Centers - 1993 Usenet Draft
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Name: Shawn Bradley
College: BYU
Height: 7-7
Weight: 230
Position: Center
Other positions: Virtually anywhere in the frontcourt
Strengths: Height, shot-blocking, agility, ballhandling for a forward,
shooting ability, quickness
Weakness: Weight too low, lack of experience, generally an unknown quantity
Poop:
Shawn Bradley is one of those mystery players that can make a draft
so interesting. Highly touted in high school, he put up great numbers
as a freshman at BYU, especially in shot blocking, something he does
with great grace and little exertion. He then took two years off on
his religious mission in Australia, and decided to come out early,
presumably to beat the pending rookie salary cap. Bradley might
either be a franchise player that could dominate the NBA or just
another Manute Bol-like oddity--that's what makes drafting him such a
difficult decision.
What is known about him is that he gained 30 pounds while in
Australia. He still needs at least another 20-30 pounds before he can
legitimately bang around in the NBA, but 230 isn't that much lighter
than a number of post players in the pros. Still, one wonders what
someone huge like Shaq might do to him. His strength and stamina will
also be big factors considering a two-year layoff where he played no
ball at all.
Bradley does a number of things well. He knows how to take full
advantage of his height, knowing that he only needs to get decent
position to block a shot. Having Bradley in the middle will change
entire team's offenses once they see that he'll swat away a lot of
what comes into him. He is a good rebounder, but will need some beef
to be able to muscle out most pros. He is a very good ballhandler for
his size and a good passer. He also is a decent shooter, but will
need to add a consistent hook shot to really be effective.
The other important thing about Bradley is that it make take some
time for him to develop. If a team needs an immediate impact player
on the post, Bradley may not be your man. But if you have someone
semi-decent inside, or perhaps an aging center, take Bradley. He is a
likely top-five pick.
Scout: Rob Clough
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Name: Luther Wright
College: Seton Hall
Height: 7'2"
Position: Center
Other Positions: none
Stengths: Strength, Size, Shot-Blocking, Rebounding, Defense
Weaknesses: Mental attitude, weak offensive game, concerns about weight
Poop:
They say that in the NBA, you can't win without a good big man. Well,
Luther Wright is certainly big, if nothing else. At 7'2" and about 285
lbs., mostly muscle, Luther is an awesome physical specimen. However,
this is something of a turnaround from his first year of playing at
Seton Hall (he was a Prop 48 victim as a freshman, and has only played
for two years). Last year, Luther was so fat that coach PJ Carlessimo
was afraid to play him for any long period of time, so the Hall was
stuck with 6'7" Jerry Walker in the middle. Over the summer, Walker
told Luther to get his act together so that Walker would have a chance
to spend a year showing NBA scouts that he could play power forward.
Luther obliged, and when he unsuited for the first game of the season,
the crowd was stunned. There was barely a trace of fat on him. The
question remains as to whether or not he can stay slim. At times this
past year, Luther used his newfound physique to great advantage,
blocking the hell out of opponents' shots; being a terror on the
boards, not allowing layups. Unfortunately, he very rarely had the
concentration to do this for a whole game. The only game where he
played consistently throughout was against North Carolina, where he
terrorized Eric Montross for much of the game. There has been
speculation that Luther simply gets up for the good centers, and that
Montross was the only good one that he played all year, so he might be
able to put out a consistent effort in the NBA, but don't bank on it.
He does have tremendous skills on defense - his timing on his blocks
is superb, and he knows exactly how to use that big body to box out
and get rebounds. His offensive game is far more rudimentary; think of
Shaquille O'Neal, but with even less range. Luther's dunks are a
wonder to behold (he might bring down even more backboards than Shaq),
but that's about the only shot he can make. Someone will definitely
take a chance on Luther, if only because there's such a lack of true
big men in the NBA, but he would have been better served staying at
Seton Hall for another year, where the team would have featured him
more on defense (and possibly on offense, if Carlessimo had been able
to get him to work on his shot). As of right now, Luther is probably
not mature enough to play in the NBA. Then again, people said the
exact same thing about Stanley Roberts, and he turned out to be not
half-bad.
Scout: Alan Sepinwall
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Name: Acie Earl
College: Iowa
Height: 6'10"
Position: Center
Other possibility: Power Forward
Strengths: Shot-blocking, Shooting, Rebounding
Weaknesses: Outside Shot, Mobility, Agility, Strength, Shot selection.
Poop:
Earl is one of the NCAA's all-time shot blockers. His interior
defense could provide immediate help to an NBA team. But I wonder if
he'll get stuck at Power Forward. I think he could be used as a
center, and this IMHO is where Acie Earl feels more comfortable. But
will he develop a solid, back-to-the- basket game? If not he will
need to find a perimeter game as a Power Forward, something that he
never seemed to have at Iowa.
