13. Darrell Arthur, 6-9, 225, So., Kansas -- Long and athletic but still has underachiever rap.
14. Joe Alexander, 6-8, 230, Jr., West Virginia -- Exploded in Big East tournament. Great leaper, good midrange shooter.
13. Darrell Arthur, 6-9, 225, So., Kansas -- Long and athletic but still has underachiever rap.
14. Joe Alexander, 6-8, 230, Jr., West Virginia -- Exploded in Big East tournament. Great leaper, good midrange shooter.
15. Serge Ibaka, 6-10, 220, L'Hospitalet, Spain -- Pros flocking to see this native of the Congo. A leaper who's not a complete project skill-wise.
16. JaVale McGee, 7-0, 237, So., Nevada -- Son of former USC star Pam McGee. Raw, talented but best of all, plays hard.
17. Nicolas Batum, 6-8, 210, Le Mans, France -- Last spring's surprise but toughness and shot are questioned.
18. Darren Collison, 6-0, 160, Jr., UCLA -- Dropped out of sight early as pros fixated on waif body but keeps raising game. Even with his funny shot, over 50% on threes.
19. Ty Lawson, 5-11, 195, So., North Carolina -- Stronger and better playmaker than Collison but not as good a shooter.
20. Austin Daye, 6-10, 190, Fr., Gonzaga -- Son of former UCLA star Darren Daye. Frail as he is, he's considered a big-time prospect after making 44% of threes.
21. Russell Westbrook, 6-3, 189, So., UCLA -- Still in most lotteries, could go there with a big tournament (see: Corey Brewer), but two GMs at Pac-10 tournament said, "I don't see it." Scouts loved him at point guard early. He accepted a lesser role when Collison returned but dropped from a 37% three-point shooter to 28% in Pac-10.
22. Robin Lopez, 7-0, 255, So., Stanford -- Can't score like his twin but big and mobile too.
23. Donte Greene, 6-11, 226, Fr., Syracuse -- Major talent but sits outside and launches.
24. Blake Griffin, 6-10, 243, Fr., Oklahoma -- Young bull but knees are a question.
25. Damion James, 6-7, 225, So., Texas -- Isn't on many lists yet. Al Thornton-type who averaged 10.5 rebounds and made 44% of threes.
26. Kosta Koufos, 7-0, 252, Fr., Ohio State -- Big man who can shoot.
27. Hasheem Thabeet, 7-3, 263, So., Connecticut -- Now that we're in the project, or big stiff, phase, he's way better but still way behind the play.
28. Roy Hibbert, 7-2, 278, Sr., Georgetown -- More skilled than Thabeet but less athletic.
29. Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9, 250, Jr., North Carolina -- Heart as big as all outdoors but he isn't. If he's just a more skilled Mark Madsen, that's still something.
30. Jordan Hill, 6-10, 230, So., Arizona -- Great athlete with a skill or two.
Right there: James Harden, Arizona State; Tyler Smith, Tennessee; J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State; Sherron Collins, Kansas; Wayne Ellington, North Carolina; Marreese Speights, Florida; Nathan Jawai, Cairns, Australia; Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky.
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mark.heisler@latimes.com