Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at 11:24 am  |  39 responses

Top Power Forward Draft Prospects

Volume 2.

by Jeff Fox

Any NBA team in need of a power forward are in luck. The power forward draft class for 2009 is deep. So deep, it makes Devin Harris’ recent buzzer beater look like a layup.

1. (1) Blake Griffin – Oklahoma – SO
The undisputed king of the 2009 NBA draft. No one appears able to give Blake Griffin a run for his money to be the first name uttered by David Stern on draft night. The physical, athletic Griffin has been a one man wrecking crew for the Sooners, with the team’s recent struggles while he missed time with a concussion all the more proof. While the Amar’e comparisons are probably not totally warranted, Griffin should still be an above average pro. Just ask the boys at Texas Tech—he dropped 40 points and 23 boards on them recently.

2. (5) Jordan Hill – Arizona – JRGreg Monroe
While Griffin was dominant from the moment he donned a college jersey, Arizona’s Jordan Hill took a little while longer to get acclimated to the big time. However, he has shown steady improvement each year to the point that he’s putting up a stat line of 18/11/2 on the regular and has the Wildcats’ peaking at the right time. Athleticism and length are the buzzwords for Hill.

3. (6) Greg Monroe – Georgetown – FR
While the monstrous Big East has eaten up the Hoya’s NCAA tournament hopes and spit out the bones, Greg Monroe has held up pretty well in conference play. He’s in the midst of 17-straight double-digit scoring games and has a maturity that belies his years. Probably the best passing and most cerebral 4-man on this list.

4. (8) Gani Lawal – Georgia Tech – SO
To average a double-double (15 points, 10 boards) as a sophomore in the ACC is pretty heady stuff. Another long, athletic big man, Gani Lawal has more than doubled most of his stats from last season and has had some big games versus some of the nation’s best teams (17 boards versus Duke, 25 and 10 versus Wake Forest). If he decides to enter this year’s draft he should go first round, probably shortly after former high school teammate Al-Farouq Aminu gets snatched up.

5. (3) Patrick Patterson – Kentucky – SO
While teammate Jodie Meeks’ unexpected scoring assault this season got more attention, Patrick Patterson still remains Kentucky’s best NBA prospect. Similar to Elton Brand, he uses his huge wingspan and bulk to make up for a lack of height in the post. Athletic, explosive and physically strong, he should be a solid pro.

Next in line:
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh; James Johnson, Wake Forest; Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina; Craig Brackins, Iowa State; Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State.

Not expected to enter draft:
Samardo Samuels; Michael Washington.

Jeff Fox also writes about college hoops and the NBA Draft at College Hoops Net.

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  • TADOne Posted: Feb.26 at 11:31 am
    No Deshawn Sims? BTW Jeff, what does the number in the brackets () represent?

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 11:36 am
    nice list, much respect on not going all hypetastic and making Greg Monroe above Jordan Hill. Hill is the better player without a doubt.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 11:37 am
    TAD, I imagine it’s where he thinks they will be drafted

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 11:37 am
    or maybe it’s where they were in volume 1 of the list…

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 11:38 am
    yah i am pretty sure its the last ranking on the list, because Gani won’t go 8 and Patty wont go 3. Yeah, it’s the last list ranking :) I’ll shut up now haah

  • mike Posted: Feb.26 at 11:43 am
    yeah i don’t think patrick patterson’s going number 3 justin

  • TADOne Posted: Feb.26 at 11:46 am
    Yeah, I kinda figured it was the previous ranking they got. It would be hilarious if Blake decided not to enter the draft this year.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 11:48 am
    yeah mike, I caught that just after skimming the perenthesis hahah thanks for the heads up on my wonderful ability to stick my foot in my mouth :)

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Feb.26 at 12:07 pm
    craig brackins is going to be the steal of the draft

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Feb.26 at 12:13 pm
    Justin, you got it–the bracketed number is the Draft 365 offseason rankings.

  • Joey Whelan Posted: Feb.26 at 12:17 pm
    I agree with putting Hill ahead of Monroe right now, but I think the frosh is going to make a better pro. He is more of a modern 4 than Hill is, able to step away from the basket, handle the rock a little and most importantly defend on the perimeter adequately enough.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 12:23 pm
    sometimes I watch Monroe and think system player…I don’t know why but lately I watch Georgetown and it’s like a team that hides all their weaknesses then when the kids get drafted they do sh*t nothing. *not talking the Ewing days of the 80′s, I’m talking the 2000′s here people.

