2010 NBA Draft: When they were prospects
Rivals.com's No. 1-ranked prospect was the No. 1 selection in the 2010 NBA Draft on Thursday. But John Wall was not the only player that Rivals.com saw eye-to-eye with the NBA on when we were rating them as prospects and potential pros.
We take a look back at what we thought of Thursday's first-round picks when they were high school players with NBA dreams.
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2010 NBA Draft First Round Selections
1. John Wall, PG, Kentucky
NBA Team: Washington Wizards
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 1 overall in 2009
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Wall (7/31/2008): Blazingly fast with the basketball, Wall is an impeccable ball handler with court savvy. The right-hander has a penchant for beating defenders with his left hand and can then counter with a terrific left-to-right, behind-the-back dribble. Finding teammates on the move is his forte, but he is also an excellent finisher at the rim. His jumper is still a work in progress, but it is good enough to keep the defense honest.
2. Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State
NBA Team: Philadelphia 76ers
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 49 overall in 2007
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Turner (6/7/2006): Turner is a smooth athlete at nearly 6 feet 7 who plays like a budding new age point guard. He handles the ball equally well with either hand and has a superb hesitation move going either direction. He is also able to guard four positions on the court. He does need to get stronger and improve his shooting range. But with his fluid handle, mid-range capabilities, court vision and defensive prowess, Turner is developing into an elite prospect.
3. Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
NBA Team: New Jersey Nets
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 3 overall in 2009
4. Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
High School Rank: Two stars out of prep school in 2006 (Began career at Iowa State)
5. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky
NBA Team: Sacramento Kings
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 2 overall in 2009
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Cousins (12/10/2007): An impressively physical presence, Cousins has the ability to dominate the interior. He can score in traffic and rebound in a crowd. Defensively, he is extremely difficult to score over. Not limited to being effective around the basket, Cousins can also operate on the perimeter. Perhaps his most underrated skill is his passing ability. Maturing emotionally is his biggest challenge in the development of his game.
6. Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor
NBA Team: Golden State Warriors
High School Rank: Three stars in 2006 (Originally signed with Michigan)
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Udoh (1/24/2006): A long presence inside as a defender and rebounder, Udoh is developing more of an offensive game. He is capable of hitting the 15-foot face-up jumper, and his back-to-the basket game should improve once he gets healthy and stronger.
7. Greg Monroe, PF, Georgetown
NBA Team: Detroit Pistons
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 8 overall in 2008
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Monroe(9/6/2007): A smooth athlete at 6 feet 10, Monroe has an all around skill package that is only going to get better. The lefty has great court awareness and passes the ball extremely well. He is extending his shooting range and is developing scoring moves going to his right. When going to his left, he is a force. Strong on the boards and a shot-blocking threat, Monroe also has the quickness to guard on the perimeter. A year younger than most prospects in his class, Monroe has an extremely high ceiling.
8. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
NBA Team: Los Angeles Clippers
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 7 overall in 2008
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Aminu (8/28/2006): A smooth athlete with a feel for the game, Aminu is quite skilled with the ball. He has a soft touch out to the arc, passes well and can put the ball on the floor effectively. As he gets stronger, he will become a more dominant rebounder and scorer.
9. Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler
NBA Team: Utah Jazz
High School Rank: Three stars in 2008
10. Paul George, SF, Fresno State
NBA Team: Indiana Pacers
High School Rank: Three stars in 2008
11. Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
NBA Team: Oklahoma City Thunder (via trade from New Orleans)
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 30 overall in 2007
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Aldrich (6/19/2008): A big-bodied center, Aldrich is a space eater in the lane. He is tough to score on around the basket and is a good defensive rebounder. Limited offensively right now, Aldrich is developing a go-to move with his left-handed jump hook.
12. Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas
NBA Team: Memphis Grizzlies
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 8 overall in 2009
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Henry (5/30/2007): A do-everything guard at 6 feet 6, Henry has the tools to be a star at the highest level. He is a prolific scorer with a complete arsenal of scoring moves. And with his size and athleticism, he can defend as well as rebound with the big boys.
13. Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
NBA Team: Toronto Raptors
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 15 overall in 2008
14. Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
NBA Team: Houston Rockets
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 17 overall in 2007
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Patterson (8/17/2006): A top-notch athlete with a super motor, Patterson competes from baseline to baseline. Offensively, he is best in the mid-range as a shooter and post feeder. He also scores out of the low post and as a rebounder. Defensively, he moves his feet well laterally and can block shots. His ball handling is the weaker area of his game.
15. Larry Sanders, PF, VCU
NBA Team: Milwaukee Bucks
High School Rank: Two stars in 2007
16. Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada
NBA Team: Portland Trail Blazers (via trade from Minnesota)
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 31 overall in 2008
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Babbitt (8/28/2006): A versatile player who can score inside with his penchant for establishing position and then with his agile footwork, Babbitt also has a very nice face-up jumper out to well beyond the three-point line. Also skilled as a passer and rebounder, Babbitt has the ability to impact the game anywhere on the court offensively. However, his suspect foot speed and lack of explosiveness are a concern defensively.
