Jun 23rd, 2010
Robin and Brook Lopez were both lottery picks in 2008 -- AP Photo by Ross D. Franklin
The Bay Area has not exactly been a hotbed of NBA talent recently; in fact, you might say the region has been a coldbed. Well, you might say that if it were a word.
For the fourth time in the past eight years, it appears that no player from a Bay Area college will be taken in the NBA Draft, which will be held Thursday. Only one, Jerome Randle of Cal, has a fighting chance to be drafted.
When you consider that five University of Kentucky players are expected to be taken in the first round on Thursday, that’s not so good. Of course, the only “Cal” the Bay Area wants to be associated with is the institution located in Berkeley.
Last year, the only Bay Area college product drafted was Patty Mills of St. Mary’s, and he was the 55th of 60 players drafted.
The Bay Area came up big in 2008 when four players were drafted, including three – the Lopez twins and Ryan Anderson – were taken in the first round. But none was selected in 2007, 2005 and 2003, and only one in 2006 and 2004. That’s six in the past seven years. Before that Bay Area players were selected regularly, including seven first-rounders between 1994 and 1997.
But we have hit a lull. C’est la vie. Such is life. It is what it is. That’s the way it goes. Comme ci, comme ca. And so forth down the path of rationalization. (An SAT exam would ask which of those phrases does not fit with the others. The answer would be E. comme ci, comme ca.)
Cal point guard Randle has the best chance of being drafted among the local players, so we present a little musical salute to the little guy, who was fun to watch. Note the footwork in the video. NBA scouts would appreciate it.
Stanford’s Landry Fields has a minute chance of being selected on Thursday, but that about does it. St. Mary’s Omar Samhan, who attracted national adoration during the NCAA Tournament, has a prayer, but Cal’s Patrick Christopher, who looked like a sure-bet pro a year or two ago, has little chance of being taken. And any all four of these guys were fun to watch, wherever you get your sports tickets
Here’s the rundown of local college products, including the player’s DraftExpress ranking among the top 100 draftable players (psst, some guy from Kentucky is No. 1 on all such lists) and the chances of being drafted
Jerome Randle, Cal, point guard – His performance at the Portsmouth Invitational, when he showed he can be a playmaker in addition to his established talent as a scorer, made some NBA folks believe he can make it in the NBA despite his size (5-foot-9¼). DraftExpress.com ranking: 31 Chance of being drafted: 41.3 percent.
Landry Fields, Stanford, small forward – He did everything during a spectacular senior season, but scouts are not convinced he can do it at the pro level. His outside shooting and athleticism are suspect. DraftExpress ranking: 81. Chance of being drafted: 28.7 percent.
Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s, center – A skilled big man who can score in a number of ways, Samhan is just not athletic or quick enough to get drafted, although he might make a team’s roster. DraftExpress ranking: 82. Chance of being drafted: 21.2 percent.
Patrick Christopher, Cal, shooting guard – When he was a sophomore, it seemed Christopher was perfect for the NBA. He still has the size, athleticism and skills NBA people want at the position; he just wasn’t consistently productive. DraftExpress ranking: Unranked. Chance of being drafted: 9.8 percent.
Theo Robertson, Cal, shooting guard – No one knows the game better than Robertson, and there was a time during the winter when it appeared he might get drafted. But he just does not have the athleticism needed for his position. DraftExpress ranking: Unranked. Chances of being drafted: 4.2 percent.
Dior Lowhorn, USF, small forward – A disappointing senior season did not help, but Lowhorn was not going to be drafted anyhow. He was an effective power forward in college, but at 6-7 he will have to be a small forward in the pros, and he does not have small-forward skills. DraftExpress ranking: Unranked. Chances of being drafted: 1.1 percent.
C.J. Webster, San Jose State, power forward – He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 23 minutes as a senior and has limited athleticism. DraftExpress ranking: Unranked. Chances of being drafted: 0.00001 percent (Never say never when those screwy NBA folks are involved.)
Nikola Knezevic, Cal, shooting guard – Just wanted to see if you bothered to read this far.
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