The Darkside of the NBA Draft

The NBA Draft is filled with blessings and hard work. With that though comes sadness. The end of a journey or a beginning of a new journey depends on how you want to look at it.

With only two rounds in the NBA Draft and 60 players being taken many players are left on the outside looking in.

We’re going to take you through a list of players who would like to forget the night of June 25, 2009.

The following players decided to leave school early and declare for the NBA Draft. None were taken in the NBA Draft tonight and now they must look for alternative options. Either try to make it as an undrafted free agent in the NBA and play in the summer league in three weeks. Or they can pack their bags and go sightseeing overseas like many college players do when not selected in the NBA. A player can make a nice living over there playing professionally- one thing is for certain though, good luck keeping tabs on them. They will fall off the radar.

What were they thinking! Leaving school early. Maybe they just didn’t want to go to class!

Brandon Costner: Junior PF (NC State) – a former McDonald's All-American may not be in America much longer as most expect him to depart overseas to continue his basketball career.

Eric Devendorf: Junior SG (Syracuse) – off the court issues and character problems forced Jim Boeheim’s hand at pushing Devendorf out the door. So much for another McDonald’s All-American who played at the Oak Hill Academy.

Daniel Hackett: Junior PG (USC) – Money overseas was too good for Hackett to pass up. Not much was coming back to the Trojans with Demar Derozan and Taj Gibson departing plus coach Tim Floyd.

Paul Harris: Junior SF (Syracuse) – A player who made leaps and bounds from his first two years this past season. Apparently tried to take one too many leaps. Will have a good chance of getting signed as an undrafted NBA free agent because he is a hard worker. But how motivated will he be to stay in the states playing possibly in the NBDL.

Shawn Taggart: Junior C (Memphis) – Coach Calipari left and so did Taggart. Not wanting to go back to classes much like Costner. Most likely another college player you’ll forget about playing overseas.

Dar Tucker: Sophomore SG (DePaul) - The most disappointing decision to leave early lies in Tucker’s hand. A former High School standout in the State of Michigan. He has lots of potential and the most talented player of this bunch of poor decision makers. He couldn’t take losing anymore in Conference USA, maybe he should have made a better college choice. Hopefully we see his name on an opening day roster next October in the NBA.

Here are some very good college seniors who were unfortunate on draft night 2009.

These four players all chose to declare for the 2008 NBA Draft before making good decisions by withdrawing and returning for school for their season seasons. Each of them got one more year in the spotlight and got a chance to play in another NCAA Tournament. Something the guys above missed out on!

A.J. Abrams: PG (Texas) – Has size problems playing in the NBA. That’s the reason he didn’t get drafted tonight. He is a specialist- a sniper from beyond the arc. Teams need shooters. He get a chance to show his game in the summer league.

Josh Shipp: SG (UCLA) – A lack of athleticism hurts Shipp’s game plus he is injury prone. Great basketball IQ and can do a lot of solid things on the court. A player similar to Danny Green (who did get drafted in the second round) but less explosive and not as efficient defensively. Should get a look by a few NBA teams come July.

Jerel McNeal: SG (Marquette) – A guy who knows how to win, just has been inconsistent throughout his career. Certainly has a career waiting for him overseas or he can take the Travis Diener (former Marquette Golden Eagle) approach and fight his way onto an NBA roster.

Jeremy Pargo: PG (Gonzaga) – Pargo would have been better to stay in the 2008 NBA Draft in my mind. He got exposed the more he played in the NCAA. Sometimes it happens to players although most don’t have a brother in the NBA. Should get a look by some teams because of his toughness on the floor as a floor general.

More seniors who will have to battle to make an NBA roster or who could be in for a long flight across the Atlantic.

Dionte Christmas: SG (Temple) – June is not Christmas time. A scorer who can flat out get to the rack in college. Scouts questioned whether or not he could continue to do that if he got to the league. He can create his own shot and he will make it on a summer league team as a result.

Luke Nevill: C (Utah) – Has great size but just didn’t show up on a nightly basis in the NCAA. Inconsistent play in the WAC will get you undrafted. A career overseas is waiting for the Australian born player.

