re: kedrick brown

["j.hironaka" <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

At 18:58 20/06/01 -0700, you wrote:
>Preposterous!  It seems as if even Andy Katz has
>come down with a case of Ernest Brown-itis.  Why
>would the Celtics waste the 11th pick on this guy
>when he's obviously available with the 20th pick?
>Does he have pictures of Chris Wallace in a dress
>or something?  We'll take Troy Murphy or Mike Bradley
>with the 11th pick, thank you very much -- or even
>Brendan Haywood, rather than Kedrick Brown.  Kedrick
>Brown!  Absurd!

Katz is a Boston guy so he might have more inside info than "Chris Wallace 
in a dress" as you humorously put it. It seems kind of nutty at first 
glance, but it might not be.

I think it is critical for GMs to avoid being influenced even one iota 
about where players are SUPPOSED to be drafted according to some sort of 
mock draft consensus. I'll bet none of us have even watched Kedrick Brown 
play. A lot of "lock" top-ten picks end up being spectacularly inferior to 
guys taken well outside the top-ten, yet teams may feel pressure to draft 
them because they are consensus "steals". This happens year after year.

I think what's going on right now (or COULD be going on) is that Wallace 
needed a little help from the great Katzby to push some pre-draft publicity 
Kedrick's way, in order that it won't be a complete shock to Boston fans if 
he's drafted ten places above where every other mock draft board has him 
presently. The late hype can easily be explained by his agent's decision 
for him to skip the Chicago camp. If Kedrick had gone to the public 
workouts, we might not be wringing our hands or wondering if Wallace has 
gone stark raving mad.

Even without Kedrick, the draft is hugely deep in wing players from the #5 
pick onwards, so perhaps the Celtics draft board might look like this (pure 
speculation):

Wallace expects these four to go in order #6 through #9, but will grab any 
if one of them falls (which is likely):
1) Joe Johnson
2) Jason Richardson
3) Pau Gasol
4) Rodney White

Wallace also has his eyes on two sure bets to be there at #10 or #11:
5) Kedrick Brown
6) Richard Jefferson

Presumably, Boston may have secretly pushed Brown into the consensus elite 
four names above (not counting Battier) on their private draft board. For 
all we know Kedrick Brown might even have moved past some or ALL of them (a 
happy situation for us), kind of like what happened with Scottie Pippen's 
ultimate draft position compared to where he was projected to go in mock 
drafts. Or Tracy McGrady climb out of obscurity. Who knows, maybe Kedrick 
will even be the best Brown in the draft. ;-)

There is evidence this guy can play. Basic info, he turned 20 in March of 
this year, averaged 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.3 turnovers and 9.6 rebounds 
in his two-year Juco career. He is a scorer (22.9 ppg last year on a 
.528FG% and 73.1FT%). Andy Katz rates him as a scoring big guard. Here are 
other scouting reports.


Maurer Scouting
http://www.geocities.com/maurerscouting/Kbrown.html

Kedrick Brown
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220
Team: Okaloosa-Walton Raiders
Position: Small Forward
Jersey #: 32

Strengths: Super athletic player posses a 45-inch vertical is a threat to 
catch ally-oops in transition … Strong NBA ready body was strong enough in 
Junior College to play in the paint … Excellent finisher on the fast break 
lets his athleticism take control along with his good body control … Can 
create shots for himself off the dribble doesn’t really need a point guard 
to set him up …. Creates mismatches thanks to his versatile inside outside 
game as he is too strong for most small forwards and to fast for power 
forwards… Plays very good defense blessed with quick hands and has 
wonderful leaping ability making him a threat to block shots and steal the 
ball …. Very good rebounder due to his leaping ability which makes it very 
hard to keep him off the boards …. Descent passer although by no means 
Lamar Odom ….. Shot selection is above average considering his game 
experience …..

Weakness: Doesn’t have that much playing experience when it comes to as he 
hasn't really played stiff competition …. Needs to work on being better 
when it comes to ball protection as of right now he has a tendency to be 
careless with the ball … 3-point shot still needs to continue to be more 
consistent while it has improved it is far from reliable …. Must continue 
on being a better mid-range shooter …. Fundamentally Brown is still 
learning the do’s and dont's of organized ball although this will improve 
with added game experience …. Unlike most underclassmen Brown doesn’t have 
the option of going back to school (L.S.U.) because of the fact that he is 
a junior college player …..
Stats:

--------------

Kedrick Brown
Birthdate: 3/18/81
NBA Position: Small Forward
College: Okaloosa-Walton
Class: Sophomore
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 220
Hometown: Zachary, LA
High School: Zachary

Athleticism: 9
Defense: 7
Quickness: 9
Jump Shot: 9
Passing: 8
Ball Handling: 8
Size: 8
Strength: 9
Leadership: 8
NBA Ready: 7
Potential: 9
Intangibles: 7
Overall: 98

NBA Comparison: Jerome KerseyStrengths: At 9 rebounds and 3 assists per 
game, his stats indicate he is more of a banger than a ball handler. It's 
possible this was what his team needed but 6-7 PF's are common in juco 
ball. Has some versitility.

Weaknesses: Juco ball doesn't prepare players for the NBA as well as 
college. Considered as one of the very best Juco players, but two Indian 
Hills Jucos (Ernest Brown, and Cory Hightower) fell to the end of the draft 
last year after looking like 1st round possibilities.