Posts Tagged ‘Trio’
NCAA Basketball tickets to see UNC play just got more valuable as North Carolina underclassmen Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green will all be returning to school next season after testing the waters of the NBA Draft. It appeared Lawson was looking for a promise in the Top 20 picks and didn’t receive one while Ellington and Green didn’t receive enough of an indication that they would be drafted at all. While this puts these kids’ NBA dreams on hold for another year, it does wonders for UNC’s title hopes this season. The trio rejoins National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and likely makes the Tar Heels the preseason number one.
I don’t see a way the Tar Heels won’t be preseason favorites to win it all. I’m sure coach Roy Williams couldn’t be happier. UNC has returned to their rightful spot as an ACC power since Williams’ 2004 return to his alma mater. The Heels won the title in 2005 with an NBA prospect-filled roster that included Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. UNC will open this season with the best starting lineup and the deepest bench in the nation.
As far the three returning players are concerned, I think they’re all future NBA guys. Lawson projects to be the best pro of the group and is main guy who will help UNC sell NCAA Basketball tickets this season. There are few players faster than Lawson on the court from end to end. He’s a pure point guard with good floor vision and a solid jump shot and plays tenacious defense. He’s a likely first-rounder next year and a potential lottery pick if he really tears it up this season. I think Lawson has the ability to be a similar NBA player to UNC alum Ray Felton, but not quite as good. He’s undersized for the position in the NBA and could struggle getting to the rim in the pros.
Ellington is a shooter, pure and simple. His silky smooth jump shot will help him find a niche in the NBA but he’s not a future all star. There is a chance he plays himself into the first round of the 2009 Draft, but it’s more probable that he ends up being a second round pick. His athleticism doesn’t blow anyone away and he’s undersized for the two guard position at 6-4. If he can find a team where he can make a living out of hitting open shots then he could have a solid NBA career, but if he’s asked to create his own shot he’s going to struggle on the next level.
Green is a tougher prospect to project. He really came on strong in his junior year and showed NBA scouts some things they look for in an NBA prospect. He’s big enough and athletic enough to play the two in the pros and has a nice outside jumper. He’s also a really good defender. He doesn’t finish at the rim very well and doesn’t seem to have much ability to take over games even on the collegiate level. He could be a solid role player in the mold of a poor man’s Shane Battier, but it’s too hard to project at this point.
Regardless of their NBA careers, the return of these three players to the collegiate ranks is sure to help sell NCAA Basketball tickets wherever they play.
NCAA Basketball tickets to see UNC play just got more valuable as North Carolina underclassmen Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green will all be returning to school next season after testing the waters of the NBA Draft. It appeared Lawson was looking for a promise in the Top 20 picks and didn’t receive one while Ellington and Green didn’t receive enough of an indication that they would be drafted at all. While this puts these kids’ NBA dreams on hold for another year, it does wonders for UNC’s title hopes this season. The trio rejoins National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and likely makes the Tar Heels the preseason number one.
I don’t see a way the Tar Heels won’t be preseason favorites to win it all. I’m sure coach Roy Williams couldn’t be happier. UNC has returned to their rightful spot as an ACC power since Williams’ 2004 return to his alma mater. The Heels won the title in 2005 with an NBA prospect-filled roster that included Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. UNC will open this season with the best starting lineup and the deepest bench in the nation.
As far the three returning players are concerned, I think they’re all future NBA guys. Lawson projects to be the best pro of the group and is main guy who will help UNC sell NCAA Basketball tickets this season. There are few players faster than Lawson on the court from end to end. He’s a pure point guard with good floor vision and a solid jump shot and plays tenacious defense. He’s a likely first-rounder next year and a potential lottery pick if he really tears it up this season. I think Lawson has the ability to be a similar NBA player to UNC alum Ray Felton, but not quite as good. He’s undersized for the position in the NBA and could struggle getting to the rim in the pros.
Ellington is a shooter, pure and simple. His silky smooth jump shot will help him find a niche in the NBA but he’s not a future all star. There is a chance he plays himself into the first round of the 2009 Draft, but it’s more probable that he ends up being a second round pick. His athleticism doesn’t blow anyone away and he’s undersized for the two guard position at 6-4. If he can find a team where he can make a living out of hitting open shots then he could have a solid NBA career, but if he’s asked to create his own shot he’s going to struggle on the next level.
Green is a tougher prospect to project. He really came on strong in his junior year and showed NBA scouts some things they look for in an NBA prospect. He’s big enough and athletic enough to play the two in the pros and has a nice outside jumper. He’s also a really good defender. He doesn’t finish at the rim very well and doesn’t seem to have much ability to take over games even on the collegiate level. He could be a solid role player in the mold of a poor man’s Shane Battier, but it’s too hard to project at this point.
Regardless of their NBA careers, the return of these three players to the collegiate ranks is sure to help sell NCAA Basketball tickets wherever they play.