workout of drills and scrimmages. After moans and groans from GMs and scouts last year due to a weak field of players, the NBA took measures to attempt to…2007 NBA Predraft Camp: Day Two
By Aran Smith NBADraft.net 5/30/07 Day 2, Evening – The night games as seen on ESPNU lacked a great deal of intrigue. But it was the first glimpse for many of these guys in real game action at the camp. Game 2 Team 2 80 – Team 1 76 Team 2 was led by the…
Tim Shea Interview
By Aran Smith NBADraft.net 5/24/07 The following is another chapter in what’s becoming our annual conversation with Tim Shea (in his fourth year as Director of International scouting for the Charlotte Bobcats). Q) How’s everything in Lugo, Spain? A) It’s National Leagues Playoff time in Europe and in Spain that means Spring, Basketball and Bullfighting…2007 Top 10 Prospects Lists
By Aran Smith Updated 6/27/07 Point Guards Comments 1. Mike Conley 6-1 180 PG Ohio St. Fr. Quickness is phenominal, but must add shooting consistency. 2. Javaris Crittenton 6-4 195 PG Ga. Tech Fr. PG with considerable upside. Leaving early could hurt his long term development. 3. Acie Law 6-3 185 PG Texas A&M…
Draft Buzz – Should I Stay or Should I Go?
By Aran Smith 5/18/07 The decision of when to leave for the NBA can make or break a players career. For some the pressure to leave forces them in too early before their stock is truly in the first round and before their skills are developed to make their way in the NBA. Others end…
2007 Euro Final Four: Top Junior Prospects
By Aran Smith Athens, Greece 5/8/07 Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania defeated FMP Belgrade in the Nike Euroleague Junior Championship 78-74. The Final Four junior tournament consisted of Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cibona Zagreb, Zalgiris Kaunas, Montepaschi Siena, BC FMP, Olympiacos Piraeus, and Prokom Trelf Sopot. Missing from the championships were the Spanish junior…
2007 Euro Final Four: Panathinaikos Champs, Recap
By Aran Smith Athens, Greece 5/7/07 Behind an insanely passionate home crowd, Panathinaikos Athens was able to outlast last year’s Euroleague champs, CSKA Moscow, 93-91 to take home the 2007 Euroleague Championship on Sunday night. Fan favorite Dimos Diamantidis took home the Final Four MVP, but the true MVPs were the Panathinaikos fans who chanted…
2007 Euro Final Four: NBADraft.net in Athens, Greece
By Aran Smith 5/3/07 The 2007 European Final Four kicks off on Friday, May 4th in Athens, Greece. NBADraft.net is on hand to scout the top NBA prospects participating. 2006 Euro Champion CSKA Moscow, Unicaja, Tau Ceramica, and local Panathinaikos Athens will battle for the title, which takes place on Sunday, May 6th. Draft prospects…
Draft Buzz – Nicolas Batum Officially Out of 2007 NBA Draft
By Aran Smith 4/27/07 French wing Nicolas Batum made it official today saying he will not enter his name into the 2007 NBA draft. Batum will return to Le Mans for a second season and will surely be the most sought after international player next season. He will have a good chance to be the…
Draft Buzz – Nicolas Batum Likely Out of 2007 NBA Draft
By Aran Smith 4/26/07 Sources close to the situation have indicated that French wing-player Nicolas Batum, who’s widely considered the top overall prospect in Europe, likely will not enter his name into the 2007 NBA draft. Batum feels he is not ready for the NBA and must spend more time working on his body and…2007 Jordan Classic Player Evaluations
By Aran Smith 4/23/07 The 2007 Jordan Brand All American Classic took place on Saturday April 21st at Madison Square Garden in NYC. The following is an evaluation of the prospects in the game. Derrick Rose — 28 min, 12 pts, 5-8 fg, 2-2 ft, 10 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl — Rose’s quickness and…