Around the Mocks - Updated February 15, 2006

NBADraft.net: Updated February 13, 2006

At 5: Rodney Carney, Memphis (H: 6’7” W: 205 Pos: PF Age: 21)

Pros: Possibly the most athletic player in the draft. Great finisher on the break. Solid defender with great length. Jump shot is improving and has range. Has hit 41% of his 186 3-point attempts this season. Explosive scorer, as evidenced by his 37 points against Louisiana Tech in December.

Cons: Tends to rely on his athleticism at times. Handle could use a little bit of work, especially going left. Must continue to improve consistency on jumper. Not a great passer.

Chapman's Take: Well, we know that one of our loyal readers (Aaron) is pleased with this pick. I can't complain. Carney is right up there (if not ahead) with Rudy Gay and Ronnie Brewer as the top swingmen in this draft. And you know our thoughts on where the Raps should focus their attention with this pick...

At 35: Marcus Williams, Connecticut (H: 6’2” W: 200 Pos: PG Age: 20)

Pros: True point guard, one of the best in the NCAA this season. Can get to the hoop and finish. Great distributor. Has a great feel for the game.

Cons: Needs to limit turnovers, such as the one at the end of the Villanova game Monday night. His jumper still needs lots of work, as he is shooting less than 40% from the floor and only 33% from beyond the arc. Character is also an issue, as he was suspended for the first 10 games of this season for allegedly stealing laptop computers.

Chapman's Take: Williams is a true point guard, but don't we already have that in Calderon? The Raptors would need to ensure that the laptop theft was an isolated incident and that he's not the next Kenny Brunner.

At 55: Bobby Jones, Washington (H: 6’6” W: 210 Pos: SG Age: 21)

Pros: Defense, defense, defense. That's what Jones is all about. And would you expect anything less from a guy named Bobby Jones? Solid offensive rebounder. Can get to the stripe and is improving his percentage from the line. Very consistent player.

Cons: Jumper needs work if he wants to be a 2 in the Association. So does his ball handling. Despite his defensive prowess, can be foul prone (has fouled out of 4 games already this season). Needs to reduce turnovers.

Chapman's Take: One area where the Raptors desperately need improvement is on the defensive end. Jones would certainly help in that regard. He'll never be a 20-point scorer in the Association, but could end up as a Bruce Bowen-type stopper. Fun fact: Went to high school with Tyson Chandler at Dominguez High in Compton. Who else went there? Kenny Brunner.

Draftexpress.com: Updated February 12, 2006

At 4: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga (H: 6’8” W: 215 Pos: SF Age: 21)

Pros: Excellent scorer. Confident to the point of being cocky, Morrison is an excellent leader. Has a high basketball IQ. Solid passer. Has developed the "aura" of a star and has developed a Kobe-esque way of drawing foul calls. Intense competitor.

Cons: Has trouble creating his own shot. More of a scorer than a shooter, although his jumper has improved considerably. His defense could use some work, although he's not as bad a defender as he showed against St. Mary's a few weeks back. Has the same problem that Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich faced coming out of college: Is he a product of his conference or a genuine star?

Chapman's Take: Morrison is the most polarized player in this draft. Some see the next Larry Bird. Some see the next Wally Sczerbiak. I actually see a lot of Richard Hamilton in him: Always running, great mid-range game. I have come around on him this season, as he has shown me an uncanny ability to score and top-notch leadership. He may never be an All-Star, but certainly would be a solid contributor to this team at worst.

At 34: Quincy Douby, Rutgers (H: 6’3” W: 175 Pos: PG/SG Age: 21)

Pros: Explosive scorer (24.3 PPG this season). Great 3-point shooter with unlimited range. Can get to the hoop and finish in traffic. Great free throw shooter. Solid handle and decent passing ability.

Cons: Questions abound about his true position in the pros. Not a true point guard, but too small to play the 2. Probably best served as "instant offense" off the bench. Very slight and can get pushed around. Doesn't bring much to the table if his shot is not falling.

Chapman's Take: My boy at Rutgers is finally getting some love. Douby is an explosive scorer who lit up Syracuse for 41 points two weeks ago. In his past four games, Douby is averaging a gaudy 32.0 PPG, including 20 triples. My only concern is that we already have a player like him in Mike James. Douby could be another Salim Stoudamire. He could also be another Chris Hill.

At 56: Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern (H: 6’0” W: 173 Pos: PG Age: 21)

Pros: Kind of a mid-major Tiny Archibald. Can score and distribute with equal aplomb. Good penetrator. Sees the court very well and can find the open teammate. Good rebounder for someone his size. Leading scorer at the 2004 Tournament of the Americas. High basketball IQ. Hard nosed competitor.

Cons: How will his slight frame hold up in the pros? He still looks for his own shot first and that can't happen in the pros. These are two major issues that will hamper Barea's NBA chances.

Chapman's Take: Barea is an intense competitor, which some people have mistaken for being dirty. His injury in last year's America East final at Vermont deflated the Huskies and they crumbled to the Catamounts. I don't see him in the pros, although some compare him to a smaller version of Carlos Arroyo.

Note: All mock drafts have been prepared without taking team needs into account.

Chapman's Notes

Tyrus Thomas was the darling of the mock drafts for a long time. Yet, his play of late has his stock dropping in some circles....I can't figure out the fascination with Pittsburgh's Aaron Gray. He looks weak around the hoop and isn't a dominant rebounder for a true seven-footer....While their roster doesn't boast many NBA prospects, Utah State could be trouble for teams in the Dance...So will Ohio State, who had a great week with solid victories over Michigan and Illinois...A player who doesn't get enough love from NBA scouts, in my opinion, is UCLA G Aaron Afflalo. While everyone's attention is seemingly focused on PG Jordan Farmar, Afflalo is quietly showing an NBA-type game, from both inside and outside. Keep an eye on him...Another pair of players that I had the chance to check out this week (my PVR is working overtime) are Virginia PG Sean Singletary and Cal-State Fullerton SG Bobby Brown. Both showed me flashes, but I think both should return to school for next season....Franchise's thoughts on Hilton Armstrong: "For someone that size, he has a great handle, plays with fire and has great open court awareness and passing." I agree.

CHAPMAN