Sheridan Hoops College Preseason Top 25

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College basketball teams across the nation begin practice in about three weeks, and the season will be here before you know it — just like the NBA.

The major news organizations will be publishing their polls soon enough, but we are getting a jump on them because schools are in session, “informal” practices are already ongoing and a whole new crop of “one and done” players have already discovered that dorm food is never, ever an option.

So without further ado, here is the SheridanHoops Preseason Top 25 for the 2012-13 season.

 

1. LOUISVILLE (30-10 last season)

Key losses: Kyle Kuric, Chris Smith, Jared Swopshire

Key returnees: Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear, Gorgui Dieng, Mike Marra, Peyton Siva, Russ Smith

Key newcomers: Luke Hancock (George Mason transfer), Montrezl Harrell

The skinny: The Cardinals return virtually everyone from last year’s Final Four team, and coach Rick Pitino is expecting big things from newcomer Hancock off the wing.

2. INDIANA (27-9)

Key losses: Verdell Jones, Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth

Key returnees: Maurice Creek, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo, Will Sheehey, Christian Watford, Cody Zeller

Key newcomers: Yogi Ferrell, Jeremy Hollowell, Hanner Perea

The skinny: Coach Tom Crean has Indiana back near the top thanks to the return of Zeller, a likely lottery pick had he chosen to leave, and the introduction of a stellar recruiting class.

3. KENTUCKY (38-2, national champs)

Key losses: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, Eloy Vargas

Key returnees: Kyle Wiltjer

Key newcomers: Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow (N.C. State transfer), Julius Mays (Wright State transfer), Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress

The skinny: A year after winning it all, Coach John Calipari probably doesn’t have as much talent as he had a year ago. He will have to blend transfers Mays and Harrow in with the talented freshmen, led by shot-blocking sensation Noel and athletic scorer Goodwin.

4. MICHIGAN STATE (29-8)

Key losses: Draymond Green, Austin Thornton, Brandon Wood

Key returnees: Keith Appling, Russell Byrd, Branden Dawson, Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne, Travis Trice.

Key newcomers: Matt Costello, Gary Harris, Kenny Kaminski (will redshirt), Denzel Valentine.

The skinny: Tom Izzo’s club suffered a blow recently when the 6-7 Kaminski, a freshman forward, was lost for the season due to a torn labrum. The Spartans will have the 6-6 Dawson back from a torn ACL in time for the start of the season. Costello, Harris and Valentine all figure to play key roles.

5. SYRACUSE (34-3)

Key losses: Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Fab Melo, Dion Waiters

Key returnees: Michael Carter-Williams, Rakeem Christmas, C.J. Fair, Baye Keita, James Southerland, Brandon Triche

Key newcomers: DaJuan Coleman, Jerami Grant

The skinny: Could this be Jim Boeheim’s last year coaching the Orange? It could be if he elects not to move with his team to the ACC in 2013. Regardless, expect much bigger roles this year for Carter-Williams, a scoring sensation, and Fair, a candidate for Big East Preseason Player of the Year honors.

6. UCLA (19-13)

Key losses: Jerime Anderson, Lazeric Jones

Key returnees: Tyler Lamb, Norman Powell, Josh Smith, Anthony Stover, David Wear, Travis Wear

Key newcomers: Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, Larry Drew II (North Carolina transfer), Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker

The skinny: Muhammad is currently being investigated by the NCAA and his fate remains unclear. If he misses only a few games and can then get on the court, he should be one of the most explosive wings in college hoops. If his penalty is longer, UCLA will be missing a key piece and embattled coach Ben Howland could suffer as a result.

7. KANSAS (32-7)

Key losses: Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor

Key returnees: Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Jeff Withey

Key newcomers: Anrio Adams, Perry Ellis, Ben McLemore, Zach Peters, Jamari Traylor, Andrew White

The skinny: The Jayhawks lost two huge pieces off their NCAA runner-up team in Robinson and Taylor, but at Kansas they just re-load. Big things are expected from Johnson, Releford and Withey, as well as athletic wings Adams and White. Ellis is a highly acclaimed freshman forward.

8. SAN DIEGO STATE (26-8)

Key losses: Garrett Green, Tim Shelton

Key returnees: Jamaal Franklin, LaBradford Franlin, James Rahon, DeShawn Stephens, Chase Tapley, Xavier Thames

Key newcomers: James Johnson (Virginia transfer; mid-year); Dwayne Polee (St. John’s transfer), J.J. O’Brien (Utah transfer), Winston Shepard, Matt Shrigley, Skylar Spencer

The skinny: The Aztecs return their top four scorers in Jamaal Franklin, Tapley, Thames and Rahon, who combined to put up more than 52 points a game last season. Coach Steve Fisher must integrate a slew of transfers and newcomers into an established team.