Kyle McClarney: SG (Notre Dame) – Went through emotional ups and downs collegiately in South Bend. Can shoot the rock from well nearly 30 feet out. A contract is waiting for him overseas.

Justin Dentmon: PG (Washington) – A draft full of point guards wasn’t for Dentmon. He will have to fight in summer league to show his skills. Certainly has quickness and a basketball IQ. But sometimes becomes a ball hog and only looks for his own shot.

Josh Heytvelt: C (Gonzaga) – Another player who had off the court issues and run-ins with drugs. Has a lot of potential because of his size and skill around the hoop. Just has to find the determination and bring the effort every day. That’s because he will be a practice player for a couple years if the NBA comes calling. His career is up in the air.

Jeff Adrien: SF (UCONN) – A hybrid player playing the small forward or power forward spot. He is the ultimate tweener and it hurt him when it came time for the league. Does everything solid but nothing great. A perfect game for the Euro league.

Marcus Landry: SF (Wisconsin) – His brother plays in the NBA much like Jeremy Pargo. Fight is something Landry can do because that’s all he did in the Big Ten every night. He brings toughness to a team and will get an opportunity to play some summer ball for NBA teams to show if he can do more.

These guys stayed in school and withdrew from the 2009 NBA Draft. College basketball has to be happy about it and for some of these players they could wreak the benefits.

Devan Downey: Junior PG (South Carolina) – A small point guard at 5’9. He can score and is a tough point guard. It’s going to be tough to make the league at his height but it’s possible i.e. Earl Boykins (only 5’5). One last year as a Gamecock as he tries to lead his team to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Luke Harongody: Junior PF (Notre Dame) – Dajuan Blair is a decent comparison. The closest one I could come up with in this years draft. He has an attitude and a toughness about him that any team would like to have especially the Fighting Irish. They have a good team coming back with a pair of transfers in Scott Martin and Ben Hansbrough becoming eligible during the 2009-2010 season. Martin from Purdue and Hansbrough from Mississippi St (younger brother of Tyler).

Damion James: Junior SF (Texas) – James is very similar to Mitchell except a better shooter. James has to improve his shot selection and be more consistent in the Big 12 this season. I like him getting taken in the late first to early second round in next years draft.

Tasmin Mitchell: Junior SF (LSU) – Mitchell has been through injuries. He is another hybrid forward who will need to continue to improve his shot and defense on the perimeter. I like his game and think he can be a late first round pick next year.

Patrick Patterson: Sophomore PF (Kentucky) – A highly talented player coming back for college basketball next year. Woo-hoo goes Dick Vitale! I applaud Patterson for coming back to school. The Kentucky Wildcats are loaded next season and have as good of a chance as any to reach the Final Four. Patterson can score, block, rebound, and has a lot of improvement left in his game. Expect the lottery to be calling his name this time next year.

Scottie Reynolds: Junior PG (Villanova) – A great college player, but his game doesn’t translate to the NBA level quite the same. He needs to continue to improve his quickness and decision making with the basketball. I still like him to get drafted next year in the early second round because he is too good of a scorer.

Tyler Smith: Junior SF (Tennessee) – I’m a big Smith fan and I really like his game at the next level. He is a tough minded player with a great basketball IQ plus he’s a great passer. He will need to continue to improve his shot from the outside but I like him to go in the late first round of next years draft.

Jarvis Varnado: Junior PF (Mississippi St.) – If your looking for a shotblocker – you have found your man. Varnado has a flurry of potential. His skills are raw and I am excited to see what he can do during his senior season. He is trying to make the Bulldogs relevant next year. Varnado will be relevant during the 2010 NBA Draft as I would expect to see him go in the lottery.

Greivis Vasquez: Junior PG (Maryland) – A tough minded player who will be ready for a good senior campaign. Vasquez is a really good college player and could be the best point guard in the ACC entering next season.

Michael Washington: Junior PF (Arkansas) – A player who really improved this season. Needs another year of improvement in order to hear his name selected in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Nic Wise: Junior PG (Arizona) – He’ll have to deal with another head coach in Sean Miller. But at least he will be playing basketball in the states on TV next year. Something that wouldn’t have happened if he kept his name in the hat for the draft this year.

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