Quick look at the 2008 draft

Per ESPN Insider:
Tyler Hansbrough
Power Forward (Rank: #26) | 6-9, 225 |
Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Positives:
Hansbrough could fall just short of becoming a very high draft pick.

Hansbrough is a warrior in the paint. Outworks everyone for rebounds
and second-chance putbacks. Strong, physical player who isn't afraid to do the dirty work. Does a great job of getting to the line and is a pretty decent free-throw shooter for a big man. Great motor. Turning himself into a polished scorer.

Negatives: Not a great athlete. Some scouts think he's closer to 6-foot-7 and he has short arms. Struggles to score against long, athletic defenders.

Summary: Scouts love the tenaciousness with which he plays the game. But will he be a great NBA player? It's questionable. If Hansbrough were a few inches taller or more athletic, he'd be a top-five pick in the draft based on his production. However, his struggles against taller, more athletic players have given scouts great pause. It's unclear how he's going to be able to help his stock, but the 2008 draft probably won't be as deep.

Ty Lawson
Point Guard (Rank: #9) | 6-0, 190 | Age: 19
North Carolina ()
Hometown: Forestville, Md.
You are signed into Insider and have access to the exclusive draft content below.


Ty Lawson
Draft Projection: Lottery

Similarities: Raymond Felton.

Positives: Super quick point guard who's difficult to defend. Great ability

Lawson has elevated his game for the Tar Heels.

to change speeds. Excellent penetrator and finisher around the basket. Good court vision. Has turned himself into a solid perimeter shooter, though he's still a bit streaky. Quick defender gets a lot of steals. Keeps turnovers to a minimum. Strong.

Negatives: Undersized for his position. Closer to 5-foot-11 than his listed height. A so-so free throw shooter. Lacks a real midrange game right now. Can get streaky from the perimeter.

Summary: Lawson didn't put up the best numbers, but some scouts felt he had the most upside of any point guard prospect in the country in 2007. The competition at the point guard position will be a lot tougher in 2008, but he still looks like a potential lottery candidate in 2008.

Greivis Vasquez
Shooting Guard (Rank: #27)
Maryland ()

Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Similarities: Manu Ginobili.
Vasquez shows his Terp spirit, posing after a Maryland victory over North Carolina.


Positives: A combo guard who thrives on penetration to the basket. Excellent feel for the game. Good passer who can play point guard at least part time. Good motor. Very competitive. The kind of kid who makes all of the hustle plays. Great poise for his age.

Negatives: Needs to work on his jump shot. Doesn't have a lot of range. Needs to add strength. Not a great athlete.

Summary: One of the most versatile backcourt players in the country. He really doesn't fit a particular position, he's just a basketball player. If he has a big year at Maryland, he's a lock for the first round.


Wayne Ellington
Shooting Guard (Rank: #29) | 6-5, 175 | Age: 19
North Carolina ()

Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Positives:
Beating Duke and elevating his draft stock are on Ellington's agenda.



Big-time scorer with deep NBA 3-point range.
Can shoot off the dribble or on the catch-and-shoot. Puts the ball on the floor and gets to the rim with creative finishes.

Negatives: He's undersized at the 2-guard position. Needs to add strength. Looks a little one-dimensional right now. Not a great defender.

Summary: Ellington has a lot of potential because of his ability to shoot the ball and score. His lack of size is the biggest thing hurting his stock at the moment. A potential late first-round pick in 2008.

 

Gerald Henderson
Shooting Guard (Rank: #30) | 6-5, 205 | Age: 19
Duke ()
Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Notes:
Henderson's sophomore year in Durham could be a big one.


Averaged 20.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists his senior season.
Scored 16 points and had four rebounds in the McDonald's All-American game. High school teammate of North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington. Son of Gerald Henderson, who averaged 8.9 points during 13 NBA seasons (1980-92).

Positives: Versatile 2-guard can do just about everything well. Plays the game very smoothly. He's a great athlete, has NBA strength, has a very consistent midrange jump shot, is quick enough to take his man off the dribble and is strong enough to post guys up. Excellent rebounder for a guard. Good basketball IQ.

Negatives: Still developing as a player. Needs to increase his range on his jump shot. Still not a consistent 3-point threat.

Summary: We'll be watching him closely. He wasn't given a lot of opportunities to shine at Duke as a freshman. Has first-round potential, but it looks like it will be a year or two down the road.


Kyle Singler
Small Forward (Rank: #48) | 6-9, 210 | Age: 19
Duke ()
Draft Projection: Second round to undrafted

Similarities:
Kyle Singler showed a strong game on the high school floors of Oregon.
(AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)


Adam Morrison meets Mike Dunleavy.

Notes: Helped South Medford's 2006-07 squad to a 27-3 record, averaging 29.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals. His team beat Kevin Love's team for the state championship in 2007.

Positives: Versatile point forward type player. He's got long arms and good size for his position. Excellent midrange shooter with good, but not great, range on his jump shot. Good passer. Excellent basketball IQ. Unselfish.

Negatives: Not a great athlete. Lacks great lateral quickness. Needs to add strength to his body.

Summary: Duke needs scoring so he could come in and help a team right away. But his body and game are probably a couple of years away from the NBA

Nolan Smith
Shooting Guard (Rank: #49) | 6-4, 185 | Age: 18
Duke ()
Draft Projection: Second round to undrafted

Notes:
Another in a long line of Oak Hill talents, Smith takes aim at the highest level.
(Geoff Burke/US Presswire)


As a senior in 2006-07, averaged 22.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
and 3.2 steals to help Oak Hill to a 40-1 record, tying the school's all-time season high for wins, and a final No. 1 spot in the USA Today 2007 Super 25 national rankings.

Positives: Lefty combo guard with great strength and athleticism. Good midrange shooter with deep, albeit streaky, range on his jumper. Good speed and quickness. Good first step. Gets to the rim when his shot isn't falling. Excellent defender. Good at creating for others.

Negatives: Lacks ideal size for a 2-guard. Needs more consistency on his jumper.

Summary: Smith is more of a complimentary player than a star. But he's a guy who knows how to do all the little things that helps teams win. Could be a great sixth man on Duke this season.



Lance Thomas
Power Forward (Rank: #50) | 6-8, 200 | Age: 19
Duke ()

Draft Projection: Second round to undrafted

Brandon Costner
Power Forward (Rank: #92) | 6-9, 230 | Age: 19
NC State ()




Draft Projection: Second round to undrafted.

 

Those are all of the ACC players in order other than Hansbrough and Lawson. I was surprised at Tylers ranking. But then again I do see basketball through baby blue lens