Jun
11
Power forwards are the easiest group to look at in this year's draft because there are so many quality PFs that will be drafted. Here’s a look at my top ten.
1.) At the top of the list is a player that you could play at power forward, small forward or center. He is
Anthony Davis, who at Kentucky looked like a center, but if on any other team he would have averaged 35 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. We will put him at #1 of the power forwards because that’s probably where Monty Williams will play him.
2.) The next rated power forward and he is not #2 but #1A, and it’s
Thomas Robinson of Kansas. He measured at 6-9 and has a 7-3 wingspan. He has a great NCAA tour getting at least 18 points in every playoff game—and he averaged 12 rebounds a game in the regular season.
3.) For talent alone we have to put
Andre Drummond of Connecticut next. He came out of high school with All-American potential but also had baggage of someone that did not bring it every night. He probably needed another year of college to find out how to work hard everyday.
4.) Number four will be
Perry Jones III from Baylor—nosing out Jared Sullinger. Perry has unlimited talent, but some question his motor to bring it every night. He had ten “wow” games out of the 60 he played in college. Lack of feel for the game will make him a question mark draft pick.
5.)
Jared Sullinger is a very skilled power forward but not a great athlete. He can post up smaller fours and go pick-and-roll against the length of a LaMarcus Aldridge. He shot 40 percent from three as a sophomore this year, and whoever drafts him hopes he turns out to be Zach Randolph. His weight could also be a problem.
6.)
John Henson of North Carolina is expected to fall in the range of 8th-12th but the Kings may take him at #5. He is only 215lbs, but he is a major defensive stopper. He is the type that will fit into an offense without any demands for the ball. That would make DeMarcus Cousins very happy.
7.)
Terrence Jones from Jefferson High School may end up being a small forward later in this career, but he is a power forward now. He might end up a stretch four like Al Harrington or Lamar Odom. The sophomore year helped him mature as a winner. With all the talent Kentucky had this year,, general managers are not quite sure how good Terrence is or what his main strengths are.
8.)
Arnett Moultrie of Mississippi State is next on the list. Any other year he might be taken higher in the draft, but this is a very strong year for power forwards. He transferred from Texas El Paso, and he sat out a year so the junior has experience. He averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds this year. He likes to score with his back to the basket and could be a Paul Millsap before he’s done. He could go late first round.
9.)
Royce White, a sophomore at Iowa State, could go in the late first round, but he is terrified of flying and this could be a problem. He is undersized at the four so he would be a very popular early 2nd round pick with no guaranteed money.
10.)
Andrew Nicholson from St. Bonaventure played four years and never shot below 58 percent in the Atlantic Ten—he was Player of the Year last year. People will love him in the early 2nd round. He can also go outside and shoot and was the Defensive Player of the Year. Early on he had a reputation as soft, but he came on his senior year.
Honorable mention for power forwards: Kevin Jones (West Virginia), Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk St.), Miles Plumlee (Duke), Furkan Aldemir (Turkey), Ricardo Ratliffe (Missouri), and Quincy Acy (Baylor).
Interested in learning the strong players at other positions in the 2012 Draft? Check out Wheels' take on
small forwards and Casey Holdahl's thoughts on
point guards.