A 2014 Lottery Draft List, March Edition
By Mike Garcia
13. Noah Vonleh
Feb 12, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tim Frazier (23) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) battle for a rebound during the first half at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Some might say, why so low? Here’s my response. He has a 7’4″ wingspan. He has a 0.5″ longer standing reach than Julius Randle. He has a post game and a surprising perimeter shot, but his athleticism didn’t carry the added bulk well. Out of high school, he looked quicker, more adept to using spin moves in the paint and attacking off the dribble. Now? He’s trying to fight the contact, not looking as explosive, and doesn’t look like he’ll carry a team. Any comparisons to Chris Bosh aren’t warranted. Chris Bosh played like a 6’10” small forward with a post game. Noah, doesn’t show that quickness. He looks more along the lines of P.J. Brown, Horace Grant, or Al Horford. There is superstar potential in him, but he has a longer road to reach it compared to other prospects. More information can be found in this link.
12. James Young
Mar 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard James Young (1) shoots the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Who is James Young? He’s a shooting guard in the mold of Jason Richardson and J.R. Smith. He is the three-point shooter for Kentucky with excellent physical tools. He’s quick, has a 6’11” wingspan, and plenty of room to develop into a high quality scorer. The left-handed wing has been stuck along the perimeter because Cauley-Stein and Randle rule the painted area, but he has come out aggressive for Kentucky late in games attacking the basket. He could use more focus on defense and better polish on his ball-handling, but teams aren’t going to frown on athletic shooters with great size at the position.
11. Dario Saric
Dario Saric has been covered before on this site. At 6’10”, he has triple threat abilities. What is remarkable about his game is his knack to grab defensive rebounds and push the ball up court. Not only can he finish well in transition, but he’s an excellent playmaker in the halfcourt set as well. His defensive abilities aren’t that great, but teams would love to have a guy that could play either forward spot and be an extra ball-handler out there. In 2011 at the FIBA U19 tournament, he averaged 18.1 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game on 50.9% from the field, 53.8% behind the arc, with just over a block and a steal per game. That’s what woke up the scouts, especially considering he was playing against elite international competition. If you’re curious about what he got against Team USA, it was 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals on 50% from the field. He’s the most dynamic forward in the draft. More information can be found on this link.
10. Tyler Ennis
Mar 9, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Tyler Ennis (11) drives through the lane against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Syracuse defeated Florida State 74-58. Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports
When Syracuse was 25-0, Tyler Ennis received a lot of hype building up to the draft. He plays with a poise and a passion that is balanced and well-controlled. He rarely looks frazzled on the floor, and excels at creating for his teammates. Michael Carter-Williams was more wild in transition. Ennis is under control, all of the time. While he’s not a stellar athlete at point guard, he is quick enough with enough shake to get defenders off-balance. More importantly, he exploits mismatches for his teammates and sets them up well. More information can be found on this link.