9. DUKE (27-7)

Key losses: Miles Plumlee, Austin Rivers

Key returnees: Quinn Cook, Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Josh Hairston, Ryan Kelly, Mason Plumlee, Tyler Thornton

Key additions: Amile Jefferson, Alex Murphy, Marshall Plumlee, Rasheed Sulaimon

The skinny: The Blue Devils may actually benefit without having Rivers’ dominating the ball as much anymore. Cook has a year of experience under his belt at the point, and Murphy and Jefferson provide some added elements down low.

10. NORTH CAROLINA (32-6)

Key losses: Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Tyler Zeller

Key returnees: Reggie Bullock, P.J. Hairston, James Michael McAdoo, Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland

Key newcomers: Joel James, Brice Johnson, Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto

The skinny: Roy Williams recently had a tumor removed from his right kidney and hopefully he is OK to coach the season. The Heels lost four starters to the NBA but now it’s time for Bullock, McAdoo, Hairston and a healthy McDonald to shine.

11. FLORIDA (26-11)

Key losses: Bradley Beal, Erving Walker

Key returnees: Kenny Boynton, Eric Murphy, Mike Rosario, Patric Young, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete

Key newcomers: Dillon Graham, Michael Frazier, Braxton Ogbueze

The skinny: If Rosario can rediscover the vast depth of talent he possesses, he and Boynton could be a lethal combination as shooters on the wings. Young figures to be one of the best big men in the SEC, and the Gators have depth down low with Murphy, Yeguete and Casey Prather.

12. CINCINNATI (26-11)

Key losses: Dion Dixon, Yancy Gates

Key returnees: Ge’Lawn Guyn, Justin Jackson, Sean Kilpatrick, JaQuon Parker, Jermaine Sanders, Cashmere Wright

Key newcomers: David Nyarsuk, Titus Rubles, Shaq Thomas

The skinny: Once again, Cincinnati will be in the mix for the Big East title. The Bearcats return a slew of experience and talent led by Kilpatrick, Parker  and Wright. At 7-1, Nyarsuk is the tallest player in program history.

13. OHIO STATE (31-8)

Key losses: William Buford, Jared Sullinger

Key returnees: Aaron Craft, Evan Ravenel, LaQuinton Ross, Shannon Scott, Lenzelle Smith, Deshaun Thomas, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams

Key newcomers: None

The skinny: With Buford and Sullinger gone, this team will revolve around Craft at the point and Thomas on the wing. Head coach Thad Matta said this week that Thomas is down to 268 pounds and is more agile and must rebound better.

14. BAYLOR (30-8)

Key losses: Quincy Acy, Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller

Key returnees: Deuce Bello, Gary Franklin, Brady Heslip, J’Mison Morgan, Pierre Jackson, Cory Jefferson

Key newcomers: Isaiah Austin, Rico Gathers, L.J. Rose

The skinny: The Bears lost three NBA frontcourt players in Acy, Miller and Jones III, but they return their entire backcourt. They return one of the nation’s top point guards in Jackson, the potential Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. They also return Heslip at the two and Bello and Franklin and Rose. Up front, they return the 6-10 Jefferson while adding elite-level bigs in the 7-1 Austin and the 6-8 Gathers.

15. MARQUETTE (27-8)

Key losses: Jae Crowder, Darius Johnson-Odom

Key returnees: Juan Anderson, Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan, Davante Gardner, Todd Mayo, Chris Otule, Jamil Wilson

Key newcomers: Trent Lockett (Arizona State transfer), Steve Taylor, Jr.

The skinny: Coach Buzz Williams dealt with injuries to Gardner and Otule last year, but expects both to be fully healthy year this year. Lockett averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds last year at Arizona State and should make up for some of the scoring Crowder and DJO took with them to the NBA. (Logo is intentional-CS)

Click here for Teams 16-25, plus five others to watch.

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Sheridan Hoops Preseason Top 25 – Part II

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16. Wisconsin (26-10)

Key losses: Jordan Taylor, Rob Wilson

Key returnees:  Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, Ben Brust, Ryan Evans, John Gasser, Frank Kaminsky

Key newcomers: Zach Bohannon (Air Force transfer) Sam Dekker, George Marshall, Zak Showalter

The skinny: Taylor is gone from the team that gave Syracuse all it could handle in the Sweet 16, but Coach Bo Ryan always has his teams in the mix. Gasser and Brust should form an experienced backcourt, and Dekker, a Wisconsin schoolboy legend, can be one of the top frosh in the Big Ten.

