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The EA Sports
Roundball Classic has featured future NBA superstars like Shaun
Livingston, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, and LeBron James.
In 2003 the game was known as the "LeBron Game." Well
three years later this game is the "Oden Game." That's
Greg Oden. The 7-foot 250 pound superstar center that
headlines a loaded Ohio St. Buckeye class. He would have
been unquestionably the #1 pick for the 2006 NBA draft, but he can't with the new age limit for the league. There was more
than just Oden in Chicago for the Classic. Nineteen other
All-American's were there and a ton of them have NBA potential
written all over them. These are reports compiled from the
Saturday practice and the game itself on Sunday. I have
picked some guys who might have a quick route to the NBA and
some guys who really stood out to me.
Greg Oden C 7-0 250 lbs. (Ohio St.)
21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 10-12 FG
 Believe
the hype!
I know you thought LeBron was
over hyped in high school. How did that turn out???
This kid is 100% the real deal. He will be a first ballot
Hall of Famer! The soft spoken superstar has all the
tools. Offensively he has a great jump hook, which is his
go-to move right now. He has a soft touch around the hoop,
but finishes with power when he needs to. One thing that
really impressed me about him, that he showed in the practices,
but not much in games is his jump shot. He
consistently hits his shot out to 15 feet. Greg passes
well out of the post and is unselfish in doing so. He sees
the floor great from the post. Defensively he is years
ahead of his time. He is a GREAT shot blocker, that never
goes for ball fakes. He has quick feet to stay with the
speed of faster big men on both sides of the ball. Overall
he is just a great kid! In the short time I talked to him
he seemed very down to earth. If he could have entered the
2006 NBA Draft he would have been the top overall pick.
So, now that will be delayed a year at Ohio St. Don't be
surprised if he stays for a couple of years at OSU. The
word I am hearing is he would like to stay in college two or
three years.
My Prediction:
The money is too much to pass up. He goes to Ohio St. one
year, wins player of the year, a Final 4 appearance, and
then the becomes top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Curtis Kelly SF 6-10 190 lbs. (UConn)
14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 6-10 FG
 Kelly is a very interesting prospect. He reminds me of
Keon Clark with more upside. He is thin, but being very
quick off the dribble makes up for that at this stage.
After practice I had a chance to chat with Curtis while I was
rebounding for him. He stayed after practice to show off
his improving outside shot to anyone that has questioned it.
It is a good form shot for the lefty. In the game he came
out strong getting some buckets off the dribble inside. I
really like this kid. He might take a little while to
develop being so raw, but with all of the talent leaving UConn
he will get early playing time.
My Prediction:
Three years at UConn and then a first round pick in 2009.
Alex Stephenson PF 6-10 250 lbs. (North Carolina)
15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 6-12 FG
 The future Tar Heel did not really stand out in the practice,
but he used his quickness to his advantage against Oden in the
game. Stephenson received one of the MVP trophy's for his
job in the game. Like Arthur and Caracter, position is a
question with Stephenson. I see him as more of a explosive
SF/PF than a center.
My Prediction:
He will probably take four years to get solidly in the first
round because of all the talent ahead of him.
Damion James SF 6-8 227 lbs.
(Oklahoma?)
10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 4-9 FG
 James was very good in the practices and had a nice game.
He just has an exuberant feel to him. James was snubbed
from the McDonald's game, but proved here he is one of the top
10 players in the Senior Class. He committed to OU, but
when they announced him they said undecided. I talked to
him about it after the game and he said he still plans to go to
OU. He is a very smooth and explosive player on offense.
Defensively he has quick hands and blocks shots great.
My Prediction:
Two years at Oklahoma then into the first round of the 2008
Draft.
Derrick Caracter PF 6-9 280 lbs. (Louisville)
16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 block shots, 7-14 FG
 Caracter was at one time the top overall player in the class of
2006. He was hailed as the next Shaq when he was in 7th
grade. Well then what happened? Greg Oden happened!
