Screw The Odds, Which Team Needs/Deserves To Win The NBA Lottery?

Because it lacks the transparency that would dismiss most rumors of it being rigged, there are boundless conspiracy theories associated with the NBA Draft lottery selection.

Tonight’s selection, for a number of reasons, is the same way.

Wall will most likely learn where he will be drafted tonight.

First, there are a number of franchises who have seen their attendance and, as a result, revenue, drop steadily for a long period of time. A top two pick in this year’s draft could be the most important step in stopping that trend for that particular team.

Second, it could have major implications on this year’s draft. Most mock drafts have John Wall going first in the draft. Wall is an electric playmaker who looks like he is destined to be a premier point guard in the league for years to come. Many mock drafts have DeMarcus Cousins, Wall’s teammate at Kentucky, going No. 4. Cousins has been described as an immature, unathletic big man.

The difference in this year’s draft between the No. 1 and No. 2 picks — most likely Wall and Ohio State’s Evan Turner — and No. 3 and No. 4 — projected by multiple mock drafts to be Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors and Cousins — is enormous.

With that in mind, let’s rank the lottery teams 1-14 in reverse order for who needs to get one of the top-two picks in tonight’s lottery. The tiebreaker in this exercise will be the team who deserves to win.

Let’s get to it…

In or Out: Updating 2010 NBA Draft Early Entries

Aldrich (left) and Henry made the right decision. The same can't be said for many of the other players who hired agents and declared for the NBA Draft. (Pic via Memphis Commercial Appeal)

It’s that time of year again, when hot-shot freshman and dudes nobody has ever heard of declare for the NBA Draft. Many college underclassman will not hire agents right away, allowing them the possibility to return to school. And then there are the head scratchers; players who hire agents despite having little or no chance of playing in the NBA right away–or ever.

This year’s crop of early entries is absolutely enormous and downright puzzling. Let’s sort through the chaos, one step at a time.

NBA or bust: No turning back now

The following players have either hired agents, withdrawn from school, or both:

Solomon Alabi, Florida State: Put up modest numbers during his career, but could be a lottery pick. Has a bright future.

Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas: Teammate Sherron Collins announced Aldrich would declare for the draft shortly after the Jayhawks’ loss to Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament. Should be a top-15 pick, without question.

Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest: Tons of raw talent and potential, Aminu could end up being the next Donte Green. Needs to get stronger and improve shot, but is expected to be a lottery pick.

James Anderson, G, Oklahoma State: The Big 12 Player of the Year is a great scorer. Not overly athletic or versatile, but should have a solid NBA career.

Luke Babbit, F, Nevada: Interesting prospect, could have used another year. Not a great athlete, but will play in the NBA.

Craig Brackins, F, Iowa State: Career numbers are amazing, high-release on shot reminiscent of Rasheed Wallace. Skinny frame and might never be able to add enough beef to play inside, making him a Joe Smith type of player. Never had much talent around him and could have used another year at ISU.

Derrick Caracter, F/C, UTEP: The former Louisville malcontent had a nice season at UTEP and could still decide to return to school. Very skilled, also very overweight; should make an NBA roster someday.

DeMarcus Cousins, F/C, Kentucky: Got in better shape throughout the season and showed impressive agility for his size. Put up huge numbers despite facing swarming double teams. Criticized for having a bad attitude; I’m more concerned about his work ethic.

Ed Davis, F/C, North Carolina: Just about everyone thinks Davis will be a top-10 pick despite his slight frame and what was a fairly unimpressive college career. Could an NBA team pass on another Chris Paul to select another Marvin Williams? Quite possibly.

Devin Ebanks, F, West Virginia: Very versatile player showed flashes of potential during his two years. Has some perimeter skills but can’t shoot. Could be an excellent defensive player in the NBA.

Derrick Favors, F, Georgia Tech: Everybody assumed Favors would be a one-and-done when he committed to Georgia Tech. He could return for his sophomore season in hopes of being the top pick in 2011. If he stays in the draft, he should be selected in the top 10.

Courtney Fortson, G, Arkansas: Tremendous talent, undersized and inconsistent. Could have a long NBA career, but will never be a star.

Tiny Gallon, F, Oklahoma: Not overly athletic, but nimble for his size. Could stand to get in better shape and develop mid-range jump shot.

