1998 Senior Prospects

1. Michael Olowokandi (Pacific) 7-0/265 *He's put up both big numbers in rebounding (11.1) and scoring (21.8), but it might not be enough. If he played at Georgetown he'd be a lock at number one, but will have to settle for being picked 2 or 3. He is the only true center in this draft that can help out an NBA team. He's young and only getting better, as he has demonstrated in private workouts with NBA teams.
2. Raef Lafrentz (Kansas) 6-11/240 *His numbers are solid for a top pick: 19.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game...and 54% from the floor. He'll be a very good and versatile post player. He probably won't be number one, but will be a steal at 2 or 3 or 4. He's my number one player in this draft, with more potential than the rest...in my opinion...only time will tell.

   Other Possible First Rounders

3. Michael Dickerson (Arizona) 6-5/190 *Earlier in the year, it was hard to tell which Arizona OG was better, but following the NCAA Tourney, Simon's stock slipped while Michael has had good pre-draft workouts. He shoots over 40% from behind the 3 point line and averages 18 points. He was a Third Team All-American, and named to the Nike All-Tournament Team. I have him in the 11-14 range, cause Detroit likes him and Houston will not pass on him...guaranteed.
4. Keon Clark (UNLV) 6-11/220 *He'll be a risk, due to his suspension, but someone will take him as a high risk....he also lookied promising at the Nike Desert Classic and should stay in the lottery.
5. Pat Garrity (Notre Dame) 6-9/230 *This Consensus Second Team All-American is versatile, being able to score (18.8 points over his 4 year career and 23.2 as a senior), rebound (7.0 over his career) and hit the 3 pointer. Someone's gonna call him the next Larry Bird/Tom Gugliotta/Austin Croshere....but not me.
6. Mike Doleac (Utah) 6-11/269 *He's solid and has a scorer's touch from inside and out and averages 16 points and 7 boards. He should be in the 9-20 range.
7. Bonzi Wells (Ball State) 6-5/210 *Small program...big stats....he averaged 21.4 points per game over his college career. Some people are saying lottery....we'll wait and see.
8. Brian Skinner (Baylor) 6-10/240 *He can score (18 ppg), rebound (9.5 rpg), block shots (3.5 BlkPG) and play either PF or C. I think he's one of the most underrated in this class and should have a solid NBA career. His stock is improving as he had one of the best showings at the Chicago Camp. Doesn't he look a little like Horace Grant, both in game and in appearance?
9. Ansu Sesay (Miss) 6-9/220 *He could be the best senior SF prospect, at least in the standard NBA mold. He averaged 18.6 per game and 7.6 rebounds as a senior. He hasn't gone to a camp yet, and that will hurt him. If he doesn't go to Houston with one of their 3 picks, he could slide a long way.
10. Matt Harpring (GA Tech) 6-7/226 *He's a slider and will struggle to stay in the first round, but still should. He's had a solid career from the forward slot, averaging 17.9 points over 4 years, including 21.9 as a senior. He threw in 9.4 boards per game last year too....that makes him better than those 2 UCLA swingmen prospects.
11. Bryce Drew (Valparaiso) 6-3/185 *He's on the verge of skyrocketing upwards after his showing at the tourney (you knew who he was before...right?) All of a sudden he's one of the top 5 PGs in the draft, too. He's almost certainly a first rounder, after a standout Chicago Camp and a solid four year career, including averaging almost 20 points his last 2 years in college.
12. Miles Simon (Arizona) 6-5/200 *He doesn't shoot as well as Dickerson, but his all-around game is better. As a senior he averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Interest in him has fallen off of late, and he hadn't played at a pre-draft camp, until Chicago, where he didn't distinguish himself. Remember the slide that Brevin Knight took last year....remember how well he played as a rookie...just something to think about...that's all.
13. Brad Miller (Purdue) 6-11/240 *He probably won't play center, but is one of the better PF prospects. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds as a senior. He should go in the 20+ range.
14. Roshown McLeod (Duke) 6-8/220 *His stats were not impressive but teams will probably think he can play in the NBA. His well-rounded game and Duke's tough schedule and deep team will benefit him.
15. Felipe Lopez (St. John's) 6-6/190 *He's shown that his 4 year career is not a fluke by doing well in post-season events, making him a possible first rounder and certain high second rounder.
    
