Lester Hudson Info Thread

[Fan from VT]

So, as usual, I've talked myself into the potential of a second round draft pick. Actually, I've got a better feeling about Hudson than I did compared to Pruitt, but we shall see.

I figured we could have an ongoing thread to learn more about this Mr. Hudson.



College Stats:

SEASON    MIN    PTS    REB    AST    TO    A/T    STL    BLK    PF    FG%    FT%    3P%    PPS 2005-2006    Did not play. 2006-2007    Did not play. 2007-2008    36.9    25.7    7.8    4.5    3.8    1.17    2.8    .7    2.6    .464    .834    .388    1.35 2008-2009    36.0    27.5    7.9    4.2    3.3    1.27    2.3    .6    2.7    .449    .881    .355    1.26

From his ESPN draft Bio:

Chad Ford's Analysis: Hudson is a fun pick here. He's a big-time scorer who jumps out of the gym, can handle and can shoot. For an NBA prospect, he's pretty old, and he hasn't played against great competition, but he can really ball.

Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Notes: Hudson declared for the 2008 NBA draft, but withdrew after failing to get a first-round promise.


The first men's player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double, with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 116-74 win over Division II Central Baptist College. Academic problems kept him from landing on a major college team.

Positives:

# Big-time scorer
# Very quick
# Good athlete with good strength
# Amazing getting the ball to the basket
# A good shooter with NBA 3-point range
# Has a good feel for the game and can play the point guard position
# Excellent rebounder for his size
# An excellent pickpocket, among the nation's leaders in steals.

Negatives:

# Turned 24 years old in August
# Has had very little exposure against top competition
# Turns the ball over a lot
# A bit of a tweener

Summary: His strong performances in 2007-08 against top teams like Memphis, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State had scouts wondering whether he can make the jump. The talent suggests yes. His age and a so-so performance at the Orlando pre-draft camp says no. Given his age, he's a likely second-rounder this season.

From DraftExpress:

NCAA Weekly Performers, 3/15/09
March 15, 2009
After an underwhelming showing at the NBA pre-draft camp last summer, Lester Hudson decided to return to school for his senior season, where he may as well have carbon copied his statline from the prior season. In analyzing the limited footage we have access to from Tennessee Martin, there are a few new observations to be had about the 24-year-old combo guard, but we’re mostly looking at the same player we extensively covered a year ago.

Hudson’s role for the Skyhawks is very much the same as it was last season, as the scoring guard spends time at both guard positions while carrying the burden of having to create a large amount of offense for his team, leading our entire database in percentage of team possessions used. It’s tough to evaluate Hudson’s true potential as a distributor given the role he’s forced to play, but he shows flashes of decent court vision, is not a selfish player, and shows nice prowess in drawing the defense and kicking the ball to the open man.

As a scorer, Hudson is still the same smooth shooter, capable of pulling up with a hand in his face and scoring from all areas of the court. As we highlighted last year, despite his high number of shots taken, he doesn’t force the issue very much in context.

If Hudson’s improved in any area this season, it’d have to be with his ball-handling, where he’s showing a better command of advanced moves and more creativity in getting open for shots. His 0.14 turnovers per possession is well above average, especially for a guard burdened with spending so much time with the ball in his hands. Hudson’s creativity extends to his lay-ups as well, where he shows very good body control and touch, frequently scoring on floaters, reverses, and other high difficulty shots.

Defensively, Hudson is as strong as ever, still ranking near the top of our database in steals, while also playing aggressive and effective man-to-man defense with his strong fundamental stance. As alluded to last year, his lateral quickness is a concern when projecting to the next level, and he’s even beat laterally on occasion against the low level of competition he plays against.

Given the competition level he plays against, the unorthodox role he plays in his team’s offense, and the struggles he faced earlier in the season against quality opponents, it may be hard for talent evaluators to come to strong conclusions about Hudson, and his showing at last year’s NBA pre-draft camp certainly doesn’t help his case. With the changes in the camp this year, Hudson won’t be able to show scouts what he’s capable of in an orthodox role in a 5-on-5 setting against high level competition unless he attends the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, something he should be highly considering, as he needs every chance he can get to be seen by teams, since he’s no lock to be drafted at this point.

Here's the Gamelog against top schools:

DT                OPP              RSLT                          MIN         FG    FGA    FTM    FTA    3PM    3PA    PTS    OF    DF    RB    AST    TO    STL    BL    PF 11/18    @Tenn    L 91-64          35      7    22    3    3    3    14    20    1     3     4     5    4    3    0    3 11/28    @USC    L 70-43           37      8    24    0    0    4    14    20    2     2     4     2    3    1    0    2 3/18    @Auburn    L 87-82         40     12    24    3    3    6    17    33    1    11  12    7    6    2    0    4 11/5    @Memphis    L 102-71    29    12    25    4    4    7    13    35    5    5    10    1    6    1    1    4 12/22    @UNLV    L 74-48          38      8    22     8    9    2     8     26    4    7    11    2    4    3    0    1 12/29    @Vanderbilt    L 92-85    34    13    26    3    3    7    11    36    4    5    9    6    6    2    1    4

And, finally, some info from his combine 2 years ago, when he was considering entering the draft, out of 79 prospects:

