Draft Nearly Down to Junior High Level

I used to do this everyone-eligible mock draft as a salute to the NCAA tournament, but lately it looks as much like a salute to several state high school tournaments too.

The NBA has the NCAA so picked over, few upperclass prospects remain (only five college seniors made the 29-man list.) Couple that with the fact this is a big year for high school big men and you could see as many as four in the lottery.

Despite the dozens of scouts flocking to high school games, it’s difficult to scout preps until teams can work them out against pro players, which doesn’t happen until June.

A high school senior who’s a pro prospect doesn’t merely dominate his peers, he’s rarely tested. So there’s little consensus on how good these youngsters are now.

Don’t take sizes too seriously until they’re adjusted, usually downward, at the June draft camp. The rule of thumb is, knock off an inch for collegians and two or three for preps.

1. Yao Ming, 7 feet 4, 270, Shanghai Sharks--Will be first overseas overall No. 1 pick if the Chinese government lets him come. Larry Brown, who saw him in the Olympics, compares him to (I swear) a young Bill Walton.

2. Jason Williams, 6-2, 196, sophomore, Duke--Whenever he comes out (he says not this year), he’ll be the best rookie point since Allen Iverson.

3. Jason Richardson, 6-6, 220, sophomore, Michigan State--Wears No. 23, has Vince-Kobe body. Brought along slowly by Coach Tom Izzo, which will serve him well.

4. Eddie Griffin, 6-9, 205, freshman, Seton Hall--Not as athletic as Darius Miles but more refined. Griffin was up here last year as a prep and this season proves he belongs. Question is why he gets in off-court fights.

5. Kwame Brown, 6-11, 240, Glynn Academy (Georgia)--Not as hyped as other top preps but, several pro general managers say he’s by far the best. He says he’ll go to Florida.

6. Chris Marcus, 7-1, 285, junior, Western Kentucky--Late starter, but he’s coming fast. Huge guy whose name is just starting to circulate.

7. DeSagana Jiop, 6-11, 260, senior, Oak Hill Prep (Virginia)--Jiop (pronounced Jop) dominated ballyhooed Eddy Curry when they met but remains a project, even at this level, averaging only about 10 points and 10 rebounds. Says a pro GM: “When I saw them, he was the worst player on their team.”

8. Eddy Curry, 6-11, 290, senior, Thornwood High (Ill.)--Already called “Baby Shaq.” Big body and soft hands, but pros worry he’s 6-9, which could make him Baby Jahidi White, instead. Says one GM: “Is he Shaq or is he Melvin Turpin?”

9. Tyson Chandler, 7-1, 220, senior, Compton Dominguez High--Has attracted an unholy amount of interest based on pro potential, but his only pro skills now are shot-blocking and running. “A 6-11 small forward,” says one general manager. Says former Laker Michael Cooper, who saw him a lot doing analysis for Fox: “He’s not ready.” Looks like he’s coming, anyway.

10. Shane Battier, 6-8, 220, senior, Duke--Poster child for staying in school. Just OK at getting his own shot but has range and really defends. Classy and hard-nosed, used to delivering in big games.

11. Brendan Haywood, 7-0, 264, senior, North Carolina--Awoke this season after nodding off in the last two. Has pro size and athleticism. Elden Campbell/Erick Dampier revisited.

12. Zach Randolph, 6-9, 270, freshman, Michigan State--Young widebody, also being brought along slowly by Izzo.

13. Kareem Rush, 6-6, 214, sophomore, Missouri--His brother Jaron didn’t “translate” to the pro game, as they say, but this young scoring machine does.

14. Rodney White, 6-9, 230, freshman, North Carolina Charlotte-- Young power forward with small-forward skills.

15. Joe Johnson, 6-8, 225, sophomore, Arkansas--All-around wing man who can run a team.

16. Joseph Forte, 6-4, 185, sophomore, North Carolina--Leading scorer from the moment he arrived in a program that doesn’t encourage freshmen to take over.

17. Troy Murphy, 6-11, 245, junior, Notre Dame--A slighter Raef LaFrentz, down to being left-handed.

18. Frank Williams, 6-3, 205, sophomore, Illinois--Big, athletic point guard with takeover ability.

19. Michael Bradley, 6-10, 245, junior, Villanova--Polished big man who transferred from Kentucky.

20. Loren Woods, 7-1, 244, senior, Arizona--Staying in school did a lot less for him. Scouts are now off him in a big way.

