More one-and-done prospects for 2011
There are plenty of players entering the college ranks that intend to only play a single season before taking the plunge into professional athletics. Five such players were already highlighted in Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Kyrie Irving, Enes Kanter, and Brandon Knight. However, the NCAA is rife with talent that will be entering and then departing, and here are five more one-and-done prospects for the 2011 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.
Jared Sullinger:
The 6ft, 9in Sullinger is a five-star rated player and should make immediate impact for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was by far the most physical presence in all of high school basketball and should be a nice fit with Ohio State’s down-low game.
Coach Thad Matta has often relied on his big men for production and Sullinger will be more than happy to provide. He was perhaps the best rebounder in the 2010 class, and although he has never had to rely on anything other than in the paint scoring, he has shown a consistent 18-foot range.
C.J. Leslie:
Much like this year’s third overall pick Derrick Favors, Leslie is not quite NBA-level talent yet, but will be drafted due to his clearly NBA-level athleticism. Although he may not have the skill right now, his athleticism alone will be enough to perform well at the power forward position for the North Carolina State Wolfpack this season.
If he can improve his face-to-face shooting to top off his Amare Stoudemire-like ability to brutally finish, he will see his draft stock shoot up dramatically, though he should be a first-round pick based on his potential to dominate both sides of the floor alone.
Josh Selby:
Selby is an extremely tough and gritty point guard that will fit in wonderfully with Bill Self’s system at Kansas. Selby is used to playing as a combo guard and will have to transition to a more traditional point guard role due to his 6ft, 3in height.
Right now his jump shot needs a little bit of tweaking to become more consistent, but the rest of his game is ready for the NBA. He mercilessly attacks his defenders in one-on-one situations. He scraps for defensive rebounds and proceeds to take them coast-to-coast for fast-paced scoring. He has even been known to come back and stop fast breaks with his great above-the-rim blocking ability.
Even with a shaky jumper, Selby can take it to the lane at will on most defenders all while being able to defend against both point and shooting guards, and will be a high draft choice next year.
Terrence Jones:
Jones is an extremely athletic 6ft, 9in power forward, and just might be the best handling power forward entering college this year. His Lamar Odom-like possibilities will make him an exciting presence in the Kentucky Wildcats offence this upcoming season.
It is uncertain that Jones is ready for one-and-done status, but Kentucky coach John Calipari will try to get him out the door if he has a strong year. Jones is extremely multi-talented and should be ready to make the transition to the NBA whether it is as a flexible 4 or as a physically overpowering 3.
Cory Joseph:
Texas will need Joseph to pilot the offence almost immediately, and he will have a lot of opportunities to impress scouts and prove his NBA worthiness. Joseph is an elite level point guard who dominates on both sides of the floor with his size, speed, and athleticism.
Joseph has an already developed shooting ability and is a serious threat from three-point territory, which combined with his stop-and-go moves makes him very difficult to stop.
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