New Names Dot Mock First Round

Five newcomers make their debuts in the latest of our "mock" first rounds of the June 28 NBA Draft. Among those are a guard (Francisco Garcia) who played for Rick Pitino at Louisville and two other backcourt players who played for former Pitino assistant coaches. They are Julius Hodge (who played for Herb Sendek at North Carolina State) and Matt Walsh (Billy Donovan and Florida).

There’s something short of two weeks remaining before the June 28 NBA Draft.

The Chicago Pre-Draft Camp got some solid performances out of the likes of college seniors David Lee (Florida), Luther Head (Illinois) and Sharrod Ford (Clemson).

But none of those players got into the first round although there was considerable fine-tuning involved in the second version of our mock draft.

Two non-U.S. players (Nemanja Aleksandrov and Marko Tomas), both lottery selections in Mock I, apparently are withdrawing from the draft pool, opening a couple of first round slots.

And seniors Rony Turiaf (Gonzaga) and Salim Stoudamire (Arizona), at least in this version of our projected first round, slide out after making appearances in Mock I. Forward Mikeal Gelabale (France) was cut from the first round.

Newcomers to our first round are forwards Yaroslav Korolev (Russia) and Ersan Ilyasova (Turkey), and guards Julius Hodge (North Carolina State), Matt Walsh (Florida) and Francisco Garcia (Louisville).

Five high school/prep school players are still slotted for the first round, including a Connecticut signee and McDonald’s All-America center, Andrew Bynum, who worked out for the Lakers – yes, Phil Jackson was watching, less than 24 hours after being introduced as the team’s “new coach” – against Johan Petro of France Wednesday in the team’s El Segundo practice facility.

MOCK II

(Heights, without shoes, adjusted after measurements at Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago)

1. Milwaukee: Andrew Bogut (6-11, Utah)

Frank Says: It just doesn’t seem wise to pass on a center of his size with his skill, no matter how much all-star “upside” Marvin Williams seems to possess.

2. Atlanta: Marvin Williams (6-7, North Carolina)

Frank Says: Recent speculation has the Hawks also considering another Williams (Deron) with this choice.

3. Portland: Deron Williams (6-1 ¾ , Illinois)

Frank Says: Assuming the Blazers are picking for themselves (and not for someone else in a trade), this is their guy – unless Marvin Williams is still on the board.

4. New Orleans: Chris Paul (5-11 ¾, Wake Forest)

Frank Says: Deron Williams was thought to be the choice but no one on the Bayou would whine if Paul slips here.

5. Charlotte: Gerald Green (6-6, Houston Gulf Shores Academy)

Frank Says: It’s more likely he slips in the lottery (all the way to No. 11 and Orlando?) than it is he is tabbed as early as No. 3. Martell Webster is the much more polished “player” but many are enthralled – as well they should be – with Green’s speed, leaping ability and deep  range on his jump shot.

6. Utah: Fran Vazquez (6-10, Spain)

Frank Says: He’s easily the best of the non-U.S. (other than Andrew Bogut) prospects and it would be tough for Jazz to pass on him, unless Chris Paul or Deron Williams were available.

7. Toronto: Danny Granger (6-7 ½, New Mexico)

Frank Says: Picking Channing Frye could be an option but they already have a better version of Frye in Chris Bosh. Martell Webster is a tantalizing possibility here, too.

8. New York: Channing Frye (6-9 ½, Arizona)

Frank Says: Along with Andrew Bogut and Deron Williams, he seems the most “NBA ready” in this draft pool.

9. Golden State: Martell Webster (6-6, Seattle Prep)

Frank Says: Along with Salim Stoudamire, he’s the best jump shooter available.

10. L.A. Lakers: Raymond Felton (5-11 ½, North Carolina)

Frank Says: How does the return of Phil Jackson affect this selection? Will he be tempted by a “bigger” point guard prospect, say, Jarrett Jack or Julius Hodge?

11. Orlando: Joey Graham (6-5 ¼, Oklahoma State)

Frank Says: Height might be an issue but he’s too good a player to fall out of lottery land.

12. L.A. Clippers: Yaroslav Korolev (6-8, Russia)

Frank Says: Someone has guaranteed the slender but skilled 18-year-old a spot in the first round and the consensus seems to be that it’s the Clippers.

