ESPN Top Prospects Outside the "Big 6" Conferences

cl_1_2008 · October 23, 2012

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog/_/name/nba_draft/id/8540678/ranking-top-prospects-high-major-conference-nba-draft

It's an insider article so I'll just put the important part here.

1. Tony Mitchell, F, So., North Texas

Top 100 Ranking: 5

Mitchell was an elite prospect coming out of high school, but ran into some academic trouble at Missouri and ended up sitting out the season before transferring to North Texas. He didn't disappoint in his first season with the Mean Green, averaging 14.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3 bpg, and shooting 57 percent from the field.

Virtually everyone in the NBA expected him to declare for the draft after last season, but he surprised them all by returning to school for his sophomore season. If he were at North Carolina or Kentucky, Mitchell would likely be considered for the No. 1 pick in the draft.

He has a rare combination of size, athletic ability and basketball skills on both ends of the floor. Defensively he can be a monster. He's both a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker and can guard multiple positions. Offensively, he's still developing, but has showed talent both as a scorer in the paint and on the perimeter.

The biggest challenge for talent evaluators is the lack of talent Mitchell is playing with and against. There aren't any other NBA-caliber players on his roster, and the toughest team they are scheduled to play all season is Creighton. That said, a small conference and poor competition didn't stop the Blazers from taking Lillard at No. 6, and if Mitchell plays well this season, he has a great shot of even going a spot or two higher than Lillard did in June.

Go Mean Green!

MeanGreenTexan · October 23, 2012

http://insider.espn....rence-nba-draft

It's an insider article so I'll just put the important part here.

1. Tony Mitchell, F, So., North Texas
Top 100 Ranking: 5
Mitchell was an elite prospect coming out of high school, but ran into some academic trouble at Missouri and ended up sitting out the season before transferring to North Texas. He didn't disappoint in his first season with the Mean Green, averaging 14.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3 bpg, and shooting 57 percent from the field.
Virtually everyone in the NBA expected him to declare for the draft after last season, but he surprised them all by returning to school for his sophomore season. If he were at North Carolina or Kentucky, Mitchell would likely be considered for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
He has a rare combination of size, athletic ability and basketball skills on both ends of the floor. Defensively he can be a monster. He's both a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker and can guard multiple positions. Offensively, he's still developing, but has showed talent both as a scorer in the paint and on the perimeter.
The biggest challenge for talent evaluators is the lack of talent Mitchell is playing with and against. There aren't any other NBA-caliber players on his roster, and the toughest team they are scheduled to play all season is Creighton. That said, a small conference and poor competition didn't stop the Blazers from taking Lillard at No. 6, and if Mitchell plays well this season, he has a great shot of even going a spot or two higher than Lillard did in June.

Go Mean Green!

I hope CJ reads this.

Censored by Laurie · October 23, 2012

I hope CJ reads this.

To motivate him or keep him grounded in reality? 'lil column A, 'lil column B?

Stan R · October 23, 2012

stop and think about this comment, and remember, this is not thebleacherreport. It is ESPN.

If he were at North Carolina or Kentucky, Mitchell would likely be considered for the No. 1 pick in the draft.

MeanGreenTexan · October 23, 2012

To motivate him or keep him grounded in reality? 'lil column A, 'lil column B?

I'll say 80% column A, 20% column B.

untwillrise · October 23, 2012

But he didn't even recognize that he will be going head to to head with another top 10 pick.

GangGreen · October 23, 2012

To motivate him or keep him grounded in reality? 'lil column A, 'lil column B?

Oh...the scales of justice.

BillySee58 · October 23, 2012

But he didn't even recognize that he will be going head to to head with another top 10 pick.

That's because McDermott isn't even in the top 20 of this top 100 ranking on ESPN that they're going off of (after 20 is reserved for insiders). McDermott is a heck of a College Basketball player but he doesn't translate as well to the next level as TM.

McDermott is 6'7" maybe 6'8", but either way is undersized for an NBA 4, and may struggle keeping up with athletic wings that play 3 at the NBA. He is a stud player for college, but I would call him a consensus All-American before I call him a lottery pick, much less a top 10 pick.

kalebschumann · October 23, 2012

Did you guys hear that he had some academic problems that kept him out of Mizzou?

I did not know about that............

Oh wait.. I've read it in every article about him.

(it's GMG.com.. I needed to complain about something)

pastorgrant · October 23, 2012

Creighton may not be the best team we play this year anyway. We could end up playing Michigan in Madison Square Garden if we play our best game; and who knows who we could run into in the NCAA tourney.