June 2007 Archives

Just one more draft blog post before I start pounding out a draft analysis for the Friday Press-Telegram. . .

Guard Petteri Koponen of Finland!

I had heard a few weeks ago that Phoenix liked Alando Tucker of Wisconsin.

The World Champion Spurs have a roster dotted with non-Americans.

Bingo! UCLA All-American and Centennial High graduate Arron Afflalo made a bit of a calculated gamble by passing up his senior season but it paid off Thursday night.

I had heard that San Antonio and Phoenix were considering taking Oregon point guard Aaron Brooks late in the first round.

The Jazz picked up another target for Deron Williams' passes by choosing 6-6 Morris Almond of Rice at No. 25.

As I projected, Phoenix tabbed 6-6 guard Rudy Fernandez in the No. 24 slot.

DePaul forward Wilson Chandler stopped working out for NBA teams several weeks ago, even though he wasn't a high-profile prospect.

So much for 22 for 22 . . .

Jared Dudley, the former San Diego Horizon standout who had four exceptional seasons at Boston College, just went to Charlotte at No. 22

The three freshmen who helped Ohio State to the national title have all been tabbed among the first 21 choices in the draft.

Miami just selected Colorado State forward Jason Smith at No. 20

Remember when Dominguez beat Atlanta Southwest in Pauley Pavilion a few years ago? That Atlanta team was led by Dwight Howard (Orland Magic) and the guy the Lakers just picked.

I had projected Italian guard Marco Belinelli to go to the Lakers at No. 19

Each of my projected top 17 choices have been selected in the Top 17 after New Jersey's pick.

Wow . . . that was nerve-wracking for Nick Young, the best two guard in the NBA draft pool.

OK. Nick Young of USC is the last guy sitting undrafted in the Green Room!

The oldest of the first-round picks went to the Clippers when they selected Florida State forward Al Thornton, who turns 24 in December.

Julian Wright of Kansas -- who I had projected going to the Clippers at No. 14, was taken by the New Orleans Hornets.

Thaddeus Young of Georgia Tech beat Nick Young of USC to the draft podium.

The Hawks really should have taken the draft's best point guard (Mike Conley) at No. 3.

Well, the Sacramento Kings got the guy they wanted but didn't think would still be around at No. 10

OK, NOW the third University of Florida player has been selected.

Charlotte goes for Brandan Wright, who played one season for Charlotte President Michael Jordan's alma mater.

Minnesota was expected to go "big" with its pick and go for either Joakim Noah, Spencer Hawes or Brandan Wright.

OK . . . this was interesting.

Boston selected Jeff Green of Georgetown at No. 5

The Grizzlies take Mike Conley, the best point guard in the draft.

The Hawks supposed toyed with the idea of picking Yi Jianlian but, as had been speculated, they went for Florida's Al Horford.

WIth Kevin Durant headed for Seattle, things now get INTERESTING.

Yep, it's Greg Oden to Portland.

The suspense is twisting around in my gut . . . who will Portland select No. 1?

They start making their picks in about 12 minutes.

The NBA Draft is just a week away (if you're reading this on June 21, that is) and here is my next-to-last projection on how the first round will turn out.

There were several missing key players Friday. But, otherwise, the games were decent during the boys' basketball tournament at Mater Dei High.

I promised them in my Tuesday Press-Telegram column and, finally, here they are . . . the first-round matchups for the Friday-Sunday Mater Dei boys' basketball tournament . . .

As promised in my Press-Telegram column, here is a list of the 20 seniors-to-be that most impressed me at the Pangos All-America Camp at USC last weekend. Please be subtle with your criticism!