Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Unlike last season when everyone and their brother had Anthony Davis of Kentucky as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, this year it is wide open. Talk to any NBA scout and they will give you up to six, seven, eight names of guys who could be the top pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. One veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv, “The list is a movable feast changing from week-to-week.” Here’s his take on six prospects who could go No. 1.Nerlens Noel, 6-10 Fr. F, Kentucky
10.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3,7 bpg, 2.7 spg
Scout’s take: “Great quickness and effort. Blocks everything, rebounds, steals, improving offensively. Great upside.”
Alex Len, 7-1 So. C, Maryland
13.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Scout’s take: “Always moving. Shoots it out to 18 feet. Rebounds, works at it.”
Ben McLemore, 6-5 Fr. G, Kansas
16.4 pgg, 5.4 rpg
Scout’s take: “Shooting up the charts. Shoots it straight. Really runs the floor and finishes.”
Cody Zeller, 7-0 So. C, Indiana
16.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Scout’s take: “Understands how to play. Good skill set. Can play every part of the game.”
Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6 Fr. F/G, UCLA
18.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Scout’s take: “Good looking swingman. Runs, jumps, dunks. Hits the medium pull-up jumper.”
Anthony Bennett, 6-8 Fr. F, UNLV
19.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg
Scout’s take: “Playing at a very high level. Explosive driver. Finishes strong. One of the country’s best young players.”
Photo: Kentucky Athletics
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Unlike last season when everyone and their brother had Anthony Davis of Kentucky as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, this year it is wide open.
Talk to any NBA scout and they will give you up to six, seven, eight names of guys who could be the top pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
One veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv, “The list is a movable feast changing from week-to-week.” Here’s his take on six prospects who could go No. 1.
Nerlens Noel, 6-10 Fr. F, Kentucky
10.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3,7 bpg, 2.7 spg
Scout’s take: “Great quickness and effort. Blocks everything, rebounds, steals, improving offensively. Great upside.”
Alex Len, 7-1 So. C, Maryland
13.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Scout’s take: “Always moving. Shoots it out to 18 feet. Rebounds, works at it.”
Ben McLemore, 6-5 Fr. G, Kansas
16.4 pgg, 5.4 rpg
Scout’s take: “Shooting up the charts. Shoots it straight. Really runs the floor and finishes.”
Cody Zeller, 7-0 So. C, Indiana
16.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Scout’s take: “Understands how to play. Good skill set. Can play every part of the game.”
Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6 Fr. F/G, UCLA
18.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Scout’s take: “Good looking swingman. Runs, jumps, dunks. Hits the medium pull-up jumper.”
Anthony Bennett, 6-8 Fr. F, UNLV
19.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg
Scout’s take: “Playing at a very high level. Explosive driver. Finishes strong. One of the country’s best young players.”
Photo: Kentucky Athletics
