It’s been roughly two months since March Madness ended and the NBA took center stage in the hearts and minds of basketball enthusiasts. With the newly instituted draft declaring date passing a few weeks ago, college hoops handicappers have begun looking towards the 2011 NBA draft. Who will go first in the draft? Who will lift their new team to the greatest NBA scores in history? Here is a look at three players that could be the number one draft pick in the NBA draft in June.
Kyrie Irving Duke Blue Devils – Despite only lacing up for 11 games in the regular season this past year, Kyrie Irving showed NBA scouts enough prowess and basketball IQ that could make him the top pick in the NBA draft. With the Cleveland Cavaliers getting rid of Mo Williams at the trade deadline during the regular season in return for the final two years of Baron Davis contract, it appears evident that the Cavaliers are willing to groom whoever they select with the first overall pick.
Considering that Kyrie Irving didn’t even lace up for a full season at Duke, being groomed for a year and a half, might be the best course of action the Cavaliers take. Irving, a player that has been compared to Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, has game changing speed and playmaking ability most teams salivate about.
Derrick Williams Arizona Wildcats – If the Cleveland Cavaliers look to go in the Lebron James franchise star selection mode again, Derrick Williams is the guy they need to draft. The combination small and power forward, has all the tools to be a big time player in the NBA for years to come. This season, at Arizona, many experts were curious if Williams could carry his team in the March Madness tournament. Williams not only carried his team, but he single handedly dismantled Duke in the Sweet 16.
Brandon Knight Kentucky Wildcats – From one Wildcat to another, Brandon Knight similar to Kyrie Irving was a freshman that decided to only play one season in the NCAA. Knight was able to guide the Kentucky Wildcats to a Final Four berth in this year’s March Madness tournament. He has incredible court IQ and shooting capabilities. With that in mind, Knight seems like the ideal guy to play for a young Cavaliers team in need of a good rebuild.
