Nets Draft Combine 2012

Nets Draft Combine
The Nets will host their annual NBA Draft Combine this weekend in New Jersey (not Brooklyn), featuring 44 players over four sessions. Below is a breakdown of the players and matchups in each group to watch:
SESSION #1: SATURDAY, May 19, 9:30 a.m.
		Height/Weight	College
Kim English	Guard	6-6/200	Missouri
Jorge Gutierrez	Guard	6-3/195	California
Tu Holloway	Guard	6-0/190	Xavier
Mindaugas Kupsas	Center	7-0/250	Lithuania
Scott Machado	Guard	6-1/180	Iona
Cameron Moore	Forward	6-10/225	UAB
Ricardo Ratliffe	Forward	6-8/240	Missouri
Rakim Sanders	Guard	6-5/228	Fairfield
Dominique Sutton	Forward	6-5/218	North Carolina Central
Terrell Stoglin	Guard	6-1/185	Maryland
Joston Thomas	Forward	6-7/235	Hawaii
Not the strongest group, but there are some interesting matchups to keep an eye on here. There are several undersized guards likely to go head-to-head with the strongest being Scott Machado of Iona, the nation's leader in assists per game this season in the Gaels up-tempo offense. He will face Jorge Gutierrez of Cal, the Pac-12's Player and Defensive Player of the Year and sleeper to watch in the second-round with his strong overall skill set. Tu Holloway, the 2011 A-10 Player of the Year, and Terrell Stoglin, 8th in scoring this past season at 21.6 points per game for Maryland, are two players who can certainly put the ball in the basket, but need to demonstrate point guard skills to compensate their lack of size. On the wing, Rakim Sanders and Kim English are two names on the climb after impressive senior seasons for both. English was one of the nation's most improved after a horrendous junior season, while Sanders of Fairfield has had some strong play since the off-season began. Out of the big men, Missouri's Ricardo Ratliffe may be the most noticeable name for fans after shooting a sizzling 69.3 percent from the field this season, but he does indeed stand at just 6'8". He will have his hands full with the intriguing potential of UAB's 6'10" Cameron Moore, an inside-outside scorer, along with a legit big man, Mindaugas Kupsas of Lithuania.
SESSION #2: SATURDAY, May 19, 11:00 a.m.
Player	Position	Height/Weight	College
Jon Dunn	Guard	6-3/200	Northwood
Kyle Fogg	Guard	6-3/188	Arizona
Ashton Gibbs	Guard	6-2/190	Pittsburgh
Drew Gordon	Forward	6-9/245	New Mexico
Darius Johnson-Odom	Guard	6-2/215	Marquette
Kevin Murphy	Guard	6-7/185	Tennessee Tech
Josh Owens	Forward	6-8/240	Stanford
Zack Rosen	Guard	6-1/175	Pennsylvania
Renardo Sidney	Center	6-10/285	Mississippi State
Mitchell Watt	Forward	6-10/225	Buffalo
Wesley Witherspoon	Forward	6-9/207	Memphis
This is the most intriguing group of prospects to watch. Kevin Murphy is one of the top five scorers in the draft after putting up 50 points in a game for Tennessee Tech earlier this season. He has good size, athleticism and is an excellent shooting player on the wing. Undersized guards Ashton Gibbs of Pitt and Marquette's Darius Johnson-Odom were two of the Big East's better scorers, but their lack of size and inability to play the point guard as their primary position will hurt. Penn's Zack Rosen could boost his stock by dominating his fellow point guard prospects in this group. In the frontcourt, Drew Gordon of New Mexico, is the best of the bunch with potential as a well above-average rebounder and tough low-post presence, but he is just 6'8". He will matchup with the wider Renardo Sidney, who could be one of the top two or three most skilled bigs, but by far and away the winner of the most troubled prospect. Mitchell Watt is a long, lean shot-blocker who could fall into the second-round. Memphis' Wesley Witherspoon is a guy that scouts were high on each and every year of his four-year career, but he never utilized his size, athleticism and overall skill set to his advantage.
SESSION #3: SUNDAY, May 20, 9:30 a.m.