17. ARIZONA (23-12)

Key losses: Kyle Fogg, Jesse Perry, Josiah Turner

Key returnees: Angelo Chol, Solomon Hill, Nick Johnson, Jordin Mayes, Kevin Parrom

Key newcomers: Brandon Ashley, Grant Jerrett, Mark Lyons (Xavier transfer), Kaleb Tarczewski, Gabe York

The skinny: You would think things would be calmer around the Arizona program now that Turner has taken his antics elsewhere. Lyons, a former two guard, will run the point, and Parrom and Mayes are both healthy after injuries. The four frosh bring a lot of size and talent.

18. MICHIGAN (24-10)

Key losses: Stu Douglass, Zack Novak, Evan Smotrycz

Key returnees: Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway, Jr., Jon Horford, Jordan Morgan, Matt Vogrich

Key newcomers: Mitch McGary, Glenn “Tre” Robinson, Nick Stauskas

The skinny: Burke told The Detroit Free Press he believes his team is “national championship contenders.” While we’re not so sure about that, Burke and Hardaway Jr. should be among the best backcourts in the nation, and if McGary lives up to the huge expectations surrounding him, he will be a force in the Big Ten.

19. MEMPHIS (26-9)

Key losses: Will Barton, Wesley Witherspoon

Key returnees: Antonio Barton, Tarik Black, Chris Crawford, Ferrakohn Hall, Joe Jackson, Stan Simpson, Adonis Thomas, Hippolyte Tsafack

Key newcomers: Shaq Goodwin, Geron Johnson, Damien Wilson

The skinny: The Tigers get set to play their final year in Conference USA before jumping to the Big East in 2013. Josh Pastner’s club features a bulked-up Thomas, now listed at 252 pounds, on the wing, but Pastner told the Commercial Appeal he’s not worried. “I think he looks good,” Pastner told the paper. “He’s gonna be just fine.”

20. UNLV (26-9)

Key losses: Oscar Bellfield, Brice Massamba, Chace Stanback, Kendall Wallace

Key returnees: Justin Hawkins, Carlos Lopez, Anthony Marshall, Mike Moser, Reggie Smith, Quintrell Thomas

Key newcomers: Anthony Bennett, Khem Birch (Pitt transfer; mid-year), Daquan Cook, Savon Goodman, Bryce Dejean-Jones (USC transfer), Demetris Morant, Katin Reinhardt

The skinny: Did any team in America have a better offseason than the Rebels? They added Bennett, Birch, Goodman, Cook, Morant and Reinhardt to a team that already includes Moser. Now coach Dave Rice must put all the pieces together and make it work.

21. N.C. STATE (24-13)

Key losses: Alex Johnson, Deshawn Painter, C.J. Williams

Key returnees: Lorenzo Brown, Richard Howell, C.J. Leslie, Scott Wood

Key newcomers: Tyler Lewis, Rodney Purvis, T.J. Warren

The skinny: Leslie’s decision to forego the NBA Draft and return to campus automatically makes the Wolfpack an elite team. Brown and Wood should be one of the top backcourts in the land, and coach Mark Gottfried has added three McDonald’s All-Americans as freshmen.

22. MINNESOTA (23-15)

Key losses: Ralph Sampson III

Key returnees: Joe Collins, Andre Hollins, Austin Hollins, Trevor Mbakwe, Maurice Walker, Julian Welch, Rodney Williams

Key newcomers: Charles Buggs, Wally Ellenson

The skinny: Tubby Smith’s team returns its top five scorers in Mbakwe, Williams, Welch and the Hollins’. Mbakwe’s return was a huge boost after he averaged 14.0 points and 9.1 boards last season.

23. CREIGHTON (29-6)

Key losses: Antoine Young

Key returnees: Gregory Echenique, Grant Gibbs, Doug McDermott, Jahenns Manigat, Ethan Wragge

Key newcomers: Geoffrey Groselle,  Nevin Johnson, Andre Yates, Isaiah Zierden

The skinny: McDermott and Echenique should be one of the top frontcourts in the nation, while Manigat and Wragge provide shooting from the perimeter.

24. VCU (29-7)

Key losses: Bradford Burgess

Key returnees: Rob Brandenberg, Troy Daniels, Treveon Graham, D.J. Haley, Juvonte Reddic, Darius Theus, Briante Weber

Key newcomers: Mohamed Alie-Cox, Jordan Burgess, Melvin Johnson, Justin Tuoyo

The skinny: The Rams enter the A-10 with a pedigree of having reached a Final Four in 2011. Theus will run the point with Graham and Daniels as shooters. Jordan Burgess replaces his big brother, Bradford.

