<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> JANUARY NEWSFEED
January 3<sup>rd</sup>
Looks like we really underrated Duke at the beginning of the year
When he season started we knew that Duke would be a top 25 team but I don’t think any of us predicted that the team would be undefeated with no team even close to topping them. The Blue Devils already had a top ten prospect in Sophomore PF Cash Indigo and starter in sophomore SF Larry Jackson that would be a star on a lot of other teams. Freshmen Guards Brent Christmas and Rocco Morris have been pleasant surprises and are both looking like top 20 prospects as well. I know that Brent Christmas said that he wanted to stay for four years but I expect that Cash Indigo and Rocco Morris may leave and are both looking like lottery picks.
January 7<sup>th</sup>
We’ve seen enough of the guys overseas to determine who the top guys are and if they are leaving
5)
Name: Nikolai Yatsynevech
Position: Center
Height: 7’0”
Weight: 249 lbs.
Playstyle: Skilled post player, reliable mid range jump shooter
Projected Draft Range: Mid to Late First Round
4)
Name: Santi Barreiro
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Playstyle: Lightning fast speed and quickness
Projected Draft Range: Late Lottery to Mid First Round
3)
Name: Juozaas Dvarionas
Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 234 lbs.
Playstyle: Versatile, defensive presence, consistent defending the paint, impressive motor
Projected Draft Range: Top 5 to Early Lottery
2)
Name: Balibor Ancic
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 219 lbs.
Playstyle: Impressive all around defender, solid athlete, very impressive shooter
Projected Draft Range: Top 5 to Early Lottery
1)
Name: Miko Niko
Position: Small Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Playstyle: Very well rounded player that is showing signs of being a potential superstar
Projected Draft Range: Top 3 to Top 5
January 11<sup>th</sup>
We praised a lot of freshman but one of them is really separating himself from the rest of the crew
Reggie Graham, the freshman SG from Oklahoma, has been mentioned with some of the other top young players in the league but recently he has been really showing himself to be elite. Although his scoring numbers have dropped, much of that is because he has been doing so much more on the court. At times, Graham has looked unstoppable off the dribble but even more impressive has been his Sportscenter worthy chase down blocks and ability to look down other guards around the country. The Big Board will be released at the end of the month and I am pretty sure you can expect to see him very close to the top of the list.
January 16<sup>th</sup>
Freshman center Tyshaun McQueen is a beast but he is a bit of a problem
Every team has a limit to what they will accept when it comes to talent. McQueen has always been known to be a bit of a problem ever since he was in high school. Since he arrived at Michigan, he has already been in a fight on campus, been accused of cheating during a mid-term, accused of taking another student’s essay and turning it in AND stealing food from the on campus Chick Fil-A. Many may say “Ehh that’s no big deal” and depending on what you are willing to put up with, maybe it isn’t. Now reports are coming out that during a practice, McQueen told an assistant coach “You know you could wind up missing if you ain’t careful” after being told that he was “playing lazy”. Although the school denies these reports, McQueen will not be playing in the next two games for “personal reasons”. I think Tyshaun McQueen is a top 5 talent that may drop down to the teens (or even lower) if he doesn’t pull it together.
January 20th<sup>th</sup>
North Carolina Star PF Jayson Callahan gets Injured AGAIN
UNC PF Jayson Callahan has made himself up to the big board over the past couple of years and is definitely a potential lottery pick but after missing half the season due to injury last year, it has now been announced that Callahan will miss an undetermined amount of games with a shoulder injury. I don’t want to stamp any player with the “injury prone tag” but I’m a bit worried about this young man.
January 25<sup>th</sup>
Let’s look at the top 5 Junior Prospects
Seniors don’t get the love that they deserve sometimes but we here at SimWorld have love for the senior prospects which is why we always start our Top Five series with seniors. Let’s take a minute to look around the country and see who the top senior NBA prospects are.
5)
Name: Devin Lockett
Position: SF
School: Oregon State
Projected Draft Range: Mid to Late First Round
Why You Should Keep an Eye Out for This Guy: Because he is faster than you and probably anyone else that you know or have on your squad. This guy is a track star and an Olympic hopeful. He is a superior athlete and his improved on what people knocked him for when he came in as a freshman… his actual basketball ability. He has improved each year and went from a guy who can run track to a potential first round pick.
Chance that he declares for draft: 40%
4)
Name: Maddox Valpone
Position: SG
School: California
Projected Draft Range: Mid to Late First Round
Why You Should Keep an Eye Out for This Guy: Because Valpone is on a tear and has really assertive himself as a guy that can create his own shot and more importantly, hit that shot. His defense leaves a bit to be desired but you can’t argue with a guy who can put points on the board.
Chance that he declares for draft: 80%
3)
Name: Dominique Briscoe
Position: SG
School: North Texas
Projected Draft Range: Mid to Late First Round
Why You Should Keep an Eye Out for This Guy: Those small college guys are starting to become a “thing” now. Briscoe is looking to finish in the top five in the nation in scoring as he is currently averaging 22.5 points per game. Once again, another guy that can score in bunches when given the green light.
Chance that he declares for draft: 50%
2)
Name: Cypress Von Impe
Position: C
School: Wake Forest
Projected Draft Range: Lottery to Mid First Round
Why You Should Keep an Eye Out for This Guy: We talked about this guy last year as a sophomore so I won’t waste a lot of time but let’s just say that teams always have room for versatile, athletic centers that can finish at the basket.
Chance that he declares for draft: 80%
1)
Name: Derwin Amani Blackshear
Position: SG
School: Villanova
Projected Draft Range: Top 2 Pick
Why You Should Keep an Eye Out for This Guy: Because he is a Blackshear. Because he has is the most reliable shooter the nation has seen in years. Because no one has held him under 20 points this year (other than three games where he was in foul trouble). Because there is no universe where I can imagine him not being a superstar.
Chance that he declares for draft: 75%
January 30<sup>th</sup>
And now my favorite part of the year… Releasing the SimWorld Big Board!
Below you will find a link to this year’s Big Board. In next month’s newsfeed we wilkl take a look at who we think will declare for the draft and who will return to school (or stay overseas). Also, please note that this link will be replaced with a more organized version of the Big Board shortly.
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