Derek Bodner’s Blog

As I did for the round of 32, I will be writing about what I’m going to be keying in the Sweet 16.

To reiterate, I don’t place a whole lot of emphasis on the NCAA tournament. There are exceptions, particularly when small school players go up against NBA-level competition for what may be only the second or third time in their career, like Kenneth Faried did last year, and C.J. McCollum did this year (I did a report for DraftExpress on McCollum today).

Also, this isn’t necessarily a list of the best prospects, and certainly not all the prospects. These are the ones I’m keying on as a Sixers fan/scout, because they could be good fits with the Sixers, because I want more data on them, or because they’re going up against a matchup that intrigues me.

Sixers fans viewing guide to the Sweet 16 [LibertyBallers.com]

Playing in relative obscurity to the basketball viewing public in the Patriot League, junior guard C.J. McCollum was introduced to the national audience with an incredible 30 point, 6 rebound, 6 assist showing as Lehigh upset 2nd seeded Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

It wasn’t McCollum’s first appearance in the national spotlight, as the Mountain Hawks played Kansas tough in the first round of the NCAA tournament during McCollum’s freshman season, a season that saw him lead all freshman in scoring at 19.1 points per game. But for a player on the fence about declaring for the NBA draft who had previously struggled in his limited appearances against top competition, this was exactly the kind of coming out party McCollum needed to put his name in the basketball worlds collective conscience, and a perfect recap to what has been a very good bounce back season for the focal point of the Lehigh offense.

C.J. McCullom scouting report [DraftExpress.com]

With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the matchups I’ll be keying on in the round of 32. Note that these aren’t necessarily the best prospects, nor my favorite prospects. They’re a combination of prospects I want more information on, matchups I think could be telling, and players the Sixers could realistically have a shot of drafting and who could potentially be a good fit with the Sixers.

Sixers draft preview – round of 32

Having shown consistent incremental improvements during his first three years at Alabama, JaMychal Green’s senior season was a step backwards in every regard. With an expected change of role at the next level, Green needed to come out and prove his improvement as a jump shooter was something he could carry over and that he could do the little things on the court to contribute. Instead, his combination of struggles on and off the court further clouds his status as a prospect.

At this stage, barring a miraculous NCAA tournament run, Green would likely be best off trying to get back in the good graces of NBA decision makers by going out and having an outstanding showing on and off the court at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Strong, transparent interviews with teams about his repeated suspensions could help quite a bit as well. Some NBA teams may have already written Green off as they aren’t looking to add distractions to their team from a player already considered just a marginal prospect, which will make the way he handles himself from now until June that much more important.

JaMychal Green scouting report [DraftExpress.com]

Mason Plumlee has taken a larger role in the Duke offense this year, which has made him a more consistent contributor than in years past. His continued success on the offensive and defensive glass provides a solid base as a useful rotational big man at the next level, and his soft hands, athleticism, and defensive potential should help him see court time as well.

Mason Plumlee scouting report [DraftExpress.com]

Facing many questions coming into the season, both about his ability to expand his offensive game and about how his twice surgically repaired ankle would hold up, Mike Scott has responded with a phenomenal season.

His scoring instincts appear to be his most dependable skill to translate to the next level, which combined with the improvements he’s made defensively and as a rebounder and his high work ethic and basketball IQ should be enough to get him some strong looks in the second round, despite his average physical tools and advanced age.

Mike Scott scouting report [DraftExpress.com]

If Johnson-Odom were 6’5” there would be no questions about his ability to contribute at the next level. His ability to make shots from the perimeter and create off the dribble are coveted skills, especially considering his winning pedigree and the intensity he brings on the defensive end.

Johnson-Odom’s size may give some teams room for pause, but fortunately for him there is a long list of undersized shooting guards currently seeing extensive playing time in the NBA today. As much as any prospect, the personnel around Darius Johnson-Odom could play a hand in whether a team is able to find a role he could be effective in at the next level.

Darius Johnson-Odom scouting report

Some (unused) photos I took while up at the 2009 NBA Draft for DraftExpress.

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Some (unused) photos I took while up at the 2009 NBA Draft Media Day for DraftExpress.

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I’m a draft junkie. The NBA draft is the only draft I really get this way over. I don’t watch college baseball at all, and I just can’t get into the football draft as much, as it’s far too long and drawn out. The basketball draft is Christmas week for me. Having been working with the guys over at DraftExpress this past year has only made me even more of a junkie.

So, for some reason, this year I’m compelled to put down my thoughts on the draft for all to see, so that in a few years time I can look like a complete buffoon. I write this knowing full well that some of my opinions will probably look preposterous when these players rookie contracts expire. That being said, this is my opinion of the draft.
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