17. Kevin Seraphin, PF, France
NBA Team: Chicago Bulls
High School Rank: NR
18. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky
NBA Team: Los Angeles Clippers (via trade from Oklahoma City)
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 23 overall in 2009
19. Avery Bradley, SG, Texas
NBA Team: Boston Celtics
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 4 overall in 2009
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Bradley (9/2/2008): There might not be a better midrange scorer in the class nor a better on-the-ball defender than Bradley. He does have room for improvement as a rebounder and passer, but his niche as a scorer and defender make him one of the top shooting guards in the country. His wingspan and heart allow him to play bigger than his height.
20. James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State
NBA Team: San Antonio Spurs
High School Rank: Four-stars, No. 32 overall in 2007
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Anderson (9/2/2008): A bouncy and wiry wing player, Anderson impacts the game in a number of ways. He is outstanding filling the lanes in transition and is a great offensive rebounder. As a multiposition defender, he has a knack for coming up with big steals. Fairly skilled with the ball as a shooter, handler and passer, Anderson just needs to continue refining those skills. Added strength will help him finish the difficult shots he is capable of creating.
21. Craig Brackins, PF, Iowa State
NBA Team: New Orleans Hornets (via trade from Oklahoma City)
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 20 overall in 2007
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Brackins (6/7/2006): With his long arms and high shoulders at a good 6 feet 10, Brackins scores in the post with nifty footwork and both left handed and right handed jump hooks. He also has a nice shooting touch out to the three-point line and handles the ball and passes it with poise. On the defensive end, Brackins is difficult to score over. Not afraid of contact and willing to mix it up inside, Brackins does get pushed around at times and needs to get stronger and learn to play with a lower center of gravity for more explosiveness. But the fact is that as good as Brackins is now, his best ball lies ahead of him.
22. Elliot Williams, SG, Memphis
NBA Team: Portland Trail Blazers
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 16 overall in 2008 (Began career at Duke)
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Williams (3/1/2007): An electric athlete, Williams is a big time slashing scorer who can also wreak havoc on the defensive end with his length, quickness and superb anticipation. A potential big-time point guard, Williams sees the floor and can break his man down on the dribble. He loves to take the ball right and then spin back to his dominant left hand against the second defender. His outside shot is in the process of improving.
23. Trevor Booker, PF, Clemson
NBA Team: Washington Wizards (via trade from Minnesota)
High School Rank: Three stars in 2006
24. Damion James, SF, Texas
NBA Team: New Jersey Nets (via trade from Atlanta)
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 17 overall in 2006
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on James (5/2/2005): A smooth athlete, James is a versatile small forward who can guard either forward position and can score both inside and outside. Handles the ball well but needs to work on the mechanics of his jump shot.
25. Dominique Jones, SG, South Florida
NBA Team: Dallas Mavericks (via trade from Memphis)
High School Rank: Three stars in 2007
26. Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington
NBA Team: New Orleans Hornets (via trade from Oklahoma City)
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 48 overall in 2006
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Pondexter (8/16/2004): Pondexter is a strong competitor who can effectively guard a shooting guard through a power forward and possibly even a point guard. Offensively, he is a promising and developing small forward who will be able to play both forward positions on the high major level if he grows a couple more inches. He can adequately shoot the ball, drive it to the basket, and pass it. With his passion for the game, those skills should only improve with time.
27. Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier
NBA Team: Atlanta Hawks (via trade from New Jersey)
High School Rank: Three stars in 2007 (Began career at Indiana)
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Crawford (11/2/2006): A versatile combo guard, Crawford is a rangy slasher. he also has a feel for passing the ball and can knock down three-pointers off the catch. Not overly athletic, but his defense is a strength.
28. Greivis Vasquez, SG, Maryland
NBA Team: Memphis Grizzlies
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 46 overall in 2006
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Vasquez (9/19/2005): Highly competitive and with a flair to his game, Vasquez sees the floor and passes with the best of them. Along with his point guard skills, he has the size to play multiple perimeter positions. Shoots the ball well enough to keep the defense honest but prefers to slash to the basket where he can both make the tough pass on the move or finish the tough shot. He does need to gain strength and improve quickness to defend at the high-major level.
29. Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky
NBA Team: Orlando Magic
High School Rank: Five stars, No. 22 overall in 2009
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Orton (10/12/2008): A huge physical presence, Orton does his best work on the defensive end, blocking shots and rebounding. Offensively, he feeds the post well from the high post, but has room for improvement as a low post scorer. He does have three-point shooting range.
30. Lazar Hayward, SF, Marquette
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves (via trade from Washington)
High School Rank: Four stars, No. 73 overall in 2006
Jerry Meyer's high school scouting report on Hayward (8/22/2005): A natural scorer who has a knack at getting the ball in the basket in a variety of ways, Hayward is a well-built wing player. Not the most explosive athlete, be he is a smooth athlete with very good body control. Ball handling and passing skills have room for improvement.
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