Malik Alvin	Guard	6-0/175	Shaw
Larry Anderson	Forward	6-5/210	Long Beach State
D'Aundray Brown	Forward	6-4/195	Cleveland State
Jae Crowder	Forward	6-6/235	Marquette
Marcus Denmon	Guard	6-3/185	Missouri
Evan Fournier	Guard	6-6/200	France
Xavier Gibson	Center	6-11/248	Florida State
JaMychal Green	Forward	6-8/237	Alabama
Kris Joseph	Forward	6-7/215	Syracuse
Garrett Stutz	Center	7-0/255	Wichita State
Casper Ware	Guard	5-10/175	Long Beach State
This is by far the most talented group with the biggest names of the combine. The highest rated international prospect with a first-round grade is shooting guard Evan Fournier. Projected at the tail-end of the first-round now, Fournier, a smooth, scoring wing, should rise into the early 20s with a solid performance against the others. Larry Anderson of Long Beach State has good size, great length and athleticism to play on the wing, but was hurt at the end of the year. If healthy and productive here, Anderson could slip into the second-round. Missouri's Marcus Denmon is an early-second round prospect due to his dead-on shooting from the perimeter, but could rise or fall depending on his ability to play on the ball as a point here due to his slender 6'3" frame. There will be a great matchup of Big East wings in Player of the Year Jae Crowder of Marquette and Syracuse's Kris Joseph. Crowder is a tough, inside-outside scorer who can really hit the boards and do the dirty work. Joseph is a super-athletic slasher who is still trying to develop his perimeter game. In the post, there are three very different names to watch here: Garrett Stutz is a legit 7-footer who loves to bang on the interior with his muscular 250-pound build. He was the main reason for Wichita State's rise back into the national picture this season. Alabama's JaMychal Green was suspended by coach Anthony Grant this season for his conduct, but there was no doubt that Green was one of the SEC's best. He brings springy athleticism, a high-motor and an immediate defensive impact. And then there is the 6'11" Xavier Gibson, one of Leonard Hamilton's frontline bodies at Florida State. Gibson has perimeter-skills and very good athleticism as a face-up 4/5, but is extremely raw on both ends of the floor.
SESSION #4: SUNDAY, May 20, 11:00 a.m.
Dee Bost	Guard	6-2/176	Mississippi State
J'Covan Brown	Guard	6-1/197	Texas
Troy Gillenwater	Guard	6-8/238	New Mexico St./Apollon Limassol BC
Justin Hamilton	Center	7-0/260	LSU
Eli Holman	Center	6-10/260	Detroit
Orlando Johnson	Guard	6-5/205	UC Santa Barbara
Tony Mitchell	Forward	6-6/210	Alabama
Kyle O'Quinn	Center	6-10/240	Norfolk State
Robert Sacre	Center	7-0/260	Gonzaga
Maalik Wayans	Guard	6-2/200	Villanova
Alex Young	Forward	6-6/212	IUPU
In the combine's last session, the scouts will be watching the big men quite carefully. All four- LSU's Justin Hamilton, Detroit's Eli Holman, Robert Sacre of Gonzaga and the 2012 NCAA Tournament's hot-name Kyle O'Quinn from Norfolk State will all battle in the post. Hamilton would have best been suited with at least one more year of college, but brings a big, wide body to bang in the post. O'Quinn is the most talented of the bunch with an inside-outside skill set at 6'10" with a tremendous wingspan. Sacre moves very mechanically and isn't very athletic, but he is a true banger, unafraid to mix it up down low. And then there is Eli Holman who is only 6'8 ½" but has a 7'5" wingspan. He has potential as a solid rebounder and shot-blocker. On the wing, Orlando Johnson has a great overall skill set and athleticism enabling him to play three spots on the floor, including some point. He will go head-to-head with former Alabama wing Tony Mitchell, one of the top five athletes in the draft. However, Mitchell's stock was greatly hurt by a team-imposed suspension that kept him out of most of the season. Alex Young is another name to watch out of IUPUI if he can show consistency shooting from the perimeter. The guards in this showcase all have a lot to prove. J'Covan Brown was one of the highest-volume shooters in the country- is that to a lack of point guard skill which he demonstrated or because of the lack of talent on Texas' young roster? Dee Bost was last season's NBA deadline victim (suspended for failure to comply with NCAA rules). He is one of the older prospects, suffering from a poor shot selection and turnovers out the wazoo. And then one of the surprise entries in the field is Villanova Maalik Wayns, who really struggles as an outside shooter and distributor but can be a strong slasher with his speed and quickness.