NBA Draft Profile: K.J. McDaniels

K.J. McDaniels, a junior forward from Clemson, declared for the NBA Draft recently. McDaniels is projected by many to be a late first pick. McDaniels stands 6'6", 200 lbs, and averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds per game last year as a Tiger.

The Good:
Athleticism. K.J. McDaniels has the potential to be the best athlete in this draft. He uses his athleticism to the best of his ability, giving his all every single time down the court. It has also helped him lead the Clemson roster in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks this past season. He provides a high-energy motor and willingness to be a leader. McDaniels uses his athleticism to swat shots, as he is only 6'6". K.J. is known for his ability to crash the offensive boards and throw down putbacks. Here is a link to K.J.'s best slam dunks over the past few years. http://youtu.be/HmtP3nrD6u8. K.J. is also an impressively improved shooter, knocking down 30% of his three-point tries last season. He helped lead the Clemson team to a victory over Duke and the NIT Final Four.

The Bad:
K.J. is not a consistent shooter. He has good stretches from the floor, but he is not as consistent as NBA teams would like to see. He doesn't have great mechanics. He is also not super smart with the ball. He tends to turn the ball too much, and his passing isn't very good. K.J. is also not one for creating off the dribble. He doesn't have a great pull-up jump shot, and he struggles with drives that are not straight line drives.

The Low-down:
K.J. will be spectacular NBA athlete and role player off of the bench. He can come into a game and knock down a few shots. He will provide a spark while not having a great jump shot to go along with it.

Pro Comparison:

Gerald Green

Draft Slot:
Late First Round

NBA Draft Profile: Semaj Christon

Semaj Christon, a sophomore guard from Xavier, declared for the NBA Draft. Christon is projected by many to be a late first-round draft pick or a second round pick. Christon stands 6'3", 190 lbs, and averaged 17 points per game and 4.2 assists per game.

The Good:
Semaj is an excellent athlete and finisher at the rim. He has a great floater and excels at finishing through contact. He has very good handles and has the speed to blow by defenders and get to the rim with ease. His jump shot has also gotten exceptionally better. He bumped his three-point percentage up to 38.8% after shooting 25% last year. He also averaged about 2 more points as he shot better. Christon can also be a defensive pest and pressure ball handlers into losing control or making bad passes. Christon also has an incredible upside that can land him a first round pick alone.

The Bad:
Christon does not have a consistent shot. Anything outside of a layup can be a bad shot for him. Even his free throws are bad. He only shot 67% from the line this year. He has shown that he can shoot, but there is still somewhat of a shooting struggle for Christon. Other than a shot, Christon seems to be a very strong prospect.

The Low-down:
Christon is a fast point guard who can get out and run. He should be able to make an impact coming off of the bench for an NBA team, where his role will be to get out and run the break. His shooting will probably derail him from having a starting job for years.

Pro Comparison:

Tony Wroten Jr.

Draft Slot:
Late First Round-Second Round

NBA Draft Profile: JaKarr Sampson

JaKarr Sampson, a sophomore forward from St. John's, declared for the NBA Draft recently. Most people see Sampson as an undrafted free agent. Sampson stands 6'9", 215 lbs and averaged 12.8 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game last year as a member of the Red Storm.

The Good:
Sampson is an incredible athlete. He can absolutely jump out of the gym. He has good size and length as a 6'9" small forward as a next level to match his athleticism. He has a decent jump shot, but it is not nearly good enough to be a next level jump shot. He knows he is not a great shooter, and he takes most of his shots inside, leading to his 49.5% clip from the field. Sampson is a good rebounder for a small forward, and he can score off of putbacks easily. His handle is good enough for him to blow by defenders and get to the rim, but he is not a great finisher. He uses his speed and bounce to make it to the rim to get most of his baskets. He made 84.9% of his two-point field goals, which ranked 11th in the nation last year.

The Bad:
Sampson's jump shot. He has a decent mid range shot, but he is nowhere close to being a deep threat. He made one of his five three point attempts last season at St. John's. He has never really had a jump shot, or a free throw shot even for that matter. He only shot 56.5% from the free-throw line last year. His shot can be drastically improved.

The Low-down:
A small forward prospect without a jump shot, Sampson is one of the most athletic players in the draft. He will come off of the bench and provide rebounds and inside points for an NBA team.

Pro Comparison:

Rudy Gay

Draft Slot:
Second Round-Undrafted

NBA Draft Profile: Eric Moreland

Eric Moreland, a redshirt junior forward from Oregon State, declared for the NBA Draft this week. Most people see him as an undrafted free agent. Moreland stands 6'10", 220 lbs and averaged 8.9 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game last year as a Beaver. He declared for the draft after last year but came back for his junior season.

