Author Topic: Upperclassmen of past few draft classes  (Read 1292 times)

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Upperclassmen of past few draft classes
« on: June 17, 2016, 11:34:14 PM »

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Buddy Hield's biggest criticism seems to be his age, which supposedly will limit his room to grow.  I got curious about how upperclassmen of similar pedigree to Hield (projected top 10 picks) have fared in the NBA in terms of becoming a good player or becoming a bust.

2015
6 – Willie Cauley-Stein (Jr)
10 – Frank Kaminsky (Sr)
Notes:  Before I even looked, I realized that I don’t think we can really assess these guys after just 1 season.  Honestly, I never thought Frank would be a good NBA player and never should have been in consideration for a top 10 pick.  WCS could turn out into what was expected of him.

2014
None.

2013
2 – Victor Oladipo (Jr)
10 – CJ Mccollum (Sr)
Notes:  These two guys are arguably the two best players drafted in the top 10 in this draft.

2012
5 – Thomas Robinson (Jr)
6 – Damian Lillard (Jr)
Notes:  Robinson a bust.  Lillard a terrific pick.

2011
9 – Kemba Walker (Jr)
10 – Jimmer Fredette (Sr)
Notes:  Kemba a terrific pick, Jimmer a bust.

2010
2 – Evan Turner (Jr)
4 – Wesley Johnson (Jr)
6 – Ekpe Udoh (Jr)
Notes:  All busts.  Interestingly, this draft had a ton of great underclassmen become great players (Wall, Cousins, PG13, Hayward, Favors).  I do blame Philly not developing Turner properly in his becoming a bust.  He should have been developed as a point guard from day 1.

2009
2 – Hasheem Thabeet (Jr)
7 – Steph Curry (Jr)
8 – Jordan Hill (Jr)
Notes:  Curry obviously stands out here.

2008
None.  Decided to stop here.

I don't think this review serves to indict Hield's age as a predictor of him becoming a bust in any kind of way.  Of all the guards here, 5/6 turned out to be very good players.  Turner and Johnson are SFs that you could put in that mix and say 5/8, but I think Hield is much more like the pure guards than those two players.
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