Charlotte Observer Looks At The Upcoming Draft

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 Published Sunday, February 14, 1999

 Hornets' consolation may be found in lottery

                      By RICK BONNELL
                       Staff Writer

 <snip>
 This draft will be particularly weak at center; there
 figures to be no top-10 prospect at the position. Best of
 the bunch are Washington's Todd MacCulloch and
 Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer. Both are pretty
 mechanical, and one scout described them as career
 backups.

 Assuming underclassmen turn pro, and plenty will to fill
 the first round, the deepest position figures to be small
 forward. It's also a decent year at both guard spots.

 Best of the bunch? Assuming each turns pro it's some
 combination of four underclassmen: Duke's Elton Brand,
 Maryland's Steve Francis, Connecticut's Richard Hamilton
 and Rhode Island's Lamar Odom.

 With March Madness weeks away, here's a look at the
 players NBA scouts like the most:

 The big four

 Brand (6-foot-8 sophomore power forward): He's smallish
 for power forward, but so is Charles Barkley. He has
 exceptionally long arms (about a 7-foot wingspan) and
 runs like a guard. He'll struggle defensively because
 most NBA power forwards can shoot over him. But he'll
 score, too, in a Corliss Williamson style. He needs to
 improve his foul shooting, because he figures to go to
 the line a lot as a pro.

 Francis (6-3 junior guard): Probably needs to be a point
 guard in the NBA, though he's not a classic playmaker.
 He's best with the ball in his hands, so spotting up for
 jump shots just isn't his style. His quickness is a huge
 weapon, even when he's out of control.

 Hamilton (6-6 junior shooting guard): A wonderful pure
 shooter who can hit from distance and drive the lane. As
 good a prospect as another UConn shooting guard, Ray
 Allen, who could be an NBA All-Star this season. Only
 problem is weight: Hamilton is skinny at 185 pounds, so
 he'll be beaten up by physical shooting guards.

 Odom (6-10 sophomore small forward): In both the best and
 worst of it, Odom plays like Chicago's Toni Kukoc. He's
 an excellent passer, left-handed, and scores off runners,
 floaters and jump hooks. Also like Kukoc, he's a soft
 defender who doesn't exploit his height. Odom has a
 sophisticated understanding of the game, so he could be a
 fine ``point forward.''

 The next tier

 Wally Szczerbiak (6-8 senior small forward from Miami of
 Ohio): A great shooter who is big enough to play inside
 or outside. Think Tracy Murray, only taller.

 Shawn Marion (6-7 junior small forward from Nevada-Las
 Vegas): A Scottie Pippen-type in the way he runs and
 defends in transition. Has a funny-looking shot, but it
 goes in.

 Andre Miller (6-2 senior point guard from Utah): A
 old-school point guard who passes, leads and rebounds but
 can't shoot. Reminds scouts of Mark Jackson, only a
 better athlete.

 Kenny Thomas (6-8 senior power forward from New Mexico):
 Plenty of talent but an underachiever who often doesn't
 rise to big games.

 Lee Nailon (6-9 senior power forward from Texas
 Christian): A big-time college scorer, but scouts
 question whether he gets off those inside shots in the
 pros.

 Jumaine Jones (6-7 sophomore swingman from Georgia): An
 explosive athlete, but settles for jump shots.

 Courtney Alexander (6-5 junior shooting guard from Fresno
 State): Big offensive talent, but selfish. Takes too many
 ill-advised shots.

 Quentin Richardson (6-6 freshman shooting guard from
 DePaul): Physical in the style of Adrian Dantley or Mark
 Aguirre. A great offensive rebounder.

 Others to watch

 Centers: Eschmeyer and MacCulloch.

 Power forwards: Maryland's Obinna Ekezie, Arizona's A.J.
 Bramlett, Georgia Tech's Jason Collier.

 Small forwards: St. John's Ron Artest, Providence's Jamel
 Thomas, Xavier's James Posey, Kentucky's Scott Padgett,
 Minnesota's Quincy Lewis, Miami's Tim James.

 Shooting guards: Duke's Trajan Langdon, Mississippi's
 Keith Carter, Oklahoma State's Adrian Peterson,
 Maryland's Laron Profit, Creighton's Rodney Buford, Boise
 State's Roberto Bergersen, South Carolina's BJ McKie.

 Point guards: Michigan State's Mateen Cleaves, Arizona's
 Jason Terry, North Carolina's Ed Cota, Fresno State's
 Chris Herren, Pittsburgh's Vonteego Cummings, UCLA's
 Baron Davis, Connecticut's Khalid El-Amin, Stanford's
 Arthur Lee, Duke's William Avery.
 <snip>