Charles Garcia, F, Seattle: Downright baffling entry to be honest. By the end of last season, Garcia’s minutes and production were dwindling. Has talent, but not even close to ready for the NBA.

Paul George, F, Fresno State: Tons of upside, but needs to add strength and improve handle. Returning to school could make him a lottery pick next year.

Manny Harris, G, Michigan: Harris has talent, but is a streaky shooter, limited handler, and overrated player. Seems to have a high opinion of his game and little interest in playing for the Wolverines, so don’t expect to return to school.

Xavier Henry, G, Kansas: Although he wasn’t always overly assertive as a freshman, Henry is a smart and talented player. Certainly ready to make the jump; could become a star at the next level.

Armon Johnson, G, Nevada: Shoots 23 percent from 3-point range, commits 3.4 turnovers per game, and is ready to play pro ball. Not a good decision to say the least.

Wes(ley) Johnson, G/F, Syracuse: Showed tremendous improvement after transferring from Iowa State. Very athletic with improved range, needs to work on handle.

Mac Koshwal, F/C, DePaul: Interesting prospect has had difficulty staying healthy. Could have used another year, but let’s face it, things at DePaul aren’t exactly suitable for improving pro stock.

Sylven Landesburg, G, Virginia: Had wonderful freshman campaign and a sophomore season to forget. Won’t return to Virginia, not likely to have an impact in the NBA immediately.

Gani Lawal, F/C, Georgia Tech: Probably not a great move. A ferocious rebounder with limited offensive game.

Tommy Mason-Griffin, G, Oklahoma: WTF? We covered this story last week. Mason-Griffin will be lucky to land a job overseas.

Greg Monroe, F, Georgetown: Very similar to Chris Bosh as far as his skill set, needs to play with assertiveness on a regular basis.

A.J. Ogilvy, F, Vanderbilt: The Aussie is very skilled, but limited athletically. A low-risk late first early second round pick, but lacks upside.

Patrick Patterson, F, Kentucky: Patterson had an inconsistent season in John Calipari’s system. Has a nice set of skills, but tends to drift to the perimeter. Most likely a high first-round pick.

Eniel Polynice, G, Ole Miss: Frustrated coach Andy Kennedy and never lived up to potential. Had no interest in staying at Ole Miss, will most likely end up overseas.

Larry Sanders, F, VCU: I saw Sanders play during the Eric Maynor era and loved his game. Very talented and long, has lots of upside.

Lance Stephenson, F, Cincinnati: One of the best high school players to ever come out of New York, Stephenson had an inconsistent freshman season. Has an NBA body, but shot needs a ton of work.

Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State: Best player in college basketball. Shot still needs some work, but should be the first or second pick in the draft.

Ekpe Udoh, F, Baylor: Athletic and versatile, somewhat lacking on the offensive end. Another year at Baylor could make him a lottery pick.

John Wall, G, Kentucky: Can’t shoot, but it doesn’t matter. Will almost certainly be the top pick in the draft and have a terrific NBA career.

Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma: Warren never lived up to expectations during his two seasons at OU. Has talent, but has battled injuries inconsistency.

Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall: The skinny freshman led the nation in blocked shots and could be a lottery pick. Very raw, but has shown a good touch around the basket and even some perimeter skills.

Elliot Williams, G, Memphis: The former Dukey blossomed in his sophomore season at Memphis, showing athleticism and a solid offensive game. Should have a solid NBA career.

Jahmar Young, G, New Mexico State: Needs work but has ability. Would be strongly advised to return to NMSU.

Likely to remain in draft, no official word yet

Eric Bledsoe, G, Kentucky: Bledsoe’s talent was masked somewhat by John Wall, but he could have a nice pro career at point guard. Needs to work hard on his jumper.

Avery Bradley, G, Texas: Bradley has a ton of ability, but produced only modest numbers during his freshman season. Very similar to former UCLA guard Jrue Holiday; needs to improve his point guard skills.

Jordan Crawford, G, Xavier: One of the best pure scorers in college basketball. Needs to get stronger and improve other areas of his game. Staying in school would greatly improve his stock for next year’s draft.

Darrington Hobson, G/F, New Mexico: Not great at anything, but good at everything. Intriguing prospect.

