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NBA Draft Prospects from Pennsylvania

Among the NBA draft prospects, there are a number of Pennsylvanians. Of Pennsylvania’s prospects, some are expected to be picked up on draft night and others will be a surprise. Some are underclassmen and others have finished their senior year. It’s a diverse crop of prospects from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. CJ Aiken Aiken is excellent at blocking shot ranking 3rd in the nation with a 3.5 BPG last year. This year, Aiken has established himself as a shot blocker and improved nicely averaging 12.4 PPG from 7.4 last year and 5.9 RPG this year and 4.3 in the 2010-2011 season. Still, Aiken is young and that could hurt him at the NBA draft. Overall, however, he is a contender draft pick. C Covan Brown Brown is foregoing his senior year to enter the NBA draft. This year he led the Texas Longhorns into post season play where they fell short in the first round. Brown averaged 20.1 points per game and shot 37% from 3-point range. Brown said that going professional this year is the best thing to do for he and his family, Brown has a one year old daughter. Herb Pope Pope declared for the NBA draft in 2010 but didn’t hire an agent, collapsed during a workout, and ended up in the hospital for three weeks. Now a senior, Pope has matured and improved his game dramatically leading Seton Hall to a 13-2 record. Pope has had his best scoring season averaging 23.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted. While Pope is sometimes inconsistent, he’s a much better player than two years ago and a solid NBA draft prospect. Quincy Roberts Roberts is a fantastic shooter ending the averaging 23.9 point per game and shooting 41 percent from the field. Roberts had a difficult collegiate career starting at St. John’s, losing playing time after a coaching change, and ultimately transferring to Grambling State University. There, however, he has been a stand out as a Tiger and conference wide. Roberts’ biggest challenge to being drafted is coming from the SWAC, which hasn’t had a prospect called in draft night since 1996, but Roberts just might break the drought. Dion Waiters Waiters just finished his sophomore year at Syracuse, and while never starting a game he has declared for the NBA draft. Yet, he’s considered a powerful offensive threat. In his 24.2 minutes per game, he averaged 12.8 PPG. If Waiters was given the play time of a senior, he would be putting up better numbers. He’s an important part of Syracuse’s success this year ending the season 34 and 3. Maalik Wayns Wayns isn’t a stand out athlete like some of the other Pennsylvanians entering the NBA draft, but nevertheless has good offensive numbers in his junior year. He averages 18.4 PPG shooting 49% inside the arc and 31% when going for three. It will be surprising if his name is called on draft night. Pennsylvania has a rich basketball tradition producing such stars as Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain. These NBA draft prospects are part of the history and the future of Pennsylvania sports.

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