25. MIAMI (20-13)

Key losses: DeQuan Jones, Malcolm Grant

Key returnees: Garrius Adams, Rion Brown, Reggie Johnson, Shane Larkin, Trey McKinney-Jones, Durand Scott

Key newcomers: Bishop Daniels, Tonye Jekiri

The skinny: Coach Jim Larranaga lost out on landing scoring guard Melvin Johnson, but the Hurricanes have a nice backcourt combination in Larkin and Scott. Kadji and Johnson form a tough combination at the power forward and center spots.

Five to watch: Gonzaga, St. Louis, Kansas State, Texas, Missouri.

Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog covers the future stars of the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamZagoria.

 

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Top 10 Players at the Nike Global Challenge

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WASHINGTON - Yeah, Team USA’s here. Big deal.

So are hundreds of college basketball coaches and more than a dozen NBA scouts, who converged this weekend on the Nike Global Challenge to evaluate tomorrow’s stars.

Here’s a look at some key storylines from the three-day event held at lovely Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. and the not-as-lovely D.C. Armory.

CAL’S BEEN BUSY: After coaching the Dominican Republic within one win of an Olympic berth before Thursday’s loss to Team USA in Las Vegas, Kentucky coach John Calipari was at the event Friday and Saturday to watch several Kentucky targets, including 2013 shooting guard James Young of Troy, Mich., and 2014 Canadian wing Andrew Wiggins (pictured), who may or may not reclassify to 2013. Calipari also tripped up to the Reebok Breakout Challenge in Philadelphia on Friday night to watch the Harrison twins, Andrew and Aaron, two of the top players in 2013. If Kentucky ends up landing all four of these players – and especially if the 6-7 Wiggins reclassifies to 2013 and picks Kentucky – look out, because those are some very bad boys.

COACH K GETTING “COOLER” WITH RECRUITS: As I pointed out in this story, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim were just about the only major coaches not in attendance because they were busy coaching Team USA. Yet that hasn’t stopped Coach K from staying in touch via text with top recruits such as 6-8 California forward Marcus Lee, who says Coach K is getting “cooler” because of his association with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.

WHO’S WHO OF COACHES: When Wiggins, Indiana commit Trey Lyles and Canada played the USA East team in a thriller Saturday at Episcopal, virtually every major college coach in the land was packed inside the gym: Calipari, Bill Self of Kansas, Tom Izzo of Michigan State, Roy Williams of North Carolina, Tom Crean of Indiana, Jim Calhoun of Connecticut, Sean Miller of Arizona, Ben Howland of UCLA, Anthony Grant of Alabama, John Groce of Illinois, Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh, Buzz Williams of Marquette, Dana Altman of Oregon, Mike Rice of Rutgers, Kevin Willard of Seton Hall and many, many more.

CANADA RISING: Young was named U.S. MVP after going off for 29 points, including 5-of-10 from the arc, as Team USA Midwest won the championship Sunday with a 100-86 victory over Canada at the D.C. Armory. Wiggins had 24 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort, but it’s clear that Canada will be a force to be reckoned with going forward. The Canadians went 3-1 at the event, with victories over a tough USA East team, Brazil and China. In an exclusive interview Saturday, Wiggins told me he likes the idea of a U-23 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and said Canada could compete for a gold medal. “We can win it all,” said Wiggins, who would be 21 in 2016.

TOP 5 AMERICAN PLAYERS:

1. James Young, 6-6 SG, 2013, Troy (MI): Young went off for 23 of his game-high 29 points in the championship win over Canada, when he made 5-of-10 3-pointers. He averaged 18.5 points for the event. Schools he’s considering: Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, Michigan State. NBA scout quote: “Talented, great in the open floor, good at making plays for other people. He’s a big guard. I think he’s got a real chance because he can play in an up-tempo system, can get in the lane, I think he knows what he wants to do with the ball. He’s got to become a better shooter, but he can get in the lane and make plays. He’s good.”

2. Troy Williams, 6-6 SF, 2013, Oak Hill Academy (VA): A high-flying athletic freak, Williams became an instant YouTube sensation at the event when he dunked on a Chinese player. You can see the dunk here. Although his USA East squad lost to Canada and Brazil, it finished strong with a win over Lithuania in the fifth-place game in which Williams scored 14 points. He averaged 19.8 points for the tournament. He is considering attending school at either Louisville or Alabama with his best friend, point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber, which you can read more about here. Schools he’s considering: Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, Alabama, Georgetown, South Carolina, Arkansas. NBA scout quote: ”With Wiggins, probably arguably the second-best athlete here. Great up-and-down. Reminds me of Shawn Marion. Great athlete, great in transition. Needs to work on his shooting. Good individual defender. Great at attacking the rim, tremendous athlete.’

