1999 Underclassmen Report
Complete List of Underclassmen Who
Have Declared Early
- Ron Artest (St. John's-sophomore) 6-7/246
*He's had
some mixed reviews and could really go anywhere from say 8-20. He was
named to the Third Team All-American. It was probably the right decision
to try the NBA, though. His best chance will be for a team to think he's
their shooting guard of the future. As a Sophomore he led St. John's
to the elite eight after averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.
- William Avery (Duke-sophomore) 6-2/185
He left school early
feeling he's a lottery pick, I'd have to concur, not seeing him falling
out of the top 13.
- Jonathan Bender (Picayune High School) 6-11/210
He can ride
Kobe's and Kevin's shirt-tails right into the lottery. The top of the
draft is weak enough that he is a gamble worth taking. As a senior in HS
he averaged 23.1 points and 15 rebounds per game.
- Carl Boyd (California-junior) 6-5/210
Elton Brand (Duke-sophomore)
6-8/275
*He was the college player of the year, but his stock is falling,
considering some NBA scouts might think he's too small for the post. He
measured a solid 6-8 in the Chicago Camp and still has a shot at #1.
Plus, his wingspan is an overwhelming 7-5, broader than any other player
in the draft. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.8 rebounds as a sophomore at
Duke.
- Nikola Dacevic (France) 6-7/212 20 years old
- Baron Davis (UCLA-sophomore) 6-2/210
*The Buzz is the
Clippers like his play, so he could go at 4...is Baron one of the top 4
blue chips in the draft, probably not. I have him in the 6-10 range on
potential.
Steve Francis
(Maryland-junior) 6-3/180
*He struck when the time was right and
his stock was on the rise. Once again, he's clustered in with the top
five picks and could go #1. He averaged 17.0 points and 4.5 assists
last year.
- Dwayne Franklin (Shaw University-sophomore) 6-7
- Dion Glover (Georgia Tech-freshman) 6-5/235
He's definately
in...and definately a low first rounder. One of the bottom ten teams will
see him as a blue chip based on what he could do. In his only
college season he averaged 18.4 points, 2.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds a
game. He missed last year due to a torn ACL, but the's back and healthy
now! He would be a lottery pick next year if he stays healthy, so he will
be a bargain.
- Richard Hamilton (UConn-junior) 6-6/180
*He could have been
a lottery pick last year. In my opinion, Hamilton is the best NBA talent,
but that doesn't always translate to a top 3 pick...see Vince Carter and
Paul Pierce. I would say if he wasn't a top 3, though, it would be a huge
mistake. As a junior he averged 21.5 points a game, and 19.8 points per
game over his 3 year career. He is a career .378 Three Point Shooter.
- Rico Harris (Cal State Northridge-junior) 6-9
- Hrvoje Henjak (Croatia) 6-11/20 years old
- Kendric Johnson (West Hills College-freshman) 6-1
- Jumaine Jones (Georgia-sophomore) 6-7/210
*A team wouldn't
make a mistake if they picked him at #6. He not only has impresssive
stats, but showtime moves that the NBA loves. Some scouts think he left
too early, but he's got such a tremendous upside.
- Shawn Kenney (Cleveland State-sophomore) 6-6
- Andrei Kirilenko (Russia) 6-9/209 18 years old
- Corey Maggette (Duke-freshman) 6-6/215
*Corey decided to
join Brand and Avery on the NBA train. Some Mock draftsters have him at
#1. I think that its a little too high, but he could jump into the mix in
the top 5 or 6. Coming off the bench for Duke he averaged about 10 points
a game. Its not what he's done in college that make him an outstanding
prospect, though, its his potential. In 1998 he was one of the most
highly recruited preps.
- Shawn Marion (UNLV-junior) 6-7/215
*He's very athletic and
has the NBA skills that scouts like...quickness, raw shooting skills, open
court moves and even the ability to find the open man. He probably won't
slip into the lottery, but will be awful close. As a junior he averaged
18.7 points a game.
- Michael Maxwell (Western New Mexico-junior) 6-4
- Greg Minor (Cal State Northridge-junior) 6-3
- Lamar Odom (Rhode Island-sophomore) 6-10/220
*He could be
the number one pick this year, and should be top three. He has
withdrawn the last two years after declaring early, and tried a gain
this year, only to discover he'd lost his eligibility. That stunt
cost him some commitment points in many scouts eyes. Dick Vitale calls
him one of the two best talents in the NCAA...the other was Steve Francis.
- Josko Poljak (Croatia) 7-1/21 years old
- Aleksandar Radojevic (Barton County CC-sophomore) 7-3/245
This guy scares me just a little. He's an unproven talent, but talent
nonetheless. He's not ready for the NBA, yet, but he is also ineligible
to play NCAA basketball, so he will be drafted. He's worth a
gamble as a low lottery pick, but could still be around at 15 or 16.
Scouts are starting to see him as the #1 prospect at center in this draft,
being a risk that has a potentially higher payoff than MacCulloch.
- Gene Shipley (San Jose City College-freshman) 6-10
- Leon Smith (King High School, Chicago) 6-10/235
- Albert White (Missouri-junior) 6-4/230
*Where's he gonna fit into
the NBA? A big mistake to come out early. He's going to be a second
rounder if he's lucky.
Lamont Long, Harold Arceneaux, DeeAndre Hulett and Jamaal Magloire had
all declared, but since withdrawn.
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