Kevin Jones headlines list of eight best college players who went undrafted
To appreciate how little stock NBA franchises sometimes put in a draft prospect's college production, consider this example for a moment.
West Virginia's Kevin Jones earned second-team All-American honors last season, scoring 19.9 points per game, grabbing 10.9 rebounds and shooting 50.9 percent from the field in the rugged Big East. That still wasn't enough to get him drafted, however, as NBA teams apparently found 60 guys they thought had greater potential.
The only good news for Jones is he's far from the only highly successful college player not to be selected in this year's draft. Here's a look at a list of the top college players who were not drafted Thursday night the same way Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen and Georgetown's Austin Freeman weren't last year:
1. Kevin Jones, F, Sr., West Virginia
Comment: The 6-foot-8 forward did everything possible as a senior to earn a second-round look, carrying an otherwise uninspiring West Virginia team to the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately for Jones, that apparently wasn't enough to change NBA scouts' opinion he's unlikely to thrive in the league as a result of a lack of size and outside shooting combined with a game that is decidedly below the rim
2. J'Covan Brown, G, Jr., Texas
Comment: It's already difficult for an undersized 6-foot-2 shooting guard to win over NBA scouts, but Brown did himself no favors at the pre-draft combine in Chicago. He had the highest body fat of any NBA prospect at 12.5 percent, not a great sign for a player whose shot selection and ability to get along with his teammates were already issues.
3. John Shurna, F, Sr., Northwestern
Comment: Shurna's phenomenal outside shooting evidently wasn't enough to outweigh the other deficiencies in his game. The 6-foot-9 senior shot 43.4 percent from 3-point range as a junior and 44.0 percent as a senior, but he rebounds poorly for someone of his size and he lacks the strength, athleticism or quickness most NBA forwards possess.
4. Jordan Taylor, G, Sr., Wisconsin
Comment: NBA scouts weren't sold on Taylor's ability to thrive at the next level when he was a preseason national player of the year candidate, so of course it didn't help his stock that his senior year was a bit underwhelming compared to the brilliance of his previous season. Taylor's shooting percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio dropped off as a senior and he still lacks prototypical size or ability to get to the rim for an NBA point guard.
5. Scott Machado, G, Sr., Iona
Comment: It's hard to believe there's not a place on an NBA bench for a point guard with Machado's court vision, but the Iona senior went undrafted despite averaging 13.6 points, 9.9 assists and 40.4 percent 3-point shooting last season. NBA teams are apparently doubtful that the flimsy 6-foot-2 has the explosive speed or athleticism typically needed to survive in the league at his size.
6. Terrell Stoglin, G, So., Maryland
Comment: If the NBA draft has taught us anything over the years, it's that teams believe there's no place in the league for an undersized shooting guard. The 6-foot-1 Stoglin averaged 21.6 points per game and reportedly outplayed several first-round prospects during workouts the past month, but he went undrafted because he lacks the vision and passing skills to play point guard and the size and wingspan to play off the ball.
7. Tu Holloway, G, Sr., Xavier
Comment: It's Holloway's size that likely prevented him from getting a second-round look. He followed up a brilliant sophomore campaign by averaging 17.5 points and 4.9 assists as a junior, but the NBA rarely has a place for a 5-11 combo guard who's more of a scorer than a facilitator, especially one who's outside shot remains inconsistent at best.
8. Drew Gordon, F, Sr., New Mexico
Comment: Why would the NBA not have a place for an explosive 6-foot-9 rebounding machine who averaged a double-double both his junior and senior seasons at New Mexico? That's surely what Gordon is wondering today. Questions about his character from his UCLA days may have played a role, as may his lack of a perimeter jumper or back-to-the-basket game.
Other college stars who went undrafted: William Buford (Ohio State), Jorge Gutierrez (Cal), Jason Clark (Georgetown), Casper Ware (Long Beach State), JaMychal Green (Alabama)
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