No Step Vert:
Patrick Ewing 35.0   
Derrick Rose 34.5   
DeMarcus Nelson 34.5   
Bryce Taylor 34.5   
Deron Washington 34.0   
George Hill 34.0   
Frank Elegar 33.5   
Joe Alexander 32.5   
Mbah a Moute 32.0   
Quan Prowell 32.0   
Jeremy Pargo 32.0   
Eric Gordon 32.0
Reggie Williams 31.5
Jerryd Bayless 31.0
Mike Taylor 31.0   
Joe Crawford 31.0   
James Gist 30.5   
Lester Hudson 30.5

Max Vert
Patrick Ewing    42.0
O.J. Mayo    41.0
Bryce Taylor    41.0
Derrick Rose    40.0
Deron Washington 40.0   
Eric Gordon    40.0
Mike Taylor    39.0
Joe Alexander    38.5
DeMarcus Nelson 38.5
Jerryd Bayless    38.0
Malik Hairston    38.0
George Hill    37.5
Jeremy Pargo    37.0
Reggie Williams 36.5   
Sonny Weems     36.5   
Russell Westbrook 36.5
Brian Roberts    36.5   
Lester Hudson   36.0

Bench Reps
Josh Duncan    26   
Joe Alexander    24   
Takais Brown    22   
Stanley Burrell 21   
DeVon Hardin    20   
Michael Beasley 19   
Joey Dorsey    19   
DeMarcus Nelson 19   
Sean Singletary 18   
Kevin Love    18   
Kentrell Gransberry 18   
David Padgett    17   
Joseph Jones    16   
Bryce Taylor    16   
Quan Prowell    16
Kyle Hines    16
Eric Gordon    15   
Vladimir Golubovic15   
Aleks Maric    15
Jamar Butler    15
Reggie Williams 15   
Ty Lawson       14   
Trent Plaisted    14   
Longar Longar    14   
Maarty Leunen    14   
Charles Rhodes    14   
Danny Green    14
Gary Forbes     13   
Joe Crawford    13   
Sasha Kaun      13   
Richard Hendrix 13
James Mays   13   
Malik Hairston    13
Russell Westbrook12   
Darrell Arthur    12   
Sonny Weems    12
Lester Hudson    12


Agility
DeMarcus Nelson 10.54   
Sonny Weems    10.58   
Richard Hendrix 10.62   
Brian Roberts    10.65
Jeremy Pargo    10.65
Ramel Bradley    10.68   
Eric Gordon    10.81   
Mike Taylor    10.98   
Russell Westbrook10.98   
Deron Washington 11.03   
O.J. Mayo    11.04   
Michael Beasley 11.06   
Ronald Steele    11.08   
Bryce Taylor    11.08
Lester Hudson    11.15


Sprint
Sonny Weems    2.96
Joe Alexander    2.99   
Eric Gordon    3.01   
Brian Roberts    3.05   
Derrick Rose    3.05
Reggie Williams 3.07
Jerryd Bayless    3.07
Jeremy Pargo    3.07
George Hill    3.07   
DJ Augustin    3.07
Mike Taylor    3.08   
Russell Westbrook3.08
Malik Hairston    3.08   
Deron Washington3.09
Charles Rhodes    3.13   
DeMarcus Nelson 3.13   
James Gist    3.14   
Mark Tyndale    3.14   
Quan Prowell    3.14
Darrell Arthur    3.14   
O.J. Mayo    3.14   
Russell Robinson3.15   
Lester Hudson    3.16


Height w/o shoes:
5'11.75"

Height w/ shoes:
6'1"

Wingspan:
6'8.75"

Reach:
8'2.5"

Body Fat Rank:
#2 overall.


So he seems like a very good athlete, top tier in the speed, agility, and stregth exercises. And he can shoot. And has a rep for defense. Hopefully capable of playing the point or an Eddie House role, because he's about the same size as Derrick Rose in terms of height, reach, and wingspan.

Anyone know more?

[the_Bird]

I don't know, but I suspect that we're going to learn pretty quickly whether he's good enough for the NBA or not. 

The big issues with him are the fact that he's relatively old and that he's played against weaker competition.  Given his age, you don't necessarily expect a TON of improvement; this isn't some kid who played a year of college who needs a year or two of seasoning in practice and in the D-League.  He's either going to be good enough to play - which hopefully we'll see in the summer league and in preseason - or not.  If he's not, his age probably limits the amount of improvement we can reasonably expect, so if he's a bust in Summer League and in preseason, no tears shed if he's let go.

It does sound like he can do a little bit of everything, which is good.  I'm also biased in favor of guys with disproportionately long arms, height is less important than wingspan.  I have in my head that he's a poor man's Tony Delk.

[toinewalka]

We will get a good look at him tonight in the summer league.  I am looking for a guy to play solid D, and make the most out of minimal touches.  Whoever gets this roster spot isn't going to be putting up 20 a game.  He is going to have to play hard nosed defense, do the little things, and spread the floor with smart and competent offensive ability.

I love the guys stats and scouting report, but I really think the deciding factor as to who gets this backup 2/3 spot on the roster is going to be who wants it the most...period.

With that being said, I would love for it to be either Bill Walker (showed that hard nosed aspect from day one) or Hudson.  Only  time will tell.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

With age comes wisdom my friends!