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Weak draft good sign for ACC
Submitted by jpg on 06/27/2008 - 08:46
For the third time this decade, the ACC had only one player taken in the first round. It also happened in 2000 (Georgia Tech's Jason Collier) and 2004 (Duke's Luol Deng).
Those seasons were also the smallest overall draft classes for the ACC. Only two players were drafted in 2000 (Duke's Chris Carrawell was the other)and four total in 2004.
Note the relationship between small draft classes and the conference's strength the following season. In fact, each season after the ACC has had one first-round pick, a conference member has won the national title — Duke in 2001 and UNC in 2005.
Here comes the obvious point — that's good news for you, UNC.
The 2009 draft should be busier for the ACC, who has had at least one player go in the first round every year since 1988, which was the only year since the NBA swallowed the ABA the league didn't have a first-rounder.
UNC alone has seven potential draft picks with at least two — Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson — that will certainly go in the first round. Duke (Gerald Henderson), Clemson (Trevor Booker, K.C. Rivers), Miami (Jack McClinton, Dwayne Collins), Wake Forest (Al-Farouq Aminu) and N.C. State (Courtney Fells, Brandon Costner) could all add to the draft class of '09.
About the blogger
J.P. Giglio covers the ACC for the News & Observer, where he has worked since 1997. Want to post a comment?
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Comments
Draft and ACC
Sun, 06/29/2008 - 18:30 — scoccaThe flip side--how bad does it look for the ACC that a player who had as good a year in the conference as Singletary did ends up as a mid-second-round pick? Will the ACC be good next year because so many top underclassmen have stayed? Or will it be a rough year because there just isn't enough talent to compete?
JJ-less Pack
Sun, 06/29/2008 - 08:56 — JPDOhioWhether the Pack would have been better had JJ started the season coming off the bench is a subject for legitimate debate. It certainly affected Ben's performance, although I am not sure that Costner would have been better last year under any circumstances. Degand's injury didn't help either.
I think the lack of clear leadership on the team was a huge factor in its failure. The only success State had in the last two years was when Atsur was leading the team on the floor. For State to be successful this year, Ben, Brandon and Courtney have to assert themselves as leaders. JJ's leaving sets the stage for this to happen.
If Sid's comments about how hard they worked this Spring are true, next season can be better than expected. There is talent and experience. They just need consistent effort and smart play to have a chance at a successful year.
Draft/State
Fri, 06/27/2008 - 16:40 — one-two (not verified)I agree with JT.. College basketball is getting way to watered down!!!!! This foolishness of kids playing one year and bolting to the N.B.A is just ridiculous. For one, if anybody that went to college knows that, there are so much B.S. classes to choose from to accumalate 12 hrs to be eligible to play is insulting!!!!! Whats going to help a kid more, making pots and taking stats for easy A's? Or, go play oversee's and work on there craft and get a better feel for there career? To me thats a easy answer, go work on your craft!!!!! With that being said, quit killing our(Triangle)sport/league....
I'm an avid State fan, and I love JJ. BUT...what Sidney done to our program to appease a Freshman is down right wrong.. Don't get me wrong, JJ is a hell of a talent and enjoyed watching him. But to do Brandon and Ben like that killed the chemistry of our team.. Brandon didn't know his role, and Ben was just to inconsitant... And all the blame belongs to Sidney!!! If anything why not bring JJ off the bench to be our sixth man. It work for the powder blue... Don't just give him the Benz, and kick the other players out, and give them the Beetle to ride around in. Next thing you know, JJ rode off with the Benz, and now you want the guys in the Beetle(that you did wrong) to come back and give you 100%.... Get out of here. I hope the players come to play and give us a show. But I can't blame them if they didn't
JJ Hickson
Fri, 06/27/2008 - 12:19 — 10yrgrad (not verified)I for one am happy for Hickson. Being drafted in the top 20 certainly justifies his decision to turn pro. "Would State have been better without him last year?" I don't know either. 30+ years ago I attended practices and watched Norm Sloan struggle with the conflict between Phil Spence and Kenny Carr. I blamed Norm then for not teaching and controlling these children in men's bodies. Without the first-hand insight of seeing practices, I cannot say if Sydney was to blame for 2007/08 debacle. But, "Chemistry" is just another name for "Teamwork". I posted my displeasure with the team in early December when the signs of poor play and lack of "chemistry" were evident. Too bad no adjustments were made.
Draft
Fri, 06/27/2008 - 09:50 — JT (not verified)I wish the same rules would apply to the NBA Draft as the MLB Draft where a player must be drafted right out of high school or wait until after their third year. College Basketball is still fairly good to watch, but making a player wait a year after hs is simply a marketing ploy for the NBA. The colleges are being used by the NBA and athletes. What return do the schools get? None! Perhaps the schools need a buyout clause making the player or NBA contibute to their scholarship fund an amount equivalent or even greater than the student's(?) scholarship. Otherwise, if these kids want to display their skills, just let them go to Europe and play for professionally for a year.
Would State have been better without Hickson last year? I don't know. Perhaps other players would have developed more and be more prepared for the upcoming year. Maybe his draft status will influence recruits to come play for the Pack, so they can make the jump to the NBA. I'd prefer it if they didn't and would rather have scholar athletes.