Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 8:00 am  |  27 responses

2010 NBA Mock Draft – Top 10 Prospects, Vol. 2

John Wall still leads the pack, but there’s been plenty of movement behind him.

by Jeff Fox

Not surprisingly there’s been plenty of changes since we last did our 2010 NBA mock draft. But one thing remains unchanged — John Wall is the man. In today’s 24/7 media world, players’ warts get exposed pretty quickly and “experts” tend to sour on prospects just as fast. So saying Wall is still head and shoulders above the rest of the pack is really saying something.

While Wall continues to be a rock (rock wall?!) at No. 1, the rest of the top 10 has changed considerably since we last did a mock draft in December. We have a few new additions to the list, a couple of guys who have fallen off, and a new consensus No. 2 prospect who looks to be almost as mJohn Walluch of a lock as Wall is.

(Previous ranking in brackets)

1. (1) John Wall | PG | Kentucky | Freshman
Conference play hasn’t slowed down John Wall one bit — he just missed out on a triple-double last week versus Mississippi State (18 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists). He’s still turnover prone and isn’t much of a threat shooting from outside, but Wall still remains a lock to go first overall. He isn’t a lock, however, to win the various National Player of the Year awards this season due to the guy coming up next in our mock draft.

2. (5) Evan Turner | SG | Ohio State | Junior
Evan Turner was ranked lower in our first mock draft because he had just recently broken his back and his status was up in the air. Well Turner has made us doubters no more — he’s actually played even better since recovering from the injury and is now the consensus choice to go second overall in the draft. A shooting guard in the Brandon Roy mold, Turner, like Wall, also needs to improve his outside shot. But how can you argue with a statline like this (remember — despite naturally being a shooting guard he is playing the point this year): 19.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.8 apg? Ladies and gentlemen, your National Player of the Year.

3. (2) Derrick Favors | PF | Georgia Tech | Freshman
Size? Check. Wingspan? Check. Athleticism? Check. Upside? Check. Good attitude? Check. Derrick Favors fills in all the categories on your “perfect NBA prospect checklist”. And his 21-point, 18-rebound performance versus Maryland the other day helps too. In a draft minus John Wall he would be in the running to go first overall. Still, he’ll be a nice consolation prize for a team that doesn’t win the lottery.

4. (NR) DeMarcus Cousins | PF/C | Kentucky | Freshman
The player whose stock has risen the most dramatically since we last did a mock draft is John Wall’s teammate, DeMarcus Cousins. There are still concerns over his attitude/work ethic and his level of athleticism, but Cousins’ size, strength, ability to score inside and out, rebounding ability and knack for drawing fouls has gotten the NBA’s attention.

5. (4) Al-Farouq Aminu | SF | Wake Forest | Sophomore
Al-Farouq Aminu’s decision to return to Wake Forest for his sophomore year has proven to be a wise one. He is having an outstanding season as the leader of the Demon Deacons and has improved his draft stock in the process. Possessing great size for a small forward (6-9 215 lbs), he is a terrific rebounder, is great at drawing fouls and is a versatile threat on the floor. If he can improve his ball-handling and outside shot, the sky is the limit.

6. (NR) Hassan Whiteside | C | Marshall | Freshman
From a virtual unknown to a top 10 prospect, Hassan Whiteside has enjoyed a meteoric rise the past few months. But that’s what happens when you’re an athletic 7-footer (with a 7-6 wingspan) who is blocking more than five shots a game. He’s still more prospect than pro, but given time Whiteside could be a gem.

7. (8) Wesley Johnson | SF | Syracuse | Junior
After a blazing start to the season, Wesley Johnson has cooled off in February. He is still a solid NBA prospect with good athleticism and length who can knock down threes, block shots and rebound. But at 22-years-old (23 in July) he is a greybeard in the world of NBA prospects.

8. (7) Ed Davis | PF | North Carolina | Sophomore
A nightmare season in Chapel Hill just got worse for Ed Davis — a broken wrist will keep him out of action for the rest of the year. That also is bad news for his draft stock. If he still chooses to enter this June’s draft he will no doubt be a top 10 pick due to his size and potential, but he is still a work in progress.

9. (3) Donatas Motiejunas | PF | Benetton Treviso | 1990
His draft stock has fallen considerably since we last checked in, but versatile, athletic 7-footers like Donatas Motiejunas don’t grow on trees (well, maybe they do in Europe, but they certainly don’t over here). He may not be the next Dirk, but he could be the next Bargnani.

10. (9) Cole Aldrich | Center | Kansas | Junior
He may not be a flashy pro, but Cole Aldrich could have the longest NBA career of any player on this list. He will provide size, strength, rebounding and shot-blocking to whichever team picks him. He should have a better career than Eric Montross, right?!

Fallen out of the top 10: Willie Warren, Xavier Henry.

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.

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  • SylVain

    Other than John Wall’s athletic ability, I can’t see him going #1. If you compare him to the Pg’s in the league, he doesn’t have that knack a la Rose, Paul, Williams, Harris and so forth. Im not denying his game, because he has it, but #1? Turner is is 6’7, 6’8 can give you more options with his skill set. Think about it?

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    You aren’t going to have a lot of support for that argument, especially from me!

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    You’re going to have a hard time getting anyone to agree with you on that (especially me)!

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ niQ

    Sucks for Ed Davis. He probably won’t be a lottery pick this year. It would be a high risk pick for any team. But you know what they say about this high risk players..lol But I don’t know, I haven’t seen much of him but I just see Ed Davis as another Brandon Wright, or Julian Wright. They were talked about so much before they L then pretty much disappeared when they got there.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com TADOne

    Derrick Favors would look good in a Pistons uni….right now!

