Aldridge new No 1

[exodus]

In keeping with the "We'll get them next year" theme, here are some of Chad Ford's comments on draft prospects:

" Draft roundup: Aldridge new No. 1posted: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 | Feedback

After two weeks of great basketball, it's time to do our first comprehensive update of the Top 100.

Who's No. 1? One week after the Maui Invitational, a number of NBA scouts and executives who spent last week in Maui are conceding that they might have been at the wrong tournament. While NBA scouts got to see top prospects like Rudy Gay, Adam Morrison and Ronnie Brewer perform, a challenger to become the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NBA draft was wowing folks in Kansas City at the Guardians Classic.

Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been so good in the first six games of the season that a number of NBA scouts and executives that I talked to now have him rated as the No. 1 prospect on their boards.

We had Aldridge ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the draft on our preseason big board, based mainly on potential. Aldridge has lived up to that projection and them some in November. He's averaging 18.8 ppg and 11.5 rpg and shooting a whopping 67 percent from the field.

Scouts are raving about his improved body, his newfound tenacity in the paint and the aggression that he's shown so far. Scouts already knew that he had size, athleticism, and quickness, plus a nice perimeter game and an amazing set of fundamentals. But they wondered if he would be tough enough to make the transition to the four. The answer, at least at these early stages, is yes. If that continues to be the case, he'll seriously challenge Gay as the top prospect for the draft.

After consulting with a number of NBA scouts and executives, I've moved him into the No. 1 spot of my Top 100, with Gay coming in a close second.

Kentucky point guard Rajon Rondo continues to impress scouts. He's shooting 50 percent from 3-point land (7-for-14) and a little better from inside the arc (22-for-43) and averaging a whopping 10.8 rpg for Kentucky in its first six games.

It looks like Miami's Guillermo Diaz is trying to do his best impersonation of a point guard in an effort to boost his stock. He's assist total is up to 4.1 per game and his shots are down. But he was badly outplayed by Temple's Mardy Collins in a loss last week.

He's fallen … can he get up? Texas is a team of extremes at the moment. NBA scouts are running to get on LaMarcus Aldridge's bandwagon while moving quickly to hop off point guard Daniel Gibson's.

Gibson has been awful early for Texas. To date he's averaging 10.3 ppg, shooting 34 percent from the field and handing out just 1.2 assists for every turnover.

Scouts were never totally convinced that he was a pass-first point guard. He wasn't last season, but given all of Texas' troubles, the thinking was that Gibson had to play the way he did.

His play early in the season has revived concerns about his point guard instincts. With great players like Aldridge and P.J. Tucker healthy, why can't he get them the ball?

In fact, in the Guardians Classic, the only time Gibson really thrived was when he moved over to play two guard. He's getting a rep as a selfish player, something no young point guard wants at this stage of the game.

[Packfill]

Here is hoping the Hawks get the first pick. early on it seems the only two guys that could help the Hawks are Aldridge and Rondo.

[lush23]

A couple of other big men that I like also are Paul Davis from Michigan St. and Eric Williams from Wake.

Davis was very impressive in Maui and last night vs. GT. Soft touch around the basket and can hit the college three. Ave. 20 & 11 so far shooting over 60% from the field against good competition.

Williams has to be the most underated player in college basketball. He shoots a very high percentage from the field against all competition. His rebounding numbers could be better but he will be an outstanding PF in the NBA. Saw him live against GT last year and he was unstopable.

[exodus]

Great matchup for next saturday. I don't watch a lot of college bball but I will definitely watch that game.