D. Brown NBA future

[XUdenver]

I realize this is WAY down the road....but NBAdraft.net is projecting Brown as the 13th pick for 2009. I guess I am just stoked that he is going to be a legit NBA prospect at the rate he is going. No info posted on his profile yet, but some youtube highlights.

[wkrq59]

I'll be very surprised if Derrick Brown doesn't get his degree in 2009 and return for the 09-10 season . He has been counseled by several NBA people through back channels to do that. The thought is he'll be a higher pick if he does.

[brownlavender]

Plus he goes to Xavier where we have graduated 75 in a row and counting!!!

[MuskieCinci]

He can enter the 2009 draft and still graduate because he was redshirted, so that would not hurt us in terms of consecutive seniors graduated.

[wkrq59]

Believe me, Derrick Brown, as fine a player as he will become, will not be ready for the NBA after next season unless he has a complete change. The more education he gets, the bettter his chances are of being a lottery pick or damn close and the better his chances for a long NBA career. Derrick Brown can not or at least he has not demonstrated the ability to hit the 18-foot shot consistently or the wide open jump shot from 12-15 feet. His flashes to the basket will be met with serious rejection. With the three-point line being back farther next season, Broown will need to make adjustments. He also has to improve his defense. He still reaches to much too early and needs better footwork.
These are not selfish comments because I would love to watch DB for two more seasosns at Xavier. Those are comments that a very well known NBA scout whose name has been in the papers over the years more than I can count made to me.
In all sincerity I believe two more years at Xavier will give Derrick Brown a chance to earn more money than he ever dreamed of making. David West benefited by playing an extra year at Xavier.
There are two players on the Xavier team who have to improve their overall games if X is to have the kind of success next season that most of us hope they will. Derrick and B.J. Raymond.
Both have to:
*Become more consistent at the free throw line.
*Drive more so they can get those free throws,
*Develop or vastly improve their mid-range jump shots.
* BJ has to defend and rebound better and be more efficient with that three-point shot.
*Derrick has to polish his defense and as said before, get the three down and theshort jumper. Right now he's subject to a lot of offensive foul calls.

[Mr. Neutral]

Have to agree with Q on this one. Brown has the athleticism needed for the NBA, but nowhere near NBA-level ballhandling and shooting skills at this point.

Could he take a HUGE jump up this year and be NBA-ready? Yes, but it would have to a big, big leap from where he is now.

In the UCLA game, DB went 6-8 on 5 dunks and 1 layup. Not one jumper/outside shot. The NBDL is jam-packed with great athletes who are lacking in basketball skills. DB should stay two more years and not be one of those guys.