In salute to the NCAA tournament, here's my annual mock draft of everyone eligible.
This draft, with a premier young center, Greg Oden, and a great perimeter player, Kevin Durant, could be one for the ages, harkening back to 1984 when Hakeem Olajuwon went No. 1 and Michael Jordan No. 3.
Pros will always take the center ... unless they know the smaller player is transcendent. Of course, no one knew how good Jordan would be.
Durant has yet to show he's transcendent but, to his immense credit, he has kept it an open question.
There should be at least three more foreign first-rounders: Brazil's Tiago Splitter (late lottery or teens), Italy's Marco Bellinelli (high teens) and Spain's Rudy Fernandez (high teens to 20s.)
These are listed heights so knock off an inch (or, these days, two.) Thanks to the NBA people and Frank Burlison of the Long Beach Press-Telegram for their help.
1. Oden, 7-0, 250, Fr., Ohio State -- Klutzy as he looked with a cast on his right wrist, will be 20-point scorer. Boston's Doc Rivers compares his defense to Bill Russell's. Alonzo Mourning-like intensity. Aside from that ...
2. Durant, 6-9, 220, Fr., Texas -- Called a bigger Tracy McGrady but may be a smaller Kevin Garnett. No post game yet but attacks hoop OK for a guy who arrived at 205. Best of all, kept improving by leaps and bounds.
3. Brandan Wright, 6-10, 210, Fr., North Carolina -- Super-quick. Has to show a lot to stay here with all the big competition.
4. Joakim Noah, 6-11, 232, Jr., Florida -- Would have gone No. 1 last spring, but scouts are off him. Unconventional game and personality but a force on defense.
5. Brook Lopez, 7-0, 240, Fr., Stanford -- The more talented of the twins started late and his team struggled or you'd have heard more about him.
6. Yi Jianlian, 7-0, 230, Guangdong Tigers -- Tremendous package of size and skills, but everyone's waiting to see him against U.S. players.
7. Jeff Green, 6-9, 235, Jr., Georgetown -- Stock zooming. Tore up Big East tournament.
8. Julian Wright, 6-8, 225, So., Kansas -- Great athlete who was once a point guard. As high as No. 4 in a lot of drafts but that's way high for a small forward who averages 12 points, lacks shooting range and doesn't look to score.
9. Al Horford, 6-10, 245, Jr. Florida -- Major effort guy, blocked more shots than Noah. Still raw on offense.
