Here is a list of five rookies who won’t be ready to live up to their potential:

Ricky Rubio
Yes, Rubio has a massive amount of potential. But he’s only 18 right now and will need a year or two to adjust. As a rookie, he’ll probably average around eight points and six assists.

Jrue Holiday
Last year, Russell Westbrook came out of UCLA and was a good fantasy basketball player. Don’t expect the same out of Holiday. Like Rubio, he’ll need a year or two.

DeMar DeRozan
Perhaps the rawest top prospect in the draft, DeRozan is definitely a project. He has the size and athleticism to be a star but he still has a lot of learning to do.

B.J. Mullens
Mullins has very good size and is one of the better center prospects in the draft. That said, he’s a player you can safely ignore in fantasy basketball for the 2009-10 season.

Brandon Jennings
This past season in Europe, Jennings showed a lot of promise. But he also proved he wasn’t ready for the spotlight. Don’t expect that to change next year right out of the gates.

Post from: Expert Fantasy

1) Demar DeRozan, Compton High School
DeRozan is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Compton, California who is headed to USC next season. DeRozan is an explosive guard who can score from above the rim. His jumper is decent and his basketball IQ seems to be high for a high school player. Look for him to make an immediate impact at USC and then in the NBA.

2) Ricky Rubio, Spain
Rubio has been a Spanish legend for years now. He’s been called the Pistol Pete of Spain and he is surely a fun player to watch. The question is whether he can keep improving and get stronger. He’s played against top competition for a long time so there isn’t too much of a worry that he’d be overwhelmed by the NBA.

3) Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy
Jennings is a pure point guard who will be headed to the University of Arizona. A left-hander, Jennings is a good athlete who has shown all the skills to be a quality point guard at any level. Although he’s only 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, his toughness and competitiveness has never been questioned.

4) Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Griffin is a freshman for the Oklahoma Sooners. While he’s eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft, many expect him to wait until the 2009 draft to make his jump to the NBA. At 6-foot-9 and over 240 pounds, Griffin is a strong player with good size and a good motor. He’s also surprisingly athletic for his size.

5) Samardo Samuels, St. Benedicts Prep
Headed to Louisville, Samuels is a skilled low post player who should flourish on the college level. Whether he is able to make the transition to the NBA isn’t as guaranteed because he stands 6-foot-8, which is not the optimal size you’d want in a power forward. Nonetheless, his skill level is very high.

Post from: Expert Fantasy