16. JR Henderson (UCLA) 6-9/223 *He's a little small, but a solid rebounding prospect at SF averaging 7.8 per game, along with 19.0 points as a senior.
17. Toby Bailey (UCLA) 6-5/205 *Toby is an enigma and could go anywhere in the first or second round. He doesn't have an impressive outside shot, has had difficulty with free throws in his career, but still has all-around skills, although he has trouble handling the ball...see what I mean.
18. Ruben Patterson (Cincinnati) 6-6/225 *He's had some impressive workouts and pre-draft camps, increasing his stock quite a bit....all the way into the first round.
19. Cory Carr (Texas Tech) 6-4/200 *He might have gone higher last year if he had not withdrawn at the last minute. Nevertheless, he's a solid prospect, and could be taken in the first round, although I have him in the early second.
20. Casey Shaw (Toledo) 6-11/260 *With a lack of big men at the bottom of this draft, Casey moves up by default. Someone might reach down and grab him late in the first.
21. Andrae Patterson (Indiana) 6-8/240 *After a good showing in Phoenix, he decided to skip the Chicago camp, which could hurt him as teams forget about him. Some scouts think he's a late first rounder, I don't....he'll go in the second.
22. Sam Jacobson (Minnesota) 6-6/210 *He's pretty much a lock at getting drafted, now. Some scouts even say first round.
23. DeMarco Johnson (UNC-Charlotte) 6-8/245 *I think he'll go lower than he deserves...unless he helped himself at the camps....which he didn't do. He averaged 21.1 points and 9 rebounds as a senior and he distinguished himself in UNC-C's short run in the tourney.
24. Charles Jones (Long Island) 6-3/180 *Absolutely incredible stats over 4 years...proving he can score and pass. As a junior he averaged 30.1 per and as a senior 29.0.
25. Shammond Williams (UNC) 6-2/180 *He could move up even higher as teams take a second look at him. He has proven that he is a scorer, doing well in the Chicago Camp, but teams still question if he can be a PG. These last three guys only have a slim chance at the first round.

    Second Round Probables

26. Clayton Shields (New Mexico) 6-8/210 *He's had a solid college career, but looks like a second rounder to me. He averaged 16.7 points as a senior.
27. Jeff Sheppard (Kentucky) 6-3/190 *The best player on a national championship team deserves some attention...right?
28. Bakari Hendrex (Gonzaga) 6-9/230 *He was named MVP of the Nike Desert Classic, almost assuring a second round pick.
29. Torraye Braggs (Xavier) 6-8/235 *He excelled at Portsmouth, earning an invitation to the Nike Desert Classic.
30. Alexander Koul (George Washington) 7-0/285 *His big body and solid college career will tempt somebody.
31. Ryan Bowen (Iowa) 6-9/220 *He's my surprise sleeper pick. I don't have him in my mock draft, but he could be a first round surprise by someone.
32. Tyrone Nesby (UNLV) 6-6/230 *He wowed at the Nike Desert Classic, has an exciting game and decent stats...he should be a solid second rounder.
33. Corey Brewer (Oklahoma) 6-1/190 *He's moved up to be the best of the rest in the PG department.
34. Jahidi White (Georgetown) 6-9/290 *He had a good showing at Chicago, although didn't put up solid numbers due to a variety of things...including injuries. Some are projecting him as a late second rounder...not me.
35. Saddi Washington (Western Michigan) 6-3/165 *He's had some good post-season work and is kind of a sleeper favorite.
36. Sean Marks (California) 6-10/250 *He played in the US, but is a native of New Zealand. He got looks at the Nike camp, and could end up being a late second rounder.
37. Tyson Wheeler (Rhode Island) 5-10/165 *His stock is rising and he's got a shot at being drafted if a team is looking for a playmaker.
38. Zendon Hamilton (St. John's) 6-11/241 *He's got his height going for him, but I don't think he can make an NBA squad.
39. Anthony Carter (Hawaii) 6-1/185 *Almost 8 assists per game isn't bad...although his production kinda disappeared and he had a bad Phoenix Camp, not to mention a non-existant Chicago performance due to an injury which will require surgery...he's just about played himself out of this thing.
40. Mike Jones (TCU) 6-3/210 *He's hurt himself in the camps and there is the question if he can play PG, but he is a scoring/passing machine.

    Second Round Long Shots

41. Norman Nolan (Virginia) 6-8/240
42. Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan) 5-5/140
43. Jeremy Veal (Arizona State) 6-3/185
44. Avondre Jones (Fresno State) 6-11/225 *He's big...and he played for Tark so he could have a B.A...maybe it'll work.
45. Malcolm Johnson (TCU) 6-4/195
46. Marcus Saxon (Utah State) 6-2/195
47. Steve Wojciechowski (Duke) 5-11/170
48. Corey Louis (Florida State) 6-9/225
49. Bobby Brannen (Cincinnati) 6-7/260
50. Melvin Watson (South Carolina) 6-1/200
51. Steve Goodrich (Princeton) 6-10/220

Foreign Prospects

1. Mirsad Turkcan (Turkey) 6-9/230 lbs/21 yrs old *Other than Dirk, he's the only foreign prospect who is probably a first rounder, although I still see him in the early second.
2. Radisav Nesterovic (Slovenia) 7-1/245 lbs/21 yrs old *He's the top big man foreign prospect, being able to step up and play center in the NBA. If someone needs help bad enough they might spend a first round pick on him. Unfortunately, he's under contract in Europe. As rumors are going now, someone will take him in the first.
3. Vladimir Stepanija (Georgia) 7-0/240 21 yrs old *He has potential, and probably will get drafted, but he's still under contract in Europe.
4. Simon Dwight (Australia) 6-8/220 22 ys old *His stock is rising of late and now should get drafted.
5. Sam MacKinnon (Australia) 6-6/223 21 yrs old *The only problem with him being a high pick is that he plays the swing position, which is deep in this draft. He will be able to play in the NBA, considering the Australian team relies on him more than they did on Anstey a year ago.
6. Carlos Jimenez (Spain) 6-8/21 yrs old
7. Josip Sesar (Croatia) 6-5/19 yrs old