McNeal skyrocketing the mock drafts

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Up to #37 on DraftExpress.com where just a couple of weeks ago wasn't even on their mock.

Up to #38 on nbadraft.net

good to see him get more respect

[RawdogDX]

if he finishes the year shooting like he has been there is no way he doesn't go in the first round.  he's one of the best shooters, best defenders and can penetrate.  He's better than ben gordon who went 3rd overall.

[THEGYMBAR]

Sticking with my lottery prediction. Too hard of a worker not to take a serious gamble on. Whatever he gets he deserves and then some. He really has been a joy to watch and probably one of my five all time favorite players....sorry Bernard Toone, you move to #6.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Here's Fox Sports power rankings that were released today. The writer believes McNeal is a lottery pick.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/powerRankings

[bradforster]

The only problem I see with Jerel is poor ball handling from time to time.  He doesn't possess the point guard type ball handling skills he will need at the next level.  I hope he can improve that part of his game, because its obvious he's a special talent.   

[esotericmindguy]

The only problem I see with Jerel is poor ball handling from time to time.  He doesn't possess the point guard type ball handling skills he will need at the next level.  I hope he can improve that part of his game, because its obvious he's a special talent.   

My response to that is more one on one matchups, McNeal runs into problems when people crowd the lane and cut off drives...mainly because he is the main outside threat and people can leave Burke without much worry.  He will be a good NBA player in my opinion, he's a competitor.

[passion of da coach]

I think he is of the gilbert arenas mold but with more defense, I think teams would look back at Arenas (2nd Round pick) and see that Jerel could one day have as much success as Arenas did (before he kept getting hurt) - I think he would be a safe first round pick.

[MUONTOP]

http://www.nbadraft.net/stockwatch004.htm



Jerel McNeal 6-3 200 SG Marquette Sr.

One of the most complete and consistent performers in the country, McNeal has made a strong case for himself as the Big East player of the year. His excellence on both ends of the floor has the Golden Eagles tied for first place in the country's top conference.

Though just 6'3 and undersized for the 2-guard position, McNeal has the athleticism and shooting ability to find a role at the NBA level despite his lack of optimum size.

McNeal is scorching hot having scored over 20 points in seven straight games and burying at least two three pointers in each.

Jerel is also known for his defensive prowess, being able to lock down an opponents top scoring guard. That ability to defend will certainly be a positive attribute when NBA teams evaluate him leading up to the draft.

McNeal is a model of efficiency, with his strong defensive play (2.0 spg), explosive scoring ability (20.0 ppg, 49% fg, 47% 3p) strong rebounding ability (4.6 rpg) and intelligent decision making 1.42 a/to ratio (3.7 ast to 2.6 to).

Also on the rise is McNeal's teammate Wesley Matthews who is averaging 19 ppg with an impressive performance recently against Georgetown making key plays down the stretch to seal the victory.

Look for McNeal to find a spot in the early to mid second round, and his teammate Matthews to also find a spot in the second round.

[Hards Alumni]

I would love to see Jerel defending Wade some day.

[Avenue Commons]

He'll go in the 1st round. He's a good kid (as far as I know) and he plays both sides of the ball. Due to his athleticism and defensive tenancity his lack of height is mitigated a bit. He's a perfect bench guy in the NBA. He has more D than Ben Gordon or Gilbert Arenas, but probably isn't as good of a shooter. He doesn't have the size of Eric Gordon, but I don't think that is an unfair comparison.

We have seen every single MU draftee going back to McIlvaine (with the possible exception of McCaskill) being drafted way too low for how they ultimately performed in the NBA. D-Wade is the only 1st round draft pick and he was drafted 5th in that draft. If you were to redo that draft today he would go either 2 or 3. Crawford, Diener and Novak were all second round picks that had or are having decent if not noteworthy NBA careers. Second round picks rarely get that 2nd contract in the NBA.

[MU B2002]

D-Wade is the only 1st round draft pick and he was drafted 5th in that draft.

Wade is the 5th 1st round pick I think.
Memmiger(sp), Lucas, Ellis, Lee, Wade

[bma725]

Wade is the 5th 1st round pick I think.
Memmiger(sp), Lucas, Ellis, Lee, Wade

Overall yes, but he was talking about picks going back to McIlvaine.  So of the MU players drafted since 1994, only Wade is a first rounder.

[MU B2002]

My bad.

[Marquette06]

The only problem I see with Jerel is poor ball handling from time to time.  He doesn't possess the point guard type ball handling skills he will need at the next level.  I hope he can improve that part of his game, because its obvious he's a special talent.   

I don't remember D Wade being a tremendous ball handler while at Marquette. 

[Avenue Commons]

The only problem I see with Jerel is poor ball handling from time to time.  He doesn't possess the point guard type ball handling skills he will need at the next level.  I hope he can improve that part of his game, because its obvious he's a special talent.   