13. Charlotte: Sean May (6-7, North Carolina)

Frank Says: If the Bobcats don’t deal this slot in an attempt to bag Marvin Williams or Chris Paul, they might find it tough to bypass this Tar Heel.

14. Minnesota: Hakim Warrick (6-7 ¼, Syracuse)

Frank Says: Many who watched his head-up workout with Danny Granger in Chicago felt he helped his stock considerably and that he could be gone before Minnesota picks.

15. New Jersey: Ike Diogu (6-6 ½, Arizona State)

Frank Says: The comparisons to Elton Brand are a bit of a stretch but he’s won over a lot of converts during workouts.

16. Toronto: Jarrett Jack (6-2 ½, Georgia Tech)

Frank Says: He had a very good workout vs. Salim Stoudamire with the Lakers looking on Wednesday.

17. Indiana: Rashad McCants (6-2 ¾, North Carolina)

Frank Says: He’s the most skilled “scorer” in the draft. But will the much publicized “attitude” issues at UNC leave him available to the Pacers – or beyond?

18. Boston: Roko Ukic (6-5, Croatia)

Frank Says: It’s conceivable Toronto could snatch him two selections earlier.

19. Memphis: Julius Hodge (6-6, North Carolina State)

Frank Says: Jerry West supposedly is very high on him. That’s a pretty good guy to be high on you. Despite reports to the contrary, his jump shot is still a concern. But he does everything else so darn well. Andray Blatche is an option here, too.

20. Denver: Andray Blatche (6-9, South Kent, Conn., Prep)

Frank Says: Some NBA decision makers will not be startled if he’s chosen before the Nuggets have the opportunity to pick him.

21. Phoenix: Monta Ellis (6-2 ¼, Jackson, Miss, Lanier High)

Frank Says: If Jarrett Jack and Roko Ukic are gone, this is the next best point guard option.

22. Denver: Ersan Ilyasova (6-8, Turkey)

Frank Says: He’s not the jump shooter that Martell Webster and Salim Stoudamire are . . . but he isn’t that far off.

23. Sacramento: Charlie Villanueva (6-9, Connecticut)

Frank Says: His versatility and the vitality he displayed for rebounding as a Huskies’ sophomore helped his stock immensely.

24. Houston: Wayne Simien (6-7 ¼, Kansas)

Frank Says: Don’t be surprised if he’s gone before the Rockets are on the clock.

25. Seattle: Chris Taft (6-9, Pittsburgh)

Frank Says: He was never the caliber of prospect (hyped as a possible Top Five choice or better on some Internet mocks) as proclaimed by some this season. Hence, his stock really hasn’t “fallen” to the degree that some are speculating.

26. Detroit: Johan Petro (6-11, France)

Frank Says: Only 19 and a season or two away from significant on-court time. But the Pistons are one of the franchises that can afford to wait a bit.

27. Utah: Antoine Wright (6-5 ¼, Texas A&M)

Frank Says: If he manages to slip this far (probably not likely but we couldn’t find a comfortable place to slot him earlier), the Jazz would have a tough time passing, despite choosing a shooting guard (Kirk Snyder) in the first round a year ago.

28. San Antonio: Andrew Bynum (7-0, Metuchen, N.J., St. Joseph’s High)

Frank Says: Those who’ve watched him work out recently think he will be tabbed somewhere in the 20 to 30 range – assuming he stays in the draft, as seems to be the belief now.

29. Miami: Matt Walsh (6-6, Florida)

Frank Says: His size and versatility give him the edge for this slot over other guards, including Salim Stoudamire and Luther Head.

30. New York: Francisco Garcia (6-5 ¾, Louisville)

Frank Says: Ditto the Walsh comments.

Gone quickly in Round 2: Daniel Ewing (6-3, Duke), David Lee (6-7 ¾, Florida), Jason Maxiell (6-5, Cincinnati), Sharrod Ford (6-7 ¼, Clemson), Ryan Gomes (6-7, Providence), Nate Robinson (5-8, Washington), Salim Stoudamire (6-0, Arizona), Ronny Turiaf (6-9, Gonzaga), Luther Head (6-2) and Amir Johnson (6-9, Los Angeles Westchester High).

An April inductee into the USBWA Hall of Fame, Frank Burlison is Scout.com’s National Basketball Expert and is also a columnist for the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram. He can be reached at . Read more of Burlison’s pieces at FrankHoops.com