Scout: Doug Mraz
More Poop:
Acie Earl is an effective scorer in the low post when playing against
individuals of similar or smaller body dimensions. He is the all time
leading shot blocker at Iowa and has been the key to Tom Davis full
court press for the last 3 years. He is generally able to convert
when he gets the ball in an effective position, but is not very good
at creating. Acie plays pretty good defense, but tends to rely on
intimidating or blocking shots rather than aggressive in your face
defense. He has exceptionally soft hands for a big man. When
motivated he is a very difficult player to defend with a single
player. His game tends to look a little lazy, but that could be more
a reflection on his athleticism than his heart.
Scout: Walt Maley
More Poop:
Besides his shotblocking presence, Earl's major strength is his
ability to avoid foul trouble. He only fouled out of one game at Iowa
(his freshman year) and he rarely got into trouble during the Big Ten
season. You could call rebounding a strength too. There were debates
about his rebounding ability on the net, but the fact was that after
the death of Chris Street Acie's rebounding picked up dramatically,
finishing second in the Big Ten to Chris Webber by only a few boards.
He had few assists at Iowa, but impressed a few scouts during the
tournament with his passing game. Inexplicably, I believe he holds the
school record for steals in a game.
Earl will never have an effective 20 foot game in the NBA, but it
seems almost unfair to call his outside shot a weakness. One of the
most effective parts of his game is an ugly but effective fallaway
jumper from the low post, showing an extremely soft touch for a big
man. It works well from 10-15 feet but too many times I would see
Earl try a desperation heave from 19-9 with the clock winding down
(their upset at Bloomington in '91 comes to mind). I doubt that he'll
be called on to do that in the pros. True, this type of shot is more
sufficient for an NBA center than a power forward, which may explain
Acie's desire to stay in the middle. Also the fallaway was effective
in college but he may have problems trying that shot against Shaquille
or Alonzo.
His effectiveness in the paint is by no means a certainty in the NBA.
The Big Ten was generally filled with teams that couldn't contain his
inside game, but Rodney Rogers and the rest of Wake Forest slowed him
down quite a bit for much of their NCAA second round tilt.
Attitude should not be much of a problem. He was somewhat
excitable his first two years, but his disciplined style of play and
his ability to take his game up a notch after Street's death should
dispel doubts about that.
Scout: Brian Van Dorn
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Name: Ervin Johnson
College: New Orleans
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 243
Position: Center
Other Positions: Power Forward
Strengths: shot-blocking, scoring, rebounding, work ethic
Weaknesses: needs work in inside moves, age (was 25 in December)
Poop:
Unlike the "other" Ervin Johnson, this one is a inside post player
that relies on his rebounding skills and shot-blocking to help his
team. Hardly an overnight success, Johnson is one of the more
remarkable succuess stories around. Johnson quit his HS team and
went to work in a grocery store after graduating, then he grew
over 6 inches found a school who would take a chance on him. Johnson
(who was redshirted as a freshman) has shown great improvement in
each of his four years. He is an excellent rebounder, shotblocker
and has some nice moves (and a nice touch). He also runs the floor
pretty good. A sure first rounder.
Scout: Craig Simpson
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Name: Ed Stokes
Height: 7'0"
College: Arizona
Position: center
Other Positions: Power Forward
Strengths: Size, Height, Defensive presence
Weaknesses: Slow, Lacks aggressiveness, Poor footwork in post
Poop:
Stokes has shown little improvement in his game since
displaying good promise as a freshman. Although building
up an NBA type physique the past few years, his game is light
years away from being NBA quality. At Arizona, Ed would disappear
for very long stretches, which must have frustrated the hell
out of Lute Olson and the Arizona fans.
On the defensive side of the court, Ed does provide
a presence in the half court set and is able to establish
good position in the post. However, they should call this
guy the real Gumby, cause by the way he jumps you would
swear GUM-BE stuck to the bottom of his shoes. He blocks
very few shots for a seven footer, and even more troubling
is the few number of tough rebounds he comes up with. I
believe this is due more to a lack of a quick jump, instead
of lack of desire. Also, It was troubling the number of times
this guy would get beat buy quicker guys who were only 6'6"-
6'8". I can only imagine how ugly it will be when the guys
are 6'10"- and quicker.
Stoke's offensive game makes his defensive game look
dominating. I mean this guy has the worst footwork I have
seen in the post since I don't know when. In addition, his
range from the field is oh- about nine inches. The only way
he'll be able to help a team in its half court set is by setting
picks. Finally, unlike Mills, he is extremely slow and has
not shown ability to fill the lanes.
IMHO Stokes is definately not ready for the NBA at this
time. He is a project pick that will take at least three years
to develop, if he is going to develop at all. The thing he has
going for him is that big 7' frame, and that can't be coached.