Dominique Jones, G, South Florida: Nice and smooth, makes the game look easy. Improved his all-around game in his junior season; probably has reached his ceiling on the college level.

Arnett Moultrie, F, UTEP: Loads of upside, but still a big project. Would be a great value as a late second-round pick.

Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky: Averaging 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman was apparently enough for Orton to test NBA waters. Will play in the NBA someday, but needs a ton of work.

Terrico White, G, Ole Miss: Tremendous talent, tends to drift through games without making an impact. Should stay in school, could be a very high pick next year.

Still in draft, but not for long

Lavoy Allen, F, Temple: A solid role player at Temple, needs to get bigger and improve all facets of his game.

Kevin Anderson, G, Richmond: The A-10 player of the year needs to work on his J.

Talor Battle, G, Penn State: Underrated athletically, but small and not a great shooter. Probably not looking forward to returning to Penn State.

Anatoly Bose, G/F, Nichols State: No idea whatsoever.

Dee Bost, G, Mississippi State: Streaky shooter but not much of an NBA prospect.

Carlon Brown, G/F, Utah: Dynamic athlete, needs to keep working on his shot.

Mike Davis, F, Illinois: Lanky player with some perimeter skills, but a long way from being ready for the NBA.

Paul Davis, F, Winston-Salem State: Joins Bose as players to declare for the draft I know nothing about and have never seen play. Listed at 6-9, 195 pounds.

Malcolm Delaney, G, Virginia Tech: Delaney quietly led the ACC in scoring this season. Similar to former UConn guard A.J. Price; he could use another year.

Kenneth Faried, F, Morehead State: The first early entry that doesn’t make much sense. Plays bigger than 6-8, but not ready for the NBA. At least he was smart enough to not hire an agent.

Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU: Old school game with a deadly jump shot; also very, very slow. Can’t really improve his game by staying in school, should be able to make an NBA roster, although maybe not right away.

Hayward is one of many underclassman who need to add strength before making the jump to the NBA. (Pic via fannation.com)

Gordon Hayward, G/F, Butler: The face of Butler’s Final Four run, Hayward would be wise to return to school. Lacks strength and a consistent jump shot.

Jeremy Hazell, G, Seton Hall: A better version of Manny Harris with ridiculous range. Jamal Crawford, without the handle. Has never met a shot he didn’t like–or take–but needs to get stronger.

Adnan Hodzic , F/C, Lipscomb: I have no idea. I have never seen him play, and a search of the internet reveals little about his game.

JaJuan Johnson, F, Purdue: Played with more consistency during his junior season, but benefited from a Big 10 with a very weak collection of interior players. Would get bullied in the NBA; needs to stay in school and get much stronger.

Ravern Johnson, G, Mississippi State: Similar size and shooting ability to Joe Johnson, but an average athlete and poor all-around player.

Kenny Lawson, F/C, Creighton: Good player in the Missouri Valley, probably will never play in the League.

Demetri McCamey, G, Illinois: McCamey has some talent and was one of the most valuable players in college basketball last season. Has improved his range throughout his career, but point guard skills still need work.

Elijah Millsap, F, UAB: The younger brother of Paul Millsap, Elijah had a good season at UAB. Athletic, but still raw. Needs to improve perimeter skills; projects as a wing player in the NBA.

E’Twuan Moore, G, Purdue: Good mid-range game, but not a great ball-handler, average athlete, average shooter. Not even close to being ready for the NBA.

Herb Pope, F, Seton Hall: An intriguing prospect known more for being a problem than having a decent game. Versatile and capable of producing huge numbers. Recently collapsed during a workout at Seton Hall, could hurt his chances of being drafted.

Jeff Robinson, F, Seton Hall: No chance of playing in the NBA. We’ll just leave it at that.

Alex Tyus, F, Florida: Athletic and long, but lacks size to play inside and skills to play outside. Needs another year, without doubt.

Chris Wright, G, Georgetown: Talks in a high-pitched voice that reminds me of Mike Tyson. From a basketball standpoint, an athletic scoring guard with good strength. Could use another year.

Underclassman who have withdrawn from draft

Keith Benson, F, Oakland (Michigan): Made the correct decision to return to school. Has good athletic ability and a nice skill set, but at 6-11, 215 pounds, desperately needs to get stronger.