3. Marcus Lee, 6-8 PF, 2013, Antioch (CA) Deer Valley: The best interior player at the event, Lee impressed coaches right out of the gate with his hustle and energy for USA West, which finished third. He led the camp with 3.0 blocks per game and averaged 8.8 rebounds. Schools he’s considering: Cal, Washington, Duke, North Carolina Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville. NBA scout quote: ”Best interior player here. Great feel for the game. Needs to get stronger. I’d like to see him be a little more assertive from 15 feet, take that jump shot. He definitely changes everything around the rim. Great passer, great feel.”

4. Nick King, 6-7 SF, 2013, Memphis (TN) East: A hard-charging athletic lefthanded wing, King came up big in the final against Canada, scoring 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting and adding 10 rebounds for USA Midwest. He averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds over the weekend. Schools he’s considering: Memphis, Texas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee.

5. Theo Pinson, 6-5 SF, 2014, Greensboro (NC) Wesleyan Christian: Playing for USA East, Pinson came up big down the stretch against Lithuania in the fifth-place game and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. He averaged 15.0 points and 7.3 boards for the event. An athletic wing, he can create his own shot, get into the lane and score through contact. Schools he’s considering: Indiana, Louisville, Georgetown,  Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, Baylor, Wake Forest

Ten to watch: Rondae Jefferson, Nigel Williams Goss (committed to Washington), Kyle Washington, Bobby Portis (committed to Arkansas),  Sindarious Thornwell, Wes Clark, Anthony “Cat” Barber, Kuran Iverson, Beejay Anya, Wayne Selden

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS:

1. Andrew Wiggins, 6-7 SF, 2014, Huntington (WV) Prep : The top overall prospect at the event, Wiggins hails from Canada. He is a future NBA lottery pick in either 2014 or 2015 , depending on whether he reclassifies to 2013 from 2014. Wiggins averaged 19.7 points and 7.0 rebounds but did not play particularly well in the final, when he went 10-for-21 for 23 points as Canada lost to USA Midwest. Schools he’s considering: Kentucky, Florida State, North Carolina, Duke, Syracuse.  NBA scout quote: “He’s the best player here, obviously. Got the best pro potential. Athlete, can score in a number of ways, quick off his feet. Showed a little post-up game, but he’s got the most upside of anybody here and it’s not even close.”

2. Trey Lyles, 6-8 PF, 2014, Indianapolis Arsenal Tech: Born to American parents in Canada, Lyles was awesome in his first game, going for 27 points and 11 boards in a win over Brazil.  He never quite measured up to that performance again but was impressive overall, averaging 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Schools: Committed to Indiana. NBA scout quote: “Nice player, athlete, mobile, strong, skilled. Can put it on the floor, can play inside and out.”

3. Gao Shang, 6-7 SG/SF: A native of China and the most prolific scorer at the tournament, Gao averaged 27.3 points while shooting 17 of 40 (43 percent) from the arc. Other than a 10-point outing against Canada, he scored 35, 35 and 29 in three games. NBA scout quote: “Best shooter here without a doubt. Has an ability to put it on the floor, but every teams tried to stop him. But the guy can absolutely shoot the ball and shoot the ball all over the court.”

4. Tyler Ennis, 6-3 PG, 2013, St. Benedict’s Prep (NJ): Another Canada resident, Ennis was the best point guard at the camp along with Cat Barber, although Nigel Williams-Goss and Wes Clark also played well. Ennis is a smart, heady, prototypical point guard who looks to set up his teammates but can also score when needed. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.8 rebounds. Schools he’s considering: Syracuse, Louisville, Illiinois. NBA scout quote: “Tough kid, combo guard. Can get in the lane, makes plays for others. Got a great pace to the game. Hopefully, as he develops he can become even more of a point guard.”

5. Lucas Dias Silva, 6-9, F: Brazil’s best prospect, Dias Silva averaged 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds for a team that lost the third-place game to USA West. NBA scout quote: “Skilled big man, has the abilty to go inside and out.”

Four to watch: Derek Reese (Puerto Rico), Justas Tamulis (Lithuania), Deryk Evandro Ramos (Brazil), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canada) .

Photo courtesy of Position Sports

Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog covers the future stars of the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear  Saturdays. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamZagoria.

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Dunlap Says It’s ‘Possible’ Bobcats May Trade Down From No. 2

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Mike Dunlap will be asked to cook the dinner in Charlotte. But he won’t be allowed to shop for the groceries.