So I would not recommend drafting this guy until the second
round because the only thing he will offer in his first year
is a little potential and six fouls to give when your team
plays agianst an elite center.
Scout: Jason Shachat
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Name: Richard Manning
School: Washington
Height: 6-10 (6-11??)
Position: center
Other Possible Spots: power forward
Strengths: low post offense, medium range shooting, free throw shooting
Weaknesses: dribbling, passing
Poop:
Manning was first team All Pac Ten each of the last two years.
He averaged about 18 ppg and 9.5 rpg during the 1992-3 year.
As the main offense on a fairly average team, Manning was able
to score even against fairly heralded opponents such as Scott
Haskin (Oregon State), Ed Stokes (Arizona), and Brent Scott (Rice)
while holding them down fairly effectively. He is an above average
defensive player, but may not have the strength to keep the likes
of Shaq, Robinson, and Ewing off of the blocks (despite his 250
lb muscular frame). He is an excellent jump shooter and easily has
range to 17 feet although he didn't shoot many three point shots.
He has a tremendous work ethic and likes to practice hard. He's
likely headed for a career as a 10-15 minutes per game center off
of the bench, but could develop if placed in the right system.
Likely late first round to mid second round pick depending on
team needs.
Other info: Rich Manning slipped somewhat in the pre draft combines
held last week. As things stand, he may be a mid to late second
rounder rather than late first to early second rounder.
Scout: Cliff Slaughterbeck
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Name: Scott Haskin
School: Oregon State University
Height: 6-11
Position: center
Other Possible Spots: power forward
Strengths: low post offense, medium range shooting, free throw shooting,
shot blocking
Weaknesses: avoids physical play on occasion
Poop:
Scott Haskin should do well in the NBA, since as the main offensive
threat of the Beavers his numbers in college reflect constant double and
triple teaming. Has range in the 10-15 foot range easily, and has a nice
hook shot going either direction. Good free throw shooting, set school
record in blocks. Consistency was at times an issue. Was heavily scouted
by the pros his senior year. Most liked what he did with the ball after
the entry pass, going straight up with it instead of fooling around. His
250 lbs will not be enough to deal with the top centers in the league, so
he may make a better forward than center.
Low first round, early second round unless he does something to
improve his stock between here and there.
Scout: Rajeev K. Pandey
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Name: Mike Peplowski
School: Michigan State
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 270
Position: center
Other Possible Spots: none
Strengths: strength, size, physical play
Weaknesses: no outside game, slow feet, unrefined
Poop:
Peplowski is coming off a decent senior year which saw him score 14
ppg, and grab 10 rpg. His role in the Spartan offense was expanded,
and you saw Mike taking a greater variety of shots from the post. This
carries on a tendency on his part to improve his game each year. He
continued to play hard-nosed ball, giving and taking plenty of
punishment. He gets rebounds by using his big body effectively, and
getting decent position.
In the expansion of his role, we may have seen the limitations which
will restrict Mike's success. He is not quick around the basket. If he
isn't in position, quick inside players can hurt him on the glass and
in the lane. He has shown no outside game at all. This may be more
Heathcote's doing than anything else, but a big guy has to be able to
hit the 10-15 footer if left open, especially if they are as limited
in the post as Mike is. Perhaps the ability and work habits which
have allowed him to expand his talents throughout school will enable
him to get past these shortcomings.
All in all, it seems Peplowski will be at best a late first round
pick, barring a miracle at the camps. With work, he can be a capable
reserve. Even with good habits, it could be CBA here I come...
Scout: Rob Skrobola
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Name: Spencer Cunkley
School: Delaware
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 230 lbs
Position: Center
Other Possible Spots: none
Strengths: Strength, Defense, Rebounding
Weaknesses: Offense, Raw
Poop:
Dunkley has been playing basketball for only 5 years, but has improved
each year he has played, since coming over to the states from England.
The "man in the middle" for the Blue Hens, he was a major force in
Delaware's 2 NCAA tourney appearances. Dunkley is a strong inside
player, who is a good defender and shot blocker, and an excellent
rebounder. While he did score a bit at Delaware, that was mostly
because he was able to take advantage of his size and strength on a
smaller school level. Otherwise, his offensive skills are very raw,
and his range is almost nil. He is, however, improving, and could be
a good project to take a gamble on in the 2nd round.
Scout: Jazzy J
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Name: Sascha Hupmann
School: Evansiville
Height: 7'1"
Weight: 252 lbs
Position: Center
Other Possible Spots: none
Strengths: defense, rebounding, shotblocking
Weaknesses: injuries (broke bone in foot twice), offense
Poop:
Hupmann is a German native who runs the floor well and can challenge
defenders' shots. While he needs to develop a more complete game,
some good overall tools make him a possible second-round choice.