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Lots of nice bigs in this class. Too bad Memphis — who has to regret the Thabeet choice — will likely finish with 40(ish) wins and a low-lottery pick.

  • Tyler Whitcomb

    Ed Davis is slowly slipping out of the top 10. He should have entered last year and been a top 2 or 3 pick. Hassan Whiteside #6, I like that. Really good top 10 Jeff. Here is mine for what is is worth.

    1. John Wall 2. Evan Turner 3. Derrick Favors 4.Demarcus Cousins 5. Al Farouq Aminu 6. Wesley Johnson 7. Cole Aldrich 8. Hassan Whiteside 9.Greg Monroe 10. Patrick Patterson

  • http://deleted Tyler Whitcomb

    I’m also really starting to like James Anderson as a potential lottery, eventhough its probably more like top 20-25. Motiejunas and Vesely could move up as well, I see Them high on most peoples boards, I just don’t know yet.Damn, what a great year for bigs! You can also add in Alabi, Sanders, and late in the draft Varnado.

  • Logues

    I agree with SylVain, Evan turner is so smooth for a 6’7 player. can shoot better than wall, rebound better than wall, maybe pass better than wall? not hating on wall, i think hes awesome, but id take turner

  • jasmine

    John Wall shouldn’t be one and done neither demarcus cousins. They’re great players & they’re hot but look at the number 2 pick of last year going to the D league. They’re at the top right now but they would have to start all over in the NBA in terms of who’s the best and if one of them go to the nets, it’ll be a shock to them from always winning to losing more than half of the time. They really need to stay for another year. But if someway in gods way they go to the knicks, i take back everything i said.

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  • JoeMaMa

    The next Dirk, or the next Bargnani. I have to respond to this statement. The rest of the article was good, but that was a dumb thing to say. Bargnani has gotten better every year. Asking someone to be like Dirk, the way Bargnani was, is crazy. Bargnani will continue to improve; he’s already a threat, he’s still young, and getting better. He could be a 21 and 8 guy if he keeps it up. I mean, say “the next Darko”, or “the next Araujo”……but Bargnani deserves better.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ niQ

    JoeMama. I don’t think Jeff means it in a bad way. And if you check scouting reports a lot of people are saying the same thing. That the player he resembles the most is Bargnani..

  • Tyler Whitcomb

    Evan turner is very smooth and can see the Brandon Roy comparisons, but please quit hating on john Wall. John is the truth! I again absoultely love Turner, but I’m not taking him over Wall.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    jasmine: It certainly would be divine intervention if Wall or Cousins get to the Knicks, since all of the Knicks first rounders belong to other teams for the next two years.

  • Gary Brown

    I don’t think this draft is even close to being accurate. Wall will go first because the media won’t stop hyping this guy. He is good but Micheal Jordan like the media makes him out to be. I think you’ll see Aldrich much higher in the draft . Who ever published this must be in love with KU. Cousins will go much lower. Ed Davis from UNC won’t make it in the pros. No muscle. Look where Thebet is now. No muscle. It will be interesting to see if Singler decides to leave Duke. He is coming on strong.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    JoeMaMa – that wasn’t a diss at Bargnani – I’m just saying that Motiejunas isn’t going to be a superstar like Dirk, but he could be a good player like Bargnani. Plus scouts are comparing him to Andrea.

  • jarrett

    Who is h. Whiteside?? btw nice article,, but idk if Evan Turner should be compared to b.roy if he’s in the 6’8 range. Here’s a thought,, maybe the next Pippen? I like Wesley Johnson > Aminu if I’m a GM, but that’s just my opinion. Also I really think greg Monroe as a great passing big man who can run the floor and finish should be atleast about 7 on the list. Take aldrich off the top ten because the only player he reminds me of is Ostertag.

  • J

    evan turner.

  • http://www.euroleagueadventures.com Nick Gibson

    First of all, nice piece Jeff. Nobody’s ever going to agree on these sort of things. This year’s draft choices are going to be made more circumstantially than ever because of the sorts of talents in the top 10/15. You put Wes Johnson on a bad team and he’s Corey Brewer, a good one and he’s Marion-lite (The Matrix: Reloaded). And there are certainly teams that couldn’t fit Cole Aldrich into the mix while others would kill for him. And I think Ed Davis might be the last “Ed Davis,” in that players with athleticism/wingspan and no muscle or technical skills will start falling by the wayside. The Brandan Wrights and Tyrus Thomases of the world need to step it up in the next generation of draftees.

  • therighttoremainsalient

    Ed Davis doesn’t need to worry – he’ll drop to top 27th, get taken by SPURS and just learn from the greatest PF of all time. Ian Mahinmi.

  • http://deleted Tyler Whitcomb

    Very true Nick Gibson!

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    I was high on Hassan Whiteside until I learned how old the dude was… I dunno, I know he’s an uber athlete, but he should be way farther along on his game.
    jarrett: Evan ain’t a third of the defender Pippen was…

  • jarrett

    I don’t think that pippen was known for his great defense in college… only time will tell if Turner can become a great defender as well. I’m just looking at the size and offensive skill set as far as Turner being comparable to Pippen. I just think that because Turner is 6’7,6’8 he a little bit more versatile than broy…. if not definitely a different skill set.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    jarret: You’re probably right, I didn’t follow the NCAA back then so I don’t really remember Pippen in college

  • Rashid

    I taste a lot like the team was Greivis Vasquez shoulder in the Maryland game against Michigan St in 2nd round NBA they showed his bearing too think it should be chosen in a better position in the draft.

  • http://Aldrich10? JGTBH

    Anyone picking Cole over Ekpe Udoh will end up regretting that decision. Udoh is going to continue to get better…Aldrich has topped out.

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