At least not at the NBA draft.

Dunlap, the former St. John’s assistant hired as the new coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, told SheridanHoops he won’t have much input on the team’s No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft – if it uses the pick at all.

“I’m secondary,” Dunlap said in a lengthy telephone interview. “These guys (owner Michael Jordan, president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and GM Rich Cho) have been at this a long time, so if they ask me something, I answer. I don’t think (I will have) a significant amount (of input).”

Still, Dunlap allowed that Charlotte may well trade down from the second pick if it makes sense, which is starting to look like a possibility.

“I think anybody in our situation would have that on the board,” Dunlap told the Associated Press. “(Our) people are very smart up top. So options and thinking of your variables is a very smart thing to do.”

In a separate interview with SheridanHoops.com, Dunlap said there was a “possibility” that the Bobcats would trade the No. 2 pick.

“There’s that piece of other organizations calling to do deals, so it puts a degree of wait-and-see all the way up,” Dunlap said in a lengthy phone interview from Charlotte. “But you have these scripts and they have decision A, B, C, D and they’re really high-tech here. They’ve got it down.”

With Kentucky’s Anthony Davis the presumptive top overall pick of the New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte is likely to choose from among power forward Thomas Robinson of Kansas, small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky, shooting guard Bradley Beal of Florida and small forward Harrison Barnes of North Carolina at No. 2.

However, the idea of taking Beal was somewhat reduced and the premise of trading the pick somewhat increased with Thursday night’s trade with the Pistons, which sent small forward Corey Maggette to Detroit for shooting guard Ben Gordon and a future first-round pick.

The Bobcats aren’t strong at many positions, but shooting guard appears set with Gerald Henderson – one of the team’s few bright spots last season – now backed up by Gordon, one of the best bench scorers in the NBA.

Even prior to the trade, Dunlap told the AP that Charlotte has “definitely reduced” the number of players it is targeting at No. 2.

One potential trading partner is the Cleveland Cavaliers, owners of picks 4 and 24. That would allow Charlotte – which finished an NBA all-time-worst 7-59 this season — to trade down to acquire an outside shooter.

“The ability to make the three is important because it allows you to play inside the 3-point line,” Dunlap told the AP. “What happens is a defense collapses and it gets crowded in there. I would say that is safe to say that we need to do that. And we need to do a better job with our spacing, too. But as far as the roster goes it’s always nice to have guys who can shoot a basketball.”

Gordon can do that, and there have been rumors that the Cavs are trying to climb above the Washington  Wizards, who have the third pick and may be targeting Beal. Any deal that allows the Bobcats to collect multiple draft picks is a good one.

Dunlap, 54, is still settling into his new job after he made the quantum leap from college assistant to NBA coach. And he didn’t jump from Kentucky, Kansas or North Carolina, either.

He jumped from a St. John’s team that finished 13-19. Dunlap coached most of the season while Steve Lavin recovered from prostate cancer surgery.

“I’m still a bit numb to it all and I think that’s a good way to be because it’s like Christmas and there’s just a jubilation within my family and then all of that,” he said. “But also I understand that there’s work to be done each day.”

Dunlap was chosen earlier this month over a group of finalists that included former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder. When Sloan removed his name from consideration, Dunlap was brought back in for a second interview.

“It’s one of one in terms of how that’s happened,” Dunlap said of the uniqueness of his hiring. “The point for me is just the gratitude. You realize you’re really lucky and then go from there as a base point.”

“Mike’s selection as the Charlotte Bobcats’ head coach is a well-deserved honor,” Lavin said. “To make the unprecedented jump from college assistant to NBA head coach is testament to both Mike’s abilities as a teacher and our basketball program’s marked improvement over the past 27 months.”

Known as a master strategist and tactician, Dunlap won two national titles at Division II Metro State in Denver and also served two years as an assistant under Denver Nuggets coach George Karl.

Dunlap also served as the associate head coach at Arizona and an assistant at Oregon before joining the St. John’s staff in 2010.

“He is one of the outstanding minds in the game,” legendary former Arizona coach Lute Olson said when Dunlap was hired at St. John’s. “His strengths are in organization and on-the-floor coaching.”

Dunlap isn’t a back-slapping, gregarious personality by nature. But he is making an effort to get to know Jordan as well as his new players.

“It’s still a feeling-out process and a get-to-know-you,” Dunlap said of his relationship with Jordan, the owner who is under as much pressure as anyone to make a quality pick in this draft.

Dunlap also has a link to Bobcats guard Kemba Walker. Moe Hicks, Walker’s coach at Rice High School, is on the staff at St. John’s and Dunlap coached against Walker when the point guard was at UConn.

