Marquette University Athletics
Coach Crean Looks at Picks No. 5-11
6/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 26, 2002
5. Denver Nikoloz Tskitishvili
It will take time for him to develop. There could be a trade in the works. It would seem that Denver would need somebody who could play right away. Then first of many foreign players that will be drafted. Many people feel that he will have a successful career.
6. Cleveland Dajuan Wagner
I would have had loved our fans to have a chance to see him up close and personal at the Bradley Center this year. We watched him on film many times and I think that he is going to be a very good player. This is still another pick that could have been made for another team and that which could come to light over the next few days. His strength gives him an opportunity to get things done immediately. In the bench press test that the NBA teams use, which is how many times 185 pounds can be benched press, he did it 17 times. That's pretty good for a 19-year old, 6-foot-1 guard. While I wish that our fans could have seen him in person, I won't miss the fact that he is no longer in the league.
7. New York Knicks "Nene" Hilario
I was looking for Chris Wilcox here but this is someone who has been ranked near the top the whole time. Tom Izzo, who coached at the Goodwill Games last year with Doc Rivers and Flip Saunders, really liked him. There could be a trade on the horizon, but anybody with power would fit in with the Knicks. They need an athletic 4-man who has the ability to play right away and create energy and it sounds like he can do that. In closing, how about that reception he received from the fans. Would you wish that on anybody? One thing is for sure, if he spends time with the Knicks, he'll have thick skin.
8. Los Angeles Clippers Chris Wilcox
I don't think that Maryland would have won the NCAA championship without him. He raised the level of his game at the time of year when he needed to. His athleticism and explosiveness around the basket give him a chance to be real good. He has to develop his back-to-the basket moves and the ability to face up. Range is not part of his game right now. Maryland will miss him. It will be hard to replace a guy like that who can elevate around the rim
9. Phoenix Suns Amare Stoudemire
I think that Stoudemire has a chance top be very good. Again, he is very young and you are drafting on potential so much in the NBA.
10. Miami Caron Butler
This could be a steal for Miami. When it comes to toughness, desire and playing hard, Caron Butler was the man in college this year for that.
11. Washington Jared Jeffries
His No. 1 skill, in my opinion, is his passing ability. We saw first hand in Alaska how important it was to try to stop him and most teams weren't successful in doing that. He is very good at finding teammates, finding cutters on the way to basket, and creating plays for himself, When you look at the fact that he has played just two years in college and now is in a program with a coach like Doug Collins, who develops young players as well anybody out there, I think that he will have a long career.
