PKM, after Cal, who else would you say is great at developing talent?
Also, looking at DX, Deshaun Thomas from Ohio State caught my eye as a second rounder. A 3/4 at 6'7" who's hitting 54%/48% (with 6.3 attempts per game) for 24.0 points, grabbing 7.3 rebounds and dishing for 1.5 assists. His wingspan is an inch and a half longer than Hayward's too. How is he?
Or Pierre Jackson from Baylor? Small but strong stats.
Dewayne Dedmon from USC?
Phil Pressey from Missou?
Michael-Carter Williams (9.3 assists per game) from 'Cuse?
To be honest about developing talent .. I truly believe there is no one remotely close to Calipari (bash me if you want and call names, but name one).
Coach K does not have a great rep among NBA personnel.
Roy Williams' rep is really low.
Billy Donovan? Nope.
Not Izzo.
Calhoun was thought as pretty decent, actually.
Rick Barnes is a complete asshat.
Josh Pastner is where studs go to die.
Rick Pitino? His track record over the past 10 years is laughable.
Calipari just gets it.
---------------------------------------------------
Dewayne Dedmon from USC? - Obviously a great body, but he's never impressed me. I've never heard him in a conversation with scouts, so I have no idea what they think of him. I just think he'll do very little, to nothing, in the NBA. As a junior now (I think), he should have a very big year in the lowly Pac-12 .. and I bet he doesn't.
Phil Pressey from Missou? - Similar to Pierre Jackson, I just think he's too undersized and will get eaten alive. Like him in college, no thanks in the NBA. (I like Jackson better)
Michael-Carter Williams - Most intriguing of the guys listed here, to me. I'm watching his game closely. His defense and assists are piling up FAST .. if he develops a shot then he could become a very nice player and a steal in the 2nd.
Deshaun Thomas - Of course he should be high on everyone's watch list. Most people here probably don't know that when he was a soph/jr in HS he was being touted as the NEXT big thing and rated #1 in the nation. I think Thad Matta is an excellent recruiter and a very good coach, but kids seem to get little chance to play early and I think it thwarted Deshaun's growth (just my opinion, no one else has said that to me). Upside, very good.
Did I miss anyone?