Chris Wright, F, Dayton: It seems like Wright has been in school forever already, but he still has another year of eligibility remaining. Good all-around player, not great at any one thing however.

Curtain Call: Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Patterson join Orton in NBA draft

Cousins and Wall developed a strong connection on the court during their lone season with the 'Cats. (Pic via KentuckySportsRadio.com)

It took a little longer than expected, but Tuesday the University of Kentucky announced that four more players will be entering the 2010 NBA Draft.

The Wildcats freshman backcourt of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, along with frontline standouts DeMarcus Cousins join reserve center Daniel Orton in the draft. Orton declared just days after Kentucky was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. The rest of the players delayed their inevitable announcement for a couple weeks.

The departure leaves Kentucky’s roster in ruins. Although nobody expected Wall to stick around for more than one season, the same can’t be said for fellow freshman Bledsoe and Cousins.

Bledsoe didn’t have the quite the hype of Wall and Cousins coming out of high school, but showed a knack for making big shots and impressive athletic ability. He was considered a first-round lock by the middle of the season. Cousins was widely considered to be the second-best big man in the country as a high school senior but considered somewhat of a project. Not so much–the only thing that needs work is his attitude.

Patterson nearly bolted for the NBA last season and looked out of sorts for much of his junior season.

For most schools, losing five players would be a problem. John Calipari’s magical recruiting abilities make it no big deal.

Kentucky has already put together a strong recruiting class for next season and is likely to add a couple more top prospects with the additional minutes created by the loss of five players.

Don’t be surprised if ‘Cats find themselves in this same position next spring.

I’m not sure what’s worse–a 96 team tournament or a rule forcing players to attend a year of college before playing in the NBA.

Wall, Wildcats, remind us that you can’t win if you can’t shoot

John Wall and Coach Calipari's marriage came to an end Saturday thanks to an awful shooting performance. (Pic via thebiglead.com)

Heading into the NCAA Tournament, it appeared that only two things could derail Kentucky: Inexperience and inability to shoot from the perimeter. Both of those things happened Saturday in Syracuse, as West Virginia brought the John Wall experience to a close with a 73-66 win over Kentucky.

To say the Wildcats struggled to shoot the ball would be an understatement.

Kentucky shot 34 percent from the field in the game, including a historically bad 4-of-32 from long distance. The Wildcats shot just 16-of-29 from the free throw line.

John Wall and Eric Bledsoe shot a combined 5-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Few teams in recent memory have featured the athleticism of this year’s Kentucky squad. Wall, Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson are among the most athletic players at their respective positions in the entire country. That means run-outs galore and easy baskets at a moments notice.

Statistically, Kentucky isn’t a horrible shooting team. But you would never know that by watching the Wildcats shoot.

As good as Wall is, he has a horrendous looking shot that rarely yields good results. He utilizes an old-school set shot when he shoots 3’s, barely getting off the floor and leading to awful misses, reminiscent of LeBron during his early years in the NBA.

Bledsoe is a 38 percent 3-point shooter, but has tendency to miss long and miss badly, especially when he decides to elevate on his shot. Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller, and Darnell Dodson can’t shoot unless they are wide open and standing completely still.

Wall took over numerous games this season by driving the ball to the rim with reckless abandon. But when teams are able to cut off the driving lanes, he doesn’t have the mid-range game to consistently be effective. He might be more athletic and assertive than Derrick Rose circa Memphis, but he certainly isn’t as smooth.

Rose’s shot got better during his one year in college. Wall’s seems to have gotten worse.

Regardless of athletic ability, the 3-point line is the great equalizer in college hoops. That’s why Kentucky is going home and West Virginia’s dream is still alive.

TTT Bracketology: East Region

Coach Calipari and Kentucky should have an interesting ride along the road to the Final Four.

The NCAA Selection Committee never ceases to amaze. In addition to creating one of the most stacked Regions in history (Midwest) and one of the worst ever (South), the committee used the East Region to seed teams with similar–make that identical–styles of play and shortcomings. An intriguing 8-9 matchup between Texas and Wake Forest features two teams that crashed and burned late in the season. Marquette and Washington have strong perimeter play and no true inside threats whatsoever. Clemson and Missouri play a scattered pressuring style that looks great when it works and horrible when it doesn’t. Cornell is emerging as a popular tournament darling, and a win over a solid Temple squad would set up a matchup with Wisconsin featuring a plethora of skilled white dudes. West Virginia sits quietly at the bottom of the region as the No. 2 seed without much fanfare. Will the Mountaineers survive to meet Kentucky in the Elite Eight? Will Kentucky be dethroned by a slower, tougher team? This should be fun.