“For Kemba to know that I had a relationship witih someone that’s important to him is good and that we came from the same conference which is good,” Dunlap said. “That relationship and basically trying to find out common interests for them and not just go straight for the basektball is a good way of going.

“And then anytime I can get out of the building and meet them on their turf is a good thing, whether it’s a meal or whatever. And I’m setting up all that.”

Dunlap is living in a hotel next to the Charlotte arena while his wife, Mollie, and his daughter, Ellie, are in the process of relocating to Charlotte from Manhasset, NY. His daughter is still in high school.

“Sometimes I wake up and I still think I’m in New York,” Dunlap said. “I think I’ve gotta take care of my responsibilities at St. John’s like on the housing or guys transitioning in, compliance.

“It’s just a different world here. Sometimes I’m writing in my notebook and I’m writing the wrong list.”

Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog covers the future stars of the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear  Saturdays. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamZagoria.

 

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Zagoria: Top 5 NBA Draft Prospects at Every Position

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The countdown to the NBA draft is now inside of two weeks. Workouts are taking place at gyms all around the NBA. Promises are being made, trades are being discussed. Some players are seeing their stock rise, others are falling.

This going to be a very deep draft, especially at the big man positions, which is quite a contrast to last year when it was more or less a point guard-dominated draft.

So as we count down the days until June 28 when the big night unfolds at the Prudential Center in Newark, here’s a look at my Top 5 players at each position.

Joe Kotoch will be checking in tomorrow with Mock Draft 3.0 — this one going through both the first and second rounds. For Mock 2.0, click here.

POINT GUARDS

1. Damian Lillard, 6-2, Weber State – Lillard is widely regarded as the top point guard prospect available in this draft. He is an explosive penetrator who can get to the rim and can score in bunches, having scored 40+ in two games. Yet we never saw him against elite competition in the heat of the NCAA Tournament, so question marks remain.

2. Kendall Marshall, 6-4, North Carolina – A potential lottery pick, Marshall’s most optimistic comparison is Andre Miller. North Carolina coach Roy Williams told DraftExpress.com Marshall is the “best passer I’ve ever coached in 24 years.” Still, he must improve as a shooter and on the defensive end.

3. Marquis Teague, 6-2, Kentucky –Teague’s stock rose as Kentucky made its run to the NCAA championship, and he benefitted from playing for coach John Calipari and his one-and-done system. He’s a quick guard who can push the pace, but must still work to improve his outside shot and must mature as a person.

4. Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, Kansas – Projected to go late in the first round, the Hoboken, N.J., native is a strong, explosive guard who led his team to the NCAA championship game. He has had to answer questions during interviews with NBA clubs about his suspensions and off-court troubles at Kansas, but insists he’s matured and has grown as a person.

5. Tony Wroten, 6-6, Washington – Also projected to go late in the first round, Wroten is a long, athletic guard with a 6-9 wingspan who faces questions about whether he’s a true point or a combo guard. Washington coach Lorenzo Romar told DraftExpress.com he compares to Tyreke Evans because of his size, athleticism and ability to score.

SHOOTING GUARDS

1. Bradley Beal, 6-5, Florida – Beal is widely considered the best two guard available in the draft and should go somewhere in the Top 5. He has been compared to Ray Allen because of his ability to knock down shots, and is also a strong defender and rebounder. Still, he struggled shooting-wise for much of the season before shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc during the NCAA Tournament.

2. Dion Waiters, 6-4, Syracuse -- Waiters is projected as a shooting guard, but could also play some point in the NBA. He was instant offense off the bench for a Syracuse team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the season before falling in the Elite Eight. A strong, physical guard who can get to the rim, he is also a tough customer who had to overcome immaturity issues to fit into Jim Boeheim’s deep guard rotation.

3. Austin Rivers, 6-5, Duke – Projected as a late lottery selection, Rivers has the potential to be a better NBA player than he was in college. Duke assistant Chris Collins compared him to Monta Ellis and Jamal Crawford. He has quickness to get into the lane, can create his own shot and comes from strong bloodlines as the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

4. Jeremy Lamb, 6-5, UConn – Lamb emerged as UConn’s go-to guy after spending his freshman season as Kemba Walker’s sidekick on the Huskies’ NCAA championship team. He is a long, athletic wing who has a feathery touch, is good coming off screens and excels in transition.

5. Terrence Ross, 6-7, Washington – Projected as mid- to late-first-round pick, Ross compares to Nick Young and J.R. Smith, Romar said. He has a smooth touch from outside and went 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

SMALL FORWARDS

1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Kentucky – The New Jersey native could go as high as No. 2 in the draft behind teammate Anthony Davis. He is already a tremendous defensive player, can finish in transition and excels at taking the ball to the hole. The question mark is his outside shot, and if that ever develops, look out. He’s also a great kid and a teammate who should be a bright spot for whoever picks him.

