D. West spotted in Dayton

[Chris '89]

Yesterday's DDN had the following article:

Flyers sorely need Roberts in the NBA
Does UD need players in the NBA to get better recruits?

By Doug Harris

Staff Writer

Thursday, June 12, 2008

I saw a kid walking down the street the other day in a David West replica jersey (that's my little 11-year baller he referring too since the staff writer lives in my neighborhood and my son is the only boy in town with a D. West aqua blue jersey) which was a real eye-opener. I knew Xavier has been cranking out NBA players, but I didn't realize they had produced one popular enough that his jersey would be in demand (it was customized via the NBA store and worn proudly at the UD arena regardless of who UD is playing!).

The Musketeers are not only getting great exposure from the New Orleans Hornets forward, but also from James Posey, who's toiling for the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. And that underscores the problem the University of Dayton faces when it battles its arch-rival for recruits.

Xavier can say it has a pipeline to the pros, while the Flyers haven't had anyone drafted since 1990. But maybe Brian Roberts can do something about that.

Draftexpress.com named the UD product a first-team all-star at the recent NBA Pre-Draft Camp, which drew 64 pro prospects. UMass' Gary Forbes, Oregon's Malik Hairston, Ohio State's Othello Hunter and Mike Taylor of the NBA Developmental League rounded out the team.

The Web site gushed about Roberts, saying he's "drawing a lot of Daniel Gibson comparisons these days (referring to the Cleveland Cavaliers stalwart), as both are slender, smooth, 6-2 combo guards with great intangibles and phenomenal perimeter shooting skills."

Roberts may have to prove himself first in Europe, but gifted shooters are in short supply, and I can see him eventually emerging in the NBA.

And it'd matter not to the Flyers whether his replica jersey ever became a hot commodity. They'd be happy just to say they had a player wearing an authentic one.


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/conten ... dible.html

[Mr. Neutral]

Roberts is a marginal NBA prospect. If Stan could shut him down, NBA guards certainly can. And I'm not sure about ballhandling skills.

[passthepuck?]

If I were looking at Roberts, my concern would be that he couldn’t physically handle the NBA schedule. In his last two seasons he was gassed by the end of the each year in a twenty or so game schedule. Granted he was the whole team, but the NBA might be better competition that the Flyers normally play.