1. Marc Gasol
2. Rashard Lewis
3. Manu Ginobili
4. Carlos Boozer
5. Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento Kings version)
As you can see, you can always find a quality talent lurking in the latter round, beaming with confidence and determined to make the team. This year is no different. There appears to be a fair amount of players that could contribute right away that don't have the "IT" factor that would otherwise make them a 1st round pick.
So what separates a first round pick from a second round pick and why do some of your favorite college players fall? Its all about Star Power, upside, size, age and availability. The Star Power conversation should need little explanation, either you have it or you don't. In the eyes of the scouts, upside equals potential. If you were a high school All American or attended one of the bigger universities and led the team in any meaningful way, you have a shot. You can't teach size; so if you have it at your position in combination with upside or Star Power its pretty much 1st round for you. Undersized players often are immediately called into question, especially tweeners. Age is always a big deal, it provides a certain level of risk if a player is older. The older the player, the more set in their ways they usually are. Availability only applies to foreign players. Lots of top notch foreign players have fallen to the second round because of the draft and stash option.
Below I am going to review some serious potential that could turn into a steal on draft day for teams drafting in the second round.
1. Mike Muscala: The 6'11 Senior from Bucknell had a outstanding college career. His senior year he averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. He was named conference player of the year and made the Honorable Mention list for the All American Team. Muscala could step in right away for any team, serving as a quality big man. He has a great touch around the basket, can step away to shoot and would rebound at a pretty high level.
2. Brandon Davies: Davies had a roller coaster career at BYU. He was the subject of several news stories during the 2011 college season when he was suspended for violating the schools honor code. Since returning he has been BYU's best player leading them in scoring and rebounding. He averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds while leading BYU to the NIT Final Four. He has great skill with the ball, is an elite passer for a big man and he can spread the floor. He will be a nice addition to any second unit in the league.
3. Ray McCallum: The coaches kid averaged a conference high 19 points, while dishing out 4.5 assists and snagging 5 rebounds per game. He was named conference player of the year and led his Detroit Titans to the NIT. McCallum is aggressive on defense, has a high basketball IQ and could provide a great spark off the bench.
4. Pierre Jackson: The lightening quick point guard from Baylor had a pretty successful career. He averaged 20 points and 7 assists per game. With numbers like that, if he was 4 inches taller we would be talking about him as a lottery pick. Jackson led Baylor to the NIT championship and continues to impress in workouts. He has a great handle, can shoot from deep and he has a ton of heart.
5. Glen Rice Jr.: The son of NBA great Glen Rice has had his fair share of ups and downs. He left Georgia Tech under some shaky circumstances, but found his niche playing in the NBDL. If not for his troubled history, Rice would be a solid first round pick. Rice averaged 14.5 points and 7 rebounds during the regular season. He expanded his game during the playoffs averaging 25 points and 9.5 rebounds, while helping the Rio Grande Vipers win the NBDL Championship. Rice can score and can be a potential starter later down the line if he puts it all together.The Draft Fanatic
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