Chad Ford's Top 30 for NBA Draft (Burke 17, GRIII 25)

Submitted by myrtlebeachmai… on

Ford's list of top 30 picks for this year, released yesterday (didn't see it here yet, going back 3 pages).  He says list is not a mock, just the 30 best candidates for now.

Has Burke as 3rd best PG, calls him "best in college right now", but wishes he was taller.

States GRIII's athletic ability, solid season, and perimeter play has scouts noticing.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/8846794/2013-nba-dr…

(Insider article)

Indonacious

January 17th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^

I think GRIII will come back if that's his projection. Next years team will be pretty solid as well as the 2013 class may be even better than the 2012 one.

Leonhall

January 17th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^

Wish we could keep Burke for at least another year, so nice watching him play. I too, wonder how his game will translate to the nba..Hopefully GRIII returns for another year too...he has a special future at UM IMO...

MikeCohodes

January 17th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^

I'm surprised GRIII got slotted over Hardaway.  Maybe we will get lucky and only Burke will go pro after this year, and GRIII and Hardaway will come back next year?  That'd be nice.

ijohnb

January 17th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^

and Hardaway are gone, fo sho.  Hardaway will go simply because he is going where he is going, this year or next, high second round or very late first round.  While I truly hope that GRIII continues his stellar season I also have to say that I hope he does not go all Carmelo Anthony in the tourney becasue if he leaves "young" is not even going to come close to describing the team next year.  I guess this is what Kentucky fans feel like every year.

In reply to by ijohnb

jmblue

January 17th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^

No disagreement on Burke, but are we sure Hardaway is leaning towards leaving?  He seems to have somewhat lower stock than Burke/GRIII, and may not have a financial need.  I don't think it would be shocking if he stayed.

DeepBlue83

January 17th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^

Hardaway has shown a much more complete game and more polish than Robinson this year. The NBA potential is certainly there with GR, but he really needs another year, and he will be much better, just like Burke.

I'd be astounded if Burke didn't go, and very surprised if Hardaway didn't, but not sure about GR yet. I think he'd really have to blow up in the second half of the season and the tournament for that to be a smart move for him.

Spontaneous Co…

January 17th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^

I think GRIII should return because with one more year of maturation and improvement he has the chance to be a lottery pick.  I think Burke's decision to return was harder because his draft ceiling in limited, stupidly so, by his height.  So a great second year from Burke probably elevates him 10 spots to the late teens or early 20's.  A great second year from GRIII could elevate him to a top 5 pick.

Of course, we have a ways to go this year.  If GRIII really steps it up, I think he could be a top 15 pick this year.  HIs potential, which the NBA loves, is very high.

Indonacious

January 17th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^

While I mostly agree with this, going in the middle of the 1st round isn't too bad of a proposition for him. There are times when height is a concern for Burke such as when a big hedges hard on a pick, etc. I'm not disagreeing with the idea that the nba''s obsession with height is a dumb philosophy overall but everyone still has Burke in the first round...he will do fine for himself and may actually end up on a decent team.

TheLastHarbaugh

January 17th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^

Yeah, offensively Trey Burke has drawn a lot of comparisons to CP3 while at Wake, but CP3 was also an elite defender. I think that's the difference, and why Burke might go in the 15-20 range, instead of the 5-10 range.

Also, keep in mind, Burke's Michigan squad has 5 potential NBA draft picks on it. IIRC, no one on CP3's Wake Forest team made an NBA squad, and I don't believe any of them were drafted. He carried those teams on his back.

1 percent

January 18th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^

Yeah, im with you but I think the biggest detriment for Burke is that there isnt a huge need for PG out of the top lottery teams ie; washington, cleveland. Obviouspy there are some like Charlotte, New Orleans who could use a PG but the need for PG isnt as pressing. He is a top 5-10 talent that'll probably go top 15.

1201SouthMain

January 17th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^

but you don't go looking for a 5'6" point guard.  I don't think it's stupid.  It's reality.  There are not many really good point guards in the NBA that are 6' or under.  It's one thing to be Burke size in college but a very different thing to be that size in the NBA when the guy guarding you is 6'4" and just as quick as you are.

Having said that, I do believe that Trey has starting NBA point guard potential.  It's just not top 5 pick potential.  17th seems about right to me.

Lucky Socks

January 17th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^

I see what you mean.  But like other posters have said, if that scenario plays out it means we sustained a phenomenal season and have three first round draft picks.  I think I can live with whatever that comes with (Final Four?  B10 Championship) in terms of immediate pleasure and exposure to recruits.   If Michigan can produce three first rounders in one year, we will be an "IT" program for hoops recruits again (we're already on our way).  

Raoul

January 17th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

I really shouldn't have used the word "nightmare"—I'm not worried about all three turning pro and am not losing any sleep over it. This is what comes from having elite players in the program.

But there really isn't a straight correlation between how well Michigan does this season and how many players will turn pro. NBA scouts aren't going to change their opinion of Burke, Hardaway, and Robinson based on whether Michigan wins the Big Ten title or on how well they do in the NCAA tournament. The teams draft based on players' NBA potential—and that alone. Michigan could end up having a less-than-phenomenal season, and all three could still turn pro.

AJ1913

January 17th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^

it is great to have this caliber of talent on our team this season and no doubt is the reason for our success. It is just a little frustrating though, to think that without these potentially three players next season we could go through a rebuild again next yr? I do not doubt that the incoming class is very strong with Derrick Walton being the prize of the class. I feel it will just be tough at first to move on in a conference that is only going to get stronger.

myrtlebeachmai…

January 17th, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^

If Walton/Irvin give us Burke/Hardaway-like freshmen seasons, we may be OK and then some.  GRIII will be the tough one to fill so soon.  I personally agree with above notion that GRIII stays, seeing more touches next year with others gone, and a potential lottery pick.

We'll see.

AA2Denver

January 17th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^

I hope GRIII stays as I love his game and match up problems he creates. He could be All-American next year. Howerver, Zak Irvin is going to fill in very nicely, so we all good.