This Is The Group Of Players The Celtics Will Be Choosing From In The Draft

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Unless they get lucky or trade up, one of the following players will 
most likely be their draft choice. Rankings via Chris Monter, and
I do think Courtney Alexander could slip down to 11.
I'd also delete Quentin Richardson's name from the group. 
Ray

8.  Courtney Alexander SG, Fresno State 
6-6, 200, 25.3 points per game 
Alexander led the nation in scoring with a 25.3 points per game. He is a
talented offensive player with good size. Alexander needs to improve his
outside shooting after making 33.3% as a senior and just 31.6% from
beyond the arc as a junior. He was dismissed from Virginia after a
dispute with his girlfriend and was held out of an early season game in
Alaska last year for what was perceived as an attitude problem, which
could scare some teams. However, he earned his degree this season and
has shown more leadership both on and off the court. Alexander knows how
to score and that is a commodity that is always in demand in the NBA  

9. Iakovos Tsakalidis C, Greece 
7'2, 220, 9.2 points, 59% from the field and 6.9 boards per game 
Tsakalidis is European big man who did not play basketball until he was
16 or 17, but he has developed quickly. He has better strength than many
fellow European centers and has been compared to Arvydas Sabonis. His
team, AEK 
Athens won both the Saporta Cup and Greek Cup this season. He does not
have many offensive moves and his shooting range is less than 15 feet.
He is a good rebounder, but he is not the shotblocking threat you would
expect. He is a solid defender who has good passing skills. Tsakalidis
runs the floor. His contract status could tie him to his European team
for four more seasons, but most observers feel that the contract could
be bought out, if necessary

10. Quentin Richardson SG, DePaul 
6-5 215, 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds 
Richardson is an incredible offensive rebounder who is always around the
ball. He often times got three or four rebounds in one possession. He is
a good outside shooter, but needs to improve his mid range game and
ballhandling. Richardson is undersized as a small forward in the pros
and will have to move to shooting guard in the pros 

11. Morris Peterson SG, Michigan State 
6-6 210,  16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game 
He is an effective offensive player who can score both inside and
outside and he led the Big Ten in three-point percentage. Peterson is an
unselfish player who moves well without the ball and is also a good
defender. He uses his athletic ability well as a scorer and is effective
around the basket. Peterson needs to improve his passing and outside
consistency  

12. DerMarr Johnson SG, Cincinnati 
6-9 200, 12.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game 
Johnson is a tremendous athlete who plays almost effortlessly at times.
In fact, the knock on him has been that he lacks intensity at times. He
is a difficult matchup, due to his 6-9 size at the shooting guard
position. He is a good outside shooter and handles the ball well. He is
a good passer, but needs to cut down his turnovers.   

13. Jerome Moiso PF, UCLA 
6-10, 230, 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and he is shooting
49.8% from the field.  
Moiso has long, rangy body with a good outside touch, if open. Moiso is
more effective facing the basket than with his back to it and needs to
get stronger. He is a good rebounder and is effective around the
offensive glass. He is a good leaper, but should be a better shotblocker
than he is. Moiso needs to improve his passing skills. He must also
become more aggressive in terms of getting good offensive position.
Moiso looked like a future All-Star at times, but needs to be more
consistent and not disappear for stretches of games. Moiso is compared
to Marcus Camby and Kevin Garnett, due to his frame 

14. Olumide Oyedeji PF, Nigeria 
6-11, 240, 14 points, 14 boards and 3 steals per game 
Oyedeji has played for the International team in the Nike Hoop Summit
Game the past two seasons and he has demonstrated great improvement
during that time. He entered the NBA Draft last season, but after a
so-so showing in the Chicago pre-draft camp, he decided to pull his name
out. He played for DJK Wurtzburg in Germany, Dirk Nowitzski's former
team. Oyedeji was named MVP of the German Bundesliga League. He is very
athletic with good leaping ability and strength. He speaks five
different language and just turned 19 on May 11th. Oyedeji has a big
upside and is a likely mid first round pick.

(Big O2 looks pretty good as does Dermarr Johnson; can't go wrong with
Mo Pete.
Maybe you anti-Tsakalidites will get your wish and he'll be drafted
before
the eleventh choice, freeing up Peterson, Johnson, or Alexander for the
C's.)