He flew by DC and has not looked back since. Caracter
has had some well known problems. The three main ones are
his weight, the fact that he sometimes seems unmotivated, and
transferring schools many times in his high school career.
He is at a nice weight now, it would be great to see if he could
get down to 260 lbs. Surprisingly, he has a great first
step and moves well for his size. Derrick tends to drift
away from the basket. He can hit the three pointer, but
sometimes falls in love with it. For the NBA, I believe
that he would be best suited to play the small forward position.
He is very similar to Antoine Walker of the Heat. Caracter
pulled up with a leg injury in the practice on Saturday, but
showed no pain during the game.
My prediction:
It will take three years at Louisville to become NBA ready, but
this is one guy I think who has his eyes set on a quick trip to
the league. Watch out, he might try to enter next year and
be a bubble first rounder.
Darrell Arthur SF 6-9 220 lbs. (Undecided)
9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks,
3-12 FG
Arthur is one of the most electrifying players in the class of
2006. He is a high flying small forward with endless potential.
He has a very smooth offensive game. It reaches out to the
three point line where he can hit that shot with some
consistency (not in this particular game). Darrell is a
tweener between the small forward and power forward positions.
He is a nice shot blocker on the defensive end.
My Prediction:
He will first choose to go to Kansas. After that I believe
that he will probably stay two years and be a mid-first round
pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Earl Clark SF 6-9 200 lbs. (Louisville)
15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists,
3 steals, 5-13 FG, 2-2 3 FG
I was very impressed with this kid. He has a great NBA
body. Earl is listed as a point guard, but I can see him
playing the 1,2, or 3 in the NBA. He really shot the ball
from the arc well here in Chicago. This is one player who
because of his size and skill set could make an immediate impact
in college.
My Prediction:
Two years at Louisville under Rick Pitino and then into the 2008
lottery.
Daequan Cook SG 6-5 210 lbs. (Ohio St.)
18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists,
7-13 FG, 2-5 3 FG
WOW, this kid can shoot! He is deadly from deep. The
best outside shooter in high school right now. Cook is
also very explosive in transition. He is just a pure
scorer. He reminds me of a young Ray Allen/Rashad McCants
hybrid. He was one of the more impressive guys here.
Greg Oden's inside presence will let this guy really shine.
My Prediction:
This might surprise some, but I believe one full year with
Conley feeding him and Oden drawing double teams is all Cook
will need to get into the lottery in 2007.
These would be my
rankings of the potential of the players here for the NBA.
1. Greg Oden C Ohio St.
2. Darrell Arthur SF Kansas, Texas, Arizona
3. Damion James SF Oklahoma?
4. Earl Clark SF Louisville
5. Daequan Cook SG Ohio St.
6. Derrick Caracter PF Louisville
7. Lance Thomas SF Duke
8. Curtis Kelly SF UConn
9. Mike Conley PG Ohio St.
10. Alex Stepenson PF North Carolina
11. David Lighty SG Ohio St.
12. Brain Carlwell C Illinois
13. Scottie Reynolds PG Oklahoma?
14. Bryan Davis PF Texas A&M
15. Tom Herzog C Michigan St.
16. Patrick Beverley PG Arkansas
17. Perry Stevenson SF Kentucky
18. Chris Singletary PG Undecided
19. Will Walker PG DePaul
20. Eugene Harvey PG Seton Hall
Things that I learned in
Chicago from the EA Sports Roundball Classic
1. Damion James
might be undecided, but is still leaning towards going to
Oklahoma.
2. Scottie
Reynolds is more undecided about his recruitment than James and
going to Oklahoma. Don't be surprised if he ends up at
Indiana with Sampson.
3. Lance Thomas
is leaning towards Duke over hometown underdog Rutgers.
4. Patrick
Beverley will most likely choose Michigan over St. John's and
Arkansas. He feels that he and Michigan are a perfect fit.
5. Ohio St. will play North Carolina for the National
Title in 2007. This will be a match up between the two
greatest recruiting classes of all time! Then a mass exit
to the NBA lottery from the two teams.
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