reflections
June 3rd, 2007 Orlando Pre-Draft Camp and the Hornets

By noballer07

The annual Orlando Pre-Draft Camp is heating up as draft hopefuls compete for attention from NBA scouts, many fighting to keep from being undrafted. So, who should the Hornets be paying attention to at this camp?

This year’s pre-draft camp has been filled with solid performances from several players and looks quite competitive. Prospects that have truly stood out include point guard Jared Jordan from Marist, Demetrius Nichols from Syracuse, and Aaron Gray from Pitt. While it would be nice to have the chance to select all of these players, here are a few that I believe the Hornets should be paying attention to:

1. Jared Dudley, F, Boston College 6′7 225
Dudley has looked solid at the camp, and has aroused the attention of scouts by his decision making and smart play. No, he isn’t the most athletic nor does he possess the hottest touch from the outside, but he has a few intangibles that many teams covet. He rebounds, dishes the ball fairly well, and plays solid defense. He could be a nice replacement for Linton Johnson if he doesn’t return. The Hornets might be able to take him in the second round with #43 unless teams don’t pay too much attention to the fact that he doesn’t have a true position.

2. Demetrius Nichols, SF, Syracuse, 6′8 215
Rasual Butler comparisons would not be entirely unreasonable, but Nichols is worth a look, especially if he falls to New Orleans at #43. If he keeps up his hot shooting, he may be climbing the ladder to early second round status, but the rest of his game may hinder his chances.

3. Jermareo Davidson, PF, Alabama, 6′11 220
Davidson is an intriguing prospect at power forward that has shown some of his athleticism and raw talent in the pre-draft camp. The reason why I say the Hornets should take a look at him is because he could potentially give them some of what Chris Andersen gave them before his suspension (minus the headache, of course). He can rebound, block shots, and runs the court like a smaller player. He might not get much playing time, but he could end up pushing Brandon Bass to improve.

4. Trey Johnson, SG, Jackson St, 6′5 220
Trey Johnson has looked pretty good in day three, scoring 16 points off of 6-of-14 shooting. Known as a solid scoring threat in college averaging 27.1 ppg, Johnson can probably be effective putting up numbers for an NBA team coming off the bench at the 2, although his defense is questionable. He could help us out in case Bobby Jackson runs into more nagging injuries next season.

5. Mustafa Shakur, PG, Arizona, 6′3 180
This could be a nice pick for the Hornets if they are looking to snag another point guard. Shakur has had somewhat of a solid showing at the camp and is said by many to be a prototypical pass-first PG. His size, quickness, and length are all aspects to be desired, but his inconsistency in college raises some questions. If the Hornets can’t persuade Jannero Pargo to stay (player-option), Shakur might be a nice prospect to groom and try out as the third guy.

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