  • chronically_ill Posted: Feb.26 at 12:34 pm
    I think it’s a little too early to judge the most recent crop of Georgetown players. I dont think any of them are going to be stars (even Jeff Green), but I could see them developing into solid rotation players in the league. Like Roy Hibbert, for example. I could easily see him developing into the black Zydrunas Ilgaskus given some time.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 12:39 pm
    chronically, Cub and I talked about him recently, and we both felt he was way overhyped. One game he’d get 18 and 7 for Gtown, then he’d only take 3 shots against Syracuse and get 6 boards. Seriously, that guy is so inconsistent to the extreme.

  • chronically_ill Posted: Feb.26 at 12:49 pm
    True. He could become another Big Z, but then he could also become the next Mark Blount. My point is, it’s still too early to write the most recent ex-Hoyas just yet, since they havent been in the league long enough.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 12:55 pm
    I’m not writing them off, I’m just saying as of yet they haven’t produced. AS of now, they have sucked. Greg Monroe will be a far better pro than either of the cats we are speaking of, I’m just thinking out loud here

  • chronically_ill Posted: Feb.26 at 12:56 pm
    Where do you guys think Dejuan Blair will end up? I think he raised some heads after he totally manhandled UCONN.

  • Holy Baller Posted: Feb.26 at 12:58 pm
    Dejuan Blair and Brackins should be on this list. There’s no way that neither of them is top five in power forward prospects.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 12:59 pm
    Holy Baller, this is for NBA draft, not for how they are right now in college

  • mike Posted: Feb.26 at 1:45 pm
    i don’t know about g-town players having their weaknesses hidden – jeff green sure looks good

  • ciolkstar Posted: Feb.26 at 1:48 pm
    Jeff Green sucks? Since when?

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 1:51 pm
    ciolk, i was more talking about Hibbert than anything, I don’t have a solid opinion on Green at all.

  • Joey Whelan Posted: Feb.26 at 3:24 pm
    Clearly he is a better player defensively and shows more potential, but seeing how Hibbert has played thus far in the pros, it’s hard not to at least consider Hasheem Thabeet might go that road as well. I like Thabeet a lot, but his is inconsistent and getting eaten up by a 6’7″ post player, even if it is DeJuan Blair, is not becoming of a future NBA center.

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 4:03 pm
    Joey, with exception of the one game against Pitt, Thabeet’s defense was ALWAYS consistent. Hibbert has NEVER been consistent defensively. One day he blocks twice, then he gets dunked on four times and doesnt give backside help. Thabeet ALWAYS gets his on defense (with exception to the Pitt game. But one game does not create a pattern)

  • Joey Whelan Posted: Feb.26 at 4:06 pm
    Justin I completely agree with you defensively, Thabeet is the biggest impact player in the country on that end of the floor. I was referring more to the offensive side of things.

  • SLAM ONLINE | Posted: Feb.26 at 5:29 pm
    [...] Top PF Prospects [...]

  • Tommy Patron Posted: Feb.26 at 6:51 pm
    The maximum upside potential for any big coming from Oklahoma U is Wayman Tisdale. More likely, Stacey King.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Feb.26 at 6:58 pm
    I did NOT know Blake Griffin was that good. Wow I’m going to be on the lookout for this guy.
    Griffin > Rubio !

  • Justin Walsh Posted: Feb.26 at 7:51 pm
    Joey, when you speak of the offense of Thabeet being similar to Hibbert I’m inclined to agree.

  • BETCATS Posted: Feb.26 at 8:58 pm
    DeJuan Blair>>Everyone but Blake

  • BETCATS Posted: Feb.26 at 8:59 pm
    I see thabeet as a cross between Okafor and Roy Hibbert. He will be a solid player in the L, or at least i think so.

  • The Last Kings Fan Posted: Feb.26 at 9:20 pm
    Could Griffin play the three spot?

  • jake barnett Posted: Feb.26 at 10:31 pm
    Griffin is a beast he will go number 1 for sure

  • Jacob Posted: Feb.26 at 11:00 pm
    Jordan Hill is a beast

  • knowsense. Posted: Feb.27 at 2:01 am
    am i the only one who feels dejuan blair is destined to be a piston?

  • knowsense. Posted: Feb.27 at 2:01 am
    am i the only one who feels dejuan blair is destined to be a piston?

  • Morning Newspaper for Friday, February 27th | MrSEC.com Posted: Feb.27 at 10:20 am
    [...] Online thinks Patrick Patterson is one of the top five power forward NBA prospects this [...]

  • Cub Buenning Posted: Feb.27 at 9:45 pm
    Roy Hibbert never looked like he wanted to be on a basketball court (in college). Thabeet is just raw and new to the game. Against Pitt, Thabeet was in foul trouble (the stupid, bad call type), only played like 20 mins, and never got into the flow of that game offensively. I love DeJuan Blair as a kid, but the brute strength/force game he played that night is not basketball. IMO, he was the one that SHOULD have had foul issues.

  • Grind Gear Posted: Apr.1 at 9:36 pm
    Deshawn Sims should be on your list!

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