21. Jamaal Tinsley, 6-3, 195, senior, Iowa State--Slick handler, but his stock fell as the season went on.

22. Rod Grizzard, 6-8, 205, sophomore, Alabama-- Left-handed wing player who outshines highly touted freshman Gerald Wallace.

23. Caron Butler, 6-7, 235, freshman, Connecticut--Comer with all-around skills.

24. Casey Jacobsen, 6-6, 210, sophomore, Stanford--Glendora shooting guard has been a top gun in a top-ranked program since he got there.

25. Carlos Boozer, 6-9, 270, sophomore, Duke--Imposing, but no Elton Brand. Questions about work ethic, rare for a Duke player.

26. David West, 6-8, 225, sophomore, Xavier--Athletic young power forward.

27. Kenny Satterfield, 6-2, 185, sophomore, Cincinnati--Talented young point who could move up.

28. Gilbert Arenas, 6-3, 190, sophomore, Arizona--Grant High grad, overmatches college shooting guards. But if he comes now, as is rumored, he’ll be facing Kobe Bryant.

29. Jason Kapono, 6-8, 206, sophomore, UCLA--Pros wonder how he’ll get his shot or defend at the next level but teams needs shooters and everyone likes his feel for the game.

Bubble guys: Ousman Cisse, St. Jude (Montgomery, Ala.) High; Jason and Jarron Collins, Stanford; Darius Rice, Miami.

The locals: Brian Scalabrine, USC--Another guy with a great feel. People were intrigued before his senior season, but invitation to Portsmouth tournament, a darkhorse venue, means he’s off the A list now.

Earl Watson, UCLA--Surprise! He’s got a shot. Could get on the second round.

Dan Gadzuric, UCLA--He tries, but he still has a lot to work on.

FACES AND FIGURES

Famous last words: Portland General Manager Bob Whitsitt, arguing that since Greg Anthony is hurt and Rod Strickland would only back up Damon Stoudamire, and Stoudamire and Strickland were friends, it would be OK: “I’m not a chemistry major,” Whitsitt said. “I’m a sports major. Rod fits in great, and you’ll find that Rod and the fellas get along really well. You do the deal because it is right for the team.” . . . Since Strickland arrived, the Trail Blazers are 0-3, including two home losses, one to the Grizzlies, and another loss to the Grizzlies in Vancouver. . . . With the Eastern champion Indiana Pacers burrowing deeper under .500, unidentified players zinged Coach Isiah Thomas in the Indianapolis Star for giving them too many days off, a rare complaint. “I’ve never seen anyone use that as an excuse, either,” Thomas said. “Normally, if you have a day off and you’re concerned about your game, you use that day off to work on your game.” . . . Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz: “At some point, the head coach has to be held more than slightly culpable. Like now.” . . . In a loss to the New York Knicks, Reggie Miller was fined for throwing his chewing gum at a referee--after his good friends at Madison Square Garden screened the tape to find the incident so the league office could see it. Miller was also fined recently for making an obscene sign to Bryant, all suggesting this losing is tough on him.

Survivor: The miracle holdover in the Seattle SuperSonic mess is GM Wally Walker, who reportedly brought in new owner Howard Schultz. Said former SuperSonic Coach George Karl, who had problems with Walker, of management’s plans to blow the team up and rebuild: “My recommendation would be to blow the management up and keep the team. The team’s pretty good. I guarantee you that’s why Gary [Payton] is so mad. The wrong people are being held responsible. Competitors get upset about that.” . . . Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley, after Cedric Ceballos bleached his hair blond: “Another two or three days at the hair stylist and I’m expecting to see some long boa scarves around him. That’s the reincarnation of Dennis Rodman.” . . . Has Riley considered that? “No,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m dying mine the other direction, trying to keep it dark.” . . . Shaquille O’Neal to the Denver Post’s Marc Spears: “If Phil [Jackson] goes, I’m right behind him. If Phil leaves on Tuesday, I’m leaving on Tuesday night. He’s the best coach in the business, and there are a lot of other great coaches out there. But at this point in my career, I couldn’t play for anybody else. I will not start all over with some other coaching staff unless I make that decision to.”