SLAMonline Mock Draft: Tyler Hansbrough, No. 25
Can college greatness translate? Believe it.
With the 25th pick in the 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select…
Tyler Hansbrough. If today’s December 25, why is the air conditioner cranking at a level where I can’t keep our player evaluation reports from flying off my desk? And why does my BlackBerry keep telling me it’s 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 25?
If this isn’t Christmas, how did Sam Presti and I manage to score the top point guard in the draft (and I’m not talking about Brendan Jennings) as well as the ACC’s all-time scoring leader, who’s widely regarded as one of the hardest working college athletes of all time?
In any event, today better not be Christmas, unless Tyler and Ricky are cool with me gift wrapping them after the draft, or Gold Standard Collectibles offers same hour shipping on this, the kids are going to be pretty disappointed with Santa’s offerings this year.
Hansbrough’s resume is thorough, and since we’ve all been listening to Dick Vitale orally hypnotize us about his accomplishments over the past four years, I’ll let you review it on your own time.
While we’re fully aware that success under the watchful eye of the NCAA guarantees a whole lot of nothing on the next level, many aspects of Hansbrough’s game will absolutely translate to NBA success.
He measures nearly 6-10 with sneakers on, shows a remarkable ability to get to the free-throw line, and displays excellent touch around the basket. He’s physical, will box out and work hard on the offensive glass. We’re going to put him in a lot of pick and roll situ
ations, which will require an extended shooting range, but we’re confident that element of his game will improve with time.
Of course we do have some questions about his ability to defend at the 4 and 5 positions, but those concerns are eased by his work ethic and drive to improve and prove he belongs at the next level.
That may sound like some cliché press release bullshit, but anyone that has played basketball at a high level will testify that effort and the desire to improve, mixed with the discipline required to work hard are essential ingredients for success. This is especially true when it comes to frontcourt positions, and rebounding the basketball.
We’re also eager to place Hansbrough among the ranks of outstanding college studs that slid in the draft because they weren’t thought to be tall, fast, quick, or strong enough for the next level—since 2005 Carl Landry, Glen Davis, Aaron Brooks, Paul Millsap, Leon Powe, David Lee and Ryan Gomes all illustrate that point.
Yes ladies and gentleman, believe it or not, players who put up great numbers on excellent teams, work hard, are well coached and understand how to win actually do translate into solid players at the next level. I hope you were sitting down for that and remember, you heard it here first.
Finally, I’d like to announce that going forward we’ll be immediately cleansing him of the nickname “Psycho T.” Robert Swift is currently holding down the title of “psycho” and we don’t want to take him out of his comfort zone. We’re going to run with “Freaky Ty” until further notice.
| 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft Results | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | L.A. Clippers | Blake Griffin |
| 2 | Memphis Grizzlies | Hasheem Thabeet |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Ricky Rubio |
| 4 | Sacramento Kings | Brandon Jennings |
| 5 | Washington Wizards | Jordan Hill |
| 6 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Demar DeRozan |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | James Harden |
| 8 | New York Knicks | Stephen Curry |
| 9 | Toronto Raptors | Tyreke Evans |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks | Jonny Flynn |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | DeJuan Blair |
| 12 | Charlotte Bobcats | Terrence Williams |
| 13 | Indiana Pacers | Earl Clark |
| 14 | Phoenix Suns | Jrue Holiday |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | B.J. Mullens |
| 16 | Chicago Bulls | Sam Young |
| 17 | Philadelphia 76ers | Ty Lawson |
| 18 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Eric Maynor |
| 19 | Atlanta Hawks | Patty Mills |
| 20 | Utah Jazz | Gerald Henderson |
| 21 | New Orleans Hornets | Wayne Ellington |
| 22 | Dallas Mavericks | Austin Daye |
| 23 | Sacramento Kings | Omri Casspi |
| 24 | Portland Trail Blazers | Victor Claver |
| 25 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Tyler Hansbrough |
This story is filed under: College, I Say Butter, You Say Parquet, NBA
he WILL succeed at the next level!
PHX, I’m looking in your direction.
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