College Eye For the NBA Guy: East Regional, Part II

The FanHouse realizes that not everyone digs March Madness. Some of us enjoy our basketball on a taller, more expensive, professional level. Even so, it's almost impossible to completely ignore the media buzz around the tournament, so we present you with this handy guide to potential 2007/2008 NBA prospects who will be, for a couple of more weeks anyway, playing basketball and filling CBS airtime for free.

Also see:
East Regional, Parts One & Two
Midwest Regional, Parts One & Two
West Regional, Parts One & Two
South Regional, Parts One & Two

Likely to Wear an NBA Uniform:

Tywon Lawson, 5-11 Freshman, North Carolina Another Oak Hill Acadmey NBA prospect. A true point guard with who's strength is penetrating and finishing at the basket. Solid NBA bulk, but lacks a little bit of height (he's only 5'11"). His jumpshot is pretty consistent as well. His main problem at this point is his lack of height. But what he lacks in height he makes up in explosiveness and athletic ability.
Best Guess: Smaller Baron Davis/Ray Felton type on the high end and Sebastian Telfair on the low end.

Nick Young, 6-7 Junior, USC Although he didn't get much NBA attention his first two years of college, Nick Young has been on my radar for a while. An NBA scout I know has been raving about Nick since his freshman year at SC. He's got perfect size and length for an NBA two guard, and the game to match. He is capable of hitting both long range and mid-range shots, as well as capable of beating his opponets off the dribble or abusing smaller men on the box. While watching him at the PAC-10 tournament I was impressed with the fact that he had already developed a solid mid to low post game. He loves to utilize that Michael Jordan fake one way, fade the other way mid post fade away jump shot. Most college two guards don't have that ability, so for him to go into the NBA with that is a plus. He just has a great feel for the game.
Best Guess: Richard Hamilton/Michael Finley on the high end, Mo Peterson on the lower end.

Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9 (err 6-7) Sophmore, North Carolina Hansborough is one of those guys that you have to love because of how hard he plays. Hansbrough is simply all motor and heart. In college, his heart will get him a long way, but in the NBA he'll probably have a little bit of trouble. His main issue is lack of height. Although he's listed at 6'9", it's obvious that he is closer to 6'7". He'll probably be a guy that plays 15-20 minutes per night just simply based on his hustle. Would be best suited playing next to a dominant big man where he could clean up his boards and be an enforcer. He's basically a less athletic David Lee. If he could develop a mid-range jumper and play next to a solid low post big man, he'd probably have a good chance to stick in the league.
Best Guess: David Lee on the high end and Mark Madsen/Joe Wolf on the lower end.

Dominic James, 5-11 Sophmore, Marquette This draft is full of ultra quick smallish point guards, and Dominic James is another one. But the main difference between him and a lot of the other 5'11" guards in this draft is his lack of a jump shot. You can't be a smallish guard in the NBA and then not be able to shoot. He's not just bad at long range shooting but also a terrible free throw shooter. The positives for James is that he is ultra quick of the dribble, a great finisher, and a relentless defender. He's basically a shorter Rajon Rondo.
Best Guess: Shorter Rajon Rondo on the high end and Tyus Edney on the lower end.

Locks for Next Year?
Wayne Ellington, 6-5 Freshman,North Carolina
Gabe Pruitt, 6-4 Junior, USC
Taj Gibson, 6-9 Freshman, USC
Patrick Ewing Jr., 6-8 Junior, Georgetown
Steven Hill, 7-0 Junior, Arkansas

There's Always Europe
Lodrick Stewart, 6-4 Senior, USC
Jared Dudley, 6-7 Senior, Boston College
Martin Zeno, 6-5 Junior, Texas Tech
Reyshawn Terry, 6-8 Senior, North Carolina
Derrick Byars, 6-7 Senior, Vanderbilt
Caleb Green, 6-8 Senior, Oral Roberts

Note: Sean Williams of Boston College would be listed on this list as a prospect, but he was suspended from the team for the rest of the season.

Also see:
East Regional, Parts One & Two
Midwest Regional, Parts One & Two
West Regional, Parts One & Two
South Regional, Parts One & Two