Darius Johnson-Odom Projected to go First Round

[wadesworld]

anthony davis, andre drummond, jared sullinger, perry jones III and harrison barnes for sure.  I think Irving would have been picked ahead of everyone else.

LOL!  No.  First off, Andre Drummond couldn't have entered the draft last year, so that takes him off the list.  Same with Anthony Davis.  Sullinger, Jones, and Barnes no.  Kyrie Irving was the 1st pick in the draft even if he hadn't come back from his injury at all and played at the end of the year.  He was the first pick throughout the entire year.

Do a Google search of 2011 NBA Mock Draft and edit it so that it's between March 1 through mid March, when guys like Barnes and Sullinger were assumed to be leaving early.  I have not seen a single mock draft in that time frame where anybody besides Derrick Williams (who did leave early) was projected to go before him.  Here is one:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/638649-2011-nba-mock-draft-has-kyrie-irving-draft-stock-fallen-or-risen-since-injury/page/31

[esotericmindguy]

Have YOU seen the NBA?

His dribble is so high and loose that even low-tier NCAA teams can pick his pocket.
He drives to the hole when it's loaded with posts.
He drives to the paint...only to pick up his dribble!!!
His shot fake...doesn't fake anyone that much anymore.
And he's been blocked on fast break opportunities more than any Eagle I can recall in recent memory. (So much for explosiveness.)
He doesn't mix it up with the bigs (even for an "explosive" guy) and loves the perimeter so much, his momma gets jealous.
Unlike Lazar, he hasn't showed ANYTHING of a post-up game on a smaller defender.

He can shoot, but that's pretty much it.

Wow, ok. My guess is he won't be flanked by junior and blue on the perimeter on the next level. And, the NBA game is wide open, with the 3 point line at 23 feet it opens up the driving lanes. You're wrong on the pump fake and based on your evaluationI'm surprised he's second in the big east in scoring. Only time will tell, but I think he'll make a roster.

[Hards Alumni]

Wow, ok. My guess is he won't be flanked by junior and blue on the perimeter on the next level. And, the NBA game is wide open, with the 3 point line at 23 feet it opens up the driving lanes. You're wrong on the pump fake and based on your evaluationI'm surprised he's second in the big east in scoring. Only time will tell, but I think he'll make a roster.

Nah, too short.  Doesn't project as a 2 in the NBA because he won't be able to guard the other 2s.  He doesn't play the 1 in college... he is right at the level that Jerel McNeal was.  Great college player, can fill up the bucket, but really needs some help getting into the NBA.

[Earl Tatum]

He never stepped up when we needed him at North Carolina. He chokes at the foul line and disappears in games. Crowder carries the team most of the time.

[77ncaachamps]

And Crowder is carrying this team.

1st in minutes, FG made, 3pt%, rebounds, steals, blocks
2nd in FG% (min 10 games), points, 3pt made
4th in assists
TOs are lowest of starting five (25), only Gardner has less (22) of players averaging 15+ mpg

[burger]

Well....I have been right the last 3 years.....

Time to put my record on the line......

I said Wes Mathews would be the first of the 3 Amigo's to make the NBA......

I said Lazar would be drafted in the first round......

and the best yet.....I said that Jimmy Butler would be drafted by the Bulls in the first round......

3 for 3 with an exact nail on the last one......


This year.....No Marquette player will be drafted.....There are reasons...I am not going to disparage our kids.....I hope I am wrong......We shall see.......

[MU B2002]

Was there a sale on ....s?

[bilsu]

Well....I have been right the last 3 years.....

Time to put my record on the line......

I said Wes Mathews would be the first of the 3 Amigo's to make the NBA......

I said Lazar would be drafted in the first round......

and the best yet.....I said that Jimmy Butler would be drafted by the Bulls in the first round......

3 for 3 with an exact nail on the last one......


This year.....No Marquette player will be drafted.....There are reasons...I am not going to disparage our kids.....I hope I am wrong......We shall see.......

Do you mean first round. I am surpised that DJO is mentioned as a first rounder, but I do expect him to be drafted in second round.

[Jacks DC]

Nah, too short.  Doesn't project as a 2 in the NBA because he won't be able to guard the other 2s.  He doesn't play the 1 in college... he is right at the level that Jerel McNeal was.  Great college player, can fill up the bucket, but really needs some help getting into the NBA.

Yeah I hate to say it but unless he really picks it up the remainder of the season and impresses in some workouts, its going to be hard for DJO to find a spot in the NBA.  Although a great build, he is on the small side even at PG and definitely at SG.  Unfortunately he doesn't have the ballhandling skills or PG experience.  As others have said, he has similar shortcomings to McNeal and I although they had similar senior numbers I think McNeal had a better case for the NBA.  Hope DJO surprises me.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

I've followed the NBA draft thoroughly (year-round) for 10+ years. I know that hardly makes me an expert, but McNeal is really the only MU player I thought would get drafted that didn't.....and I was very vocal about Jimmy being a 1st when he was a Junior.

DJO's height is an obvious knock.  However, it remains to be seen what his true length is.  What's his standing reach?  His wingspan?  It's very possible he is not as undersized as the top of his head suggests.  And in reality,  I think length is overrated at all positions...particularly at guard.  Talent always trumps size IMO.  Regardless,  DJO shoots with a higher release than the average guy, giving him the effect of a longer player shooting.  He also obviously has great athleticism,  so that is a plus.  Hell,  guys like Troy Bell have gone way higher than ever imagined solely on athleticism.  All it takes is one team to fall in love.  I really didn't think DJO would even get drafted until recently,  but I think I may just be getting jaded from all of his press...

As for Jae,  it looks pretty tough.  He's not a PF in the League.....and he's smaller than the average SF......not to mention no where near as athletic as the SF's.  Those are some of the most jaw-dropping athletes in any sport and teams generally take guys that on paper can defend the position....that is unless they really make up for it on the offensive end.  However, defense is more mentality than a lane agility test.  Jae is a WARRIOR....a fighter.....and success from Matthews, Hayward, and Butler would give teams something to think about.

With all of that said,  a MAJOR X-factor will be the success of MU this season.  Guys that lead teams deep in the NCAA get a bump.  Can they help MU to the Elite 8?  That would really help them.

[MU B2002]

Could jae play TE?

[brewcity77]

Could jae play TE?

That might not be a total stretch. Gates did it, and NFL teams have been looking more closely at basketball players from what I've read. Two worries with that notion regarding Jae, though. First is size. What does he go, 220-230? To block in the NFL he'd probably need another 20-30 lbs. And his footspeed. When Jae gets a breakaway, it seems a defender catches up with him 90% of the time. Not sure that would bode well. He'd probably make a better safety or linebacker.

[Hards Alumni]

That might not be a total stretch. Gates did it, and NFL teams have been looking more closely at basketball players from what I've read. Two worries with that notion regarding Jae, though. First is size. What does he go, 220-230? To block in the NFL he'd probably need another 20-30 lbs. And his footspeed. When Jae gets a breakaway, it seems a defender catches up with him 90% of the time. Not sure that would bode well. He'd probably make a better safety or linebacker.

I think his lack of breakaway speed has a lot more to do with having to dribble the ball than his actual speed.