Stock Up
Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
Arguably the best performance of the evening belonged to the 6-4 Harris, who did everything for the Spartans in their win over Kentucky. Harris shot the ball great, attacked the rim and was active defensively. If Harris were 6-6, he would be rated much higher, but he is big enough to handle shooting guard in the NBA. Either way, Tom Izzo has a bonafide go-to guy.
Keith Appling, PG, Michigan State
Appling had a gutsy performance in which he finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and four steals. After the game Izzo, raved about his senior point guard and how far he has come as a player. I know it’s early, but a performance like Appling’s against top-flight competition only showcases his charge to be a first round pick.
Adrien Payne, PF, Michigan State
One NBA scout I spoke to after the game raved about Payne’s performance and how he is becoming a complete big man. Payne really began to come on last March and didn’t seem to skip a beat in Chicago, particularly in the first half.Payne’s calling card to NBA teams will be his offensive repertoire as he can score inside or out.
James Young, SF, Kentucky
Young was the only Wildcat that showed up in the first half for Kentucky and finished with 19 points. Smooth is a word that was bandied about with Young’s game, and he certainly impressed the large NBA contingent that was in the United Center. Young will be relied on heavily as a shooter for the Wildcats.
Perry Ellis, PF, Kansas
Ellis looked dialed in, going 9-of-13 on his way to 24 points while grabbing nine rebounds. He looks like a skilled forward that will carve a niche in the NBA. Playing among Wiggins, Wayne Selden, Joel Embiid, and others should allow Ellis to succeed.
Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas
Selden, whom I touted in my last draft column, is the ultimate glue guy who can do everything and anything his team needs to win. One GM said to me that he could not believe Selden is only a freshman after seeing him up close. The solidly built Selden already has a NBA body and showcased his athleticism.
Amile Jefferson, PF, Duke
Jefferson is going to be playing out of position a lot this season as his Duke squad is a bit undersized. For his part, he is a great athlete and can create havoc for opponents more focused on Parker or Rodney Hood.
Stock Down
Andrew Harrison, PG, Kentucky
Aaron Harrison, SG, Kentucky
The Harrison twins were definitely the biggest losers in Chicago. It was obvious in the arena and to anyone watching that their body language was bad. For Andrew, he lacked that extra gear in transition that recent Kentucky point guards all have had.
Aaron just looked lost. He was given the assignment of defending Gary Harris, which proved to be too much for him to handle. Additionally, Harrison shot just 1-of-7, including 0-of-5 from the arc, and it was obvious to NBA personnel that he needs to come ready to play.
Joe Kotoch is the Editor-in-chief of Pro Basketball Draft, a leading scouting service in the world of professional basketball. Before Joe created PBD he served as an NBPA & FIBA certified agent and scouted players all across the world. Born and raised in Cleveland, Joe also contributes to Fox Sports Ohio and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. You can follow Joe on Twitter @Probballdraft.