Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 2:25 pm  |  19 responses

Draft Stock Report – Final Four

There’s nothing quite like success.

by Jeff Fox

With a rather uneventful 2009 NCAA Tournament in the books, we can now turn our attention to more pressing matters, namely, the sweet science of projecting future NBA talent. But before bidding the Tournament adieu, here’s a look at which players helped and hurt their draft stock with their play in the Final Four. Due to their team’s dominant performance, it’s no surprise that three Carolina players make it on the Stock Up list.

Stock Up

Stanley Robinson | Connecticut
It appears Robinson will be making a wise choice by returning to Storrs for his senior season. All his strengths (and weaknesses) were on full display versus Michigan State in the semi-finals, as he started off the game strong, disappeared for what seemed like ages, only to come on strong again. His length and athleticism are NBA-ready, he just needs to improve his outside shot and become more consistent.

Ty Lawson | North Carolina
Perhaps the player who best helped his stock with his Final Four play is Lawson. Earlier this season he seemed destined to be a late first round pick—now he might be snatched up in the Lottery. His speed is well documented, but just as impressive is his decision-making (34 assists and only 7 turnovers in the Tournament) and his ability to push the pace or slow it down and run a half-court offense.

Wayne Ellington | North Carolina
Ellington’s chances of returning to Carolina for his senior season were probably put to bed with his stellar Final Four play. The Final Four MOP showed that he is more than just a spot-up shooter, by rebounding the ball well for a guard (6.5 rpg in Detroit) and working hardTar Heel Future on defense. Considered a borderline first round pick, his play over the past few weeks of the season have probably ensured him of being a team’s first round pick.

Ed Davis | North Carolina
Davis was the Cole Aldrich (circa 2008) of this year’s Final Four, showing in limited playing time that he is a big time player. Long and athletic, Davis will benefit from returning to Roy Williams’ squad for his sophomore year, where he’ll become more of a focal point of the team. Look for him to be a top-10 pick in the 2010 rendition of the Draft.

Stock Down

A.J. Price | Connecticut
Heading into the Final Four there were already questions regarding Price’s decision-making: shot selection and “pure” point guard skills. His 5-20 shooting and 1 assist performance versus Michigan State did nothing to quiet these concerns.

Kemba Walker | Connecticut
Walker probably wasn’t going to enter this year’s draft anyway, but his disappearing act in the Final Four made that a definite. With Price graduated, he should benefit from being the full-time point guard for the Huskies next season.

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

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  • RM Posted: Apr.10 at 2:30 pm
    Ed Davis is going to be beautiful in the L one of these days.

  • Ken Posted: Apr.10 at 2:30 pm
    Thoughts on Greivis Vasquez’s chances of being a first rounder?

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Apr.10 at 2:33 pm
    Good question about Greivis, Ken. I’d say he’ll go in the first round, but certainly not before No. 20. A guy who almost had a triple double in the Tournament definitely is going to turn some heads.

  • dubya816 Posted: Apr.10 at 2:40 pm
    Any thoughts on Sherron Collins? Or James Harden?

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.10 at 3:23 pm
    Damn, A.J. Price? I didn’t see that line. Wow.

  • Chendaddy Posted: Apr.10 at 4:45 pm
    I agree Ed Davis should return to the Tar Heels, hopefully taking John Wall’s entry passes for a year. But is a sophomore Ed Davis a better big man prospect than DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, or John Henson?

  • Jeff Fox Posted: Apr.10 at 5:02 pm
    To answer a few of the questions above: Vasquez is a borderline first rounder, but I’d guess he’d end up going in the second round. He’s got quite alot of flaws to his game and is kinda positionless for the NBA. Collins is undersized for the NBA, but by staying in school he has the chance to improve his stock, ala Lawson. Harden played horrible in the Tournament and probably hurt his stock, but he should still go top-5 this year. Haven’t seen enough of Cousins, Favors or Hensen yet to comment on whether they are better than Davis.

  • Jacob Posted: Apr.10 at 5:39 pm
    Terrence Williams stock went up in my opinion, he played good in the tourney except for the michigan state loss

  • Jaymes Posted: Apr.10 at 5:50 pm
    Wayne Ellington reminds me alot of Rashard McCants, with a better stroke and a tad more athleticism.
    Ed Davis is an extremely valuable commodity, gotta love a long lefty who doesn’t mind the bangin.
    Give me some Ty Lawson all day everyday, the most mature PG i’ve seen in college a few years, controls the pace of the game like a seasoned NBA vet..Alot to like.

  • nastierthanyou Posted: Apr.11 at 10:06 am
    @Jaymes you must stop puffin dust. McCants was a physical specimen. Also a tremendous competitor. I don’t believe Ellington will have a long stint in the L

  • dma Posted: Apr.11 at 12:52 pm
    i don’t get tyler hansborough. he is a great college player. but all the mocks are calling him to be a late 1st round (steal). sure his ceiling is limited, as are all white boys that play collge ball it seems, but this guy is hustle, heart and can get you points, which is lacking in the pro game. shoot, if jj redick can be a lottery pick, no reason why hansborough can’t.

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.11 at 1:34 pm
    Ellington is not near as athletic as McCants, but his overall game maybe better. Especially his stroke. I gotta agree with Jacob, Terrence Williams is gonna make some GM look really smart.

  • Jaymes Posted: Apr.11 at 8:16 pm
    @nastierthanyou… Your opinion is he won’t have a long stint in the L, mine’s different…Hey at least you got to use the puffin dust line though, well played!!
    And if Ellington isn’t a ‘tremendous competitor’ then someone else had the UNC 22 jersey on in the Tourney..

  • The Seed Posted: Apr.11 at 9:13 pm
    James Harden and Terrance Williams will be the steal of the draft to me.
    Lawson played good, but imagine him against bigger pros and he can’t shoot, also Wayne Ellington will be decent in the NBA, because of his shot.
    Plus I would take Stephon Curry top 10 and make him a scoring point guard, like Monta Eilis.

  • truf Posted: Apr.12 at 12:24 am
    common, jeff!!! This list is mad incomplete. You don’t discuss anyone from Mich State or NOVA. Add to this please.

  • Jeff Fox Posted: Apr.12 at 6:00 pm
    Truf, Michigan State and Nova don’t have any real good NBA prospects, plus the ones they do have I felt didn’t really do anything to hurt or help their stock too much, so that’s why they aren’t included in the column.

  • BigMoney Posted: Apr.13 at 12:37 am
    Jeff Teague?

  • Yknot Posted: Apr.13 at 9:57 am
    Aminu?

  • Diggidy Posted: Apr.13 at 6:22 pm
    Greivis Vasquez is a coaches dream as long as he has the love of the game to work on the multiple holes in his game during the summer he will be a steal. He needs work but he has the things you can’t teach! Matteen Cleaves Only 6’5″
    James Harden…I mean Mr. Harden kills all that stand in his way and he doesn’t even have a left hand yet. D-Wade potential here!
    Terrance Williams wont make anyone look good by picking him BUT he will make whoever has the chance and doesn’t look like the 84 Blazers (picking Sam Bowie over #23) or the 93 Sixers (picking Shawn Bradley over Penny)
    Stephon Curry aint ready yet, needs strength but he will be in due time.
    Tyler Hansborough…Christian Laettner,(Not just because I’m still a Fab 5 fan) he has been a great college player but he needs just a little more speed to do whats hes been doing at the next level.
    Jeff Teague…Chris Paul???

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