Straight Eight:2008 Can’t miss NCAA prospects

-By Weekend Columnist Gilles Gallant
2007 was a big year for NCAA freshmen. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant basically had a one year audition for #1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Both were highly touted coming out of high school and both were the first victims of the NBA age limit rule. Now the floodgates have opened up for NCAA recruiters to get the “next one” who’ll be forced to fulfill one year of college and bring their program back to respectability before making the necessary leap to the NBA. A bulk of the prospects being mentioned today all have the talent level to make the leap to the NBA but how much impact when they get there is another question. So I’ve ranked the top 2008 Freshmen coming into the college game. It will make you forget about Greg “One leg longer than the other” Oden and Kevin “I average 20 points in my sleep” Durant. So screw 2007. It’s in the past. We’re moving on. This is the real year of the Freshman.

8) Kyle Singler (Duke) NBA Comparison – Mike Dunleavy Jr. (With a hint of Dirk Nowitzki)

One and done - No

The Oregon native and biggest recruit for Duke this year will have some big holes to fill in the lineup. After losing Josh McRoberts last year to the draft, their frontcourt has virtually no one taller than 6’9’. Singler could see some time at the PF spot but he’s a perimeter guy with a sweet shot. Coach K will expect him to stretch defenses this year as they play small ball. He has play making abilities and shooting touch that separate him from other players, accompanied with a high basketball IQ. Even though he is one of the better prospects, don’t expect him to carry his team to the Final Four as Duke’s talent level really drops off after Singler. Could be another crappy year for the Dookies but if they get another solid recruit next year, it could be enough to put them back in contender status. Look for Singler to get ACC rookie of the year.

7) Donte Greene (Syracuse) NBA Comparison: Rashard Lewis

One and done - Yes

Syracuse hasn’t been this excited for a prospect since Carmelo Anthony. And again, they will praise him as the savior of Syracuse. However, until the recruiting process last year during the multiple High School All Star games, he was barely mentioned in the breath of this list of prospects. That is of course until the MacDonald’s and Jordan Classic games where he got game MVP in both. I’m still not sold on his consistency. One minute he seems to be making 3’s flawlessly and driving to the bucket and dunking with authority. The next he’s hardly visible on the court. It sounds a lot like Julian Wright Syndrome from Kansas. Look for the Orangemen to make the NCAA tourney as their bench is quite more solid than last year. Greene will be drafted in the top 10 next year, book it.

6) Kousta Koufos (Ohio State) NBA Comparison: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (with more mobility)

One and done? - No

Ohio State’s Coach Thad Matta has got a premium on centers or something. After a one and done with #1 pick Greg Oden, he gets a top 3 Center in the NCAA. Koufos wasn’t really mentioned much in the recruiting process like other prospects mentioned but exploded on to the scene this past summer. At the Under-18 European Championships playing for Greece, he led the tourney in points, rebounds and blocks and was named tournament MVP. Look for him to lead Ohio State to at least to the NCAA tourney.

5) Eric Gordon (Indiana) NBA Comparison – Baron Davis

One and done: Yes

If this guy was 3 inches taller he would be #1. At 6’4” the size advantage does scare scouts off, but now that I’ve mentioned the bad, let’s talk about the good. This guy is a total package, hybrid player. He has skill sets of many different players with the strength of Ron Artest, the shooting of Mitch Richmond, and the speed and quickness of NFL running backs(which he some what resembles). He could lead Indiana deep into the NCAA tourney with maybe even making the Elite Eight. David Stern will be calling his name come June. He may even get drafted in the NFL just in case. The Houston Texans definitely need a running back but they’re not that educated on the position (see Reggie Bush).

4) Kevin Love (UCLA) NBA Comparison – Wes Unseld/ Elton Brand

One and Done – Depends on if he wins a championship

Love could easily be the freshmen to lead UCLA to its next NCAA title. He’s got basketball genes with his father playing in the NBA and is a big-man with the type of intangibles that will change games he plays in. He constantly is a factor on the floor on the college level but the question scouts will ask is can he sustain that in the NBA? (I’m not quite a scout but isn’t that really what any one of them wants to know?) He is playing in an ideal situation where the bench is deep and the starters all have talent enough to be considered as NBA prospects. He has the best outlet pass I have ever seen which helps to ignite the fast break. On most NBA draft sites he’s ranked in the low teens but that will change once he leads UCLA to the Final Four. He gets drafted in the top 10 if he stays in the draft.

3) Michael Beasley (Kansas State) NBA comparison – Carmelo Anthony

One and Done – Yes

Symbolic to a beast on the offensive end, this guy can do it all. Drop-step hooks, fade-away jumpers, dunks in traffic. He’s got a big personality to go with it as he regularly talks smack to other players about how he’ll dunk on them but the best part is that he actually backs it up. Questions about his intensity surface as some games he looks bored because of the talent around him. He can rebound ferociously for a player his size at 6’9”. His draft status will circulate based on how far he carries his team but his sidekick Bill Walker (OJ Mayo’s High School teammate) will help carry the load with some Vince-Carter-like dunks as well. Kansas State could very well make the sweet sixteen or they could flame out and not even make the NCAA loser tourney, the NIT. Beasley will be a star in the NBA; it’s only a matter of time. But according to him, he already is.

2) OJ Mayo (USC) NBA Comparison – Gilbert Arenas

One and Done? – What do you think?

This guy could’ve been playing pro ball when he was in grade 11. He is scary good because of his ability to create his own shot. He is advanced beyond his years in ball handling but his point guard skills are questionable. Some feel he looks for his shot or the highlight play too much instead of the simple pass. He’s a scout’s dream for size, strength and talent in the point guard position but will he put it all together? We’ll if he can only keep his hands on the ball instead of punching people. Trouble just seems to follow this guy. He’s been reported to have punched 3 different teammates in the last 3 years along with an altercation with some students that made him transfer to another school. USC will be an ideal fit as he can be in the spotlight and handle the rock the whole time. He’ll average 30 points a game this year and USC games will all of a sudden get a huge boost in TV ratings. Basically doing what Lebron didn't have to (silly ol’ Stern). Right now it’s just a countdown to get him in the greenroom at Madison Square Garden and hear his name to be drafted.

1) Derrick Rose (Memphis) NBA Comparison – Gary Payton (with the hops of Steve Francis)

One and Done - Yes

He will be the best point guard in the NBA in 5 years. If you don’t know, then now ya know. His jump shot may have a little hitch, but that will improve as he matures and practices more. On the defensive end or on the fast break, he maintains a high intensity and makes the plays that win ballgames. He is a defensive hawk and has great point guard skills with blinding quickness that will separate him even on the NBA level. Memphis’ program will help him develop his PG skills even more, as in the past he’s been relied on more to score. His quiet personality and his leadership have been questioned….until the dying moments in the game where he makes a killer steal and soars for the dunk. You could say his play speaks for itself and he will make a Memphis a front-runner to make an NCAA title run in a weak C-USA conference.

Honorable mention:
DeAndre Jordan - Texas A&M
Blake Griffin - Oklahoma
JJ Hickson - NC State
Austin Daye - Gonzaga
Jeryyd Bayless - Arizona

All in all, the top three ranked players could shift at some point during the year due to impressive play or an injury. Freshmen regularly get left off the pre-season All-American teams by the press writers but it’ll be hard to keep them off the list by the end of the year. It should be an exciting season and an even more thrilling NCAA tournament as the talent in college keeps beefing up.