Best Big Men in 2009 Draft

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 22, 2009

Best Big Men in 2009 Draft

Blake Griffin

The consensus No. 1 pick combines superior athleticism with strength, work ethic and the body of a true power forward at 6-foot-10 and 248 pounds. Although Griffin is not being heralded as a franchise-changing prospect, he is projected to have a very successful career.

Hasheem Thabeet

A high-risk, high-reward center who had a 2008-09 season that convinced some NBA teams he can be a dominating presence on defense. Others see a one-dimensional situational player who isn't worth a top-five pick. But everyone sees that he is 7-2 and 267 pounds and moves well, so the temptation is understandable.

Jordan Hill

Hill has already made admirable strides to become one of the best big men in the draft, after previously struggling with consistency, and he still may not have reached his ceiling despite likely surging all the way into the top half of the lottery.

DeJuan Blair

Amid unavoidable questions about his knees (he had surgery on both in high school) and troubling height for a power forward (6-6), Blair continues to impress a lot of teams and should crack the lottery. They can't turn away from his work ethic, strength, personality and surprising quickness for a player who has battled weight problems.

Earl Clark

He is an athletic, versatile prospect who may be able to play both forward spots, depending on his eventual team and the matchups of the night. If his focus ever catches up to his raw skills, Clark could have a very successful career.

James Johnson

Johnson may end playing a lot of small forward, but for now, scouts like the ability to put him at power forward as well. Conditioning issues during the predraft workouts hurt his stock, but his ball handling and strength are impossible to dismiss.

B.J. Mullens

The second-best center on the board (after Hasheem Thabeet) is also the only other one likely to go in the first round in a very weak year for that position. Mullens does not look ready to contribute right away, but has enough size (7-1), athleticism and offensive game that someone will make an investment, probably in the teens.

Tyler Hansbrough

The college superstar -- consensus Player of the Year in 2007-08, leading scorer and rebounder for the '08-09 champions -- is projected to top out as a role player in the pros. Hansbrough throws his heart and body into every play, will do the dirty work and won't cause problems. He is expected to go in the second half of the first round.

Taj Gibson

Gibson needs to add a lot of bulk to make any real impact at power forward, but he is long and can operate around the basket with the ball. He turns 24 the day before the draft, so this might be it for his bulk.

Josh Heytvelt

Heytvelt is a pick-and-pop guy who gets compared to other big men most comfortable on the perimeter (Mehmet Okur, Brad Miller, etc.), except with more athleticism. The flip side is that he is not as physical and can get pushed around inside by NBA players.

Jeff Adrien

Adrien is a bulldog of an undersized power forward who produced by outworking taller opponents. Teams will always invest, at least a second-round pick, in someone with his tenacity, experience at a major program and long arms, a package that equals the possibility of a future as a role player.

Jeff Pendergraph

Pendergraph is efficient inside on offense because he knows his limitations, an attribute a lot of coaches will appreciate in a likely second-round pick. He shot 66 percent as a senior while averaging 14.5 points a game.

Victor Claver

An intriguing prospect because of his ability to shoot from the perimeter at 6-10 and also score inside, Claver is still only 20. He is still developing. He is also a candidate to remain in Europe another season, an option NBA teams always love for second-round picks with the chance to turn into something.

Dante Cunningham

The Most Improved Player in the Big East for '08-09 pushed himself on to the radar by expanding his offensive game on a very good team. He still has to answer doubts about being stuck between power forward and small forward at the next level.