But life goes on, and so does our unveiling of the 2010 NBA Draft Blue Board.
1. John Wall, PG, Kentucky
The consensus #1 player in the draft. Has potential to become a transcendent star on and off the court. Kentucky fans want him to become for UK what MJ is for UNC.
2. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky
Attitude, shmatitude ... Cousins will be an all-star center in a couple of years -- especially if he ends up in the West. Cousins has elite size and elite skill, which is a very elite thing to claim. Plus, he's nasty.
3. Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
A better athlete than Cousins, but raw and not as big. He could become the next Amare Stoudemire, but he has a long way to go on his perimeter game if he's going to get there.
4. Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State
A terrific ball handler for his size, and a crafty scorer despite not being a very good shooter. I'm curious to see how such a lithe fellow without a consistent jumper will hold up in the NBA. Turner needs to either improve his outside shot or add some bulk.
5. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
Has a streaky jumper, but is terrific at just about everything else. Has the potential to become a defensive stopper in the NBA, and he should be able to rebound at a high level for a SF.
6. Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse
An excellent leaper and three point shooter who likes to run. I think he is a perfect match for the Warriors, so we'll see if he ends up playing for Nelly. I'm not sure he will be able to create his own shot at the next level, so he would benefit from playing in and up-and-down system.
7. Greg Monroe, C, Georgetown
Has good size and very good skill for a big. Is an excellent passer. Needs to learn to play the low post as well as he does the high post.
8. Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler
Former tennis player is a gamer. Can extend the defense with his perimeter shooting or take it to the rim off the dribble. Showed in the NCAA Tournament that he can be an excellent defender.
9. Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada
Has everything you want in an offensive-minded SF, but he struggles on defense due to his lack of lateral quickness. Will he be more like Chris Mullins or Adam Morrison?
10. Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
Has good enough size, but is also long and athletic. Really improved his perimeter game last year at Kentucky, and already has an excellent low-post game. Shows good effort on defense, but just isn't that good at it.
11. Avery Bradley, PG/SG, Texas
I'm afraid to put Bradley this low, but I'm also afraid to put him this high. I'm really not sure how he'll do in the NBA, but he is a terrific athlete and will, at the least, be a spark off the bench who can lock down on defense.
12. Xavier Henry, SG/SF, Kansas
Smooth player who is more athletic than he appears, a la Paul Pierce. Has good height and bulk for a perimeter player, and he can stroke the three. If he played with more aggression, then I'd have him in the top ten.
13. Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
Doesn't have terrific size for a post player, but is very athletic and long. A reliable 15-18 foot jumper would serve him well. Has the potential to be a top shot blocker.
14. Daniel Orton, PF/C, Kentucky
Played sparingly last year at Kentucky behind Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson, but Orton is an elite-level shot blocker and has excellent bulk and length. Despite his underwhelming numbers last season, he should be drafted early due to his potential to be able to defend the other team's best post player without help.
15. Paul George, SG/SF, Fresno State
Terrific size and athleticism, but has never been able to put it all together. He supposedly has a great stroke, but he tends to leave it in the practice gym. He might come along slowly like Trevor Ariza, but eventually become a nice starting wing.
16. James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State
Anderson can flat-out score. He can shoot the lights out, but is also capable of taking it to the hole. I'm not sure he will hold up on the defensive end, but as far as scorers go, he's probably the best in the draft. He reminds me of a taller Jodie Meeks.
17. Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
He will be a big body down low who can swat shots, but I'm not sold on him being an above-average starting center. He has a funny looking jumper, but he can knock them down from mid range.
18. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky
I think it's funny how people call Bledsoe a combo guard, just because he played alongside John Wall at Kentucky. Make no mistake, Bledsoe will be a PG in the league, and a PG only.
19. Ekpe Udoh, PF/C, Baylor
Udoh needs to add some bulk, but he is fairly skilled and can block shots. I wonder how he will do in man-to-man situations, though, and he can't camp out in the lane like he did at Baylor where he played in a 2-3. I think Udoh will be somewhat of a project.
20. Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, Marshall
Whiteside could end up being a top five player in this class, but it won't be anytime soon. Like Cousins, many think that Whiteside has some maturity issues. He is also very skinny, so he will need to bulk up if he's going to become an effective NBA-level post player.
21. Damion James, SF, Texas
James reminds me of a bigger version of Sam Young. Last year, Young fell all the way to the second round, despite having elite level athleticism, competitiveness, and being ready to contribute right away. The same thing could happen to James this year because he lacks a consistent jumper. I have a hunch that James will be one of the top rookies this year.
22. Larry Sanders, PF, VCU
Sanders is a project, but he is loaded with potential. He moves like a SF, but has the body of a PF. He's supposedly a shot blocking master, too.
23. Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington
Like so many other prospects, he has everything you want except for a consistent jumper. Pondexter will be a steal if he falls to round two.
24. Lance Stephenson, SF, Cincinnati
The New York all time leading scorer in high school, Stephenson can ball, yo. Too bad he has character issues. I think he could have been a top ten pick if he returned to school, but school was just not enough fun.
25. Willie Warren, PG/SG, Oklahoma
Warren has the talent to be a lottery pick, but he's kind of a punk. If he can screw his head on straight, then he could become a Ben Gordon-type.
26. Terrico White, PG/SG, Mississippi
Terrico is a sick athlete with some nice skills. I wouldn't be surprised to see him drafted by his hometown team, the Grizzlies, and perhaps usurp Mike Conley as the starting PG.
27. Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia
Like Aminu, has the size, athleticism, and length to become a shut-down defender. Needs work on his shot, but he is a quick leaper who should be a terrific rebounder at the next level.
28. Dominique Jones, SG, South Florida
Jones can fill it up, but is he undersized to be a starting SG in the NBA? He will have to prove that he can guard if he wants to be more than a spark off the bench.
29. Kevin Seraphin, PF, France
I've seen Seraphin play once, I think, in last year's Nike Hoops Summit, but he supposedly belongs in the first round, so here ya go.
30. Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier
Two reasons why Crawford is included: First, he can fill it up in the clutch, as evidenced in the NCAA Tourney. Second, he is former Kentucky Wildcat, Joe Crawford's little brother. Crawford has "guy who doesn't play at all in game five of the playoffs, but comes in game six in a crunch and drops 20 as he leads his team to the series-clinching victory" written all over him. I can't wait to see him play.
Just missed the cut: Gani Lawal, Tiny Gallon, Jarvis Varnado, Solomon Alabi, Armon Johnson, Elliot Williams, Craig Brackins, Trevor Booker
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