Pac-10 Conference: Top NBA ProspectsBy:

 

By Michael DeStefano


Top 5 Prospects:

UCLA has dominated the Pac-10 for a while now, having been to three consecutive
Final Fours. Tim Floyd landed another stud recruiting class as USC looks to
take another step forward while Arizona was poised for a return to prominence
before Brandon Jennings went abroad. Although not as deep as some of the other
conferences in terms of the number of quality players, the Pac-10 is at the
top in terms of potential lottery picks and NBA stars.

	James Harden

1. James Harden (Arizona
   State) – Harden’s stellar freshman campaign went largely unnoticed
   by the rest of the country as he played in the shadow of fellow newcomers
   Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and the Pac-10’s own OJ Mayo, Kevin Love,
   and Jerryd Bayless. Despite the lack of national attention, you can bet that the
   Pac-10 took notice, with Harden putting up 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists,
   and 2 steals per game on 53% shooting (41% from 3.) He’s the best shooting
   guard prospect in the nation, a bit of a throwback in the way he uses fundamentals
   and intelligence to beat his opponent more often than flash and athleticism. He’s
   great finishing around the basket (he needs
   to improve his right hand, however). He’s a good jump shooter but needs
   to work on his ability to hit consistently off the dribble. He’s a solid
   defender, but not a standout. One of the youngest players in his class, Harden
   is still learning and improving. He’ll likely be a top five pick in June, and possibly the
   first shooting guard off the board.

2. Demar Derozan
   (USC) – Prediction: He’ll be the best NBA player of anyone
   on this list. Not the #1 prospect because he’s yet to prove anything
   at this level, it’s only a matter of time before the world knows Derozan’s
   name. He’s drawn comparisons to Vince Carter
   due to his outstanding athleticism and jump shot. His body is NBA ready, and
   jumping ability aside, he’s also got a quick first step and great body
   control when finishing at the rim. His handle is good, though his one-on-one
   defense is still questionable, his athleticism enables him to block shots
   and jump passing lanes for easy steals. Derozan is a surefire one-and-done.
   The biggest knock on him is that he sometimes goes through the motions;
   hence, the Carter comparison – but if he can play inspired basketball
   for Tim Floyd and sustain a high level of play all season, he could be a top
   three pick.

3. Jrue Holiday (UCLA)
   – Another one of the top freshman in the country, Holiday joins a loaded
   UCLA backcourt in the hopes of leading them to a fourth consecutive Final
   Four. Where Derozan’s heart has come into question, Holiday’s
   is one of his greatest strengths. He’s got a great work ethic and attitude
   to go along with his talent and versatility. He’s athletic (though not
   on Derozan’s level) and exhibits good fundamentals on the court. His
   jump shot is solid out to the college line, he’s got a mid-range game,
   and he can get to the basket and finish well. A combo guard, Holiday can also
   run a team and make the players around him better. The combo guard label had
   been a negative thing in the past, but with the success of players like Dwyane
   Wade, Monta Ellis, Louis Williams, and Rodney Stuckey, guys who can play at
   both backcourt positions have become valuable commodities. While Holiday needs
   to continue to hone his point guard skills, he’s the best combo the
   college ranks has to offer. A one-and-done possibility if he has a great year
   at UCLA, Holiday is more likely a top five pick in 2010.

4. Chase Budinger
   (Arizona) – Chase is back for his junior year at Arizona after passing
   on two drafts in which he could have been a first-round pick. Last year, he
   averaged 17 points and 5 rebounds per game. Jerryd Bayless left for the NBA
   and Brandon Jennings went to Europe, so although the Wildcats might struggle
   to win games, Chase will have the opportunity to put up big numbers and show
   he can be the man on this team. He’s got size, athleticism, and a strong
   work ethic to go along with his feathery jump shot. He won’t be the
   biggest name in the 2009 Draft but certainly should be a lottery pick and
   able to contribute right away in the NBA.

5. Darren Collison
   (UCLA) – Collison’s stock took a beating last year after getting
   dominated by Derrick Rose in the Final Four, but he is still a solid point
   guard who can run a team and play defense. Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee will
   help to relieve some of the pressure on Collison, but if he is not careful,
   he could be leapfrogged by the two talented freshmen in the UCLA backcourt. He
   needs to get much stronger to make a significant impact at the next level.
   It will take a great season, particularly in the tournament, for Collison
   to improve his stock, though he is still slated as a late first-round pick.

Others receiving consideration: Jordan
Hill (Arizona), Jeff
Pendergraph (ASU), Quincy
Pondexter (Washington), Jon
Brockman (Washington), Malcolm
Lee (UCLA), Jerime Anderson
(UCLA)

Sleeper: Patrick
Christopher (California) – The Pac-10 has no newcomers that will take you
by surprise; everyone expects great things from the freshman in this conference.
But Patrick Christopher is a name that college basketball fans around the country
might not know despite the fact that he averaged over 15 points per game last
year as a sophomore for the Golden Bears. Ryan Anderson and Devon Hardin are
gone, so this is Christopher’s team; look for his production to increase
significantly. His draft stock is still considerably low seeing as how he is
somewhat of an unknown, but a season with solid numbers in the Pac-10 should
put him on the map in the eyes of fans and NBA scouts alike. He needs to improve
his outside shooting, become more consistent finishing around the basket, and
produce better in other areas besides scoring.