Best first-round matchup

No. 12 Cornell vs. No. 5 Temple

This could be one of the best games of the entire tournament. A bold statement? Maybe, but Cornell is a talented, experienced No. 12 and Temple could be the best No. 5 seed in the field. The teams play similar styles, with Temple having a slight edge in athleticism. Cornell’s Randy Wittman and Juan Fernandez of Temple are two of the best shooters in the country. Fernandez is also a good passer with the ability to create. Cornell 7-footer Matt Foote could be the difference if Cornell pulls off what amounts to a mild upset in Jacksonville. Both teams have a good chance of advancing to the Sweet 16, it’s too bad one has to lose.

Most likely first-round upset

No. 10 Missouri over No. 7 Clemson

Missouri has a veteran, balanced team with slightly better guard-play than Clemson. In a game featuring full-court pressure from both sides, that could prove to be the difference. Mike Anderson’s squad is well-coached, disciplined, and tough. Clemson has more talent than Mizzou but rarely ever seems to play up to its potential. Trevor Booker can be a dominant player when he gets the ball. Aside from Georgia Tech, few teams have a harder time feeding the post than Clemson. Even though Missouri forward Laurence Bowers is dealing with a significant wrist injury that will hamper his effectiveness, Clemson is often its own worst enemy. Missouri has a great chance to advance, setting up a potential matchup with West Virginia.

Falling Giants

No. 2 West Virginia

At last check, ESPN’s Jay Bilas was still sticking with his pick of Cornell over Kentucky. What courage, what foresight! Realistically, Cornell could easily lose in the the first or second round given the unfortunate seeding of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin has a chance against Kentucky, but West Virginia seems more likely to fall. The Mountaineers had a strong case for a No. 1 seed, so it will be interesting if Bob Huggins employs his “us against the world” mantra he has used successfully with previous teams. Regardless, West Virginia lacks a true point guard and has looked rattled at times against pressure, meaning Second-Round games against Mizzou or Clemson could be tough. Further down the road, Marquette and New Mexico matchup well with West Virginia. It could be a brief stint for Huggy Bear this year.

Riding High

No. 3 New Mexico

Although the Lobos were defeated in the Mountain West Semifinals, it’s difficult to ignore their 15-game winning-streak at the end of the regular season. Potential matchups with Marquette, Washington, and West Virginia are very suitable for New Mexico. Steve Alford will have to get through that dreaded 3-14 First-Round game if he wants to be the first coach to lead the Lobos to the Sweet 16.

Fading Fast

No. 8 Texas

Is there any doubt? The Longhorns managed to land a No. 8 seed despite getting run out of the gym by Baylor twice in the same week and fading steadily after reaching the pinnacle of college hoops earlier this season. Even with season-ending injuries to Balbay and Ward, the Longhorns still have a ton of talent. For whatever reason, Rick Barnes seems to have lost his team. Damion James can be a dominant player, but Texas has looked absolutely clueless since the middle of January.

The Slipper Fits

No. 6 Marquette

This is a gutsy call to say the least, considering the Golden Eagles could easily lose to Washington or New Mexico. There is just something about Marquette; how’s that for insider analysis? The Golden Eagles have wins over Villanova, Georgetown and Xavier, one-point losses to Florida State and West Virginia on the road, and a pair of two-point losses to Villanova. Marquette could have had two or three additional huge wins with a little bit of luck despite having fairly average talent. Buzz Williams can flat-out coach. It seems very foolish to slight Marquette in this particular region.

Predictions

Elite Eight: No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 1 Kentucky Final Four: Kentucky

By far the most annoying an likely inaccurate portion of the ToTheTin Bracketology feature. With that disclaimer out of the way, Kentucky and Marquette are the picks to make the Elite Eight. The Wildcats sneak out a win against Wisconsin, Marquette edges West Virginia in a low-scoring affair. Cousins and Wall lead the young ‘Cats to Indianapolis with an easy win over Marquette.

