The Empire State's elite
New York was well represented in the NCAA this year and as expected, a number of top players have elected to go pro. We threw together a list of our top 5 NYC draft prospects below. Check it out!
Mo Bamba - Texas
In the current NBA climate which would much rather prefer long, lean and mobile bigs rather than slow back to the basket ones, few NBA prospects look as good on paper as Bamba. His measurables are off the charts, boasting an insane 8'0 wingspan. He knows how to use it too, and his defensive timing was on display all year for Texas. On offense he's still a project, but he's shown the ability to step out and hit the occasional college three or midrange pop. Even if he can just catch oops and rebound he'd be an asset to team. If he can find a way to truly expand his offensive game though, watch out.
Hami Diallo - Kentucky
We were huge on Diallo and early on in the season, he delivered. Against SEC competition though, his stats and overall performance took a huge dip. Coach Cal gave him every possible chance to stay in the lineup, but Diallo couldn't seem to find the rim or max out his potential defensively. He's shown flashes of freakish athleticism, which will be enough to get him drafted. Now it's time for him to put his tools together and become a consistent threat on both ends of the floor.
Shamorie Ponds - St Johns
Ponds was already having a great individual year, but when they went on to beat Duke and the eventual champs Villanova, he finally began to get the recognition he deserved. He put up 21 points, 5 boards and 4 dimes a game, showcasing a sick array of long range bombs, floaters and crafty drives. NBA scouts might want to see him prove that he can be more of a playmaker, but
in our opinion, Shamorie is ready and there'es a high probability that he's killed your favorite college hooper. We hope GM's will feel the same.
Rawle Alkins - Arizona
Alkins threw down what was probably the most ridiculous dunk this year in the NCAA, which was a great testament to the athleticism that he's displayed all year in Tucson. He needs to tighten his handle and extend his range a bit, but when it comes to attacking, there are few equivalents in the nation. His stats won't blow you away, but for some perspective, he did put up 13 points and 5 boards on a Wildcats squads that was loaded with NBA talent. Alkins can definitely hold his own in the pros, if he continues progressing his overall game.
Justin Wright Foreman - Hofstra
While the previous four names were doing their thing in power conferences, Foreman got his acclaim out the mud so to speak. He completely obliterated his conference and was one of the purest scorers in the nation this year at, 24 ppg.
We've followed Foreman closely this year, and are ecstatic to see him compete against higher ranked players in pre draft camps. GM's may want him to prove that he can run the point guard, so it may be a good look for him to return for his senior year. Foreman hasn't hired an agent though, so the star guard is in a win-win situation.