Shoot, there were concerns about AI's ball handling when he came out of Georgetown (after spending some time in the clink).

Jerel's a tweener, which used to be a negative but now they are just called "wing players" or simply "guard" without the category of point or shooting. They play the 1.5, as it were.

He would fit in well on a veteran team where he didn't have to handle traditional PG responsibilities and would come off the bench to lock down the opposing team's backcourt and provide a little spark on offense. He could have a solid career filling that role.

[bamamarquettefan]

I saw a web story on Terry Rand that stated he was the Lakers first round pick.  The league didn't release the order of draft picks then, but I assume they told him he was their top pick when they were trying to get him to go NBA instead of the higher paying offer he had with the National Industrial League, where he played instead.  If you look at players who went with one of the first 30 picks, the length of the current draft, there have been 10 Marquette players led by D. Wade as the No. 5 pick.  The following is draft team, round, actually order of pick, year and then total points they went onto score in the NBA:

First name   Last   Drafted by pros?   Round drafted   Draft Selection   Year Chosen   NBA Points
5. Dwyane   Wade   Miami   1st   5   2003   9006
10. Alfred (Butch)   Lee   Atlanta   1st    10   1978   778
14. Maurice   Lucas   Chicago   1st    14   1974   12312
16. Dean   Meminger   New York   1st    16   1971   2538
17. Maurice (Bo)   Ellis   Washington   1st    17   1977   605
21. Earl   Tatum   Los Angeles   2nd   21   1976   2515
21. Don   Kojis   Chicago   2nd    21   1961   9931
?. Terry   Rand   Minneapolis   1st   22   1956   0
25. Larry   McNeil   Kansas City- Omaha   2nd   25   1973   2525
26. Sam   Worthen   Chicago   2nd   26   1980   242

There are 12 other MU players who went onto score at least 200 points in the NBA despite not going in the first 30 picks, led by Doc Rivers 9,418.               
Glen (Doc)   Rivers   Atlanta   2nd    31   1983   9418
George   Thompson   Boston    5th    66   1969   8128
Jim   Chones   Los Angeles   2nd    31   1973   7663
Jerome   Whitehead   Buffalo   2nd   41   1978   4531
Tony   Smith   Los Angeles Lakers   2nd   51   1990   2514
Chris   Crawford   Atlanta   2nd   51   1997   1663
Lloyd   Walton   Milwaukee   3rd    40   1976   1432
Jim   McIlvaine   Washington    2nd   32   1994   1083
Travis   Diener   Orlando   2nd   38   2005   768
Steve   Novak   Houston   2nd   32   2006   470
Bob   Lackey   Atlanta   5th    71   1972   412
Amal   McCaskill   Orlando   2nd    49   1996   205

[mu_hilltopper]

cough .. http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/marquette_players_who_went_on_to_play_professionally

[mosarsour]

I was on Real GM's site this morning and took a look at their mock draft for 2009...No Jerel...No Wes...but what really surprised me was to find Tyshawn Taylor's name appear in the 2nd round for the 2009 draft.

Needless to say, I am no longer visiting the Real GM site ever again.

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/1436/20090211/2009_nba_mock_draft_version_10/

[Sungod]

On Gameday this morning in Madison, they did an all-star selection piece for College BBall and they selected McNeal as the starting 2 guard for the East squad.   He was on a team with Curry, Singler, Blair and Thabeet.  Not that this equates to NBA draft, but it definitely recognizes his level of play in the toughest conference "The BEAST".

[Avenue Commons]

I was on Real GM's site this morning and took a look at their mock draft for 2009...No Jerel...No Wes...but what really surprised me was to find Tyshawn Taylor's name appear in the 2nd round for the 2009 draft.

Needless to say, I am no longer visiting the Real GM site ever again.

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/1436/20090211/2009_nba_mock_draft_version_10/

If this ends up being true, then no one could fault Taylor for going to KU and not MU. He would have had a much harder time getting minutes at MU this year than he is at Kansas.

[romey]

On Gameday this morning in Madison, they did an all-star selection piece for College BBall and they selected McNeal as the starting 2 guard for the East squad.   He was on a team with Curry, Singler, Blair and Thabeet.  Not that this equates to NBA draft, but it definitely recognizes his level of play in the toughest conference "The BEAST".

No harangody , no hansborough and no Blake Griffin.  Not that I'm saying they should be on the list (except Griffin, in my opinion), but my how things have changed since preseason

[MU B2002]

No harangody , no hansborough and no Blake Griffin.  Not that I'm saying they should be on the list (except Griffin, in my opinion), but my how things have changed since preseason

I didn't see this segment on Gameday, but wouldn't Griffin be on the West squad?

[romey]

Oops, I didn't catch the "east" part.  My bad