Spring Break
The Pro Side: top draft picks
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports
Now that both men's and women's college basketball is over, the talk over who will be the top picks in the NBA Draft can begin.
Blake Griffin - Center Oklahoma
Griffin, the AP Player of the Year, was far and away the best player in college basketball all season. His importance to the team became most evident when he went down with a concussion and Oklahoma lost the next two games. Almost everyone is considering him the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft - and with good reason.The sophomore standout lead his Sooners to a birth in the Elite 8 where they lost to eventual champ North Carolina. He also set new records in school history for double-doubles and rebounds.
DeJuan Blair - Center Pittsburgh
Despite missing out on the Final Four as well as a Big East championship, Blair decided to forgo his final two seasons and declared for the NBA draft. Blair is expected to be a mid-to late first round pick, however he has drawbacks that might scare teams away. He is injury prone. Blair has already had two reconstructive knee surgeries, which can be problematic for a player in a league with as many games as the NBA. His weight could also be a problem. Currently he is listed at 260 pounds but at points in his career he has been as high as 300.
Jodie Meeks - Guard Kentucky
Although they missed out on the tournament, Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks decided to declare for the NBA Draft. Meeks' 23.7 points per game was good enough for eighth in the nation and he scored a school record 54 points against Tennessee. His stock does not look that good as of now. Many people don't have him being drafted due to the fact that he is a one dimensional player without much passing or ball handling ability.
Blake Griffin - Center Oklahoma
Griffin, the AP Player of the Year, was far and away the best player in college basketball all season. His importance to the team became most evident when he went down with a concussion and Oklahoma lost the next two games. Almost everyone is considering him the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft - and with good reason.The sophomore standout lead his Sooners to a birth in the Elite 8 where they lost to eventual champ North Carolina. He also set new records in school history for double-doubles and rebounds.
DeJuan Blair - Center Pittsburgh
Despite missing out on the Final Four as well as a Big East championship, Blair decided to forgo his final two seasons and declared for the NBA draft. Blair is expected to be a mid-to late first round pick, however he has drawbacks that might scare teams away. He is injury prone. Blair has already had two reconstructive knee surgeries, which can be problematic for a player in a league with as many games as the NBA. His weight could also be a problem. Currently he is listed at 260 pounds but at points in his career he has been as high as 300.
Jodie Meeks - Guard Kentucky
Although they missed out on the tournament, Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks decided to declare for the NBA Draft. Meeks' 23.7 points per game was good enough for eighth in the nation and he scored a school record 54 points against Tennessee. His stock does not look that good as of now. Many people don't have him being drafted due to the fact that he is a one dimensional player without much passing or ball handling ability.
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