The Good:
Rebounding. Moreland is a spectacular rebounder. He has averaged 10.4 rebounds per game for the last two years, and his career average is 8.6 rebounds per game. Moreland is a great athlete as well. He started the season on suspension this year, and only played twenty games, but he showed flashes of offensive potential. With a frame similar to a bulkier Kevin Durant, he also is the same type of athlete Durant is. Moreland is a smart player, and he knows his limitations and stays in his lane. He will not step out and take an errant three point attempt. While he showed signs of a decent jump shot, he only attempted 6.5 field goals per game, so his shooting ability is relatively unknown. He makes up for it with his great leaping ability.

The Bad:
Moreland is just not polished offensively. He does not have a reliable jump shot. He was 1-of-2 from three-point range this year. He is not a great finisher around the rim unless he has enough room to slam on someone. Moreland is also foul-prone. His minutes were cut this season because he often got into foul trouble.

The Low-down:
Moreland will be nothing special in the NBA. He is your everyday, pick-and-roll, catch-and-slam power forward. Things could be different if he develops a jump shot. He has immense potential, but can't seem to capitalize on opportunities.

Pro Comparison:

Kenyon Martin

Draft Slot:
Second Round- Undrafted Free Agent

NBA Draft Profile: Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson, a redshirt junior PG, declared for the NBA Draft last week. He is projected by many to be a late first round draft pick. Clarkson stand 6'5", 190 lbs and averaged 17.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game last year as a Tiger.

The Good:
Clarkson is going to be on the taller side of NBA point guards, at 6'5". He utilizes his size to bully smaller guards and get the rim, where he is an above-average finisher. Clarkson's length helps him get in passing lanes and aggravate smaller guards on defense. The Tulsa transfer also spent the year he sat out at Missouri going head-to-head in practice everyday against Boston Celtics guard Phil Pressey. Clarkson beat up on the 5'10" Pressey with his size and spectacular athleticism. Clarkson's court vision is exceptional, and his height certainly helps him see over the defense. Clarkson is a great free throw shooter at 83.1%. When he gets on a roll, he can hit multiple threes in a row. He pushes the ball in transition and can finish through contact with both hands. Clarkson is speedy and shifty, and he can blow by guards using his speed and nice handles.

The Bad:
Clarkson is not a consistent shooter at all. He only shot 28.1% from three this season. The only time he made more than two threes in one game this year was his 3-5 performance against UCLA. Clarkson also turns the ball over too much at times. He tries to force the issue on offense and often ends up getting stripped. He telegraphs his passes on offense and gets easily frustrated.

The Low-down:
Clarkson is a super-athletic, tall point guard who can score the basketball. His shooting needs work, but his finishing at the rim is a strong suit.  His passing ability is strong, but about average for a point guard.

Pro Comparison:

A 6'5" Peyton Siva

Draft Slot:
Mid-Late First Round

NBA Draft Profile: Jarnell Stokes

Jarnell Stokes, a junior PF from Tennessee, declared for the NBA Draft Friday. He is projected by many to be a second-round draft pick. Stokes stands 6'8", 260 lbs and averaged 15.1 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game last year as a Vol.

The Good:
Stokes was second in the nation in double-doubles last year at Tennessee, finishing only behind freshman phenom Julius Randle. Stokes finished 8th in the nation in rebounding, and led all major conference players in the same category. Stokes boasts an old mans post game: He will catch the ball posting up on his defenders, and try to shake his defender on the way to a basket. This is usually effective, and he is a good finisher at the rim. He has also drastically finished his free-throw stroke from 56.9% to 69.6%. Stokes has also developed a nice 15-foot jump shot, but he does most of his work on the offensive boards and the post.

The Bad:

The NBA today is overran with hyper-athletic big men, like the Detroit Pistons' Josh Smith (6) and Andre Drummond (0). Athleticism is one of Jarnell Stokes' major weaknesses. He is slow, not a strong jumper, and struggles with stamina. He will have to jump much higher and run much faster at the NBA Combine to prove scouts different. Stokes, at only 6'8", cannot get away with an under-the-rim game in the NBA against players like the Pistons' front line. Many NBA forwards today also have developed jumpers. Stokes has a decent mid-range shot, but his three-point game is non-existent. His under-the-rim game and weak jumper will not get him good scoring looks, and his slowness is also a concern if he faces a power forward that can drive from the perimeter. Stokes' free-throw shot is still not as good as a power forward's should be.

The Low-down:
Stokes is a strong power forward who can bruise down low and rebound well. He is also only twenty, which leaves plenty of room for improvement. Stokes has a good jump shot, and hopefully should be able to punish defenses if they decide to leave him open. His athletisism is somewhat a concern, but he hopefully can overcome that obstacle.

