Whos NBA Bound From Class Of 2002

It's early. I know. But maybe this column can give you some feeling on who is likely to jump to the NBA draft of 2002. After all, most of us had it down that Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Sagana Diop, and Ousmane Cisse were likely to jump. And, then there was Kwame Brown and Tony Key ... Brown we can understand but Key?

In the class of 2002 you can already pencil in Amare Stoudemire, who has committed to Memphis. He will never play a minute for John Calipari. Stoudemire is a 6-10 power forward/center and could be the best player in this year's class. He runs the floor well, blocks shots, finishes with authority, and doesn't have an ounce of fat on his frame. Can you say NBA?

If Stoudemire is not the best player in the class, a lot of onlookers would vote for Lenny Cooke, who is a 6-6 swingman. Cooke is a fantastic passer who has a great deal of energy on the offensive end. Cooke lists several schools (story to be published later on this site) but they might be wasting their time.

Many have been impressed with the play of Sani Ibrahim, a 6-10 center from the Winchendon School in Massachusetts. We have had the opportunity to see Ibrahim many times during the New England Prep School play.

Ibrahim can run, jump, block shots, finish in transition...all great and attractive aspects for the NBA scouts. Ibrahim will receive a lot of pressure next spring to jump. And who will turn down the amount of money they will offer?

DeAngelo Collins, a 6-9 forward from Inglewood High School in California, is another possibility for jumping early too. Collins recently played at the TOC in North Carolina. Collins has expressed interest like the above in jumping too and he is big enough to garner NBA interest and skilled enough to be selected in the first round ...

Many have said Shelden Williams could jump to ... don't see it that way just yet... Williams appears into playing college ball ...

Slim possibilities: Torin Francis, 6-9 forward from Tabor Academy in Massachusetts ... Shavlik Randolph, 6-9 forward from Broughton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina ... Kelenna Azubuike, 6-5 of Victory Christian in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though Azubuike's dad has been quoted as saying his son is going to the NBA. The question is by the time the draft rolls around next summer, will be NBA be as interested in him? Time will tell ... (picture in story of Lenny Cooke)