Basketball
BASN NBA Draft Preview: Will Durant And Oden Be The Next Big Superstars?
By Yolande Lezine
Jun 28, 2007

  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