ADEDS 2013 NBA Draft Prospects: 'Getting Defensive?'

Overrated.

Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky. & Victor Oladipo, Guard, Indiana.

Noel can block shots but doesn't do much else at this point.

Both of these guys have the potential to be very good if they can ever learn to play offense.  Noel has been slated to be the top pick of this draft for over a year now, but did very little to solidify that in his one year in Lexington, as he struggled to develop any kind of low post game.  Oladipo has drawn the Tony Allen comparisons and rightfully so.  But does that type of player warrant a top five pick as most pundits have him projected as?

Underrated.

Shane Larkin, Guard, Miami (FL).
The primary player involved in the "U" being talked about more in basketball than football last season is ready for prime time.  Larkin is one of the most athletic players in this draft (44-inch vertical leap at 2013 NBA Draft Combine) and orchestrated the Miami offense mostly out of the pick-and-roll.  Strikes defenders with a quick first step and can penetrate to the basket or burry the outside shot using a devastating step back.  Low risk of the spotlight getting to his head as he's had to deal with it his whole life being the son of a guy whose name is in Cooperstown.

Myck Kabongo, Guard, Texas.
Quick, shifty, point guard that can get his own shot fairly easily in isolation   Inconsistent outside shot but always a threat to drive.  Has shown the ability to score in bunches in games, such as Feb. 28 when Texas hosted Oklahoma.  Kabongo led the Longhorns to a 22-point comeback win while scoring a  career-high 31 points with 28 of them coming in the second half and overtime.


We Could Have Something Here.

Len is a big man with coveted low post skills.

Alex Len, Center, Maryland.
Smooth offensively for a player that is still very raw.  Long arms with a slight build but doesn't shy away from contact.  Decent faceup game and can play with his back to the basket but needs to get better as a passer in that capacity.  Could possibly be a Roy Hibbert-type pivot man in the future.

Michael Carter-Williams, Guard, Syracuse.
Big point guards haven't faired well in the NBA in recent years (see Shaun Livingston) but Carter-Williams is trying to end that trend in 2013.  At 6-6 and with long arms, the Hamilton, MA native will be a pest on the defensive end for smaller point guards without question.  If he can develop a consistent jumpshot and take better care of the basketball, we could be looking at Anfernee Hardaway 2.0.



Gotta Have 'Em.

Ben McLemore, Guard, Kansas.
Played inconsistent basketball in his only year at Lawrence but there's no denying the raw ability McLemore owns.  He has top-of-the-square ups and the release on his jumpshot is very reminiscent of 2012 NBA Draft Lottery pick Bradley Beal's.  Has the quickness and strength to guard three positions.  Best case scenario: he's a slightly better version of Paul George.


Otto Porter, Jr., Forward, Georgetown.

Porter is clutch...and clutch is everything.

His stock took a big hit after the Hoyas lost to Florida Gulf Coast in the 1st round (2nd round?) of the NCAA Tournament, when many college basketball experts had him as a frontrunner for Naismith Player of the Year.  Despite not being able to help his team pull out the W that day, Porter is still a player with the potential for NBA stardom.  Learning offense in John Thompson's Princeton-style offense will help Porter transition easily to being a facilitator, but the kid can score if called upon, too.  He scored a career high 33 points against Syracuse Feb. 23.  Porter is also has a knack for coming through in the clutch.  He led Georgetown to a double overtime win over UConn earlier this year while making a play on every key offensive and defensive possession down the stretch. 

ADEDS NCAA Basketball Update 1-27-13: 'The Carter 1'

MCW's quickness and length make him a matchup nightmare at the 1.

The Big East has always been known for point guards that play with toughness, leadership, and a fearless flare in dramatic situations.  Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has coached against those types of players for over 30 years in the conference and has also had a few on his squad as well (see Pearl Washington, Sherman Douglas, Johnny Flynn).  That said, it's probably not surprising for Boeheim to see what sophomore Michael Carter-Williams is doing for the No. 3 Orange (18-2, 6-1 Big East ) as the starting point man this season.  But when you add in that Carter-Williams played so sparingly in is his first season at the 'Cuse (10.3 minutes per game compared to 33.6 this year), and the prospects of his size and ability at the point guard position at the next level (no disrespect to Reece Gaines of course), Boeheim and the rest of the Big East may be watching the most unique floor general to ever play in the conference.
Carter-Williams (12.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is currently tops in the nation in assists per game at 9.2 and fourth in steals per game at 3.1 (leads Big East).  His most memorable steals came Jan. 19 at Louisville when Syracuse was tied with the then-No. 1 Cardinals with less than 30 seconds left.  He finished off the theft with a breakaway jam that gave the Orange the lead, then sealed the game with another steal on L'ville's final possession.
Carter-Williams development has allowed Boeheim to play senior guard Brandon Triche off the ball more often, which has led to an increase in his scoring (leads team with 14.5 ppg, averaged 9.4 ppg last year).  Add in athletic forwards C.J. Fair and Rakeem Christmas, and the long range consistency of senior forward James Southerland (career high 13.6 ppg, 2.1 3pts made per game), and Boeheim has yet another squad that looks loaded and ready to take on any challengers in not only the Big East but the entire country.

ADEDS Player Watch:

McLemore is a possible No. 1 NBA Draft Lottery pick. 

F - Shabbazz Muhammad, Fr., UCLA
G - Trey Burke, So., Michigan
G - Ben McLemore, Fr., Kansas
G - Rasheed Sulaimon, Fr., Duke
C - Jeff Withey, Sr., Kansas
F - James McAdoo, So. UNC
G - Archie Goodwin, Fr., Kentucky
G - Mark Lyons, Sr., Arizona
C - Cody Zeller, So., Indiana
F - DeShaun Thomas, Jr., Ohio State
G - Sean Kilpatrick, Jr., Cincinnati
G - Phil Pressey, Jr., Missouri
F - Otto Porter, So., Georgetown
G - Dez Wells, So., Maryland
F - Lorenzo Brown, Jr., N.C. State
G - Shabbazz Napier, Jr., UConn
F - Jakarr Sampson, Fr., St. John's
F - Kenny Kadji, Sr., Miami (FL)