Downey’s greatness on display as Cocks knock off No. 1 Cats

Downey takes - and makes - some crazy shots. (Pic via ghostofchucky.blogspot.com)

Devan Downey might not be the pro prosepct John Wall is, but he sure handed it Kentucky last night in the latest edition of spectacular scoring performances.

Downey finished with 30 points to lead the Gamecocks to a 68-62 upset over the top-ranked Wildcats.  He made a handful of seemingly impossible shots and provided leadership to a squad playing without swingman Dominique Archie.

America found out just how good Downey is last night.  I’ve been saying he is the most underrated player in country all season.  Nobody does more for his team, or more with less, than the 5’9″ jitterbug.

Downey scored 30 or more points for the third time in five games Tuesday night.  He is the South Carolina offense, accounting for nearly 1/3 of the team’s shot attempts this season – he launched 29 last night while his teammates attempted 35.  His nine made field goals included three difficult bank shots, including a ridiculous runner over DeMarcus Cousins late in the game.

Meanwhile, aside from Cousins, Kentucky looked lost for most of the game.  Cousins dominated inside and finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds.  Wall added a quiet 19 points for the Wildcats (19-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference).

John Calipari needs to get Patrick Patterson involved in the offense.  Patterson has spent more time playing on the perimeter this season and has dissappeared at times.  He finished with just four points Tuesday night.

The Gamecocks (12-8, 3-3) will need a miracle to make the NCAA Tournament.  But if Downey keeps putting up huge numbers, who knows?

Check back for the all-underrated team this weekend here on TTT.

John Wall to sign with Kentucky

Wall has decided to sign with John Calipari and Kentucky.

Following the news that Patrick Patterson had decided to return to Kentucky for his junior season, I thought all Kentucky needed to become a 2010 Final Four favorite was a solid point guard.

It looks like the Wildcats have found what it needed.

John Wall, arguably the best point in the nation, is expected to sign with Kentucky after considering offers from Miami, Duke, NC State, and a host of other schools.

Wall is more of a scorer, but is also a great ball-handler and a good passer.

He makes Kentucky a top-5 team, no questions asked.

John Calipari has his work cut out for him, but I think he will be able to harness his young talent.

Right now, Kentucky has 16 players on scholarship heading into next season. The NCAA only allows 13 players to be on scholarship, so something has to give.

I just can’t wait for March Madness.

Stay tuned.

Patterson returning to Kentucky

Patterson's return to Lexington will make Kentucky's frontcourt lethal next season.

Patrick Patterson became one of the first underclassman to withdraw from the 2009 NBA draft, announcing he plans to return to Kentucky for his junior season.

Kentucky issued a press release Friday to announce the 6’8″ forward has decided to return to school.

Patterson averaged 17.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg last season despite battling injuries throughout the season.  He had some huge games last season after an inconsistent freshman campaign.

Kentucky figures to have the biggest, strongest, and most talented frontcourts in college basketball next season.  Incoming talented freshman DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton join Patterson and 6’10” Perry Stevenson inside.

Wow.

Patterson is explosive, but undersized and not ready for the NBA.  He needs to get stronger and work on his perimeter skills.  His skill set is similar to that of Pistons F/C Jason Maxiell.

If Jodie Meeks decides to withdraw from the draft, John Calipari could have the Wildcats in contention for a national title next season.

Stay tuned.

Meeks, Downey declare for NBA Draft; Griffin next?

Meeks has declared for the NBA draft but won't hire an agent.

Apparently Jodie Meeks isn’t overly excited to play for John Calipari.

Meeks announced he has declared for the NBA Draft, but said he won’t hire an agent.

Following two mediocre and injury-filled seasons in Lexington, Meeks was one of the biggest surprises in College Basketball last season. He averaged 23.7 ppg last season.

Meeks is thought to be a late second round pick by most NBA Draft services.

Devan Downey declares

It’s time to add Downey to the list of guys who shouldn’t leave school early for the NBA. The 5’9″ guard averaged 19.8 ppg and led the SEC in steals his season but is a long way from being ready for the next level.

I expect the former Bearcat to return for his senior season at South Carolina.

Blake Griffin calls press conference to announce decision

Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce whether he will declare for the NBA Draft.

He is expected to declare, but nothing is official yet. We’ll keep you updated on his decision.