| | Over the next five months, ESPN.com will be charting the progress of potential NBA draft picks through conversations with scouts, GMs and college coaches.
The lists are broken down by position, with the following categories: lottery locks, something to prove (to lock up a spot in the first round), sleepers (to get draft attention) and underclassmen (only those who have made overtures about possibly leaving or those who are high on scouts' lists should they go). As players develop, we'll add a newcomer list as NBA scouts and general managers turn their attention to new targets.
The first round will likely include three to five foreign players, who we'll check in on as the draft nears. The list will also change during the three predraft camps -- Portsmouth (Va.), Phoenix and Chicago -- before the draft takes place June 28 in Minneapolis.
Lottery locks
Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Michigan State: Cleaves' return from an injury
won't dampen his draft status. He still has the smarts for the position at
the next level.
Ed Cota, 6-1, North Carolina: He's on the fringe of this group. He
still needs to be more assertive in college. But he can hit the outside shot when he
decides to take it, and his leadership weighs heavily in his favor.
Something to prove
Scoonie Penn, 5-10, Ohio State: Penn's shooting is down this season
and his size doesn't help him in the NBA. But he's a winner.
Eddie House, 6-1, Arizona State: No one is questioning his ability
to score. But where does he play in the NBA? He'll probably have to handle
the ball. Remember, scorers aren't always taken high in the draft.
Michael Jordan, 6-l, Penn: He can beat players off the dribble but he's not
having the banner season as expected. Matt Maloney made it from Penn, so why
not Jordan?
Doc Robinson, 6-2, Auburn: Robinson's recent shooting display
against Kentucky helped his cause. He's improved each season and that
will certainly give him a chance to be picked in the first round.
Pepe Sanchez, 6-4, Temple: He's not quick. He's not the best
shooter. But Sanchez can run a team as well as any point guard. Like Andre
Miller a year ago, whichever team picks him will get a player who doesn't need to be coached.
Matt Santangelo, 6-1, Gonzaga: Poor shooting has hurt his stock this
season. But he did shoot well for the U.S. World University Games team,
which gives him a chance for the first round. He needs a good
second-half of the season.
Sleeper
Rob Dye, 6-1, Bradley: The Braves have struggled but Dye has been a
constant scorer. Lack of size hurts him but he could be a sleeper in the spring.
Underclassmen
Khalid El-Amin, 5-10, Jr., Connecticut: If El-Amin comes out, he's a
lock for the lottery. Forget about his size and weight (which doesn't look as
bad lately) -- El-Amin has a sense for the game that other point guards don't
and he's shooting the ball as well as he ever has in his career.
Erick Barkley, 6-1, Soph., St. John's: The Red Storm's coaching staff told ESPN.com that it doesn't expect Barkley to leave. But it's still a possibility if he goes on a tear in the tournament. An injury to his knee, which sidelined him for a short time this season, could keep him in school another year.
Frank Williams, 6-3, Soph., Illinois: He's been erratic this season
and that's why he shouldn't consider leaving. Williams has had some big
shots but still is finding his way at the position.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mateen Cleeves knocks down his first shot of the season.
avi: 510 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ed Cota's desperation shot beats the buzzer to end the first half.
avi: 1011 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Scoonie Penn finishes the break for the Buckeyes.
avi: 734 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Doc Robinson drains the tie-breaking 3-pointer.
avi: 567 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Khalid El-Amin floats up an easy ally-oop to Edmund Saunders.
avi: 497 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Erick Barkley hits the runner in the lane.
avi: 535 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Frank Williams nails the long distance jumper.
avi: 632 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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