Sleeper Seniors

Do you love to listen and read about what is being said regarding your school’s player(s) who stayed for all four years? All too often these guys who stay until they’re seniors are not going to be lottery picks, and most will not even be first rounders. It’s almost as if these players have become boring and predictable. But many fans and alumni of the school enjoy seeing their guys get drafted despite not getting tons of attention.

Here are some seniors I believe will be drafted higher than expected and will carve out respectable careers in the NBA.

SF Pat Calathes St. Joes (Sr)- A very good performance in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament last month gave 6’10 Calathes some extra publicity. According to Draft Express.com, some of the scouts in attendance had never seen Calathes play before. Most scouts came away impressed with Calathe’s effortless ability to shoot three pointers and seemingly solid know how of the fundamentals of the game. Strength and quickness will be obstacles Pat will need to overcome if he is to be drafted. Many mock draft boards I’ve looked at are void of any “Pat Calathes”. But how many 6’10 guys can shoot from downtown as well as Pat? I believe that strength alone will propel him to be a late 2nd round pick. A ten year career in the league would not surprise me.

PF D.J. White Indiana (Sr)- Being from Big Ten country, I’ve seen White play many games. His all around game is what has always impressed me. He has improved his jump shot enough to where he can be a legitimate threat from outside of ten feet, something he had trouble doing early in his Hoosier career. He blocks shots well and positions himself well on rebounds, but will not Wow you with athleticism or determination. Averaging a double-double as he did his senior year is no easy task in the rough and tumble Big Ten. He’s projected to be anywhere from an early to late 2nd round pick. My feeling is that a late first round team will take a chance on him, knowing what he already brings to the table is quite sufficient for an already good team.

C Sasha Kaun Kansas (Sr)- Sasha has the ability to be much better than a handful of current backup centers in the league. Kaun’s stats will never jump out because of the limited minutes he logged throughout his career. Statistically his best season was his sophomore year, but I believe his consistency he displayed during this year’s Jayhawk title run will go a long way in impressing NBA teams. He is deceptively athletic, fundamentally sound and able to put the ball in the basket forcefully. Active is a word I think of when I see Kaun lumbering up and down the court. Remember Chris Richard’s career at Florida? Well that college sixth man is now playing for an NBA team. Sasha can too.

SG/SF Malik Hairston (Sr)- This rather young twenty-one year old four year vet from Oregon U. has huge upside. I would be shocked if he fell down to a late 2nd round pick, but that situation might be the best case scenario for him, considering the last four teams to pick in the 2nd round happen to be the last four teams standing in the NBA playoffs. A very good four year career at Oregon, where he scored in double figures every season, will bode well for him. But the fact remains, can he get a lot better? If he does improve mightily, especially with ball control and defense, Malik could be a lock for a starting role down the line in his career. His 6’6 frame is very appealing, and really, he doesn’t have one glaring weakness to speak of, except maybe his lack of having one exceptional skill. All in all, I’ve always thought Malik’s game was NBA-like. And I wish he would have stayed in Michigan!

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