2. Harrison Barnes, 6-8, North Carolina – At 6-8 with a 6-11 wingspan, Barnes has great size for a wing player. He was a first-team All-American coming out of high school but didn’t quite live up to the hype in college. Still, he is a strong, powerful athlete who showed his leaping ability at the NBA Combine in Chicago and has made some big shots in his career. Should go in the top six or seven picks.

3. Moe Harkless, 6-8, St. John’s – After being named the Big East Rookie of the Year, Harkless opted to come out after his freshman year. He has been compared to Paul George, Trevor Ariza and Rudy Gay. Harkless has a natural frame for an NBA small forward and can score and rebound in bunches. Needs to work on his outside shot and continue to get stronger.

4. Quincy Miller, 6-9, Baylor -- Like Harkless, he is only 19. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Miller helped Baylor get to the Elite 8. He is still recovering from ACL surgery, but is very tough from 15 feet in and in the high post. His range extends to the 3-point line. Projects to go mid- to late-first round.

5. Royce White, 6-8, Iowa State – White is listed here as a small forward but basically played point guard and power forward at Iowa State. He led the team in all five major categories. He can play a variety of positions and should be fascinating to watch in the NBA.

POWER FORWARDS:

1. Anthony Davis, 6-10, Kentucky– What more is left to be said about the future No. 1 pick out of Kentucky? Davis has been compared to Bill Russell because of his ability to alter and change shots and dominate the paint area. A strong passer and shooter, Davis has the potential to anchor the New Orleans Hornets franchise for the next 10-15 years and could be a Hall of Famer.

2. Thomas Robinson, 6-9, Kansas – The potential No. 2 overall pick, Robinson is motivated to prove he deserves to be No. 1 and in fact got into a battle with Davis over that issue. The Big 12 Player of the Year, he has great length, athleticism and motor, but must continue to work on his shot and his post moves going forward.

3. Jared Sullinger, 6-9, Ohio State – Questions remain about his athleticism and how much he can elevate, but Sullinger still figures to go somewhere in the high lottery after testing well enough at the combine. A strong, physical player with good post moves, he is handful in the paint — in part because of his large derriere — and can also play on the perimeter, having shot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.

4. John Henson, 6-10, North Carolina -- A projected lottery pick, Henson may turn out to be one of those guys who has a better NBA career than a college career. He averaged 2.9 blocks last season and could be a defensive presence on the interior but still must develop his offensive game and his woeful free throw shooting (51 percent).

5. Terrence Jones, 6-9, Kentucky – Questions linger about his demeanor and body language on the floor and whether he takes plays off. But there’s no denying his talent and ability to stretch the floor with his outside shot. A combo forward who can defend multiple positions, he needs to be in the right situation in order to maximize his success in the NBA.

CENTERS:

1. Andre Drummond, 7-0, UConn – Based purely on potential, Drummond figures to be one of the top five to seven players taken. He is an athletic freak with great hands and great feet, but questions linger about his drive and desire to play the game. His free throw form is a disaster and he has a lot of work to do on his post game. He could get an NBA GM fired — or make one look like a genius.

2. Tyler Zeller, 7-0, North Carolina – Zeller is a safe pick at the center spot and figures to go somewhere midway through the first round. A four-year player at Carolina, he is an experienced player who hit the mid-range shot and excel in the pick-and-pop game. He has a nice jump hook and some nice post moves. He probably won’t be a star, but he won’t get you fired, either.

3. Meyers Leonard, 7-1, Illinois – Leonard impressed NBA decision-makers at the combine and could go somewhere in the late lottery. A long, agile big man with great feet, Leonard told DraftExpress.com he has drawn comparisons to Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler. He must still improve his post and face-up games and work on his mental toughness.

4. Fab Melo, 7-0, Syracuse – Melo failed to finish up the season at Syracuse because of academic issues, but is fascinating to NBA decision-makes because of his size and ability to defend and alter shots. He altered his body after his freshman season, losing weight and coming in much better shape. If he can continue to remain in good shape and learn the complexities of the NBA game, he could help a team in the low post.

5. Festus Ezeli, 6-11, Vanderbilt– Projected to go early in the second round, Ezeli is an athletic shot-blocker who was limited last season due to an NCAA suspension related to a secondary violation and a knee injury. Still, he’s an intriguing prospect for NBA execs.

Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog covers the future stars of the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamZagoria.

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