ESPN draft profile on Gaines

[Admin]

Role: Starting guard. Playermaker and top offensive option.

Career to date: A blue chip high school prospect. Many assumed he'd end up playing for the Wisconsin Badgers, as he grew up right near the campus. Averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals as a senior. Narrowed his choices to Maryland and Wisconsin before signing with the Cardinals. Averaged 9.1 points and a team-leading 3.4 assists as the Cards' starting point guard as a freshman. Tailied 13.9 points and 3.3 assists as a sophomore, while leading Conference-USA in 3-point percentage (.426, 40-of-94). Finished 25th in the NCAA in scoring (21.0 ppg) while averaging 3.6 assists per game. 673 total points were third most in U of L history. Became only the second U of L player in 30 years to average over 20 points a game and the most since Darrell Griffith averaged 22.9 points in the Cards' 1980 NCAA Championship season.

Scouting Report: Brilliant athlete ... Slippery quick penetrating to the basket ... Tremendous finisher ... Slick dunker in transition ... Excellent first step ... Needs to improve his ball-handling going left ... Finishes strongly in traffic, his size in the backcourt is rare and this, combined with his athleticism, helps him to get off clean runners over the defense ... Has developed into a big-time 3-point shooter ... Cocks the ball far back over his shoulder on his wind-up ... Excellent straightaway shooter, with a good follow through but not great arc on the ball's trajectory due to a hard release ... Passes extremely well ... Finds cutters ... Can drive and dish ...Gets his hands on a lot of steals.

Professional Outlook: Gaines will be in high demand this June as NBA clubs look for a point guard with size. Several teams have small 2's, and Gaines would help them to match-up on the defensive end because of his ability to guard both backcourt positions. Consider Gaines a mid to late lottery selection.

Stat Stuffer: Produced a huge game against Kentucky as a sophomore with 27 points, a career-high matching eight rebounds and adding four assists. Hit 10-of-14 shots from the field, including five-of-eight three pointers. Scored 26 points against Loyola (12-18-00), adding six assists and two steals. Hit 8-of-14 shots from the field and all eight of his free throws. Had three 30-point games as a junior. Scored a career-high 37 points against Saint Louis. Poured in 30 points against South Florida, adding six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a career-best seven 3's. Produced 30 points, a career-high 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals against TCU in the first round of the Conference-USA Tournament.

[Hawks4ever]

I like the fact that he has PG skills, has nba range and a quick first step.

[TheDude]

what would you say his weaknesses are?

[Traceman]

and the fact that while he is good at everything, he is not considered to be GREAT at anything. With our team, we don't need him to be great, just good and he'll be all that and then some. I think he's going to be every bit as good as the great Shane Battier that everyone here seems to love so much, just different.

[HAWKSFAN]

He's been one of my fav players for awhile and I think he does do 2 things great. He puts great pressure on the ball defensively and he can really catch fire shooting. I guess that would make him streaky though and make his shooting only good. So maybe he only does one thing great, depends on how you look at it.