BASN NBA Draft Preview: Will Durant And Oden Be The Next Big Superstars?
yolandeylezine@blackathlete.com •
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POSTED: Jun 28, 2007
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HOUSTON -- Kevin Durant's amazing freshman season will go down in history as one of the best in college basketball. The University of Texas Longhorns 6-foot-9 forward became the first NCAA freshman to win National Player of the Year as well as other honors and recognitions.
Ohio State's Greg Oden, the 19-year old 7-foot center was a key component in the Buckeyes NCAA Championship drive. He is projected by most NBA analysts to be taken as the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday's 2007 NBA Draft.
Either way Durant and Oden will become the NBA's next big superstars. the
debate about who should go No. 1 has raged since early in the 2006-07 season. Scouts who favor Oden point to his "can't be taught" size and great defense.
Those who favor Durant compare his game to NBA stars like Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady.
Durant, however, was the better freshman, averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He was the only player to finish in the top five in the nation in both scoring and rebounding categories.
Oden played with an injured right wrist for most of the season and didn't really dominate until the NCAA tournament.
Durant's offensive game has earned him the nickname of "K-Smoove". He has the quickness to beat defenders one-on-one and enough size to shoot over them. He also has the ball-handling ability to penetrate and dish to open teammates and the shooting range to score from anywhere.
Here's a look at the top NBA prospects expected to be drafted at the 2007 NBA Draft on Thursday in New York, City. They include the following:
PLAYER SCHOOL POSITION
Greg Oden Ohio State Center
Kevin Durant Texas Forward
Brandan Wright North Carolina Forward
Al Horford Florida Center/Forward
Joakim Noah Florida Forward
Mike Conley Jr. Ohio State Guard
Corey Brewer Florida Guard
Jeff Green Georgetown Forward
Julian Wright Kansas Forward
Acie Law Texas A&M Guard
Spencer Hawes Washington Center
Nick Young USC Guard
Thaddeus Young Georgia Tech Forward
Derrick Byars Vanderbilt Guard
Javaris Crittenton Georgia Tech Guard
Jason Smith Colorado State Center
Morris Almond Rice Guard
Marcus Williams Arizona Guard
Brandon Rush Kansas Guard
Josh McRoberts Duke Forward
Daequan Cook Ohio State Guard
Alando Tucker Wisconsin Forward
Yolande Lezine is a Houston-based writer that covers both college and professional sports for BASN. She can be reached via e-mail at yolandeylezine@blackathlete.com.
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