Chad Ford's Top 30 for NBA Draft (Burke 17, GRIII 25)
Ford's list of top 30 picks for this year, released yesterday (didn't see it here yet, going back 3 pages). He says list is not a mock, just the 30 best candidates for now.
Has Burke as 3rd best PG, calls him "best in college right now", but wishes he was taller.
States GRIII's athletic ability, solid season, and perimeter play has scouts noticing.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/8846794/2013-nba-dr…
(Insider article)
January 17th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 5:14 AM ^
will be back next year. I'm more concerned how Michigan will fill the 5-spot after McGary leaves the year after next.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^
January 17th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^
I'm surprised GRIII got slotted over Hardaway. Maybe we will get lucky and only Burke will go pro after this year, and GRIII and Hardaway will come back next year? That'd be nice.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^
and Hardaway are gone, fo sho. Hardaway will go simply because he is going where he is going, this year or next, high second round or very late first round. While I truly hope that GRIII continues his stellar season I also have to say that I hope he does not go all Carmelo Anthony in the tourney becasue if he leaves "young" is not even going to come close to describing the team next year. I guess this is what Kentucky fans feel like every year.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
If GRIII goes all Carmelo Anthony in the tourney, I'll accept the MNC and gladly wish GRIII well in the NBA.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
if we can just get Timmy to go all Carmelo Anthony in the tourney instead of GRIII everything will be perfect.
January 17th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
January 17th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
Is that what MNC stands for? Honestly, I always just assumed it was "Men's National Championship". Thanks for clarifying.
January 17th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
The M stands for "Mythical" - because it isn't officially recognized by the NCAA (and probably also because a lot of people think the process is overly flawed).
January 17th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
because Manti Te'O came up with it.....
January 17th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
excluded Michigan. Those years were MNCs.
Perhaps it would be a MNC for Michigan because Michigan doesn't have to go through Michigan.
January 17th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
No disagreement on Burke, but are we sure Hardaway is leaning towards leaving? He seems to have somewhat lower stock than Burke/GRIII, and may not have a financial need. I don't think it would be shocking if he stayed.
January 17th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^
Which is a good combination to make the decision to get his degree. I think he stays and grows into the captain of next year's team.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^
2 years younger, shooting better, more physical (getting to rim and monster rebounding).... all for two guys same size otherwise...
January 17th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^
January 17th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
I think GRIII should return because with one more year of maturation and improvement he has the chance to be a lottery pick. I think Burke's decision to return was harder because his draft ceiling in limited, stupidly so, by his height. So a great second year from Burke probably elevates him 10 spots to the late teens or early 20's. A great second year from GRIII could elevate him to a top 5 pick.
Of course, we have a ways to go this year. If GRIII really steps it up, I think he could be a top 15 pick this year. HIs potential, which the NBA loves, is very high.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
Agreed. It's like they think he's the NBA's Russell Wilson... I just don't get it at PG... Chris Paul hasn't done so bad...
January 17th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
January 17th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
Yeah, offensively Trey Burke has drawn a lot of comparisons to CP3 while at Wake, but CP3 was also an elite defender. I think that's the difference, and why Burke might go in the 15-20 range, instead of the 5-10 range.
Also, keep in mind, Burke's Michigan squad has 5 potential NBA draft picks on it. IIRC, no one on CP3's Wake Forest team made an NBA squad, and I don't believe any of them were drafted. He carried those teams on his back.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
January 17th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
but you don't go looking for a 5'6" point guard. I don't think it's stupid. It's reality. There are not many really good point guards in the NBA that are 6' or under. It's one thing to be Burke size in college but a very different thing to be that size in the NBA when the guy guarding you is 6'4" and just as quick as you are.
Having said that, I do believe that Trey has starting NBA point guard potential. It's just not top 5 pick potential. 17th seems about right to me.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^
Just one site's opinion, but nbadraft.net's just-updated 2013 mock draft has a Michigan nightmare scenario: three first-rounders—Robinson at #13, Burke #18, and Hardaway #26.
January 17th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
BOTH GRIII, and Hardaway.... Although Burke to Boston??? Yuck!
AND the Pistons taking DeShaun Thomas in 2nd round??? I don't like this draft!
January 17th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
I see what you mean. But like other posters have said, if that scenario plays out it means we sustained a phenomenal season and have three first round draft picks. I think I can live with whatever that comes with (Final Four? B10 Championship) in terms of immediate pleasure and exposure to recruits. If Michigan can produce three first rounders in one year, we will be an "IT" program for hoops recruits again (we're already on our way).
January 17th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
I really shouldn't have used the word "nightmare"—I'm not worried about all three turning pro and am not losing any sleep over it. This is what comes from having elite players in the program.
But there really isn't a straight correlation between how well Michigan does this season and how many players will turn pro. NBA scouts aren't going to change their opinion of Burke, Hardaway, and Robinson based on whether Michigan wins the Big Ten title or on how well they do in the NCAA tournament. The teams draft based on players' NBA potential—and that alone. Michigan could end up having a less-than-phenomenal season, and all three could still turn pro.
January 17th, 2013 at 2:01 PM ^
That's not entirely true.
Based on potential Andre Drummond was considered the number 1 pick coming out of high school, but after his sub par season at UCONN and Anthony Davis' excellent season at Kentucky, their draft stocks moved accordingly.
January 17th, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^
I'm not saying if a player improves over the course of the season, his draft stock won't rise, I'm saying that how his team does has no bearing on what NBA scouts are going to think about him.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
it is great to have this caliber of talent on our team this season and no doubt is the reason for our success. It is just a little frustrating though, to think that without these potentially three players next season we could go through a rebuild again next yr? I do not doubt that the incoming class is very strong with Derrick Walton being the prize of the class. I feel it will just be tough at first to move on in a conference that is only going to get stronger.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
If Walton/Irvin give us Burke/Hardaway-like freshmen seasons, we may be OK and then some. GRIII will be the tough one to fill so soon. I personally agree with above notion that GRIII stays, seeing more touches next year with others gone, and a potential lottery pick.
We'll see.
January 17th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
I think Robinson needs to stay another year and be a centerpiece of the offense.
January 17th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
I hope GRIII stays as I love his game and match up problems he creates. He could be All-American next year. Howerver, Zak Irvin is going to fill in very nicely, so we all good.
January 17th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
Did any other non-zeller players from the big10 crack the list? Like oladipo, g. harris, etc.?
January 17th, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^
#4 was C Alex Len (7'-1") from Maryland; Oladipo as mentioned above; and no G Harris.