Scout: Basketball Weekly via Craig Simpson
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Name: Geert Hammink
School: LSU
Height: 7'1"
Position: Center
Other Possible Spots: none
Strengths: Post scoring
Weaknesses: Soft, Slow, Defense
Poop:
After being Shaquille O'Neal's caddy for 2 seasons, Hammink came into
his own last season, and became a 1st-team All-SEC performer. That
either says he performed really well -- or shows U the weakness this
year at center in the SEC (probably the latter). Hammink is a good
scorer in the post, and possesses a great touch for a big man. He
has soft hands, and catches the ball well. However, Hammink lacks
athleticism, and is rather slow. He also is not a dominating
rebounder. He also is not an intimdator on defense, and hardly blocks
any shots. Weight has also been a problem at times for Geert. However,
he does work hard, and would be a big body on the end of the bench for
an NBA franchise. Definitely a project, look for him to be taken
somewhere in the 2nd round due to his size.
Scout: Jazzy J
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Name: Eric Riley
School: University of Michigan
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 220 lbs
Position: Center
Strengths: Shot-blocking, position defense, height, decent post-play,
Weaknesses: needs upper body strength, WEAK hands, slow feet
Poop:
Riley has played signifigant minutes for the Wolverines all 4
years of his college career. His minutes have dropped off since
the advent of Webber and Howard, but he has made a contribution.
He shows a lot of energy off the bench, and has often provided UM
with a big lift. On the bad side, his energy is sometimes
misdirected, and he picks up a lot of fouls.
His height, long arms, and good timing make him a valuable lane
presence, and decent rebounder. His post skills seem to
consist largely of a pretty quick turnaround jumper which he
takes going to his right. He rarely shoots facing up. He has
never shown a hook or any sort of drop step.
His defensive rebounding skills are ordinary at best, being
hampered by slow feet and weak hands. Strangely, he seems to
be a much more aggressive offensive rebounder, though much of
his success here comes against smaller opponents. His passing
and ballhandling skills are negligible.
Many of Riley's problems stem from poor hands and a weak upper
body. He has bulked up since coming to Michigan, so now he
doesn't get blown off the blocks on either end, but he still
has very poor hands. Finally, he is fairly slow getting up and
down the floor.
Given some of the players who have made it in the NBA, Riley
does have a chance to be a valuable reserve for a pro team.
Continued work with weights and on his post game will help,
but slowness and bad hands are tough to overcome.
Scout: Rob Skrobola
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Name: Matt Wenstrom
School: University of North Carolina
Height: 7'1"
Weight: 260 lbs
Position: Center
Strengths: size, strength, rebounding
Weaknesses: slow, limited offensively
Poop:
Matt's first two years did not go well at Carolina. He was slow, a
fact compounded by his poor footwork. Additionally, he had no
offensive game apart from dunking and was a fouling machine on
defense. He could rebound.
After a trip to Europe with an ACC All-Star team in the summer of
1991, Matt appeared to pick up some confidence. He came into practice
that year in better shape, with better footwork, and a right-handed
hook shot that was pretty darn consistent. He did much better in spot
work that season, including 22 points against Cornell.
This season, Matt's footwork and conditioning appeared to be very good
right from the beginning. Wenstrom moves down the court now very
well, almost quickly. He plays defense without fouling as much, has
improved his shot blocking, and has a short jumper to go along with
his hook shot.
One also cannot dismiss the fact that Wenstrom has banged against many
other tall players during his time on the Carolina pine. He has three
years against Montross and Salvadori and one year against Scott
Williams and Serge Zwikker. All of this practice time probably adds
up to much more time against quality big men than anyone else in the
draft.
So what will an NBA GM that drafts or signs Matt Wenstrom get? He'll
get a Carolina prepared player, which is a big plus right off of the
bat. He'll get a legitimate 7-foot center with some bulk. He'll get
a guy who's raw offensively (no left hand), but who does have the
ability to score. He'll get a guy who can box out and rebound. He'll
get a guy who can play a bit of defense and block some shots. And
he'll get a guy who's pretty durable. What he won't get is a NBA
superstar. He won't get a guy with a lot of game minutes. He won't
get a guy who's real smooth around the basket.
For a team looking for someone to bang against Shaq 5-10 times a year,
Matt would be a good choice. I'd certainly rate him to be as good as
Koncak or Kleine - possibly better. Whether or not I'd send him to
Europe or Australia for a year of seasoning is a call I can't make
right now. The game seasoning would probably help.
For this season, in limited minutes, Wenstrom was better than Montross
and Salvadori in rebounds per minute and was close to Montross in
points per minute.
I do know that for the donut teams in the league, you could do a lot
worse than to put Matt Wenstrom on your roster next season.
Projected: mid 2nd to free agent
Chances at being on NBA roster next season: 50%
Scout: Curtis Hill
Craig Simpson - Usenet Draft Commissioner