Pro Comparison:
Poor man's Al Jefferson

Draft Slot:
Very Late First Round- Anywhere in Second Round

Predictions for the 21 Players That Have Declared For the Draft

The list of players that have declared is correct as of April 7th

Potential Top 5 Picks


Joel Embiid, 7-0, Fr., C (Kansas)
Aaron Gordon, 6-9, Fr., C (Arizona) 
Marcus Smart, 6-4, Soph., G (Oklahoma State)
Andrew Wiggins, 6-8, Fr., F, (Kansas)

Potential Lottery- Late Lottery (6-14) Picks


Tyler Ennis, 6-2, Fr., G (Syracuse)
Gary Harris, 6-4, Soph., G (Michigan State)
Rodney Hood, 6-8, Soph., F, (Duke)
Noah Vonleh, 6-10, Fr., F (Indiana)

Potential Middle-Late First Round (15-30) Picks


Jordan Adams, 6-5, Soph., G (UCLA)
Kyle Anderson, 6-9, Soph., G (UCLA)
Jabari Brown, 6-5, Jr., G (Missouri)
Semaj Christon, 6-5, Soph., G (Xavier)
Jordan Clarkson, 6-5, Jr., G (Missouri)
Zach LaVine, 6-5, Fr., G (UCLA)
T.J. Warren, 6-8, Soph., F (North Carolina State)

Second Round Picks-Undrafted


Jahii Carson, 5-11, Soph., G (Arizona State)
James Michael McAdoo, 6-9, Jr., F (North Carolina)
Johnny O'Bryant, 6-9, Jr., F (LSU)
LaQuinton Ross, 6-8, Jr., F (Ohio State)
JaKarr Sampson, 6-9, Soph., F (St. John's)
Roscoe Smith, 6-8, Jr., F (UNLV) 

Will Kelly Oubre Be Better Than Andrew Wiggins?

Andrew Wiggins had a season full of up and downs at Kansas this year. He averaged 17.1 points per game, 6 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Wiggins had his load of good and bad games, like 41 points against West Virginia and 3 points against Oklahoma State. Wiggins remained a top 3 NBA Draft prospect although his year wasn't that great. Wiggins' athleticism and potential kept him at the top of the draft board. Wiggins was immensely hyped coming into Kansas, but his only season wasn't like what most analysts thought it would be like.

Kelly Oubre will overtake the Kansas starting small forward job. Oubre is a better shooter than Wiggins was in high school, and his success should translate to the college level. Oubre isn't quite the athlete Wiggins is, but Oubre powerful and quick off his feet. Oubre can score any way he needs to, and he is also a strong distributor and rebounder. Oubre's combination of scoring, rebounding, and passing make him more of an all-around threat than Wiggins. The lefty Oubre should be able to get to the line and make more free throws than Wiggins did.

Wiggins Stat Line: 17.1 PPG, 45% FG, 34% 3-FG, 78% FT, 1.5 APG, 6 RPG, 1 BPG, 1 SPG
Oubre Predicted Stat Line: 20 PPG, 43% FG, 38% 3-FG, 85% FT, 2.5 APG, 5 RPG, .5 BPG, 2 SPG

Top 10 Dunks of the College Basketball Season

10. Jordan McRae's Tomahawk

Jordan McRae blows right by Tekele Cotton for a monster tomahawk slam that resulted in a technical foul.

9. Some Guy from VMI

Just kidding, his name is Jordan Weethee. But this was a ridiculous poster slam.

8. Aaron Gordon Reverse Oop

The "Unsung Freshman", A.K.A Aaron Gordon, finishes an incredible 360 alley-oop from point guard T.J. McConnell. Gordon has left to the NBA, so one lucky team will have many slams like this in their future.

7. That Other Freshman

No one actually calls him that. His name is Andrew Wiggins, and he also goes by "The Canadian Jordan" and "CLBJ" (Canadian LeBron James). Wiggins shows why he is nicknamed that with this jam.

6. Not In My House

Houston forward Danuel House (no that is not a typo) absolutely crushes the poster over Temple guard Will Cummings.

5. Deonte Demolishes

Nevada's Deonte Burton a.k.a Bulldozer Burton sits a Boise State defender down with a vicious tomahawk jam. Don't be surprised to hear Burton's name called on draft night either.

4. Mar-killing it

Markel Brown was the best dunker in college basketball for four years at Oklahoma State. The senior guard has left his legacy behind with monster dunks like these

3. Stuntin' Like My Daddy

David Stockton of Gonzaga thought he would make a play his father, the legendary John Stockton, used to make.Too bad Kansas State's Marcus Foster had other plans. He sat the whole Stockton family line down with this ridiculous poster.

2. You Are Not Quall-ified to Guard Me

Arkansas's Michael Qualls fought hard with Markel Brown for the best dunker in college basketball. Brown won, but this dunk helped Qualls' case for best dunker.

1. Perfect Dunk for an Almost Perfect Season

Wichita State finished the season with a 35-1 record, with the only loss coming in the tournament to Kentucky. But in the conference season against Illinois State, Tekele Cotton decided to put in some work. He caught a backdoor pass at hammered it down for the number one dunk of the year.