2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - June 22
With three players set to get picked in the NBA Draft next week, you may be asking yourself how did the Vanderbilt Commodores not win more NCAA Tournament games the past couple years? Why weren't they ranked higher? What was their coaching staff doing? John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeffrey Taylor are all in the same projected draft range.
"I think we're all in the same boat, in that late first round, early second; we're all different positions," said Jenkins at the NBA Combine a couple weeks ago.
Vanderbilt may not be known as a college basketball powerhouse program, but each of these individuals benefit from having each other to lean on in this process.
"It's kind of incredible because we play hard together, practice together; we're good friends," said Jenkins. "We're not just guys that tolerate each other; we're always around each other."
Ezeli crushed the Vanderbilt school record for career blocked shots and talked about what his biggest strength is as a player. "I'm a defensive minded player so I've been watching a lot of tape on guys, and I see similarities between me and Serge Ibaka. I like help side defense a lot. I play for my teammates." He also mentioned another player for which he's likely to draw comparisons. "I see a lot of similarities with Nene, and a number of players."
Ezeli graduated from high school in Nigeria at age 14, but didn't start playing basketball until later in life. He was even cut from his high school team. That was just a minor bump in the road as the 6-11, 265-pound big man came back and did high school again in America. "When I went back to high school, it was actually remedial for me because it was accelerated over there," he said of the experience.
Ezeli will be drafted solely due to his size alone. While he isn't a stiff by any means inside, he does not possess a ton of skill on offense, which projects him to be a backup at the next level. Ezeli battled injury early in his senior season which sort of stunted his growth some, but because NBA teams are always in need of some size inside, he will get drafted possibly as high as late in the first round. More than likely, he'll fall into the second round.
Jenkins, who shot 44 percent from distance in his junior season, is arguably the best shooter in the draft. His range starts as soon as he walks in the gym, but in order to maximize his potential at the next level, he needs to improve his ability off the bounce.
Taylor steadily improved his three-point shot throughout his four years in Nashville. He connected on just 9.1 percent of his triple tries as a sophomore, but that number tremendously improved to 42.3 percent as a senior. The Sweden-born small forward also possesses elite athleticism and has the potential to be a lockdown defender who could guard multiple positions.
Wherever the trio ends up being selected, they will undoubtedly make their alma mater proud. It will be just the second time in school history that three Commodores were chosen in the same year, with the lone occurrence happening back in 1974 when there were ten rounds in the draft.
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - June 22
With three players set to get picked in the NBA Draft next week, you may be asking yourself how did the Vanderbilt Commodores not win more NCAA Tournament games the past couple years? Why weren't they ranked higher? What was their coaching staff doing? John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeffrey Taylor are all in the same projected draft range.
"I think we're all in the same boat, in that late first round, early second; we're all different positions," said Jenkins at the NBA Combine a couple weeks ago.
Vanderbilt may not be known as a college basketball powerhouse program, but each of these individuals benefit from having each other to lean on in this process.
"It's kind of incredible because we play hard together, practice together; we're good friends," said Jenkins. "We're not just guys that tolerate each other; we're always around each other."
Ezeli crushed the Vanderbilt school record for career blocked shots and talked about what his biggest strength is as a player. "I'm a defensive minded player so I've been watching a lot of tape on guys, and I see similarities between me and Serge Ibaka. I like help side defense a lot. I play for my teammates." He also mentioned another player for which he's likely to draw comparisons. "I see a lot of similarities with Nene, and a number of players."
Ezeli graduated from high school in Nigeria at age 14, but didn't start playing basketball until later in life. He was even cut from his high school team. That was just a minor bump in the road as the 6-11, 265-pound big man came back and did high school again in America. "When I went back to high school, it was actually remedial for me because it was accelerated over there," he said of the experience.
Ezeli will be drafted solely due to his size alone. While he isn't a stiff by any means inside, he does not possess a ton of skill on offense, which projects him to be a backup at the next level. Ezeli battled injury early in his senior season which sort of stunted his growth some, but because NBA teams are always in need of some size inside, he will get drafted possibly as high as late in the first round. More than likely, he'll fall into the second round.
Jenkins, who shot 44 percent from distance in his junior season, is arguably the best shooter in the draft. His range starts as soon as he walks in the gym, but in order to maximize his potential at the next level, he needs to improve his ability off the bounce.
Taylor steadily improved his three-point shot throughout his four years in Nashville. He connected on just 9.1 percent of his triple tries as a sophomore, but that number tremendously improved to 42.3 percent as a senior. The Sweden-born small forward also possesses elite athleticism and has the potential to be a lockdown defender who could guard multiple positions.
Wherever the trio ends up being selected, they will undoubtedly make their alma mater proud. It will be just the second time in school history that three Commodores were chosen in the same year, with the lone occurrence happening back in 1974 when there were ten rounds in the draft.
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
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Pups
05-21-2013
01:51 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.184
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I like how the Wolves aren't even on here.
True
05-21-2013
07:22 am
xxx.xxx.xxx3.97
(total posts: 1)
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If the Bobcats got Noel AND Wiggins, not bad at all...
Rod Guidry in Sacramento
05-21-2013
02:42 am
xxx.xxx.xxx2.44
(total posts: 1)
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Say fellas, it is time to call the New Orleans team the Pelicans. It has been official since the end of the regular season. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS.
Da Gong Show
05-20-2013
11:28 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.193
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The Minnewaukee Timberbucks?
03-10-2013
02:20 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.43
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03-10-2013
02:20 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.43
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03-10-2013
02:20 am
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03-10-2013
02:19 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.43
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v1iibv6dj
jle78ha9a
03-10-2013
02:19 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.43
(total posts: 5)
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8
03-10-2013
02:19 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.40
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drose is a cap killer
02-14-2013
11:09 pm
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post draft winners/losers should be switched
Reno
10-09-2012
06:21 pm
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Reading this makes my decisions easier than tkanig candy from a baby.
Ralph
09-10-2012
02:48 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.154
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Awsome submit and sthagirt to the level. I really do not know if this is certainly essentially the most beneficial put to question but do you men have any ideea in which to employ some specialized writers? Thanks
Ronnie
09-10-2012
02:08 am
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Come on, get it done!I have not watched the NBA since they left Vancouver. If they would be back, I would be back too.Miss going to the games a lot. NBA games were a lot more fan frieldny then the Canucks games but I would support both(and the Lions in summer/fall).
Claudia
09-10-2012
01:32 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.235
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Above and Beyond! My only regret is not kninowg you at Jacksons birth. Its been an incredible journey for my son's first year and I cant thank you enough for all of our photo sessions, all of your mom to mom advice, our girlfriend to girlfriend chats, play dates with the babies and just the love and positive energy you give off. Thank you Stace for being YOU! <3And many thanks to my girl Dany had it not been for her we wouldnt be viewing or reading any of this
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2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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